EXHIBIT 4.5
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CREDIT AGREEMENT
dated as of
June 14, 2000
among
INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
INTERNATIONAL PAPER FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
The LENDERS Party Hereto
and
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, NEW YORK BRANCH
as Administrative Agent, Lead Arranger and Book Manager
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$3,050,000,000
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01 Defined Terms..................................................1
SECTION 1.02 Classification of Loans and Borrowings........................16
SECTION 1.03 Terms Generally...............................................16
SECTION 1.04 Accounting Terms and Determinations...........................16
ARTICLE II
THE CREDITS
SECTION 2.01 The Commitments...............................................17
SECTION 2.02 Loans and Borrowings..........................................18
SECTION 2.03 Requests for Syndicated Borrowings............................19
SECTION 2.04 Competitive Bid Procedure.....................................20
SECTION 2.05 Funding of Borrowings.........................................22
SECTION 2.06 Interest Elections............................................23
SECTION 2.07 Termination and Changes of Commitments........................24
SECTION 2.08 Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt..........................25
SECTION 2.09 Prepayment of Loans...........................................26
SECTION 2.10 Fees..........................................................27
SECTION 2.11 Interest......................................................28
SECTION 2.12 Alternate Rate of Interest....................................29
SECTION 2.13 Increased Costs...............................................30
SECTION 2.14 Break Funding Payments........................................31
SECTION 2.15 U.S. Taxes....................................................32
SECTION 2.16 [Intentionally omitted.]......................................33
SECTION 2.17 Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs...33
SECTION 2.18 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders................35
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
SECTION 3.01 Corporate Existence...........................................36
SECTION 3.02 Financial Condition...........................................36
SECTION 3.03 Litigation....................................................37
SECTION 3.04 No Breach.....................................................37
SECTION 3.05 Corporate Action of the Borrowers.............................37
SECTION 3.06 Approvals.....................................................37
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SECTION 3.07 Use of Loans..................................................38
SECTION 3.08 ERISA.........................................................38
SECTION 3.09 Taxes.........................................................38
SECTION 3.10 Investment Company Act........................................38
SECTION 3.11 Public Utility Holding Company Act............................38
SECTION 3.12 Credit Agreements.............................................38
SECTION 3.13 Hazardous Materials and Environmental Matters.................39
SECTION 3.14 Full Disclosure...............................................39
SECTION 3.15 Federal Margin Regulations....................................40
SECTION 3.16 Solvency......................................................40
SECTION 3.17 Exchange Offer and Merger.....................................40
ARTICLE IV
GUARANTEE
SECTION 4.01 Guarantee.....................................................42
SECTION 4.02 Obligations Unconditional.....................................42
SECTION 4.03 Reinstatement.................................................43
SECTION 4.04 Subrogation...................................................43
SECTION 4.05 Remedies......................................................44
SECTION 4.06 Continuing Guarantee..........................................44
ARTICLE V
CONDITIONS
SECTION 5.01 Closing Date..................................................44
SECTION 5.02 Term Loan Borrowing Conditions................................46
SECTION 5.03 Each Credit Event.............................................47
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
SECTION 6.01 Financial Statements..........................................48
SECTION 6.02 Litigation....................................................50
SECTION 6.03 Corporate Existence, Etc......................................50
SECTION 6.04 Insurance.....................................................51
SECTION 6.05 Use of Proceeds...............................................51
SECTION 6.06 Consummation of the Merger....................................51
SECTION 6.07 Prohibition of Fundamental Changes............................51
SECTION 6.08 Limitation on Liens...........................................52
SECTION 6.09 Amendments to Merger Agreement and the Exchange Offer
Documents...................................................54
SECTION 6.10 Total Debt to Total Capital Ratio.............................54
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SECTION 6.11 Minimum Consolidated Net Worth................................54
ARTICLE VII
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
ARTICLE VIII
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.01 Notices.......................................................60
SECTION 9.02 Waivers; Amendments...........................................60
SECTION 9.03 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver............................61
SECTION 9.04 Successors and Assigns........................................62
SECTION 9.05 Survival......................................................66
SECTION 9.06 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness......................66
SECTION 9.07 Severability..................................................66
SECTION 9.08 Right of Setoff...............................................67
SECTION 9.09 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc..............................67
SECTION 9.10 Judgment Currency.............................................68
SECTION 9.11 Waiver Of Jury Trial..........................................68
SECTION 9.12 Headings......................................................68
SECTION 9.13 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality.............68
SCHEDULE I - Commitments
SCHEDULE II - Material Agreements
EXHIBIT A - Form of Assignment and Acceptance
EXHIBIT B-1 - Form of Opinion of Counsel to the Company
EXHIBIT B-2 - Form of Opinion of Special New York Counsel to the
Company
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CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of June 14, 2000, among INTERNATIONAL PAPER
COMPANY, a New York corporation (the "Company"), INTERNATIONAL PAPER FINANCIAL
SERVICES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Subsidiary Borrower"), the LENDERS
party hereto, and CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, a bank organized under the laws
of Switzerland, acting through its New York Branch, as administrative agent for
the Lenders hereunder (in such capacity, the "Administrative Agent"), Lead
Arranger and Book Manager.
The Company has requested that the Lenders (as hereinafter
defined) make (i) revolving credit loans from time to time on and after the
Closing Date (as hereinafter defined) to the Company in an aggregate principal
amount not exceeding $1,750,000,000 at any one time outstanding and (ii) term
loans on the Term Loan Funding Date to the Subsidiary Borrower in an aggregate
principal amount not in excess of $1,300,000,000. The Lenders are prepared to
make such loans upon the terms and conditions hereof, and, accordingly, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms
have the meanings specified below:
"ABR", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers
to whether such Loan, or the Loans constituting such Borrowing, are bearing
interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.
"Acquisition" means the acquisition of Champion by the Company
in accordance with the Merger Agreement and the Exchange Offer.
"Acquisition Transaction" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
3.17(a).
"Acquico" means Condor Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation and
wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company.
"Adjusted LIBO Rate" means, for the Interest Period for any Eurodollar
Borrowing, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the
next 1/16 of 1%) equal to (a) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied
by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate for such Interest Period.
"Administrative Agent" has the meaning assigned to such term in the first
paragraph of this Agreement.
"Administrative Questionnaire" means an administrative questionnaire in a
form supplied by the Administrative Agent.
"Affiliate" means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that
directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is
Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.
"Alternate Base Rate" means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the
greater of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Federal Funds
Effective Rate for such day plus 1/2 of 1%. Any change in the Alternate Base
Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate
shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the
Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate, as the case may be.
"Applicable Rate" means, for any day, with respect to (a) any Eurodollar
Loan or ABR Loan which is a Term Loan, the applicable rate per annum set forth
below under the caption "Eurodollar Loan" or "ABR Loan" below under the caption
"Term Loan," (b) any Eurodollar Loan or ABR Loan which is a Revolving Credit
Loan, the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption
"Eurodollar Loan" or "ABR Loan" below under the caption "Revolving Credit
Loan," (c) any Facility Fee, the applicable rate per annum set forth below
under the caption "Facility Fee" and (d) any utilization fee, the applicable
rate per annum set forth below under the caption "Utilization Fee," in each
case based upon the long-term debt ratings by Moody's and S&P, respectively,
applicable on such date to the Index Debt:
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Long-Term Debt Term Loan Revolving Credit Loan
Rating Eurodollar ABR Eurodollar ABR Facility Utilization
(S&p/mOODY'S) Loan Loan Loan Loan Fee Fee
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Level I 50 bps 0 bps 31.5 bps 0 bps 6 bps 12.5 bps
A/A2
Level II 62.5 bps 0 bps 42 bps 0 bps 8 bps 12.5 bps
A-/A3
Level III 75 bps 0 bps 52.5 bps 0 bps 10 bps 12.5 bps
Level IV 100 bps 0 bps 62.5 bps 0 bps 12.5 bps 25 bps
Level V 125 bps 25 bps 85 bps 0 bps 15 bps 25 bps
Level VI 175 bps 75 bps 125 bps 25 bps 25 bps 25 bps
Less than Level V
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provided that, (A) for purposes of the foregoing, in the event the Index Debt
receives a split rating from Moody's and S&P, the applicable level shall be (1)
the level with the higher of such ratings in the event such ratings are one
level apart, (2) the level at midpoint (if any) in the event such ratings are
two or more levels apart and (3) the higher of the two intermediate ratings in
the event there is no midpoint rating; (B) if at any time the Index Debt is
rated at or above either of the long term debt ratings by Moody's or
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S&P set forth in Level I above, the Applicable Rate as set forth in Level I
will apply; (C) if at any time the Index Debt is rated below both the Moody's
and S&P ratings set out in Level V above or has a rating in effect with neither
Moody's nor S&P (other than by reason of the circumstances referred to in the
last sentence of this definition), the Applicable Rate as set forth in Level VI
will apply; (D) if at any time either Moody's or S&P shall not have in effect a
rating for the Index Debt, the Applicable Rate shall be determined solely by
the rating for the Index Debt established by the rating agency that does have a
rating for the Index Debt then in effect; (E) if at any time the ratings
established or deemed to have been established by Moody's and S&P for the Index
Debt shall be changed (other than as a result of a change in the rating system
of Moody's or S&P), such change shall be effective as of the date on which it
is first announced by the applicable rating agency; and (F) if any Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each of Moody's and S&P shall be
deemed to have established a rating in the lowest category in the schedule
above. Each change in the Applicable Rate shall apply during the period
commencing on the effective date of such change and ending on the date
immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change. If the rating
system of Moody's or S&P shall change, or if either such rating agency shall
cease to be in the business of rating corporate debt obligations, the Company
(on its own behalf and on behalf of the Subsidiary Borrower) and the Lenders
shall negotiate in good faith to amend this definition to reflect such changed
rating system or the unavailability of ratings from such rating agency and,
pending the effectiveness of any such amendment, the Applicable Rate shall be
determined by reference to the rating most recently in effect prior to such
change or cessation.
"Assignment and Acceptance" means an agreement pursuant to which a Lender
assigns all or a portion of its rights and obligations hereunder to an assignee
and such assignee agrees to be bound by all of the obligations of a Lender
hereunder to the extent of such assignment, in the form of Exhibit A or such
other form as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent.
"Board" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the
United States of America (or any successor).
"Borrower" means either the Company or the Subsidiary Borrower.
"Borrowing" means (a) all Term Loans of the same Type incurred on the Term
Loan Funding Date (or resulting from continuations or conversions on a given
date after the Term Loan Funding Date) and having, in the case of Eurodollar
Term Loans, the same Interest Period, (b) all Revolving Credit Loans of the
same Type incurred on a given date (or resulting from continuations or
conversions on a given date) and having, in the case of Eurodollar Revolving
Credit Loans, the same Interest Period, or (c) all Competitive Loans of the
same Type incurred on a given date and having the same Interest Period (or any
single Competitive Loan that does not have the same Interest Period as any
other Competitive Loan of the same Type). For purposes hereof, the date of a
Syndicated Borrowing comprised of one or more Loans that have been converted or
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continued shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or
continuation of such Loan or Loans.
"Borrowing Request" means a request by a Borrower for a Syndicated
Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03.
"Business Day" means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day
on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to
remain closed; provided that, when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan,
the term "Business Day" shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open
for dealings in Dollar deposits in the London interbank market.
"Capital Lease Obligations" means, as to any Person, the obligations of
such Person to pay rent or other amounts under a lease of (or other agreement
conveying the right to use) real and/or personal property which obligations are
required to be classified and accounted for as a capital lease on a balance
sheet of such Person under GAAP (including Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 13 of the Financial Accounting Standards Board) and, for purposes
of this Agreement, the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized
amount thereof, determined in accordance with GAAP (including such Statement
No. 13).
"CSFB" means Credit Suisse First Boston.
"Champion" means Champion International Corporation, a New York
corporation.
"Champion Shares" means the common stock, par value of $0.50 per share, of
Champion.
"Change in Law" means (a) the adoption of any law, rule or regulation
after the date of this Agreement, (b) any change in any law, rule or regulation
or in the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority
after the date of this Agreement or (c) compliance by any Lender (or, for
purposes of Section 2.13(b), by any lending office of such Lender or by such
Lender's holding company, if any) with any request, guideline or directive
(whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or
issued after the date of this Agreement.
"Class", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to
whether such Loan, or the Loans constituting such Borrowing, are Term Loans,
Revolving Credit Loans or Competitive Loans.
"Closing Date" means the date on which each of the conditions specified in
Section 5.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02).
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time.
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"Commitment" means a Term Loan Commitment or a Revolving Credit
Commitment.
"Company" means International Paper Company, a New York corporation.
"Competitive", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to
whether such Loan, or the Loans constituting such Borrowing, are made pursuant
to Section 2.04.
"Competitive Bid" means an offer by a Lender to make a Competitive Loan in
accordance with Section 2.04.
"Competitive Bid Rate" means, with respect to any Competitive Bid, the
Margin or the Fixed Rate, as applicable, offered by the Lender making such
Competitive Bid.
"Competitive Bid Request" means a request by the Company for Competitive
Bids in accordance with Section 2.04.
"Confidential Information Memorandum" means the Confidential Information
Memorandum of the Company dated May 2000 delivered to the Lenders in connection
with this Agreement.
"Consolidated Net Worth" means, at any time, the sum of the following for
the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated
basis (without duplication) in accordance with GAAP:
(a) the amount of capital stock; plus
(b) the amount of surplus and retained earnings (or, in the case of a
surplus or retained earnings deficit, minus the amount of such
deficit); minus
(c) the cost of treasury shares.
"Consolidated Subsidiary" means, as to any Person, each Subsidiary of such
Person (whether now existing or hereafter created or acquired) the financial
statements of which shall be (or should have been) consolidated with the
financial statements of such Person in accordance with GAAP.
"Control" means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the
power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a
Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or
otherwise. "Controlling" and "Controlled" have meanings correlative thereto.
"Debt Issuance" means the issuance by the Company of senior, unsecured
debt securities in the capital markets.
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"Default" means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of
Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or
waived, become an Event of Default.
"Dollars" or "$" refers to lawful money of the United States of America.
"Environmental Laws" means any and all Federal, state, local and foreign
statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees,
permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or other
governmental restrictions relating to the environment or to emissions,
discharges, releases or threatened releases of pollutants, contaminants,
chemicals, or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes into the
environment including ambient air, surface water, ground water, or land, or
otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use,
treatment, storage, disposal, transport, or handling of pollutants,
contaminants, chemicals, or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or
wastes.
"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended from time to time.
"ERISA Affiliate" means any corporation or trade or business
which is a member of the same controlled group of corporations (within the
meaning of Section 414(b) of the Code) as the Company or is under common control
(within the meaning of Section 414(c) of the Code) with the Company.
"Eurodollar", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to
whether such Loan, or the Loans constituting such Borrowing, are bearing
interest at a rate determined by reference to (a) in the case of a Revolving
Credit Loan or Borrowing or a Term Loan or Borrowing, the applicable Adjusted
LIBO Rate, or (b) in the case of a Competitive Loan or Borrowing, the LIBO
Rate.
"Event of Default" has the meaning assigned to such term in Article VII.
"Exchange Offer" means the exchange offer by the Company for the
outstanding Champion Shares (and associated rights to purchase preferred stock)
pursuant to the Offer to Exchange.
"Exchange Offer Statements" means, collectively, (i) the Company's Tender
Offer Statement, dated May 19, 2000, on Schedule 14D-1 of the Securities and
Exchange Commission, as thereafter amended from time to time in accordance with
the terms hereof and (ii) the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4
filed on May 19, 2000 with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in each case
together with all schedules, exhibits and annexes attached thereto and all
documents incorporated therein by reference, as such Statements may thereafter
be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.
"Excluded Taxes" means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any
Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any
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obligation of either Borrower hereunder, (a) income or franchise taxes imposed
on (or measured by) its net income by the United States of America, or by the
jurisdiction under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which
its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its
applicable lending office is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by
the United States of America or any similar tax imposed by any other
jurisdiction in which such Borrower is located and (c) in the case of a Foreign
Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Company under
Section 2.18(b)), any withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to
such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party to this
Agreement or is attributable to such Foreign Lender's failure or inability to
comply with Section 2.15(e), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender's
assignor (if any) was entitled, at the time of assignment, to receive
additional amounts from such Borrower with respect to such withholding tax
pursuant to Section 2.15(a).
"Federal Funds Effective Rate" means, for any day, the weighted average
(rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the rates on
overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System
arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business
Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so
published for any day that is a Business Day, the average (rounded upwards, if
necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the quotations for such day for such
transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds
brokers of recognized standing selected by it.
"Fee Letter" means that certain letter agreement dated May 22, 2000
between the Company and the Administrative Agent with respect to certain fees
due and payable to the Administrative Agent and the other agent banks party
hereto.
"Fixed Rate" means, with respect to any Competitive Loan (other than a
Competitive Eurodollar Loan), the fixed rate of interest per annum specified by
the Lender making such Competitive Loan in its related Competitive Bid.
"Fixed Rate Loan" means a Competitive Loan bearing interest at a Fixed
Rate.
"Foreign Jurisdiction" means any jurisdiction other than the United States
of America, a State thereof, the District of Columbia or any political
subdivision of any of the foregoing.
"Foreign Lender" means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a
Foreign Jurisdiction.
"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis
consistent with those which, in accordance with Section 1.04, are to be used in
making the calculations for purposes of determining compliance with the terms
of this Agreement.
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"Governmental Authority" means the government of the United
States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof,
whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory
body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative,
judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or
pertaining to government.
"Guarantee" means a guarantee, an endorsement, a contingent agreement to
purchase or to furnish funds for the payment or maintenance of, or otherwise to
be or become contingently liable under or with respect to, the Indebtedness,
other obligations, net worth, working capital or earnings of any Person, or a
guarantee of the payment of dividends or other distributions upon the stock of
any corporation, or an agreement to purchase, sell or lease (as lessee or
lessor) property, products, materials, supplies or services primarily for the
purpose of enabling a debtor to make payment of his, her or its obligations or
an agreement to assure a creditor against loss, and including causing a bank to
open a letter of credit for the benefit of another Person, but excluding
endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The
terms "Guarantee" and "Guaranteed" used as a verb shall have a correlative
meaning.
"Guaranteed Obligations" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 4.01(a).
"Guarantor" means the Company in its capacity as the guarantor under
Article IV.
"Indebtedness" means, as to any Person: (a) indebtedness created, issued
or incurred by such Person for borrowed money (whether by loan or the issuance
and sale of debt securities); (b) obligations of such Person to pay the
deferred purchase or acquisition price of property or services, other than
trade accounts payable (other than for borrowed money) arising, and accrued
expenses incurred, in the ordinary course of business so long as such trade
accounts payable are payable within 90 days of the date the respective goods
are delivered or the respective services are rendered; (c) Indebtedness of
others secured by a Lien on the property of such Person, whether or not the
respective indebtedness so secured has been assumed by such Person; (d)
obligations of such Person in respect of letters of credit or similar
instruments issued or accepted by banks and other financial institutions for
the account of such Person; (e) Capital Lease Obligations of such Person; and
(f) Indebtedness of others Guaranteed by such Person.
"Indemnified Taxes" means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.
"Index Debt" means senior, unsecured, long-term indebtedness for borrowed
money of the Company that is not guaranteed by any other Person or subject to
any other credit enhancement.
"Interest Election Request" means a request by either Borrower to convert
or continue any of their respective Syndicated Borrowings in accordance with
Section 2.06.
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"Interest Payment Date" means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan, each
Quarterly Date, (b) with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the last day of each
Interest Period therefor and, in the case of any Interest Period for a
Eurodollar Loan that is more than three months long, each day prior to the last
day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months after the
first day of such Interest Period and (c) with respect to any Fixed Rate Loan,
the last day of the Interest Period therefor and, in the case of any Interest
Period for a Fixed Rate Loan that is more than 90 days long (unless otherwise
specified in the applicable Competitive Bid Request), each day prior to the
last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of 90 days after the
first day of such Interest Period, and any other dates that are specified in
the applicable Competitive Bid Request as Interest Payment Dates with respect
to such Loan.
"Interest Period" means:
(a) for any Borrowing (other than an ABR Borrowing), the
Interest Period of the Loan or Loans constituting such Borrowing;
(b) for any Syndicated Eurodollar Loan, the period commencing
on the date of such Loan and ending on the numerically corresponding day
in the calendar month that is one, two, three or six months thereafter,
as specified in the applicable Borrowing Request or Interest Election
Request;
(c) for any Competitive Eurodollar Loan, the period commencing
on the date of such Loan and ending on the numerically corresponding day
in the calendar month that is one, two, three or six months thereafter,
as specified in the applicable Competitive Bid Request; and
(d) for any Fixed Rate Loan, the period (which shall not be
less than 7 days or more than 360 days) commencing on the date of such
Loan and ending on the date specified in the applicable Competitive Bid
Request;
provided, that (i) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a
Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding
Business Day unless, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing only, such next
succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case
such Interest Period shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day and
(ii) any Interest Period pertaining to a Eurodollar Borrowing that commences on
the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no
numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest
Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such
Interest Period. For purposes hereof, the date of a Loan initially shall be the
date on which such Loan is made and, in the case of a Syndicated Loan,
thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or
continuation of such Loan.
"Lenders" means the Persons listed on Schedule I and any other Person that
shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance,
other
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than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an
Assignment and Acceptance.
"LIBO Rate" means, for the Interest Period for any Eurodollar Borrowing,
the rate appearing on Page 3750 of the Dow Jones Markets (Telerate) Service (or
on any successor or substitute page of such Service, or any successor to or
substitute for such Service, providing rate quotations comparable to those
currently provided on such page of such Service, as determined by the
Administrative Agent from time to time for purposes of providing quotations of
interest rates applicable to Dollar deposits in the London interbank market) at
approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the
commencement of such Interest Period, as the rate for the offering of Dollar
deposits with a maturity comparable to such Interest Period. In the event that
such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the LIBO Rate for
such Interest Period shall be the rate at which Dollar deposits of $5,000,000
and for a maturity comparable to such Interest Period are offered by the
principal London office of the Administrative Agent in immediately available
funds in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time,
two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.
"Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge,
charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset.
For purposes of this Agreement, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be
deemed to own subject to a Lien any asset which it has acquired or holds
subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale
agreement, capital lease or other title retention agreement relating to such
asset.
"Loans" means the loans made by the Lenders to the Borrowers pursuant to
this Agreement.
"Margin" means, with respect to any Competitive Loan bearing interest at a
rate based on the LIBO Rate, the marginal rate of interest, if any, to be added
to or subtracted from the LIBO Rate to determine the rate of interest
applicable to such Loan, as specified by the Lender making such Loan in its
related Competitive Bid.
"Margin Stock" means margin stock within the meaning of Regulations U and
X.
"Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse change, or any
condition or event that could reasonably be expected to result in a material
adverse change, in (i) the business, assets, results of operations or financial
condition of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, or (ii) the
validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any of the documents entered
into in connection with the Transactions or the rights, remedies and benefits
available to the parties hereunder or the ability of the Company, Acquico or
Champion to consummate the Transactions.
10
"Material Subsidiaries" means, at any time, (a) the Subsidiary
Borrower and, until the Merger becomes effective, Acquico and (b) any Subsidiary
of the Company that has total assets (as shown on the most recent balance sheet
of such Subsidiary prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles) of $150,000,000 or more.
"Merger" means the merger of Acquico with and into Champion pursuant to
the Merger Agreement, with the surviving entity of the merger being a Wholly
Owned Subsidiary of the Company.
"Merger Agreement" means the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of May
12, 2000 among Champion, the Company and Acquico.
"Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
"Multiemployer Plan" means a multiemployer plan defined as such in Section
3(37) of ERISA to which contributions have been made by the Company or any
ERISA Affiliate and which is covered by Title IV of ERISA.
"Obligors" means the Borrowers and the Guarantor.
"Offer to Exchange" means the offer to exchange each outstanding Champion
Shares (including the associated rights to purchase preferred stock) for shares
of common stock of the Company having a value of $25 and $50 in cash, dated May
19, 2000, as thereafter amended from time to time in accordance with the terms
thereof.
"Other Taxes" means any and all present or future stamp or documentary
taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising
from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or enforcement
of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement.
"PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any entity
succeeding to any or all of its functions under ERISA.
"Person" means any natural person, corporation, limited
liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership,
Governmental Authority or other entity.
"Plan" means any employee benefit or other plan established or maintained
by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate and which is covered by Title IV of
ERISA, other than a Multiemployer Plan.
"Prime Rate" means the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from
time to time by CSFB as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New
York City; each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including
the date such change is publicly announced as being effective.
11
"Project Indebtedness" means Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary
incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or development of Project
Assets (as defined in Section 6.08(i)); provided that (x) such Indebtedness is
non-recourse to any other assets and (y) the aggregate principal amount of such
Indebtedness may at no time exceed $425,000,000.
"Quarterly Dates" means the last Business Day of March, June, September
and December in each year, the first of which shall be the first such day after
the date hereof.
"Refinancing" means the refinancing of existing indebtedness of the
Company and Champion required to be repaid by the terms thereof as a result of
the Acquisition.
"Register" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04.
"Regulations D, U and X" means, respectively, Regulations D, U and X of
the Board, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time.
"Related Parties" means, with respect to any specified Person, such
Person's Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents
and advisors of such Person and such Person's Affiliates.
"Required Lenders" means, at any time, Lenders having Syndicated Loans and
unused Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum of the total
Syndicated Loans and unused Commitments at such time (provided that, and for
all purposes after the Loans become due and payable pursuant to Article VII or
the Revolving Credit Commitments expire or terminate, the outstanding
Competitive Loans of the Lenders shall be included as Syndicated Loans in
determining the Required Lenders).
"Revolving Credit Commitment" shall mean, (a) in the case of each Lender
that is a Lender on the date hereof, the amount set forth opposite such
Lender's name on Schedule I as such Lender's "Revolving Credit Commitment" and
(b) in the case of any Lender that becomes a Lender after the date hereof, the
amount specified as such Lender's " Revolving Credit Commitment" in the
Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender assumed a portion of
the Total Revolving Credit Commitment, in each case as the same may be changed
from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof. The initial aggregate amount of
the Lenders' Revolving Credit Commitments is $1,750,000,000.
"Revolving Credit Commitment Termination Date" shall mean a date that is
364 days after the Closing Date, or, if such date is not a Business Day, the
immediately preceding Business Day.
"Revolving Credit Exposure" means, with respect to any Lender at any time,
the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Lender's Revolving Credit
Loans at such time.
12
"Revolving Credit Loan" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
2.01(b).
"Revolving Period" means the period from and including the Closing Date to
but excluding the earlier of the Revolving Credit Commitment Termination Date
and the date of termination of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment.
"S&P" means Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, a Division of The
McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
"Solvent" means, as to any Person, that, as of any date of determination,
(i) the amount of the "present fair saleable value" of the assets of such
Person shall, as of such date, exceed the amount of all "liabilities of such
Person, contingent or otherwise", as of such date, as such terms are determined
in accordance with applicable federal and state laws governing determinations
of the insolvency of debtors, (ii) the present fair saleable value of the
assets of such Person shall, as of such date, be greater than the amount that
will be required to pay the liability of such Person on its debts as such debts
become absolute and matured, (iii) such Person will not have, as of such date,
an unreasonably small amount of capital with which to conduct its business, and
(iv) such Person shall be able to pay its debts as they mature. For purposes of
this definition, (a) "debt" means liability on a "claim", and (b) "claim" means
any (A) right to payment, whether or not such a right is reduced to judgment,
liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed,
undisputed, legal, equitable, secured or unsecured or (B) right to an equitable
remedy for breach of performance if such breach gives rise to a right to
payment, whether or not such right to an equitable remedy is reduced to
judgment, fixed, contingent, matured or unmatured, disputed, undisputed,
secured or unsecured.
"Statutory Reserve Rate" means, for the Interest Period for any Eurodollar
Borrowing, a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the
number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the arithmetic
mean, taken over each day in such Interest Period, of the aggregate of the
maximum reserve percentages (including any marginal, special, emergency or
supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Board to which
the Administrative Agent is subject for eurocurrency funding (currently
referred to as "Eurocurrency liabilities" in Regulation D of the Board). Such
reserve percentages shall include those imposed pursuant to such Regulation D.
Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be
subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for
proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any
Lender under such Regulation D or any comparable regulation. The Statutory
Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of
any change in any reserve percentage.
"Subsidiary" means, as to any Person, (a) any corporation of which at
least a majority of the outstanding shares of stock whose class or classes have
by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of
directors of such
13
corporation (irrespective of whether or not at the time stock of any other
class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by
reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time directly or
indirectly owned or controlled by such Person or one or more Subsidiaries of
such Person or by such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person and
(b) any partnership or other entity in which such Person and/or one or more
Subsidiaries of such Person shall have an ownership or controlling interest
(whether in the form of voting or participation in profits or capital
contribution) of more than 50%. For the avoidance of doubt, Champion will be a
Subsidiary of the Company on and after the Term Loan Funding Date.
"Subsidiary Borrower" means International Paper Financial Services, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation and a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company.
"Syndicated Borrowing" means a Borrowing of Term Loans or Revolving Credit
Loans.
"Syndicated Loan" means a Term Loan or a Revolving Credit Loan.
"Tangible Assets" means, at any time, Total Assets minus the
sum of the following: cost of treasury shares and the book value of all assets
of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries which should be classified as
intangibles (without duplication of deductions in respect of items already
deducted in arriving at surplus and retained earnings) but in any event
including goodwill, research and development costs, trademarks, trade names,
copyrights, patents and franchises, unamortized debt discount and expense, and
any write-up in the book value of assets resulting from a revaluation thereof
subsequent to March 31, 2000 (other than any write-up, at the time of its
acquisition, in the book value of any asset acquired subsequent to March 31,
2000).
"Taxes" means any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts,
duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental
Authority.
"Term Loan" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01(a).
"Term Loan Funding Date" means the date on which the Term Loans are made
hereunder.
"Term Loan Commitment" shall mean, (a) in the case of each Lender that is
a Lender on the date hereof, the amount set forth opposite such Lender's name
on Schedule I as such Lender's "Term Loan Commitment" and (b) in the case of
any Lender that becomes a Lender after the date hereof, the amount specified as
such Lender's "Term Loan Commitment" in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant
to which such Lender assumed a portion of the Total Term Loan Commitment, in
each case as the same may be changed from time to time pursuant to the terms
hereof. The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders' Term Loan Commitments is
$1,300,000,000.
"Term Loan Commitment Expiration Date" shall mean the tenth Business Day
after the Closing Date.
14
"Term Loan Maturity Date" shall mean the second anniversary of the Closing
Date, or, if such date is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding
Business Day.
"Term Loan Period" means the period from and including the Closing Date to
and including the earlier of the Term Loan Funding Date and the Term Loan
Commitment Expiration Date.
"Total Assets" means, at any time, the total assets of the Company and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries at such time determined on a consolidated basis
(without duplication) in accordance with GAAP.
"Total Capital" means, at any date, Consolidated Net Worth plus Total Debt
plus (i) the amount of the minority interest in Carter Holt Harvey, Ltd. and
(ii) the amount of the minority interest represented by the Tax Deductible
Convertible Preferred issued by International Paper Capital Trust, each
determined as of such date.
"Total Credit Exposure" means, on any date, the sum of (a) the Total
Revolving Credit Commitment, (b) the Total Term Loan Commitment and (c) the
outstanding principal amount of all Term Loans on such date. If the Revolving
Credit Commitments have terminated or expired, the Total Credit Exposure shall
be determined based upon the Revolving Credit Commitments most recently in
effect, giving effect to any assignments.
"Total Debt" means, at any time, the aggregate outstanding principal
amount of all Indebtedness of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries at
such time determined on a consolidated basis (without duplication) in
accordance with GAAP.
"Total Revolving Credit Commitment" shall mean the sum of the Revolving
Credit Commitments of all Lenders.
"Total Term Loan Commitment" shall mean the sum of the Term Loan
Commitments of all Lenders.
"Transactions" means collectively, the Acquisition Transactions, the
Refinancing and the other transactions contemplated hereby.
"Type", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether
the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans constituting such Borrowing,
is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate, the Alternate Base Rate
or, in the case of a Competitive Loan or Borrowing, the LIBO Rate or a Fixed
Rate.
"Wholly Owned Subsidiary" means, as to any Person, any Subsidiary of such
Person all of the shares or ownership interests of which, other than (in the
case of a corporation) directors' qualifying shares, are owned or controlled by
such Person and/or any of its Wholly Owned Subsidiary.
15
SECTION 1.02 Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this
Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a
"Syndicated Loan"), by Type (e.g., a "Eurodollar Loan") or by Class and Type
(e.g., a "Syndicated Eurodollar Loan"). Borrowings also may be classified and
referred to by Class (e.g., a "Syndicated Borrowing"), by Type (e.g., a
"Eurodollar Borrowing") or by Class and Type (e.g., a "Syndicated Eurodollar
Borrowing").
SECTION 1.03 Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply
equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the
context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine,
feminine and neuter forms. The words "include", "includes" and "including"
shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase "without limitation". The word
"will" shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word
"shall". Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or
reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be
construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from
time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any
restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth
herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include
such Person's successors and assigns, (c) the words "herein", "hereof" and
"hereunder", and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this
Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all
references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be
construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to,
this Agreement and (e) the words "asset" and "property" shall be construed to
have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and
intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and
contract rights.
SECTION 1.04 Accounting Terms and Determinations.
(a) Accounting Terms. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all
accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, and all financial statements
and certificates and reports as to financial matters required to be delivered
to the Lenders hereunder shall (unless otherwise disclosed to the Lenders in
writing at the time of delivery thereof in the manner described in subsection
(b) below) be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles applied on a basis consistent with that used in the preparation of
the latest financial statements furnished to the Lenders hereunder (which,
until the first financial statements are delivered under Section 6.01, shall
mean the financial statements referred to in Section 3.02). All calculations
made for the purposes of determining compliance with this Agreement shall
(except as otherwise expressly provided herein) be made by application of
generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis consistent with
that used in the preparation of the latest annual or quarterly financial
statements furnished to the Lenders pursuant to Section 6.01 unless (i) the
Company shall have objected to determining such compliance on such basis at the
time of delivery of such financial statements or (ii) the Required Lenders
shall so object in writing within 30 days after delivery of such financial
statements, in either of which events such calculations shall be made on a
basis consistent with those used in the preparation of the latest financial
statements as to which such
16
objection shall not have been made (which, if objection is made in respect of
the first financial statements delivered under Section 6.01, shall mean the
financial statements referred to in Section 3.02).
(b) Descriptions of Material Variations. The Company shall deliver to the
Lenders at the same time as the delivery of any annual or quarterly financial
statement under Section 6.01 a description in reasonable detail of any material
variation between the application of accounting principles employed in the
preparation of such statement and the application of accounting principles
employed in the preparation of the immediately preceding annual or quarterly
financial statements as to which no objection has been made in accordance with
the last sentence of paragraph (a) above and reasonable estimates of the
difference between such statements arising as a consequence thereof.
(c) Changes of Fiscal Years. To enable the ready and consistent
determination of compliance with the covenants set forth in Article VI, the
Company will not change the last day of its fiscal year from December 31 of
each year, or the last days of the first three fiscal quarters in each of its
fiscal years from March 31, June 30 and September 30 of each year,
respectively, without giving prior notice of such change to each Lender and the
Administrative Agent.
ARTICLE II
THE CREDITS
SECTION 2.01 The Commitments.
(a) Term Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each
Lender having a Term Loan Commitment severally agrees to make a term loan in
Dollars (each a "Term Loan" and, collectively, the "Term Loans") to the
Subsidiary Borrower, which Term Loans (i) shall be made at any one time during
the Term Loan Period, (ii) may, at the option of the Subsidiary Borrower, be
incurred and maintained as, and/or converted into, ABR Loans or Eurodollar Term
Loans, provided that all Term Loans made by each of the Lenders pursuant to the
same Type of Borrowing shall, unless otherwise specifically provided herein,
consist entirely of Term Loans of the same Type, (iii) may be repaid in
accordance with the provisions hereof, but once repaid, may not be reborrowed,
(iv) shall not exceed for any such Lender the Term Loan Commitment of such
Lender and (v) shall not exceed in the aggregate the Total Term Loan
Commitment.
(b) Revolving Credit Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth
herein, each Lender with a Revolving Credit Commitment agrees to make loan or
loans in Dollars (each a "Revolving Credit Loan" and, collectively, the
"Revolving Credit Loans") to the Company, which Revolving Credit Loans (i) shall
be made at any time and from time to time during the Revolving Period, (ii) may,
at the option of the Company, be incurred and maintained as, and/or converted
into, ABR Loans or Eurodollar Revolving
17
Credit Loans; provided that all Revolving Credit Loans made by each of the
Lenders pursuant to the same Type of Borrowing shall, unless otherwise
specifically provided herein, consist entirely of Revolving Credit Loans of the
same Type, (iii) may be repaid and reborrowed in accordance with the provisions
hereof, (iv) shall not exceed for any such Lender the Revolving Credit
Commitment of such Lender and (v) shall not exceed in the aggregate the Total
Revolving Commitment then in effect.
SECTION 2.02 Loans and Borrowings.
(a) Obligations of Lenders. Each Syndicated Loan shall be made as part of
a Borrowing consisting of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans of the same Type
made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Term Loan
Commitments or Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable. Each Competitive
Loan shall be made in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.04.
The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not
relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the
Commitments and Competitive Bids of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall
be responsible for any other Lender's failure to make Loans as required.
(b) Type of Loans. Subject to Section 2.12, (i) each Syndicated Borrowing
shall be constituted entirely of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans as the
respective Borrower may request in accordance herewith, and (ii) each
Competitive Borrowing shall be constituted entirely of Eurodollar Loans or
Fixed Rate Loans as the Company may request in accordance herewith. Each Lender
at its option may make any Eurodollar Loan by causing any domestic or foreign
branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that any
exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrowers to
repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(c) Minimum Amounts; Limitation on Number of Borrowings. At the
commencement of the Interest Period for any Syndicated Borrowing, such
Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount of $15,000,000 or a larger multiple
of $1,000,000; provided that, in case of Revolving Credit Loans, an ABR
Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the entire unused
balance of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment. Each Competitive Borrowing
shall be in an aggregate amount equal to $5,000,000 or a larger multiple of
$1,000,000. Borrowings of more than one Type and Class may be outstanding at
the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total
of twenty Syndicated Eurodollar Borrowings outstanding under this Agreement.
(d) Limitations on Lengths of Interest Periods. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, (i) the Company shall not be entitled to request,
or to elect to convert to or continue as a Eurodollar Borrowing, any Revolving
Credit Borrowing if the Interest Period requested therefor would end after the
Revolving Credit Commitment Termination Date and (ii) the Subsidiary Borrower
shall not be entitled to request, or to elect to convert to or continue as a
Eurodollar Borrowing, any Term Loan
18
Borrowing if the Interest Period requested therefor would end after the Term
Loan Maturity Date.
SECTION 2.03 Requests for Syndicated Borrowings.
(a) To request the Borrowing of Term Loans, the Subsidiary Borrower shall
notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone (1) in the case of
a Syndicated Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City
time, three Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (2) in
the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on
the date of the proposed Borrowing. Each such telephonic Borrowing Request
shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or
telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request in a form
approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Subsidiary Borrower.
Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following
information in compliance with Section 2.02:
(i) the aggregate amount of the Term Loans to be made;
(ii) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;
(iii) whether the Term Loans shall consist of ABR Loans and/or
Eurodollar Loans;
(iv) if the Term Loans are to include Eurodollar Loans, the Interest
Period therefor, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of
the term "Interest Period"; and
(v) the location and number of the account to which funds are to be
disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.05.
If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified, then the requested
Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with
respect to any requested Syndicated Eurodollar Borrowing, then the Subsidiary
Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month's
duration. Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with
this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details
thereof and of the amount of such Lender's Loan to be made as part of the
requested Borrowing.
(b) To request a Borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans, the Company shall
notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone (1) in the case of
a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three
Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (2) in the case of
an ABR Borrowing, not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date of
the proposed Borrowing. Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be
irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the
Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request in a form approved by the
Administrative Agent and signed by the
19
Company. Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the
following information in compliance with Section 2.02:
(i) the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Loans to be made;
(ii) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;
(iii) whether the Revolving Credit Loans shall consist of ABR Loans
and/or Eurodollar Revolving Credit Loans;
(iv) if the Revolving Credit Loans are to include Eurodollar Revolving
Credit Loans, the Interest Period therefor, which shall be a period
contemplated by the definition of the term "Interest Period"; and
(v) the location and number of the account to which funds are to be
disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.05.
If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified, then the requested
Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with
respect to any requested Eurodollar Borrowing, then the Company shall be deemed
to have selected an Interest Period of one month's duration. Promptly following
receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the
Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the
amount of such Lender's Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.
SECTION 2.04 Competitive Bid Procedure.
(a) Requests for Bids by the Company. Subject to the terms and conditions
set forth herein, from time to time during the Revolving Period, the Company
may request Competitive Bids and may (but shall not have any obligation to)
accept Competitive Bids and borrow Competitive Loans; provided that the sum of
the total Revolving Credit Exposures plus the aggregate principal amount of
outstanding Competitive Loans at any time shall not exceed the Total Revolving
Credit Commitment. To request Competitive Bids, the Company shall notify the
Administrative Agent of such request by telephone, in the case of a Eurodollar
Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, four Business Days
before the date of the proposed Borrowing and, in the case of a Fixed Rate
Borrowing, not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, one Business Day
before the date of the proposed Borrowing; provided that the Company may in the
aggregate submit up to (but not more than) three Competitive Bid Requests on
the same day, and a Competitive Bid Request shall not be made within five
Business Days after the date of any previous Competitive Bid Request, unless
any and all such previous Competitive Bid Requests shall have been withdrawn or
all Competitive Bids received in response thereto rejected. Each such
telephonic Competitive Bid Request shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery
or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Competitive Bid Request in
a form approved by the Administrative Agent and
20
signed by the Company. Each such telephonic and written Competitive Bid Request
shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:
(i) the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing;
(ii) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;
(iii) whether such Borrowing is to be a Eurodollar Borrowing or a
Fixed Rate Borrowing;
(iv) the Interest Period for such Borrowing, which shall be a period
contemplated by the definition of the term "Interest Period"; and
(v) the location and number of the account to which funds are to be
disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.05.
Promptly following receipt of a Competitive Bid Request in accordance with this
Section, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of the details
thereof by telecopy, inviting the Lenders to submit Competitive Bids.
(b) Making of Bids by Lenders. Each Lender may (but shall not have any
obligation to) make one or more Competitive Bids in response to a Competitive
Bid Request. Each Competitive Bid by a Lender must be in a form approved by the
Administrative Agent and must be received by the Administrative Agent by
telecopy, in the case of a Competitive Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than
9:30 a.m., New York City time, three Business Days before the proposed date of
such Competitive Borrowing, and in the case of a Fixed Rate Borrowing, not
later than 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the proposed date of such
Competitive Borrowing. Competitive Bids that do not conform substantially to
the form approved by the Administrative Agent may be rejected by the
Administrative Agent, and the Administrative Agent shall notify the applicable
Lender of such rejection as promptly as practicable. Each Competitive Bid shall
specify (i) the principal amount (which shall be $10,000,000 or a larger
multiple of $1,000,000 and which may equal the entire principal amount of the
Competitive Borrowing requested by the Company) of the Competitive Loan or
Loans that the Lender is willing to make, (ii) the Competitive Bid Rate or
Competitive Bid Rates at which the Lender is prepared to make such Loan or
Loans (expressed as a percentage rate per annum in the form of a decimal to no
more than four decimal places) and (iii) the Interest Period for each such Loan
and the last day thereof.
(c) Notification of Bids by Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent
shall promptly notify the Company by telecopy of the Competitive Bid Rate and
the principal amount specified in each Competitive Bid and the identity of the
Lender that shall have made such Competitive Bid.
(d) Acceptance of Bids by the Company. Subject only to the provisions of
this paragraph, the Company may accept or reject any Competitive Bid, and shall
notify the Administrative Agent by telephone, confirmed by telecopy in a form
21
approved by the Administrative Agent, whether and to what extent the Company
has decided to accept or reject each Competitive Bid, in the case of a
Competitive Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 10:30 a.m., New York City
time, three Business Days before the date of the proposed Competitive
Borrowing, and in the case of a Fixed Rate Borrowing, not later than 10:30
a.m., New York City time, on the proposed date of the Competitive Borrowing;
provided, that (i) the failure of the Company to give such notice shall be
deemed to be a rejection of each Competitive Bid, (ii) the Company shall not
accept a Competitive Bid made at a particular Competitive Bid Rate if the
Company rejects a Competitive Bid made at a lower Competitive Bid Rate, (iii)
the aggregate amount of the Competitive Bids accepted by the Company shall not
exceed the aggregate amount of the requested Competitive Borrowing specified in
the related Competitive Bid Request, (iv) to the extent necessary to comply
with clause (iii) of this proviso, the Company may accept Competitive Bids at
the same Competitive Bid Rate in part, which acceptance, in the case of
multiple Competitive Bids at such Competitive Bid Rate, shall be made pro rata
in accordance with the amount of each such Competitive Bid, and (v) except
pursuant to clause (iv) of this proviso, no Competitive Bid shall be accepted
for a Competitive Loan unless such Competitive Loan is in a principal amount of
$10,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000; provided further that if a
Competitive Loan must be in an amount less than $10,000,000 because of the
provisions of clause (iv) of the first proviso of this paragraph, such
Competitive Loan may be in an amount of $1,000,000 or any multiple thereof, and
in calculating the pro rata allocation of acceptances of portions of multiple
Competitive Bids at a particular Competitive Bid Rate pursuant to such clause
(iv) the amounts shall be rounded to multiples of $1,000,000 in a manner
determined by the Company. A notice given by the Company pursuant to this
paragraph shall be irrevocable.
(e) Notification of Acceptances by the Administrative Agent. The
Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each bidding Lender by telecopy
whether or not its Competitive Bid has been accepted (and, if so, the amount
and Competitive Bid Rate so accepted), and each successful bidder will
thereupon become bound, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, to make the
Competitive Loan in respect of which its Competitive Bid has been accepted.
(f) Bids by the Administrative Agent. If the Administrative Agent shall
elect to submit a Competitive Bid in its capacity as a Lender, it shall submit
such Competitive Bid directly to the Company at least one quarter of an hour
earlier than the time by which the other Lenders are required to submit their
Competitive Bids to the Administrative Agent pursuant to paragraph (b) of this
Section.
SECTION 2.05 Funding of Borrowings.
(a) Funding by Lenders. Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it
hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately
available funds by 12:00 noon, New York City time, to the account of the
Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice
to the Lenders. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the
respective Borrower by
22
promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like funds, to an account
maintained with the Administrative Agent in New York City and designated by
such Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request or Competitive Bid Request.
(b) Presumption by the Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative
Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of
any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative
Agent such Lender's share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may
assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in
accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance upon such
assumption, make available to the respective Borrower a corresponding amount.
In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable
Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and
such Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on
demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and
including the date such amount is made available to such Borrower to but
excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case
of such Lender, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or (ii) in the case of such
Borrower, the interest rate applicable to ABR Loans for such Borrowing. If such
Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall
constitute such Lender's Loan included in such Borrowing.
SECTION 2.06 Interest Elections.
(a) Elections by the Borrowers for Syndicated Borrowings. Each Syndicated
Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing
Request and, in the case of a Syndicated Eurodollar Borrowing, shall have the
Interest Period specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter, the applicable
Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a Borrowing of a different Type
or to continue such Borrowing as a Borrowing of the same Type and, in the case
of a Syndicated Eurodollar Borrowing, may elect the Interest Period therefor,
all as provided in this Section. A Borrower may elect different options with
respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each
such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans
constituting such Borrowing, and the Loans constituting each such portion shall
be considered a separate Borrowing. This Section shall not apply to Competitive
Borrowings, which may not be converted or continued.
(b) Notice of Elections. To make an election pursuant to this Section, a
Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election by telephone by
the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if such
Borrower were requesting a Syndicated Borrowing of the Type resulting from such
election to be made on the effective date of such election. Each such
telephonic Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be
confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of
a written Interest Election Request in a form approved by the Administrative
Agent and signed by such Borrower.
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(c) Information in Interest Election Requests. Each telephonic and written
Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance
with Section 2.02:
(i) the Borrower and the Borrowing to which such Interest Election
Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to
different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each
resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant
to clauses (iii) and (iv) of this paragraph shall be specified for each
resulting Borrowing);
(ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest
Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;
(iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a
Eurodollar Borrowing; and
(iv) if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurodollar Borrowing, the
Interest Period therefor after giving effect to such election, which shall
be a period contemplated by the definition of the term "Interest Period".
If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing but does
not specify an Interest Period, then the respective Borrower shall be deemed to
have selected an Interest Period of one month's duration.
(d) Notice by the Administrative Agent to Lenders. Promptly following
receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise
each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender's portion of each
resulting Borrowing.
(e) Failure to Elect; Events of Default. If the respective Borrower fails
to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Syndicated
Eurodollar Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period therefor, then,
unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest
Period such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing. Notwithstanding
any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing and the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required
Lenders, so notifies the respective Borrower, then, so long as an Event of
Default is continuing (i) no outstanding Syndicated Borrowing may be converted
to or continued as a Syndicated Eurodollar Borrowing and (ii) unless repaid,
each Syndicated Eurodollar Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at
the end of the Interest Period therefor.
SECTION 2.07 Termination and Changes of Commitments.
(a) Scheduled Termination. The Term Loan Commitments shall terminate at
5:00 PM (New York City time) on the earlier of the Term Loan Funding Date and
the Term Loan Commitment Expiration Date. Unless previously terminated,
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the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments shall terminate on the
Revolving Credit Commitment Termination Date.
(b) Voluntary Termination or Reduction. The Company may at any time
terminate or from time to time reduce the Revolving Credit Commitments;
provided that (i) each reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitments shall be
in an amount that is $20,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000 and (ii)
the Company shall not terminate or reduce the Revolving Credit Commitments if,
after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Loans in accordance
with Section 2.09, the sum of the total Revolving Credit Commitments plus the
aggregate principal amount of outstanding Competitive Loans would exceed the
Total Revolving Credit Commitments.
(c) Notice of Voluntary Termination or Reduction. The Company shall notify
the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Revolving
Credit Commitments under paragraph (b) of this Section at least three Business
Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying
such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any
such notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents
thereof. Each notice delivered by the Company pursuant to this Section shall be
irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Revolving Credit
Commitments delivered by the Company may state that such notice is conditioned
upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice
may be revoked by the Company (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or
prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied.
(d) Effect of Termination or Reduction. Any termination or reduction of
the Commitments shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Revolving Credit
Commitments shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their
respective Revolving Credit Commitments.
SECTION 2.08 Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt.
(a) Repayment of Loans.
(i) The Company hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the
Administrative Agent (x) for account of the Lenders, on the Revolving
Credit Commitment Termination Date, the outstanding principal amount of
the Revolving Credit Loans, and (y) for account of the respective Lender
the then unpaid principal amount of each Competitive Loan of such Lender
on the last day of the Interest Period therefor.
(ii) The Subsidiary Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay
to the Administrative Agent for account of the Lenders, on the Term Loan
Maturity Date, the outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans.
(b) Manner of Payment. Prior to any repayment or prepayment of any
Borrowings hereunder, the respective Borrower shall select the Borrowing or
Borrowings
25
to be paid and shall notify the Administrative Agent by telephone (confirmed by
telecopy) of such selection not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time,
three Business Days before the scheduled date of such repayment. If a Borrower
fails to make a timely selection of the Borrowing or Borrowings to be repaid or
prepaid, such payment shall be applied, first, to pay any outstanding ABR
Borrowings of such Borrower and, second, to other Borrowings of such Borrower
in the order of the remaining duration of their respective Interest Periods
(the Borrowing with the shortest remaining Interest Period to be repaid first),
and for these purposes, Competitive Loans shall be deemed to be in the same
Class as Loans. Each payment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the
Loans included in such Borrowing.
(c) Maintenance of Loan Accounts by Lenders. Each Lender shall maintain in
accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the
indebtedness of the Borrowers to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by
such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid
to such Lender from time to time hereunder.
(d) Maintenance of Loan Accounts by the Administrative Agent. The
Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the
amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Class and Type thereof and each
Interest Period therefor, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and
payable or to become due and payable from each Borrower to each Lender
hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent
hereunder for account of the Lenders and each Lender's share thereof.
(e) Effect of Entries. The entries made in the accounts maintained
pursuant to paragraph (c) or (d) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence
of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that
the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts
or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of a
Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(f) Promissory Notes. Any Lender may request that Loans made by it to a
Borrower be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, such Borrower shall
prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to the
order of such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its
registered assigns) and in a form approved by the Administrative Agent.
Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon
shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 9.04) be
represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the order
of the payee named therein (or, if such promissory note is a registered note,
to such payee and its registered assigns).
SECTION 2.09 Prepayment of Loans.
(a) Mandatory Prepayments. The Company shall prepay any Revolving Credit
Loans made to it, to the extent, at any time, that the outstanding
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Revolving Credit Loans exceed the amount of the aggregate Revolving Credit
Commitments of the Lenders.
(b) Optional Prepayments; Right to Prepay Borrowings. Each Borrower shall
have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing made
to it in whole or in part, subject to the requirements of this Section and
Section 2.14; provided that the Company shall not have the right to prepay any
Competitive Loan without the prior consent of the Lender thereof.
(c) Notices, Etc. Each Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent by
telephone (confirmed by telecopy) of any optional prepayment to be made by it
hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of a Syndicated Eurodollar Borrowing or
of a Competitive Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time,
three Business Days before the date of prepayment or (ii) in the case of
prepayment of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time,
one Business Day before the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be
irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of
each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that, if a notice of
prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination of
the Revolving Credit Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.07, then such
notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination is revoked in
accordance with Section 2.07. Promptly following receipt of any such notice
relating to a Syndicated Borrowing or Competitive Borrowing, the Administrative
Agent shall advise the relevant Lenders of the contents thereof. Each partial
prepayment of any Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in
the case of a Borrowing of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02; provided
that no partial prepayment of any Eurodollar Borrowing shall reduce the
remaining aggregate principal amount of the Eurodollar Loans made pursuant to
such Borrowing to an amount less than $15,000,000. Each prepayment of a
Syndicated Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the
prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the
extent required by Section 2.11 and shall be made in the manner specified in
Section 2.08(b).
SECTION 2.10 Fees.
(a) Facility Fee. The Company agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent
for account of each Lender a facility fee, which shall accrue at the Applicable
Rate on the daily amount of the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender
(whether used or unused) during the period from and including the Closing Date
to but excluding the earlier of the date such Revolving Credit Commitment
terminates and the Revolving Credit Commitment Termination Date; provided that,
if such Lender continues to have any Revolving Credit Exposure after its
Revolving Credit Commitment terminates, then such facility fee shall continue
to accrue on the daily amount of such Lender's Revolving Credit Exposure from
and including the date on which its Revolving Credit Commitment terminates to
but excluding the date on which such Lender ceases to have any Revolving Credit
Exposure. Accrued facility fees shall be payable on each Quarterly Date and on
the earlier of the date the Revolving
27
Credit Commitment terminates and the Revolving Credit Commitment Termination
Date, commencing on the first such date to occur after the date hereof; provided
that any facility fees accruing after the date on which the Revolving Credit
Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand. All facility fees shall be
computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual
number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).
(b) Administrative Agent Fees. The Company agrees to pay to the
Administrative Agent, for its own account, fees payable in the amounts and at
the times separately agreed upon between the Company and the Administrative
Agent.
(c) Utilization Fee. At any time (i) any Term Loans or any Term Loan
Commitments are then outstanding or (ii) the aggregate principal amount of
Revolving Credit Loans then outstanding exceeds 25% of the Total Revolving
Credit Commitment, the Company agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for
account of each Lender a utilization fee, which shall accrue at the Applicable
Rate on the aggregate outstanding principal balance of all Revolving Credit
Loans and Competitive Bid Loans made by the Lenders hereunder. Accrued
utilization fees shall be payable on each Quarterly Date and on the earlier of
(x) the date the Revolving Credit Commitments terminate and (y) the Revolving
Credit Commitment Termination Date, commencing on the first such date to occur
after the date hereof; provided that any utilization fees accruing after the
date on which the Revolving Credit Commitments terminate shall be payable on
demand. All utilization fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360
days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the
first day but excluding the last day).
(d) Other Fees. The Company agrees to pay such other fees at such times
and in such amounts as have or may be agreed upon between or among the Company,
the Administrative Agent and the Arranger from time to time, including, without
limitation, the Fee Letter.
(e) Payment of Fees. All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates
due, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent for
distribution, in the case of facility fees, to the Lenders entitled thereto.
Fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances.
SECTION 2.11 Interest.
(a) ABR Loans. The Loans constituting each ABR Borrowing shall bear
interest at a rate per annum equal to the Alternate Base Rate plus the
Applicable Rate for such Borrowing (if any).
(b) Eurodollar Loans. The Loans constituting each Eurodollar Borrowing
shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of a
Syndicated Borrowing, the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period for such
Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate for such Borrowing, or (ii) in the case of a
Competitive Eurodollar Borrowing, the LIBO Rate for the Interest Period for
such Borrowing plus (or minus, as applicable) the Margin applicable to such
Loan.
28
(c) Fixed Rate Loans. Each Fixed Rate Loan shall bear interest at a rate
per annum equal to the Fixed Rate applicable to such Loan.
(d) Default Interest. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any principal of
or interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount payable by a Borrower
hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration
or otherwise, such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as well as before
judgment, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of overdue principal of
any Loan, 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan as provided above
or (ii) in the case of any other amount, 2% plus the Alternate Base Rate.
(e) Payment of Interest. Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in
arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan, in the case of Term Loans,
on the Term Loan Maturity Date and, in the case of Revolving Credit Loans, upon
termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments; provided that (i) interest
accrued pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section shall be payable on demand,
(ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than a
prepayment of an ABR Revolving Credit Loan prior to the Revolving Credit
Commitment Termination Date), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or
prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii)
in the event of any conversion of any Syndicated Eurodollar Borrowing prior to
the end of the Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Borrowing
shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.
(f) Computation. All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of
a year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to the Alternate
Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate
shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap
year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed
(including the first day but excluding the last day). The applicable Alternate
Base Rate, Adjusted LIBO Rate or LIBO Rate shall be determined by the
Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent
manifest error.
SECTION 2.12 Alternate Rate of Interest. If prior to the commencement of
the Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing:
(a) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be
conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not
exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable,
for such Interest Period; or
(b) the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders (or, in
the case of a Competitive Eurodollar Loan, the Lender that is required to make
such Loan) that the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for
such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such
Lenders (or Lender) of making or maintaining their Loans (or its Loan) included
in such Borrowing for such Interest Period;
29
then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrowers and the
Lenders by telephone or telecopy as promptly as practicable thereafter and,
until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrowers and the Lenders that the
circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any Interest
Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or
continuation of any Syndicated Borrowing as, a Syndicated Eurodollar Borrowing
shall be ineffective, (ii) if any Borrowing Request requests a Syndicated
Eurodollar Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing and (iii)
any request by a Borrower for a Competitive Eurodollar Borrowing shall be
ineffective; provided that if the circumstances giving rise to such notice do
not affect all the Lenders, then requests by the Company for Competitive
Eurodollar Borrowings may be made to Lenders that are not affected thereby.
SECTION 2.13 Increased Costs.
(a) Increased Costs Generally. If any Change in Law shall:
(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or
similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for account of, or
credit extended by, any Lender (except any such reserve requirement
reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate); or
(ii) impose on any Lender or the London interbank market any other
condition affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Loans or Fixed Rate Loans
made by such Lender;
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such
Lenders of making or maintaining any Eurodollar Loan or Fixed Rate Loan to
either Borrower (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan) or to
reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender hereunder
(whether of principal, interest or otherwise), then the respective Borrower will
pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such
Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.
(b) Capital Requirements. If any Lender determines that any Change in Law
regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the
rate of return on such Lender's capital or on the capital of such Lender's
holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made
by such Lender to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender's holding
company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into
consideration such Lender's policies and the policies of such Lender's holding
company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Company
will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate
such Lender or such Lender's holding company for any such reduction suffered.
(c) Certificates from Lenders. A certificate of a Lender setting forth the
amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as
30
the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be
delivered to the Company and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The
respective Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such
certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.
(d) Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to
demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of
such Lender's right to demand such compensation; provided that no Borrower
shall be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section for any
increased costs or reductions incurred more than six months prior to the date
that such Lender notifies the Company of the Change in Law giving rise to such
increased costs or reductions and of such Lender's intention to claim
compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise
to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the six-month period
referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect
thereof.
(e) Competitive Loans. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this
Section, a Lender shall not be entitled to compensation pursuant to this
Section in respect of any Competitive Loan if the Change in Law that would
otherwise entitle it to such compensation shall have been publicly announced
prior to submission of the Competitive Bid pursuant to which such Loan was
made.
SECTION 2.14 Break Funding Payments. In the event of (a) the payment of
any principal of any Eurodollar Loan or Fixed Rate Loan of either Borrower
other than on the last day of an Interest Period therefor (including as a
result of an Event of Default), (b) the conversion of any Eurodollar Loan of
either Borrower other than on the last day of an Interest Period therefor, (c)
the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Syndicated Loan of
either Borrower on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto
(regardless of whether such notice is permitted to be revocable under Section
2.09(b) and is revoked in accordance herewith), (d) the failure by the Company
to borrow any Competitive Loan after accepting the Competitive Bid to make such
Loan or (e) the assignment of any Eurodollar Loan or Fixed Rate Loan of either
Borrower other than on the last day of an Interest Period therefor as a result
of a request by such Borrower pursuant to Section 2.18, then, in any such
event, the respective Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost
and expense attributable to such event.
In the case of a Eurodollar Loan, the loss to any Lender attributable to
any such event shall be deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender
to be equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest that such
Lender would pay for a deposit equal to the principal amount of such Loan for
the period from the date of such payment, conversion, failure or assignment to
the last day of the then current Interest Period for such Loan (or, in the case
of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, the duration of the Interest
Period that would have resulted from such borrowing, conversion or
continuation) if the interest rate payable on such deposit were equal to the
Adjusted LIBO Rate (in the case of a Syndicated Eurodollar Loan) or the LIBO
Rate (in the case of a Competitive Eurodollar Loan) for such Interest Period,
over (ii) the amount of interest
31
that such Lender would earn on such principal amount for such period if such
Lender were to invest such principal amount for such period at the interest rate
that would be bid by such Lender (or an affiliate of such Lender) for Dollar
deposits from other banks in the eurodollar market at the commencement of such
period. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that
such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered
to the Company and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The respective
Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate
within 10 days after receipt thereof.
SECTION 2.15 U.S. Taxes.
(a) Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any
obligation of the Borrowers hereunder shall be made free and clear of and
without deduction for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes; provided that if
either Borrower shall be required to deduct any Indemnified Taxes or Other
Taxes from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall be increased as
necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions
applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative
Agent or Lender (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it
would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) such Borrower shall
make such deductions and (iii) such Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted
to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.
(b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrowers. In addition, each Borrower
shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance
with applicable law.
(c) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall indemnify the
Administrative Agent and each Lender, within 10 days after written demand
therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes
(including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or
attributable to amounts payable under this Section) paid by the Administrative
Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, and any penalties, interest and
reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not
such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or
asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount
of such payment or liability delivered to the Company by a Lender, or by the
Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be
conclusive absent manifest error.
(d) Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of
Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by either Borrower to a Governmental
Authority, such Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original
or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority
evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other
evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
32
(e) Foreign Lenders. Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption
from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the United States of
America, or any treaty to which the United States of America is a party, with
respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to the Company (with a
copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by
applicable law or reasonably requested by the Company, such properly completed
and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law as will permit such
payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate.
SECTION 2.16 [Intentionally omitted.]
SECTION 2.17 Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs.
(a) Payments by the Borrowers. Each Borrower shall make each payment
required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest or fees, or
under Section 2.13, 2.14 or 2.15, or otherwise) prior to 12:00 noon, New York
City time, on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without
set-off, counterclaim or other deduction. Any amounts received after such time
on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to
have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of
calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the
Administrative Agent at its offices at Eleven Madison Avenue, New York, New
York 10010, except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.13, 2.14, 2.15 and 9.03
shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative
Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for account of any
other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof.
If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the
date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day and, in
the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable
for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder shall be made in
Dollars.
(b) Application of Insufficient Payments. If at any time insufficient
funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully
all amounts of principal, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds
shall be applied (i) first, to pay interest and fees then due hereunder,
ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of
interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, to pay principal
then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance
with the amounts of principal then due to such parties.
(c) Pro Rata Treatment. Except to the extent otherwise provided herein:
(i) each Revolving Credit Borrowing shall be made from the Lenders, each
payment of facility fee or utilization fee, if applicable, under Section 2.10
shall be made for account of the Lenders, and each termination or reduction of
the amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments under Section 2.07 shall be
applied to the respective Revolving Credit Commitments of the Lenders, pro rata
according to the amounts of their respective Revolving Credit Commitments; (ii)
each Term Loan Borrowing shall be
33
made from the Lenders pro rata according to the amounts of their respective
Term Loan Commitments, (iii) each Syndicated Borrowing shall be allocated pro
rata among the Lenders according to the amounts of their respective Commitments
of the applicable Class (in the case of the making of Syndicated Loans) or
their respective Loans of the applicable Class (in the case of conversions and
continuations of Syndicated Loans); (iv) each payment or prepayment of
principal of Syndicated Loans by either Borrower shall be made for account of
the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the respective unpaid principal amounts
of the Syndicated Loans of the respective Borrower held by them; and (v) each
payment of interest on Syndicated Loans by the respective Borrower shall be
made for account of the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the amounts of
interest on such Loans of the respective Borrower then due and payable to the
respective Lenders.
(d) Sharing of Payments by Lenders. If any Lender shall, by exercising any
right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any
principal of or interest on any of its Syndicated Loans resulting in such
Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its
Syndicated Loans and accrued interest thereon then due than the proportion
received by any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion
shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Syndicated Loans
of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such
payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the
aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective
Syndicated Loans; provided that (i) if any such participations are purchased
and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such
participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent
of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the provisions of this paragraph
shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by a Borrower pursuant to
and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment
obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a
participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to
the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions
of this paragraph shall apply). Each Borrower consents to the foregoing and
agree, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any
Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may
exercise against such Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect
to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the
Borrower in the amount of such participation.
(e) Presumptions of Payment. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have
received notice from a Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due
to the Administrative Agent for account of the Lenders hereunder that such
Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that
such Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and
may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders the amount
due. In such event, if such Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then
each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent
forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender with interest
thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to
it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the
Federal Funds Effective Rate.
34
(f) Certain Deductions by the Administrative Agent. If any Lender shall
fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.05(b)
or 2.17(e), then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion
(notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), apply any amounts thereafter
received by the Administrative Agent for account of such Lender to satisfy such
Lender's obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations
are fully paid.
SECTION 2.18 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.
(a) Designation of a Different Lending Office. If any Lender requests
compensation under Section 2.13, or if either Borrower is required to pay any
additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for account of
any Lender pursuant to Section 2.15, then such Lender shall use reasonable
efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its
Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of
its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such
designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable
pursuant to Section 2.13 or 2.15, as the case may be, in the future and (ii)
would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not
otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. Each Borrower hereby agrees to pay
all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any
such designation or assignment.
(b) Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under
Section 2.13, or if either Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to
any Lender or any Governmental Authority for account of any Lender pursuant to
Section 2.15, or if any Lender defaults in its obligation to fund Loans
hereunder, then the Company may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to
such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and
delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions
contained in Section 9.04), all its interests, rights and obligations under
this Agreement (other than any outstanding Competitive Loans held by it) to an
assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another
Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) the Company
shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent,
which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have
received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans
(other than Competitive Loans), accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all
other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such
outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrowers (in the
case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of any such assignment
resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.13 or payments required
to be made pursuant to Section 2.15, such assignment will result in a reduction
in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any
such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by
such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Company to require
such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
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ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Representations and Warranties. Each of the Company and the Subsidiary
Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Lenders that:
SECTION 3.01 Corporate Existence. Each of the Company and its Material
Subsidiaries (a) is a corporation duly organized and validly existing under the
laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation (or in the case of a Subsidiary
that is not a corporation, is a partnership or other entity duly organized and
validly existing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization); (b) has
all requisite legal power, and has all material governmental licenses,
authorizations, consents and approvals, necessary to own its assets and carry
on its business as now being or as proposed to be conducted; and (c) is
qualified to do business in all jurisdictions in which the nature of the
business conducted by it makes such qualification necessary and where failure
so to qualify would have a material adverse effect on the consolidated
financial condition, operations, business or prospects taken as a whole of the
Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries. The Subsidiary Borrower and Acquico
are Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of the Company.
SECTION 3.02 Financial Condition. (a) The consolidated balance sheet
of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as at December 31, 1999 and
the related consolidated statements of earnings, cash flow and common
shareholders' equity of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for the
fiscal year ended on said date, with the opinion thereon of Arthur Andersen &
Co., and the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries as at March 31, 2000 and the related consolidated
statements of earnings and cash flow of the Company and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries for the three-month period ended on said date, in each case
heretofore furnished to each of the Lenders, are complete and correct and
fairly present the consolidated financial condition of the Company and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries as at said dates and the consolidated results of
their operations for the fiscal year, and three-month period ended on said
dates (subject, in the case of such financial statements as at March 31, 2000,
to normal year-end audit adjustments), all in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles and practices applied on a consistent basis.
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries had, on said dates, any
material contingent liabilities, liabilities for taxes, unusual forward or
long-term commitments or unrealized or anticipated losses from any unfavorable
commitments, except as referred to or reflected or provided for in said balance
sheets as at said dates. Since March 31, 2000, there has been no material
adverse change in the consolidated financial condition, operations, business or
prospects taken as a whole of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries
from that set forth in said financial statements as at said date.
(b) The statements of earnings, cash flow and common shareholders' equity
(if any) of the Subsidiary Borrower for each of the fiscal quarter ended March
31, 2000 and the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999 and the related balance
sheets as at the end of such quarter and such year, respectively, fairly
present the financial condition and
36
results of the operations of the Subsidiary Borrower in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied, as at the end
of, and for, such quarter and such year, respectively.
SECTION 3.03 Litigation. Except as disclosed to the Lenders in writing
prior to the date of this Agreement, the legal or arbitral proceedings, and
proceedings by or before any governmental or regulatory authority or agency,
now pending or (to the knowledge of the Company) threatened against the Company
and/or any of its Subsidiaries will not, in the opinion of the General Counsel
of the Company, result in imposition of liability or assessment against
(including seizure of) property in an aggregate amount as to all such
proceedings exceeding 10% of Consolidated Net Worth.
SECTION 3.04 No Breach. None of the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated and
compliance with the terms and provisions hereof will conflict with or result in
a breach of, or require any consent under, the charter or by-laws of either
Borrower, or any applicable law or regulation, or any order, writ, injunction
or decree of any court or governmental authority or agency, or any agreement or
instrument to which the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by
which any of them is bound or to which any of them is subject, or constitute a
default under any such agreement or instrument.
SECTION 3.05 Corporate Action of the Borrowers. Each Borrower has all
necessary corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its
obligations under this Agreement; the execution, delivery and performance by
such Borrower of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action on its part; and this Agreement has been duly and validly
executed and delivered by such Borrower and constitutes the legal, valid and
binding obligation of such Borrower, enforceable in accordance with its terms.
SECTION 3.06 Approvals. No authorizations, approvals or consents of, and
no filings or registrations with, any governmental or regulatory authority or
agency are necessary for the execution, delivery or performance by the Company
and/or the Subsidiary Borrower of this Agreement or for the validity or
enforceability thereof.
SECTION 3.07 Use of Loans. The proceeds of the Loans made hereunder shall
be used by the Borrowers (i) on or after the Closing Date, to finance the
Exchange Offer, the Refinancing and the payment of fees and expenses in
connection therewith, (ii) on and after the date of the Merger, to finance any
remaining cash consideration with respect to the Acquisition, and (iii) on and
after the Closing Date, for general corporate purposes of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (in compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory
requirements).
SECTION 3.08 ERISA. The Company and the ERISA Affiliates have fulfilled
their respective obligations under the minimum funding standards of ERISA and
the Code with respect to each Plan and are in compliance in all material
respects with the presently applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code, and
have not incurred any
37
liability to the PBGC or any Plan or Multiemployer Plan (other than to make
contributions in the ordinary course of business).
SECTION 3.09 Taxes. United States Federal income tax returns of the
Company have been examined and closed through the fiscal year of the Company
ended December 31, 1993. The Company and its Subsidiaries have filed all United
States Federal income tax returns and all other material tax returns which are
required to be filed by them and have paid all taxes due pursuant to such
returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Company
and its Subsidiaries in respect of taxes and other governmental charges are, in
the opinion of the Company, adequate. If the Company is a member of an
affiliated group of corporations filing consolidated returns for United States
Federal income tax purposes, it is the "common parent" of such group.
SECTION 3.10 Investment Company Act. Neither the Company nor the
Subsidiary Borrower is an "investment company", or a company "controlled" by an
"investment company", within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended.
SECTION 3.11 Public Utility Holding Company Act. Neither the Company nor
the Subsidiary Borrower is a "holding company", or an "affiliate" of a "holding
company" or a "subsidiary company" of a "holding company", within the meaning
of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.
SECTION 3.12 Credit Agreements. Schedule II is a complete and correct
list, as of the date of this Agreement, of each credit agreement, loan
agreement, indenture, purchase agreement, guarantee or other arrangement
providing for or otherwise relating to any Indebtedness or any extension of
credit (or commitment for any extension of credit) to, or guarantee by, the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries the aggregate principal or face amount of
which equals or exceeds (or may equal or exceed) $150,000,000 and the aggregate
principal or face amount outstanding or which may become outstanding under each
such arrangement is correctly described in Schedule II.
SECTION 3.13 Hazardous Materials and Environmental Matters.
(a) Licenses and Permits, Etc. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries
have obtained all permits, licenses and other authorizations which are required
under all Environmental Laws, except to the extent failure to have any such
permit, license or authorization could not in the aggregate reduce by more than
25% the annual tonnage capacity of the paper processing operations of the
Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries. The Company and each of its
Subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such
permits, licenses and authorizations, and are also in compliance with all other
limitations, restrictions, conditions, standards, prohibitions, requirements,
obligations, schedules and timetables contained in any applicable Environmental
Law or in any regulation, code, plan, order, decree, judgment, injunction,
notice or demand letter issued, entered, promulgated or approved thereunder,
38
except to the extent failure to comply could not in the aggregate reduce by
more than 25% the annual tonnage capacity of the paper processing operations of
the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries.
(b) Compliance Review. In the ordinary course of its business, the Company
conducts an ongoing review of the effect of Environmental Laws on the business,
operations and properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries, in the course of
which it identifies and evaluates associated liabilities and costs (including
any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up or closure of
properties presently or previously owned, any capital or operating expenditures
required to achieve or maintain compliance with environmental protection
standards imposed by law or as a condition of any license, permit or contract,
any related constraints on operating activities, including any periodic or
permanent shutdown of any facility or reduction in the level of or change in the
nature of operations conducted thereat, any costs or liabilities in connection
with off-site disposal of wastes or hazardous substances, and any actual or
potential liabilities to third parties, including employees, and any related
costs and expenses). On the basis of this review, the Company has reasonably
concluded that such associated liabilities and costs, including the costs of
compliance with Environmental Laws, are unlikely to have a material adverse
effect on the financial condition, operations, business or prospects, taken as a
whole, of the Company.
SECTION 3.14 Full Disclosure. The Company has heretofore furnished to each
of the Lenders a true copy of (I) the Company's annual report to shareholder
for 1999 setting forth consolidated audited financial statements for the year
ended December 31, 1999 and (ii) the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended March 31, 2000 as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Except as disclosed in writing to the Lenders, the Confidential
Information Memorandum and the annual, quarterly and other periodic reports
most recently delivered to the Lenders pursuant to this Section or Section 3.02
do not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, it being
understood and agreed that for purposes of this Section 3.14(a) , such factual
information and data shall not include projections and pro forma financial
information.
(a) The projections and pro forma financial information contained in the
information and data referred to in paragraph (a) above were based on good faith
estimates and assumptions believed by such Persons to be reasonable at the time
made, it being recognized by the Lenders that such projections as to future
events are not to be viewed as facts and that actual results during the period
or periods covered by any such projections may differ from the projected
results.
SECTION 3.15 Federal Margin Regulations.
(a) Neither Borrower is engaged principally, or as one of its
important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose,
whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of buying or carrying Margin
Stock.
39
(b) No part of the proceeds of any Loans shall be used for
"purchasing" or "carrying" any "margin stock" within the respective
meanings of each of the quoted terms under Regulation U as now and from
time to time hereafter in effect, or for any other purpose, in any case in
a manner which violates or is inconsistent with the provisions of
Regulations U and X or any similar rule of any other governmental
authority. If a Borrower is requested by any Lender or the Administrative
Agent, such Borrower shall furnish to the Administrative Agent and each
Lender a statement to the foregoing effect in conformity with the
requirements of Form FR U-1 referred to in said Regulation U.
SECTION 3.16 Solvency. On the Closing Date and on the Term Loan Funding
Date, after giving effect to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, each of the Borrowers
is Solvent.
SECTION 3.17 Exchange Offer and Merger. (a) The Company, the Subsidiary
Borrower and Acquico have all necessary corporate power and authority (and all
necessary corporate authority has been obtained) (i) for the Company to issue
(and incur the obligations with respect to) the debt securities under the Debt
Issuance, (ii) for the Company and the Subsidiary Borrower to make equity
contributions to or extend credit to Acquico in the amounts necessary for
Acquico to consummate the Acquisition (and for Acquico to borrow such funds or
receive such equity contribution), (iii) for the Company and Acquico to
consummate the Exchange Offer as described in the Offer to Exchange, (iv) for
Acquico to effect the Merger and (v) for each to consummate all of the other
transactions to be consummated by such Person as contemplated by the Offer to
Exchange and the Merger Agreement or as is otherwise necessary to consummate
the Acquisition (the foregoing transactions, the "Acquisition Transactions");
other than, in the case of clauses (iv) and (v) above, the approval of the
shareholders of Champion to consummate the Merger.
(b) From and after the Term Loan Funding Date, consummation of the
Acquisition Transactions will not conflict with or result in a breach of, or
require any consent under, the charter or by-laws of the Company or Acquico, or
any applicable law or regulation, or any order, writ, injunction or decree of
any court or governmental authority or agency, or any agreement or instrument
to which the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any
of them is bound or to which any of them is subject, or constitute a default
under any such agreement or instrument (other than any such breaches that have
been waived or consents that have been obtained and other than any law,
regulation, order, writ, injunction, decree, agreement or other instrument the
failure to comply with which, individually or collectively, would not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect);
(c) From and after the Term Loan Funding Date, no authorizations,
approvals or consents of, and no filings or registrations with, any
governmental or regulatory authority or agency are necessary for the
consummation of the Acquisition Transactions, except for (x) the filing of the
merger certificate in relation to the Merger
40
which shall be effected upon the consummation of the Merger, and (y) those
governmental approvals which have been duly obtained or made, have been
accepted by the Company, the Subsidiary Borrower or Acquico, are in full force
and effect, are not the subject of any pending judicial or administrative
proceedings, and if the applicable statute, rule or regulation provides for a
fixed period for judicial or administrative appeal or review thereof, such
periods have expired and no petition for administrative or judicial appeal or
review has been filed other than those governmental approval and other consents
or approvals of third parties the failure of which, individually or
collectively, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect;
(d) Except as disclosed to the Lenders in writing prior to the date of
this Agreement, as of the Closing Date and as of the Term Loan Funding Date, no
legal or arbitral proceedings, proceedings by or before any governmental or
regulatory authority or agency, is now pending or (to the knowledge of the
Company) threatened against the Company, the Subsidiary Borrower, Aqcuico or
Champion with respect to any Acquisition Transaction which is reasonably likely
to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(e) As of the Term Loan Funding Date, the Exchange Offer has expired and
no less than 66 2/3% of the Champion Shares outstanding on a fully diluted
basis (together with all options or other securities convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for Champion Shares being deemed to have been so
converted, exercised or exchanged) have been validly tendered to Acquico
pursuant to the Exchange Offer, free and clear of all Liens and restrictions to
purchase imposed by Applicable Law or otherwise, and such shares have not been
withdrawn and have been accepted for purchase in accordance with the terms and
conditions set forth in the Offer to Exchange, and after acquiring such shares,
Acquico shall own free and clear of any Lien such Champion Shares and shall be
entitled to vote such shares in any meeting called for a vote of the holders of
Champion Shares without any restriction (including any restriction set forth in
Section 912 of the New York Business Corporation Law); and
(f) No provision of law or regulation, or of the certificate of
incorporation or by-laws of Champion or of any shareholder agreement or
shareholder rights program of Champion or of any other agreement, shall prevent
or materially impede the consummation of the Exchange Offer or the Merger (or
the ability of Acquico to vote the Champion Shares in favor of the Merger).
ARTICLE IV
GUARANTEE
SECTION 4.01 Guarantee. The Guarantor hereby guarantees to each Lender and
the Administrative Agent and their respective successors and assigns the prompt
payment in full when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or
otherwise) of the principal of and interest on the Loans made by the Lenders to
the Subsidiary Borrower and all other amounts from time to time owing to the
Lenders or the
41
Administrative Agent by the Subsidiary Borrower under this Agreement (such
obligations being herein collectively called the "Guaranteed Obligations"). The
Guarantor hereby further agrees that if the Subsidiary Borrower shall fail to
pay in full when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise)
any of the Guaranteed Obligations, the Guarantor will promptly pay the same,
without any demand or notice whatsoever, and that in the case of any extension
of time of payment or renewal of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, the same
will be promptly paid in full when due (whether at extended maturity, by
acceleration or otherwise) in accordance with the terms of such extension or
renewal.
SECTION 4.02 Obligations Unconditional. The Obligations of the Guarantor
under Section 4.01 are absolute, irrevocable and unconditional irrespective of
the value, genuineness, validity, regularity, legality or enforceability of the
obligations of the Subsidiary Borrower under this Agreement or any other
agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein, or any substitution,
release or exchange of any other guarantee of or security for any of the
Guaranteed Obligations, and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law,
irrespective of any other circumstance whatsoever which might otherwise
constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor
(including any immunity, sovereign or otherwise, to which the Subsidiary
Borrower may be entitled), it being the intent of this Section that the
obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall be absolute, irrevocable and
unconditional under any and all circumstances. Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, it is agreed that the occurrence of any one or more of the
following shall not affect the liability of the Guarantor hereunder:
(i) at any time or from time to time, without notice to the
Guarantor, the time for any performance of or compliance with any of the
Guaranteed Obligations shall be extended, or such performance or
compliance shall be waived;
(ii) any of the acts mentioned in any of the provisions of this
Agreement or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or
therein shall be done or omitted; or
(iii) the maturity of any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be
accelerated, or any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be modified,
supplemented, or amended in any respect, or any right under this Agreement
or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein shall
be waived or any other guarantee of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or
any security therefor shall be released or exchanged, or shall be or
become unperfected, in whole or in part or otherwise dealt with.
The Guarantor hereby expressly waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment,
protest and all notices whatsoever, and any requirement that the Administrative
Agent or any Lender exhaust any right, power or remedy or proceed against the
Subsidiary Borrower under this Agreement or any other agreement or instrument
referred to herein
42
or therein, or against any other Person under any other guarantee of, or
security for, any of the Guaranteed Obligations.
SECTION 4.03 Reinstatement. The obligations of the Guarantor under this
Article IV shall be automatically reinstated if and to the extent that for any
reason any payment by or on behalf of the Subsidiary Borrower in respect of the
Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded or must be otherwise restored by any holder
of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, whether as a result of any proceedings in
bankruptcy or reorganization or otherwise and the Guarantor agrees that it will
indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender on demand for all reasonable
costs and expenses (including fees of counsel) incurred by the Administrative
Agent or such Lender in connection with such rescission or restoration.
SECTION 4.04 Subrogation. The Guarantor hereby waives all rights of
subrogation or contribution, whether arising by operation of law (including any
such right arising under the Federal Bankruptcy Code) or otherwise, by reason
of any payment by it pursuant to the provisions of this Article IV and further
agrees that for the benefit of each of its creditors (including each Lender and
the Administrative Agent) that any such payment by it of the Guaranteed
Obligations of the Subsidiary Borrower shall constitute a contribution of
capital by the Guarantor to the Subsidiary Borrower or, if evidenced by an
instrument in form and substance (and containing terms of subordination)
satisfactory to the Required Lenders, indebtedness subordinated in right of
payment to the principal of and interest (including post-petition interest) on
the Loans owing by the Subsidiary Borrower.
SECTION 4.05 Remedies. The Guarantor agrees that, as between the Guarantor
and the Lenders, the obligations of the Subsidiary Borrower under this
Agreement may be declared to be forthwith due and payable as provided in
Article VII (and shall be deemed to have become automatically due and payable
in the circumstances provided in Article VII) for purposes of Section 4.01
notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such
declaration (or such obligations from becoming automatically due and payable)
as against the Subsidiary Borrower and that, in the event of such declaration
(or such obligations being deemed to have become automatically due and
payable), such obligations (whether or not due and payable by the Subsidiary
Borrower) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantor for purposes
of said Section 4.01.
SECTION 4.06 Continuing Guarantee. The guarantee in this Article IV is a
continuing guarantee, and shall apply to all Guaranteed Obligations whenever
arising.
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ARTICLE V
CONDITIONS
SECTION 5.01 Closing Date. The obligations of the Lenders to make any
Loans hereunder are subject to the satisfaction (or waiver in accordance with
Section 9.02) of the following conditions precedent:
(a) Documents. The Administrative Agent shall have received each of the
following documents, each of which shall be satisfactory to the Administrative
Agent (and to the extent specified below, to each Lender) in form and
substance:
(i) Executed Counterparts. From each party hereto either (i) a
counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (ii)
written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may
include telecopy transmission of a signed signature page to this
Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement;
(ii) Opinion of Counsel to the Company. A favorable written opinion
(addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the
Closing Date) of James W. Guedry, counsel for the Company substantially in
the form of Exhibit B-1 (and the Company hereby instructs such counsel to
deliver such opinion to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent);
(iii) Opinion of Special New York Counsel to the Company. An opinion,
dated the Closing Date, of Davis, Polk & Wardwell, special New York
counsel to the Company, substantially in the form of Exhibit B-2 (and the
Company hereby instructs such counsel to deliver such opinion to the
Lenders and the Administrative Agent);
(iv) Corporate Documents. Such documents and certificates as the
Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request relating to (i)
the organization, existence and good standing of each Borrower, (ii) the
authorization of the execution, delivery and performance by each Borrower
of this Agreement, and of the borrowings hereunder by each Borrower, in
form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its
counsel, and (iii) certificates as to the incumbency and signature of each
individual signing this Agreement and any other agreement or document
contemplated hereby on behalf of the Borrowers;
(v) Financial Statements. Copies of (i) the audited consolidated
balance sheets of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of
December 31, 1999, and the related audited statement of earnings and cash
flows for the period ending as of such date, (ii) the unaudited
consolidated balance sheets of the Company and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries as of March 31, 2000, and the related unaudited statement of
earnings and cash flows for the period ending as of such date, (iii) the
audited consolidated balance sheets of
44
Champion and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1999, and
the related audited statement of earnings and cash flows for the period
ending as of such date, (iv) the unaudited consolidated balance sheets of
Champion and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of March 31, 2000, and the
related unaudited statement of earnings and cash flows for the period
ending as of such date and (v) the statements of earnings, cash flow and
common shareholders' equity (if any) of the Subsidiary Borrower for each
of the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2000 and the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1999 and the related balance sheets as at the end of such
quarter and such year, respectively;
(vi) Acquisition Documents. Certified copies of each of the then
existing Exchange Offer Statements and the Merger Agreement (and any
existing amendments to the originally filed statements or executed
agreement, as applicable, shall be in form and substance satisfactory to
the Administrative Agent and the Lenders); and
(vii) Other Documents. Such other documents as the Administrative
Agent or any Lender or special New York counsel to CSFB may reasonably
request;
(b) Representations and Warranties; No Default. The Administrative Agent
shall have received, with a copy for each Lender, a certificate of the Company,
signed by an authorized officer of the Company and the Subsidiary Borrower,
dated as of the Closing Date indicating that (i) the representations and
warranties of the Company and the Subsidiary Borrower in Article III hereto are
true and correct on and as of the Closing Date, and (ii) no Default has
occurred and is continuing.
(c) Approvals. The Administrative Agent shall have received copies,
certified by the Company, of all filings made with any governmental authority
in connection with the Transactions, that are reasonably requested by the
Administrative Agent.
(d) Borrowing Request. The Administrative Agent shall have received
pursuant to Sections 2.3 and 2.4, written Borrowing Requests with respect to
Loans requested to be made on such date.
(e) Fees. The Company shall have paid such fees as it shall have agreed to
pay to any Lender or the Administrative Agent in connection herewith, including
the reasonable fees and expenses of Dewey Ballantine LLP, special New York
counsel to CSFB, in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the Loans hereunder (to the extent that
statements for such fees and expenses have been delivered to the Company).
The Administrative Agent shall notify the Company and the Lenders of the
Closing Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans hereunder shall not
become
45
effective unless each of the foregoing conditions is satisfied (or waived
pursuant to Section 9.02) on or prior to 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on June
30, 2000 (and, in the event such conditions are not so satisfied or waived, the
Commitments shall terminate at such time).
SECTION 5.02 Term Loan Borrowing Conditions. The Borrowing of Term Loans
under this Agreement is subject to the satisfaction (or waiver in accordance
with Section 9.02) of the following conditions precedents on or prior to the
Term Loan Commitment Expiration Date:
(a) Each of the conditions set forth in the Offer to Exchange, and to the
extent required at such time to be satisfied, the Merger Agreement, shall have
been satisfied and not waived.
(b) The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be satisfied that the
Company has sufficient sources (including amounts from any Debt Issuance and
cash on hand) of funds to consummate the Acquisition Transactions. The terms,
conditions and structure of any Debt Issuance to be effected to finance, in
part, the Acquisition Transactions shall be in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders;
(c) The Administrative Agent shall have received copies, certified by the
Company, of all filings made with any governmental authority in connection with
the Transactions, that are reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent;
(d) On or prior to the Term Loan Funding Date, the Indebtedness set forth
on Schedule II (and any Indebtedness of Champion) required to be refinanced at
such time as a result of the Acquisition shall have been repaid in full;
(e) The Administrative Agent shall have received, with a copy for each
Lender, a certificate of the Company signed by an authorized officer of the
Company and the Subsidiary Borrower, dated as of the Term Loan Funding Date
indicating that (i) the representations and warranties of the Company and the
Subsidiary Borrower in Article III hereto are true and correct on and as of the
Term Loan Funding Date, and (ii) no Default has occurred;
(f) The Administrative Agent shall have received certified copies of
amendments, if any, to the Exchange Offer Statements and the Merger Agreement,
which shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent
and the Lenders; and
(g) The Company shall have paid such fees (to the extent not previously
paid) as it shall have agreed to pay to any Lender or the Administrative Agent
in connection herewith, including the reasonable fees and expenses of Dewey
Ballantine LLP, special New York counsel to CSFB, in connection with the
negotiation, preparation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
Loans hereunder (to the extent that statements for such fees and expenses have
been delivered to the Company).
46
SECTION 5.03 Each Credit Event. The obligation of each Lender to make a
Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing is subject to the satisfaction of the
following conditions:
(a) the representations and warranties of the Company and the Subsidiary
Borrower in Article III (other than the last sentence of Section 3.02(a)) shall
be true and correct on and as of the date of such Borrowing; and
(b) at the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing,
no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
Each Borrowing shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by
the Borrowers on the date thereof as to the matters specified in the preceding
sentence.
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
The Company agrees that, so long as any of the Commitments are
in effect and until payment in full of all Loans hereunder, all interest thereon
and all other amounts payable by any Obligor hereunder:
Part A. Affirmative Covenants.
SECTION 6.01 Financial Statements. The Company shall deliver to each of
the Lenders:
(a) as soon as available and in any event within 55 days after the end of
each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year of the Company,
consolidated statements of earnings and cash flow of the Company and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period and for the period from the beginning
of the respective fiscal year to the end of such period, and the related
consolidated balance sheet as at the end of such period, setting forth in each
case in comparative form the corresponding consolidated figures for the
corresponding period in the preceding fiscal year, accompanied by a certificate
of a senior financial officer of the Company, which certificate shall state
that said financial statements fairly present the consolidated financial
condition and results of operations, as the case may be, of the Company and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles, consistently applied, as at the end of, and for, such period
(subject to normal year-end audit adjustments);
(b) as soon as available and in any event within 100 days after the end of
each fiscal year of the Company, consolidated statements of earnings, cash flow
and common shareholders' equity of the Company and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries for such year and the related consolidated balance sheet as at the
end of such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the
corresponding consolidated figures for the preceding fiscal year, and
accompanied by an unqualified opinion thereon of Arthur Andersen & Co.
47
or any other independent certified public accountants of recognized national
standing, which opinion shall state that said consolidated financial statements
fairly present the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of
the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of, and for, such
fiscal year, and a certificate of such accountants stating that, in making the
examination necessary for their opinion, they obtained no knowledge, except as
specifically stated, of any Default;
(c) promptly upon their becoming available, copies of all registration
statements and regular periodic reports (other than registration statements
filed on Form S-8 and pricing supplements), if any, which the Company shall
have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any governmental
agency substituted therefor) or any national securities exchange;
(d) promptly upon the mailing thereof to the shareholders of the Company
generally, copies of all financial statements, reports and proxy statements so
mailed;
(e) as soon as possible, and in any event within ten days after the
Company knows or has reason to know that any of the events or conditions
specified below with respect to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan have occurred or
exist, a statement signed by a senior financial officer of the Company setting
forth details respecting such event or condition and the action, if any, which
the Company or its ERISA Affiliate proposes to take with respect thereto (and a
copy of any report or notice required to be filed with or given to PBGC by the
Company or an ERISA Affiliate with respect to such event or condition):
(i) any reportable event, as defined in subsections (c)(1), (2), (5)
and (6), and subsection (d)(2) of Section 4043 of ERISA and the
regulations issued thereunder, with respect to a Plan;
(ii) the filing under Section 4041(c) of ERISA of a notice of intent
to terminate any Plan under a distress termination or the distress
termination of any Plan;
(iii) the institution by PBGC of proceedings under Section 4042 of
ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to
administer, any Plan, or the receipt by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate
of a notice from a Multiemployer Plan that such action has been taken by
PBGC with respect to such Multiemployer Plan;
(iv) the receipt by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate of notice from
a Multiemployer Plan that the Company or such ERISA Affiliate has incurred
withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA in excess of $150,000,000
or that such Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization or insolvency
pursuant to Section 4241 or 4245 of ERISA or that it intends to terminate
or has terminated under Section 4041A of
48
ERISA whereby a deficiency or additional assessment is levied or threatened
to be levied against the Company; and
(v) the institution of a proceeding by a fiduciary of any
Multiemployer Plan against the Company or any ERISA Affiliate to enforce
Section 515 of ERISA, which proceeding is not dismissed within 30 days;
(f) promptly after the Company knows or has reason to know that any
Default has occurred, a notice of such Default describing the same in
reasonable detail and, together with such notice or as soon thereafter as
possible, a description of the action that the Company has taken and proposes
to take with respect thereto;
(g) as soon as available and in any event within 100 days after the end of
each fiscal year of the Subsidiary Borrower, statement of earnings, cash flow
and common shareholders' equity (if any) of the Subsidiary Borrower for such
year and the related balance sheet as at the end of such fiscal year, setting
forth in each case in comparative form the corresponding figures for the
preceding fiscal year, accompanied by a certificate of a senior financial
officer of the Company, which certificate shall state that said financial
statements fairly present the financial condition and results of operations of
the Subsidiary Borrower in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles, consistently applied, as at the end of, and for, such fiscal year;
(h) from time to time such other information regarding the business,
affairs or financial condition of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
(including any Plan or Multiemployer Plan and any reports or other information
required to be filed under ERISA) as any Lender or the Administrative Agent may
reasonably request; and
(i) prompt notice if, at any time, 25% or more of the value of the assets
of the Company, of the Subsidiary Borrower or of the Company and its
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis consists of Margin Stock.
The Company will furnish to each Lender, at the time it furnishes each set
of financial statements pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) above, a certificate
of a senior financial officer of the Company (i) to the effect that no Default
has occurred and is continuing (or, if any Default has occurred and is
continuing, describing the same in reasonable detail and describing the action
that the Company has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto) and (ii)
setting forth in reasonable detail the computations necessary to determine
whether the Company is in compliance with Sections 6.08 and 6.09 as of the end
of the respective quarterly fiscal period or fiscal year.
SECTION 6.02 Litigation. The Company will promptly give to each Lender
notice of all legal or arbitral proceedings, and of all proceedings by or
before any governmental or regulatory authority or agency, and any material
development in respect of such legal or other proceedings, affecting the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except any proceeding which, if adversely
determined, would not have a material adverse
49
effect on the consolidated financial condition, operations, business or
prospects taken as a whole of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries.
SECTION 6.03 Corporate Existence, Etc. The Company will, and will cause
each of its Material Subsidiaries to: preserve and maintain its legal existence
and all of its material rights, privileges and franchises (provided that
nothing in this Section shall prohibit any transaction expressly permitted
under Section 6.05); comply with the requirements of all applicable laws,
rules, regulations and orders of governmental or regulatory authorities if
failure to comply with such requirements (i) will in the opinion of the General
Counsel of the Company result in imposition of liability or assessment against
(including seizure of) property in an aggregate amount (as to all such failures
to comply) exceeding 10% of Consolidated Net Worth or (ii) could in the
aggregate (as to all such failures to comply) reduce by more than 25% the
annual tonnage capacity of the paper processing operations of the Company and
its Consolidated Subsidiaries; pay and discharge all taxes, assessments and
governmental charges or levies imposed on it or on its income or profits or on
any of its property prior to the date on which penalties attach thereto, except
for any such tax, assessment, charge or levy the payment of which is being
contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and against which adequate
reserves are being maintained; maintain all of its properties used or useful in
its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear
excepted; and upon notice of at least 24 hours, permit representatives of any
Lender or the Administrative Agent, during normal business hours, to examine,
copy and make extracts from its books and records, to inspect its properties,
and to discuss its business and affairs with its officers, all to the extent
reasonably requested by such Lender or the Administrative Agent.
SECTION 6.04 Insurance. The Company will maintain, and will cause each of
its Subsidiaries to maintain, insurance underwritten by financially sound and
reputable insurers, or self insurance (in accordance with normal industry
practice) in such amounts and against such risks as ordinarily is carried or
maintained by owners of like businesses and properties in similar
circumstances.
SECTION 6.05 Use of Proceeds. The Company will, and will cause the
Subsidiary Borrower to, use the proceeds of the Loans made to it hereunder
solely for the purposes set forth and permitted in Section 3.07 hereof;
provided that neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any
responsibility as to the use of any of such proceeds.
SECTION 6.06 Consummation of the Merger. The Company will obtain when
required, maintain in full force and effect, and comply with, all governmental
approvals and other consents and approvals of third parties necessary or
desirable for the consummation of the Merger. The Company shall cause the
Merger to be consummated (on the terms set forth in the Merger Agreement or
such other terms as shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders) as soon as practicable and in any event within 180 days
after the Closing Date.
50
Part B. Negative Covenants.
SECTION 6.07 Prohibition of Fundamental Changes. The Company will not, nor
will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any transaction of merger
or consolidation or amalgamation, or liquidate, wind up or dissolve itself (or
suffer any liquidation or dissolution). The Company will not, and will not
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, convey, sell, lease, transfer or otherwise
dispose of, in one transaction or a series of transactions, all or a
substantial part of its business or assets, whether now owned or hereafter
acquired (including receivables and leasehold interests, but excluding any
inventory or other assets sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of
business). Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section:
(a) Acquico may merge with and into Champion in accordance with the Merger
Agreement;
(b) any Subsidiary of the Company may be merged or consolidated with or
into: (i) the Company if the Company shall be the continuing or surviving
corporation or (ii) any other such Subsidiary; provided that if any such
transaction shall be between a Subsidiary and a Wholly Owned Subsidiary, the
Wholly Owned Subsidiary shall be the continuing or surviving corporation;
(c) any such Subsidiary may sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of
any or all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the
Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company;
(d) the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company may merge or consolidate
with any other Person if (i) in the case of a merger or consolidation of the
Company, the Company is the surviving corporation and, in any other case, the
surviving corporation is a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company and (ii)
after giving effect thereto no Default would exist hereunder; and
(e) in addition to the dispositions permitted pursuant to clauses (a)
through (f) of this Section, the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company may
sell or otherwise dispose of assets (including by merger or consolidation) if,
after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, the book value of such
assets, together with the aggregate book value of the assets so sold or
disposed of since March 31, 2000, does not exceed 20% of Total Assets at March
31, 2000 (after the conditions in Section 5.02 shall have been met, as adjusted
to give pro forma effect to the Acquisition Transactions).
SECTION 6.08 Limitation on Liens. The Company will not, nor will it permit
any of its Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien
upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter
acquired, except:
(a) Liens imposed by any governmental authority for taxes, assessments or
charges not yet due or which are being contested in good faith and by
appropriate proceedings if, unless the amount thereof is not material with
respect to it or its financial condition, adequate reserves with
51
respect thereto are maintained on the books of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, as the case may be, in accordance with GAAP;
(b) carriers', warehousemen's, mechanics', materialmen's, repairmen's or
other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business which are not
overdue for a period of more than 30 days or which are being contested in good
faith and by appropriate proceedings;
(c) pledges or deposits under worker's compensation, unemployment
insurance and other social security legislation;
(d) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other
than for borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal
bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the
ordinary course of business;
(e) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances
incurred in the ordinary course of business and encumbrances consisting of
zoning restrictions, easements, licenses, restrictions on the use of property
or minor imperfections in title thereto which, in the aggregate, are not
material in amount, and which do not in any case materially detract from the
value of the property subject thereto or interfere with the ordinary conduct of
the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
(f) Liens on assets of corporations which become Subsidiaries of the
Company after the date of this Agreement; provided that such Liens are in
existence at the time the respective corporations become Subsidiaries of the
Company and were not created in anticipation thereof;
(g) Liens upon real and/or tangible personal property acquired after the
date hereof (by purchase, construction or otherwise) by the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries, each of which Liens either (A) existed on such property
before the time of its acquisition and was not created in anticipation thereof,
or (B) was created solely for the purpose of securing Indebtedness
representing, or incurred to finance, refinance or refund, the cost (including
the cost of construction) of the respective property; provided in the case of
clause (B) that such Lien attaches to such asset within 270 days after the
acquisition or completion of construction and commencement of full operations
thereof; provided, further that no such Lien shall extend to or cover any
property of the Company or such Subsidiary other than the respective property
so acquired and improvements thereon; and provided, further, that the principal
amount of Indebtedness secured by any such Lien shall at no time exceed 95% of
the fair market value (as determined in good faith by a senior financial
officer of the Company) of the respective property at the time it was acquired
(by purchase, construction or otherwise);
52
(h) [Intentionally Omitted];
(i) Liens on assets consisting of a capital project and rights related
thereto ("Project Assets") securing Indebtedness incurred to finance the
acquisition, construction or development of such Project Assets; provided that
(x) such Indebtedness is non-recourse to any other assets; (y) the aggregate
principal amount of Indebtedness secured by Liens permitted by this paragraph
(i) may at no time exceed $425,000,000 and (z) such Liens attach to such
Project Assets within two years after the initial acquisition or completion of
construction or development of such Project Assets;
(j) Liens upon real and/or personal property of the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company in favor of the United States of America or any State
thereof, or any department, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision
of the United States or any State thereof, to secure partial, progress, or
advance or other payments pursuant to any contract or statute or to secure
Indebtedness incurred for the purpose of refinancing all or any part of the
purchase price or cost of constructing or improving such property;
(k) additional Liens upon real and/or personal property created after the
date hereof; provided that the aggregate outstanding Indebtedness secured
thereby and incurred on and after the date hereof shall not at any time exceed
10% of Tangible Assets; and
(l) any extension, renewal or replacement of the foregoing; provided,
however, that the Liens permitted hereunder shall not be spread to cover any
additional Indebtedness or property (other than a substitution of like
property); provided that the sale, mortgage or other transfer of timber in
connection with an arrangement under which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is obligated to cut such timber (or any portion thereof) in order
to provide the transferee with a specified amount of money (however determined)
shall not be deemed to create Indebtedness secured by a Lien hereunder.
SECTION 6.09 Amendments to Merger Agreement and the Exchange Offer
Documents. The Company shall not, and shall not permit Acquico to, amend any
provision of the Merger Agreement or any provision of the Offer to Exchange or
any Exchange Offer Statement unless the Company shall have obtained the prior
written consent of the Administrative Agent and all of the Lenders with respect
to any such amendment (other than any amendment which is not material to the
Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole and which does not materially
impede the consummation of the Merger).
SECTION 6.10 Total Debt to Total Capital Ratio. The Company will not at
any time permit the ratio of Total Debt to Total Capital to exceed 0.60 to 1.
53
SECTION 6.11 Minimum Consolidated Net Worth. The Company will not at any
time permit Consolidated Net Worth to be less than $9,000,000,000.
ARTICLE VII
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
If one or more of the following events (herein called "Events of Default")
shall occur and be continuing:
(a) Either Borrower shall default in the payment when due of any principal
of any Loan; or either Borrower shall default in the payment when due of any
interest on any Loan or any other amount payable by it hereunder and such
default shall continue unremedied for three or more Business Days; or
(b) The Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall default in the payment
when due of any principal of or interest on any of its Indebtedness (other than
(i) Indebtedness hereunder and (ii) Project Indebtedness) aggregating
$200,000,000 or more; or any event specified in any note, agreement, indenture
or other document evidencing or relating to any such Indebtedness aggregating
$200,000,000 or more shall occur if the effect of such event is (i) to cause,
or (with the giving of any notice or the lapse of time or both) to permit the
holder or holders of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such
holder or holders) to cause, such Indebtedness to become due, or to be prepaid
in full (whether by redemption, purchase or otherwise), prior to its stated
maturity or (ii) to cause cancellation of commitments thereunder; or
(c) Any representation, warranty or certification made or deemed made
herein (or in any modification or supplement hereto or thereto) by any Obligor,
or any certificate furnished to any Lender or the Administrative Agent pursuant
to the provisions hereof, shall prove to have been false or misleading as of
the time made or furnished in any material respect; or
(d) The Company shall default in the performance of any of its obligations
under any of Sections 6.01(f), 6.06, 6.07, 6.08, 6.09, 6.10 or 6.11; or any
Obligor shall default in the performance of any of its other obligations in
this Agreement and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of
thirty days after notice thereof to such Obligor (through notification to the
Company) by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (through the Administrative
Agent); or
(e) The Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries shall admit in writing
its inability to, or be generally unable to, pay its debts as such debts become
due; or
(f) The Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries shall (i) apply for or
consent to the appointment of, or the taking of possession by, a receiver,
54
custodian, trustee or liquidator of itself or of all or a substantial part of
its property, (ii) make a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors,
(iii) commence a voluntary case under the Bankruptcy Code (as now or hereafter
in effect), (iv) file a petition seeking to take advantage of any other law
relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, winding-up, or composition
or readjustment of debts, (v) fail to controvert in a timely and appropriate
manner, or acquiesce in writing to, any petition filed against it in an
involuntary case under the Bankruptcy Code, or (vi) take any corporate action
for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing; or
(g) A proceeding or case shall be commenced, without the application or
consent of the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries, in any court of
competent jurisdiction, seeking (i) its liquidation, reorganization,
dissolution or winding-up, or the composition or readjustment of its debts,
(ii) the appointment of a trustee, receiver, custodian, liquidator or the like
of the Company or such Subsidiary or of all or any substantial part of its
assets, or (iii) similar relief in respect of the Company or such Subsidiary
under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, winding-up,
or composition or adjustment of debts, and such proceeding or case shall
continue undismissed, or an order, judgment or decree approving or ordering any
of the foregoing shall be entered and continue unstayed and in effect, for a
period of 60 or more days; or an order for relief against the Company or such
Subsidiary shall be entered in an involuntary case under the Bankruptcy Code;
or
(h) A final judgment or judgments for the payment of money in excess of
$200,000,000 in the aggregate shall be rendered by a court or courts against
the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries and the same shall not be discharged
(or provision shall not be made for such discharge), or a stay of execution
thereof shall not be procured, within 30 days from the date of entry thereof
and the Company or the relevant Subsidiary shall not, within said period of 30
days, or such longer period during which execution of the same shall have been
stayed, appeal therefrom and cause the execution thereof to be stayed during
such appeal; or
(i) An event or condition specified in Section 6.01(e) shall occur or
exist with respect to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan and, as a result of such
event or condition, together with all other such events or conditions, the
Company or any ERISA Affiliate shall be reasonably likely in the opinion of the
General Counsel of the Company to incur a liability to a Plan, a Multiemployer
Plan or PBGC (or any combination of the foregoing) which is in excess of 10% of
Consolidated Net Worth; or
(j) Any person or group of persons (within the meaning of Section 13 or 14
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, it being agreed that an
employee of the Company or any Consolidated Subsidiary for whom shares are held
under an employee stock ownership, employee retirement, employee savings
55
or similar plan and whose shares are voted in accordance with the instructions
of such employee shall not be a member of a group of persons within the meaning
of said Section 13 or 14 solely because such employee's shares are held by a
trustee under said plan) shall acquire, directly or indirectly, beneficial
ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated by the SEC under said
Act, as amended) of 20% or more of the outstanding shares of stock of the
Company having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect (whether
immediately or ultimately) a majority of the board of directors of the Company
(irrespective of whether or not at the time stock of any other class or classes
of stock of the Company shall have or might have voting power by reason of the
happening of any contingency);
(k) During any period of 25 consecutive calendar months, a majority of the
board of directors of the Company shall no longer be composed of individuals
(i) who were members of said board or directors on the first day of such period
or (ii) whose election or nomination to said board of directors was approved by
individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such
election or nomination at least a majority of said board of directors; or
(l) The Merger shall not have been consummated on the terms set forth in
the Merger Agreement within 180 days after the Closing Date;
THEREUPON: (1) in the case of an Event of Default other than one referred to in
clause (f) or (g) of this Article VII with respect to any Obligor, (A) the
Administrative Agent may and, upon request of the Required Lenders, shall, by
notice to the Company, cancel the Commitments and they shall thereupon
terminate, and (B) the Administrative Agent may and, upon request of Lenders
holding more than 50% of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Loans
(including Competitive Loans) shall, by notice to the Company, declare the
principal amount then outstanding of, and the accrued interest on, the Loans and
all other amounts payable by the Obligors hereunder (including any amounts
payable under Section 2.14) to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon such
amounts shall be immediately due and payable without presentment, demand,
protest or other formalities of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly
waived by each Obligor; and (2) in the case of the occurrence of an Event of
Default referred to in clause (f) or (g) of this Article VII with respect to any
Obligor, the Commitments shall automatically be canceled and the principal
amount then outstanding of, and the accrued interest on, the Loans and all other
amounts payable by the Obligors hereunder (including any amounts payable under
Section 2.14) shall automatically become immediately due and payable without
presentment, demand, protest or other formalities of any kind, all of which are
hereby expressly waived by each Obligor.
56
ARTICLE VIII
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent
as its agent and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on
its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative
Agent by the terms hereof, together with such actions and powers as are
reasonably incidental thereto.
The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall
have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender
and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent, and
such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to and
generally engage in any kind of business with the Company or any Subsidiary or
other Affiliate thereof as if it were not the Administrative Agent hereunder.
The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except
those expressly set forth herein. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, (a) the Administrative Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary
or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is
continuing, (b) the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to take any
discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary
rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby that the Administrative Agent
is required to exercise in writing by the Required Lenders, and (c) except as
expressly set forth herein, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to
disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information
relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that is communicated to or
obtained by the bank serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates
in any capacity. The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action
taken or not taken by it with the consent or at the request of the Required
Lenders or in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct.
The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default
unless and until written notice thereof is given to the Administrative Agent by
the Company or a Lender, and the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible
for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty
or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement, (ii) the
contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or in
connection herewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the
covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein, (iv) the
validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement or any
other agreement, instrument or document, or (v) the satisfaction of any
condition set forth in Article V or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm
receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative
Agent.
The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not
incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate,
consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing believed by it to be
genuine and to have been signed or sent by the proper Person. The
Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by
telephone and believed by it to be made by the proper
57
Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. The
Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the
Company), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall
not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the
advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.
The Administrative Agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise
its rights and powers by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the
Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may
perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers through their
respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of the preceding
paragraphs shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the
Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their
respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit
facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.
The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by notifying the Lenders
and the Company. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the
right, in consultation with the Company, to appoint a successor. If no
successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have
accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative
Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent's
resignation shall nonetheless become effective and (1) the retiring
Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations
hereunder and (2) the Required Lenders shall perform the duties of the
Administrative Agent (and all payments and communications provided to be made
by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each
Lender directly) until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor
agent as provided for above in this paragraph. Upon the acceptance of its
appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor, such successor
shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and
duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent and the retiring
Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations
hereunder (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this
paragraph). The fees payable by the Company to a successor Administrative Agent
shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed
between the Company and such successor. After the Administrative Agent's
resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Article VIII and Section 9.03
shall continue in effect for its benefit in respect of any actions taken or
omitted to be taken by it while it was acting as Administrative Agent.
Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance
upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents
and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and
decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it
will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any
other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall from time
to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not
taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any related agreement or any
document furnished hereunder or thereunder.
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ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.01 Notices. Except in the case of notices and other
communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone, all notices and
other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be
delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or
registered mail or sent by telecopy, as follows:
(a) if to the Company or the Subsidiary Borrower, to the Company at Office
of the Treasurer, Two Manhattanville Road, Purchase, New York 10577, Attention
of Vice President - Finance (Telecopy No. (914) 397-1909; Telephone No. (914)
397-1500);
(b) if to the Administrative Agent, to Credit Suisse First Boston, Eleven
Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010, Attention of David Kratovil,
(Telecopy No. (212) 325-8615; Telephone No. (212) 325-9155; and
(c) if to a Lender, to it at its address (or telecopy number) set forth in
its Administrative Questionnaire.
Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other
communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto (or, in the case
of any such change by a Lender, by notice to the Company and the Administrative
Agent). All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been
given on the date of receipt.
SECTION 9.02 Waivers; Amendments.
(a) No Deemed Waivers; Remedies Cumulative. No failure or delay by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder
shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of
any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to
enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof
or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder are cumulative and are not
exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver
of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by any Obligor
therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by
paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be
effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan shall
not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the
Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of such
Default at the time.
(b) Amendments. Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be
waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in
59
writing entered into by each Obligor and the Required Lenders or by each
Obligor and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders;
provided that no such agreement shall (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender
without the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of
any Loan or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable
hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iii)
postpone the scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan, or
any interest thereon, or any fees payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of,
waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration
of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby,
(iv) alter the manner in which payments or prepayments of principal, interest
or other amounts hereunder shall be applied as among the Lenders or Types or
Classes of Loans, without the written consent of each Lender, or (v) change any
of the provisions of this Section or the percentage in the definition of the
term "Required Lenders" or any other provision hereof specifying the number or
percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder
or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder or release the
Guarantor's obligations in respect of the Subsidiary Borrower, without the
written consent of each Lender; and provided further that no such agreement
shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the
Administrative Agent hereunder without the prior written consent of the
Administrative Agent.
SECTION 9.03 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.
(a) Costs and Expenses. The Company shall pay (i) all reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates,
including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the
Administrative Agent, in connection with the syndication of the credit
facilities provided for herein, the preparation and administration of this
Agreement or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof
(whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be
consummated) and (ii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative
Agent or any Lender, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any
counsel for the Administrative Agent, or any Lender, in connection with the
enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement,
including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made
hereunder, including in connection with any workout, restructuring or
negotiations in respect thereof.
(b) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall indemnify the
Administrative Agent and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the
foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an "Indemnitee") against, and
to hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities and related expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements
of any counsel for any Indemnitee, incurred by or asserted against any
Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the
execution or delivery of this Agreement or any agreement or instrument
contemplated hereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective
obligations hereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby, (ii) any Loan or the use of the proceeds therefrom, (iii) any actual or
alleged presence or release of hazardous materials on or from any property
owned or operated by the
60
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any environmental liability related in
any way to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or
prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of
the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory and
regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such
indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a
court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have
resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee.
(c) Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Company fails to pay
any amount required to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent under
paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, each Lender severally agrees to pay to
the Administrative Agent such Lender's pro rata portion of such unpaid amount
(determined according to their respective portions of the Total Credit Exposure
in effect as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity
payment is sought) of such unpaid amount; provided that the unreimbursed
expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as
the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent
in its capacity as such.
(d) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the extent permitted by
applicable law, no Obligor shall assert, and hereby waives, any claim against
any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect,
consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages)
arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement or any
agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated
hereby, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof.
(e) Payments. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable promptly
after written demand therefor.
SECTION 9.04 Successors and Assigns.
(a) Assignments Generally. The provisions of this Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that no Obligor may
assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without
the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or
transfer by any Obligor without such consent shall be null and void). Nothing
in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any
Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns
permitted hereby and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related
Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
(b) Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may assign to one or more assignees
all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including
all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it);
provided that
61
(i) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate
of a Lender, each of the Company and the Administrative Agent must give
their prior written consent to such assignment (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed),
(ii) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate
of a Lender or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the
assigning Lender's Commitment, the amount of the Commitment of the
assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the
date the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment is
delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall be not less than $20,000,000
unless each of the Company and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent,
(iii) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a
proportionate part of all the assigning Lender's rights and obligations
under this Agreement, except that this clause (iii) shall not apply to
rights in respect of outstanding Competitive Loans,
(iv) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the
Administrative Agent an Assignment and Acceptance, together with a
processing and recordation fee of $3,500, and
(v) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the
Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire;
provided further that any consent of the Company otherwise required under this
paragraph shall not be required if an Event of Default under clause (f) or (g)
of Article VII has occurred and is continuing. Upon acceptance and recording
pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section, from and after the effective date
specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, the assignee thereunder shall be a
party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and
Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement,
and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest
assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, be released from its obligations
under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering
all of the assigning Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement, such
Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the
benefits of Sections 2.13, 2.14, 2.15 and 9.03). Any assignment or transfer by a
Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with
this paragraph shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such
Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with
paragraph (e) of this Section.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a
"Granting Bank") may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle (an "SPC"),
identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Bank to the
Administrative Agent and the Borrowers, the option to provide to the Borrowers
all or any part of any Loan that
62
such Granting Bank would otherwise be obligated to make to the Borrowers
pursuant to this Agreement; provided, that (i) nothing herein shall constitute
a commitment by any SPC to make any Loan and (ii) if an SPC elects not to
exercise such option or otherwise fails to provide all or any part of such
Loan, the Granting Bank shall be obligated to make such Loan pursuant to the
terms hereof. The making of a Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the
Commitment of the Granting Bank to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were
made by such Granting Bank. Each party hereto hereby agrees that no SPC shall
be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement
(all liability for which shall remain with the Granting Bank). In furtherance
of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall
survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one
year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper
or other senior indebtedness of any SPC, it will not institute against, or join
any other person in instituting against, such SPC any bankruptcy,
reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings under the
laws of the United States or any State thereof. In addition, notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Section 9.04, any SPC may (i) with
notice to, but without the prior written consent of, the respective Borrower
and the Administrative Agent and without paying any processing fee therefor,
(x) assign all or any portion of its interest in any Loans to the Granting Bank
and (y) pledge all or a portion of its interests in any Loans to the Granting
Bank or to any financial institutions (consented to by the respective Borrower
and Administrative Agent) providing liquidity and/or credit support to or for
the account of such SPC to support the funding or maintenance of Loans (and
assign to the Granting Bank and to any such financial institution any such
Loans upon a realization in respect of such pledge or in connection with the
performance by such financial institution of its liquidity or credit support
obligations) and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public
information relating to its Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer
or provider of any surety, guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such
SPC, subject to the requirements of Section 9.13(b)(vi).
(c) Maintenance of Register by the Administrative Agent. The
Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of the Borrowers,
shall maintain at one of its offices in New York City a copy of each Assignment
and Acceptance delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names
and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitment of, and principal amount of
the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time
(the "Register"). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the
Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose
name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender
hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the
contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrowers and
any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior
notice.
(d) Effectiveness of Assignments. Upon its receipt of a duly completed
Assignment and Acceptance executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the
assignee's completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall
already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to
in paragraph (b) of
63
this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph
(b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and
Acceptance and record the information contained therein in the Register. No
assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been
recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.
(e) Participations. Any Lender may, without the consent of either Borrower
or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to one or more banks or other
entities (a "Participant") in all or a portion of such Lender's rights and/or
obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment
and/or the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender's obligations
under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain
solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such
obligations and (iii) the respective Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the
other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in
connection with such Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any
agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation
shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this
Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision
of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that
such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any
amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section
9.02(b) that affects such Participant. Subject to paragraph (f) of this
Section, each Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the
benefits of Sections 2.13, 2.14, 2.15 and 2.16 to the same extent as if it were
a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b)
of this Section.
(f) Limitations on Rights of Participants. A Participant shall not be
entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.13, 2.15 or 2.16 than
the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the
participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to
such Participant is made with the respective Borrower's prior written consent.
A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be
entitled to the benefits of Section 2.15 unless the Borrowers are notified of
the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the
benefit of the respective Borrower, to comply with Section 2.15(e) as though it
were a Lender.
(g) Certain Pledges. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a
security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to
secure obligations of such Lender, including any such pledge or assignment to a
Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or
assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment
of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations
hereunder or substitute any such assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
(h) No Assignments to the Borrowers or Affiliates. Anything in this
Section to the contrary notwithstanding, no Lender may assign or participate
any interest
64
in any Loan held by it hereunder to either Borrower or any of its Affiliates or
Subsidiaries without the prior consent of each Lender.
SECTION 9.05 Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and
warranties made by any Obligor herein and in the certificates or other
instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement shall be
considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall
survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of any
Loans, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its
behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have
had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty
at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force
and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or
any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and
unpaid and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The
provisions of Sections 2.13, 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 and 9.03 and Article VIII shall
survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the
expiration or termination of the Commitments or the termination of this
Agreement or any provision hereof.
SECTION 9.06 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement may
be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different
counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which
when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and any
separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative
Agent constitute the entire contract between and among the parties relating to
the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and
understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except
as provided in Section 5.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it
shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the
Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken
together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and
thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto
and their respective successors and assigns. Delivery of an executed
counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by telecopy shall be
effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
SECTION 9.07 Severability. Any provision of this Agreement held to be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such
jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or
unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of
the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision
in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other
jurisdiction.
SECTION 9.08 Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing, each Lender is hereby authorized at any time and from time
to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and
all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any
time held and other
65
indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender to or for the credit or the
account of any Obligor against any of and all the obligations of such Obligor
now or hereafter existing under this Agreement held by such Lender,
irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under
this Agreement and although such obligations may be unmatured. The rights of
each Lender under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies
(including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.
SECTION 9.09 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.
(a) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with
and governed by the law of the State of New York.
(b) Submission to Jurisdiction. Each Borrower hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive
jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York
County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New
York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding
arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or for recognition or enforcement
of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or
proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent
permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that
a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may
be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other
manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that
the Administrative Agent or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action
or proceeding relating to this Agreement against any Obligor or its properties
in the courts of any jurisdiction.
(c) Waiver of Venue. Each Obligor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any
objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any
suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any
court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto
hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense
of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any
such court.
(d) Service of Process. Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents
to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01.
Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement
to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
SECTION 9.10 Judgment Currency. This is an international loan transaction
in which the specification of Dollars and payment in New York, New York is of
the essence and with respect to all Loans, Dollars shall be the currency of
account in all events. The payment obligations of the Obligors with respect to
any Loans under this Agreement shall not be discharged by an amount paid in a
currency other than Dollars or in a place other than New York, New York,
whether pursuant to a judgment or otherwise
66
to the extent that the amount so paid on conversion into Dollars and transfer to
New York, New York does not yield the amount of Dollars due hereunder.
SECTION 9.11 Waiver Of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE
FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY
JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING
TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON
CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO
REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY
OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK
TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER
PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER
THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
SECTION 9.12 Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of
Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of
this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into
consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.
SECTION 9.13 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality.
(a) Treatment of Certain Information. Each Obligor acknowledges that from
time to time financial advisory, investment banking and other services may be
offered or provided to the Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries (in
connection with this Agreement or otherwise) by any Lender or by one or more
subsidiaries or affiliates of such Lender and each Obligor hereby authorizes
each Lender to share any information delivered to such Lender by the Company
and its Subsidiaries pursuant to this Agreement, or in connection with the
decision of such Lender to enter into this Agreement, to any such subsidiary or
affiliate, it being understood that any such subsidiary or affiliate receiving
such information shall be bound by the provisions of paragraph (b) of this
Section as if it were a Lender hereunder. Such authorization shall survive the
repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Commitments or the
termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.
(b) Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below),
except that Information may be disclosed (i) to its and its Affiliates'
directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel
and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such
disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such
Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (ii) to the
extent requested by any regulatory authority, (iii) to the extent required by
applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process,
(iv) to any other party to
67
this Agreement, (v) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder
or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement
of rights hereunder, (vi) subject to an agreement containing provisions
substantially the same as those of this paragraph, to any assignee of or
Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its
rights or obligations under this Agreement, (vii) with the consent of the
Company or (viii) to the extent such Information (A) becomes publicly available
other than as a result of a breach of this paragraph or (B) becomes available
to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a
source other than the Company. For the purposes of this paragraph,
"Information" means all information received from any Obligor relating to the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or its business), other than any such
information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a
nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Company; provided that, in the
case of information received from an Obligor after the date hereof, such
information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any
Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in
this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so
if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the
confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own
confidential information.
68
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year
first above written.
BORROWERS: INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
By /s/ John V. Faraci
----------------------------------------
Name: John V. Faraci
Title: Senior Vice President
INTERNATIONAL PAPER FINANCIAL SERVICES,
INC.
By /s/ Angelia B. Peli
----------------------------------------
Name: Angelia B. Peli
Title: Vice President & Assistant
Secretary
LENDERS CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, individually
and as Administrative Agent, Lead
Arranger and Book Manager
By /s/ David W. Kratovil
----------------------------------------
Name: David W. Kratovil
Title: Director
By /s/ Julia P. Kingsbury
----------------------------------------
Name: Julia P. Kingsbury
Title: Vice President
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., individually and
as Co-Syndication Agent
By /s/ Kevin Sullivan
----------------------------------------
Name: Kevin Sullivan
Title: Managing Director
DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, as
Co-Syndication Agent
By /s/ Hans-Josef Thiele
----------------------------------------
Name: Hans-Josef Thiele
Title: Director
By /s/ Oliver Schwarz
----------------------------------------
Name: Oliver Schwarz
Title: Vice President
DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH AND/OR
CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
By /s/ Hans-Josef Thiele
----------------------------------------
Name: Hans-Josef Thiele
Title: Director
By /s/ Oliver Schwarz
----------------------------------------
Name: Oliver Schwarz
Title: Vice President
CITIBANK, N.A., individually and as
Documentation Agent
By /s/ Prakash M. Chonkar
----------------------------------------
Name: Prakash M. Chonkar
Title: Managing Director
ABN AMRO BANK N.V., individually and as
Senior Managing Agent
By /s/ John Hennessy
----------------------------------------
Name: John Hennessy
Title: Senior Vice President
By /s/ Richard Schrage
----------------------------------------
Name: Richard Schrage
Title: Vice President
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, individually and as
Senior Managing Agent
By /s/ Eliza S. Adams
----------------------------------------
Name: Eliza S. Adams
Title: Vice President
BANK ONE, NA (Main Office Chicago),
individually and as Senior Managing
Agent
By /s/ Judy Lubatkin
----------------------------------------
Name: Judy Lubatkin
Title: Vice President
BNP PARIBAS, individually and as Senior
Managing Agent
By /s/ S. Kaufman
----------------------------------------
Name: Sophie Revillard Kaufman
Title: Vice President
By /s/ G. E. Abbott
----------------------------------------
Name: Gwen Abbott
Title: Vice President
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, individually and
as Senior Managing Agent
By /s/ James H. Ramage
----------------------------------------
Name: James H. Ramage
Title: Managing Director
COMMERZBANK A.G., NEW YORK BRANCH,
individually and as Senior Managing
Agent
By /s/ Robert J. Donohue
----------------------------------------
Name: Robert J. Donohue
Title: Senior Vice President
By /s/ Andrew P. Lusk
----------------------------------------
Name: Andrew P. Lusk
Title: Assistant Treasurer
WESTDEUTSCHE LANDESBANK GIROZENTRALE, NEW
YORK BRANCH, individually and as Senior
Managing Agent
By /s/ Cynthia M. Niesen
----------------------------------------
Name: Cynthia M. Niesen
Title: Managing Director
By /s/ Walter T. Duffy III
----------------------------------------
Name: Walter T. Duffy III
Title: Associate Director
BANCA COMMERCIALE ITALIANA, New York
Branch individually and as Co-Agent
By /s/ J. Dickerhof
----------------------------------------
Name: J. Dickerhof
Title: Vice President
By /s/ Charles Dougherty
----------------------------------------
Name: C. Dougherty
Title: Vice President
BANCA NAZIONALE DEL LAVORO S.p.A. - NEW
YORK BRANCH, individually and as
Co-Agent
By /s/ Leonardo Valentini
----------------------------------------
Name: Leonardo Valentini
Title: First Vice President
By /s/ Carlo Vecchi
----------------------------------------
Name: Carlo Vecchi
Title: Senior Vice President
BBL INTERNATIONAL (U.K.) LIMITED,
individually and as Co-Agent
By /s/ M-C Swinnen
----------------------------------------
Name: M-C Swinnen
Title: Authorized Signatory
By /s/ C. F. Wright
----------------------------------------
Name: C. F. Wright
Title: Authorized Signatory
THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, individually and
as Co-Agent
By /s/ John Hopmans
----------------------------------------
Name: John Hopmans
Title: Managing Director
BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI TRUST COMPANY,
individually and as Co-Agent
By /s/ R. L. Van de Berghe
----------------------------------------
Name: R. L. Van de Berghe
Title: Vice President
THE DAI-ICHI KANGYO BANK, LTD.
individually and as Co-Agent
By /s/ Matthew G. Murphy
----------------------------------------
Name: Matthew G. Murphy
Title: Vice President
FLEET NATIONAL BANK, individually
and as Co-Agent
By /s/ William F. Hamilton
----------------------------------------
Name: William F. Hamilton
Title: Director
BAYERISCHE HYPO-UND VEREINSBANK AG, NEW
YORK BRANCH, individually and as
Co-Agent
By /s/ Marianne Weinzinger
----------------------------------------
Name: Marianne Weinzinger
Title: Director
By /s/ Marie Welling
----------------------------------------
Name: Marie Welling
Title: Director
THE INDUSTRIAL BANK OF JAPAN TRUST
COMPANY, individually and as Co-Agent
By /s/ Takuya Honjo
----------------------------------------
Name: Takuya Honjo
Title: Deputy General Manager
SANPAOLO IMI S.p.A, individually and as
Co-Agent
By /s/ Carlo Persico
----------------------------------------
Name: Carlo Persico
Title: D. G. M.
By /s/ Robert Wurster
----------------------------------------
Name: Robert Wurster
Title: First Vice President
MERRILL LYNCH BANK USA., individually and
as Co-Agent
By /s/ Preston L. Jackson
----------------------------------------
Name: Preston L. Jackson
Title: President
NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED,
individually and as Co-Agent
A.C.N. 004044937
By /s/ Susan R. Julien
----------------------------------------
Name: Susan R. Julien
Title: Vice President
SVENSKA HANDELSBANKEN AB (publ),
individually and as Co-Agent
By /s/ Mark Cleary
----------------------------------------
Name: Mark Cleary
Title: Senior Vice President
By /s/ Henrik Jensen
----------------------------------------
Name: Henrik Jensen
Title: Vice President
TORONTO DOMINION (TEXAS), INC.,
individually and as Co-Agent
By /s/ Carolyn R. Faeth
----------------------------------------
Name: Carolyn R. Faeth
Title: Vice President
WACHOVIA BANK, N.A., individually and as
Co-Agent
By /s/ William C. Christie
----------------------------------------
Name: William C. Christie
Title: Senior Vice President
BANCA DI ROMA - NEW YORK BRANCH
By /s/ Steven Paley
----------------------------------------
Name: Steven Paley
Title: First Vice President
By /s/ Alessandro Paoli
----------------------------------------
Name: Alessandro Paoli
Title: Asst. Treasurer
BANCO SANTANDER CENTRAL HISPANO, S.A.,
acting through its New York Branch
By /s/ D. Rodriguez
----------------------------------------
Name: D. Rodriguez
Title: Vice President
By /s/ Robert E. Schlegal
----------------------------------------
Name: Robert E. Schlegal
Title: Vice President
BAYERISCHE LANDESBANK
By /s/ Alexander Kohnert
----------------------------------------
Name: Alexander Kohnert
Title: First Vice President
By /s/ James Fox
----------------------------------------
Name: James Fox
Title: Vice President
CoBANK, ACB
By /s/ Brian J. Klatt
----------------------------------------
Name: Brian J. Klatt
Title: Vice President
DG BANK
DEUTSCHE GENOSSENSCHAFTSBANK AG
By /s/ S. Wendt
----------------------------------------
Name: Sabine Wendt
Title: Vice President
By /s/ Lynne McCarthy
----------------------------------------
Name: Lynne McCarthy
Title: Vice President
FORTIS (USA) FINANCE LLC
By /s/ Eddie Matthews
----------------------------------------
Name: Eddie Matthews
Title: Senior Vice President
By /s/ Robert Fakhou
----------------------------------------
Name: Robert Fakhou
Title: Treasurer
MELLON BANK N.A.
By /s/ Leonard M. Karpen, Jr.
----------------------------------------
Name: Leonard M. Karpen, Jr.
Title: Vice President
BANCA MONTE DEI PASCHI DI SIENA S.p.A.
By /s/ Serge M. Sondak
----------------------------------------
Name: Serge M. Sondak
Title: FVP & Deputy General Manager
By /s/ Brian R. Landy
----------------------------------------
Name: Brian R. Landy
Title: Vice President
MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK
By /s/ Dennis Witczek
----------------------------------------
Name: Dennis Witczek
Title: Associate
THE SAKURA BANK, LIMITED
By /s/ Yoshikazu Nagura
----------------------------------------
Name: Yoshikazu Nagura
Title: Senior Vice President
THE SANWA BANK LIMITED
By /s/ Stephen C. Small
----------------------------------------
Name: Stephen C. Small
Title: Senior Vice President & Area
Manager
SUNTRUST BANK
By /s/ W. David Wisdom
----------------------------------------
Name: W. David Wisdom
Title: Vice President
CAISSE DES DEPOTS ET CONSIGNATIONS
By /s/ Florence Soule De Lafont
----------------------------------------
Name: Florence Soule De Lafont
Title: Head of Structured Finance
By /s/ Bart Le Blanc
----------------------------------------
Name: Bart Le Blanc
Title: Director, International Finance
CREDIT AGRICOLE INDOSUEZ
By /s/ Craig Welch
----------------------------------------
Name: Craig Welch
Title: Managing Director
By /s/ John McCloskey
----------------------------------------
Name: John McCloskey
Title: First Vice President
FIRSTAR BANK, N.A.
By /s/ Kirk A. Porter
----------------------------------------
Name: Kirk A. Porter
Title: Senior Vice President
NORDDEUTSCHE LANDESBANK GIROZENTRALE NEW
YORK BRANCH AND/OR CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
By /s/ Josef Haas
----------------------------------------
Name: Josef Haas
Title: Vice President
By /s/ Stephen K. Hunter
----------------------------------------
Name: Stephen K. Hunter
Title: Senior Vice President
Schedule I to Credit Agreement
SCHEDULE I
COMMITMENTS
Name and Address 2-Year Term 364-Day Total
for Notices of Lender Loan Revolver Commitment
--------------------- ---- -------- ---------------
Credit Suisse First Boston $74,590,163.93 $100,409,836.07 $175,000,000.00
Syndicated Finance Group
21st Floor
Eleven Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10010
Attention: Yvette McQueen
Tel: (212) 325-9934
Fax: (212) 325-8304
Bank of America, N.A. $66,065,573.77 $88,934,426.23 $155,000,000.00
1850 Gateway Blvd.
Concord, CA 94520-3282
Attention: Anna Marie Finn
Tel: (925) 675-8312
Fax: (925) 969-2844
Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch $66,065,573.77 $88,934,426.23 $155,000,000.00
and/or Cayman Islands Branch
1251 Avenue of the Americas,
26th Floor
New York, NY 10019
Attention: Richard Agnolet
Tel: (212) 469-4113
Fax: (212) 474-7880
S-I-1
Name and Address 2-Year Term 364-Day Total
for Notices of Lender Loan Revolver Commitment
--------------------- ---- -------- ---------------
Citibank, N.A. $66,065,573.77 $88,934,426.23 $155,000,000.00
399 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10043
Attention:
Tel: (212)
Fax: (212)
ABN AMRO Bank N.V. $44,754,098.36 $60,245,901.64 $105,000,000.00
208 South LaSalle
Suite 1500
Chicago, IL 60604-1003
Attention: Loan
Administration
Tel: (312) 992-5153
Fax: (312) 992-5158
The Bank of New York $44,754,098.36 $60,245,901.64 $105,000,000.00
One Wall Street
19th Floor
New York, NY 10286
Attention:
Tel: (212) 635-7921
Fax: (212) 635-7926
BankOne N.A. $44,754,098.36 $60,245,901.64 $105,000,000.00
1 Bank One Plaza, Suite 0634
Chicago, Illinois 60670
Attention: Nanette Wilson
Tel: (312) 732-1221
Fax: (312) 732-4840
S-I-2
Name and Address 2-Year Term 364-Day Total
for Notices of Lender Loan Revolver Commitment
--------------------- ---- -------- ---------------
BNP Paribas $44,754,098.36 $60,245,901.64 $105,000,000.00
499 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Attention: Andree S. Mitton/
Robin L. Jackson-
Bogner
Tel: (212) 415-9617/415-9616
Fax: (212) 415-9606
The Chase Manhattan Bank $44,754,098.36 $60,245,901.64 $105,000,000.00
270 Park Avenue, 23rd Floor
New York, NY 10017
Attention:
Tel: (212)
Fax: (212)
Commerzbank A.G., New York $44,754,098.36 $60,245,901.64 $105,000,000.00
and Grand Cayman Branches
Two World Financial Center
New York, NY 10281-1050
Attention: Al Caputo
Tel: (212) 266-7694
Fax: (212) 266-7204
Westdeutsche Landesbank $44,754,098.36 $60,245,901.64 $105,000,000.00
Girozentrale,
New York Branch
1211 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Attention: Phil Green
Tel: (212) 852-6113
Fax: (212) 302-7946
S-I-3
Name and Address 2-Year Term 364-Day Total
for Notices of Lender Loan Revolver Commitment
--------------------- ---- -------- ---------------
Banca Commerciale Italiana $27,704,918.03 $37,295,081.97 $65,000,000.00
One William Street
New York, NY 10004
Attention: Jonathan Sahr
Tel: (212) 607-3814
Fax: (212) 607-3897
Banca Nazionale del Lavoro, $27,704,918.03 $37,295,081.97 $65,000,000.00
New York Branch
25 West 51st Street
New York, NY 10019
Attention: Ana Hernandez
Tel: (212) 314-0679
Fax: (212) 765-2978
BBL International (U.K.) Limited $27,704,918.03 $37,295,081.97 $65,000,000.00
6 Broadgate
London, EC2M 2AJ
England
Attention: Tessa Baptiste/
Jeremy Hayes/Karen Bowman
Tel: 44-207-392-5517/ 5586/5583
Fax: 44-207-562-0210
The Bank of Nova Scotia $27,704,918.03 $37,295,081.97 $65,000,000.00
One Liberty Plaza, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10006
Attention: Jessica Griffiths
Tel: (212) 225-5066
Fax: (212) 225-5145
S-I-4
Name and Address 2-Year Term 364-Day Total
for Notices of Lender Loan Revolver Commitment
--------------------- ---- -------- ---------------
Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Trust
Company $27,704,918.03 $37,295,081.97 $65,000,000.00
1251 Avenue of the Americas
12th Floor
New York, NY 10020-1104
Attention: Rolando Uy,
BT Information
Services, Inc.
Tel: (201) 413-8570
Fax: (201) 521-2304
(201) 521-2305
The Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank, Ltd. $27,704,918.03 $37,295,081.97 $65,000,000.00
1 World Trade Center
48th Floor
New York, NY 10048
Attention: Dawnmarie Matos
Tel: (212) 432-6643
Fax: (212) 524-0049
Fleet National Bank $27,704,918.03 $37,295,081.97 $65,000,000.00
100 Federal Street
Mailstop: MA-DE-103076
Boston, MA 02110
Attention: Judy Vetters
Tel: (617) 346-4928
Fax: (617) 346-0595
S-I-5
Name and Address 2-Year Term 364-Day Total
for Notices of Lender Loan Revolver Commitment
--------------------- -------------- -------------- ---------------
Bayerische Hypo-und $27,704,918.03 $37,295,081.97 $65,000,000.00
Vereinsbank AG, New York
Branch
150 East 42nd Street
New York, NY 10017
Attention: Arelis Cepeda
Tel: (212) 672-5495
Fax: (212) 672-5691
The Industrial Bank of Japan, Ltd. $27,704,918.03 $37,295,081.97 $65,000,000.00
1251 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
Attention: Umesh Patel
Tel: (212) 282-4085
Fax: (212) 282-4480
SanPaolo IMI S.p.A. $27,704,918.03 $37,295,081.97 $65,000,000.00
245 Park Avenue
35th Floor
New York, NY 10167
Attention: Robert Mancini/
Francine Larsen
Tel: (212) 692-3163/
(212) 692-3155
Fax: (212) 692-3178
Merrill Lynch Bank USA $27,704,918.03 $37,295,081.97 $65,000,000.00
15 W. South Temple
Suite 300
SLC, UT 84101
Attention: Frank Stepan
Tel: (801) 526-8316
Fax: (801) 521-6466
S-I-6
Name and Address 2-Year Term 364-Day Total
for Notices of Lender Loan Revolver Commitment
--------------------- -------------- -------------- ---------------
National Australia Bank Limited, $27,704,918.03 $37,295,081.97 $65,000,000.00
A.C.N. 004044937
200 Park Avenue, 34th Floor
New York, NY 10166
Attention: Elliot Soto/
Alina Grajewski
Tel: (212) 916-9539/9536
Fax: (212) 490-8087
Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) $27,704,918.03 $37,295,081.97 $65,000,000.00
153 East 53rd Street, 37th Floor
New York, NY 1--22-4678
Attention: Sophia Ng
Tel: (212) 326-5147
Fax: (212) 326-5110
Toronto Dominion (Texas), Inc. $27,704,918.03 $37,295,081.97 $65,000,000.00
909 Fannin Street
17th Floor
Houston, TX 77010
Attention: Sheila Conley
Tel: (713) 653-8250
Fax: (713) 951-9921
Wachovia Bank, N.A. $27,704,918.03 $37,295,081.97 $65,000,000.00
191 Peachtree Street, NE
Atlanta, GA 30303
Attention: William C. Christre
Tel: (404) 332-1434
Fax: (404) 332-6898
S-I-7
Name and Address 2-Year Term 364-Day Total
for Notices of Lender Loan Revolver Commitment
--------------------- ----------- -------- ---------------
Banca di Roma - New York Branch $21,311,475.41 $28,688,524.59 $50,000,000.00
34 East 51st Street
New York, NY 10022
Attention: Salvatore Rappa
Tel: (212) 407-1812
Fax: (212) 407-1684
Banco Santander - Central Hispano $21,311,475.41 $28,688,524.59 $50,000,000.00
S.A., New York Branch
45 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 1--22
Attention: Ligia Castro
Tel: (212) 350-3677
Fax: (212) 350-3647
Bayerische Landesbank Girozentrale, $21,311,475.41 $28,688,524.59 $50,000,000.00
Cayman Islands Branch
560 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Attention: Patricia Sanchez
Tel: (212) 310-9810
Fax: (212) 310-9930
CoBank, ACB $21,311,475.41 $28,688,524.59 $50,000,000.00
Englewood, Colorado
Attention: Kim Lenihan
Tel: (303) 740-6589
Fax: (303) 694-5830
S-I-8
Name and Address 2-Year Term 364-Day Total
for Notices of Lender Loan Revolver Commitment
--------------------- ----------- -------- ---------------
DG Bank $21,311,475.41 $28,688,524.59 $50,000,000.00
Deutsche Genossenschaftsbank AG
609 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10017-1021
Attention: Ed Thome
Tel: (212) 745-1464
Fax: (212) 745-1422
Fortis USA Finance LLC $21,311,475.41 $28,688,524.59 $50,000,000.00
520 Madison Avenue
3rd Floor
New York, NY 10022
Attention: Stephanie Garceau
Tel: (212) 418-8752
Fax: (212) 750-9503
Mellon Bank, N.A. $21,311,475.41 $28,688,524.59 $50,000,000.00
3 Mellon Bank Center, 12th Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15259
Attention: Sanford Richards
Tel: (412) 209-6118
Fax: (412) 234-8285
Banca Monte dei Paschi di
Siena S.P.A. $21,311,475.41 $28,688,524.59 $50,000,000.00
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022
Attention: Mai Tam
Tel: (212) 891-3649
Fax: (212) 891-3661
S-I-9
Name and Address 2-Year Term 364-Day Total
for Notices of Lender Loan Revolver Commitment
--------------------- ----------- -------- ---------------
Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of
New York $21,311,475.41 $28,688,524.59 $50,000,000.00
c/o J.P. Morgan Services Inc.
500 Stanton Christiana Road
Newark, DE 19713
Attention: Mildred Pizarro
Tel: (302) 634-4194
Fax: (302) 634-1852
The Sakura Bank, Limited $21,311,475.41 $28,688,524.59 $50,000,000.00
101 Park Avenue
15th Floor
New York, NY 10178
Attention: Stephen Chan
Tel: (212) 909-4554
Fax: (212) 909-4599
The Sanwa Bank, Ltd. $21,311,475.41 $28,688,524.59 $50,000,000.00
55 East 52nd Street
New York, NY 10055
Attention: Marlin Chin
Tel: (212) 339-6392
Fax: (212) 754-2368
SunTrust Bank $21,311,475.41 $28,688,524.59 $50,000,000.00
25 Park Place
21st Floor, center 112
Atlanta, GA 30303
Attention: Datanian Oldham
Tel: (404) 230-1947
Fax: (404) 575-2730
S-I-10
Name and Address 2-Year Term 364-Day Total
for Notices of Lender Loan Revolver Commitment
--------------------- ----------- -------- ---------------
Caisse des Depots et Consignations $10,655,737.70 $14,344,262.30 $25,000,000.00
137, rue de l'Universite
75007 Paris
France
Attention: Yves Barbeau
Tel: 33-1-40-49-83-61
Fax: 33-1-40-49-972-29
Credit Agricole Indosuez $10,655,737.70 $14,344,262.30 $25,000,000.00
55 E. Monroe
Chicago, IL 60603
Attention: Wilma Persenaire/
Kimberly Wilp
Tel: (312) 917-7424/ 7450
Fax: (312) 372-4421
Firstar Bank, N.A. $10,655,737.70 $14,344,262.30 $25,000,000.00
Capital Markets Division
Tram 12-3
One Firstar Plaza
St. Louis, Missouri 63101-1643
Attention: Sharon Dent
Tel: (314) 418-2396
Fax: (314) 418-3571
S-I-11
Name and Address 2-Year Term 364-Day Total
for Notices of Lender Loan Revolver Commitment
--------------------- ----------- -------- ---------------
Norddeutsche Landesbank $10,655,737.70 $14,344,262.30 $25,000,000.00
Girozentrale New York Branch
and/or Cayman Islands Branch
1114 Avenue of the Americas,
37th Floor
New York, NY 10036
Attention: Holger Bretz
Tel: (212) 812-6983
Fax: (212) 812-6860
-------------- -------------- --------------
TOTAL: $1,300,000,000 $1,750,000,000 $3,050,000,000
S-I-12
SCHEDULE II
Material Agreements
Attached hereto is a list of all debt instruments or facilities of International
Paper Company and its subsidiaries with outstanding balances or commitments of
at least $150,000,000 on June 14, 2000.
None of such debt requires repayment because of the acquisition of Champion
International Corporation.
13
Material Agreements as of June 13, 2000
ISSUE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT TRUSTEE
- --------------------------------------- ----------------- ---------------------
8.0% Notes Due 2003 $ 1,200,000,000 The Bank of New York
8-1/8% Notes Due 2005 $ 1,000,000,000 The Bank of New York
Floating Rate Notes Due 2002 $ 800,000,000 The Bank of New York
6-1/8% Notes Due 2003 $ 200,000,000 The Bank of New York
7-5/8% Debentures Due 2023 $ 200,000,000 The Bank of New York
6-7/8% Notes Due 2023 $ 200,000,000 The Bank of New York
7-5/8% Notes Due 2007 $ 200,000,000 The Bank of New York
6.50% Debentures Due 2007 $ 150,000,000 The Bank of New York
7.00% Debentures Due 2006 $ 150,000,000 The Bank of New York
6-7/8% Debentures Due 2029 $ 200,000,000 The Bank of New York
5-1/4% Junior Subordinated Deferrable $ 450,000,000 The Bank of New York
Interest Debentures Due 2025
7-7/8% Junior Subordinated Deferrable $ 805,000,000 The Bank of New York
Interest Debentures Due 2038
7-7/8% Notes Due 2006 $ 150,000,000 The Chase Manhattan Bank
7-5/8% Notes Due 2004 $ 150,000,000 The Chase Manhattan Bank
7.50% Notes Due 2004 $ 150,000,000 The Chase Manhattan Bank
8-1/8% Notes Due 2024 $ 150,000,000 The Chase Manhattan Bank
6-7/8% Notes Due 2000 $ 175,000,000 The Chase Manhattan Bank
7.00% Notes Due 2001 $ 250,000,000 The Chase Manhattan Bank
5-3/8% Euro Notes Due 2006 $ 238,175,000 Deutsche Bank
9.77% Notes Due 2009 $ 180,000,000 n.a.-- private placement
7-1/2% City of Selma IDB, 1994 Series due $ 298,265,135 n.a.-- guaranteed and currently
2024 held by International Paper
7.005% Preferred Stock-- TCCII $ 170,000,000 n.a.-- private placement
$550 mm Variable Rate Preferred Stock $ 550,000,000 n.a.-- private placement
OTHER PRINCIPAL AMOUNT LENDER
- --------------------------------------- ----------------- ---------------------
Bank Borrowing-- NZD $ 190,667,725.52 National Australia Bank
Bank Borrowing-- NZD $ 192,107,942.37 Deutsche Bank
EXHIBIT A
[Form of Assignment and Acceptance]
ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE
Reference is made to the Credit Agreement dated as of June 14,
2000 (as amended and in effect on the date hereof, the "Credit Agreement"),
among International Paper Company, International Paper Financial Services, Inc.,
the Lenders named therein and Credit Suisse First Boston, as Administrative
Agent for the Lenders. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein
with the same meanings.
The Assignor named below hereby sells and assigns, without
recourse, to the Assignee named below, and the Assignee hereby purchases and
assumes, without recourse, from the Assignor, effective as of the Assignment
Date set forth below, the interests set forth below (the "Assigned Interest") in
the Assignor's rights and obligations under the Credit Agreement, including the
interests set forth below in the Commitment of the Assignor on the Assignment
Date and Competitive Loans and Syndicated Loans owing to the Assignor which are
outstanding on the Assignment Date, together with unpaid interest accrued on the
assigned Loans to the Assignment Date, and the amount, if any, set forth below
of the fees accrued to the Assignment Date for account of the Assignor. The
Assignee hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Credit Agreement. From and
after the Assignment Date (i) the Assignee shall be a party to and be bound by
the provisions of the Credit Agreement and, to the extent of the interests
assigned by this Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a
Lender thereunder and (ii) the Assignor shall, to the extent of the interests
assigned by this Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its rights and be
released from its obligations under the Credit Agreement.
This Assignment and Acceptance is being delivered to the
Administrative Agent together with (i) if the Assignee is a Foreign Lender, any
documentation required to be delivered by the Assignee pursuant to Section
2.15(e) of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by the Assignee,
and (ii) if the Assignee is not already a Lender under the Credit Agreement, an
Administrative Questionnaire in the form supplied by the Administrative Agent,
duly completed by the Assignee. The [Assignee/Assignor] shall pay the fee
payable to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.04(b) of the Credit
Agreement.
This Assignment and Acceptance shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
A-1
Date of Assignment:
Legal Name of Assignor:
Legal Name of Assignee:
Assignee's Address for Notices:
Closing Date of Assignment
("Assignment Date")1:
Percentage Assigned of
Facility/Commitment (set forth,
to at least 8 decimals, as a
Principal Amount Assigned (and percentage of the Facility and
identifying information as to the aggregate Commitments of
Facility individual Competitive Loans) all Lenders thereunder)
- -------- ----------------------------- -------------------------------
Term Loan Commitment Assigned: $ %
Revolving Credit Commitment Assigned
Term Loans:
Revolving Credit Loans:
Competitive Loans:
Fees Assigned (if any):
_____________________
1 Must be at least five Business Days after execution hereof by all
required parties.
A-2
The terms set forth above and below are hereby agreed to:
[NAME OF ASSIGNOR], as Assignor
By:___________________________________
Name:
Title:
[NAME OF ASSIGNEE], as Assignee
By:___________________________________
Name:
Title:
The undersigned hereby consent to the within assignment:
INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
By:_______________________________
Name:
Title:
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON,
as Administrative Agent
By:_______________________________
Name:
Title:
A-3
EXHIBIT B
[Form of Opinion of Counsel to the Company]
__________, 199_
To the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
referred to below
c/o Credit Suisse First Boston, New York Branch
as Administrative Agent
Eleven Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10010
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am an Associate General Counsel of International Paper
Company, a New York corporation (the "Company") and am acting as counsel to the
Company and International Financial Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Subsidiary Borrower", and together with the Company, the "Borrowers") in
connection with the Credit Agreement (the "Credit Agreement") dated as of June
14, 2000, among the Company, the lenders party thereto (the "Lenders") and
Credit Suisse First Boston, as Administrative Agent (the "Administrative
Agent"), for purposes of delivering this opinion letter pursuant to Section
5.01(a)(ii) of the Credit Agreement. Capitalized terms defined in the Credit
Agreement are used herein as therein defined.
In rendering the opinions expressed below, I or attorneys
operating under my supervision have examined the following agreements,
instruments and other documents:
(a) the Credit Agreement; and
(b) such records of the Company and such other documents
as I have deemed necessary as a basis for the
opinions expressed below.
In such examination, I or such attorneys have assumed the
genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to me
as originals and the conformity with authentic original documents of all
documents submitted to me as copies. When relevant facts were not independently
established, I have relied upon statements of governmental officials and upon
representations made in or pursuant to the Credit Agreement and certificates of
appropriate representatives of the Company.
In rendering the opinions expressed below, I have assumed,
with respect to all of the documents referred to in this opinion letter, that
(except, to the extent set forth in the opinions expressed below, as to the
Borrowers):
(i) such documents have been duly authorized by, have
been duly executed and delivered by, and constitute
legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations of,
all of the parties to such documents;
(ii) all signatories to such documents have been duly
authorized; and
(iii) all of the parties to such documents are duly
organized and validly existing and have the power and
authority (corporate or other) to execute, deliver
and perform such documents.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing and subject also to
the comments and qualifications set forth below, and having considered such
questions of law as I have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions
expressed below, I am of the opinion that:
1. The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of New York.
The Subsidiary Borrower is a corporation duly incorporated, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.
Each Borrower is duly qualified to transact business in all
jurisdictions where failure so to qualify would have a material adverse
effect on the consolidated financial condition, operations, business or
prospects taken as a whole of the Company and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries.
2. The execution, deliver and performance by each Borrower of
the Credit Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby are
within its corporate powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action, require no action by or in respect of, or filing
with, any governmental body, agency or official and do not violate any
applicable provision of law or regulation or any provision of its
respective charter or by-laws or any other constitutive documents of
such Borrower or result in the breach of, or constitute a default or
require any consent under, any indenture or other agreement or
instrument to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by
which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or its properties may be
bound.
3. Except as disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders in writing prior to the date hereof, the legal or arbitral
proceedings, and proceedings by or before any governmental or
regulatory authority or agency, pending or (to my knowledge) threatened
against or affecting the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries, or any
properties or rights of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries will
not result in imposition of liability or assessment against (including
seizure of) property in an aggregate amount as to all such proceedings
exceeding 10% of Consolidated Net Worth.
4. No authorizations, consents or approvals of, licenses from,
filings or registrations with, any governmental or regulatory authority
or agency are necessary for the execution, delivery or performance by
either Borrower of the Credit Agreement.
(B)-2
5. Neither Borrower is (a) an "investment company" as defined
in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended, or (b) a "holding company" as defined in, or subject to
regulation under, the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935.
The foregoing opinions are limited to matters involving the
Federal laws of the United States of America, the Delaware General Corporation
Law and the laws of the State of New York, and I do not express any opinion as
to the laws of any other jurisdiction.
This opinion letter is provided solely to you by me in my
capacity as Vice President and Associate General Counsel of the Company in
connection with the above matter and may not be relied upon by you for any other
purpose or relied upon by any other Person without, in each instance, my prior
written consent.
Very truly yours,
(B)-3
EXHIBIT C
[Form of Opinion of Special New York Counsel to the Company]
__________, 199_
The Administrative Agent and the Lenders
Referred to Below
c/o Credit Suisse First Boston, New York Branch,
as Administrative Agent
Re: International Paper Company
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special New York counsel to International Paper
Company, a New York corporation (the "Company"), and International Paper
Financial Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Subsidiary Borrower")
and, together with the Company, the "Borrowers"), in connection with the Credit
Agreement dated as of June 14, 2000 (the "Credit Agreement") among the
Borrowers, the various lenders party thereto (the "Lenders") and Credit Suisse
First Boston, New York Branch, as Administrative Agent (the "Administrative
Agent"). Capitalized terms defined in the Credit Agreement and not otherwise
defined herein are used herein as therein defined.
We have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified
to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records, certificates of
public officials and other instruments, and have conducted such other
investigations of fact and law, as we have deemed necessary or advisable for
purposes of this opinion.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, and subject to the
qualifications and set forth herein, we are the opinion that:
1. The execution, delivery and performance by each Borrower of the
Credit Agreement do not contravene any provision of United States federal or New
York State law or regulation that in our experience is normally applicable to
general business corporations in relation to transactions of the type
contemplated by the Credit Agreement.
2. The Credit Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding
agreement of each Borrower, in each case enforceable against such Borrower in
accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and
similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and equitable principles of
general applicability.
In expressing our opinion in paragraph 2 above, we have assumed that
(i) each Borrower is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and (ii) the execution, delivery
and performance by each Borrower of the Credit Agreement are within its
corporate powers, have been duly
(C)-1
authorized by all necessary corporate action, required no action by or in
respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official and do not
contravene, or constitute a default under, the articles of certificate of
incorporation or bylaws of such Borrower, any provision of applicable law or
regulation (other than United States federal and New York State laws and
regulations that in our experience are normally applicable to general business
corporation in relation to transactions of the type contemplated by the Credit
Agreement) or any judgment, injunction, order or decree or any agreement or
other instrument binding upon such Borrower.
We express no opinion as to (i) the effect (if any) of any law of any
jurisdiction (except the State of New York) in which any Lender is located that
may limit the rate of interest that such Lender may charge or collect, (ii) the
first sentence of Section 9.09(b) of the Credit Agreement, insofar as such
sentence relates to the subject matter jurisdiction of The United States
District Court for the Southern District of New York to adjudicate any
controversy related to the Credit Agreement or (ii) Section 9.10 of the Credit
Agreement.
We are members of the bar of the State of New York and the foregoing
opinion is limited to the laws of the State of New York and the federal laws of
the United States of America.
This opinion is rendered solely to you in connection with the above
matter. This opinion may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose or
relied upon by any other person (other than an assignee permitted under Section
9.04(b) of the Credit Agreement) without our prior written consent.
Very truly yours,
(C)-2