XML 80 R13.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.6
Debt
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Debt [Abstract]  
Debt
6.
Debt
 

   
December 31,
 
   
2011
  
2010
 
Debt classified as current liabilities:
      
1.75% convertible senior notes due 2024, net of debt discount of $0 and $1,584, respectively,  interest payable semiannually (1)
 $-  $45,483 
Hancock County industrial revenue bonds due 2028, interest payable quarterly (variable interest rates (not to exceed 12%))(1)
  7,815   7,815 
Debt classified as non-current liabilities:
        
8.0% senior secured notes payable due May 15, 2014, net of debt discount of $2,695 and $3,677, respectively, interest payable semiannually
  246,909   245,927 
7.5% senior unsecured notes payable due August 15, 2014, interest payable semiannually
  2,603   2,603 
E.ON contingent obligation, principal and accrued interest, contingently payable monthly, annual interest rate of 10.94% (2)
  13,958   13,091 
Total
 $271,285  $314,919 

(1)
The convertible notes were classified as current because they were convertible at any time by the holder.  The IRBs are classified as current liabilities because they are remarketed weekly and could be required to be repaid upon demand if there is a failed remarketing. The IRB interest rate at December 31, 2011 was 0.35%.
(2)
E.ON contingent obligation principal and interest payments are payable based on CAKY's operating level and the LME price for primary aluminum.  See E.ON contingent obligation below.

 
 
Revolving Credit Facility
 
General.  On July 1, 2010, we and certain of our direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries (together with Century, the "Borrowers") entered into a four-year $100,000 senior secured revolving credit facility pursuant to a Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2010, among the Borrowers and Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, as lender and agent (the "Credit Facility"), a portion of which was later syndicated to Credit Suisse AG.  The Credit Facility replaced our previous credit facility that would have expired on September 19, 2010.
 
 
The Credit Facility provides for borrowings of up to $100,000 in the aggregate, including up to $50,000 under a letter of credit sub-facility.  Any letters of credit issued and outstanding under the Credit Facility reduce our borrowing availability on a dollar-for-dollar basis.  As of December 31, 2011, we had no outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility, although the Borrowers may in the future use the Credit Facility to repay existing indebtedness, to issue standby or commercial letters of credit, to finance capital expenditures and for ongoing working capital needs and other general corporate purposes. As of December 31, 2011, the borrowing availability, net of $41,451 for outstanding letters of credit, was approximately $57,473 under the Credit Facility.
 
 
The availability of funds under the revolving credit facility is limited by a specified borrowing base consisting of accounts receivable and inventory which meet the eligibility criteria.  The availability of funds under the revolving credit facility is limited by a specified borrowing base consisting of a portion of eligible accounts receivable not owed by Glencore plus a portion of the net amount of eligible accounts receivable owed by Glencore and a portion of eligible inventory balance.
 
Guaranty.  The Borrowers' obligations under the Credit Facility are guaranteed by certain of our domestic subsidiaries and secured by a first priority security interest in all of the Borrowers' accounts receivable, inventory and certain bank accounts.  Each Borrower is liable for any and all obligations under the Credit Facility on a joint and several basis.

 
Interest Rates and Fees.  Any amounts outstanding under the Credit Facility will bear interest, at our option, at LIBOR or a base rate, plus, in each case, an applicable interest margin.  The applicable interest margin is determined based on the average daily availability for the immediately preceding quarter.  For amounts outstanding under the revolving credit facility, the applicable interest margin ranges from 2.50% to 3.00% over the LIBOR rate and 1.50% under to 2.00% over the base rate.  In addition, we pay a commitment fee of 0.50% per annum on undrawn amounts, less the amount of our letters of credit exposure.
 
For standby letters of credit, we are required to pay a fee on the face amount of such letters of credit equal to either 0.75% (if 100% supported by cash collateral) or 2.50% (for all other standby letters of credit).
 
Maturity.  The Credit Facility will mature on July 1, 2014.
 
Prepayments.  We can make voluntary prepayments of amounts outstanding under the Credit Facility, in whole or in part without premium or penalty, subject to standard LIBOR breakage costs.  We are required to apply the proceeds from sales of accounts receivable or inventory, other than sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business, to repay amounts outstanding under the revolving credit facility and correspondingly reduce the commitments there under.
 
Covenants.  The Credit Facility contains customary covenants, including restrictions on mergers and acquisitions, indebtedness, affiliate transactions, liens, dividends and distributions, dispositions of collateral, investments and prepayments of indebtedness, as well as a covenant that requires the Borrowers to maintain certain minimum liquidity or availability requirements.
 
Events of Default.  The Credit Facility also includes customary events of default, including nonpayment, misrepresentation, breach of covenant, bankruptcy, change of ownership, certain judgments and certain cross defaults. Upon the occurrence of an event of default, commitments under the Credit Facility may be terminated and amounts outstanding may be accelerated and declared immediately due and payable.

 
1.75% Notes
 
On May 19, 2011, we redeemed all outstanding 1.75% Notes at 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to that date.  We funded the redemption of the 1.75% Notes with cash on hand.
 
Interest Rate. The 1.75% Notes bear interest at 1.75% per annum on the principal amount, payable semi-annually in arrears in cash on February 1 and August 1 of each year.

Interest expense related to the 1.75% convertible senior notes:
 
   
2011
  
2010
  
2009
 
Contractual interest coupon
 $316  $823  $2,585 
Amortization of the debt discount on the liability component
  874   2,244   6,969 
Total
 $1,190  $3,067  $9,554 
              
Effective interest rate for the liability component for the period
  6.74%  6.52%  6.34%
 

 
7.5% Notes
 
General.  In August 2004, we sold $250,000 of our 7.5% Notes in a private offering exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
 
 
Exchange offer and consent solicitation.  In 2010 and 2009, we completed a series of debt for debt exchange offers and consent solicitation relating to our 7.5% Notes (the “7.5% Notes Exchange Offer”) in which we issued our 8.0% Notes in exchange for our 7.5% Notes.  In addition, certain investors consented to certain amendments and modifications to the indenture governing the 7.5% Notes to remove, among other things, most of the restrictive covenants, in exchange for which we paid these investors consent fees.  As of December 31, 2011, we had $2,603 of aggregate principal amount outstanding of the 7.5% Notes.
 
 
Interest rate.  The 7.5% Notes bear interest at 7.5% per annum on the principal amount, payable semi-annually in arrears in cash on February 15 and August 15 of each year.
 
Maturity. The 7.5% Notes mature on August 15, 2014.
 
Seniority.  The 7.5% Notes are senior unsecured obligations and rank, in right of payment, the same as all of our existing and future senior unsecured debt, including the 1.75% Notes.
 
Guaranty. Our obligations under the 7.5% Notes are guaranteed by all of our existing and future domestic restricted subsidiaries.
 
Redemption Rights.  On or after August 15, 2011, we may redeem the 7.5% Notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 101.5% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest. The redemption price will decline to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, on August 15, 2012.
 
Upon a “change of control” (as defined in the indenture governing the 7.5% Notes), we will be required to make an offer to purchase the 7.5% Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the outstanding principal amount of the 7.5% Notes on the date of the purchase, plus accrued interest to the date of purchase.
 
Covenants and Exchange Offer.  In December 2009, the indenture governing the 7.5% Notes was amended in connection with the 7.5% Notes Exchange Offer to remove most of the restrictive covenants, see consent solicitation discussion above.
 
8.0% Notes
 
General.  As of December 31, 2011, we have issued $249,604 of our 8.0% Notes in a series of exchange transactions for our 7.5% Notes in a private offering exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.  See Exchange offer and consent solicitation under the 7.5% Notes above.
 
 
Interest rate.  The 8.0% Notes bear interest at 8.0% per annum on the principal amount, payable semi-annually in arrears in cash on May 15 and November 15 of each year.
 
Maturity.  The 8.0% Notes mature on May 15, 2014.
 
Seniority.  The 8.0% Notes are senior secured obligations of Century, ranking equally in right of payment with all existing and future senior indebtedness of Century, but effectively senior to unsecured debt to the extent of the value of the collateral.

 
Guaranty.  Our obligations under the 8.0% Notes are guaranteed by all of our existing and future domestic restricted subsidiaries, except for foreign owned parent companies (the “Guarantors”), which guaranty shall in each case be a senior secured obligation of such Guarantors, ranking equally in right of payment with all existing and future senior indebtedness of such Guarantor but effectively senior to unsecured debt.
 
Collateral. Our obligations under the 8.0% Notes and the guarantors' obligations under the guarantees will be secured by a pledge of and lien on (subject to certain exceptions):
 
 
(i)
all of our and the guarantors' plant, property and equipment;
 
(ii)
all equity interests in domestic subsidiaries directly owned by us and the guarantors and 65% of equity interests in foreign subsidiaries directly owned by us and the guarantors;
 
(iii)
intercompany notes owed by any non-guarantor to us or any guarantor, including an intercompany note from Century Bermuda I Ltd. (which indirectly owns Grundartangi and Helguvik) to us; and
 
(iv)
proceeds of the foregoing.
 
The liens securing the 8.0% Notes will not extend to assets other than those described above.
 
 
Under certain circumstances, the indenture and the security documents governing the 8.0% Notes will permit us and the guarantors to incur additional debt that also may be secured by liens on the collateral that are equal to or have priority over the liens securing the 8.0% Notes.  The collateral agent for the 8.0% Notes will agree with the collateral agent for the other debt holders and us under such circumstances to enter into an intercreditor agreement that will cause the liens securing the 8.0% Notes to be contractually subordinated to the liens securing such additional debt.
 
Redemption Rights.  On or after May 15, 2011, we may redeem the 8.0% Notes, in whole or in part, at an initial redemption price equal to 104% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest. The redemption price will decline to 102% on May 15, 2012 and will be 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, beginning on May 15, 2013 and thereafter.
 
Upon a change of control (as defined in the indenture governing the 8.0% Notes), we will be required to make an offer to purchase the 8.0% Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the outstanding principal amount of the 8.0% Notes on the date of the purchase, plus accrued interest to the date of purchase.
 
Covenants.  The indenture governing the 8.0% Notes limits our ability, and the ability of certain of our subsidiaries, to: (i) incur additional debt; (ii) create liens; (iii) pay dividends or make distributions in respect of capital stock; (iv) purchase or redeem capital stock; (v) make investments or certain other restricted payments; (vi) sell assets; (vii) issue or sell stock of certain subsidiaries; (viii) enter into transactions with shareholders or affiliates; and (ix) effect a consolidation or merger.
 
E.ON contingent obligation
 
General.  The E.ON contingent obligation consists of the aggregate E.ON payments under the Big Rivers Agreement to Big Rivers on CAKY's behalf in excess of the agreed upon base amount.  Our obligation to make repayments is contingent upon certain operating criteria for Hawesville and the LME price of primary aluminum.  Based on the LME forward market and our expectation of Hawesville's future operations, we expect that we will be obligated to make payments in the future.  When the conditions for repayment are met, and for so long so those conditions continue to be met, we will be obligated to make principal and interest payments, in up to 72 monthly payments.

 
Interest rate.  Interest accrues at an annual rate equal to 10.94%.
 
Maturity.  The term of the agreement is through December 31, 2028.
 
Industrial Revenue Bonds
 
General.  As part of the purchase price for our acquisition of the Hawesville facility, we assumed industrial revenue bonds which were issued in connection with the financing of certain solid waste disposal facilities constructed at the Hawesville facility.
 
Interest rate.  The IRBs bear interest at a variable rate not to exceed 12% per annum determined weekly based upon prevailing rates for similar bonds in the industrial revenue bond market. Interest on the industrial revenue bonds is paid quarterly.
 
Maturity.  The industrial revenue bonds mature on April 1, 2028.
 
Security.  The industrial revenue bonds are secured by a letter of credit issued under our revolving credit facility.
 
Principal Payments on Long Term Debt
 
Principal payments on our long term debt, excluding contingent obligations, in the next five years and thereafter are as follows:
 
   
Total
  
2012
  
2012
  
2013
  
2014
 
7.5% senior unsecured notes due August 15, 2014
 $2,603  $-  $-  $-  $2,603 
8.0% senior secured notes due May 15, 2014
  249,604   -   -   -   249,604 
Total
 $252,207  $-  $-  $-  $252,207