Summary
Dollar General Corporation (DG) announced on February 22, 2017, the entry into a new, unsecured amended and restated credit agreement. This new agreement replaces a prior credit facility and provides the company with $1.425 billion in total loans and commitments. The new facilities consist of a $175 million five-year term loan and a $1.25 billion five-year revolving credit facility, which includes a sublimit for letters of credit and swingline loans. This move indicates a strategic effort by Dollar General to manage its debt and liquidity, potentially to support ongoing operations, capital expenditures, or strategic initiatives. The new credit agreement features an interest rate tied to LIBOR or a base rate, plus an applicable margin that can adjust based on the company's debt ratings. The agreement also includes flexibility for Dollar General to request additional commitments or facilities up to $150 million, subject to customary conditions. Importantly, the company has the ability to repay outstanding loans early without penalty, except for breakage costs on LIBOR loans, and there are no required amortization payments. The agreement also imposes customary covenants and events of default, including a maximum leverage ratio and a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio, which are standard for corporate credit facilities and are important for investors to monitor.
Key Highlights
- 1Dollar General entered into a new unsecured amended and restated credit agreement on February 22, 2017.
- 2The new agreement provides total credit facilities of $1.425 billion, replacing the previous credit agreement.
- 3The new facilities include a $175 million five-year unsecured term loan and a $1.25 billion five-year unsecured revolving credit facility.
- 4The revolving credit facility has a sublimit of $175 million for letters of credit and also includes swingline loan capacity.
- 5Borrowing costs are based on LIBOR or a base rate plus an applicable margin, adjustable by debt ratings.
- 6The company has the option to request an additional $150 million in commitments or facilities.
- 7There are no required amortization payments, and voluntary prepayments are permitted without premium or penalty (except for LIBOR breakage costs).