Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Canopy and Related Transactions

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Canopy and Related Transactions
6 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2018
Subsequent Events [Abstract]  
CANOPY AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
CANOPY AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS:

Canopy Transaction –
In August 2018, we signed a definitive agreement to increase our ownership interest in Canopy by agreeing to acquire 104.5 million common shares (the “Additional Canopy Investment”) plus warrants to purchase an additional 139.7 million common shares (the “Additional Canopy Warrants”, and together with the “Additional Canopy Investment”, the “Canopy Transaction”) for C$5.1 billion, or approximately $4 billion. The Additional Canopy Warrants will expire three years from the date of closing of the Canopy Transaction. Upon closing of the Canopy Transaction, we expect to have an approximate 37% ownership interest of outstanding common shares of Canopy consisting of the Original Canopy Investment and the Additional Canopy Investment (collectively, the “2018 Canopy Investment”). We expect to account for the 2018 Canopy Investment under the equity method of accounting from the date of closing. We expect to account for the Additional Canopy Warrants, from the date of closing through the date of exercise or expiration, at fair value.

We expect to complete the Canopy Transaction, subject to the satisfaction of certain closing conditions, including the receipt of required regulatory approvals, on or about October 31, 2018. We cannot guarantee, however, that this transaction will be completed upon the agreed terms or timetable, or at all.

In September 2018, we entered into financing arrangements to partially fund the Canopy Transaction consisting of (i)  $1.5 billion in delayed draw unsecured term loan facilities available under our Term Credit Agreement (as defined below), and (ii)  a C$3.143 billion, or approximately $2.4 billion, bridge credit agreement (the “Bridge Credit Agreement”). The unsecured term loan facilities and the bridge financing are available until April 1, 2019, unless no loans are needed for the Canopy Transaction, the transaction does not occur, or we elect to terminate the commitments. We do not expect to draw upon the Bridge Credit Agreement as we expect the remaining financing for the Canopy Transaction to consist of the issuance of one or more series of senior notes or debt securities, borrowings under our commercial paper program and available cash.

Senior credit facility –
In September 2018, the Company, CB International, certain of the Company’s subsidiaries as guarantors, the Administrative Agent, and certain other lenders entered into a Restatement Agreement (the “2018 Restatement Agreement”) that amended and restated the August 2018 Credit Agreement (as amended and restated by the 2018 Restatement Agreement, the “2018 Credit Agreement”). The primary change effected by the 2018 Restatement Agreement consisted of the increase of the revolving credit facility from $1.5 billion to $2.0 billion and extension of its maturity to September 14, 2023. Additionally, we or CB International are the borrower under the $2.0 billion revolving credit facility. The 2018 Restatement Agreement also modified certain financial covenants in connection with the Canopy Transaction and added various representations and warranties, covenants and an event of default related to the Canopy Transaction.

Term Credit Agreement –
Additionally in September 2018, the Company, the Administrative Agent, and certain other lenders entered into a term loan credit agreement (the “Term Credit Agreement”). The Term Credit Agreement provides for aggregate credit facilities of $1.5 billion, consisting of a delayed draw $500.0 million three-year term loan facility (the “Three-Year Term Facility) and a delayed draw $1.0 billion five-year term loan facility (the “Five-Year Term Facility”).

The Three-Year Term Facility is not subject to amortization payments, with the balance due and payable on the third anniversary of the Closing Date (as defined in the Term Credit Agreement). The Five-Year Term Facility will be repaid in quarterly payments of principal equal to 1.25% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Five-Year Term Facility, with the unpaid balance due and payable on the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date.

The rate of interest payable on borrowings under the Term Credit Agreement is a function of LIBOR plus a margin, or the base rate plus a margin, or, in certain circumstances where LIBOR cannot be adequately ascertained or available, an alternative benchmark rate plus a margin. The margin is adjustable based upon our debt rating (as defined in the Term Credit Agreement).

The obligations under the Term Credit Agreement are guaranteed by certain of our U.S. subsidiaries. We and our subsidiaries are subject to covenants that are contained in the Term Credit Agreement, including those restricting the incurrence of additional indebtedness (including guarantees of indebtedness) by subsidiaries that are not guarantors, additional liens, mergers and consolidations, transactions with affiliates, and sale and leaseback transactions, in each case subject to numerous conditions, exceptions and thresholds. The financial covenants are limited to a minimum interest coverage ratio and a maximum net leverage ratio. The representations, warranties, covenants and events of default set forth in the Term Credit Agreement are substantially similar to those set forth in the 2018 Credit Agreement.

Derivative instruments –
Foreign currency:
In August 2018, we entered into foreign currency option contracts in connection with the pending Canopy Transaction to fix the U.S. dollar cost of the transaction. The foreign currency option contracts are for the purchase of C$4.1 billion at a protection rate of C$1.2873 to US$1.00.

Interest rate swap contracts:
In August 2018, we entered into forward-starting interest rate swap contracts with an aggregate notional value of $1.25 billion to economically hedge our exposure to interest rate volatility associated with the anticipated debt financing in connection with the pending Canopy Transaction. The effective date and mandatory termination date of the interest rate swap contracts are the same. The interest rate swap contracts are not designated as a hedge for accounting purposes. The change in fair value on the interest rate swap contracts is recorded in interest expense.