Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
Effective October 7, 2009, Westmoreland Mining LLC ("WML"), a subsidiary of
Westmoreland Coal Company, entered into a Waiver and Consent (the "Waiver") with
the institutional investors who own notes pursuant to WML's $125.0 million 8.02%
Senior Guaranteed Secured Note Purchase Agreement (the "Note Purchase
Agreement"). In addition, effective the same date, WML entered into a Waiver and
Consent (the "PNC Waiver" and, together with the Waiver, the "Leverage Ratio
Waivers") with PNC Bank, National Association, who is a party to the Revolving
Credit Agreement dated June 26, 2008. The Leverage Ratio Waivers waive, subject
to certain conditions, any potential defaults or actual events of default
consisting of or resulting from WML's failure (or, as the case may be,
anticipated failure) to comply with the leverage ratio covenant contained in the
Note Purchase Agreement and the Revolving Credit Agreement. As reported in our
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009, WML failed to
comply, as of the end of its fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2009, and we believe
will fail to comply as of the end of each of its three fiscal quarters ending
September 30, 2009, December 31, 2009, and March 31, 2010, respectively, with
the leverage ratio covenants in the Note Purchase Agreement and Revolving Credit
Agreement as a result of customer outages.
The Leverage Ratio Waivers waive existing and future leverage ratio covenant
defaults through and including the first quarter of 2010 assuming WML meets
certain conditions, including meeting the adjusted leverage ratio covenants for
each quarter and having the Colstrip Unit 4 power plant come back on-line by
November 30, 2009. Upon the execution of the Leverage Ratio Waivers, WML is
again able to access funds under the $25.0 million revolving line of credit.
As consideration for entry into the Leverage Ratio Waivers, WML shall pay to PNC
Bank a fee equal to 0.25% of its commitment under the Revolving Credit Agreement
and shall pay to each noteholder a fee equal to 0.25% of the outstanding
principal balance of each note held by such noteholder as of October 7, 2009.
The foregoing descriptions of the Leverage Ratio Waivers are qualified in their
entirety by reference to the Waiver and the PNC Waiver that are attached hereto
as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2, respectively, and are incorporated by reference into
this Item 1.01.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibit No. Description
10.1 Waiver and Consent between Westmoreland Mining, LLC, Western
Energy Company, Dakota Westmoreland Corporation, Westmoreland
Savage Corporation and PNC Bank, National Association dated
October 7, 2009
10.2 Waiver and Consent between Westmoreland Mining, LLC, Western
Energy Company, Dakota Westmoreland Corporation, Westmoreland
Savage Corporation and certain institutional investors dated
October 7, 2009
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