8. DEBT

In January 2014, we executed a loan agreement with the International Finance Corporation (“IFC credit facility”) for a $65.0 million revolving credit facility, which was secured by the assets of our Gabon subsidiary.  On June 29, 2016, we executed a supplemental agreement with the IFC which, among other things, amended and restated our existing loan agreement to convert the $20.0 million revolving portion of the credit facility, to a term loan with $15.0 million outstanding (“Amended Term Loan Agreement”). The Amended Loan Agreement is secured by the assets of our Gabon subsidiary, VAALCO Gabon S.A., and is guaranteed by VAALCO as the parent company. The Amended Term Loan Agreement provides for quarterly principal and interest payments on the amounts currently outstanding through June 30, 2019, with interest accruing at a rate of LIBOR plus 5.75%. 

The Amended Term Loan Agreement also provided for an additional $5.0 million, which could be requested in a single draw, subject to the IFC’s approval, through March 15, 2017. On March 14, 2017, we borrowed $4.2 million under this provision of the Amended Term Loan Agreement. The additional borrowings will be repaid in five quarterly principal installments commencing June 30, 2017, together with interest which will accrue at LIBOR plus 5.75%. 

The estimated fair value of the borrowings under the Amended Term Loan Agreement is $9.2 million when measured using a discounted cash flow model over the life of the current borrowings at forecasted interest rates. The inputs to this model are Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

Covenants

Under the Amended Term Loan Agreement, the ratio of quarter-end net debt to EBITDAX (as defined in the Amended Term Loan Agreement) must be no more than 3.0 to 1.0. Additionally, our debt service coverage ratio must be greater than 1.2 to 1.0 at each semi-annual review period. Certain of VAALCO’s subsidiaries are contractually prohibited from making payments, loans or transferring assets to VAALCO or other affiliated entities. Specifically, under the Amended Term Loan Agreement, VAALCO Gabon S.A. could be restricted from transferring assets or making dividends, if the positive and negative covenants are not in compliance with the Amended Term Loan Agreement.  We were in compliance with all financial covenants as of December 31, 2017.

Interest

Until June 29, 2016, under the terms of the original IFC credit facility, we paid commitment fees on the undrawn portion of the total commitment. Commitment fees had been equal to 1.5% of the unused balance of the senior tranche of $50.0 million and 2.3% of the unused balance of the subordinated tranche of $15.0 million when a commitment was available for utilization. With the execution of the Amended Term Loan Agreement with the IFC in June 2016, beginning on June 29, 2016, and continuing through March 14, 2017, commitment fees were equal to 2.3% of the undrawn term loan amount of $5.0 million. There are no further commitment fees owing after March 14, 2017.

The table below shows the components of the “Interest expense” line item of our consolidated statements of operations and the average effective interest rate, excluding commitment fees, on our borrowings:

 



(a) The “Other interest not related to debt” line item includes interest income.