Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Long-Term Debt

v3.20.4
Long-Term Debt
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
Long-Term Debt
NOTE 12. LONG-TERM DEBT
Salem Media Group, Inc. has no independent assets or operations, the subsidiary guarantees relating to certain debt are full and unconditional and joint and several, and any subsidiaries of Salem Media Group, Inc. other than the subsidiary guarantors are minor.
6.75% Senior Secured Notes
On May 19, 2017, we issued the Notes in a private placement. The Notes are guaranteed
on a senior secured basis by our existing subsidiaries (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”). The Notes bear interest at a rate of 6.75% per year and mature on June 1, 2024, unless they are earlier redeemed or repurchased. Interest initially accrued on the Notes from May 19, 2017 and is payable semi-annually, in cash in arrears, on June 1 and December 1 of each year, commencing December 1, 2017.
The Notes are secured by a first-priority lien on substantially all assets of ours and the Subsidiary Guarantors other than the ABL Facility Priority Collateral (as described below) (the “Notes Priority Collateral”). There is no direct lien on our FCC licenses to the extent prohibited by law or regulation (other than the economic value and proceeds thereof).

The Notes were redeemable, in whole or in part, at any time on or before June 1, 2020 at a price equal to 100%
of the principal amount of the Notes plus a “make-whole” premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the redemption date. At any time on or after June 1, 2020, the Notes are redeemable at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount to be redeemed) set forth in the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the redemption date.
The indenture relating to the Notes (the “Indenture”) contains covenants that, among other things and subject in each case to certain specified exceptions, limit our ability and the ability of our restricted subsidiaries to: (i) incur additional debt; (ii) declare or pay dividends, redeem stock or make other distributions to stockholders; (iii) make investments; (iv) create liens or use assets as security in other transactions; (v) merge or consolidate, or sell, transfer, lease or dispose of substantially all of our assets; (vi) engage in transactions with affiliates; and (vii) sell or transfer assets.

The Indenture provides for the following events of default (each, an “Event of Default”): (i) default in payment of principal or premium on the Notes at maturity, upon repurchase, acceleration, optional redemption or otherwise; (ii) default for 30 days in payment of interest on the Notes; (iii) the failure by us or certain restricted subsidiaries to comply with other agreements in the Indenture or the Notes, in certain cases subject to notice and lapse of time; (iv) the failure of any guarantee by certain significant Subsidiary Guarantors to be in full force and effect and enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to notice and lapse of time; (v) certain accelerations (including failure to pay within any grace period) of other indebtedness of ours or any restricted subsidiary if the amount accelerated (or so unpaid) is at least $15 million; (vi) certain judgments for the payment of money in excess of $15 million; (vii) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to us or any significant subsidiary; and (viii)
 certain defaults with respect to any collateral having a fair market value in excess of $15 million. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the holders of at least
 
25% in
principal amount of the outstanding Notes may declare the principal of the Notes and any accrued interest on the Notes to be due and payable immediately, subject to remedy or cure in certain cases. Certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency are Events of Default which will result in the Notes being due and payable immediately upon the occurrence of such Events of Default. At December 31, 2020, we were, and we remain, in compliance with all of the covenants under the Indenture.
Based on the balance of the Notes currently outstanding, we are required to pay $14.6 million per year in interest on the Notes. As of December 31, 2020, accrued interest on the Notes was $1.2 million.
We incurred debt issuance costs of $6.3 million that were recorded as a reduction of the debt proceeds that are being amortized to
non-cash
interest expense over the life of the Notes using the effective interest method. During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, $0.7 million and $0.9 million, respectively, of debt issuance costs associated with the Notes was amortized to interest expense.
We may from time to time, depending on market conditions and prices, contractual restrictions, our financial liquidity and other factors, seek to repurchase the Notes in open market transactions, privately negotiated transactions, by tender offer or otherwise, as market conditions warrant.
Based on the then existing market conditions, we completed repurchases of our 6.75% Senior Secured Notes at amounts less than face value as follows:
 
Date
 
Principal
Repurchased
   
Cash Paid
   
% of Face
Value
   
Bond Issue
Costs
   
Net Gain
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
January 30, 2020   $ 2,250     $ 2,194       97.50   $ 34     $ 22  
January 27, 2020     1,245       1,198       96.25     20       27  
December 27, 2019     3,090       2,874       93.00     48       167  
November 27, 2019     5,183       4,548       87.75     82       553  
November 15, 2019     3,791       3,206       84.58     61       524  
March 28, 2019     2,000       1,830       91.50     37       134  
March 28, 2019     2,300       2,125       92.38     42       133  
February 20, 2019     125       114       91.25     2       9  
February 19, 2019     350       319       91.25     7       24  
February 12, 2019     1,325       1,209       91.25     25       91  
January 10, 2019     570       526       92.25     9       35  
December 21, 2018     2,000       1,835       91.75     38       127  
December 21, 2018     1,850       1,702       92.00     35       113  
December 21, 2018     1,080       999       92.50     21       60  
November 17, 2018     1,500       1,357       90.50     29       114  
May 4, 2018     4,000       3,770       94.25     86       144  
April 10, 2018     4,000       3,850       96.25     87       63  
April 9, 2018     2,000       1,930       96.50     43       27  
   
 
 
   
 
 
           
 
 
   
 
 
 
    $
38,659
    $ 35,586             $ 706     $ 2,367  
   
 
 
   
 
 
           
 
 
   
 
 
 
Asset-Based Revolving Credit Facility
On May 19, 2017, the company entered into the ABL Facility pursuant to a Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) by and among us and our subsidiaries party thereto as borrowers, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and lead arranger, and the lenders that are parties thereto. We used the proceeds of the ABL Facility, together with the net proceeds from the Notes offering, to repay outstanding borrowings under our previously existing senior credit facilities, and related fees and expenses. Current proceeds from the ABL Facility are used to provide ongoing working capital and for other general corporate purposes, including permitted acquisitions.
The ABL Facility is a five-year $30.0 million revolving credit facility due March 1, 2024, which includes a $5.0 million subfacility for standby letters of credit and a $7.5 million subfacility for swingline loans. All borrowings under the ABL Facility accrue interest at a rate equal to a base rate or LIBOR plus a spread. The spread, which is based on an availability-based measure, ranges from 0.50% to 1.00% for base rate borrowings and 1.50% to 2.00% for LIBOR borrowings. If an event of default occurs, the interest rate may increase by 2.00% per annum. Amounts outstanding under the ABL Facility may be paid and then reborrowed at our discretion without penalty or premium. Additionally, we pay a commitment fee on the unused balance from 0.25% to 0.375% per year based on the level of borrowings.
On October 20, 2020, we entered into a fourth amendment to our ABL Facility that provides a
one-time
waiver with respect to the current covenant testing period allowing the covenant trigger event date be the first day after the availability on the
ABL Facility
had equaled or exceeded (1) 15% of the maximum revolver amount and (2) $4.5 million and a waiver permitting our July 2020 financial statements to be issued on or before September 30, 2020 due to delays that were caused by a ransomware attack.
On April 7, 2020, we entered into a third amendment to ABL Facility that increased the advance rate on eligible accounts receivable from 85% to 90% and extended the maturity date from May 19, 2022 to March 1, 2024. The April 7, 2020 amendment also allows for an alternative benchmark rate that may include SOFR due to LIBOR being scheduled to be discontinued at the end of calendar year 2021.
Availability under the ABL Facility is subject to a borrowing base consisting of (a) 90% of the eligible accounts receivable plus (b) a calculated amount based on the value of certain real property. As of December 31, 2020, the amount available under the
ABL Facility
was $24.2 million of which $5.0 million was outstanding. The ABL Facility has a first-priority lien on our and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ accounts receivable, inventory, deposit and securities accounts, certain real estate and related assets (the “
ABL Facility
Priority Collateral”) and by a second-priority lien on the Notes Priority Collateral. There is no direct lien on our FCC licenses to the extent prohibited by law or regulation (other than the economic value and proceeds thereof).
The Credit Agreement includes a springing fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.0 to 1.0, which is tested during the period commencing on the last day of the fiscal month most recently ended prior to the date on which Availability (as defined in the Credit Agreement) is less than the greater of 15% of the Maximum Revolver Amount (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and $4.5 million and continuing for a period of 60 consecutive days after the first day on which Availability exceeds such threshold amount. The Credit Agreement also includes other negative covenants that are customary for credit facilities of this type, including covenants that, subject to exceptions described in the Credit Agreement, restrict our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries (i) to incur additional indebtedness; (ii) to make investments; (iii) to make distributions, loans or transfers of assets; (iv) to enter into, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any liens, (v) to sell assets; (vi) to enter into transactions with affiliates; (vii) to merge or consolidate with, or dispose of all assets to a third party, except as permitted thereby; (viii) to prepay indebtedness; and (ix) to pay dividends.
The Credit Agreement provides for the following events of default: (i) default for
non-payment
of any principal or letter of credit reimbursement when due or any interest, fees or other amounts within five days of the due date; (ii) the failure by any borrower or any subsidiary to comply with any covenant or agreement contained in the Credit Agreement or any other loan document, in certain cases subject to applicable notice and lapse of time; (iii) any representation or warranty made pursuant to the Credit Agreement or any other loan document is incorrect in any material respect when made; (iv) certain defaults of other indebtedness of any borrower or any subsidiary of indebtedness of at least $10 million; (v) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to any borrower or any subsidiary; (vi) certain judgments for the payment of money of $10 million or more; (vii) a change of control; and (viii) certain defaults relating to the loss of FCC licenses, cessation of broadcasting and termination of material station contracts. If an event of default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may accelerate the amounts outstanding under the ABL Facility and may exercise remedies in respect of the collateral. At December 31, 2020, we were, and we remain, in compliance with all of the covenants under Credit Agreement.
We incurred debt issue costs of $0.9 million that were recorded as an asset and are being amortized to
non-cash
interest expense over the term of the ABL Facility using the effective interest method. During each of the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, $0.2 million of debt issuance costs associated with the
ABL Facility
was amortized to interest expense. At December 31, 2020, the blended interest rate on amounts outstanding under the ABL Facility was 2.5%.
We report outstanding balances on the ABL Facility as short-term regardless of the maturity date based on use of the ABL Facility to fund ordinary and customary operating cash needs with frequent repayments. We believe that our borrowing capacity under the ABL Facility allows us to meet our ongoing operating requirements, fund capital expenditures and satisfy our debt service requirements for at least the next twelve months. At December 31, 2020, we were, and we remain, in compliance with all of the covenants under the Credit Agreement
.
Summary of long-term debt obligations
Long-term debt consisted of the following:
 
    
As of December 31,
 
     2019     
2020
 
    
(Dollars in thousands)
 
6.75% Senior Secured Notes
   $ 219,836     
$
216,341
 
Less unamortized debt issuance costs based on imputed interest rate of 7.08%
     (3,368   
 
(2,577
    
 
 
    
 
 
 
6.75% Senior Secured Notes net carrying value
     216,468     
 
213,764
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
 
Asset-Based Revolving Credit Facility principal outstanding
     12,426     
 
5,000
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
 
Long-term debt less unamortized debt issuance costs
     228,894     
 
218,764
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
 
Less current portion
     (12,426   
 
(5,000
    
 
 
    
 
 
 
Long-term debt less unamortized debt issuance costs, net of current portion
   $ 216,468     
$
213,764
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
 
In addition to the outstanding amounts listed above, we also have interest payments related to our long-term debt as follows as of December 31, 2020:
 
   
$5.0 million under the ABL Facility, with interest spread ranging from Base Rate plus 0.50% to 1.00% for base rate borrowings and LIBOR plus 1.50% to 2.00% for LIBOR borrowings;
 
   
$216.3 million aggregate principal amount of Notes with semi-annual interest payments at an annual rate of 6.75%; and
 
   
Commitment fee of 0.25% to 0.375% per annum on the unused portion of the ABL Facility.
 
Maturities of Long-Term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations
Principal repayment requirements under all long-term debt agreements outstanding at December 31, 2020 for each of the next five years and thereafter are as follows:
 
    
Amount
 
    
(Dollars in thousands)
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
        
2021
   $ 5,000  
2022
     —    
2023
     —    
2024
     216,341  
2025
     —    
Thereafter
     —    
    
 
 
 
     $ 221,341