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Debt
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2010
DEBT

10. DEBT

The Company has two types of debt reported on its Consolidated Balance Sheets: non-recourse and recourse debt. Non-recourse debt is used to fund investments and capital expenditures for the construction and acquisition of electric power plants, wind projects, distribution companies and other project-related investments at our subsidiaries. Non-recourse debt is generally secured by the capital stock, physical assets, contracts and cash flows of the related subsidiary. Absent guarantees, intercompany loans or other credit support, the default risk is limited to the respective business and is without recourse to the Parent Company and other subsidiaries, though the Company's equity investments and/or subordinated loans to projects (if any) are at risk. Recourse debt is direct borrowings by the Parent Company and is used to fund development, construction or acquisitions, including serving as funding for equity investments or loans to the affiliates. The Parent Company's debt is, among other things, recourse to the Parent Company and is structurally subordinated to the affiliates' debt.

The following table summarizes the carrying amount and estimated fair values of the Company's recourse and non-recourse debt as of December 31, 2010 and 2009:

  December 31,
  2010 2009
  Carrying Fair Carrying Fair
  Amount Value Amount Value
             
  (in millions)
Non-recourse debt $ 14,939 $ 15,269 $ 13,828 $ 14,175
Recourse debt   4,612   4,868   5,515   5,603
Total debt $ 19,551 $ 20,137 $ 19,343 $ 19,778

Recourse and non-recourse debt are carried at amortized cost. The fair value of recourse debt is estimated based on quoted market prices. The fair value of non-recourse debt is estimated differently based upon the type of loan. The fair value of fixed rate loans is estimated using quoted market prices, if available or a discounted cash flow analysis. In the discounted cash flow analysis, the discount rate is based on the credit rating of the individual debt instruments if available, or the credit rating of the subsidiary. If the subsidiary's credit rating is not available, a synthetic credit rating is determined using certain key metrics, including cash flow ratios and interest coverage, as well as other industry specific factors. For subsidiaries located outside of the U.S., in the event that the country rating is lower than the credit rating previously determined, the country rating is used for the purposes of the discounted cash flow analysis. The fair value of recourse and non-recourse debt excludes accrued interest at the valuation date.

The estimated fair value was determined using available market information as of December 31, 2010 and 2009. The Company is not aware of any factors that would significantly affect the estimated fair value amounts since December 31, 2010.

NON-RECOURSE DEBT

The following table summarizes the carrying amount and terms of non-recourse debt as of December 31, 2010 and 2009:

      December 31,
NON-RECOURSE DEBT Interest  Rate(1) Maturity 2010 2009
            
       (in millions)
VARIABLE RATE:(2)          
Bank loans 2.39% 2011 - 2027 $ 3,836 $ 3,109
Notes and bonds 12.14% 2011 - 2020   2,982   1,922
Debt to (or guaranteed by) multilateral,           
 export credit agencies or development banks(3) 2.95% 2011 - 2027   1,848   1,679
Other  4.13% 2011 - 2038   365   922
FIXED RATE:          
Bank loans 8.44% 2011 - 2023   424   446
Notes and bonds  7.28% 2011 - 2037   4,830   5,265
Debt to (or guaranteed by) multilateral,           
 export credit agencies or development banks(3) 6.41% 2011 - 2027   467   406
Other  6.31% 2011 - 2039   187   79
SUBTOTAL      $ 14,939(4) $ 13,828(4)
Less: Current maturities        (2,567)   (1,707)
TOTAL      $ 12,372 $ 12,121

(1)       Weighted average interest rate at December 31, 2010.

(2)       The Company has interest rate swaps and interest rate option agreements in an aggregate notional principal amount of approximately $4.3 billion on non-recourse debt outstanding at December 31, 2010. The swap agreements economically change the variable interest rates on the portion of the debt covered by the notional amounts to fixed rates ranging from approximately 0.71% to 6.98%. The option agreements fix interest rates within a range from 4.03% to 7.00%. The agreements expire at various dates from 2016 through 2027.

(3)       Multilateral loans include loans funded and guaranteed by bilaterals, multilaterals, development banks and other similar institutions.

(4)       Non-recourse debt of $182 million and $902 million as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, was excluded from non-recourse debt and included in current and long-term liabilities of held for sale and discontinued businesses in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

Non-recourse debt as of December 31, 2010 is scheduled to reach maturity as set forth in the table below:

    Annual
 December 31, Maturities
    (in millions)
 2011. $ 2,567
 2012.   646
 2013.   941
 2014.   1,826
 2015.   1,124
 Thereafter   7,835
 Total non-recourse debt $ 14,939

As of December 31, 2010, AES subsidiaries with facilities under construction had a total of approximately $432 million of committed but unused credit facilities available to fund construction and other related costs. Excluding these facilities under construction, AES subsidiaries had approximately $664 million in a number of available but unused committed revolving credit lines to support their working capital, debt service reserves and other business needs. These credit lines can be used in one or more of the following ways: solely for borrowings; solely for letters of credit; or a combination of these uses. The weighted average interest rate on borrowings from these facilities was 3.24% at December 31, 2010.

Non-Recourse Debt Covenants, Restrictions and Defaults

The terms of the Company's non-recourse debt include certain financial and non-financial covenants. These covenants are limited to subsidiary activity and vary among the subsidiaries. These covenants may include but are not limited to maintenance of certain reserves, minimum levels of working capital and limitations on incurring additional indebtedness. Compliance with certain covenants may not be objectively determinable.

As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, approximately $693 million and $548 million, respectively, of restricted cash was maintained in accordance with certain covenants of the non-recourse debt agreements, and these amounts were included within Restricted cash and Debt service reserves and other deposits in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Various lender and governmental provisions restrict the ability of certain of the Company's subsidiaries to transfer their net assets to the Parent Company. Such restricted net assets of subsidiaries amounted to approximately $4.6 billion at December 31, 2010.

The following table summarizes the Company's subsidiary non-recourse debt in default or accelerated as of December 31, 2010 and is included in the current portion of non-recourse debt unless otherwise indicated:

   Primary Nature  December 31, 2010
 Subsidiary of Default Default Net Assets
          
     (in millions)
 Maritza Covenant $ 986 $ 262
 Sonel Covenant   390   357
 Kelanitissa Covenant   28   31
 Aixi Payment   4   (8)
 Total   $ 1,408   

None of the subsidiaries that are currently in default are subsidiaries that met the applicable definition of materiality under AES' corporate debt agreements as of December 31, 2010 in order for such defaults to trigger an event of default or permit acceleration under such indebtedness. The bankruptcy or acceleration of material amounts of debt at such entities would cause a cross default under the recourse senior secured credit facility. However, as a result of additional dispositions of assets, other significant reductions in asset carrying values or other matters in the future that may impact our financial position and results of operations or the financial position or results of the individual subsidiary, it is possible that one or more of these subsidiaries could fall within the definition of a “material subsidiary” and thereby upon a bankruptcy or acceleration of its non-recourse debt trigger an event of default and possible acceleration of the indebtedness under the AES Parent Company's outstanding debt securities.

RECOURSE DEBT

The following table summarizes the carrying amount and terms of recourse debt of the Company as of December 31, 2010 and 2009:

       December 31,
RECOURSE DEBT Interest Rate Maturity 2010 2009
            
       (in millions)
Senior Unsecured Note 9.375% 2010 $ - $ 214
Senior Secured Term Loan LIBOR + 1.75% 2011   200   200
Senior Unsecured Note 8.875% 2011   129   129
Senior Unsecured Note 8.375% 2011   134   139
Second Priority Senior Secured Note 8.75% 2013   -   690
Senior Unsecured Note 7.75% 2014   500   500
Senior Unsecured Note 7.75% 2015   500   500
Senior Unsecured Note 9.75% 2016   535   535
Senior Unsecured Note 8.00% 2017   1,500   1,500
Senior Unsecured Note 8.00% 2020   625   625
Term Convertible Trust Securities 6.75% 2029   517   517
Unamortized discounts       (28)   (34)
SUBTOTAL      $ 4,612 $ 5,515
 Less: Current maturities       (463)   (214)
Total      $ 4,149 $ 5,301

Recourse debt as of December 31, 2010 is scheduled to reach maturity as set forth in the table below:

 December 31, Annual Maturities
    (in millions)
 2011. $ 463
 2012.   -
 2013.   -
 2014.   497
 2015.   500
 Thereafter   3,152
 Total recourse debt $ 4,612

Recourse Debt Transactions

During 2010, the Company redeemed $690 million aggregate principal of its 8.75% Second Priority Senior Secured Notes due 2013 ("the 2013 Notes"). The 2013 Notes were redeemed at a redemption price equal to 101.458% of the principal amount redeemed. The Company recognized a pre-tax loss on the redemption of the 2013 Notes of $15 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, which is included in "Other expense" in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations.

On July 29, 2010, the Company entered into a second amendment ("Amendment No. 2") to the Fourth Amended and Restated Credit and Reimbursement Agreement, dated as of July 29, 2008, among the Company, various subsidiary guarantors and various lending institutions (the "Existing Credit Agreement") that amends and restates the Existing Credit Agreement (as so amended and restated by Amendment No. 2, the "Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement"). The Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement adjusted the terms and conditions of the Existing Credit Agreement, including the following changes:

  • the aggregate commitment for the revolving credit loan facility was increased to $800 million;
  • the final maturity date of the revolving credit loan facility was extended to January 29, 2015;
  • changes to the facility fee applicable to the revolving credit loan facility;
  • the interest rate margin applicable to the revolving credit loan facility is now based on the credit rating assigned to the loans under the credit agreement, with pricing currently at LIBOR + 3.00%;
  • there is an undrawn fee of 0.625% per annum;
  • the Company may incur a combination of additional term loan and revolver commitments so long as total term loan and revolver commitments (including those currently outstanding) do not exceed $1.4 billion; and
  • the negative pledge (i.e., a cap on first lien debt) of $3.0 billion.

Recourse Debt Covenants and Guarantees

Certain of the Company's obligations under the senior secured credit facility are guaranteed by its direct subsidiaries through which the Company owns its interests in the AES Shady Point, AES Hawaii, AES Warrior Run and AES Eastern Energy businesses. The Company's obligations under the senior secured credit facility are, subject to certain exceptions, secured by:

(i)        all of the capital stock of domestic subsidiaries owned directly by the Company and 65% of the capital stock of certain foreign subsidiaries owned directly or indirectly by the Company; and

(ii)        certain intercompany receivables, certain intercompany notes and certain intercompany tax sharing agreements.

The senior secured credit facility is subject to mandatory prepayment under certain circumstances, including the sale of a guarantor subsidiary. In such a situation, the net cash proceeds from the sale of a Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries must be applied pro rata to repay the term loan using 60% of net cash proceeds, reduced to 50% when and if the parent's recourse debt to cash flow ratio is less than 5:1. The lenders have the option to waive their pro rata redemption.

The senior secured credit facility contains customary covenants and restrictions on the Company's ability to engage in certain activities, including, but not limited to, limitations on other indebtedness, liens, investments and guarantees; limitations on restricted payments such as shareholder dividends and equity repurchases; restrictions on mergers and acquisitions, sales of assets, leases, transactions with affiliates and off-balance sheet or derivative arrangements; and other financial reporting requirements.

The senior secured credit facility also contains financial covenants requiring the Company to maintain certain financial ratios including a cash flow to interest coverage ratio, calculated quarterly, which provides that a minimum ratio of the Company's adjusted operating cash flow to the Company's interest charges related to recourse debt of 1.3× must be maintained at all times and a recourse debt to cash flow ratio, calculated quarterly, which provides that the ratio of the Company's total recourse debt to the Company's adjusted operating cash flow must not exceed a maximum at any time of calculation, or 7.5× at December 31, 2010.  

The terms of the Company's senior unsecured notes and senior secured credit facility contain certain covenants including, without limitation, limitation on the Company's ability to incur liens or enter into sale and leaseback transactions.

TERM CONVERTIBLE TRUST SECURITIES

Between 1999 and 2000, AES Trust III, a wholly owned special purpose business trust, issued approximately 10.35 million of $3.375 Term Convertible Preferred Securities (“TECONS”) (liquidation value $50) for total proceeds of $517 million and concurrently purchased $517 million of 6.75% Junior Subordinated Convertible Debentures due 2029 (the “6.75% Debentures” of the Company). The TECONS are consolidated and classified as long-term recourse debt on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet.

AES, at its option, can redeem the 6.75% Debentures which would result in the required redemption of the TECONS issued by AES Trust III, currently for $50 per TECON. The TECONS must be redeemed upon maturity of the 6.75% Debentures. The TECONS are convertible into the common stock of AES at each holder's option prior to October 15, 2029 at the rate of 1.4216, representing a conversion price of $35.17 per share. The maximum number of shares of common stock AES would be required to issue should all holders decide to convert their securities would be 14.7 million shares.

Dividends on the TECONS are payable quarterly at an annual rate of 6.75%. The Trust is permitted to defer payment of dividends for up to 20 consecutive quarters, provided that the Company has exercised its right to defer interest payments under the corresponding debentures or notes. During such deferral periods, dividends on the TECONS would accumulate quarterly and accrue interest, and the Company may not declare or pay dividends on its common stock. AES has not exercised the option to defer any dividends at this time and all dividends due under the Trust have been paid.

AES Trust III is a VIE under the relevant consolidation accounting guidance. AES' obligations under the 6.75% Debentures and other relevant trust agreements, in aggregate, constitute a full and unconditional guarantee by AES of the TECON Trusts' obligations. Accordingly, AES consolidates AES Trust III. As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, the sole assets of AES Trust III are the 6.75% Debentures.