Exhibit 4.1
[Bank of America Letterhead]
May 21, 2004
Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation
5847 San Felipe, Suite 2500
Houston, Texas 77057
Attention: Kerry A. Shiba,
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Re: Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation
$285,000,000 Post-Petition Credit Agreement
Dear Mr. Shiba:
Reference is made to (i) that certain $285,000,000 Post-Petition Credit
Agreement, dated as of February 12, 2002 (as amended, the "Credit Agreement"),
among Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation, Kaiser Aluminum Corporation, Bank
of America, N.A., and the other lenders that are or may from time to time become
parties to the Credit Agreement and (ii) that certain Amended and Restated
Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 20, 2004, among Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical
Corporation, Kaiser Aluminium International, Inc., Kaiser Bauxite Company,
Kaiser Jamaica Corporation and Alpart Jamaica, Inc. and RUAL Trade Limited, as
amended by the Amendment to Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement, dated as of
April 26, 2004 (as so amended, the "RUAL Purchase Agreement"). Unless otherwise
defined herein, capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings given to
such terms in the Credit Agreement.
In consideration for the agreements between the Obligors and the Lenders
set forth herein, but subject to the conditions set forth herein, the Agent and
the Lenders hereby (A) waive, through and including the Sale Waiver Termination
Date (as defined below), any noncompliance with the provisions of Section 9.2.11
of the Credit Agreement restricting the sale of the interests of the Company,
KAII, KBC, AJI and KJC (collectively, the "Sellers") in or related to ALPART,
which interests are comprised of (x) each Seller's entire right, title and
interest in, to and under ALPART, including all right, title and interest of
such Seller in, to and under the partnership agreement of ALPART and (y) the
rights of the Sellers in, to and under the "Other
Purchased Assets" as described on Schedule A hereto (collectively, the "Sale");
provided, however, that such waiver shall be limited solely to permit the
transactions contemplated under (i) the RUAL Purchase Agreement, (ii) if the
RUAL Purchase Agreement is terminated, any purchase agreement that may be
entered into between the Sellers and Glencore AG and Glencore Alumina Jamaica II
Limited or an affiliate thereof (collectively, "Glencore") reflecting Glencore's
final bid at the auction held pursuant to the Bidding Procedures (as defined in
the RUAL Purchase Agreement) that does not provide for any greater Contingent
Liabilities of the Debtors than are provided for in the RUAL Purchase Agreement
and provides for a cash purchase price payable by Glencore to the Sellers in at
least the amount reflected in Glencore's final bid (the "Glencore Purchase
Agreement"), or (iii) if Hydro Aluminum Jamaica a.s. exercises its right of
first refusal, a purchase agreement (the "Hydro Purchase Agreement" and,
collectively with the RUAL Purchase Agreement and the Glencore Purchase
Agreement, the "Purchase Agreements") on substantially the same terms (except
for nonmaterial changes resulting from changes in parties) as the RUAL Purchase
Agreement or the Glencore Purchase Agreement, as applicable, (B) waive, through
and including the Sale Waiver Termination Date, any restriction in Section 9.2
of the Credit Agreement that would prohibit the repayment of the Indebtedness of
ALPART owed to the Caribbean Basin Projects Financing Authority in the manner
contemplated by the RUAL Purchase Agreement, including, without limitation, the
making of the Carifa Repayment Loans (as defined in the RUAL Purchase Agreement)
so long as the Company is immediately repaid in full in cash out of the proceeds
of the Sale for any Carifa Repayment Loans made by the Company (including,
without limitation, any loans made by the Company, the proceeds of which will be
used to satisfy any letter of credit reimbursement obligations in connection
with the Carifa Debt, as defined in the RUAL Purchase Agreement), and (C) extend
the effectiveness of the prior limited waiver, dated March 29, 2004 (the "EBITDA
Limited Waiver"), through and including the EBITDA Waiver Termination Date
(defined below), with respect to the minimum EBITDA test in Section 9.2.4 of the
Credit Agreement for the measurement periods ending December 31, 2003 and March
31, 2004 and, if Section 9.2.4(b) of the Credit Agreement is then applicable,
March 31, 2004, April 30, 2004 and May 31, 2004. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the limited waivers in clauses (A) and (B) of this paragraph shall be effective
only through the earliest of (x) prior to the closing of the Sale, the earlier
of the date that (i) none of the Purchase Agreements is in effect or (ii) any
material term of the then currently effective Purchase Agreement is modified in
a manner materially adverse to the Debtors, (y) after the consummation of the
Sale, the earliest of the date that (i) the Sale closes if the proceeds of the
Sale (excluding the amounts to be repaid to the Company for any Carifa Repayment
Loans made by the Company (including, without limitation, any loans made by the
Company, the proceeds of which will be used to satisfy any letter of credit
reimbursement obligations in connection with the Carifa Debt)) are not wired
directly from the buyer to the Blocked Accounts (defined below) on such date,
(ii) a Debtor files a motion (other than a motion to approve a Seventh Amendment
(defined below) agreed to and executed by the Lenders), or a Debtor otherwise
seeks, to use any cash in the Blocked Accounts, (iii) any other Person files
such a motion or otherwise seeks to use any cash in the Blocked Accounts and the
Debtors fail to object thereto in good faith and in a timely manner, (iv) the
Bankruptcy Court enters an order authorizing the use or withdrawal of any cash
in the Blocked Accounts or (v) any amounts are withdrawn from the Blocked
Accounts other than in accordance with the terms of a Seventh Amendment agreed
to and executed by the Lenders, or (z) June 30, 2004 (such earliest date, the
"Sale Waiver Termination Date"); provided,
however, the Sale Waiver Termination Date shall not occur under clause (z) above
if (i) on or before June 30, 2004, the Debtors shall have filed a motion with
the Bankruptcy Court seeking authority to (a) pursuant to section 364(c)(2) of
the Bankruptcy Code, grant the Agent, for its benefit and benefit of the Secured
Lenders, first-priority Liens on the proceeds of the Sale (excluding the amounts
to be repaid to the Company for any Carifa Repayment Loans made by the Company
(including, without limitation, any loans made by the Company, the proceeds of
which will be used to satisfy any letter of credit reimbursement obligations in
connection with the Carifa Debt)) and (b) pay the Agent and the Lenders a
$500,000 fee (the "Waiver Fee") as compensation for the limited waivers provided
for herein (the "Lien Motion") and (ii) on or before July 30, 2004, (a) the Lien
Motion shall have been approved by the Bankruptcy Court (pursuant to a final
order that is satisfactory to Agent in its sole discretion) and (b) the Waiver
Fee shall have been paid to the Agent and the Lenders. Notwithstanding the
foregoing or anything else herein to the contrary, the limited waiver in clause
(C) of this paragraph shall be effective only through June 30, 2004 (the "EBITDA
Waiver Termination Date"); provided, however, that (x) the EBITDA Waiver
Termination Date shall be automatically extended to July 30, 2004 if the Debtors
shall have filed the Lien Motion with the Bankruptcy Court on or before June 30,
2004, and (y) if the EBITDA Waiver Termination Date is so extended, the
effectiveness of the EBITDA Limited Waiver with respect to the minimum EBITDA
test in Section 9.2.4 of the Credit Agreement shall likewise be extended to
apply to the measurement period ending on June 30, 2004.
The parties hereto anticipate entering into a Seventh Amendment to the
Credit Agreement (the "Seventh Amendment") to effect a more comprehensive and
permanent modification of the Credit Agreement to permit the transactions
contemplated hereby and provide for the modifications of certain covenants
contained in the Credit Agreement. If the Waiver Fee is paid to the Agent and
the Lenders pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the entire amount thereof shall
be credited to and applied against any amendment or similar fees payable by the
Obligors to the Agent and the Lenders under the Seventh Amendment. The foregoing
limited waivers shall be null and void ab initio and an Event of Default shall
immediately occur: (i) in the case of the waiver contained in clause (C) of the
preceding paragraph, on the EBITDA Waiver Termination Date and (ii) in the case
of the waivers contained in clauses (A) and (B) of the preceding paragraph, on
the earlier of (x) the Sale Waiver Termination Date, if the same has occurred
due to the occurrence of any event described in clause (y) or clause (z) of the
penultimate sentence of the preceding paragraph (but giving effect to the
proviso at the end of such clause (z)), and (y) the date the Sale is closed, if
the Sale Waiver Termination Date has occurred due to the occurrence of an event
described in clause (x)(ii) of the penultimate sentence of the preceding
paragraph, unless, in the case of either clause (i) or clause (ii) above, on or
prior to such dates, the Obligors and the Lenders shall have entered into, and
the Bankruptcy Court shall have entered an order (which order shall have become
a final order not later than July 15, 2004) approving the Seventh Amendment
agreed to and executed by the Lenders.
The Obligors and the Lenders hereby agree that (i) as a condition to the
continued effectiveness of the limited waivers contained herein, the proceeds of
the Sale less the aggregate amount of the Carifa Repayment Loans (including,
without limitation, any loans made by the Company, the proceeds of which will be
used to satisfy any letter of credit reimbursement
obligations in connection with the Carifa Debt) shall be deposited, and remain
on deposit at all times pending further order of the Bankruptcy Court, in one or
more blocked accounts with Agent (collectively, the "Blocked Accounts") pursuant
to blocked account agreements in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent,
from which Blocked Accounts no Obligor or any other party (other than the Agent)
shall have the right to withdraw funds and (ii) until the Sale Waiver
Termination Date, (a) the definition of the term "PPE Subcomponent Reduction"
shall exclude the Net Disposition Proceeds from the Sale and (b) the Sale shall
not count against the $25,000,000 basket referred to in clause (i) of Section
9.2.11 of the Credit Agreement.
This limited waiver shall be limited precisely as written and shall not be
deemed or otherwise construed to constitute a waiver of any other Default or
Event of Default, amend or modify any provision of any Loan Document or
constitute a course of dealing or any other basis for altering the Obligations
of any Obligor. Except as expressly waived hereby, the Credit Agreement and the
other Loan Documents, including the Liens granted thereunder, shall remain in
full force and effect, and all terms and provisions thereof are hereby ratified
and confirmed.
This limited waiver shall be effective only if and when signed by, and
when counterparts hereof shall have been delivered to the Agent (by hand
delivery, mail or telecopy) by, the Company, the Parent Guarantor, each
Subsidiary Guarantor and the Lenders holding at least 86% of the Revolving
Credit Outstandings. This limited waiver may be executed by one or more of the
parties on any number of separate counterparts (including by telecopy), all of
which taken together shall constitute by one and the same instrument.
This limited waiver shall be deemed to be a contract made under and
governed by the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to
such laws relating to conflicts of laws to the extent not preempted by federal
bankruptcy law, provided that the Agent and the Lenders shall retain all rights
arising under federal law.
If you have any questions about this letter, please contact me at the
number above.
Sincerely,
Bank of America, N.A., as Agent
/s/ Robert M. Dalton
---------------------------------------------
Name: Robert M. Dalton
Title: Vice President
cc: Kaiser - General Counsel
AGREED AND CONSENTED TO
as of this 21st day of May, 2004
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
By: /s/Robert M. Dalton
---------------------------------------
Name: Robert M. Dalton
Title: Vice President
GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION
By: /s/John Dale
---------------------------------------
Name: John Dale
Title: Duly Authorized Signatory
WELLS FARGO FOOTHILL, INC.
By: /s/Eunnie Kim
---------------------------------------
Name: Eunnie Kim
Title: Vice President
THE CIT GROUP/BUSINESS CREDIT, INC.
By: /s/Grant Weiss
---------------------------------------
Name: Grant Weiss
Title: Vice President
MERRILL LYNCH BUSINESS FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
By: /s/Michele Kouatchis
---------------------------------------
Name: Michele Kouatchis
Title: Director
PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By: /s/Sandra Sha Kenyon
---------------------------------------
Name: Sandra Sha Kenyon
Title: Vice President
GMAC COMMERCIAL FINANCE, LLC
By: /s/Thomas Brent
---------------------------------------
Name: Thomas Brent
Title: Vice President
KAISER ALUMINUM CORPORATION
By: /s/David A. Cheadle
------------------------------------------
Name: David A. Cheadle
Title: Assistant Treasurer
KAISER ALUMINUM & CHEMICAL CORPORATION
By: /s/David A. Cheadle
------------------------------------------
Name: David A. Cheadle
Title: Assistant Treasurer
AKRON HOLDING CORPORATION
ALPART JAMAICA INC.
KAISER ALUMINA AUSTRALIA CORPORATION
KAISER BELLWOOD CORPORATION
KAISER ALUMINUM & CHEMICAL INVESTMENT, INC.
KAISER ALUMINIUM INTERNATIONAL, INC.
KAISER ALUMINUM PROPERTIES, INC.
KAISER ALUMINUM TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC.
KAISER FINANCE CORPORATION
KAISER JAMAICA CORPORATION
KAISER MICROMILL HOLDINGS, LLC
KAISER SIERRA MICROMILLS, LLC
KAISER TEXAS SIERRA MICROMILLS, LLC
KAISER TEXAS MICROMILL HOLDINGS, LLC
OXNARD FORGE DIE COMPANY, INC.
ALWIS LEASING LLC
KAISER BAUXITE COMPANY
KAISER CENTER, INC.
KAISER CENTER PROPERTIES
KAE TRADING, INC.
KAISER EXPORT COMPANY
By: /s/David A. Cheadle
------------------------------------------
Name: David A. Cheadle
Title: Assistant Treasurer
SCHEDULE A
"OTHER PURCHASED ASSETS"
1. all assets and property of every kind and nature that are owned by
ALPART, including alumina and other inventory, or by its partners as tenants in
common for the use and benefit of ALPART and all other assets and property owned
by any Seller or any affiliate of any Seller and used exclusively in ALPART's
business;
2. 5,000 shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share ("Alpart Farms
Common Stock"), of Alpart Farms (Jamaica), Ltd., a Delaware corporation, owned
by KBC;
3. 5,000 shares of Alpart Farms Common Stock owned by the Company;
4. all shares of Alpart Farms Common Stock acquired after the date of the
RUAL Purchase Agreement and prior to the closing date of the Sale by any Seller
or any affiliate of any Seller;
5. the loan made by the Company to ALPART in the original principal amount
of $22,100,000 as evidenced by that certain Promissory Note dated March 1, 2001;
6. the loan to be made by the Company to ALPART on or prior to the closing
date of the Sale in the original principal amount of 65% of the Carifa Repayment
Loan, as evidenced by a promissory note;
7. amounts due from ALPART to its partners for funds advanced to ALPART to
cover costs of operations, including interest, but excluding depreciation; and
8. contracts (a) by and among ALPART and the partners of ALPART related to
the operation of ALPART, (b) by and among the Company and its affiliates and the
Government of Jamaica related to the Company's fiscal system in Jamaica and (c)
alumina supply contracts by and between KAII and third parties related to the
sale of alumina produced at ALPART.