Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Long-term Debt

v3.19.3.a.u2
Long-term Debt
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
Long-term Debt
17. Long-term Debt:
The summary of long-term debt is as follows:
 
 
December 31,
 
 
2019
 
2018
Term Loan Facility
 
$
947,497

 
$
1,157,498

6.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2022
 
625,000

 
625,000

5.75% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2025
 
295,000

 
300,000

ABL Facility
 

 

Other
 
64,629

 
65,925

Total debt
 
1,932,126

 
2,148,423

Original issue discount
 
(13,434
)
 
(18,584
)
Deferred financing costs
 
(11,730
)
 
(15,882
)
Total debt, net of original issue discount and deferred financing costs
 
1,906,962

 
2,113,957

Less: current portion
 
(7,766
)
 
(7,237
)
Total long-term debt, excluding current portion
 
$
1,899,196

 
$
2,106,720

 
 
 
 
 

Senior Secured Credit Facilities
On May 4, 2016, the Company entered into senior secured credit facilities (collectively, the “2016 Senior Secured Credit Facilities”) comprised of a $1,200,000 term loan facility, which consisted of a $900,000 U.S. dollar-denominated tranche and a $300,000 Euro-denominated (or €265,000) tranche (the “2016 Term Loan Facility”), and a $200,000 asset-based revolving credit facility (the “ABL Facility”).
On February 8, 2018 (the “Third Amendment Closing Date”), PQ Corporation (the “Borrower”), an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, refinanced its existing U.S. Dollar and Euro denominated senior secured term loan facilities with a new $1,267,000 senior secured term loan facility (the “Term Loan Facility”) by entering into the Third Amendment Agreement to the 2016 Term Loan Facility (the “Third Amendment”), which amended and restated the Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of May 4, 2016, among the Borrower, CPQ Midco I Corporation, Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Island Branch, as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the lenders and the other parties party thereto from time to time (as amended prior to the Third Amendment, the “Existing Credit Agreement” and as amended and restated by the Amendment, the “New Credit Agreement”).
As of December 31, 2019, the Term Loan Facility accrued interest at a floating rate of LIBOR plus 2.50% per annum and was scheduled to mature in February 2025. The Term Loan Facility requires scheduled quarterly amortization payments, each equal to 0.25% of the original principal amount of the loans under the Term Loan Facility.
On the Third Amendment Closing Date, the Company also entered into multiple cross currency swap arrangements to hedge foreign currency risk. The swaps were designed to enable the Company to effectively convert a portion of its fixed-rate U.S. dollar denominated debt obligations into approximately €280,000. The swaps were to mature in February 2023. In October 2019, the Company settled all of its cross-currency interest rate swap arrangements (the “February 2018 swaps”) and concurrently entered into new cross-currency interest rate swap arrangements (the “October 2019 swaps”) with the same notional amount of €280,000 equivalent ($313,656 as of December 31, 2019) and same maturity of February 2023. Consistent with the February 2018 swaps, the October 2019 swaps are designed to enable the Company to effectively convert a portion of its fixed-rate U.S. dollar-denominated debt obligations under the Term Loan Facility into a Euro-denominated equivalent. The October 2019 swaps have been designated and qualify as net investment hedges of the Company’s foreign currency exchange rate exposure on the net investments of certain of its Euro-denominated subsidiaries. The settlement of the February 2018 swaps resulted in cash proceeds to the Company of $38,070, which the Company used for additional debt repayment on the Company’s Term Loan Facility.
The Company may at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay loans under the Term Loan Facility in whole or in part without premium or penalty.
The Term Loan Facility requires mandatory prepayments from (i) 50% of “Excess Cash Flow” (as defined in the New Credit Agreement) on an annual basis with step downs to lower percentages based on the Borrower’s leverage ratio, if applicable, (ii) net cash proceeds from the issuance or incurrence of certain indebtedness and (iii) net cash proceeds received from certain non-ordinary course disposition of assets and casualty events to the extent such net cash proceeds were not reinvested in the Company’s business within a certain specified time period. Prepayments are applied to remaining amortization installments in direct order of maturity. The remaining principal balance of the term loans are due upon maturity.
In addition, the New Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants and events of default, all of which are substantially the same as under the Existing Credit Agreement.
The Borrower and certain Canadian and European subsidiaries of the Borrower also have a $200,000 asset-based revolving credit facility (the “ABL Facility”) which provides for $150,000 in U.S. available borrowings, up to $10,000 in Canadian available borrowings and up to $40,000 of European available borrowings. Borrowings under the ABL Facility bear interest at a rate equal to the LIBOR rate or the base rate elected by the Company at the time of the borrowing plus a margin of between 1.50%-2.00% or 0.50%-1.00%, respectively, depending on availability under the ABL Facility. In addition, there is an annual commitment fee equal to 0.375%, with a step-down to 0.25% based on the average usage of the revolving credit borrowings available. As of December 31, 2019, there were no revolving credit borrowings under the ABL Facility. Revolving credit borrowings are payable at the option of the Company throughout the term of the ABL Facility with the balance due May 4, 2021.
The Company has the ability to request letters of credit under the ABL Facility. The Company had $20,506 of letters of credit outstanding as of December 31, 2019, which reduce available borrowings under the ABL Facility by such amounts.
The Term Loan Facility is guaranteed by CPQ Midco I Corporation, a subsidiary of the Company and the direct parent of the Borrower (“Holdings”) and substantially all of the Borrower’s wholly owned U.S. subsidiaries. The obligations under the Term Facility are secured (i) by a first-priority security interest in, among other things, a pledge substantially all of the Borrower’s and the guarantors’ assets (other than collateral securing the ABL Facility on a first-priority basis) and (ii) by a second-priority security interest in receivables, inventory, deposit accounts and other collateral of the Borrower and the U.S. subsidiary guarantors securing the ABL Facility. The liens securing the Term Loan Facility and the guarantees are pari passu with the liens securing the Senior Secured Notes subject to the pari passu intercreditor agreement.
The obligations of the Borrower under the ABL Facility are guaranteed by Holdings and the same U.S. subsidiary guarantors that guarantee the Term Loan Facility, the obligations of the Canadian Borrowers under the ABL Facility are guaranteed by certain other Canadian subsidiaries of the Borrower and the obligations of the European Borrowers under the ABL Facility are guaranteed by certain other European subsidiaries of the Borrower. The obligations of the borrowers and guarantors under the ABL Facility are secured (i) by a first-priority security interest in, among other things, substantially all of their receivables, inventory, deposit accounts and other collateral securing the ABL Facility on a first-priority basis and (ii) by a second-priority security interest in the property and assets of Holdings, the Borrower and the U.S. subsidiary guarantors that secure the Term Loan Facility. In addition, the ABL Facility is secured by the equity interests in, and substantially all of the assets of, certain foreign guarantors in connection with the Canadian dollar-denominated and Euro-denominated availability.
The Term Loan Facility and the ABL Facility contain various non-financial restrictive covenants. Each limits the ability of PQ Corporation and its restricted subsidiaries to incur certain indebtedness or liens, merge, consolidate or liquidate, dispose of certain property, make investments or declare or pay dividends, make optional payments, modify certain debt instruments, enter into certain transactions with affiliates, enter into certain sales and leasebacks, and certain other non-financial restrictive covenants. The ABL Facility also contains one financial covenant which applies when minimum availability under the ABL Facility exceeds a certain threshold. During such time, the Company is required to maintain a fixed-charge coverage ratio of at least 1.0 to 1.0. The Company is in compliance with all debt covenants as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company prepaid $100,000 of outstanding principal balance on the Term Loan Facility. The Company wrote off $559 of previously unamortized deferred financing costs and original issue discount of $1,313 as debt extinguishment costs. The prepayments were applied against the remaining scheduled installments of principal due in respect of the loans under the Term Loan Facility in direct order of maturity.
During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company prepaid $210,000 of outstanding principal balance on the Term Loan Facility. The Company wrote off $1,027 of previously unamortized deferred financing costs and original issue discount of $2,414 as debt extinguishment costs. The prepayments were applied against the remaining scheduled installments of principal due in respect of the loans under the Term Loan Facility in direct order of maturity.
Debt extinguishment costs resulting from Term Loan amendments
As a result of amending the Term Loan facility during the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company recorded $2,124 of new creditor and third-party financing costs as debt extinguishment costs. In addition, previous unamortized deferred financing costs of $1,403 and original issue discount of $2,352 associated with the previously outstanding debt were written off as debt extinguishment costs.
As a result of amending the Term Loan facility during the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company recorded $199 of new creditor and third-party financing costs as debt extinguishment costs. In addition, previous unamortized deferred financing costs of $105 and original issue discount of $162 associated with the previously outstanding debt were written off as debt extinguishment costs.
6.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2022
On May 4, 2016, the Borrower issued $625,000 of 6.750% Senior Secured Notes due November 2022 (the “6.75% Senior Secured Notes”) in transactions exempt from or not subject to registration under the Securities Act pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933. The 6.75% Senior Secured Notes are guaranteed by guaranteed by PQ Holdings Inc. and by the U.S. subsidiary guarantors that guarantee the Term Loan Facility and are secured by liens on the assets of the Borrower and the U.S. subsidiary guarantors on a pari passu with the liens securing the Term Loan Facility subject to the pari passu intercreditor agreement. The guarantee by PQ Holdings Inc. is unsecured. The indenture relating to the 6.75% Senior Secured Notes contains various limitations on the Company’s and its restricted subsidiaries’ ability to incur additional indebtedness, pay dividends or repay certain debt, make loans and investments, sell assets, create liens, enter into transactions with affiliates, enter into agreements restricting the Borrower’s subsidiaries ability to pay dividends, and merge and consolidate with other companies, among other things. Interest on the 6.75% Senior Secured Notes is payable on May 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing November 15, 2016. No principal payments are required with respect to the 6.75% Senior Secured Notes prior to their final maturity. The 6.75% Senior Secured Notes mature on November 15, 2022.
If any Event of Default (other than a default relating to certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency of PQ Corporation or certain of its subsidiaries) occurs and is continuing under the Indenture, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the then total outstanding notes by notice to the Company may declare the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then outstanding notes to be due and payable immediately. If an event of default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency of the Company occurs, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all the 6.75% Senior Secured Notes shall become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holders.
The 6.75% Senior Secured Notes are redeemable, in whole or in part, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the 6.75% Senior Secured Notes to be redeemed) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the redemption date, if redeemed on or after any of the dates below until the subsequent date below:
Year
 
Percentage
May 15, 2019
 
103.375%
May 15, 2020
 
101.688%
May 15, 2021 and thereafter
 
100.000%

Upon the occurrence of a change of control, as defined, each holder will have the right to require the Company to purchase all or any part of such holder’s 6.75% Senior Secured Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest.
Senior Unsecured Notes - Redeemed in 2017
On May 4, 2016, the Borrower issued $525,000 aggregate principal amount of floating rate Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022 (the “Senior Unsecured Notes”) in a concurrent private placement exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The notes were issued at 98.0% of the principal amount. The Senior Unsecured Notes were to mature on May 1, 2022.
In conjunction with the Company’s IPO, on October 3, 2017, the Borrower redeemed $446,208 in aggregate principal of the $525,000 of its Senior Unsecured Notes using the proceeds from the IPO. Following the redemption, $78,792 aggregate principal amount of the Senior Unsecured Notes remained outstanding. The Borrower paid a redemption premium of $32,284, which was recorded as debt extinguishment costs. In addition, previous unamortized deferred financing costs of $696 and original issue discount of $7,555 associated with the previously outstanding debt were written off as debt extinguishment costs.
On December 11, 2017, the Borrower redeemed the remaining $78,792 aggregate principal amount of the Senior Unsecured Notes with the proceeds from its issuance of the 5.75% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2025. The Borrower paid a redemption premium of $7,091, of which $6,043 was recorded as debt extinguishment costs. In addition, unamortized deferred financing costs of $108 and original issue discount of $1,176 associated with the previously outstanding debt were written off as debt extinguishment costs. Refer to the 5.75% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2025 section of this note for further information.
8.50% Senior Notes due 2022 - Redeemed in 2017
In December 2014, Eco Services issued $200,000 aggregate principal amount of 8.50% senior notes due 2022 (the “2022 Notes”) under an indenture dated October 24, 2014. The 2022 Notes were issued in a private transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Pursuant to the indenture governing the 2022 Notes, PQ Group Holdings assumed the obligations of Eco Services under the 2022 Notes following the former business combination. The 2022 Notes were to mature on November 1, 2022 and were issued at 100% of the principal amount. On December 11, 2017, the Borrower redeemed the $200,000 aggregate principal amount of the 2022 Notes with the proceeds from its issuance of the 5.75% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2025. The Borrower paid a redemption premium of $8,500, of which $7,996 was recorded as debt extinguishment costs. In addition, unamortized deferred financing costs of $5,207 associated with the previously outstanding debt were written off as debt extinguishment costs. Refer to the 5.75% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2025 section of this note for further information.
5.75% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2025
On December 11, 2017, the Borrower issued $300,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.75% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2025 (the “5.75% Senior Unsecured Notes”) in a private placement exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The 5.75% Senior Unsecured Notes mature on December 15, 2025. Interest on the 5.75% Senior Unsecured Notes is to be paid semi-annually on February 15 and August 15, commencing August 15, 2018, at an annual rate of 5.75%. The indenture relating to the 5.75% Senior Unsecured Notes contained various limitations on the Borrower’s and its restricted subsidiaries’ ability to incur additional indebtedness, pay dividends or repay certain debt, make loans and investments, sell assets, create liens, enter into transactions with affiliates, enter into agreements restricting the Borrower’s subsidiaries ability to pay dividends, and merge and consolidate with other companies, among other things. No principal payments are required with respect to the Senior Secured Notes prior to their final maturity.
The obligations of the Borrower under the 5.75% Senior Unsecured Notes and the related indenture are guaranteed by its U.S. subsidiary guarantors that guarantee the Term Loan Facility. The obligations of the Company under the 5.75% Senior Unsecured Notes and the indenture are unsecured.
If any Event of Default (other than a default relating to certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency of PQ Corporation or certain of its subsidiaries) occurs and is continuing under the Indenture, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the then total outstanding notes by notice to the Company may declare the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then outstanding notes to be due and payable immediately. If an event of default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency of the Company occurs, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all the Senior Secured Notes shall become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holders.
At any time prior to December 15, 2020, the Borrower may, at its option and on one more occasions, redeem (a) up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the 5.75% Senior Unsecured Notes with the cash proceeds from certain equity offerings at a redemption price equal to the sum of 105.75% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, and (b) all or part of the 5.75% Senior Unsecured Notes at 100.00% of the aggregate principal amount redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon and a make-whole premium (the “Applicable Premium”). The Applicable Premium is equal to the greater of: (a) 1% of the principal amount of notes redeemed, or (b) the excess, if any, of:
(1) the present value at the redemption date of (i) the redemption price of such notes at December 15, 2020 (as set forth in the table below), plus (ii) all required remaining scheduled interest payments due on such notes through December 15, 2020 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date), computed using a discount rate equal to the applicable United States Treasury rate as of such redemption date plus 50 basis points; over
(2) the outstanding principal amount of such notes on the redemption date.
On or after December 15, 2020, the 5.75% Senior Unsecured Notes are redeemable, in whole or in part, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the 5.75% Senior Unsecured Notes to be redeemed) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the redemption date, if redeemed on or after any of the dates below until the subsequent date below:
Year
 
Percentage
December 15, 2020
 
102.875%
December 15, 2021
 
101.438%
December 15, 2022 and thereafter
 
100.000%

Upon the occurrence of a change of control, as defined, each holder will have the right to require the Company to purchase all or any part of such holder’s Senior Secured Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest.
In March 2019, the Company repurchased $5,000 of the 5.75% Senior Unsecured Notes at 97.75%. The Company wrote off $55 of previously unamortized deferred financing costs and original issue discount of $29 as debt extinguishment costs.
Other Debt
New Markets Tax Credit Financing
On October 24, 2013, PQ Holdings’ (and now the Company’s) subsidiary Potters Industries, LLC (“Potters”) entered into a NMTC financing arrangement with JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. and several of its affiliates (“Chase”) and TX CDE V LLC, an affiliate of Texas LIC Development Company LLC d/b/a Texas Community Development Capital (“TX CDE”) to fund the expansion of Potters’ manufacturing facility in Paris, Texas (the “2013 NMTC Agreement”). The NMTC program, which is administered by the United States Treasury Department, requires certain balance sheet commitments. The 2013 NMTC Agreement will provide the Company with certain monetary benefits as an offset to specifically identified capital expenditures. The 2013 NMTC Agreement requires that certain commitments and covenants be maintained over a period of seven years in order to legally recognize the benefit. Chase agreed to contribute $6,634 and an additional $15,632 in funds lent to Chase by Potters Holdings II, L.P. to TX CDE. TX CDE, in turn, lent $21,000 in the form of $5,368 and $15,632 of notes to Potters, which used the proceeds to finance the expansion of Potters’ manufacturing facility in Paris, Texas. The capital expenditures associated with the 2013 NMTC Agreement were completed in 2014. The $21,000 of debt related to the 2013 NMTC was assumed as part of the former business combination and was outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and 2018.
On May 17, 2016, Potters entered into a NMTC financing arrangement with U.S. Bank N.A. and several of its affiliates (“USB”) and MRC XX LLC, an affiliate of Midwest Renewable Capital, LLC (“MRC”), to fund the expansion of Potters’ manufacturing facility in Augusta, Georgia (the “May 2016 NMTC Agreement”). The May 2016 NMTC Agreement provides the Company with certain monetary benefits as an offset to specifically identified capital expenditures. The May 2016 NMTC Agreement requires that certain commitments and covenants be maintained over a period of seven years in order to legally recognize the benefit. USB agreed to contribute $3,732 and an additional $7,822 in funds lent to USB by Potters Holdings II, L.P. to MRC. MRC, in turn, lent $11,000 in the form of $7,823, $1,311 and $1,866 of notes to Potters, which used the proceeds to finance the expansion of Potters’ manufacturing facility in Augusta, Georgia. The $11,000 was outstanding as of December 31, 2019. The capital expenditures associated with the May 2016 NMTC Agreement were completed in 2017.
On December 29, 2016, Potters entered into a second NMTC financing arrangement with USB and MRC whereby USB agreed to contribute $3,815 and an additional $7,775 in funds lent to USB by Potters Holdings II, L.P. to MRC. MRC, in turn, lent $11,000 in the form of $7,775, $1,402 and $1,823 of notes to Potters, which will use the proceeds as working capital for another expansion of Potters’ manufacturing facility in Paris, Texas (the “December 2016 NMTC Agreement”). The $11,000 was outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and 2018. Potters expended the proceeds of the notes as working capital in 2017.
On June 22, 2017, Potters, entered into a NMTC financing arrangement with U.S. Bank N.A. (“USB”), one of USB’s affiliates (“USB Investment Fund”) and Business Conduit No. 28, LLC, an affiliate of Community Reinvestment Fund, Inc. (“CRF”). USB contributed $3,054 to USB Investment Fund, and Potters Leveraged Lender LLC, an indirect subsidiary of the Company, lent USB Investment Fund $6,221. USB Investment Fund then contributed $9,000 to CRF, which in turn lent $8,820 to Potters pursuant to a credit agreement (the “June 2017 NMTC Agreement”). Potters used the $8,820 in proceeds to acquire equipment for the expansion of Potters’ manufacturing facility in Paris, Texas. The June 2017 NMTC Agreement provides the Company with certain monetary benefits as an offset to specifically identified capital expenditures. The June 2017 NMTC Agreement requires that certain commitments and covenants are maintained over a period of seven years in order to legally recognize the benefit. The $8,820 was outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and 2018. The capital expenditures associated with the June 2017 NMTC Agreement were completed in 2018.
In connection with the aforementioned NMTC financing arrangements, the Company provided indemnifications related to its actions or inactions which cause either a NMTC disallowance or recapture event. In the event that the Company causes either a recapture or disallowance of the tax credits expected to be generated under this program, then the Company will be required to repay the disallowed or recaptured tax credits plus an amount sufficient to pay the taxes on such repayment to the counterparty of the agreement. This indemnification covers the Company’s actions and inactions prior the end of the seven-year term of each agreement. The maximum potential amount of future payments under this indemnification is approximately $24,649. The Company currently believes that the likelihood of a required payment under this indemnification is remote.
Subsidiary Credit Agreement
On June 12, 2017, the Company acquired Sovitec and assumed its obligations to Belfius Bank NV (“Belfius”). On June 8, 2017, Sovitec entered into a credit agreement with Belfius governing a €14,500 credit line which is divided into four tranches. Tranche A was issued in the amount of €7,500 in the form of a Euro roll-over credit with a maturity date of December 31, 2021. Tranche B was issued in the amount of €3,000 in the form of a Euro roll-over credit with a full principal payment due on its maturity date of September 30, 2022. A working capital line of credit (“Working Capital”) of €3,000 was issued under the form of straight loans with a maturity date up to 90 days after borrowings are made on the line. A capital expenditure line of credit (“CAPEX line”) of €1,000 was issued under the form of straight loans with a maturity date of September 30, 2021. Tranche A is subject to principal payments of €750 made on September 30 and December 31 of each year. Borrowings under the credit agreement bear rates based on Sovitec’s ratio of net debt to Normalized EBITDA. Normalized EBITDA is defined as the Sovitec consolidated operating profit before non-recurring items (i.e. items non-related to normal operations of the last twelve month period and provided an acceptable description of the one-off character of those items is given) and before taxation, depreciation and amortization. Interest rate margins are subject to being reset on June 30 of each year. Interest rates reset based on three net debt to Normalized EBITDA ratio ranges of less than 2, between 2 and 3 or greater than 3. Rates for each tranche of debt reset based on 1 to 9 month EURIBOR rates (not lower than zero) plus a margin that can range between 1.10% to 1.55% for Tranche A, 1.85% to 2.15% for Tranche B, 0.90% and 1.20% for Working Capital and 1.25% and 1.80% for the CAPEX line.
As of December 31, 2019, the interest rate on the credit agreements are as follows: Tranche A, 1.10%, Tranche B, 1.85%, Working Capital, 0.90% and CAPEX 1.25%. As of December 31, 2019, the following principal balances are outstanding on each debt instrument: Tranche A, $3,361, Tranche B, $3,361, Working Capital, $2,576 and CAPEX $1,120.
Loans and guarantees under the credit agreement are secured by (1) a first priority security interest on the Sovitec properties located Fleurus, Belgium and Florange, France and (2) 100% of the nominative shares in Sovitec’s wholly owned parent company, Sovitec International B.V. The credit agreement contains various non-financial and financial covenants. Each limits the ability of Sovitec and its restricted subsidiaries to incur certain indebtedness or liens, merge, consolidated or liquidate, dispose of certain property, make investments or declare or pay dividends. The credit agreement also contains one financial covenant which requires maintaining a maximum net debt/EBITDA ratio of 3:1 during the first three years of the agreement and afterwards a maximum 2.5:1 ratio. The Company is in compliance with all debt covenants as of December 31, 2019.
Notes Payable
The Company also has several note payable agreements denominated in Japanese Yen which enables the Company to borrow up to a total of 260,000 Japanese Yen, or $2,358. Borrowings bear interest at either TIBOR (“Tokyo Interbank Offered Rate”) plus a margin or the short-term prime rate. The terms of the agreements vary and are renewable upon expiration of the term with the balances due in 2020. Borrowings under the agreement are payable at the option of the Company throughout the term of the agreements. Borrowings outstanding under these agreements were $2,387 and $2,358 as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Certain of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries maintain other note payable agreements. These agreements are not further described as they are not significant to the consolidated financial statements.
Fair Value of Debt
The fair value of a financial instrument is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the fair value of the senior secured term loans and senior secured and unsecured notes was $1,905,822 and $2,010,023, respectively. The fair value is classified as Level 2 based upon the fair value hierarchy (see Note 5 to these consolidated financial statements for further information on fair value measurements).
Aggregate Long-term Debt Maturities
The aggregate long-term debt maturities are:
Year
 
Amount
2020
 
$
7,766

2021
 
1,683

2022
 
628,361

2023
 
3,689

2024
 

Thereafter
 
1,290,627

 
 
$
1,932,126