Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Debt

v3.20.2
Debt
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
DEBT DEBT
The following is a summary of the Company's debt facilities and balances as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019:
Total Commitment
or Original Principal		 Quarterly Principal Payments September 30, 2020 December 31, 2019
Maturity
Date		 Amount Outstanding Interest
Rate		 Amount Outstanding Interest
Rate
CorEnergy Secured Credit Facility:
CorEnergy Revolver $ 160,000,000  $ —  7/28/2022 $ —  2.90  % $ —  4.51  %
MoGas Revolver 1,000,000  —  7/28/2022 —  2.90  % —  4.51  %
Omega Line of Credit 1,500,000  —  4/30/2021 —  4.15  % —  5.76  %
Pinedale Secured Credit Facility:
Amended Pinedale Term Credit Facility (1)
41,000,000  882,000  12/29/2022 —  —  % 33,944,000  6.50  %
7.00% Unsecured Convertible Senior Notes
 115,000,000  —  6/15/2020 —  7.00  % 2,092,000  7.00  %
5.875% Unsecured Convertible Senior Notes
 120,000,000  —  8/15/2025 118,050,000  5.875  % 120,000,000  5.875  %
Total Debt $ 118,050,000  $ 156,036,000 
Less:
Unamortized deferred financing costs(2)
$ 405,949  $ 635,351 
Unamortized discount on 7.00% Convertible Senior Notes
 —  6,681 
Unamortized discount on 5.875% Convertible Senior Notes
 2,800,346  3,284,542 
Total Debt, net of deferred financing costs $ 114,843,705  $ 152,109,426 
Debt due within one year $ —  $ 5,612,178 
(1) The Amended Pinedale Term Credit Facility was settled during the second quarter of 2020 in connection with the sale of the Pinedale LGS asset. Refer to the "Amended Pinedale Term Credit Facility" section below.
(2) Unamortized deferred financing costs related to the Company's revolving credit facilities are included in Deferred Costs in the Assets section of the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Refer to the "Deferred Financing Costs" paragraph below.
CorEnergy Credit Facility
On July 28, 2017, the Company entered into an amendment and restatement of the CorEnergy Credit Facility with Regions Bank, as lender and administrative agent for other participating lenders (collectively, with the Agent, the "Lenders"). The amended facility provides for borrowing commitments of up to $161.0 million, consisting of (i) $160.0 million on the CorEnergy Revolver, subject to borrowing base limitations, and (ii) $1.0 million on the MoGas Revolver.
The amended facility has a 5-year term maturing on July 28, 2022. Borrowings under the credit facility will generally bear interest on the outstanding principal amount using a LIBOR pricing grid that is expected to equal a LIBOR rate plus an applicable margin of 2.75 percent to 3.75 percent, based on the Company's senior secured recourse leverage ratio. Total availability is subject to a borrowing base. The CorEnergy Credit Facility contains, among other restrictions, certain financial covenants including the maintenance of certain financial ratios, as well as default and cross-default provisions customary for transactions of this nature (with applicable customary grace periods).
Effective May 14, 2020, the Company entered into a Limited Consent with the Lenders under the CorEnergy Revolver that is part of the CorEnergy Credit Facility, pursuant to which the Lenders agreed to extend the required date for delivery of the Company's financial statements for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2020 to coordinate with the Company's previously announced extension of the filing date for its first quarter Form 10-Q pursuant to applicable SEC relief (which filing and delivery occurred within the permitted extension period). The Limited Consent also documented notice previously provided by the Company to the Agent that certain events of default occurred under the Company’s lease for its GIGS asset, as a result of the tenant under the Grand Isle Lease Agreement having failed to pay the rent due for April and May 2020. The Limited Consent is subject to the Company’s continued compliance with all of the other terms of the CorEnergy Revolver, and includes the Company’s agreement with the Lenders that the borrowing base value of the GIGS asset for purposes of the CorEnergy Revolver shall be zero, effective as of the Company’s March 31, 2020 balance sheet date. The Company also provided written notification to the Lenders of the EGC Tenant's nonpayment of rent in June, July and August 2020 and will provide any further required notices on a quarterly basis.
As of September 30, 2020, the Company was in compliance with all covenants of the CorEnergy Credit Facility, and the Company had no borrowings outstanding. The Company had approximately $57.9 million and $1.0 million of availability under the CorEnergy Revolver and MoGas Revolver, respectively.
Amended Pinedale Term Credit Facility
On December 29, 2017, Pinedale LP entered into the Amended Pinedale Term Credit Facility with Prudential and a group of lenders affiliated with Prudential as the sole lenders and Prudential serving as administrative agent. Under the terms of the Amended Pinedale Term Credit Facility, Pinedale LP was provided with a 5-year $41.0 million term loan facility, bearing interest at a fixed rate of 6.5 percent, which was scheduled to mature on December 29, 2022. Principal payments of $294 thousand, plus accrued interest, were payable monthly. Outstanding balances under the facility were secured by the Pinedale LGS assets.
As previously discussed in Note 3 ("Leased Properties And Leases"), UPL's bankruptcy filing constituted a default under the terms of the Pinedale Lease Agreement with Pinedale LP. Such default under the Pinedale Lease Agreement was an event of default under the Amended Pinedale Term Credit Facility, which was secured by the Pinedale LGS. Among other things, an event of default could give rise to a Cash Control Period (as defined in the Amended Pinedale Term Credit Facility), which impacted Pinedale LP's ability to make distributions to the Company. During such a Cash Control Period, which was triggered May 14, 2020, by the bankruptcy filing of Ultra Wyoming and its parent guarantor, UPL, distributions by Pinedale LP to the Company were permitted to the extent required for the Company to maintain its REIT qualification, so long as Pinedale LP's obligations under the Amended Pinedale Term Credit Facility were not accelerated following an Event of Default (as defined in the Amended Pinedale Term Credit Facility).
Effective May 8, 2020, Pinedale LP entered into a Standstill Agreement with Prudential. The Standstill Agreement anticipated Pinedale LP’s notification to Prudential of two Events of Default under the Amended Pinedale Term Credit Facility (the “Specified Events of Default”) as a result of the occurrence of either (i) any bankruptcy filing by UPL or Ultra Wyoming and (ii) any resulting impact on Pinedale LP’s net worth covenant under the Amended Pinedale Term Credit Facility due to any accounting impairment of the assets of Pinedale LP triggered by any such bankruptcy filing of Ultra Wyoming. Under the Standstill Agreement, Prudential agreed to forbear through September 1, 2020, or the earlier occurrence of a separate Event of Default under the Amended Pinedale Term Credit Facility (the “Standstill Period”) from exercising any rights they may have had to accelerate and declare the outstanding balance under the credit facility immediately due and payable as a result of the occurrence of either of the Specified Events of Default, provided that there were no other Events of Default and Pinedale LP continued to meet its obligations under all of the other terms of the Amended Pinedale Term Credit Facility. The Standstill Agreement also required that Pinedale LP not make any distributions to the Company during the Standstill Period and that interest was to accrue and be payable from the effective date of such agreement at the Default Rate of interest provided for in the Amended Pinedale Term Credit Facility, which increased the effective interest rate to 8.50 percent.
As previously discussed in Note 3 ("Leased Properties And Leases"), Pinedale LP and the Company entered into the Release Agreement with Prudential related to the Amended Pinedale Term Credit Facility, which had an outstanding balance of approximately $32.0 million, net of $132 thousand of deferred debt issuance costs. Pursuant to the Release Agreement, the
$18.0 million sale proceeds were provided by Ultra Wyoming directly to Prudential at closing of the Pinedale LGS sale transaction on June 30, 2020. The Company also provided all cash available at Pinedale LP of approximately $3.3 million (including $198 thousand for accrued interest) to Prudential in exchange for (i) the release of all liens on the Pinedale LGS and the other assets of Pinedale LP, (ii) the termination of the Company’s pledge of equity interests of the general partner of Pinedale LP, (iii) the termination and satisfaction in full of the obligations of Pinedale LP under the Amended Pinedale Term Credit Facility and (iv) a general release of any other obligations of Pinedale LP and/or the Company and their respective directors, officers, employees or agents pertaining to the Amended Pinedale Term Credit Facility. The Release Agreement resulted in a gain on extinguishment of debt of approximately $11.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.
Deferred Financing Costs
A summary of deferred financing cost amortization expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 is as follows:
For the Three Months Ended For the Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2020 September 30, 2019 September 30, 2020 September 30, 2019
CorEnergy Credit Facility $ 143,636  $ 143,635  $ 430,906  $ 430,906 
Amended Pinedale Term Credit Facility —  13,205  26,410  39,616 
Total Deferred Debt Cost Amortization Expense (1)(2)
$ 143,636  $ 156,840  $ 457,316  $ 470,522 
(1) Amortization of deferred debt issuance costs is included in interest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
(2) For the amount of deferred debt cost amortization relating to the convertible notes included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, refer to the Convertible Note Interest Expense table below.
CorEnergy Credit Facilities
Prior to the July 28, 2017 credit facility amendment and restatement, previously existing deferred financing costs related to the CorEnergy Credit Facility were approximately $1.8 million, of which approximately $1.6 million continue to be deferred and amortized under the amended and restated facility. Additionally, the Company incurred approximately $1.3 million in new debt issuance costs which have been deferred and are being amortized over the term of the new facility. Total deferred financing costs of $2.9 million are being amortized on a straight-line basis over the 5-year term of the amended and restated CorEnergy Credit Facility.
Convertible Debt
7.00% Convertible Notes
On June 29, 2015, the Company completed a public offering of $115.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7.00% Convertible Senior Notes Due 2020 (the "7.00% Convertible Notes"). The 7.00% Convertible Notes had a maturity date of June 15, 2020 and bore interest at a rate of 7.00 percent per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on December 15, 2015. The 7.00% Convertible Notes were convertible into common stock at a rate of 30.3030 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of 7.00% Convertible Notes, equivalent to a conversion price of $33.00 per share of common stock.
On January 16, 2019, the Company agreed with three holders of its 7.00% Convertible Notes, pursuant to privately negotiated agreements, to exchange $43.8 million face amount of such notes for an aggregate of 837,040 shares of the Company's common stock, par value $0.001 per share, plus aggregate cash consideration of $19.8 million, including $315 thousand of interest expense. The Company's agent and lenders under the CorEnergy Credit Facility provided a consent for the convertible note exchange. The Company recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of approximately $5.0 million in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the first quarter of 2019. The loss on extinguishment of debt included the write-off of a portion of the underwriter's discount and deferred debt costs of $409 thousand and $27 thousand, respectively.
On August 15, 2019, the Company used a portion of the net proceeds from the offering of the 5.875% Convertible Notes discussed further below, together with shares of its common stock, to exchange $63.9 million face amount of its 7.00% Convertible Notes pursuant to privately negotiated agreements with three holders. The total cash and stock consideration for the exchange was valued at approximately $93.2 million. This included an aggregate of 703,432 shares of common stock plus cash consideration of approximately $60.2 million, including $733 thousand of interest expense. The Company recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of approximately $28.9 million in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the third quarter of 2019. The loss on extinguishment of debt included the write-off of a portion of the underwriter's discount and deferred debt costs of $360 thousand and $24 thousand, respectively. Collectively, for the two exchange transactions described above, the Company recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $34.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2019.
Additionally, during the first quarter of 2020, certain holders elected to convert $416 thousand of 7.00% Convertible Notes for approximately 12,605 shares of common stock. On June 12, 2020, the Company paid $1.7 million in aggregate principal and $59 thousand in accrued interest upon maturity of the 7.00% Convertible Notes to extinguish the remaining debt outstanding.
5.875% Convertible Notes
On August 12, 2019, the Company completed a private placement offering of $120.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.875% Convertible Senior Notes due 2025 (the "5.875% Convertible Notes") to the initial purchasers of such notes for cash in reliance on an exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. The initial purchasers then resold the 5.875% Convertible Notes for cash equal to 100 percent of the aggregate principal amount thereof to qualified institutional buyers, as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act, in reliance on an exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A. The 5.875% Convertible Notes mature on August 15, 2025 and bear interest at a rate of 5.875 percent per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, beginning on February 15, 2020.
The 5.875% Convertible Notes were issued with an initial purchasers' discount of $3.5 million, which is being amortized over the life of the notes. The Company also incurred approximately $508 thousand of deferred debt costs in issuing the 5.875% Convertible Notes, which are also being amortized over the life of the notes.
Holders may convert all or any portion of their 5.875% Convertible Notes into shares of the Company's common stock at their option at any time prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the maturity date. The initial conversion rate for the 5.875% Convertible Notes is 20.0 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of the 5.875% Convertible Notes, equivalent to an initial conversion price of $50.00 per share of the Company's common stock. Such conversion rate will be subject to adjustment in certain events as specified in the Indenture.
The Indenture for the 5.875% Convertible Notes specifies events of default, including default by the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to any debt agreements under which there may be outstanding, or by which there may be secured or evidenced, any debt in excess of $25.0 million in the aggregate of the Company and/or any such subsidiary, resulting in such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable prior to its stated maturity.
On April 29, 2020, the Company repurchased approximately $2.0 million face amount of its 5.875% Convertible Notes for approximately $1.3 million, including $24 thousand of accrued interest. The repurchase resulted in a gain on extinguishment of debt of $576 thousand for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. Subsequent to the transaction, the Company has $118.1 million aggregate principal amount of 5.875% Convertible Notes outstanding.
Convertible Note Interest Expense
The following is a summary of the impact of convertible notes on interest expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019:
Convertible Note Interest Expense
For the Three Months Ended For the Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2020 September 30, 2019 September 30, 2020 September 30, 2019
7.00% Convertible Notes:
Interest Expense $ —  $ 632,189  $ 55,331  $ 3,265,626 
Discount Amortization —  62,030  6,681  312,079 
Deferred Debt Issuance Amortization —  4,051  1,141  20,382 
Total 7.00% Convertible Notes
 $ —  $ 698,270  $ 63,153  $ 3,598,087 
5.875% Convertible Notes:
Interest Expense $ 1,733,859  $ 959,583  $ 5,239,129  $ 959,583 
Discount Amortization 143,607  79,478  433,932  79,478 
Deferred Debt Issuance Amortization 20,818  10,623  62,905  10,623 
Total 5.875% Convertible Notes
 $ 1,898,284  $ 1,049,684  $ 5,735,966  $ 1,049,684 
Total Convertible Note Interest Expense $ 1,898,284  $ 1,747,954  $ 5,799,119  $ 4,647,771 
Including the impact of the convertible debt discount and related deferred debt issuance costs, (i) the effective interest rate on the 7.00% Convertible Notes is approximately 7.7 percent for each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, and (ii) the effective interest rate on the 5.875% Convertible Notes is approximately 6.4 percent for each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Debt Covenant Considerations
In accordance with GAAP, when preparing financial statements for each annual and interim reporting period, management evaluates whether there are conditions or events that, when considered in the aggregate, raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. In making its assessment, management considered the Company’s current financial condition and liquidity sources, including current funds available, forecasted future cash flows and conditional and unconditional obligations due over the next twelve months. As discussed in this footnote, the Company was in compliance with its debt covenants under the CorEnergy Credit Facility as of September 30, 2020.
The Company has considered the projected impact of COVID-19 and the significant disruptions and volatility in the global energy markets on the ability of its EGC Tenant to pay rent, which represents a significant portion of the Company's lease revenues and operating cash flows. Based on its analysis of future compliance with its financial covenants, management has determined that the Company may violate certain financial covenants under the CorEnergy Credit Facility starting in the fourth quarter of 2020 if covenant waivers are not obtained. If the Company were to violate one or more financial covenants, the lenders could declare the Company in default and could accelerate the amounts due under a portion or all of the Company’s outstanding debt under the CorEnergy Credit Facility. Further, a default under one debt agreement could trigger cross-default provisions within certain of the Company's other debt agreements. While these conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the financial statements are issued, management has concluded that such doubt is mitigated by the considerations discussed below, which lead to a conclusion that the Company will continue to be able to fund current obligations as they become due one year from the date of issuance of these financial statements.
The Company is in the process of working with its lenders and believes it will receive waivers with respect to the affected financial covenants before any covenants are violated. However, any waivers would be granted at the sole discretion of the lenders, and there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain such waivers. Additionally, the Company currently has no borrowings or expected future borrowings on its CorEnergy Credit Facility, which mitigates the cross-default provision described above under the Company's 5.875% Convertible Notes. In any event, should negotiations with the Company's lenders concerning additional waivers prove unsuccessful, the Company would have sufficient liquidity to pay fees that would be due in connection with any termination of the CorEnergy Credit Facility, while also continuing to fund current obligations as they become due one year from the date of issuance of these financial statements. As a result, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern.