(7)  Debt

Outstanding debt at December 31, 2017 and 2016 is summarized as follows:

TripAdvisor Credit Facilities

In June 2015, TripAdvisor entered into a five year credit agreement with a group of lenders which, among other things, provided for a $1 billion unsecured revolving credit facility (the “2015 Credit Facility”) and immediately borrowed $290 million. In May 2017, the 2015 Credit Facility was amended to, among other things, (i) increase the aggregate amount of revolving loan commitments available from $1.0 billion to $1.2 billion; and (ii) extend the maturity date of the 2015 Credit Facility from June 26, 2020 to May 12, 2022 (the “First Amendment”). 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% (“Eurocurrency Spread”), based on TripAdvisor’s leverage ratio; or (ii) the Alternate Base Rate (“ABR”) 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% (“ABR Spread”), based on TripAdvisor’s leverage ratio. TripAdvisor may borrow from the revolving credit facility in U.S. dollars, Euros and British pound sterling.

During the year ended December 31, 2017, TripAdvisor borrowed an additional $435 million and repaid $296 million of its outstanding borrowings under the 2015 Credit Facility. These net borrowings during the year were primarily used to repurchase shares of TripAdvisor’s outstanding common stock under its repurchase program. During the year ended December 31, 2016, TripAdvisor borrowed an additional $101 million and repaid $210 million of its outstanding borrowings on the 2015 Credit Facility.

As of December 31, 2017, based on TripAdvisor’s leverage ratio, borrowings bear interest at LIBOR plus an applicable margin of 1.25%, or the Eurocurrency Spread. TripAdvisor was borrowing under a one-month interest rate period or a weighted average rate of 2.74% per annum as of December 31, 2017, using a one-month interest period Eurocurrency Spread, which will reset periodically. Interest will be payable on a monthly basis while TripAdvisor is borrowing under the one-month interest rate period.

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 2015 Credit Facility for each fiscal quarter and additional fees in connection with the issuance of letters of credit. As of December 31, 2017, TripAdvisor’s unused revolver capacity was subject to a commitment fee of 0.15%, given TripAdvisor’s leverage ratio. The 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, 2017, TripAdvisor had issued $3 million of outstanding letters of credit under the 2015 Credit Facility.

There is no specific repayment date prior to the maturity date for 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, borrowings under this facility are classified 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.

In February 2018, TripAdvisor made a one-time repatriation of $325 million of foreign earnings to the U.S. primarily to repay outstanding borrowings under the 2015 Credit Facility.

In September 2016, TripAdvisor entered into an uncommitted facility agreement which provides for a $73 million unsecured revolving credit facility (the “2016 Credit Facility” and together with the 2015 Credit Facility, the “TripAdvisor Credit Facilities”) with no specific expiration date. The 2016 Credit Facility is available at the Lender’s discretion and can be canceled at any time. Repayment terms for borrowings under the 2016 Credit Facility are generally one to six month periods or such other periods as the parties may mutually agree and bear interest at LIBOR plus 112.5 basis points. TripAdvisor may borrow from the 2016 Credit Facility in U.S. dollars only and it may voluntarily repay any outstanding borrowing at any time without premium or penalty. Any overdue amounts under or in respect of the 2016 Credit Facility not paid when due shall bear interest in the case of principal at the applicable interest rate plus 1.50% per annum. In connection with the 2016 Credit Facility, any lender fees and debt financing costs paid were not material. There are no specific financial or incurrence covenants.

TripAdvisor borrowed $73 million from this uncommitted credit facility in September 2016 and repaid the full amount during the first three months of 2017. These funds were used for TripAdvisor’s general working capital needs, primarily for partial repayment of TripAdvisor’s 2015 Credit Facility, and recorded in current portion of debt on the consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2016. TripAdvisor had no outstanding borrowings under this 2016 Credit Facility as of December 31, 2017.

TripAdvisor Chinese Credit Facilities

In addition to borrowings under the Trip Advisor Credit Facilities, TripAdvisor maintains two credit facilities in China (jointly, the “Chinese Credit Facilities”).

TripAdvisor’s Chinese subsidiary is party to a $30 million,  one year revolving credit facility with Bank of America (the “Chinese Credit Facility—BOA”) that is currently subject to review on a periodic basis with no specific expiration period. Borrowings under the Chinese Credit Facility—BOA generally bear interest at a rate based on the People’s Bank of China benchmark, including certain adjustments which may be made in accordance with the market condition at the time of borrowing. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, there were no outstanding borrowings under the Chinese Credit Facility—BOA.

In addition, TripAdvisor’s Chinese subsidiary is party to a RMB 70,000,000 (approximately $10 million) one-year revolving credit facility with J.P. Morgan Chase Bank (the “Chinese Credit Facility—JPM”). Borrowings under the Chinese Credit Facility—JPM generally bear interest at a rate based on the People’s Bank of China benchmark, including certain adjustments which may be made in accordance with the market condition at the time of borrowing. As of both December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, TripAdvisor had $7 million of outstanding borrowings from the Chinese Credit Facility—JPM at a weighted average rate of 5.00% and 4.35%, respectively.

TripCo Margin Loans and Variable Postpaid Forward

On August 21, 2014, a wholly owned subsidiary of TripCo (“TripSPV”), entered into two margin loan agreements which aggregated total borrowings of $400 million. Interest on the margin loans accrues at a rate of 3.65% plus LIBOR for six months and 3.25% plus LIBOR thereafter. Interest on the margin loans was paid in kind and added to the principal amount on the loans.

In connection with the variable postpaid forward transaction entered into on June 6, 2016, as described in note 5, TripCo borrowed $259 million against the variable postpaid forward on June 23, 2016. The term of the forward is four years. At maturity, the accreted loan amount due is approximately $272 million. The proceeds from the forward were used to repay $200 million in principal and $29 million of paid in kind interest on the margin loans with the remainder being used for general corporate purposes.

On June 23, 2016, TripCo amended the terms of the margin loan agreements with respect to the remaining borrowings of $200 million. Common Stock and Class B Common Stock of TripAdvisor were pledged as collateral pursuant to these agreements. Each agreement contains language that indicates that the Company, as borrower and 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 TripCo agrees 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 agreements indicate 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 agreements. The agreements also contain certain restrictions related to additional indebtedness and margin calls. The initial margin call would require the outstanding balance to be reduced to $150 million if at any time the closing price per share of TripAdvisor common stock were to fall below a certain minimum value. Pursuant to the amendments, interest on the margin loans accrued at a rate of 2.0% plus LIBOR. On November 7, 2017, pursuant to another amendment to the margin loan agreements, the interest rate on the margin loans increased to 2.4% plus LIBOR per year. The interest can be paid in kind or cash at the election of TripCo. The Company expects that interest on the loan will be paid in kind and added to the principal amount on the loan. The term of the loan is three years and the maturity date is June 21, 2019.

During the year ended December 31, 2017, TripCo recorded $7 million and $3 million of non-cash interest related to the amended margin loans and variable postpaid forward, respectively.

As of December 31, 2017, the values of TripAdvisor’s shares pledged as collateral pursuant to the margin loan agreements and variable postpaid forward, 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:

The outstanding margin loans contain various affirmative and negative covenants that restrict the activities of the borrower. The loan agreements do not include any financial covenants.

Fair Value

Due to the primarily variable rate nature, TripCo believes that the carrying amount of its debt approximated fair value at December 31, 2017 and 2016.

Debt Covenants

As of December 31, 2017, each of the Company and TripAdvisor was in compliance with its respective debt covenants.