(7) Debt

Outstanding debt at December 31, 2019 and 2018 is summarized as follows:

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TripCo Margin Loans and Variable Postpaid Forward

In connection with the VPF transaction entered into on June 6, 2016, as described in note 5, TripCo borrowed $259 million against the VPF on June 23, 2016. TripCo unwound and terminated the VPF during the fourth quarter of 2019. The proceeds from the VPF, together with additional borrowings under the Margin Loan (defined below) and a special dividend from Tripadvisor were used to pay all outstanding borrowings against the VPF, which aggregated $270 million, including accrued interest.

On June 23, 2016, TripCo amended the terms of two margin loan agreements with respect to borrowings of $200 million. On November 7, 2017, pursuant to another amendment to the margin loan agreements, interest on the margin loans accrued at a rate of 2.4% plus LIBOR per year. During June of 2019, the outstanding borrowings of $200 million in principal and $22 million of paid in kind interest were repaid with proceeds from the Margin Loan (defined below). Based on the lenders involved in the original margin loan agreements and the Margin Loan, half of the repayment of the original margin loans was accounted for as a modification of debt and half was accounted for as an extinguishment of debt.

On June 10, 2019, a wholly owned subsidiary of TripCo (“TripSPV”) entered into a margin loan agreement which included borrowings of $225 million under a term loan and an additional $25 million available under a delayed draw term loan (collectively, the “Margin Loan”). Borrowings under the Margin Loan bore interest at a rate of 2.0% plus LIBOR per annum and TripCo was required to pay a quarterly commitment fee of 0.75% per annum based on the daily unused amount of the Margin Loan. On November 13, 2019, TripSPV borrowed $15 million under the delayed draw term loan. Pursuant to an amendment to the Margin Loan on November 19, 2019, TripSPV borrowed an additional $75 million under the term loan, and, beginning on such date, interest on all outstanding amounts under the Margin Loan accrued at a rate of 3.0% plus LIBOR per annum.  In addition, availability under the delayed draw term loan was limited to the $15 million already outstanding and the maturity of the Margin Loan was extended to November 19, 2022. Also pursuant to the November 19, 2019 amendment, on December 20, 2019, TripSPV borrowed an additional $33 million under the term loan. Effective as of December 20, 2019, borrowings under the Margin Loan bear interest at a rate of 3.225% per annum. Interest and commitment fees can be paid in kind or in cash at the election of TripCo. The Company expects that interest and commitment fees will be paid in kind and added to the principal amount of the Margin Loan.

Based on the lenders involved and terms of the Margin Loan, the November 19, 2019 amendment was treated as a modification of debt.  Common Stock and Class B Common Stock of Tripadvisor were pledged as collateral pursuant to this agreement. The agreement contains language that indicates that TripSPV, as transferor of underlying shares as collateral, has the right to exercise all voting, consensual and other powers of ownership pertaining to the transferred shares for all purposes, provided that it will not vote the shares in any manner that would reasonably be expected to give rise to transfer or certain other restrictions. Similarly, the loan agreement indicates that no lender party shall have any voting rights with respect to the shares transferred, except to the extent that a lender party buys any shares in a sale or other disposition made pursuant to the terms of the loan agreement. The agreement also contains certain restrictions related to additional indebtedness and margin calls. The initial margin call would require the outstanding balance to be reduced to $157.5 million, plus 50% of the additional borrowings on December 20, 2019, if at any time the closing price per share of Tripadvisor common stock were to fall below a certain minimum value.  The maturity date of the Margin Loan is November 19, 2022.  The Margin Loan contains various affirmative and negative covenants that restrict the activities of the borrower. The loan agreement does not include any financial covenants.

During the year ended December 31, 2019, TripCo recorded $6 million of non-cash interest related to the Margin Loan.

As of December 31, 2019, the values of Tripadvisor’s shares pledged as collateral pursuant to the Margin Loan, determined based on the trading price of the Common Stock and on an as-if converted basis for the Class B Common Stock, are as follows:

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Tripadvisor Credit Facilities

Tripadvisor is party to a credit agreement, with a group of lenders, which, among other things, provides for a $1.2 billion unsecured revolving credit facility (the “2015 Credit Facility”) with a maturity date of May 12, 2022. Borrowings under the 2015 Credit Facility generally bear interest, at Tripadvisor’s option, at a rate per annum equal to either (i) the Eurocurrency Borrowing rate, or the adjusted LIBOR for the interest period in effect for such borrowing; plus an applicable margin ranging from 1.25% to 2.00%, based on Tripadvisor’s leverage ratio; or (ii) the Alternate Base Rate Borrowing, which is the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the New York Fed Bank Rate in effect on such day plus 1/2 of 1.00% per annum and (c) the Adjusted LIBOR (or LIBOR multiplied by the Statutory Reserve Rate) for an interest period of one month plus 1.00%; in addition to an applicable margin ranging from 0.25% to 1.00%, based on Tripadvisor’s leverage ratio. Tripadvisor may borrow from the 2015 Credit Facility in U.S. dollars, Euros and British pound. In addition, Tripadvisor’s 2015 Credit Facility includes $15 million of borrowing capacity available for letters of credit and $40 million for Swing Line borrowings on same-day notice. As of December 31, 2019, Tripadvisor had issued $3 million of outstanding letters of credit under the 2015 Credit Facility. Tripadvisor is also required to pay a quarterly commitment fee, at an applicable rate ranging from 0.15% to 0.30%, on the daily unused portion of the revolving credit facility for each fiscal quarter and additional fees in connection with the issuance of letters of credit. As of December 31, 2019, Tripadvisor’s unused revolver capacity was subject to a commitment fee of 0.15%, given Tripadvisor’s leverage ratio.

As of both December 31, 2019 and 2018, Tripadvisor had no outstanding borrowings and approximately $1.2 billion of borrowing capacity under the 2015 Credit Facility. During the year ended December 31, 2018, Tripadvisor made a net repayment of $230 million on the 2015 Credit Facility. These net repayments were primarily made from a one-time cash repatriation of $325 million of foreign earnings to the United States during the first quarter of 2018.

There is no specific repayment date prior to the maturity date for any borrowings under this credit agreement. Tripadvisor may voluntarily repay any outstanding borrowing under the 2015 Credit Facility at any time without premium or penalty, other than customary breakage costs with respect to Eurocurrency loans. Additionally, Tripadvisor believes that the likelihood of the lender exercising any subjective acceleration rights, which would permit the lenders to accelerate repayment of any outstanding borrowings, is remote. As such, Tripadvisor classifies any borrowings under this facility as long-term debt. The 2015 Credit Facility contains a number of covenants that, among other things, restrict Tripadvisor’s ability to: incur additional indebtedness, create liens, enter into sale and leaseback transactions, engage in mergers or consolidations, sell or transfer assets, pay dividends and distributions, make investments, loans or advances, prepay certain subordinated indebtedness, make certain acquisitions, engage in certain transactions with affiliates, amend material agreements governing certain subordinated indebtedness, and change its fiscal year. The 2015 Credit Facility also requires Tripadvisor to maintain a maximum leverage ratio and contains certain customary affirmative covenants and events of

default, including a change of control. If an event of default occurs, the lenders under the 2015 Credit Facility will be entitled to take various actions, including the acceleration of all amounts due under the 2015 Credit Facility.

Tripadvisor’s Chinese subsidiary is party to a $30 million, one-year revolving credit facility with the Bank of America (the “Tripadvisor Chinese Credit Facility—BOA”) that is currently subject to review on a periodic basis with no specific expiration period. This credit facility generally bears interest at a rate based on the People’s Bank of China benchmark, including certain adjustments, which may be made in accordance with market conditions at the time of borrowing. As of both December 31, 2019 and 2018, there were no outstanding borrowings under this credit facility.

Fair Value

Due to the primarily variable rate nature, TripCo believes that the carrying amount of its debt approximated fair value at December 31, 2019 and 2018.

Debt Covenants

As of December 31, 2019, each of the Company and Tripadvisor was in compliance with its respective debt covenants.