UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date
of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 6, 2006
CHICAGO BRIDGE & IRON COMPANY N.V.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
The Netherlands
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
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1-12815
(Commission File Number)
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N.A.
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
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Polarisavenue 31
2132 JH Hoofddorp
The Netherlands
(Address of principal executive offices)
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N.A.
(Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code: 31-23-568-5660
N.A.
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy
the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (See General
Instruction A.2 below):
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Written Communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 1.01 Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement.
We have entered into three committed and
unsecured letter of credit and term loan agreements
(the LC Agreements) dated as of November 6, 2006
with Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent,
JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, and
various private placement note investors. Under the
terms of the LC Agreements, either banking
institution can issue letters of credit (the LC
Issuers).
In the aggregate, the LC Agreements provide up
to $275 million of capacity. Although the facility is
available for term loans, we expect to use it
primarily to facilitate the issuance of performance
and financial letters of credit in the ordinary
course of business. Tranche A of the LC Agreements is
a five-year, $50 million facility and Tranche B is a
five-year, $100 million facility, both of which we
may terminate prior to their stated maturities of
November 6, 2011. Tranche C of the LC Agreements is
an eight-year, $125 million facility expiring on
November 6, 2014 that we may cancel without penalty
after the sixth year of its term.
The LC Agreements contain certain restrictive
covenants, such as a minimum net worth level, a
minimum fixed charge coverage ratio and a maximum
leverage ratio. The LC Agreements also include
restrictions with regard to subsidiary indebtedness,
sales of assets, liens, investments, type of business
conducted, affiliate transactions, sales and
leasebacks, and mergers and acquisitions, among other
restrictions. In the event of default under the LC
Agreements, including our failure to reimburse a draw
against an issued letter of credit, the LC Issuer
could transfer its claim against us, to the extent
such amount is due and payable by us under the LC
Agreements, to the private placement note investors,
creating a term loan that is due and payable no later
than the stated maturity of the respective LC
Agreement. In addition to quarterly letter of credit
fees and to the extent that a term loan is in effect,
we would be assessed a floating rate of interest over
LIBOR.
An
affiliate of Bank of America, N.A. has served as underwriter for
certain of our past underwritten public equity
offerings, and Banc One Capital Markets, an affiliate
of a predecessor of JPMorgan Chase Bank, has served
as placement agent in connection with a prior private
debt offering. JPMorgan Chase Bank is acting as
Administrative Agent and Bank of America is acting as
Syndication Agent in connection with our Second
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of
October 13, 2006.