|
Quotes & Info
|
| WLB > SEC Filings for WLB > Form 10-Q on 14-Nov-2008 | All Recent SEC Filings |
14-Nov-2008
Quarterly Report
Overview
Competitive, economic and industry factors
We are an energy company. We mine coal, which is used to produce electric
power, and we own power-generating plants. We own five mines, which supply power
plants. Several of these power plants are located adjacent to our mines, and we
sell virtually all our coal under multi-year contracts. Due to the generally
longer duration and terms of our contracts, we enjoy relatively stable demand
compared to competitors who sell more of their production on the spot market and
under short-term contracts. We also sell under short-term contracts a small
amount of coal produced by others.
We own the ROVA power project. ROVA consists of two coal-fired units with a
total generating capacity of 230 megawatts, or MW. ROVA supplies power pursuant
to long-term contracts.
According to the 2008 Annual Energy Outlook prepared by the EIA,
approximately 49% of all electricity generated in the United States in 2006 was
produced by coal-fired units. The EIA projects that the demand for coal used to
generate electricity will increase approximately 1.4% per year from 2006 through
2030. Consequently, we believe that the demand for coal will grow, in part
because coal is the lowest cost fossil fuel used for generating electric power.
Challenges
We believe that our principal challenges today include the following:
• renewing the Company's WRI revolving line of credit and obtaining additional
sources of financing;
• renegotiating sales prices to reflect higher market prices and fully recover increased commodity and production costs;
• continuing to fund high heritage health benefit expenses which continue to be adversely affected by inflation in medical costs, longer life expectancies for retirees, and the failure of the UMWA retirement fund trustees to manage medical costs;
• maintaining and collateralizing, where necessary, our Coal Act and reclamation bonds;
• funding required contributions to pension plans that are underfunded;
• complying with new environmental regulations, which have the potential to significantly reduce sales from our mines; and
• defending against claims for potential taxes and royalties assessed by various governmental entities, most of which we believe are subject to reimbursement by our customers.
We discuss these issues, as well as the other challenges we face, elsewhere in the notes to the financial statements included in this Form 10-Q, in this Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and under "Risk Factors" included herein and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, or 2007 10-K.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Westmoreland Coal Company, or the Company, or Westmoreland, or WCC, is an
energy company. The Company's current principal activities, all conducted within
the United States, are the production and sale of coal from its mines in
Montana, North Dakota and Texas; and the ownership of power plants. The
Company's activities are primarily conducted through wholly owned subsidiaries,
which generally have obtained separate financing.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements are prepared on a going
concern basis and do not include any adjustments that might result from the
outcome of uncertainty regarding the Company's ability to extend the line of
credit at Westmoreland Resources, Inc., or WRI, improve the operating
performance of its mines, finance the bonding requirements for its new mining
areas, or sell some of its assets to meet its obligations.
The major factors impacting the Company's liquidity are:
• Renewal of the WRI revolving credit facility at its original $20 million
level.
• Generation of sufficient dividends by the Company's operations to cover the parent company's heritage health benefit, pension, and general corporate obligations.
• Limitations under our current debt agreements on the ability of WML and ROVA to pay dividends to the parent company. WML is required to maintain reserve accounts at specified levels, and the amount of dividends paid by WML to the parent company is subject to restrictions based on changes in reserve account balances or results of operations. No dividends may be paid by ROVA until its floating rate debt is repaid, which we expect should occur during the first half of 2009. The distribution of excess cash from WRI and WRM is subject to fewer restrictions and can generally be advanced to the parent company at any time.
• Cash collateral requirements for additional reclamation bonds in new mining areas.
• Capital expenditures required for possible expansion of the WRI mine.
The principal sources of cash flow to WCC are distributions from WRI, ROVA,
and WML, all of which are subject to restrictions contained in their respective
debt agreements. Distributions from ROVA and WML are made quarterly or
semiannually and are subject to compliance with certain funding conditions,
whereas distributions from WRI may be made when available. Accordingly, WCC has
relied significantly on distributions from WRI to meet its financial
obligations, principally heritage health benefit and pension costs, and
corporate costs.
On October 28, 2008, WRI's $20.0 million revolving credit facility matured
and the facility was extended on an interim basis at a maximum borrowing level
of $10.0 million through November 28, 2008. WRI has reached an understanding
with its lenders regarding the renewal of the line of credit for $20.0 million,
pending final bank approval later in November, 2008. There can be no assurances
that WRI will be able to obtain the financing on terms acceptable to it, or at
all.
Even with a renewal of WRI's line of credit at the $20 million level, the
Company will continue to seek additional sources of liquidity. The Company
projects that, if it receives a favorable private letter ruling from the IRS on
its Indian Coal Tax Production Credit transactions, even in the absence of
obtaining additional liquidity, it would be able to meet its cash flow needs for
the next twelve months through the deferral of certain capital investments and
bonding deposits associated with new mine development. If the Company does not
receive a favorable private letter ruling or is unable to postpone certain
investments, and is unable to obtain additional financing or sell some of its
assets, the Company could be unable to pay its heritage health benefit, pension,
and corporate obligations as they come due.
In 2008, the Company has taken four significant steps to improve its
liquidity.
First, on March 4, 2008, the Company completed the sale of $15.0 million in
senior secured convertible notes to an existing shareholder. The notes mature
five years from date of issuance, carry a 9.0% fixed annual interest rate (with
interest payable in cash or in kind at the Company's option) and are convertible
into the Company's common stock at the noteholders' option at an initial
conversion price of $10.00 per share.
Second, on March 17, 2008, Westmoreland Partners, a wholly owned subsidiary
of the Company, completed a refinancing of ROVA's debt with The Prudential
Insurance Company of America and Prudential Investment Management, Inc., or
Prudential. The refinancing paid off all outstanding bank borrowings, bond
borrowings, and the ROVA acquisition loan, and eliminated the need for the
irrevocable letters of credit, which supported the bond borrowings.
Third, on June 26, 2008, WML completed a refinancing of its term debt. On
that date, WML entered into a note purchase agreement with institutional
investors under which it sold $125.0 million of secured notes. These notes bear
interest at a rate of 8.02% per annum. Also on June 26, 2008, WML amended its
Revolving Credit Agreement with its lenders, which increased the facility to an
amount not to exceed $25.0 million and extended its term through 2013.
These three steps increased consolidated working capital by $73.9 million
from December 31, 2007 to September 30, 2008.
Fourth, on October 16, 2008, WRI entered into a series of transactions in
order to monetize the Indian Coal Production Tax Credits available to it. If a
favorable private letter ruling is received on the transactions from the
Internal Revenue Service prior to April 1, 2009, the Company could realize net
cash flows of up to $37.1 million before taxes through 2012. See Note 19
"Subsequent Event - Indian Coal Tax Credit."
In addition to its efforts to renew the WRI revolving credit facility, the
Company is pursuing additional alternatives in its efforts to continue to
improve its liquidity during the remainder of 2008 and 2009.
The Company is in active discussions with potential buyers regarding the sale
of certain assets, but it is not certain such sale could be completed in the
time required to meet the Company's cash needs. There can be no assurance that
any sale could be completed on a timely basis or on terms acceptable to the
Company.
The Company is pursuing alternatives to meet future reclamation bond
requirements with reduced amounts of cash collateral as it enters new mining
areas.
WCC is also attempting to improve its liquidity by improving the operating
performance of its mines. The Company believes that increases in tons produced
and sold, improvements in productivity and its continued focus on cost control
at WCC's mining operations during the remainder of 2008 and in 2009 should
improve the Company's liquidity.
WRI is evaluating potential sale-leaseback transactions for some of the
equipment used at the Absaloka Mine.
Factors Affecting our Liquidity
Pension and Heritage Health Benefit Costs
Our health benefit costs consist primarily of payments for postretirement
medical and workers' compensation benefits. We are also obligated for employee
pension, Combined Benefit Fund, or CBF, and pneumoconiosis benefits. It is
important to note that retiree health benefit costs are directly affected by
increases in medical service costs, prescription drug costs and
mortality rates. The most recent actuarial valuations of our postretirement
medical benefit obligations, which pertain to former employees who worked in our
mines and are guaranteed life-time benefits under the federal Coal Act,
indicated that our postretirement medical benefit payments would increase
annually through 2016 and then decline to zero over the next approximately sixty
years as the number of eligible beneficiaries declines.
As part of the WML refinancing, we are required by the loan covenants to make
additional pension contributions in 2008 to achieve a 90% funding status. We
made payments of $3.2 million to our pension plans in the third quarter of 2008
and estimate that we will be required to make payments of approximately
$0.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. Under the provisions of the
agreement, the funding status of the plans is determined on January 1 of each
year. We are required to make payments to the pension plans to fund any
shortfall under these provisions by September 15 of each year. Based on the
significant decline in the value of pension assets since the beginning the year,
we may be required to make additional future contributions under these
provisions to the plans, if the value of the pension assets does not increase by
the January 1, 2009, determination date. The amount of such required
contributions could be significant. At September 30, 2008, the total value of
the pension assets was $47.3 million as compared to $51.0 million at
December 31, 2007.
The following table shows the actual payments we made and the Medicare Part D
subsidies we received in the first nine months of 2008, and the expected
payments and subsidies for the entire 2008 year:
First Nine Months Entire
of 2008 2008 Year
Actual Expected
Payments and Payments and
(Receipts) (Receipts)
(In millions)
Postretirement medical benefits $ 13.9 $ 20.7
Pension contributions 4.5 4.9
CBF premiums 2.6 3.5
Workers' compensation benefits 0.8 1.0
Medicare D subsidies received (1.0 ) (1.7 )
|
Absaloka Mine Acquisition and WRI Debt
On March 30, 2007, we assumed operations of our Absaloka Mine from Washington
Group Incorporated, or WGI, and additionally purchased from WGI mining and
office equipment for $7.9 million and tools, spare parts and supplies, and coal
inventory for $2.3 million. As part of the transaction, WGI released the
$7.0 million reclamation escrow account to WRI, and WRI released WGI from its
financial obligation to complete final reclamation of the mine.
On October 29, 2007, WRI executed a Business Loan Agreement, or Agreement,
with First Interstate Bank, Billings, Montana. The Agreement provided WRI with
term debt of $8.5 million and an initial revolving credit facility of
$20.0 million. The term debt requires sixteen quarterly payments of principal
and interest with the final payment due September 20, 2011. The revolving credit
facility matured October 28, 2008 and on that date, First Interstate Bank
extended the facility at a maximum borrowing level of $10.0 million with a
maturity date of November 28, 2008. Interest on both the term debt and the
revolving credit facility is payable at the prime rate (5.0% per annum at
September 30, 2008). The two debt instruments are collateralized by WRI's
inventory, chattel paper, accounts and notes receivable, and equipment.
WCC is the guarantor of the debt under the Agreement and its guaranty is
secured by a pledge of WCC's interest in WRI. The Agreement requires WRI to
comply with certain covenants and minimum financial ratio requirements related
to debt coverage, tangible net worth and capital expenditures. As of
September 30, 2008, WRI was in compliance with such covenants.
The Company is in discussions with First Interstate Bank and other financing
sources regarding renewal of the revolving credit agreement. If WRI is
unsuccessful in renewing the facility, it will be required to repay outstanding
borrowings. If WRI is unable to renew the facility, lenders will be entitled to
foreclose on the collateral. See Note 1 "Nature of Operations and Liquidity" to
our Consolidated Financial Statements.
WML Debt
On June 26, 2008, WML completed a refinancing of its debt. The refinancing
increased WML's outstanding debt from $89.0 million to $125.0 million, reduced
WML's restricted cash from $31.5 million to $5.0 million, and modified maturity
dates and interest rates. The Company received an $8.5 million cash distribution
from WML as part of the refinancing.
The refinancing permits WML to make quarterly distributions to WCC. WML may
distribute up to 100% of its excess cash flow, as that term is defined in the
note purchase agreement, after fully funding the debt service reserve account
and reserving $1.0 million per quarter for working capital purposes. As of
September 30, 2008, the debt service reserve account was fully funded at $5.0
million.
The WML refinancing provides for $125.0 million of fixed rate term debt. The
term debt bears interest at 8.02% per annum, payable quarterly. The principal
payments required for the term debt are $7.5 million in 2011, $14.0 million in
2012, $18.0 million in 2013, $18.0 million in 2014, $20.0 million in 2015, and
$47.5 million thereafter. The term debt is payable in full on March 31, 2018.
The refinancing also amended the 2001 Revolving Credit Agreement, or the
Revolver, by increasing the borrowing limit from $20.0 million to $25.0 million
and extending the maturity date to June 26, 2013. WML has two interest rate
options to choose from on the Revolver. The Base Rate option bears interest at a
base rate plus 0.50% and is payable quarterly (8.0% per annum at September 30,
2008). The London Interbank Offering Rate, or LIBOR, option bears interest at
LIBOR plus 3.0%. In addition, a commitment fee of 0.50% of the average unused
portion of the available Revolver is payable quarterly (6.7% per annum at
September 30, 2008). As of September 30, 2008, a letter of credit for
$1.9 million was supported by WML's Revolver.
The term debt and Revolver are secured by substantially all assets of WML,
Westmoreland Savage Corporation, or WSC, Western Energy Company, or WECO, and
Dakota Westmoreland Corporation, or DWC; the Company's membership interest in
WML; and the stock of WSC, WECO and DWC. WECO, DWC, and WSC have guaranteed
WML's obligations with respect to the term debt and under the Revolver. WML is
required to comply with certain loan covenants related to liquidity,
indebtedness, and capital investments. As of September 30, 2008, WML was in
compliance with such covenants.
ROVA Debt
The March 17, 2008 ROVA debt refinancing provided for approximately
$107.0 million of fixed rate term debt with interest rates varying from 6.0% to
11.42%. The weighted average interest rate on the fixed rate term debt is 8.30%
per annum. The principal payments required for the fixed rate term debt are
$29.1 million in 2008, $22.3 million in 2009, $9.4 million in 2010,
$8.0 million in 2011 and $8.8 million in 2012. The term debt is to be fully
repaid before the end of 2015.
The refinancing also provided for approximately $11.5 million in floating
rate debt with a final maturity no later than January 31, 2011. Interest on the
floating rate term debt is payable quarterly at the three-month LIBOR rate plus
4.50% (8.55% per annum at September 30, 2008). Payments required on the floating
rate debt are to be made from quarterly distributions from ROVA, if any, and
will vary each quarter. The Company will not receive a distribution from ROVA
until the principal balance of the floating rate debt is paid. The balance of
the floating rate debt at September 30, 2008, was $5.8 million.
The refinancing provided for a $6.0 million revolving loan with a maturity of
April 30, 2015. Interest on the revolving loan is payable quarterly at the
three-month LIBOR rate plus 1.375% (5.43% per annum at September 30, 2008).
The fixed and the floating rate debt as well as the revolving loan are
secured by a pledge of the quarterly cash distributions from ROVA. ROVA is
required to comply with certain loan covenants related to interest and fixed
charge coverage. As of September 30, 2008, ROVA was in compliance with such
covenants.
Economic Trends Affecting the Coal Industry and the Company
Our ongoing and future business needs may also affect liquidity. We do not
anticipate that our revenues will diminish materially as a result of most of our
coal and power production is sold under long-term contracts, which help insulate
us from unfavorable market developments. However, contract price reopeners,
contract renegotiations, contract expirations or terminations and market
competition could affect future coal revenues and our liquidity.
Cash Balances and Available Credit
Consolidated cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2008, totaled (in
thousands):
WML $ 43,320
ROVA 6,357
Westmoreland Risk Management 3,127
Other 265
Total consolidated cash and cash equivalents $ 53,069
|
Lines of Credit
Amounts outstanding and available to borrow under the revolving lines of
credit of the Company's subsidiaries at September 30, 2008 (in millions):
Total Line of Amounts Letters of Available to
Credit Outstanding Credit Borrow
WML $ 25.0 $ - $ 1.9 $ 23.1
WRI 20.0 11.9 - 8.1
ROVA 6.0 - - 6.0
$ 51.0 $ 11.9 $ 1.9 $ 37.2
|
The cash and available credit at WML and ROVA are available to the Company through quarterly distributions. However, the loan agreements of WML and ROVA require debt service accounts and impose timing and other restrictions on the ability of ROVA and WML to distribute funds to WCC. WRI can distribute cash available from its revolving line of credit to the Company through dividends. Because the WRI loan agreement imposes fewer restrictions on the ability of
WRI to make distributions to WCC, WRI has been a significant source of liquidity
for WCC. The cash at Westmoreland Risk Management, our captive insurance
subsidiary, is available to the Company through dividends, subject to
maintaining a statutory minimum level of capital.
On October 28, 2008, WRI's revolving credit facility matured and was extended
on an interim basis at a maximum borrowing level of $10.0 million through
November 28, 2008. See Note 1 "Nature of Operations and Liquidity" to our
Consolidated Financial Statements.
Restricted Investments and Bond Collateral
Restricted investments and bond collateral as of September 30, 2008 and
December 31, 2007, are shown in the table below:
September 30, December 31,
2008 2007
(In thousands)
ROVA debt service and prepayment accounts $ 16,490 $ 30,840
WML debt service, long-term prepayment and reclamation
escrow 9,982 33,271
WRI reclamation 5,630 5,469
Cash deposits for interest-bearing worker's compensation and
postretirement medical benefit cost obligation bonds 7,420 6,924
Restricted investments and bond collateral $ 39,522 $ 76,504
|
In addition, we had accumulated deposits of $68.6 million at September 30,
2008, representing cash received from customers of the Rosebud Mine plus
interest earned on the deposits, to pay for reclamation.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
At September 30, 2008, we had no existing off-balance sheet arrangements, as
defined under SEC rules, that have or are reasonably likely to have a material
current or future effect on our financial condition, revenues, or expenses,
results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.
Historical Sources and Uses of Cash
The following is a summary of cash provided by or used in each of the
indicated types of activities:
. . .
|
|