We maintain a $275.0 million revolving credit facility ("Revolving Credit Agreement") expiring September 20, 2014. The Revolving Credit Agreement includes an "accordion" feature that allows us to increase the aggregate amount available to $350.0 million, subject to additional commitments from lenders. The Revolving Credit Agreement may be used for working capital, letters of credit and other general corporate purposes, including acquisitions. We also maintain a Term Loan Credit Agreement ("Term Loan Agreement"). The Term Loan Agreement, which is in addition to our current Revolving Credit Agreement, was a $42.5 million facility with a four-year term. Principal payments, which started in the third quarter of 2010, of $1.25 million are due quarterly, with $22.5 million of the initial aggregate principal payable in the final quarter of the Term Loan Agreement. We may increase the term loan by up to an aggregate of $50 million with additional commitments from the banks or new commitments from acceptable financial institutions.
In June 2011, we amended our Revolving Credit Agreement and Term Loan Agreement. These amendments reduced the interest rate for these facilities to LIBOR plus 137.5 basis points compared to an interest rate of LIBOR plus 200.0 basis points prior to the amendments. In addition, we amended the required quarterly commitment fees on the unused revolving loan commitment amount from 0.35% to 0.50% per annum to 0.225% to 0.35% per annum, and the fees for outstanding letters of credit from 2.00% to 3.00% to 1.375% to 2.25%, based on the leverage ratio as defined in the agreements.
Interest rates on amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Agreement and the Term Loan Agreement are variable. At December 31, 2011, the interest rate for the outstanding amounts on both the Revolving Credit Agreement and Term Loan Agreement was 1.68%. At December 31, 2010, the interest rate for the outstanding amounts on both the Revolving Credit Agreement and Term Loan Agreement was 2.39%.
The financial covenants associated with the Revolving Credit Agreement and Term Loan Agreement include a requirement that (i) the ratio of Consolidated Senior Secured Indebtedness to Consolidated EBITDA, as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement, cannot be greater than 3.50 to 1.00, (ii) the ratio of Consolidated Total Indebtedness to Consolidated EBITDA, as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement, cannot be greater than 4.00 to 1.00, and (iii) the ratio of Consolidated EBITDA, as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement, to the sum of (a) all interest, premium payments, debt discounts, fees, charges and related expenses and (b) the portion of rent expense under capital leases that is treated as interest expense cannot be less than 4.00 to 1.00. We were in compliance with those financial covenants as of and for the quarter ended December 31, 2011, and we do not anticipate noncompliance in the foreseeable future.
Total average bank borrowings during the year ended December 31, 2011 were $57.4 million compared to $98.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2010. As of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, there was $191.7 million and $228.2 million available for borrowing, respectively, under the Revolving Credit Agreement, net of letters of credit. Letters of credit are generally considered borrowings for purposes of the Revolving Credit Agreement. A total of $18.3 million and $43.2 million in letters of credit was outstanding under the Revolving Credit Agreement as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. At December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, $13.1 million and $37.5 million of our letters of credit, respectively, related to the guaranteed minimum payments to Australia in connection with the ownership transfer of the 11 SH-2G(A) helicopters (along with spare parts and associated equipment). The letter of credit balance will continue to be reduced as payments are made to Australia.
In November 2010, we issued convertible unsecured notes due on November 15, 2017 in the aggregate principal amount of $115.0 million in a private placement offering. These notes bear 3.25% interest per annum on the principal amount, payable semiannually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year, beginning on May 15, 2011. Proceeds from the offering were $111.0 million, net of fees and expenses, which were capitalized. The notes will mature on November 15, 2017, unless earlier redeemed, purchased by us or converted, and are convertible into cash and, at our election, shares of our common stock based on an initial conversion rate, subject to adjustment, in certain circumstances. The conversion rate will be subject to adjustment in certain circumstances, but will not be adjusted for accrued and unpaid interest. Upon conversion, we will pay cash up to the aggregate principal amount of the notes and pay or deliver cash, shares of our common stock or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, at our election, with respect to any remaining amounts due. Prior to May 15, 2017, the notes are convertible only in the following circumstances: (1) during any fiscal quarter commencing after April 1, 2011 and only during any such fiscal quarter, if the last reported sale price of our common stock was greater than or equal to 130% of the applicable conversion price for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) in the period of the 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the previous fiscal quarter, (2) upon the occurrence of specified corporate transactions, or (3) during the five consecutive business-day period following any five consecutive trading-day period in which, for each day of that period, the trading price for the notes was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of our common stock and the applicable conversion rate on such trading day. On and after May 15, 2017, until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date, holders may convert their notes at any time, regardless of the foregoing circumstances. Upon a change in control or termination of trading, holders of the notes may require us to repurchase all or a portion of their notes for cash at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus any accrued and unpaid interest.
In connection with the offering, we entered into convertible note hedge transactions with affiliates of the initial purchasers of the notes. These transactions are intended to reduce the potential dilution to our shareholders upon any future conversion of the notes. The call options, which cost an aggregate $13.2 million, were recorded as a reduction of additional paid-in capital. We also entered into warrant transactions concurrently with the offering, pursuant to which we sold warrants to acquire up to approximately 3.4 million shares of our common stock to the same counterparties that entered into the convertible note hedge transactions. Proceeds received from the issuance of the warrants totaled approximately $1.9 million and were recorded as an addition to additional paid-in capital. The convertible note hedge and warrant transactions effectively increased the conversion price of the convertible notes.
During 2011, we increased the dividend paid to our shareholders. This resulted in an adjustment to the conversion rate for the convertible notes. The following table illustrates the conversion rate at each date:
| December 31, 2011 | December 31, 2010 | |
| Conversion Rate | 29.4923 | 29.4499 |
| Conversion Price | $ 33.91 | $ 33.96 |
| Contingent Conversion Price | $ 44.08 | $ 44.15 |
| Warrant Price | $ 44.34 | $ 44.40 |
The note payable principal balance at the date of issuance of $115.0 million was bifurcated into the debt component of $101.7 million and the equity component of $13.3 million. The difference between the note payable principal balance and the value of the debt component is being accreted to interest expense over a period of 7 years. The debt component was recognized at the present value of associated cash flows discounted using a 5.25% discount rate, the borrowing rate at the date of issuance for a similar debt instrument without a conversion feature. We recorded $0.5 million of debt issuance costs as on offset to additional paid-in capital. The balance, $3.1 million, is being amortized over the term of the notes.
Total expense associated with the amortization of debt issuance costs for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2009 was $1.3 million and $0.7 million, respectively. Total amortization expense for the year ended December 31, 2010 was $2.0 million, including the $0.6 million write-off of capitalized fees related to the former revolving credit agreement.
During the first quarter of 2009, we entered into interest rate swap agreements for the purpose of hedging our eight quarterly variable-rate interest payments on the Term Loan Agreement due in 2010 and 2011. These interest rate swap agreements were designated as cash flow hedges. They were intended to manage interest rate risk associated with our variable-rate borrowings and minimize the impact on our earnings and cash flows of interest rate fluctuations attributable to changes in LIBOR rates. For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, we recorded $0.9 million and $0.6 million of additional interest expense, respectively, associated with the interest rate swap agreement. As of December 31, 2011, these interest rate swap agreements had all matured.
We contributed $19.6 million to the qualified pension plan and $4.4 million to the SERP during 2011. In 2010, we contributed $35.7 million to the qualified pension plan, $25.0 million of which was voluntary, and $3.4 million to the SERP.
During 2011, we contractually committed to spend $79.7 million for the five acquisitions completed in 2011. Through December 31, 2011, we have paid $74.6 million, with the remaining $5.1 million relating to contingent consideration and holdback provisions. The three most significant of these acquisitions, Target, Vermont Composites and Catching, closed on September 2, 2011, November 4, 2011 and December 15, 2011, respectively. Target and Catching are included in our Industrial Distribution segment, while Vermont Composites is included in our Aerospace segment. During 2010, we contractually committed to spend $77.9 million for acquisitions. Through December 31, 2011, we have paid $66.0 million, with the remaining $11.9 million relating to holdback provisions and debt of the acquired businesses that we have assumed. In addition to these acquisitions we acquired two smaller distribution businesses in 2011 that have been included in our Industrial Distribution segment. We anticipate that we will continue to identify and evaluate potential acquisition candidates, the purchase of which may require the use of additional capital.
In November 2000, our Board of Directors approved a replenishment of our stock repurchase program, providing for repurchase of an aggregate of 1.4 million common shares for use in administration of our stock plans and for general corporate purposes. During 2011, 165,632 shares were repurchased at an average price of $28.48 under this program. There were no shares repurchased during 2010 under this program. At December 31, 2011, approximately 1.0 million shares remained authorized for repurchase under this program.
On June 26, 2009, we filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). This shelf registration statement allows us to offer, issue or sell from time to time, together or separately, (i) senior or subordinated debt securities, which may be convertible into shares of our common stock, preferred stock or other securities; (ii) shares of our common stock; (iii) shares of our preferred stock, which we may issue in one or more series; or (iv) warrants to purchase our equity or debt securities or other securities. The total offering price of the securities will not exceed $200 million in the aggregate. The shelf registration became effective on August 3, 2009. We do not currently have any commitments to sell securities pursuant to this registration statement. Future offerings thereunder, if any, will be made only by means of a written prospectus or other permitted documents. At that time, we will file a prospectus supplement with the SEC outlining the type of securities, amounts, prices, use of proceeds and other terms.