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Long-Term Debt
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Long-term Debt, Unclassified [Abstract]  
Long-Term Debt
Long-Term Debt
Long-term debt consists of the following at December 31:
 
 
2013
 
2012
3.60% senior notes due 2022
 
$
248,990

 
$
248,872

6 ½% senior notes due 2029
 
100,000

 
100,000

6 ¾% senior notes due 2032
 
250,000

 
250,000

6 ½% senior notes due 2035 (the "6 ½% GO Zone Senior Notes Due 2035")
 
89,000

 
89,000

6 ½% senior notes due 2035 (the "6 ½% IKE Zone Senior Notes Due 2035")
 
65,000

 
65,000

Loan related to tax-exempt waste disposal revenue bonds due 2027
 
10,889

 
10,889

Long-term debt, net
 
$
763,879

 
$
763,761


Revolving Credit Facility
The Company has a $400,000 senior secured revolving credit facility. The facility includes a provision permitting the Company to increase the size of the facility, up to four times, in increments of at least $25,000 each (up to a maximum of $150,000) under certain circumstances if certain lenders agree to commit to such an increase.
The facility allows the Company to borrow up to (1) 85% of the net amount of eligible accounts receivable, plus (2) the lesser of (a) 70% of the value of the lower of cost or market of eligible inventory, or (b) 85% of the appraised net orderly liquidation value of all eligible inventory, plus (3) 100% of cash held in an account with the agent under the credit facility and subject to a control agreement with the agent, minus (4) such reserves as the agent may establish. Advances on inventory are limited to $325,000. The facility includes a $400,000 sub-limit for letters of credit, and any outstanding letters of credit will be deducted from availability under the facility.
At December 31, 2013, the Company had no borrowings outstanding under the revolving credit facility. Any borrowings under the facility will bear interest at either LIBOR plus a spread ranging from 1.75% to 2.25% or a base rate plus a spread ranging from 0.25% to 0.75%. The revolving credit facility also requires an unused commitment fee of 0.375% per annum. All interest rates under the facility are subject to monthly grid pricing adjustments based on prior month average daily loan availability. The revolving credit facility matures on September 16, 2016. As of December 31, 2013, the Company had outstanding letters of credit totaling $16,921 and borrowing availability of $383,079 under the revolving credit facility.
The Company's revolving credit facility requires the Company to maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.0:1 for successive 30-day periods after any date on which the borrowing availability under the facility is less than the greater of (1) 12.5% of the commitments under the facility and (2) $50,000, until the borrowing availability exceeds the greater of the amount in clause (1) and the amount in clause (2) for a 30-day period.
In order to make acquisitions or investments, the Company's revolving credit facility provides that (1) the Company must maintain a minimum borrowing availability of at least the greater of $100,000 or 25% of the total bank commitments under its revolving credit facility or (2) the Company must maintain a minimum borrowing availability of at least the greater of $70,000 or 17.5% of the total bank commitments under its revolving credit facility and meet a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.0:1 under its revolving credit facility. However, the Company may make specified distributions up to an aggregate of $25,000 and specified acquisitions up to an aggregate of $25,000 if either the Company maintains a minimum borrowing availability of at least the greater of $70,000 or 17.5% of the total bank commitments under its revolving credit facility or the Company meet the minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.0:1 under its revolving credit facility. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may make (1) investments up to $200,000 in one or more joint ventures that own feedstock, raw material and ethylene pipeline, storage and fractionating facilities and (2) additional investments up to $55,000 in Suzhou Huasu Plastics Co., Ltd. The revolving credit facility contains other customary covenants and events of default that impose significant operating and financial restrictions on the Company. These restrictions, among other things, provide limitations on the occurrence of additional indebtedness and the Company's ability to create liens, to engage in certain affiliate transactions and to engage in sale-leaseback transactions.
3.60% Senior Notes due 2022
In July 2012, the Company issued $250,000 aggregate principal amount of its 3.60% senior notes due 2022 (the "3.60% Notes Due 2022"). The 3.60% Notes Due 2022 are unsecured and were issued with an original issue discount of $1,183. There is no sinking fund and no scheduled amortization of the 3.60% Notes Due 2022 prior to maturity. The Company may optionally redeem the 3.60% Notes Due 2022 at any time and from time to time prior to April 15, 2022 (three months prior to the maturity date) for 100% of the principal plus accrued interest and a discounted "make whole" payment. On or after April 15, 2022, the Company may optionally redeem the 3.60% Notes Due 2022 for 100% of the principal plus accrued interest. The holders of the 3.60% Notes Due 2022 may require the Company to repurchase the 3.60% Notes Due 2022 at a price of 101% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of repurchase, upon the occurrence of both a "change of control" and, within 60 days of such change of control, a "below investment grade rating event" (as such terms are defined in the indenture governing the 3.60% Notes Due 2022). All domestic subsidiaries of the Company that guarantee other indebtedness of the Company or of another guarantor of the 3.60% Notes Due 2022 in excess of $5,000 are guarantors of the 3.60% Notes Due 2022.
The indenture governing the 3.60% Notes Due 2022 contains customary events of default and covenants that will restrict the Company's and certain of its subsidiaries' ability to (1) incur certain secured indebtedness, (2) engage in certain sale-leaseback transactions and (3) consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of the Company's assets.
GO Zone Bonds
In December 2010, the Louisiana Local Government Environmental Facility and Development Authority (the "Authority"), a political subdivision of the State of Louisiana, completed the offering of $89,000 of 6 ½% tax-exempt revenue bonds due November 1, 2035 under the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act of 2005 (the "GO Zone Act"). The bonds are subject to optional redemption by the Authority upon the direction of the Company at any time prior to November 1, 2020 for 100% of the principal plus accrued interest and a discounted "make whole" payment. On or after November 1, 2020, the bonds are subject to optional redemption by the Authority upon the direction of the Company for 100% of the principal plus accrued interest.
In July 2010, the Authority completed the reoffering of $100,000 of 6 ½% tax-exempt revenue bonds due August 1, 2029 under the GO Zone Act. The bonds are subject to optional redemption by the Authority upon the direction of the Company at any time prior to August 1, 2020 for 100% of the principal plus accrued interest and a discounted "make whole" payment. On or after August 1, 2020, the bonds are subject to optional redemption by the Authority upon the direction of the Company for 100% of the principal plus accrued interest.
In December 2007, the Authority issued $250,000 of 6 ¾% tax-exempt revenue bonds due November 1, 2032 under the GO Zone Act. The bonds are subject to optional redemption by the Authority upon the direction of the Company at any time prior to November 1, 2017 for 100% of the principal plus accrued interest and a discounted "make whole" payment. On or after November 1, 2017, the bonds are subject to optional redemption by the Authority upon the direction of the Company for 100% of the principal plus accrued interest.
Each series of the bonds is subject to redemption and the holders may require the bonds to be repurchased upon a change of control or a change in or loss of the current tax status of the bonds. In addition, the bonds are subject to optional redemption by the Authority upon the direction of the Company if certain events have occurred in connection with the operation of the projects for which the bond proceeds may be used, including if the Company has determined that the continued operation of any material portion of the projects would be impracticable, uneconomical or undesirable for any reason.
In connection with each offering of the bonds, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Authority pursuant to which the Company agreed to pay all of the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the bonds and certain other amounts to the Authority. The net proceeds from the offerings were loaned by the Authority to the Company. The Company used the proceeds to expand, refurbish and maintain certain of its facilities in the Louisiana Parishes of Calcasieu and Ascension. The bonds are unsecured and rank equally in right of payment with other existing and future unsecured senior indebtedness. All domestic restricted subsidiaries that guarantee other debt of the Company or of another guarantor of the 6 ½% senior notes due 2029, the 6 ¾% senior notes due 2032 and the 6 ½% GO Zone Senior Notes Due 2035 (collectively, and including the 6 ½% IKE Zone Senior Notes Due 2035, the "Senior Notes") in excess of $5,000 are guarantors of the bonds. As of December 31, 2013, the Company had drawn all the proceeds from the 6 ½% bonds due 2029, 6 ¾% bonds due 2032 and 6 ½% bonds due 2035.
IKE Zone Bonds
In December 2010, the Authority completed the offering of $65,000 of 6 ½% tax-exempt revenue bonds due November 1, 2035 under Section 704 of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. The bonds are subject to optional redemption by the Authority upon the direction of the Company at any time prior to November 1, 2020 for 100% of the principal plus accrued interest and a discounted "make whole" payment. On or after November 1, 2020, the bonds are subject to optional redemption by the Authority upon the direction of the Company for 100% of the principal plus accrued interest. The bonds are subject to redemption, repurchase by the holders upon a change of control or a change in or loss of the current tax status of the bonds and optional redemption by the Authority under terms substantially similar to the terms for the GO Zone Bonds.
In connection with the offering of the bonds, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the Authority pursuant to which the Company agreed to pay all of the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the bonds and certain other amounts to the Authority. The net proceeds from the offering were loaned by the Authority to the Company. The Company used the proceeds to expand, refurbish and maintain certain of its facilities in the Louisiana Parish of Calcasieu. The 6 ½% IKE Zone Senior Notes Due 2035 are unsecured and rank equally in right of payment with other existing and future unsecured senior indebtedness. All domestic restricted subsidiaries that guarantee other debt of the Company or of another guarantor of the Senior Notes in excess of $5,000 are guarantors of the 6 ½% IKE Zone Senior Notes Due 2035. As of December 31, 2013, the Company had drawn all the proceeds from the 6 ½% IKE Zone Senior Notes Due 2035.
The indentures governing the Senior Notes contain customary covenants and events of default. Accordingly, these agreements generally impose significant operating and financial restrictions on the Company. These restrictions, among other things, provide limitations on incurrence of additional indebtedness, the payment of dividends, certain investments and acquisitions and sales of assets. However, the effectiveness of certain of these restrictions is currently suspended because the Senior Notes are currently rated investment grade by at least two nationally recognized credit rating agencies. The most significant of these provisions, if it were currently effective, would restrict the Company from incurring additional debt, except specified permitted debt (including borrowings under its credit facility), when the Company's fixed charge coverage ratio is below 2.0:1. These limitations are subject to a number of important qualifications and exceptions, including, without limitation, an exception for the payment of the Company's regular quarterly dividend of up to $0.20 per share. If the restrictions were currently effective, distributions in excess of $100,000 would not be allowed unless, after giving pro forma effect to the distribution, the Company's fixed charge coverage ratio is at least 2.0:1 and such payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other distributions after January 13, 2006, is less than the sum of 50% of the Company's consolidated net income for the period from October 1, 2003 to the end of the most recent quarter for which financial statements have been filed, plus 100% of net cash proceeds received after October 1, 2003 as a contribution to the Company's common equity capital or from the issuance or sale of certain securities, plus several other adjustments.
Revenue Bonds
In December 1997, the Company entered into a loan agreement with a public trust established for public purposes for the benefit of the Parish of Calcasieu, Louisiana. The public trust issued $10,889 principal amount of tax-exempt waste disposal revenue bonds in order to finance the Company's construction of waste disposal facilities for an ethylene plant. The waste disposal revenue bonds expire in December 2027 and are subject to redemption and mandatory tender for purchase prior to maturity under certain conditions. Interest on the waste disposal revenue bonds accrues at a rate determined by a remarketing agent and is payable quarterly. The interest rate on the waste disposal revenue bonds at December 31, 2013 and 2012 was 0.09% and 0.30%, respectively.
As of December 31, 2013, the Company was in compliance with all of the covenants with respect to the 3.60% Notes Due 2022, the Senior Notes, the waste disposal revenue bonds and its revolving credit facility.
The weighted average interest rate on all long-term debt was 5.5% and 5.6% at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
As of December 31, 2013, the Company had no maturities of long-term debt until 2022.