The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. 2008 Annual Report
[Intro]
[Chairman's Message]
[Chief Executive's Review]
[Fiscal 2008 Highlights]
[Multi-National Expansion]
[Multi-Channel Distribution]
[Multi-Brand Leadership]
[Portfolio of Brands]
[Board of Directors]
[Executive Officers]
[Financial Section]
[Stockholder Information]
[Environmental Profile]
[Form 10K]

NOTE 11-DEBT
The Company's short-term and long-term debt and available financing consist of the following:

As of June 30, 2008, the Company had outstanding $296.2 million of 2037 Senior Notes consisting of $300.0 million principal and unamortized debt discount of $3.8 million. The 2037 Senior Notes, when issued in May 2007, were priced at 98.722% with a yield of 6.093%. Interest payments are required to be made semi-annually on May 15 and November 15. In April 2007, in anticipation of the issuance of the 2037 Senior Notes, the Company entered into a series of forward-starting interest rate swap agreements on a notional amount totaling $210.0 million at a weighted average all-in rate of 5.45%. The forward-starting interest rate swap agreements were settled upon the issuance of the new debt and the Company recognized a loss in other comprehensive income of $0.9 million that will be amortized to interest expense over the life of the 2037 Senior Notes. As a result of the forward-starting interest rate swap agreements, the debt discount and debt issuance costs, the effective interest rate on the 2037 Senior Notes will be 6.181% over the life of the debt.

As of June 30, 2008, the Company had outstanding $197.5 million of 2033 Senior Notes consisting of $200.0 million principal and unamortized debt discount of $2.5 million. The 2033 Senior Notes, when issued in September 2003, were priced at 98.645% with a yield of 5.846%. Interest payments are required to be made semi-annually on April 15 and October 15. In May 2003, in anticipation of the issuance of the 5.75% Senior Notes, the Company entered into a series of treasury lock agreements on a notional amount totaling $195.0 million at a weighted average all-in rate of 4.53%. The treasury lock agreements were settled upon the issuance of the new debt and the Company received a payment of $15.0 million that will be amortized against interest expense over the life of the 2033 Senior Notes. As a result of the treasury lock agreements, the debt discount and debt issuance costs, the effective interest rate on the 2033 Senior Notes will be 5.395% over the life of the debt.

As of June 30, 2008, the Company had outstanding $310.4 million of 2017 Senior Notes consisting of $300.0 million principal, an unamortized debt discount of $0.4 million, and a $10.8 million adjustment to reflect the fair value of outstanding interest rate swaps. The 2017 Senior Notes, when issued in May 2007, were priced at 99.845% with a yield of 5.570%. Interest payments are required to be made semi-annually on May 15 and November 15. In April 2007, the Company entered into interest rate swap agreements with a notional amount totaling $250.0 million to effectively convert the fixed rate interest on its outstanding 2017 Senior Notes to variable interest rates based on six-month LIBOR.

As of June 30, 2008, the Company had outstanding $242.0 million of 2012 Senior Notes consisting of $250.0 million principal, an unamortized debt discount of $0.4 million, and a $7.6 million adjustment to reflect the remaining termination value of an interest rate swap. The 2012 Senior Notes, when issued in January 2002, were priced at 99.538% with a yield of 6.062%. Interest payments are required to be made semi-annually on January 15 and July 15. In May 2003, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement with a notional amount of $250.0 million to effectively convert the fixed rate interest on its outstanding 2012 Senior Notes to variable interest rates based on six-month LIBOR. In April 2007, the Company terminated this interest rate swap. The instrument, which was classified as a liability, had a fair value of $11.1 million at cash settlement, which included $0.9 million of accrued interest payable to the counterparty. Hedge accounting treatment was discontinued prospectively and the offsetting adjustment to the carrying amount of the related debt will be amortized to interest expense over the remaining life of the debt.

In July 2007, the Company acquired Ojon Corporation. As part of the purchase price, the Company issued (i) a promissory note due July 31, 2009 with a notional value of $7.0 million (present value of $7.4 million at June 30, 2008), bearing interest at 10.00% due at maturity and (ii) a promissory note due August 31, 2012 with a notional amount of $13.5 million (present value of $15.7 million at June 30, 2008), bearing interest at 10.00% payable annually on July 31. The notes due in 2009 and 2012 were recorded in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet at present value using effective rates of 5.11% and 5.42%, respectively.

The Company has a $750.0 million commercial paper program under which it may issue commercial paper in the United States. The Company's commercial paper is currently rated A-1 by Standard & Poor's and P-1 by Moody's. The Company's long-term credit ratings are A with a stable outlook by Standard & Poor's and A2 with a stable outlook by Moody's. At June 30, 2008, the Company had $83.9 million of commercial paper outstanding, due at various dates through July 2008 at an average interest rate of 2.24%, which may be refinanced on a periodic basis as it matures at then-prevailing market interest rates.

As of June 30, 2008, the Company had an overdraft borrowing agreement with a financial institution pursuant to which its subsidiary in Turkey may be credited to satisfy outstanding negative daily balances arising from its business operations. The total balance outstanding at any time shall not exceed 20.0 million Turkish lira. The interest rate applicable to each such credit shall be 40 basis points per annum above the spot rate charged by the lender or the lender's floating call rate agreed to by the Company at each borrowing. There were no debt issuance costs incurred related to this agreement. The outstanding balance at June 30, 2008 ($13.1 million at the exchange rate at June 30, 2008) is classified as short-term debt on the Company's consolidated balance sheet.

As of June 30, 2008, the Company had a fixed rate promissory note agreement with a financial institution pursuant to which the Company may borrow up to $150.0 million in the form of loan participation notes through one of its subsidiaries in Europe. The interest rate on borrowings under this agreement is at an all-in fixed rate determined by the lender and agreed to by the Company at the date of each borrowing. At June 30, 2008, no borrowings were outstanding under this agreement. Debt ssuance costs incurred related to this agreement were de minimis.

As of June 30, 2008, the Company had a 3.0 billion yen revolving credit facility that expires on March 24, 2009. The interest rate on borrowings under the credit facility is based on TIBOR (Tokyo Interbank Offered Rate) and a 10 basis point facility fee is incurred on the undrawn balance. At June 30, 2008, the Company did not have any borrowings outstanding under this facility.

The Company has an undrawn $750.0 million senior unsecured revolving credit facility that expires on April 26, 2012. This facility may be used primarily to provide credit support for the Company's commercial paper program, to repurchase shares of its common stock and for general corporate purposes. Up to the equivalent of $250 million of the credit facility is available for multi-currency loans. The interest rate on borrowings under the credit facility is based on LIBOR or on the higher of prime, which is the rate of interest publicly announced by the administrative agent, or 1/2% plus the Federal funds rate. The Company incurred costs of approximately $0.3 million to establish the facility which will be amortized over the term of the facility. The credit facility has an annual fee of $0.4 million, payable quarterly, based on the Company's current credit ratings. The credit facility contains various covenants, including one financial covenant which requires the Company's interest expense coverage ratio (as defined in the facility) at the last day of each fiscal quarter to be greater than 3.0:1.0. As of June 30, 2008, the Company was in compliance with this financial covenant. There are no other conditions where the lender's commitments may be withdrawn, other than certain events of default, as defined in the facility, which are customary for facilities of this type.

The Company maintains uncommitted credit facilities in various regions throughout the world. Interest rate terms for these facilities vary by region and reflect prevailing market rates for companies with strong credit ratings. During fiscal 2008 and 2007, the monthly average amount outstanding was approximately $17.4 million and $20.0 million, respectively, and the annualized monthly weighted average interest rate incurred was approximately 5.76% and 5.96%, respectively.

Refer to Note 15 for the Company's projected debt service payments over the next five fiscal years.