Long-term debt |
Note 5 - Long-term debt: | | | | | | | | | December 31, | | March 31, | | | 2023 | | 2024 | | | | (In millions) | Kronos International, Inc. 9.50% Senior Secured Notes due 2029 | | $ | - | | $ | 292.3 | Kronos International, Inc. 3.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2025 | | | 440.9 | | | 80.9 | Subordinated, Unsecured Term Loan from Contran | | | - | | | 53.7 | Total long-term debt | | $ | 440.9 | | $ | 426.9 |
9.50% Senior Secured Notes due 2029 - On February 12, 2024, for certain eligible holders of existing 3.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2025 (the “Old Notes”) of our wholly-owned subsidiary, Kronos International, Inc. (KII), KII executed an exchange of €325 million principal amount of the outstanding Old Notes for newly issued €276.174 million aggregate outstanding KII 9.50% Senior Secured Notes due March 2029 (the “New Notes” and together with the Old Notes, the “Senior Secured Notes”) plus additional cash consideration of €48.75 million ($52.6 million). Holders of the Old Notes received for each €1,000 principal amount of Old Notes exchanged, €850 in principal amount of New Notes, plus a cash payment in an amount equal to €150. Following the exchange, Old Notes totaling €75 million principal amount that were not exchanged continue to remain outstanding. In connection with the exchange, the indenture governing the Old Notes was amended to conform to the restrictive covenants in the indenture governing the New Notes and to make other conforming changes. KII did not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance and delivery of the New Notes in connection with the exchange. We also entered into a new $53.7 million unsecured term loan from Contran Corporation (described below) in connection with the exchange. The New Notes: | ● | bear interest at 9.50% per annum, payable semi-annually on March 15 and September 15 of each year, payments begin on September 15, 2024; |
| ● | have a maturity date of March 15, 2029. Prior to March 15, 2026, we may redeem some or all of the New Notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus an applicable premium as of the date of the redemption as described in the indenture governing our New Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest. On or after March 15, 2026, we may redeem the New Notes at redemption prices ranging from 104.750% of the principal amount, declining to 100% on or after March 15, 2028, plus accrued and unpaid interest. In addition, on or before March 15, 2026, we may redeem up to 40% of the New Notes with the net proceeds of certain public or private equity offerings at 109.50% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, provided that following the redemption at least 50% of the New Notes remain outstanding. If we or our subsidiaries experience certain change of control events, as outlined in the indenture governing our New Notes, we would be required to make an offer to purchase the New Notes at 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest. We would also be required to make an offer to purchase a specified portion of the New Notes at par value, plus accrued and unpaid interest, in the event that we and our subsidiaries generate a certain amount of net proceeds from the sale of assets outside the ordinary course of business, and such net proceeds are not otherwise used for specified purposes within a specified time period as described in the indenture governing our New Notes; |
| ● | are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a senior secured basis by Kronos Worldwide, Inc. and each of our direct and indirect domestic, wholly-owned subsidiaries; |
| ● | are collateralized by a first priority lien on (i) 100% of the common stock or other ownership interests of each existing and future direct domestic subsidiary of KII and the guarantors, and (ii) 65% of the voting common stock or other ownership interests and 100% of the non-voting common stock or other ownership interests of each non-U.S. subsidiary that is directly owned by KII or any guarantor; |
| ● | contain a number of covenants and restrictions which, among other things, restrict our ability to incur or guarantee additional debt, incur liens, pay dividends or make other restricted payments, or merge or consolidate with, or sell or transfer substantially all of our assets to, another entity, and contain other provisions and restrictive covenants customary in lending transactions of this type (however, there are no ongoing financial maintenance covenants); and |
| ● | contain customary default provisions, including a default under any of our other indebtedness in excess of $50.0 million. |
At March 31, 2024 the carrying value of the New Notes (€276.174 million aggregate principal amount outstanding) is stated net of unamortized debt issuance costs of $5.6 million. As a result of the note exchange, in the first quarter of 2024 we recognized a non-cash pre-tax interest charge of $1.5 million included in interest expense related to the write-off of the deferred financing costs associated with the Old Notes and capitalized $5.7 million in debt issuance costs associated with the New Notes. Subordinated, Unsecured Term Loan from Contran - As part of the refinancing of a majority of our Old Notes discussed above, we borrowed $53.7 million (€50.0 million) from Contran through the issuance of an unsecured, subordinated term promissory note dated February 12, 2024 (the “Contran Term Loan”). The Contran Term Loan is guaranteed by our domestic wholly-owned subsidiaries. Our obligations under the Contran Term Loan, and the obligations of the guarantors under the related guaranties, are unsecured and subordinated in right of payment to our Senior Secured Notes and our $225 million global revolving credit facility (Global Revolver). Interest on the Contran Term Loan is payable in cash at an interest rate of 11.5%. The additional interest rate spread of 2% over the interest rate on the New Notes was based upon comparable debt transactions at the time of issuance. The Contran Term Loan matures on demand (but no earlier than September 2029), is not subject to any amortization payments and is prepayable at par beginning in March 2026. The restrictive covenants in the Contran Term Loan are substantially similar to those contained in the indenture governing our New Notes. In accordance with our related party transaction policy, the audit committee of our board of directors, comprised of the independent directors, approved the terms and conditions of the term loan from Contran. 3.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2025 - At March 31, 2024, the carrying value of our remaining Old Notes (€75 million aggregate principal amount outstanding) is $80.9 million. In connection with the issuance of the New Notes in February 2024, the indenture governing the Old Notes was amended to conform to the restrictive covenants in the indenture governing the New Notes and to make other conforming changes. Revolving credit facility - During the first three months of 2024, we had no borrowings or repayments under our $225 million global revolving credit facility and at March 31, 2024, the full $225 million was available for borrowing. Other - We are in compliance with all of our debt covenants at March 31, 2024.
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