Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Long-Term Debt

v3.21.1
Long-Term Debt
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2021
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
2016 Credit Facilities [Text Block]
2016 Credit Facilities
On November 30, 2016, we entered into an amended and restated syndicated revolving credit facility (the “2016 Revolving Credit Facility”) and amended and restated syndicated new and used vehicle floor plan credit facilities (the “2016 Floor Plan Facilities” and, together with the 2016 Revolving Credit Facility, the “2016 Credit Facilities”). The amendment and restatement of the 2016 Credit Facilities extended the scheduled maturity date, increased availability under the 2016 Revolving Credit Facility by $25.0 million and increased availability under the 2016 Floor Plan Facilities by $215.0 million, among other things. On September 17, 2020, the 2016 Credit Facilities were amended to extend their scheduled maturity date for one additional year to November 30, 2022.

Availability under the 2016 Revolving Credit Facility is calculated as the lesser of $245.5 million or a borrowing base calculated based on certain eligible assets, less the aggregate face amount of any outstanding letters of credit under the 2016 Revolving Credit Facility (the “2016 Revolving Borrowing Base”). The 2016 Revolving Credit Facility may be increased at our option up to $295.5 million upon satisfaction of certain conditions. As of March 31, 2021, the 2016 Revolving Borrowing Base was approximately $231.1 million based on balances as of such date. As of March 31, 2021, we had no outstanding borrowings and approximately $12.3 million in outstanding letters of credit under the 2016 Revolving Credit Facility, resulting in $218.8 million remaining borrowing availability under the 2016 Revolving Credit Facility.
The 2016 Floor Plan Facilities are comprised of a new vehicle revolving floor plan facility (as amended, the “2016 New Vehicle Floor Plan Facility”) and a used vehicle revolving floor plan facility (as amended, the “2016 Used Vehicle Floor Plan Facility”), subject to a borrowing base, in a combined amount of up to $966.0 million. We may, under certain conditions, request an increase in the 2016 Floor Plan Facilities to a maximum borrowing limit of up to $1.216 billion, which shall be allocated between the 2016 New Vehicle Floor Plan Facility and the 2016 Used Vehicle Floor Plan Facility as we request, with no more than 40% of the aggregate commitments allocated to the commitments under the 2016 Used Vehicle Floor Plan Facility. During the second quarter of 2020, we amended the 2016 Floor Plan Facilities to convert the 2016 Used Vehicle Floor Plan Facility from a borrowing base calculation of availability to a vehicle identification number (“VIN”)-specific floor plan borrowing and payoff process, which provides additional borrowing flexibility. Outstanding obligations under the 2016 Floor Plan Facilities are guaranteed by us and certain of our subsidiaries and are secured by a pledge of substantially all of our and our subsidiaries’ assets. As of the dates presented in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, the amounts outstanding under the 2016 Credit Facilities bear interest at variable rates based on specified percentages above LIBOR.
We have agreed under the 2016 Credit Facilities not to pledge any assets to any third parties (other than those explicitly allowed to be pledged by the amended terms of the 2016 Credit Facilities), including other lenders, subject to certain stated exceptions, including floor plan financing arrangements. In addition, the 2016 Credit Facilities contain certain negative covenants, including covenants which could restrict or prohibit indebtedness, liens, the payment of dividends, capital expenditures and material dispositions and acquisitions of assets, as well as other customary covenants and default provisions. Specifically, the 2016 Credit Facilities permit cash dividends on our Class A and Class B Common Stock so long as no Event of Default (as defined in the 2016 Credit Facilities) has occurred and is continuing and provided that we remain in compliance with all financial covenants under the 2016 Credit Facilities.
See Note 11, Subsequent Events, for a discussion of the amendment, restatement and consolidation of the 2016 Credit Facilities subsequent to March 31, 2021.
6.125 Note Text Block [Text Block]
6.125% Notes
On March 10, 2017, we issued $250.0 million in aggregate principal amount of unsecured senior subordinated 6.125% Notes due 2027 (the “6.125% Notes”) which mature on March 15, 2027. The 6.125% Notes were issued at a price of 100.0% of the principal amount thereof. Balances outstanding under the 6.125% Notes are guaranteed by all of our domestic operating subsidiaries. These guarantees are full and unconditional and joint and several.
For further discussion of Sonic’s 6.125% Notes, see Note 6, “Long-Term Debt,” to the consolidated financial statements in Sonic’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.
2019 Mortgage Facility Text Block [Text Block]
2019 Mortgage Facility
On November 22, 2019, we entered into a delayed draw-term loan credit agreement which is scheduled to mature on November 22, 2024 (the “2019 Mortgage Facility”).
Under the 2019 Mortgage Facility, Sonic has a maximum borrowing limit of $112.2 million, which varies based on the appraised value of the collateral underlying the 2019 Mortgage Facility. The amount available for borrowing under the 2019 Mortgage Facility is subject to compliance with a borrowing base. The borrowing base is calculated based on 75% of the appraised value of certain eligible real estate designated by Sonic and owned by certain of our subsidiaries. Based on balances as of March 31, 2021, we had approximately $98.2 million of outstanding borrowings under the 2019 Mortgage Facility, resulting in total remaining borrowing availability of approximately $14.0 million under the 2019 Mortgage Facility.
Amounts outstanding under the 2019 Mortgage Facility bear interest at (1) a specified rate above LIBOR (as defined in the 2019 Mortgage Facility), ranging from 1.50% to 2.75% per annum according to a performance-based pricing grid determined by the Company’s Consolidated Total Lease Adjusted Leverage Ratio (as defined in the 2019 Mortgage Facility) as of the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter (the “Performance Grid”); or (2) a specified rate above the Base Rate (as defined in the 2019 Mortgage Facility), ranging from 0.50% to 1.75% per annum according to the Performance Grid.
For further discussion of Sonic’s 2019 Mortgage Facility, see Note 6, “Long-Term Debt,” to the consolidated financial statements in Sonic’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Mortgage Notes Text Block [Text Block]
Mortgage Notes to Finance Companies
As of March 31, 2021, the weighted-average interest rate of our other outstanding mortgage notes (excluding the 2019 Mortgage Facility) was 3.50% and the total outstanding mortgage principal balance of these notes (excluding the 2019 Mortgage Facility) was approximately $370.8 million. These mortgage notes require monthly payments of principal and interest through their respective maturities, are secured by the underlying properties and contain certain cross-default provisions. Maturity dates for these mortgage notes range between 2021 and 2033.
2020 Line of Credit Text Block [Text Block]
2020 Line of Credit Facility
On June 23, 2020, we entered into a line of credit agreement with Ally Bank, which is scheduled to mature on June 22, 2021 (the “2020 Line of Credit Facility”).

The 2020 Line of Credit Facility has borrowing availability of up to $54.1 million which can be used for general corporate purposes. The amount available for borrowing under the 2020 Line of Credit Facility is directly tied to the appraised value of certain real estate properties of the Company, which are used as collateral for any funds drawn under the 2020 Line of Credit Facility. As of March 31, 2021, we had no outstanding borrowings under the 2020 Line of Credit Facility, resulting in $54.1 million remaining borrowing availability under the 2020 Line of Credit Facility.

The 2020 Line of Credit Facility contains usual and customary representations and warranties, and usual and customary affirmative and negative covenants, including covenants which could restrict or prohibit indebtedness, liens, the payment of dividends and other restricted payments, capital expenditures and material dispositions and acquisitions of assets, as well as other customary covenants and default provisions. Specifically, the 2020 Line of Credit Facility permits quarterly cash dividends on our Class A and Class B Common Stock up to $0.10 per share so long as no Event of Default (as defined in the 2020 Line of Credit Facility) has occurred and is continuing and provided that we remain in compliance with all financial covenants under the 2020 Line of Credit Facility.