v3.26.1
Note 7 - Long-term Debt
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2026
Notes to Financial Statements  
Long-Term Debt [Text Block]

NOTE 7. Long-Term Debt

 

The components of long-term debt, including the effects of debt issuance costs, are as follows (in thousands):

 

   

June 30,

2026

   

December 31,

2025

 

Term Loan Credit Agreement due 2028

  $ 1,200,000     $ 1,200,000  

Senior Credit Facility Agreement due 2028

           

Debt issuance costs, net (a)

    (11,087 )     (7,193 )

Total debt

    1,188,913       1,192,807  

Less current maturities of long-term debt

    (120,000

)

    (60,000

)

Long-term debt, net

  $ 1,068,913     $ 1,132,807  

 

 


 

 

(a)

Debt issuance costs as of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025 consisted of $15.1 million and $8.9 million, respectively, in costs less accumulated amortization of $4.0 million and $1.7 million, respectively.

 

Term Loan Credit Agreement. On September 12, 2023, the Company entered into a Term Loan Credit Agreement with Texas Capital Bank (“Texas Capital”) as the administrative agent and Chambers Energy Management, LP (“Chambers”) as collateral agent and lenders from time-to-time party thereto to establish a term loan (“Term Loan Credit Agreement”) in an aggregate principal amount of $1.2 billion, less a 2.5% original issue discount of $30.0 million at closing and customary debt issuance costs which totaled approximately $24.0 million. The Term Loan Credit Agreement was set to mature on September 30, 2026. On August 1, 2025, the Company entered into the First Term Loan Amendment whereby, among other things, (i) the maturity was extended to September 30, 2028, (ii) borrowings were upsized to $1.2 billion, providing additional liquidity, and (iii) the quarterly amortization payments of $30.0 million were deferred for one year such that they begin again in September 2026. As a result of this amendment which was considered an extinguishment of debt, the Company recognized a loss on extinguishment of debt of $25.4 million consisting of (i) $11.5 million in unamortized discounts, (ii) $9.2 million in unamortized debt issuance costs and (iii) $4.7 million in premiums paid to those lenders that chose to exit the Term Loan Credit Agreement upon closing of the First Term Loan Amendment. Effective as of December 30, 2025, the Company entered into the Second Term Loan Amendment whereby, among other things, (i) the Company has been required to maintain an asset coverage ratio of not less than 1.00 to 1.00 for the fourth quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, representing a 0.25x decrease in the required ratio levels for such quarters, (ii) the Company has been required to maintain a total net leverage ratio of not greater than 2.50 to 1.00 for the fourth quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, representing a 0.50x increase in the required ratio levels for such quarters, (iii) the Company’s hedging obligations has been increased requiring it to maintain hedging agreements with respect to 75% of its proved developed producing oil production for the period from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027 and 60% of its proved developed producing oil production for the period from April 1, 2027 to September 30, 2027, in each case as provided in the Company’s reserve report as of December 31, 2025 and (iv) the Company is prohibited from making quarterly dividends on its common stock until September 30, 2026. On June 25, 2026, the Company entered into the Third Term Loan Amendment whereby, the Company will be required to maintain a total net leverage ratio of not greater than 2.25 to 1.00 for the second quarter of 2026, representing a 0.25x increase in the required ratio level for such quarter. For the third quarter of 2026 and quarterly periods ending thereafter, the required asset coverage ratio and total net leverage ratio levels will reset to the levels provided for such quarters in the Second Term Loan Amendment. As of June 30, 2026, $1.2 billion was outstanding under the Term Loan Credit Agreement. Loans under the Term Loan Credit Agreement bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted Term SOFR (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) plus an applicable margin of 7.50%. To the extent a payment or other event of default exists and is continuing, at the election of the Required Lenders (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement), all amounts outstanding under the Term Loan Credit Agreement will bear interest at 2.00% per annum above the rate otherwise applicable thereto. The Company is able to repay any amounts borrowed prior to the maturity date without premium or penalty. The Term Loan Credit Agreement is guaranteed by the Company and certain of its subsidiaries and is secured by a first-lien second-out security interest in substantially all assets of the Company and certain of its subsidiaries, which will require the Company to comply with an asset coverage ratio of not less than 1.25:1.00 for the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2026 and 1.50:1.00 for fiscal quarters ending thereafter and a total net leverage ratio of not greater than 2.00:1.00 for the  fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2026 and fiscal quarters ending thereafter.

 

The Term Loan Credit Agreement contains customary restrictive covenants that limit the ability of the Company and its restricted subsidiaries to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness (with exceptions permitting, among other things, the incurrence of a super priority revolving credit facility, subject to a cap of $100 million), incur additional liens, make investments and loans, enter into mergers and acquisitions, make dividends and certain other payments, enter into certain hedging transactions, sell assets, engage in transactions with affiliates and make certain capital expenditures.

 

In addition, the Term Loan Credit Agreement contains customary mandatory prepayments, in addition to quarterly scheduled amortization payments of $30.0 million referenced above, consisting of prepayments with proceeds of prohibited indebtedness and asset sales (including hedge terminations) in excess of $20.0 million in any calendar year, and prepayments with a percentage of Excess Cash Flow (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) equal to 0%, 25% or 50% based on a total net leverage ratio to the extent pro forma for any such payment, the aggregate cash and cash equivalents of the Company and its restricted subsidiaries would not be less than $100.0 million as of the date of such payment (with no such excess cash flow prepayments made as of June 30, 2026). The Term Loan Credit Agreement is subject to customary events of default, including upon the occurrence of a change in control. If an event of default occurs and is continuing, the collateral agent or the majority lenders may accelerate any amounts outstanding and terminate lender commitments.

 

Collateral Agency Agreement. On September 12, 2023, the Company entered into a collateral agency agreement (the “Collateral Agency Agreement”) with Texas Capital, as collateral agent, Chambers, as term representative, and Mercuria Energy Trading SA, as initial first-out representative, which was later joined by Fifth Third Bank, National Association, as successor first-out representative.

 

The Collateral Agency Agreement provides for the appointment of Texas Capital, as collateral agent, for the present and future holders of the first-lien obligations (including holders of “first-out” obligations and obligations under the Term Loan Credit Agreement) to receive, hold, administer and distribute proceeds of the collateral and to enforce the Security Documents. Under the terms of the Collateral Agency Agreement, proceeds of collateral are first distributed to holders of “first-out” obligations, including certain hedging and cash management obligations and obligations under the Senior Credit Facility Agreement but excluding certain “excess” first-out obligations, and second to holders of obligations under the Term Loan Credit Agreement. 

 

Senior Credit Facility Agreement. On November 1, 2023, the Company entered into a credit agreement with Fifth Third Bank, National Association (“Fifth Third”) as the administrative agent and as the collateral agent, together with a number of other banks and financial institutions party thereto, to establish a senior revolving credit facility (“Senior Credit Facility Agreement”). The Senior Credit Facility Agreement has aggregate maximum commitments of $100.0 million. On August 1, 2025, the Company entered into the Second Facility Amendment which, among other things, extended the maturity date to September 30, 2028, which was not considered an extinguishment of debt. Effective as of December 30, 2025, the Company entered into the Third Facility Amendment whereby, among other things, (i) the Company has been required to maintain an asset coverage ratio of not less than 1.00 to 1.00 for the fourth quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, representing a 0.25x decrease in the required ratio levels for such quarters, (ii) the Company has been required to maintain a total net leverage ratio of not greater than 2.50 to 1.00 for the fourth quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, representing a 0.50x increase in the required ratio levels for such quarters, (iii) the Company’s hedging obligations has been increased requiring it to maintain hedging agreements with respect to 75% of its proved developed producing oil production for the period from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027 and 60% of its proved developed producing oil production for the period from April 1, 2027 to September 30, 2027, in each case as provided in the Company’s reserve report as of December 31, 2025 and (iv) the Company is prohibited from making quarterly dividends on its common stock until September 30, 2026. On June 30, 2026, the Company entered into the Fourth Facility Amendment whereby, the Company has been required to maintain a total net leverage ratio of not greater than 2.25 to 1.00 for the second quarter of 2026, representing a 0.25x increase in the required ratio level for such quarter. For the third quarter of 2026 and quarterly periods ending thereafter, the required asset coverage ratio and total net leverage ratio levels will reset to the levels provided for such quarters in the Third Facility Amendment. As of June 30, 2026, the balance due under the Senior Credit Facility Agreement was zero. Loans under the Senior Credit Facility Agreement bear interest at either the Adjusted Term SOFR (as defined in the Senior Credit Facility Agreement) or the Base Rate (as defined in the Senior Credit Facility Agreement) at the Company’s option, plus an applicable margin ranging (i) for Adjusted Term SOFR loans, from 4.00% to 5.00%, and (ii) for Base Rate loans, from 3.00% to 4.00%, in each case calculated based on the ratio at such time of the outstanding principal loan amounts to the aggregate amount of lenders’ commitments. To the extent that a payment or other event of default exists and is continuing, at the election of the Required Lenders (as defined in the Senior Credit Facility Agreement), all amounts outstanding under the Senior Credit Facility Agreement will bear interest at 2.00% per annum above the rate otherwise applicable thereto. The Company is able to repay any amounts borrowed prior to the maturity date without premium or penalty. The Senior Credit Facility Agreement is guaranteed by the Company and certain of its subsidiaries and is secured by a first-lien first-out security interest in substantially all assets of the Company and certain of its subsidiaries.

 

The Term Loan Credit Agreement and the Senior Credit Facility Agreement have hedging requirements to which the Company adheres.