Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

DEBT AND CREDIT FACILITIES

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DEBT AND CREDIT FACILITIES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
DEBT AND CREDIT FACILITIES
NOTE 10 - DEBT AND CREDIT FACILITIES
The following represents a summary of our long-term debt as of December 31, 2012 and 2011:
($ in Millions)
 
December 31, 2012
 
Debt Instrument
Type
 
Annual Effective Interest Rate
 
Final Maturity
 
Total Face Amount
 
Total Debt
 
$1.25 Billion Term Loan
Variable
 
1.83%
 
2016
 
$
847.1

(1)
$
847.1

(1)
$700 Million 4.875% 2021 Senior Notes
Fixed
 
4.88%
 
2021
 
700.0

 
699.4

(2)
$1.3 Billion Senior Notes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$500 Million 4.80% 2020 Senior Notes
Fixed
 
4.80%
 
2020
 
500.0

 
499.2

(3)
$800 Million 6.25% 2040 Senior Notes
Fixed
 
6.25%
 
2040
 
800.0

 
790.2

(4)
$400 Million 5.90% 2020 Senior Notes
Fixed
 
5.90%
 
2020
 
400.0

 
398.2

(5)
$500 Million 3.95% 2018 Senior Notes
Fixed
 
4.14%
 
2018
 
500.0

 
495.7

(6)
$1.75 Billion Credit Facility:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revolving Loan
Variable
 
2.02%
 
2017
 
1,750.0

 
325.0

(7)
Total debt
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
5,497.1

 
$
4,054.8

 
Less current portion
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
94.1

 
Long-term debt
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
3,960.7

 
($ in Millions)
 
December 31, 2011
 
Debt Instrument
Type
 
Annual Effective Interest Rate
 
Final Maturity
 
Total Face Amount
 
Total Debt
 
$1.25 Billion Term Loan
Variable
 
1.40%
 
2016
 
$
972.0

(1)
$
972.0

(1)
$700 Million 4.875% 2021 Senior Notes
Fixed
 
4.88%
 
2021
 
700.0

 
699.3

(2)
$1.3 Billion Senior Notes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$500 Million 4.80% 2020 Senior Notes
Fixed
 
4.80%
 
2020
 
500.0

 
499.1

(3)
$800 Million 6.25% 2040 Senior Notes
Fixed
 
6.25%
 
2040
 
800.0

 
790.1

(4)
$400 Million 5.90% 2020 Senior Notes
Fixed
 
5.90%
 
2020
 
400.0

 
398.0

(5)
$325 Million Private Placement Senior Notes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Series 2008A - Tranche A
Fixed
 
6.31%
 
2013
 
270.0

 
270.0

 
Series 2008A - Tranche B
Fixed
 
6.59%
 
2015
 
55.0

 
55.0

 
$1.75 Billion Credit Facility:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revolving Loan
Variable
 
—%
 
2016
 
1,750.0

 

(7)
Total debt
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
5,447.0

 
$
3,683.5

 
Less current portion
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
74.8

 
Long-term debt
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
3,608.7

 
                                         
(1)
As of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, $402.8 million and $278.0 million, respectively, had been paid down on the original $1.25 billion term loan and, of the remaining term loan, $94.1 million and $74.8 million, respectively, was classified as Current portion of debt. The current classification is based upon the principal payment terms of the arrangement requiring principal payments on each three-month anniversary following the funding of the term loan.
(2)
As of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the $700 million 4.88 percent senior notes were recorded at a par value of $700 million less unamortized discounts of $0.6 million and $0.7 million, respectively, based on an imputed interest rate of 4.89 percent.
(3)
As of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the $500 million 4.80 percent senior notes were recorded at a par value of $500 million less unamortized discounts of $0.8 million and $0.9 million, respectively, based on an imputed interest rate of 4.83 percent.
(4)
As of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the $800 million 6.25 percent senior notes were recorded at par value of $800 million less unamortized discounts of $9.8 million and $9.9 million, respectively, based on an imputed interest rate of 6.38 percent.
(5)
As of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the $400 million 5.90 percent senior notes were recorded at a par value of $400 million less unamortized discounts of $1.8 million and $2.0 million, respectively, based on an imputed interest rate of 5.98 percent.
(6)
As of December 31, 2012, the $500 million 3.95 percent senior notes were recorded at a par value of $500 million less unamortized discounts of $4.3 million, based on an imputed interest rate of 4.14 percent.
(7)
As of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, $325.0 million and no revolving loans were drawn under the credit facility, respectively, and the principal amount of letter of credit obligations totaled $27.7 million and $23.5 million for each period, respectively, thereby reducing available borrowing capacity to $1.4 billion and $1.7 billion for each period, respectively.
Credit Facility
On August 11, 2011, we entered into a five-year unsecured amended and restated multicurrency credit agreement, or amended credit agreement, with a syndicate of financial institutions in order to amend the terms of our existing multicurrency credit agreement. On October 16, 2012, we executed an amendment to our revolving credit facility extending the maturity date from August 11, 2016 to October 16, 2017. The former $800 million multicurrency credit agreement consisted of a $600 million revolving credit facility and a $200 million term loan. The $200 million term loan was paid in its entirety in March 2010, reducing the multicurrency credit agreement to a $600 million revolving credit facility. The amended credit agreement provides for, among other things, a $1.75 billion revolving credit facility and allows for the designation of certain foreign subsidiaries as borrowers under the amended credit agreement, if certain conditions are satisfied. Borrowings under the amended credit agreement bear interest at a floating rate based upon a base rate or the LIBOR rate plus a margin based upon our leverage ratio. Certain of our material domestic subsidiaries have guaranteed our obligations and the obligations of other borrowers under the amended credit agreement. Previously, we had amended the terms of our $800 million multicurrency credit agreement, effective October 29, 2009. The 2009 amendment resulted in, among other things, an increase in the sub-limit for letters of credit from $50 million to $150 million, the addition of multi-currency letters of credit, and more liberally defined financial covenants and debt restrictions. An increase of 50 basis points to the annual LIBOR margin resulted from this 2009 amendment.
Proceeds from the amended credit agreement are used to refinance existing indebtedness, to finance general working capital needs and for other general corporate purposes, including the funding of acquisitions. We have the ability to request an increase in available revolving credit borrowings under the amended credit agreement by an additional amount of up to $250 million by obtaining the agreement of the existing financial institutions to increase their lending commitments or by adding additional lenders.
As of December 31, 2012, $325.0 million in loans were drawn under the revolving credit facility. The weighted average annual interest rate under the revolving credit facility was 2.02 percent as of December 31, 2012.
As a condition of agreeing to the amended credit agreement terms, $250 million was drawn against the revolving credit facility on August 11, 2011, in order to pay down a portion of the term loan. All amounts outstanding under the revolving credit facility were repaid in full on December 12, 2011, and as such no revolving loans were drawn under the credit facility as of December 31, 2011. The weighted average annual interest rate under the revolving credit facility during the time the borrowings were outstanding was 1.84 percent.
Loans are drawn with a choice of interest rates and maturities, subject to the terms of the agreement. Under the amended credit agreement described above, interest rates could be (1) for Eurocurrency loans, a range from LIBOR plus 0.75 percent to 2.00 percent based on the leverage ratio, or (2) for Base Rate loans, the highest of (a) the prime rate, (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50 percent, or (c) the one-month LIBOR rate plus 1.0 percent, plus zero to 1.00 percent based on the leverage ratio.
The amended credit agreement has two financial covenants based on: (1) debt to earnings ratio (Total Funded Debt to EBITDA, as those terms are defined in the amended credit agreement, as of the last day of each fiscal quarter cannot exceed (i) 3.5 to 1.0, if none of the $270 million private placement senior notes due 2013 remain outstanding, or otherwise (ii) the then applicable maximum multiple under the $270 million private placement senior notes due 2013) and (2) interest coverage ratio (Consolidated EBITDA to Interest Expense, as those terms are defined in the amended credit agreement, for the preceding four quarters must not be less than 2.5 to 1.0 on the last day of any fiscal quarter). As the $270 million private placement senior notes due 2013 were repaid on December 28, 2012 with proceeds from the 2012 public offering, the financial covenant relating to the notes remaining outstanding was no longer applicable. Prior to the amendment to our multicurrency credit agreement in August 2011, the debt to earnings ratio of Total Funded Debt to Consolidated EBITDA for the preceding four quarters could not exceed 3.25 to 1.0 on the last day of any fiscal quarter. Prior to the amendment to our multicurrency credit agreement in October 2009, the interest coverage ratio was calculated based on Consolidated EBIT to Interest Expense for the preceding four quarters and could not be less than 3.0 to 1.0 on the last day of any fiscal quarter. The amended credit agreement provided for more flexible financial covenants and debt restrictions through the amendment of certain customary covenants. As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, we were in compliance with the financial covenants in the amended credit agreement.
We have amended our revolving credit facility subsequent to December 31, 2012. See NOTE 22 - SUBSEQUENT EVENTS for further information.
$500 Million Senior Notes — 2012 Offering
On December 6, 2012, we completed a $500.0 million public offering of senior notes at 3.95 percent due January 15, 2018. Interest is fixed and is payable on January 15 and July 15 of each year, beginning on July 15, 2013 until maturity. The senior notes are unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all our other existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. There are no subsidiary guarantees of the interest and principal amounts. A portion of the net proceeds from the senior notes offering was used on December 28, 2012 to repay $270.0 million and $55.0 million outstanding private placement senior notes and also for the repayment of a portion of the borrowings outstanding under the term loan facility and the revolving credit facility.
The senior notes may be redeemed any time at our option not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days after prior notice is sent to the holders of the applicable series of notes. The senior notes are redeemable at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100 percent of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed or (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the notes to be redeemed, discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis at the treasury rate plus 50 basis points with respect to the 2018 senior notes, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption.
In addition, if a change of control triggering event occurs with respect to the senior notes, as defined in the agreement, we will be required to offer to purchase the notes of the applicable series at a purchase price equal to 101 percent of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase.
The terms of the senior notes contain certain customary covenants; however, there are no financial covenants.
Interest Rate Adjustment Based on Rating Events
The interest rate payable on the senior notes may be subject to adjustments from time to time if either Moody's or S&P or, in either case, any Substitute Rating Agency thereof downgrades (or subsequently upgrades) the debt rating assigned to the senior notes. In no event shall (1) the interest rate for the senior notes be reduced to below the interest rate payable on the senior notes on the date of the initial issuance of senior notes or (2) the total increase in the interest rate on the senior notes exceed 2.00% above the interest rate payable on the senior notes on the date of the initial issuance of senior notes.
$1 Billion Senior Notes — 2011 Offering
On March 23, 2011 and April 1, 2011, respectively, we completed a $1 billion public offering of senior notes consisting of two tranches: a 10-year tranche of $700 million aggregate principal amount at 4.88 percent senior notes due April 1, 2021, and an additional issuance of $300 million aggregate principal amount of our 6.25 percent senior notes due October 1, 2040, of which $500 million aggregate principal amount previously was issued during September 2010. Interest is fixed and is payable on April 1 and October 1 of each year, beginning on October 1, 2011, for both series of senior notes until maturity. The senior notes are unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all our other existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. There are no subsidiary guarantees of the interest and principal amounts. The net proceeds from the senior notes offering were used to fund a portion of the acquisition of Consolidated Thompson and to pay the related fees and expenses.
The senior notes may be redeemed any time at our option not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days after prior notice is sent to the holders of the applicable series of notes. The senior notes are redeemable at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100 percent of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed or (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the notes to be redeemed, discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis at the treasury rate plus 25 basis points with respect to the 2021 senior notes and 40 basis points with respect to the 2040 senior notes, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. However, if the 2021 senior notes are redeemed on or after the date that is three months prior to their maturity date, the 2021 senior notes will be redeemed at a redemption price equal to 100 percent of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption.
In addition, if a change of control triggering event occurs with respect to the senior notes, as defined in the agreement, we will be required to offer to purchase the notes of the applicable series at a purchase price equal to 101 percent of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase.
The terms of the senior notes contain certain customary covenants; however, there are no financial covenants.
$1 Billion Senior Notes — 2010 Offering
On September 20, 2010, we completed a $1 billion public offering of senior notes consisting of two tranches: a 10-year tranche of $500 million aggregate principal amount at 4.80 percent due October 1, 2020, and a 30-year tranche of $500 million aggregate principal amount at 6.25 percent due October 1, 2040. Interest is fixed and is payable on April 1 and October 1 of each year, beginning on April 1, 2011, for both series of senior notes until maturity. The senior notes are unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of our other existing and future senior unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. There are no subsidiary guarantees of the interest and principal amounts.
A portion of the net proceeds from the senior notes offering was used on September 22, 2010 to repay $350 million outstanding under our credit facility. A portion of the net proceeds was also used for general corporate purposes, including funding of capital expenditures and were used to fund a portion of the acquisition of Consolidated Thompson and related expenses.
The senior notes may be redeemed any time at our option not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days after prior notice is sent to the holders of the applicable series of notes. The senior notes are redeemable at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100 percent of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed or (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the notes to be redeemed, discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis at the treasury rate plus 35 basis points with respect to the 2020 senior notes and 40 basis points with respect to the 2040 senior notes, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. In addition, if a change of control triggering event occurs with respect to the notes, we will be required to offer to purchase the notes at a purchase price equal to 101 percent of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase.
The terms of the senior notes contain certain customary covenants; however, there are no financial covenants.
$400 Million Senior Notes Offering
On March 17, 2010, we completed a $400 million public offering of senior notes due March 15, 2020. Interest at a fixed rate of 5.90 percent is payable on March 15 and September 15 of each year, beginning on September 15, 2010, until maturity on March 15, 2020. The senior notes are unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of our other existing and future senior unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. There are no subsidiary guarantees of the interest and principal amounts.
A portion of the net proceeds from the senior notes offering was used on March 31, 2010 to repay our $200 million term loan under our credit facility, as well as to repay on May 27, 2010 our share of Amapá’s remaining debt outstanding of $100.8 million. In addition, we used the remainder of the net proceeds to help fund the acquisitions of Spider and CLCC during the third quarter of 2010.
The senior notes may be redeemed any time at our option not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days after prior notice is sent to the holders of the applicable series of notes. The senior notes are redeemable at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100 percent of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed or (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the notes to be redeemed, discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. In addition, if a change of control triggering event occurs, we will be required to offer to purchase the notes at a purchase price equal to 101 percent of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase.
The terms of the senior notes contain certain customary covenants; however, there are no financial covenants.
$325 Million Private Placement Senior Notes
On June 25, 2008, we entered into a $325 million private placement consisting of $270 million of 6.31 percent five-year senior notes due June 15, 2013, and $55 million of 6.59 percent seven-year senior notes due June 15, 2015. Through the use of proceeds from the 2012 public offering, we repaid the $325 million private placement senior notes including all accrued and unpaid interest and a make-whole amount on December 28, 2012. Interest was paid on the notes for both tranches on June 15 and December 15 until the payoff date. The notes were unsecured obligations with interest and principal amounts guaranteed by certain of our domestic subsidiaries. The notes and guarantees were not required to be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and were placed with qualified institutional investors.
The terms of the private placement senior notes contained customary covenants that required compliance with certain financial covenants based on: (1) debt to earnings ratio (Total Funded Debt to Consolidated EBITDA, as those terms are defined in the note purchase agreement, for the preceding four quarters cannot exceed 3.25 to 1.0 on the last day of any fiscal quarter) and (2) interest coverage ratio (Consolidated EBITDA to Interest Expense, as those terms are defined in the note purchase agreement, for the preceding four quarters must not be less than 2.5 to 1.0 on the last day of any fiscal quarter). As of December 31, 2011, we were in compliance with the financial covenants in the note purchase agreement.
Bridge Credit Agreement
On March 4, 2011, we entered into an unsecured bridge credit agreement with a syndicate of banks in order to provide a portion of the financing for the acquisition of Consolidated Thompson. The bridge credit agreement provided for a bridge credit facility with an original maturity date of May 10, 2012. On May 10, 2011, we borrowed $750 million under the bridge credit facility to fund a portion of the cash required upon the consummation of the acquisition of Consolidated Thompson. The borrowings under the bridge credit facility were repaid using a portion of the net proceeds obtained from the public offering of our common shares that was completed on June 13, 2011, and the bridge credit facility was terminated. The borrowings under the bridge credit facility bore interest at a floating rate based upon a base rate or the LIBOR rate plus a margin determined by our credit rating and the length of time the borrowings were outstanding. The weighted average annual interest rate under the bridge credit facility during the time the borrowings were outstanding was 2.56 percent. Refer to NOTE 16 - CAPITAL STOCK for additional information on the public offering of our common shares.
Term Loan
On March 4, 2011, we entered into an unsecured term loan agreement with a syndicate of banks in order to provide a portion of the financing for the acquisition of Consolidated Thompson. The term loan agreement provided for a $1.25 billion term loan. The term loan has a maturity date of five years from the date of funding and requires principal payments on each three-month anniversary of the date following the funding. On May 10, 2011, we borrowed $1.25 billion under the term loan agreement to fund a portion of the cash required upon the consummation of the acquisition of Consolidated Thompson. Effective August 11, 2011, we amended the term loan agreement to modify certain definitions, representations, warranties and covenants, including the financial covenants, to conform to certain provisions under the amended credit agreement. In addition, a portion of the $1.75 billion revolving credit facility, provided for under the amended credit agreement, was used to repay $250 million of the outstanding term loan, as discussed above. The $250 million payment was in addition to two scheduled quarterly principal payments totaling $28.0 million, reducing the total outstanding amount under the term loan to $972.0 million, of which $897.2 million is characterized as long-term debt as of December 31, 2011. As of December 31, 2012, the total amount outstanding under the term loan is $847.1 million, of which $753.0 million is characterized as long term debt. Borrowings under the term loan bear interest at a floating rate based upon a base rate or the LIBOR rate plus a margin depending on the leverage ratio.
We have amended our term loan subsequent to December 31, 2012. See NOTE 22 - SUBSEQUENT EVENTS for further information.
Short-Term Facilities
Asia Pacific Iron Ore maintains a bank contingent instrument facility and cash advance facility. The facility, which is renewable annually at the bank’s discretion, provides A$40.0 million ($41.6 million) in credit for contingent instruments, such as performance bonds and the ability to request a cash advance facility to be provided at the discretion of the bank. As of December 31, 2012, the outstanding bank guarantees under this facility totaled A$25.0 million ($26.0 million), thereby reducing borrowing capacity to A$15.0 million ($15.6 million). We have provided a guarantee of the facility, along with certain of our Australian subsidiaries. During the third quarter of 2012, the agreement was amended to eliminate the customary covenants that were required. Prior to this amendment, the facility agreement contained certain customary covenants that require compliance with certain financial covenants: (1) debt to earnings ratio and (2) interest coverage ratio, both based on the financial performance of the Company. As of December 31, 2011, we were in compliance with these financial covenants.
Consolidated Thompson Senior Secured Notes
The Consolidated Thompson senior secured notes were included among the liabilities assumed in the acquisition of Consolidated Thompson. On April 13, 2011, we purchased the outstanding Consolidated Thompson senior secured notes directly from the note holders for $125 million, including accrued and unpaid interest. The senior secured notes had a face amount of $100 million, a stated interest rate of 8.5 percent and were scheduled to mature in 2017. The transaction initially was recorded as an investment in Consolidated Thompson senior secured notes during the second quarter of 2011. However, upon the completion of the acquisition of Consolidated Thompson and consolidation into our financial statements, the Consolidated Thompson senior secured notes and our investment in the notes were eliminated as intercompany transactions. During August 2011, Consolidated Thompson, our wholly owned subsidiary, provided for the redemption and release of the Consolidated Thompson senior secured notes, resulting in the cancellation of the notes. Refer to NOTE 6 - ACQUISITIONS AND OTHER INVESTMENTS for additional information.
Consolidated Thompson Convertible Debentures
Included among the liabilities assumed in the acquisition of Consolidated Thompson were the Consolidated Thompson convertible debentures, which, as a result of the acquisition, were able to be converted by their holders into cash in accordance with the cash change-of-control provision of the convertible debenture indenture. The convertible debentures allowed the debenture holders to convert at a premium conversion ratio beginning on the 10th trading day prior to the closing of the acquisition and ending on the 30th day subsequent to the mailing of an offer to purchase the convertible debentures, which was the cash change-of-control conversion period as defined by the convertible debenture indenture. On May 12, 2011, following the closing of the acquisition, Consolidated Thompson commenced the offer to purchase all of the outstanding convertible debentures in accordance with its obligations under the convertible debenture indenture by mailing the offer to purchase to the debenture holders. Additionally, on May 13, 2011, Consolidated Thompson gave notice that it was exercising its right to redeem any convertible debentures that remained outstanding on June 13, 2011, after giving effect to any conversions that occurred during the cash change-of-control conversion period. As previously disclosed, Consolidated Thompson received sufficient consents from the debenture holders, pursuant to a consent solicitation, to amend the convertible debenture indenture to give Consolidated Thompson such a redemption right. As a result of these events, no convertible debentures remain outstanding. Refer to NOTE 6 - ACQUISITIONS AND OTHER INVESTMENTS for additional information.
Letters of Credit
In conjunction with our acquisition of Consolidated Thompson, we issued standby letters of credit with certain financial institutions in order to support Consolidated Thompson’s and Bloom Lake’s general business obligations. In addition, we issued standby letters of credit with certain financial institutions during the third quarter of 2011 in order to support Wabush’s obligations. As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, these letter of credit obligations totaled $96.9 million and $95.0 million, respectively. All of these standby letters of credit are in addition to the letters of credit provided for under the amended and restated multicurrency credit agreement.
Debt Maturities
Maturities of debt instruments, excluding borrowings on the revolving credit facility, based on the principal amounts outstanding at December 31, 2012, total approximately $94.1 million in 2013, $117.7 million in 2014, $353.0 million in 2015, $282.4 million in 2016, none in 2017 and $2.9 billion thereafter.