2. Long-Term Debt

The components of our long-term debt are presented in the following tables (in thousands):

Aggregate annual maturities of amounts recorded for long-term debt as of December 31, 2017 are as follows (in millions): 2018–$22.9; 2019–$302.1; 2020–$499.5; 2021–$171.5.  See below for a discussion of our debt instruments.    

Exchange Transaction

On September 7, 2016, we consummated a transaction whereby we exchanged approximately $710.2 million in aggregate principal amount, or 79%, of our 8.500% Senior Notes, due June 15, 2019 (the “Unsecured Senior Notes”), for: (i) $159.8 million in aggregate principal amount of 9.00%/10.75% Senior Second Lien PIK Toggle Notes, due May 15, 2020, (the “Second Lien PIK Toggle Notes”); (ii) $142.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 8.50%/10.00% Senior Third Lien PIK Toggle Notes, due June 15, 2021, (the “Third Lien PIK Toggle Notes”); and (iii) 60.4 million shares of our common stock (collectively, the “Debt Exchange”).  At the same time on closing on the Debt Exchange, we closed on a $75.0 million, 11.00% 1.5 Lien Term Loan, due November 2019, 1.5 Lien Term Loan with the then largest holder of our Unsecured Senior Notes (collectively with the Debt Exchange, the “Exchange Transaction”).  We accounted for the Exchange Transaction as a Troubled Debt Restructuring pursuant to the guidance under ASC 470-60.  Under ASC 470-60, the carrying value of the Second Lien PIK Toggle Notes, Third Lien PIK Toggle Notes and 1.5 Lien Term Loan (the “New Debt”) is measured using all future undiscounted payments (principal and interest); therefore, no interest expense was recorded for the New Debt in the Consolidated Statements of Operations since September 7, 2016.  Additionally, no interest expense related to the New Debt will be recorded in future periods as payments of interest on the New Debt will be recorded as a reduction in the carrying amount; thus, our reported interest expense will be significantly less than the contractual interest payments through the maturities of the New Debt.  Under ASC 470-60, payments related to the New Debt are reported in the financing section of the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.  

A gain of $123.9 million was recognized related to the Exchange Transaction during 2016.  Under ASC 470-60, a gain was recognized as the sum of (i) the future undiscounted payments (principal and interest) related to the New Debt, (ii) the fair value of the common stock issued and (iii) deal transaction costs of $18.9 million was less than the sum of (iv) the carrying value of the Unsecured Senior Notes exchanged and (v) the funds received from the 1.5 Lien Term Loan.  The shares of common stock issued were valued at $1.76 per share, which was the closing price on September 7, 2016.  The effect on both basic and diluted earnings per share for 2016 was $1.30 per share, which assumes the gain would not affect our income tax benefit for 2016.  

The funds received from the 1.5 Lien Term Loan were used to pay transaction costs related to the Exchange Transaction and to pay down borrowings on the revolving bank credit facility.  The balance of the borrowings on the revolving bank credit facility was paid down from available cash.

During the second quarter of 2017, interest on the Second Lien PIK Toggle Notes and the Third Lien PIK Toggle Notes was paid in cash rather than in kind.  As a result of the cash interest payment, an $8.2 million net reduction was recorded to long-term debt on the Consolidated Balance Sheet and the offset to Gain on exchange of debt in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.  We anticipate the remaining eligible interest payments will be made in kind versus paid in cash.  For 2017, $0.4 million of additional expense was recorded to Gain on exchange of debt for differences between actual and estimated transaction expenses.  The effect of these transactions on both basic and diluted earnings per share for 2017 was $0.06 per share, which assumes the net gain would not affect our income tax benefit for that period.

The primary terms of our long-term debt following the Exchange Transaction are described below.

Credit Agreement

The Credit Agreement provides a revolving bank credit facility.  Availability under the Credit Agreement is subject to a semi-annual redetermination of our borrowing base that occurs in the spring and fall of each year and is calculated by our lenders based on their evaluation of our proved reserves and their own internal criteria.  We and our lenders may request one additional determination per year.  The borrowing base as of December 31, 2017 was $150.0 million.  Any redetermination by our lenders to change our borrowing base will result in a similar change in the availability under our revolving bank credit facility.  To the extent borrowings and letters of credit outstanding exceed the redetermined borrowing base, such excess or deficiency is required to be repaid within 90 days in three equal monthly payments.  Letters of credit may be issued in amounts up to $150.0 million, provided availability under the revolving bank credit facility exists.  The revolving bank credit facility is secured and is collateralized by a first priority lien on substantially all of our oil and natural gas properties.  The Credit Agreement matures on November 8, 2018.   

The Credit Agreement contains covenants that limit, among other things, our ability to: (i) pay cash dividends; (ii) repurchase our common stock or outstanding debt; (iii) sell our assets; (iv) make certain loans or investments; (v) merge or consolidate; (vi) eliminate certain hedging contracts or enter into certain hedging contracts in excess of 75% of projected oil and gas  production on a monthly basis; (vii) enter into certain liens; and (viii) enter into certain other transactions, without the prior consent of the lenders.  We are permitted to issue additional indebtedness if certain conditions are met including: (i) the additional debt is subordinate in security and right of payment; (ii) the borrowers enter into an intercreditor agreement with terms acceptable to the Administrative Agent of the Credit Agreement; (iii) we are in compliance with the financial covenants after giving pro forma effect to the additional indebtedness; and (iv) such additional unsecured indebtedness matures at least six months after the maturity date of the Credit Agreement and is not subject to restrictive covenants materially more onerous than those provided for in the Credit Agreement.  With consent of the lenders, such limitation will not apply to the repurchase of our existing debt in an aggregate principal amount equal to or less than the aggregate principal amount of any new issuance of such debt.  We are permitted to redeem, repurchase, prepay or defease up to $35 million of our Unsecured Senior Notes if after giving effect to such redemption, repayment, prepayment or defeasance: (i) no amounts are outstanding on the revolving bank credit facility; (ii) letters of credit outstanding do not exceed $5 million; (iii) the Consolidated Cash balance is at least $35 million after the redemption or repayment; and (iv) no event of default shall have occurred and be continuing, and no borrowing base deficiency shall have occurred and be continuing or result therefrom.

The Credit Agreement also contains various customary covenants for certain financial tests, as defined in the Credit Agreement and measured as of the end of each quarter, and for customary events of default.  These financial test ratios and limits as of December 31, 2017 and thereafter are: (i) the First Lien Leverage Ratio must be less than 2.00 to 1.00; and (ii) the Current Ratio must be greater than 1.00 to 1.00.  As of December 31, 2017, the Current Ratio was 2.80 to 1.00.  As of December 31, 2017, the First Lien Leverage Ratio was in compliance, but not meaningful as no borrowings were outstanding on the revolving bank credit facility and only minor amounts of letters of credit were outstanding.  The customary events of default include: (i) nonpayment of principal when due or nonpayment of interest or other amounts within three business days of when due; (ii) bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company or any of its subsidiaries guaranteeing borrowings under the revolving bank credit facility; or (iii) a change of control.  The Credit Agreement contains cross-default clauses with the other debt agreements, and these agreements contain similar cross-default clauses with the Credit Agreement.  We were in compliance with all applicable covenants of the Credit Agreement as of December 31, 2017.

We are required to have deposit accounts only with banks party to the Credit Agreement with certain exceptions.  We may not have unrestricted cash balances above $35 million if outstanding balances on the revolving bank credit agreement (including letters of credit) are greater than $5 million.

Borrowings under the revolving bank credit facility bear interest at the applicable London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus a margin that varies from 3.00% to 4.00% depending on the level of total borrowings under the Credit Agreement, or an alternative base rate equal to the greater of (a) Prime Rate, (b) Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%, or (c) LIBOR plus 1.0%, plus applicable margin ranging from 2.00% to 3.00%.  The unused portion of the borrowing base is subject to a commitment fee of 0.50%.  

During 2016 and 2015, the borrowing base under the Credit Agreement was reduced.  The reductions in the borrowing base resulted in proportional reductions in the unamortized costs related to the Credit Agreement of $1.4 million and $3.2 million in 2016 and 2015, respectively, which is included in the line Other (income)/expense, net on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.  

At December 31, 2017 and 2016, we had no borrowings outstanding under the revolving bank credit facility.  At December 31, 2017 and 2016, we had $0.3 million and $0.5 million, respectively, outstanding in letters of credit under the revolving bank credit facility.  

1.5 Lien Term Loan

As part of the Exchange Transaction, we entered into the 1.5 Lien Term Loan on September 7, 2016 with a maturity date of November 15, 2019.  The maturity date will accelerate to February 28, 2019 if the remaining Unsecured Senior Notes have not been extended, renewed, refunded, defeased, discharged, replaced or refinanced by February 28, 2019.  Certain amendments under the 1.5 Lien Term Loan and the Credit Agreement will likely be required in the event replacement financing is not utilized.  Interest accrues at 11.00% per annum and is payable quarterly in cash.  The holder of the 1.5 Lien Term Loan was the largest holder of our Unsecured Senior Notes prior to the Exchange Transaction.  The 1.5 Lien Term Loan is secured by a 1.5 priority lien on all of our assets pledged under the Credit Agreement.  The lien securing the 1.5 Lien Term Loan is subordinate to the liens securing the Credit Agreement and has priority above the liens securing the Second Lien Term Loan (defined below), the Second Lien PIK Toggle Notes and the Third Lien PIK Toggle Notes.  All future undiscounted cash flows have been included in the carrying value under ASC 470-60.  Current maturities of our long-term debt include the cash interest payable for the 1.5 Lien Term Loan payable in the next 12 months.  The 1.5 Lien Term Loan contains various covenants that limit, among other things, our ability to: (i) pay cash dividends; (ii) repurchase our common stock; (iii) sell our assets; (iv) make certain loans or investments; (v) merge or consolidate; (vi) enter into certain liens; and (vii) enter into transactions with affiliates.  We were in compliance with those covenants as of December 31, 2017.

Second Lien Term Loan

In May 2015, we entered into the 9.00% Term Loan (the “Second Lien Term Loan”), which bears an annual interest rate of 9.00%.  The Second Lien Loan was issued at a 1.0% discount to par, matures on May 15, 2020 and is recorded at its carrying value consisting of principal, unamortized discount and unamortized debt issuance costs.  Interest on the Second Lien Term Loan is payable in arrears semi-annually on May 15 and November 15.  The estimated annual effective interest rate on the Second Lien Term Loan is 9.6%, which includes amortization of debt issuance costs and discounts.  The Second Lien Term Loan is secured by a second-priority lien on all of our assets that are secured under the Credit Agreement.  The Second Lien Term Loan is effectively subordinate to the Credit Agreement and the 1.5 Lien Term Loan (discussed above) and is effectively pari passu with the Second Lien PIK Toggle Notes (discussed below).  The Second Lien Term Loan contains covenants that restrict our ability and the ability of certain of our subsidiaries to: (i) incur additional debt; (ii) make payments or distributions on account of our or our restricted subsidiaries’ capital stock; (iii) sell assets; (iv) restrict dividends or other payments of our restricted subsidiaries; (v) create liens that secure debt; (vi) enter into transactions with affiliates and (vii) merge or consolidate with another company.  We were in compliance with all applicable covenants as of December 31, 2017.  

Second Lien PIK Toggle Notes

As part of the Exchange Transaction, we issued Second Lien PIK Toggle Notes on September 7, 2016, with a maturity date of May 15, 2020.  Cash interest accrues at 9.00% per annum and is payable on May 15 and November 15 of each year.  The Second Lien PIK Toggle Notes contain payment-in-kind interest provisions, where certain semi-annual interest is added to the principal amount instead of being paid in cash in the then current semi-annual period.  This payment-in-kind provision expires on March 7, 2018.  For the initial interest payment on November 15, 2016, interest could only be paid-in-kind at 10.75% per annum.    For the six month interest period ending May 15, 2017, we paid the interest payment in cash rather than using the payment-in-kind provision.  For the six-month period ended November 15, 2017, we exercised the payment-in-kind provision.  For the interest period ending May 15, 2018, we have exercised the payment-in-kind provision to pay interest through March 7, 2018, and, thereafter, interest will be paid in cash.  When the PIK option is utilized, the principal amount of the notes increases.  The Second Lien PIK Toggle Notes are secured by a second-priority lien on all of our assets that are pledged under the Credit Agreement.  The Second Lien PIK Toggle Notes are effectively subordinate to the Credit Agreement and the 1.5 Lien Term Loan (discussed above) and are effectively pari passu with the Second Lien Term Loan (discussed above).  Current maturities of long-term debt as of December 31, 2017 include the cash interest payable for the Second Lien PIK Toggle Notes for the next 12 months.  The Second Lien PIK Toggle Notes contain covenants that restrict our ability and the ability of certain of our subsidiaries to: (i) incur additional debt; (ii) make payments or distributions on account of our or our restricted subsidiaries’ capital stock; (iii) sell assets; (iv) restrict dividends or other payments of our restricted subsidiaries; (v) create liens that secure debt; (vi) enter into transactions with affiliates and (vii) merge or consolidate with another company.  We were in compliance with all applicable covenants as of December 31, 2017.

Third Lien PIK Toggle Notes

As part of the Exchange Transaction, we issued Third Lien PIK Toggle Notes on September 7, 2016, with a maturity date of June 15, 2021.  The maturity date will accelerate to February 28, 2019 if the remaining Unsecured Senior Notes have not been extended, renewed, refunded, defeased, discharged, replaced or refinanced by February 28, 2019. Certain amendments under the 1.5 Lien Term Loan and the Credit Agreement will likely be required in the event replacement financing is not utilized. Cash interest accrues at 8.50% per annum and is payable on June 15 and December 15 of each year.  The Third Lien PIK Toggle Notes contain PIK interest provisions, where certain semi-annual interest is added to the principal amount instead of being paid in cash in the then current semi-annual period.  This payment-in-kind provision expires on September 7, 2018.  For the initial interest payment on December 15, 2016, interest could only be paid-in-kind at 10.00% per annum.  For the six month interest period ending June 15, 2017, we paid the interest payment in cash rather than using the payment-in-kind provision.  For the six-month period ended November 15, 2017, we exercised the payment-in-kind provision.  For the six-month period ended June 15, 2018, we have exercised the payment-in-kind provision.  When the PIK option is utilized, the principal amount of the notes increases.   The Third Lien PIK Toggle Notes are secured by a third-priority lien on all of our assets that are secured under the Credit Agreement.  The Third Lien PIK Toggle Notes are effectively subordinate to the Second Lien Term Loan and the Second Lien PIK Toggle Notes.  For purposes of determining the carrying amount under ASC 470-60, we anticipate the remaining eligible interest payments will be paid-in-kind versus paid in cash.  The Third Lien PIK Toggle Notes contain covenants that restrict our ability and the ability of certain of our subsidiaries to: (i) incur additional debt; (ii) make payments or distributions on account of our or our restricted subsidiaries’ capital stock; (iii) sell assets; (iv) restrict dividends or other payments of our restricted subsidiaries; (v) create liens that secure debt; (vi) enter into transactions with affiliates and (vii) merge or consolidate with another company.  We were in compliance with all applicable covenants as of December 31, 2017.

Unsecured Senior Notes

At December 31, 2017 and 2016, our outstanding Unsecured Senior Notes, which bear an annual interest rate of 8.50% and mature on June 15, 2019, were classified as long-term at their carrying value.  The Unsecured Senior Notes are currently redeemable at par.  Subject to limited exceptions, our 1.5 Lien Term Loan and Credit Agreement restrict us from using cash on hand to repay or repurchase our Unsecured Senior Notes prior to their stated maturity, although we can generally refinance our Unsecured Senior Notes with new indebtedness within customary parameters.  Certain amendments under the 1.5 Lien Term Loan and the Credit Agreement will likely be required in the event replacement financing is not utilized.  Interest on the Unsecured Senior Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15.  The estimated annual effective interest rate on the Unsecured Senior Notes is 8.3%, which includes amortization of debt issuance costs and premiums.  The Unsecured Senior Notes contain covenants that restrict our ability and the ability of certain of our subsidiaries to: (i) incur additional debt; (ii) make payments or distributions on account of our or our restricted subsidiaries’ capital stock; (iii) sell assets; (iv) restrict dividends or other payments of our restricted subsidiaries; (v) create liens that secure debt; (vi) enter into transactions with affiliates and (vii) merge or consolidate with another company.  We were in compliance with all applicable covenants as of December 31, 2017.

For information about fair value measurements of our long-term debt, refer to Note 3.