|
Exhibit
10.1
TERM LOAN
CREDIT AND GUARANTY
AGREEMENT
dated as of
December 21, 2007
among
NEWPAGE
CORPORATION,
as
Borrower,
NEWPAGE HOLDING
CORPORATION
and
CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES OF
NEWPAGE CORPORATION,
as
Guarantors,
VARIOUS
LENDERS,
GOLDMAN SACHS CREDIT
PARTNERS L.P.,
as Administrative Agent,
Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Bookrunner,
UBS SECURITIES
LLC,
as Syndication
Agent,
and
BARCLAYS BANK,
PLC,
as Sole Documentation
Agent,
$1,600,000,000 Senior
Secured Term Loan Credit Facilities
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Page |
|
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS AND
INTERPRETATION
|
|
2 |
|
|
1.1. Definitions
|
|
2 |
|
|
1.2. Accounting Terms
|
|
45 |
|
|
1.3. Interpretation,
etc.
|
|
45 |
|
SECTION 2. TERM LOANS
|
|
46 |
|
|
2.1. [Reserved]
|
|
46 |
|
|
2.2. Term Loans
|
|
46 |
|
|
2.3. [Reserved]
|
|
47 |
|
|
2.4. [Reserved]
|
|
47 |
|
|
2.5. Pro Rata Shares; Availability of
Funds
|
|
47 |
|
|
2.6. Use of Proceeds
|
|
48 |
|
|
2.7. Evidence of Debt; Register;
Lenders’ Books and Records; Term Loan Notes.
|
|
48 |
|
|
2.8. Interest on Term
Loans
|
|
49 |
|
|
2.9.
Conversion/Continuation
|
|
50 |
|
|
2.10. Default Interest
|
|
51 |
|
|
2.11. Fees
|
|
51 |
|
|
2.12. Scheduled
Payments
|
|
52 |
|
|
2.13. Voluntary
Prepayments
|
|
53 |
|
|
2.14. Mandatory
Prepayments
|
|
54 |
|
|
2.15. Application of
Prepayments
|
|
57 |
|
|
2.16. General Provisions Regarding
Payments
|
|
57 |
|
|
2.17. Ratable Sharing
|
|
58 |
|
|
2.18. Making or Maintaining
Eurodollar Rate Loans
|
|
59 |
|
|
2.19. Increased Costs; Capital
Adequacy
|
|
61 |
|
|
2.20. Taxes; Withholding,
etc.
|
|
63 |
|
|
2.21. Obligation to
Mitigate.
|
|
66 |
|
|
2.22. [Reserved]
|
|
66 |
|
|
2.23. Removal or Replacement of a
Lender
|
|
66 |
|
SECTION 3. CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT
|
|
67 |
|
|
3.1. Closing Date.
|
|
67 |
|
SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES
|
|
74 |
|
|
4.1. Organization; Requisite Power
and Authority; Qualification.
|
|
74 |
|
|
4.2. Capital Stock and
Ownership
|
|
75 |
|
|
4.3. Due Authorization
|
|
75 |
|
|
4.4. No Conflict
|
|
75 |
|
|
4.5. Governmental
Consents
|
|
75 |
ii
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4.6. Binding
Obligation
|
|
76 |
|
|
4.7. Historical Financial Statements
of the Acquired Business
|
|
76 |
|
|
4.8. Projections
|
|
76 |
|
|
4.9. No Material Adverse
Change
|
|
76 |
|
|
4.10. [Reserved]
|
|
77 |
|
|
4.11. Adverse Proceedings,
etc.
|
|
77 |
|
|
4.12. Payment of
Taxes.
|
|
77 |
|
|
4.13. Properties
|
|
77 |
|
|
4.14. Environmental
Matters
|
|
78 |
|
|
4.15. No Defaults
|
|
78 |
|
|
4.16. Material
Contracts
|
|
79 |
|
|
4.17. Governmental
Regulation
|
|
79 |
|
|
4.18. Margin Stock
|
|
79 |
|
|
4.19. Employee Matters
|
|
79 |
|
|
4.20. Employee Benefit
Plans
|
|
80 |
|
|
4.21. Certain Fees
|
|
81 |
|
|
4.22. Solvency
|
|
81 |
|
|
4.23. Related
Agreements
|
|
81 |
|
|
4.24. Compliance with Statutes,
etc
|
|
81 |
|
|
4.25. Disclosure
|
|
82 |
|
|
4.26. Patriot Act
|
|
82 |
|
|
4.27. Collateral
Documents
|
|
82 |
|
|
4.28. NewPageHoldCo
|
|
84 |
|
|
4.29. Senior Debt and Designated
Senior Debt
|
|
84 |
|
SECTION 5. AFFIRMATIVE
COVENANTS
|
|
84 |
|
|
5.1. Financial Statements and Other
Reports
|
|
84 |
|
|
5.2. Existence
|
|
89 |
|
|
5.3. Payment of Taxes and
Claims
|
|
89 |
|
|
5.4. Maintenance of
Properties
|
|
90 |
|
|
5.5. Insurance
|
|
90 |
|
|
5.6. Maintaining Records; Access to
Properties and Inspections
|
|
91 |
|
|
5.7. Lenders Meetings
|
|
91 |
|
|
5.8. Compliance with
Laws
|
|
91 |
|
|
5.9. Environmental
|
|
92 |
|
|
5.10. Subsidiaries
|
|
95 |
|
|
5.11. Additional Material Real Estate
Assets
|
|
95 |
|
|
5.12. Interest Rate
Protection
|
|
96 |
|
|
5.13. Security Interests; Further
Assurances
|
|
96 |
iii
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.14.
Miscellaneous Business Covenants |
|
97 |
|
|
5.15. Information Regarding
Collateral
|
|
97 |
|
|
5.16. Dissolution of Consolidated
Papers International Leasing, L.L.C.
|
|
98 |
|
|
5.17. Post-Closing
Matters
|
|
98 |
|
SECTION 6. NEGATIVE COVENANTS
|
|
98 |
|
|
6.1. Indebtedness
|
|
98 |
|
|
6.2. Liens
|
|
102 |
|
|
6.3. Equitable Lien
|
|
105 |
|
|
6.4. No Further Negative
Pledges
|
|
105 |
|
|
6.5. Restricted Junior
Payments
|
|
106 |
|
|
6.6. Restrictions on Subsidiary
Distributions
|
|
109 |
|
|
6.7. Investments
|
|
110 |
|
|
6.8. Financial
Covenants
|
|
112 |
|
|
6.9. Fundamental Changes; Disposition
of Assets; Acquisitions
|
|
118 |
|
|
6.10. Disposal of Subsidiary
Interests
|
|
119 |
|
|
6.11. Sales and
Lease-Backs
|
|
120 |
|
|
6.12. Transactions with Shareholders
and Affiliates.
|
|
120 |
|
|
6.13. Conduct of
Business
|
|
120 |
|
|
6.14. Permitted Activities of
NewPageHoldCo
|
|
120 |
|
|
6.15. Amendments or Waivers of
Certain Related Agreements
|
|
121 |
|
|
6.16. Amendments or Waivers with
respect to NewPageHoldCo PIK Note Documents or Senior Subordinated
Notes Indebtedness
|
|
121 |
|
|
6.17. Fiscal Year
|
|
122 |
|
|
6.18. Restrictions on Consolidated
Papers International Leasing, L.L.C.
|
|
122 |
|
SECTION 7. GUARANTY
|
|
122 |
|
|
7.1. Guaranty of the
Obligations
|
|
122 |
|
|
7.2. Contribution by
Guarantors
|
|
123 |
|
|
7.3. Payment by
Guarantors
|
|
123 |
|
|
7.4. Liability of Guarantors
Absolute
|
|
124 |
|
|
7.5. Waivers by
Guarantors
|
|
126 |
|
|
7.6. Guarantors’ Rights of
Subrogation, Contribution, etc.
|
|
127 |
|
|
7.7. Subordination of Other
Obligations
|
|
128 |
|
|
7.8. Continuing
Guaranty
|
|
128 |
|
|
7.9. Authority of Guarantors or
NewPageCo
|
|
128 |
|
|
7.10. Financial Condition of
NewPageCo
|
|
128 |
|
|
7.11. Bankruptcy, etc.
|
|
129 |
|
|
7.12. Discharge of Guaranty Upon Sale
of Guarantor
|
|
130 |
|
SECTION 8. EVENTS OF DEFAULT
|
|
130 |
iv
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.1. Events of Default
|
|
130 |
|
SECTION 9. AGENTS
|
|
134 |
|
|
9.1. Appointment of
Agents.
|
|
134 |
|
|
9.2. Powers and Duties
|
|
134 |
|
|
9.3. General Immunity
|
|
135 |
|
|
9.4. Agents Entitled to Act as
Lender
|
|
137 |
|
|
9.5. Lenders’ Representations,
Warranties and Acknowledgment; Lien Sharing and Priority
Confirmation
|
|
137 |
|
|
9.6. Right to
Indemnity
|
|
138 |
|
|
9.7. Successor Administrative
Agent.
|
|
139 |
|
|
9.8. Collateral Documents and
Guaranty
|
|
139 |
|
|
9.9. Withholding Tax
|
|
140 |
|
SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS
|
|
141 |
|
|
10.1. Notices
|
|
141 |
|
|
10.2. Expenses
|
|
142 |
|
|
10.3. Indemnity
|
|
143 |
|
|
10.4. Set-Off
|
|
144 |
|
|
10.5. Amendments and
Waivers
|
|
144 |
|
|
10.6. Successors and Assigns;
Participations
|
|
147 |
|
|
10.7. Independence of
Covenants
|
|
150 |
|
|
10.8. Survival of Representations,
Warranties and Agreements
|
|
150 |
|
|
10.9. No Waiver; Remedies
Cumulative
|
|
150 |
|
|
10.10. Marshalling; Payments Set
Aside
|
|
151 |
|
|
10.11. Severability
|
|
151 |
|
|
10.12. Obligations Several;
Independent Nature of Lenders’ Rights
|
|
151 |
|
|
10.13. Headings
|
|
152 |
|
|
10.14. APPLICABLE LAW
|
|
152 |
|
|
10.15. CONSENT TO
JURISDICTION
|
|
152 |
|
|
10.16. WAIVER OF JURY
TRIAL
|
|
152 |
|
|
10.17. Confidentiality
|
|
153 |
|
|
10.18. Usury Savings
Clause
|
|
154 |
|
|
10.19. Counterparts
|
|
155 |
|
|
10.20. Effectiveness
|
|
155 |
|
|
10.21. Patriot Act
|
|
155 |
|
|
10.22. Electronic Execution of
Assignments
|
|
155 |
|
|
10.23. No Fiduciary
Duty
|
|
155 |
v
|
|
|
|
|
|
APPENDICES:
|
|
A |
|
Term Loan
Commitments |
|
|
B |
|
Notice
Addresses |
|
|
|
|
SCHEDULES:
|
|
3.1(i) |
|
Closing
Date Mortgaged Properties; Local Counsel |
|
|
4.1 |
|
Jurisdictions of Organization and Qualification |
|
|
4.2 |
|
Capital
Stock and Ownership |
|
|
4.12 |
|
Taxes |
|
|
4.13 |
|
Real
Estate Assets |
|
|
4.14 |
|
Environmental Matters |
|
|
4.16 |
|
Material
Contracts |
|
|
4.20 |
|
Employee
Benefit Plans |
|
|
5.17 |
|
Post-Closing Matters |
|
|
6.1 |
|
Existing
Indebtedness |
|
|
6.2 |
|
Existing
Liens |
|
|
6.6 |
|
Restrictions on Subsidiary Distributions |
|
|
6.7 |
|
Existing
Investments |
|
|
6.9 |
|
Excluded
Assets |
|
|
6.12 |
|
Existing
Affiliate Transactions |
|
|
|
|
EXHIBITS:
|
|
A-1 |
|
Funding
Notice |
|
|
A-2 |
|
Conversion/Continuation Notice |
|
|
B |
|
Term Loan
Note |
|
|
C |
|
Compliance Certificate |
|
|
D |
|
Opinions
of Counsel |
|
|
E |
|
Assignment Agreement |
|
|
F |
|
Certificate Re Non-bank Status |
|
|
G-1 |
|
Closing
Date Certificate |
|
|
G-2 |
|
Solvency
Certificate |
|
|
H |
|
Counterpart Agreement |
|
|
I |
|
Pledge
and Security Agreement |
|
|
J |
|
Mortgage |
|
|
K |
|
Landlord
Waiver and Consent Agreement |
|
|
L |
|
[Reserved] |
|
|
M |
|
[Reserved] |
|
|
N-1 |
|
Perfection Certificate |
|
|
N-2 |
|
Perfection Certificate Supplement |
vi
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
O
|
|
Access
Grant and Easement Agreement |
|
|
P
|
|
Intercompany Note |
vii
TERM LOAN CREDIT AND
GUARANTY AGREEMENT
This TERM LOAN CREDIT AND
GUARANTY AGREEMENT , dated as of December 21, 2007 is
entered into by and among NEWPAGE CORPORATION , a Delaware
corporation as the Borrower ( “NewPageCo” ),
NEWPAGE HOLDING CORPORATION , a Delaware corporation (
“NewPageHoldCo” ) and CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES OF
NEWPAGECO , as Guarantors, the Lenders party hereto from time
to time, GOLDMAN SACHS CREDIT PARTNERS L.P. (
“GSCP” ), as Sole Lead Arranger, Sole Bookrunner
and Administrative Agent (together with its permitted successors in
such capacity, “Administrative Agent” ), UBS
SECURITIES LLC (“UBSS”) as Syndication Agent (in
such capacity, “ Syndication Agent ”) and
BARCLAYS BANK PLC ( “Barclays” ) as Sole
Documentation Agent (in such capacity, “Documentation
Agent” ).
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, capitalized
terms used in these Recitals shall have the respective meanings set
forth for such terms in Section 1.1 hereof;
WHEREAS , Lenders have
agreed to extend term loan credit facilities to NewPageCo in an
aggregate principal amount not to exceed $1,600,000,000, the
proceeds of which will be used (i) to fund a portion of the
Stora Enso Acquisition, (ii) to refinance or repay in full
certain Existing Indebtedness and (iii) to pay related
transaction costs, fees and expenses;
WHEREAS, NewPageCo has
agreed to secure all of its Obligations by granting to Collateral
Trustee, for the benefit of Secured Parties, (i) a First
Priority Lien on substantially all of its assets (other than the
Cash, deposit accounts, accounts receivable, and inventory of
NewPageCo) including, without limitation, a pledge of all of the
Capital Stock of each of its Domestic Subsidiaries and 65% of all
the Capital Stock of each of its directly owned Foreign
Subsidiaries and (ii) a Second Priority Lien on all of the
Cash, deposit accounts, accounts receivable, and inventory of
NewPageCo; and
WHEREAS, Guarantors
have agreed to guarantee the obligations of NewPageCo hereunder and
to secure their respective Obligations by granting to Collateral
Trustee, for the benefit of Secured Parties, (i) a First
Priority Lien on substantially all of their respective assets
(other than the Cash, deposit accounts, accounts receivable, and
inventory of the Guarantors) including, without limitation, a
pledge of all of the Capital Stock of each of their respective
Domestic Subsidiaries (including NewPageCo) and 65% of all the
Capital Stock of each of their respective directly owned Foreign
Subsidiaries and (ii) a Second Priority Lien on all of the
Cash, deposit accounts, accounts receivable, and inventory of the
Guarantors.
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the premises and the agreements, provisions and
covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS AND
INTERPRETATION
1.1. Definitions. The
following terms used herein, including in the preamble, recitals,
exhibits and schedules hereto, shall have the following
meanings:
“Access Grant and
Easement Agreement” means a Real Property Access Grant
and Easement Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit O, as
it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time.
“Acquired
Business” means Stora Enso North America, Inc. and
certain of its Subsidiaries to be acquired pursuant to the Stora
Enso Purchase Agreement.
“Adjusted Eurodollar
Rate” means, for any Interest Rate Determination Date
with respect to an Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the
rate per annum obtained by dividing (and rounding upward to the
next whole multiple of 1/16 of 1%) (i) (a) the rate per
annum (rounded to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) equal to the rate
determined by Administrative Agent to be the offered rate which
appears on the page of the Telerate Screen which displays an
average British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate (such
page currently being LIBOR01) for deposits (for delivery on the
first day of such period) with a term equivalent to such period in
Dollars, determined as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London, England
time) on such Interest Rate Determination Date, or (b) in the
event the rate referenced in the preceding clause (a) does not
appear on such page or service or if such page or service shall
cease to be available, the rate per annum (rounded to the nearest
1/100 of 1%) equal to the rate determined by Administrative Agent
to be the offered rate on such other page or other service which
displays an average British Bankers Association Interest Settlement
Rate for deposits (for delivery on the first day of such period)
with a term equivalent to such period in Dollars, determined as of
approximately 11:00 a.m. (London, England time) on such Interest
Rate Determination Date, or (c) in the event the rates
referenced in the preceding clauses (a) and (b) are not
available, the rate per annum (rounded to the nearest 1/100 of 1%)
equal to the offered quotation rate to first class banks in the
London interbank market by GSCP for deposits (for delivery on the
first day of the relevant period) in Dollars of amounts in same day
funds comparable to the principal amount of the applicable Term
Loan of Administrative Agent, in its capacity as a Lender, for
which the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate is then being determined with
maturities comparable to such period as of approximately 11:00 a.m.
(London, England time) on such Interest Rate Determination Date, by
(ii) an amount equal to (a) one minus (b) the
Applicable Reserve Requirement.
2
“Administrative
Agent” as defined in the preamble hereto.
“Adverse
Proceeding” means any action, suit, proceeding (whether
administrative, judicial or otherwise), governmental investigation
or arbitration (whether or not purportedly on behalf of
NewPageHoldCo or any of its Subsidiaries) at law or in equity, or
before or by any Governmental Authority, domestic or foreign
(including any Environmental Claims), whether pending or, to the
knowledge of NewPageHoldCo or any of its Subsidiaries, threatened
in writing against NewPageHoldCo or any of its Subsidiaries or any
property of NewPageHoldCo or any of its Subsidiaries.
“Affected
Lender” as defined in Section 2.18(b).
“Affected
Loans” as defined in Section 2.18(b).
“Affiliate” means, as applied to any Person,
any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by,
or under common control with, that Person. For the purposes of this
definition, “control” (including, with correlative
meanings, the terms “controlling”, “controlled
by” and “under common control with”), as applied
to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the
power (i) to vote 10% or more of the Securities having
ordinary voting power for the election of directors of such Person
or (ii) to direct or cause the direction of the management and
policies of that Person, whether through the ownership of voting
securities or by contract or otherwise.
“Agent”
means each of the Syndication Agent and Administrative
Agent.
“Aggregate Amounts
Due” as defined in Section 2.17.
“Aggregate
Payments” as defined in Section 7.2.
“Agreement” means this Term Loan Credit and
Guaranty Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, as it may be
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time.
“Applicable
Margin” means (i) with respect to Term Loans that
are Eurodollar Rate Loans, an amount equal to 3.75% per annum
and (ii) with respect to Term Loans that are Base Rate Loans,
an amount equal to 2.75% per annum.
“Applicable Reserve
Requirement” means, at any time, for any Eurodollar Rate
Loan, the maximum rate, expressed as a decimal, at which reserves
(including, without limitation, any basic marginal, special,
supplemental, emergency or other reserves) are required to be
maintained with respect thereto against “Eurocurrency
liabilities” (as such term is defined
3
in Regulation D) under regulations
issued from time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System or other applicable banking regulator. Without
limiting the effect of the foregoing, the Applicable Reserve
Requirement shall reflect any reserves required to be maintained by
such member banks with respect to (i) any category of
liabilities which includes deposits by reference to which the
applicable Adjusted Eurodollar Rate of a Term Loan is to be
determined, or (ii) any category of extensions of credit or
other assets which include Eurodollar Rate Loans. A Eurodollar Rate
Loan shall be deemed to constitute Eurocurrency liabilities and as
such shall be deemed subject to reserve requirements without
benefits of credit for proration, exceptions or offsets that may be
available from time to time to the applicable Lender. The rate of
interest on Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be adjusted automatically
on and as of the effective date of any change in the Applicable
Reserve Requirement.
“Approved Electronic
Communications” means any notice, demand, communication,
information, document or other material pursuant to any Credit
Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is
distributed to the Agents, an Issuing Bank, the Lenders or the
Credit Parties by means of electronic communications pursuant to
Section 10.1(b).
“Asset
Sale” means a sale, lease or sub-lease (as lessor or
sublessor), sale and leaseback, assignment, conveyance, transfer or
other disposition to, or any exchange of property with, any Person
(other than NewPageCo or any Guarantor Subsidiary), in one
transaction or a series of transactions, of all or any part of
NewPageHoldCo’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ businesses,
assets or properties of any kind, whether real, personal, or mixed
and whether tangible or intangible, whether now owned or hereafter
acquired, including, without limitation, the Capital Stock of any
of NewPageHoldCo’s Subsidiaries and the sale or termination
of the Commodities Hedge Agreement, other than (i) inventory
(or other assets) sold or leased in the ordinary course of business
(excluding any such sales by operations or divisions discontinued
or to be discontinued), (ii) leases or subleases of immaterial
real property that is no longer used or useful in the business of
NewPageHoldCo, NewPageCo or any of its Subsidiaries,
(iii) dispositions, by means of trade-in, of equipment used in
the ordinary course of business, so long as such equipment is
replaced, substantially concurrently, by like-kind equipment,
(iv) the use or transfer of Cash and Cash Equivalents in a
manner that is not prohibited by the terms of this Agreement or
other Credit Documents, (v) licensing, on a non-exclusive
basis, of patents, trademarks, copyrights, and other intellectual
property rights in the ordinary course of business, (vi) to
the extent allowable under Section 1031 of the Internal
Revenue Code, any exchange of like property for use in a business
of NewPageCo and its Subsidiaries permitted by Section 6.13,
(vii) any issuance of equity or other beneficial ownership
interests by a Subsidiary of NewPageHoldCo to NewPageHoldCo or a
Subsidiary of NewPageHoldCo, so long as such interests are pledged
to the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of Lenders to the extent
required by
4
this Agreement or any other Credit
Document, (viii) the creation of a Permitted Lien under
Section 6.2, (ix) the sale of certain property known as
“Hotel Mead” by Stora Enso North America Corp. for
aggregate consideration of an amount equal to or less than
$2,900,000 and (x) sales or other dispositions of other assets
for aggregate consideration of an amount less than $1,000,000 with
respect to any transaction and less than $5,000,000 in the
aggregate during any Fiscal Year.
“Assignment
Agreement” means an Assignment and Assumption Agreement
substantially in the form of Exhibit E, with such amendments or
modifications as may be approved by Administrative
Agent.
“Assignment
Effective Date” as defined in
Section 10.6(b).
“Authorized
Officer” means, as applied to any Person, any individual
holding the position of chairman of the board (if an officer),
chief executive officer, president or one of its vice presidents
(or the equivalent thereof), and such Person’s chief
financial officer, treasurer, secretary, or other person expressly
authorized by resolution or written consent to represent such
entity in such capacity.
“Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11
of the United States Code entitled “Bankruptcy,” as now
and hereafter in effect (or any similar or equivalent legislation
as in effect in any applicable jurisdiction), or any successor
statutes.
“Base
Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the
greater of (i) the Prime Rate in effect on such day and
(ii) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day
plus 1 / 2 of 1%. Any change in the Base Rate due to
a change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate
shall be effective on the effective day of such change in the Prime
Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate,
respectively.
“Base Rate
Loan” means a Term Loan bearing interest at a rate
determined by reference to the Base Rate.
“Beneficiary” means each Agent, Lender and
Lender Counterparty.
“Board of
Directors” means (i) with respect to a corporation,
the board of directors of the corporation or any committee thereof
duly authorized to act on behalf of such board; (ii) with
respect to a partnership, the Board of Directors of the general
partner of the partnership; (iii) with respect to a limited
liability company, the managing member or members or any
controlling committee or board of directors of such company or the
sole member or the managing member thereof; and (iv) with
respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person
serving a similar function.
5
“Business
Day” means (i) any day excluding Saturday, Sunday
and any day which is a legal holiday under the laws of the State of
New York or is a day on which banking institutions located in such
state are authorized or required by law or other governmental
action to close and (ii) with respect to all notices,
determinations, fundings and payments in connection with the
Adjusted Eurodollar Rate or any Eurodollar Rate Loans, the term
“Business Day” shall mean any day which is a
Business Day described in clause (i) and which is also a day
for trading by and between banks in Dollar deposits in the London
interbank market.
“Canadian Credit
Party” means Stora Enso Port Hawkesbury Limited and any
other Subsidiary or Subsidiary Guarantor which may become a party
to this Agreement from and after the date hereof which is Canadian
(which for greater certainty, includes any such Subsidiaries and/or
Subsidiary Guarantors that are incorporated under the laws of
Canada or any province or territory thereof).
“Capital
Lease” means, as applied to any Person, any lease of any
property (whether real, personal or mixed) by that Person as lessee
that, in conformity with GAAP, is or should be accounted for as a
capital lease on the balance sheet of that Person.
“Capital
Stock” means any and all shares, interests,
participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital
stock of a corporation, any and all equivalent ownership interests
in a Person (other than a corporation), including, without
limitation, partnership interests and membership interests, and any
and all warrants, rights or options to purchase or other
arrangements or rights to acquire any of the foregoing.
“Cash”
means money, currency or a credit balance in any demand or Deposit
Account.
“Cash
Equivalents” means, as at any date of determination,
(i) marketable securities (a) issued or directly and
unconditionally guaranteed as to interest and principal by the
United States Government or (b) issued by any agency of the
United States the obligations of which are backed by the full faith
and credit of the United States, in each case maturing within one
year after such date; (ii) marketable direct obligations
issued by any state of the United States of America or any
political subdivision of any such state or any public
instrumentality thereof, in each case maturing within one year
after such date and having, at the time of the acquisition thereof,
one of the two highest ratings obtainable from S&P or
Moody’s; (iii) commercial paper maturing no more than
one year from the date of creation thereof and having, at the time
of the acquisition thereof, one of the two highest ratings
obtainable from S&P or
6
Moody’s; (iv) certificates of
deposit or bankers’ acceptances maturing within one year
after such date and issued or accepted by any Lender or by any
commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of
America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia that
(a) is at least “adequately capitalized” (as
defined in the regulations of its primary Federal banking
regulator) and (b) has Tier 1 capital (as defined in such
regulations) of not less than $100,000,000; (v) shares of any
money market mutual fund that (a) has substantially all of its
assets invested continuously in the types of investments referred
to in clauses (i) and (ii) above, (b) has net assets
of not less than $250,000,000, and (c) having one of the two
highest ratings obtainable from S&P or Moody’s when
acquired; and (vi) repurchase obligations with a term of not
more than 90 days for underlying securities of the types described
in clause (i) above entered into with any bank meeting the
qualifications specified in clause (iv) above.
“Casualty
Event” shall mean, with respect to any Property
(including any Real Estate Asset) of any Person, any loss of or
damage to or destruction of, or any condemnation or other taking
(including by any Governmental Authority) of, such Property for
which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries receives insurance
proceeds or proceeds of a condemnation award or other compensation.
“Casualty Event” shall include but not be limited to
any taking of all or any part of any Real Estate Asset of any
Person or any part thereof, in or by condemnation or other eminent
domain proceedings pursuant to any law, or by reason of the
temporary requisition of the use or occupancy of all or any part of
any Real Estate Asset of any Person or any part thereof by any
Governmental Authority, civil or military.
“Certificate re
Non-Bank Status” means a certificate substantially in the
form of Exhibit F.
“Change in
Law” as defined in Section 2.20.
“Change of
Control” means, at any time, (i) Permitted Holders
shall cease to beneficially own and control, directly or
indirectly, at least 51% (or after an IPO 35%) on a fully diluted
basis of the economic and voting interests in the Capital Stock of
NewPageHoldCo; (ii) after an IPO any Person or
“group” (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5
under the Exchange Act) (a) shall have acquired beneficial
ownership on a fully diluted basis of the voting and/or economic
interest in the Capital Stock of NewPageHoldCo equal to or in
excess of any such interest held by the Permitted Holders or
(b) shall have obtained the power (whether or not exercised)
to elect a majority of the members of the board of directors (or
similar governing body) of NewPageHoldCo; (iii) NewPageHoldCo
shall cease to beneficially own and control 100% on a fully diluted
basis of the economic and voting interest in the Capital Stock of
NewPageCo; (iv) the majority of the seats (other than vacant
seats) on the board of directors (or similar governing body) of
NewPageCo or NewPageHoldCo cease to be occupied by Persons who
either (a) were members of the board of directors of NewPageCo
or NewPageHoldCo, as
7
applicable on the Closing Date or
(b) were nominated for election by the board of directors of
NewPageCo or NewPageHoldCo, as applicable, a majority of whom were
directors on the Closing Date or whose election or nomination for
election was previously approved by a majority of such directors;
or (v) any “change of control” or similar event
under the SuperHoldCo PIK Note Documents, the NewPageHoldCo PIK
Note Documents, the Revolving Credit Agreement Documents, the
Senior Secured Floating Rate Note Documents, the Senior Secured
Fixed Rate Note Documents, the 2007 Senior Secured Fixed Rate Note
Documents or the Senior Subordinated Note Documents shall
occur.
“Closing
Date” means December 21, 2007.
“Closing Date
Certificate” means a Closing Date Certificate
substantially in the form of Exhibit G-1.
“Closing Date
Material Adverse Change” means any change or event that
is reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the
business, results of operations or financial condition of the
Acquired Business and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (provided
that, with respect to this sentence, the term “material
adverse effect” shall not be deemed to include adverse
effects to the extent resulting from (a) the announcement,
execution or the existence of, or compliance with, the Stora Enso
Purchase Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated thereby (including the impact thereof on relationships
with customers, suppliers, vendors, lenders or employees),
(b) the Acquired Business (x) taking any action outside
of the ordinary course of business required by the Stora Enso
Purchase Agreement, or (y) taking or not taking any actions
outside of the ordinary course of business at the written request
of, or with the written consent of, NewPageHoldCo (excluding
compliance with undertakings to assure operation in the ordinary
course of business pursuant to Section 5.01 of the Stora Enso
Purchase Agreement), provided, in the case of this subclause (y),
GSCP shall have approved such action, request or consent (such
approval not to be unreasonably withheld), (c) changes in
interest or exchange rates or general economic conditions,
(d) changes in pulp prices, wood prices, paper prices,
commodity prices and other economic conditions in or affecting the
industries or markets in which the Acquired Business and its
subsidiaries operate, (e) changes in any applicable law, GAAP,
International Financial Reporting Standards or the interpretation
thereof, (f) any acts of God (including earthquakes,
hurricanes, tornados or other natural disasters), acts of war,
armed hostilities, sabotage or terrorism, whether commenced before
or after the date hereof or (g) items (4) and/or
(5) of Section 3.04 of the “Company Disclosure
Schedule” to the Stora Enso Purchase Agreement; provided,
however, that with respect to clauses (c), (d), (e) and (f),
such effect does not disproportionately adversely affect the
Acquired Business and its subsidiaries (taken as a whole) or its
business as compared to businesses of similar size operating in the
same industry in which the Acquired Business and its subsidiaries
operate).
8
“Closing Date
Related Transactions” means (i) the borrowings under
the Term Loan Commitment and the Revolving Credit Agreement on the
Closing Date, (ii) the receipt of proceeds from the issuance
of the 2007 Senior Secured Fixed Rate Notes, (iii) the Stora
Enso Acquisition, including the issuance of the SuperHoldCo PIK
Notes, (iv) the refinancing of the Existing Indebtedness,
(v) the payment of all fees, costs, commissions, and expenses
associated with the foregoing transactions, and (vi) the
execution and delivery of all of the Related Agreements
contemplated to be executed on the Closing Date.
“Collateral” means, collectively, all of the
real, personal and mixed property (including Capital Stock) in
which Liens are granted pursuant to the Collateral Documents as
security for the Obligations.
“Collateral
Documents” means (a) the Pledge and Security
Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Trust
Agreement, the Mortgages, the Landlord Personal Property Collateral
Access Agreements, if any, and the Perfection Certificate and
(b) all other instruments, documents and agreements delivered
by any Credit Party pursuant to this Agreement or any of the other
Credit Documents in order to grant to Collateral Trustee, for the
benefit of Lenders, a Lien on any real, personal or mixed property
of that Credit Party as security for the Obligations.
“Collateral Trust
Agreement” means that certain Collateral Trust Agreement,
dated as of May 2, 2005 by and among the Collateral Trustee,
the Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes Trustee, the Senior Secured
Fixed Rate Notes Trustee, and GSCP (as Administrative Agent under
the Original First Lien Term Loan Agreement), as such agreement may
be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time
to time.
“Collateral
Trustee” means The Bank of New York, its successors and
assigns as Collateral Trustee pursuant to the Collateral Trust
Agreement.
“Commitment” means any Term Loan
Commitment.
“Commitment
Letter” means that certain Amended and Restated
Commitment Letter dated as of October 3, 2007 by and among
NewPageCo, GSCP, UBS Loan Finance LLC, UBSS and Barclays Bank
PLC.
“Commodities Hedge
Agreement” means that certain confirmation with respect
to Contract Reference Number 875787959 1 1 dated as of
April 6, 2005 between Sponsor and J. Aron & Company,
and assigned to NewPageCo on May 2, 2005, together with the
Guaranty of Goldman Sachs & Co. and any related ISDA
Master Agreement, as such confirmation, guaranty or agreement may
be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time
to time to the extent permitted under Section 6.15.
9
“Compliance
Certificate” means a Compliance Certificate substantially
in the form of Exhibit C.
“Consolidated
Adjusted EBITDA” means, for any period, the Consolidated
Net Income of NewPageHoldCo and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated
basis for such period plus, without duplication (including without
duplication of any amounts previously adjusted for in determining
Consolidated Net Income or Net Income):
(1) an amount equal to any
extraordinary loss plus any net loss realized by NewPageHoldCo or
any of its Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale, to the
extent such losses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net
Income; plus
(2) provision for taxes based
on income or profits of NewPageHoldCo and its Subsidiaries for such
period, to the extent that such provision for taxes was deducted in
computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus
(3) the Consolidated Interest
Expense of NewPageHoldCo and its Subsidiaries for such period, to
the extent that such Consolidated Interest Expense was deducted in
computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus
(4) depreciation,
amortization (including amortization of intangibles but excluding
amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior
period) and other non-cash expenses (excluding any such non-cash
expense to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve
for cash expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid
cash expense that was paid in a prior period, provided that this
exclusion shall not apply to adjustments for curtailment,
settlement or termination benefits in respect of pension or other
employee or retiree benefits) of NewPageHoldCo and its Subsidiaries
for such period to the extent that such depreciation, amortization
and other non-cash expenses were deducted in computing such
Consolidated Net Income; plus
(5) transaction costs
incurred in connection with the Closing Date Related Transactions
and any Permitted Acquisition, to the extent such costs were
deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus
(6) nonrecurring costs,
charges or expenses made or incurred in connection with any
integration or restructuring related to the Closing Date Related
Transaction or a Permitted Acquisition, or in connection with plant
closings, or the permanent shutdown or
10
transfer of machinery and equipment
(including any production continuation, remediation, relocation,
severance and benefits continuation costs, lease termination costs,
contract termination costs, materials buy-out costs, and reduction
charges), in each case, to the extent deducted in computing such
Consolidated Net Income and not to exceed $125,000,000 in the
aggregate from and after the Closing Date; plus
(7) non-inventoried overhead
costs incurred prior to the Closing Date during the lock-out at the
Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia facility of the Acquired Business, to
the extent such costs were deducted in computing such Consolidated
Net Income; plus
(8) costs, charges or
expenses of the Acquired Business for periods prior to the Closing
Date that will not be recurring after the Closing Date (including
any adjustments or changes resulting from the application of
NewPageHoldCo accounting methods after the Closing Date), to the
extent such items were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net
Income; plus
(9) all goodwill impairment
charges, to the extent such charges were deducted in computing such
Consolidated Net Income; plus
(10) non-cash compensation
charges or other non-cash expenses or charges arising from the
grant of or issuance or repricing of stock, stock options or other
equity-based awards to directors, officers or employees of
NewPageHoldCo and its Subsidiaries, to the extent such charges and
expenses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income;
plus
(11) transaction costs
incurred in connection with an IPO, in an aggregate amount not to
exceed an amount approved in writing by the Administrative Agent in
its reasonable discretion, to the extent such costs were deducted
in computing such Consolidated Net Income; minus
(12) non-cash items
increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, other than
the accrual of revenue in the ordinary course of
business,
in each case, on a
consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP;
provided , that the Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of
NewPageHoldCo will be deemed to be $121,700,000 for the second
Fiscal Quarter of 2007, $137,500,000 for the third Fiscal Quarter
of 2007 and for the portion of the fourth Fiscal Quarter of 2007
occurring prior to the Closing Date the Consolidated Adjusted
EBITDA of NewPageHoldCo will be deemed to be the Consolidated
Adjusted EBITDA of NewPageHoldCo and its Subsidiaries and the
Acquired Business for such portion of such Fiscal Quarter (it being
understood that any amounts from clauses (7) and (8) of
this definition of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the purposes of
the above deemed amounts for the second and third Fiscal Quarters
of 2007 have already been taken into account in such
calculations).
11
“Consolidated
Capital Expenditures” means, for any period, the
aggregate of all expenditures of NewPageHoldCo and its Subsidiaries
during such period determined on a consolidated basis that, in
accordance with GAAP, are or should be included in “purchase
of property and equipment” or similar items reflected in the
consolidated statement of cash flows of NewPageHoldCo and its
Subsidiaries; provided , that “Consolidated Capital
Expenditures” shall not include any expenditures (i) for
replacements and substitutions for capital assets, to the extent
made with proceeds of insurance in accordance with
Section 5.5, (ii) made as part of a Permitted
Acquisition, or (iii) for replacements and substitutions for
capital assets to the extent made with the proceeds of assets sold,
exchanged or otherwise disposed in accordance with, and permitted
by Section 6.9(b) and (c).
“Consolidated Cash
Interest Expense” means, for any period, Consolidated
Interest Expense for such period, excluding any amount not payable
in Cash; provided that for calculations for any four Fiscal
Quarter period ending on or prior to September 30, 2008,
Consolidated Cash Interest Expense shall be deemed to be the
product of (i) such amounts from and including the Closing
Date through and including the last day of the applicable period,
respectively, multiplied by (ii) a fraction of which the
numerator is 365 and the denominator of which is the number of days
elapsed in the period from and including the Closing Date though
and including the last day of the applicable period.
“Consolidated
Current Assets” means, as at any date of determination,
the total assets of NewPageHoldCo and its Subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis that may properly be classified as current
assets in conformity with GAAP, excluding Cash and Cash
Equivalents.
“Consolidated
Current Liabilities” means, as at any date of
determination, the total liabilities of NewPageHoldCo and its
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis that may properly be
classified as current liabilities in conformity with GAAP,
excluding the current portion of long term debt.
“Consolidated Excess
Cash Flow” means, for any period, an amount (if positive)
equal to: (i) the sum, without duplication, of the amounts for
such period of (a) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, plus
(b) the Consolidated Working Capital Adjustment, minus
(ii) the sum, without duplication, of the amounts for such
period of (a) voluntary and scheduled repayments of
Consolidated Total Debt (excluding repayments of Revolving Loans or
Swing Line Loans (as such terms are defined in the Revolving Credit
Agreement) except to the extent the Revolving Commitments (as such
term is defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) are permanently
reduced in connection with such repayments), (b) Consolidated
Capital
12
Expenditures (net of any proceeds of
(y) any permitted related financings with respect to such
expenditures and (z) any sales of assets used to finance such
expenditures), (c) Consolidated Cash Interest Expense, and
(d) provisions for current taxes based on income of
NewPageHoldCo and its Subsidiaries and payable in cash with respect
to such period.
“Consolidated Fixed
Charges” means, for any period, the sum, without
duplication, of the amounts determined for NewPageHoldCo and its
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis equal to (i) Consolidated
Cash Interest Expense, (ii) scheduled payments of principal on
Consolidated Total Debt, (iii) Consolidated Capital
Expenditures (other than the portion of such Consolidated Capital
Expenditures during such period made with the proceeds of any
Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.1(j) incurred to finance
such expenditures or of any sales of assets), and (iv) the
portion of taxes based on income actually paid in cash and
provisions for cash income taxes; provided in calculating
Consolidated Fixed Charges for any four Fiscal Quarter period that
includes a Fiscal Quarter or portion thereof occurring prior to the
Closing Date, other than with respect to Consolidated Cash Interest
Expense which shall be calculated as set forth in the definition
thereof, all other amounts described in clauses (ii),
(iii) and (iv) above shall be calculated by annualizing
the actual amounts thereof calculated from the Closing Date through
the end of the applicable Fiscal Quarter as of which such
calculation is being made.
“Consolidated
Interest Expense” means, for any period, the sum, without
duplication, of:
(1) the consolidated interest
expense of NewPageHoldCo and its Subsidiaries for such period,
whether paid or accrued, including, without limitation,
amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount,
non-cash interest payments (excluding any such non-cash interest
payments on the NewPageHoldCo PIK Notes), the interest component of
any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all
payments associated with Capital Leases, imputed interest with
respect to commissions, discounts and other fees and charges
incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’
acceptance financings, and net of the effect of all payments made
or received pursuant to Interest Rate Agreements;
plus
(2) the consolidated interest
expense of NewPageHoldCo and its Subsidiaries that was capitalized
during such period, whether paid or accrued; plus
(3) any interest on
Indebtedness of another Person that is guaranteed by NewPageHoldCo
or one of its Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of
NewPageHoldCo or one of its Subsidiaries, whether or not such
guarantee or Lien is called upon;
13
in each case, determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that
for calculations for any four Fiscal Quarter period ending on or
prior to September 30, 2008, the Consolidated Interest Expense
of NewPageHoldCo and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be the
product of (i) such amounts from and including the Closing
Date through and including the last day of the applicable period,
respectively, multiplied by (ii) a fraction of which the
numerator is 365 and the denominator of which is the number of days
elapsed in the period from and including the Closing Date though
and including the last day of the applicable period.
“Consolidated Net
Income” means, for any period, the aggregate of the Net
Income of NewPageHoldCo and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated
basis for such period, determined in accordance with GAAP; provided
that (and without duplication of any adjustments made in
determining Net Income):
(1) the Net Income (but not
loss) of any Person that is not a Subsidiary of NewPageHoldCo or
that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting will be
included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or similar
distributions paid in cash to NewPageCo or one of its
Subsidiaries;
(2) the Net Income (or loss)
of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary of
NewPageHoldCo or is merged into or consolidated with NewPageHoldCo
or any of its Subsidiaries or that Person’s assets are
acquired by NewPageHoldCo or any of its Subsidiaries will be
excluded; and
(3) the Net Income of any
Subsidiary of NewPageCo will be excluded to the extent that the
declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by
that Subsidiary of that Net Income is not at the date of
determination permitted without any prior governmental approval
(that has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by
operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument,
judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation
applicable to that Subsidiary or its stockholders.
“Consolidated Senior
Debt” means, as at any date of determination,
Consolidated Total Debt less Senior Secured Fixed Rate Notes
Indebtedness, Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes Indebtedness, 2007
Senior Secured Fixed Rate Notes Indebtedness, any Indebtedness
incurred pursuant to Section 6.1(u), Senior Subordinated Notes
Indebtedness and other Indebtedness of NewPageHoldCo and its
Subsidiaries subordinated to the Obligations on terms reasonably
satisfactory to, and which other Indebtedness contains other terms,
tenor and covenants reasonably satisfactory to, the Administrative
Agent, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with
GAAP.
14
“Consolidated Total
Debt” means, as at any date of determination, the
aggregate stated amount of all Indebtedness appearing on a balance
sheet of NewPageHoldCo and its Subsidiaries as of such date,
determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP,
exclusive of the NewPageHoldCo PIK Notes.
“Consolidated
Working Capital” means, as at any date of determination,
the excess of Consolidated Current Assets over Consolidated Current
Liabilities.
“Consolidated
Working Capital Adjustment” means, for any period on a
consolidated basis, the amount (which may be a negative number) by
which Consolidated Working Capital as of the beginning of such
period exceeds (or is less than) Consolidated Working Capital as of
the end of such period.
“Contractual
Obligation” means, as applied to any Person, any
provision of any Security issued by that Person or of any
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, contract, undertaking,
agreement or other instrument to which that Person is a party or by
which it or any of its properties is bound or to which it or any of
its properties is subject.
“Contributing
Guarantors” as defined in Section 7.2.
“Conversion/Continuation Date” means the
effective date of a continuation or conversion, as the case may be,
as set forth in the applicable Conversion/Continuation
Notice.
“Conversion/Continuation Notice” means a
Conversion/Continuation Notice substantially in the form of
Exhibit A-2.
“Counterpart
Agreement” means a Counterpart Agreement substantially in
the form of Exhibit H delivered by a Credit Party pursuant to
Section 5.10.
“Credit
Document” means any of (a) this Agreement, the Term
Loan Notes, if any, and the Collateral Documents, and (b) all
other documents, instruments or agreements executed and delivered
by a Credit Party for the benefit of any Agent or any Lender in
connection herewith on or after the date hereof.
“Credit
Party” means the Borrower and each Guarantor.
“Currency
Agreement” means any foreign exchange contract, currency
swap agreement, futures contract, option contract, synthetic cap or
other similar agreement or arrangement, each of which is for the
purpose of hedging the foreign currency risk associated with
NewPageHoldCo’s and its Subsidiaries’ business and not
for speculative purposes.
15
“Default”
means a condition or event that, after notice or lapse of time or
both would constitute an Event of Default.
“Deposit
Account” means a demand, time, savings, passbook or like
account with a bank, savings and loan association, credit union or
like organization, other than an account evidenced by a negotiable
certificate of deposit.
“Dollars”
and the sign “$” mean the lawful money of the
United States of America.
“Domestic
Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary organized under the laws
of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District
of Columbia.
“Eligible
Assignee” means (i) any Lender, any Affiliate of any
Lender and any Related Fund (any two or more Related Funds being
treated as a single Eligible Assignee for all purposes hereof), and
(ii) any commercial bank, insurance company, investment or
mutual fund or other entity that is an “accredited
investor” (as defined in Regulation D under the
Securities Act) and which extends credit or buys loans in the
ordinary course; provided , no Affiliate of NewPageHoldCo or
Sponsor other than a Sponsor Affiliated Lender or Sponsor
Affiliated Institutional Lender shall be an Eligible
Assignee.
“Employee Benefit
Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” as
defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA which is or was sponsored,
maintained or contributed to by, or required to be contributed by,
NewPageHoldCo, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective
ERISA Affiliates.
“Environmental
Claim” means any investigation, written notice, notice of
violation, claim, action, suit, proceeding, demand, abatement order
or other written order or directive, by any Governmental Authority
or any other Person, arising (i) pursuant to or in connection
with any actual or alleged violation of any Environmental Law;
(ii) in connection with any Release or threatened Release of
Hazardous Material or any actual or alleged Hazardous Materials
Activity; or (iii) in connection with any actual or alleged
damage, injury, threat or harm to health, safety, natural resources
or the environment.
“Environmental
Laws” means any and all current or future foreign or
domestic, federal, state or provincial (or any subdivision of
either of them), statutes, ordinances, orders, rules, regulations,
judgments, Governmental Authorizations, or any other legally
enforceable requirements of Governmental Authorities relating to
(i) environmental matters, including those relating to any
Hazardous Materials Activity; (ii) the generation, use,
storage, transportation or disposal of Hazardous Materials; or
(iii) occupational safety and health, industrial hygiene, land
use, natural resources or the protection of human, plant or animal
health or welfare, in any manner applicable to NewPageHoldCo or any
of its Subsidiaries or any Facility.
16
“ERISA”
means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended from time to time (or any similar or equivalent legislation
as in effect in any applicable jurisdiction) and any successors
thereto.
“ERISA
Affiliate” means, as applied to any Person, (i) any
corporation which is a member of a controlled group of corporations
within the meaning of Section 414(b) of the Internal Revenue
Code of which that Person is a member; (ii) any trade or
business (whether or not incorporated) which is a member of a group
of trades or businesses under common control within the meaning of
Section 414(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of which that
Person is a member; and (iii) any member of an affiliated
service group within the meaning of Section 414(m) or
(o) of the Internal Revenue Code of which that Person, any
corporation described in clause (i) above or any trade or
business described in clause (ii) above is a member. Any
former ERISA Affiliate of NewPageHoldCo or any of its Subsidiaries
shall continue to be considered an ERISA Affiliate of NewPageHoldCo
or any such Subsidiary within the meaning of this definition with
respect to the period such entity was an ERISA Affiliate of
NewPageHoldCo or such Subsidiary and with respect to liabilities
arising after such period for which NewPageHoldCo or such
Subsidiary could be liable under the Internal Revenue Code or
ERISA.
“ERISA
Event” means (i) a “reportable event”
within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA and the
regulations issued thereunder with respect to any Pension Plan
(excluding those for which the provision for 30-day notice to the
PBGC has been waived by regulation); (ii) the failure to meet
the minimum funding standard of Section 412 of the Internal
Revenue Code with respect to any Pension Plan (whether or not
waived in accordance with Section 412(d) of the Internal
Revenue Code) or the failure to make by its due date a required
installment under Section 412(m) of the Internal Revenue Code
with respect to any Pension Plan or the failure to make any
required contribution to a Multiemployer Plan; (iii) the
provision by the administrator of any Pension Plan pursuant to
Section 4041(a)(2) of ERISA of a notice of intent to terminate
such plan in a distress termination described in
Section 4041(c) of ERISA; (iv) the withdrawal by
NewPageHoldCo, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective
ERISA Affiliates from any Pension Plan with two or more
contributing sponsors or the termination of any such Pension Plan
resulting in liability to NewPageHoldCo, any of its Subsidiaries or
any of their respective Affiliates pursuant to Section 4063 or
4064 of ERISA; (v) the institution by the PBGC of proceedings
to terminate any Pension Plan, or the occurrence of any event or
condition which might constitute grounds under ERISA for the
termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any
Pension Plan; (vi) the imposition of liability on
NewPageHoldCo, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective
ERISA Affiliates pursuant to Section 4062(e) or 4069 of ERISA
or by reason of the application of Section 4212(c) of ERISA;
(vii) the
17
withdrawal of NewPageHoldCo, any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates in a
complete or partial withdrawal (within the meaning of Sections 4203
and 4205 of ERISA) from any Multiemployer Plan if there is any
potential liability therefore, or the receipt by NewPageHoldCo, any
of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates of
notice from any Multiemployer Plan that it 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
or 4042 of ERISA; (viii) the occurrence of an act or omission
which could give rise to the imposition on NewPageHoldCo, any of
its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates of
material fines, penalties, taxes or related charges under Chapter
43 of the Internal Revenue Code or under Section 409,
Section 502(c), (i) or (l), or Section 4071 of ERISA
in respect of any Employee Benefit Plan; (ix) the assertion of
a material claim (other than routine claims for benefits) against
any Employee Benefit Plan other than a Multiemployer Plan or the
assets thereof, or against NewPageHoldCo, any of its Subsidiaries
or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates in connection with any
Employee Benefit Plan; (x) receipt from the Internal Revenue
Service of notice of the failure of any Pension Plan (or any other
Employee Benefit Plan intended to be qualified under
Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code) to qualify under
Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the failure of
any trust forming part of any Pension Plan to qualify for exemption
from taxation under Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue
Code; or (xi) the imposition of a Lien pursuant to
Section 401(a)(29) or 412(n) of the Internal Revenue Code or
pursuant to ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan.
“Eurodollar Rate
Loan” means a Term Loan bearing interest at a rate
determined by reference to the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate.
“Event of
Default” means each of the conditions or events set forth
in Section 8.1.
“Exchange
Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended from time to time, and any successor statute.
“Existing
Indebtedness” means (i) all Indebtedness of the
Acquired Business as in existence immediately prior to the Stora
Enso Acquisition and (ii) the Prior Indebtedness.
“Facility”
means any real property (including all buildings, fixtures or other
improvements located thereon) now, hereafter or heretofore owned,
leased, operated or used by NewPageHoldCo or any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their respective predecessors or
Affiliates.
“Fair
Share” as defined in Section 7.2.
“Fair Share
Contribution Amount” as defined in
Section 7.2.
18
“Federal Funds
Effective Rate” means for any day, the rate per annum
(expressed, as a decimal, rounded upwards, if necessary, to the
next higher 1/100 of 1%) equal to the weighted average of the rates
on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal
Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as
published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business
Day next succeeding such day; provided , (i) if such
day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for
such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next
preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding
Business Day, and (ii) if no such rate is so published on such
next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for
such day shall be the average rate charged to Administrative Agent,
in its capacity as a Lender, on such day on such transactions as
determined by Administrative Agent.
“Fee
Letters” shall mean that certain (i) Amended and
Restated Senior Facilities Fee Letter dated as of October 3,
2007 by and among NewPageCo, GSCP, UBS Loan Finance LLC, UBSS and
Barclays Bank PLC and (ii) Amended and Restated Bridge Loans
Fee Letter dated as of October 3, 2007 by and among NewPageCo,
GSCP, UBS Loan Finance LLC, UBSS and Barclays Bank PLC.
“Fiber Supply
Agreements” shall mean that certain (i) Amended and
Restated Fiber Supply Agreement, dated as of December 16,
2005, between Plum Creek Marketing, Inc., a Delaware corporation,
and Escanaba Paper Company, (ii) Amended and Restated Fiber
Supply Agreement, dated as of November 15, 2005, between
Cypress Creek, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and
Wickliffe Paper Company, and (iii) Stumpage Agreement, dated
as of December 16, 2005, between Scioto Land Company, LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company, and Wickliffe Paper Company,
each as may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement.
“Financial Officer
Certification” means, with respect to the financial
statements for which such certification is required, the
certification of the chief financial officer of NewPageHoldCo that
such financial statements fairly present, in all material respects,
the financial condition of NewPageHoldCo and its Subsidiaries as at
the dates indicated and the results of their operations and their
cash flows for the periods indicated, subject to changes resulting
from audit and normal year-end adjustments and the absence of
footnotes.
“Financial
Plan” as defined in Section 5.1(i).
“First
Priority” means, with respect to any Lien purported to be
created in any Collateral pursuant to any Collateral Document, that
such Lien is the only Lien to which such Collateral is subject,
other than (i) Second Priority Liens that are subject to the
Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement and
(ii) Permitted Collateral Liens.
19
“Fiscal
Quarter” means a fiscal quarter of any Fiscal
Year.
“Fiscal
Year” means the fiscal year of NewPageHoldCo and its
Subsidiaries ending on December 31 of each calendar
year.
“Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio” means the ratio as of the last day of any
Fiscal Quarter of (i) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the
four-Fiscal Quarter Period then ending, to (ii) Consolidated
Fixed Charges for such four-Fiscal Quarter Period.
“Flood Hazard
Property” means any Real Estate Asset subject to a
mortgage in favor of Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of the
Lenders, and located in an area designated by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency as having special flood or mud slide
hazards.
“Foreign Cash
Equivalents” means the foreign equivalent of Cash and
Cash Equivalents described in clauses (i), (ii) and
(iv) of the definition of Cash Equivalents in respect of each
country that is a member of the Organization for Economic
Co-operation and Development.
“Foreign
Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic
Subsidiary.
“Funding
Guarantors” as defined in Section 7.2.
“Funding
Notice” means a notice substantially in the form of
Exhibit A-1.
“GAAP”
means, subject to the limitations on the application thereof set
forth in Section 1.2, United States generally accepted
accounting principles in effect as of the date of determination
thereof.
“Governmental
Acts” means any act or omission, whether rightful or
wrongful, of any present or future de jure or de facto Governmental
Authority.
“Governmental
Authority” means any federal, state, municipal, national
or other government, governmental department, commission, board,
bureau, court, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision
thereof or any entity or officer exercising executive, legislative,
judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining
to any government or any court, in each case whether associated
with a state of the United States, the United States, or a foreign
entity or government.
“Governmental
Authorization” means any permit, license, authorization,
plan, directive, consent order or consent decree of or from any
Governmental Authority.
20
“Grantor”
as defined in the Pledge and Security Agreement.
“GSCP” as
defined in the preamble hereto.
“Guaranteed
Obligations” as defined in Section 7.1.
“Guarantor” means each of NewPageHoldCo and
each Domestic Subsidiary of NewPageHoldCo (other than NewPageCo)
and to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent, any other
Subsidiary of NewPageHoldCo to the extent at the time such
guarantee is so requested such guarantee is not prohibited by
applicable law and no adverse tax consequences to NewPageHoldCo, or
any member of the U.S. consolidated group of which NewPageHoldCo is
a member, would result therefrom. As of the Closing Date, such
Subsidiary Guarantors shall include Chillicothe Paper, Inc.,
NewPage Energy Services LLC, Upland Resources Inc., Rumford
Cogeneration Inc., Rumford Falls Power Company, Escabana Paper
Company, Luke Paper Company, Rumford Paper Company, Wickliffe Paper
Company LLC, Stora Enso North America Inc., Stora Enso North
America Corp., Stora Enso North America Canadian Sales LLC and
Stora Enso Port Hawkesbury Limited. In no event shall any regulated
utility or utility holding company constitute a Guarantor to the
extent that NewPageCo determines that a Guaranty by such person
would be prohibited by law or require the consent of a regulatory
authority
“Guarantor
Subsidiary” means each Guarantor other than
NewPageHoldCo.
“Guaranty”
means the guaranty of each Guarantor set forth in
Section 7.
“Hazardous
Materials” means any chemical, material or substance,
exposure to which is prohibited or regulated by any Governmental
Authority or which may or could pose a hazard to the health and
safety of the owners, occupants or any Persons in the vicinity of
any Facility or to the environment.
“Hazardous Materials
Activity” means any activity involving the use, storage,
Release, threatened Release, generation, transportation,
processing, treatment, disposal, disposition or handling of any
Hazardous Materials, including any Remedial Action.
“Hedge
Agreement” means, excluding the Commodities Hedge
Agreement, (i) an Interest Rate Agreement or a Currency
Agreement entered into with a Lender Counterparty in order to
satisfy the requirements of this Agreement or otherwise in the
ordinary course of NewPageCo’s or any of its
Subsidiaries’ businesses or (ii) a commodity futures
contract, forward contract, option to purchase or sell a commodity,
or option, warrant or other right with respect to a commodity
futures contract or other similar agreement or arrangement entered
into with a
21
Lender Counterparty for the purpose of
hedging the risk of fluctuations in commodities prices associated
with the businesses of NewPageCo and its Subsidiaries and not for
speculative purposes. For the avoidance of doubt, Hedge Agreements
include any Interest Rate Agreements and Currency Agreements
entered into prior to the Closing Date.
“Highest Lawful
Rate” means the maximum lawful interest rate, if any,
that at any time or from time to time may be contracted for,
charged, or received under the laws applicable to any Lender from
time to time in effect.
“Historical
Financial Statements of the Acquired Business” means as
of the Closing Date, (i) the audited financial statements of
Stora Enso North America Inc. and its subsidiaries consisting of
(x) audited combined balance sheets for the Fiscal Years ended
December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2006, (y) audited
combined statements of operations and cash flows for the Fiscal
Years ended December 31, 2004, December 31, 2005 and
December 31, 2006, and (z) if the Closing Date occurs on
or after March 31, 2008, audited combined balance sheets for
Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2007 and audited combined
statements of operations and cash flows for the Fiscal Year ended
December 31, 2007, and (ii) the unaudited financial
statements of Stora Enso North America Inc. and its subsidiaries as
at September 30, 2007 of the then-current Fiscal Year
consisting of a balance sheet and the related consolidated
statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for
the nine- month period, as applicable, ending on such date, and, in
the case of clauses (i) and (ii), certified by the chief
financial officer of NewPageCo that they fairly present, in all
material respects, the financial condition of Stora Enso North
America Inc. and its subsidiaries as at the dates indicated and the
results of their operations and their cash flows for the periods
indicated, subject to (i) adjustments to exclude certain
assets of Stora Enso North America, Inc. and its subsidiaries that
are excluded from the Stora Enso Acquisition and related
liabilities and results of operations and (ii) changes
resulting from audit and normal year-end adjustments and the
absence of footnotes and, in each case, meeting the requirements of
Regulation S-X for Form S-1 Registration Statements.
“Increased-Cost
Lenders” as defined in Section 2.23.
“Indebtedness” , as applied to any Person,
means, without duplication, (i) all indebtedness for borrowed
money; (ii) that portion of obligations with respect to
Capital Leases that is properly classified as a liability on a
balance sheet in conformity with GAAP; (iii) notes payable and
drafts accepted representing extensions of credit whether or not
representing obligations for borrowed money; (iv) any
obligation owed for all or any part of the deferred purchase price
of property or services (excluding any such obligations incurred
under ERISA), which purchase price is (a) due more than six
months from the date of incurrence of the obligation in respect
thereof including any earn out or similar obligation payable more
than six
22
months after the date of any Permitted
Acquisition or (b) evidenced by a note or similar written
instrument; (v) all indebtedness secured by any Lien on any
property or asset owned or held by that Person regardless of
whether the indebtedness secured thereby shall have been assumed by
that Person or is nonrecourse to the credit of that Person;
(vi) the face amount of any letter of credit issued for the
account of that Person or as to which that Person is otherwise
liable for reimbursement of drawings; (vii) the direct or
indirect guaranty, endorsement (otherwise than for collection or
deposit in the ordinary course of business), co-making, discounting
with recourse or sale with recourse by such Person of the
obligation of another; (viii) any obligation of such Person
the primary purpose or intent of which is to provide assurance to
an obligee that the obligation of the obligor thereof will be paid
or discharged, or any agreement relating thereto will be complied
with, or the holders thereof will be protected (in whole or in
part) against loss in respect thereof; (ix) any liability of
such Person for an obligation of another through any agreement
(contingent or otherwise) (a) to purchase, repurchase or
otherwise acquire such obligation or any security therefor, or to
provide funds for the payment or discharge of such obligation
(whether in the form of loans, advances, stock purchases, capital
contributions or otherwise) or (b) to maintain the solvency or
any balance sheet item, level of income or financial condition of
another if, in the case of any agreement described under subclauses
(a) or (b) of this clause (ix), the primary purpose or
intent thereof is as described in clause (viii) above; and
(x) all obligations of such Person in respect of any exchange
traded or over the counter derivative transaction, including,
without limitation, any Interest Rate Agreement and Currency
Agreement, whether entered into for hedging or speculative
purposes; provided , in no event shall obligations under any
Interest Rate Agreement and any Currency Agreement be deemed
“Indebtedness” for any purpose under Section 6.8.
For purposes of this definition, (A) the amount of any
Indebtedness represented by a guaranty or other similar instrument
shall be the lesser of the principal amount of the obligations
guaranteed and still outstanding and the maximum amount for which
the guaranteeing Person may be liable pursuant to the terms of the
instrument embodying such Indebtedness, (B) the amount of any
Indebtedness described in clause (iv) above for which recourse
is limited to certain property of such Person shall be the lower of
the amount of the obligation and fair market value of the property
securing such obligation, and (C) the principal amount of the
Indebtedness under any Hedge Agreement at any time shall be equal
to the amount payable as a result of the termination of such Hedge
Agreement at such time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in
connection with the purchase by NewPageCo or any of its
Subsidiaries of any business, the term “Indebtedness”
will exclude post-closing payment adjustments to which the seller
may become entitled to the extent such payment is determined by a
final closing balance sheet or such payment depends on the
performance of such business after the closing; provided ,
however, that at the time of closing, the amount of any such
payment is not determinable and, to the extent such payment
thereafter becomes fixed and determined, the amount is paid within
30 days thereafter.
23
“Indemnified
Liabilities” means, collectively, any and all
liabilities, obligations, losses, damages (including natural
resource damages), penalties, claims (including Environmental
Claims), costs (including the costs of any investigation, study,
sampling, testing, abatement, cleanup, removal, remediation or
other response action necessary to remove, remediate, clean up or
abate any Hazardous Materials Activity), expenses and disbursements
of any kind or nature whatsoever (including the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel for Indemnitees in connection with any
investigative, administrative or judicial proceeding commenced or
threatened by any Person, whether or not any such Indemnitee shall
be designated as a party or a potential party thereto, and any fees
or expenses incurred by Indemnitees in enforcing this indemnity),
whether direct, indirect or consequential and whether based on any
federal, state or foreign laws, statutes, rules or regulations
(including securities and commercial laws, statutes, rules or
regulations and Environmental Laws), on common law or equitable
cause or on contract or otherwise, in each case other than Taxes,
that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against any such
Indemnitee, in any manner relating to or arising out of
(i) this Agreement or the other Credit Documents or the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (including the
Lenders’ agreement to make Term Loans or the use or intended
use of the proceeds thereof, or any enforcement of any of the
Credit Documents (including any sale of, collection from, or other
realization upon any of the Collateral or the enforcement of the
Guaranty)); or (ii) any Environmental Claim or any Hazardous
Materials Activity relating to or arising from, directly or
indirectly, any past or present activity, operation, land
ownership, or practice of NewPageHoldCo or any of its
Subsidiaries.
“Indemnitee” as defined in
Section 10.3.
“Installment” as defined in
Section 2.12.
“Installment
Date” as defined in Section 2.12.
“Intercompany
Note” means a promissory note substantially in the form
of Exhibit P evidencing Indebtedness owed among the Credit Parties
and their Subsidiaries.
“Intercreditor
Agreement” means the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of
May 2, 2005, among NewPageCo, the Guarantors, the Collateral
Trustee, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as the
Collateral Agent under the Original Revolving Credit Agreement, as
it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time
“Interest Coverage
Ratio” means the ratio as of the last day of any Fiscal
Quarter of (i) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the
four-Fiscal Quarter period then ended, to (ii) Consolidated
Cash Interest Expense for such four-Fiscal Quarter
period.
24
“Interest Payment
Date” means with respect to (i) any Base Rate Loan,
each January 1, April 1, July 1 and
October 1 of each year, commencing on the first of such dates
to occur after the Closing Date through the final maturity date of
such Term Loan and (ii) any Eurodollar Rate Loan, the last day
of each Interest Period applicable to such Eurodollar Rate Loan;
provided , in the case of each Interest Period of longer
than three months. “Interest Payment Date” shall also
include each date that is three months, or an integral multiple
thereof, after the commencement of such Interest Period.
“Interest
Period” means, in connection with a Eurodollar Rate Loan,
an interest period of one-, two-, three-, six-, or (subject to each
applicable Lender’s approval) nine- or twelve-months, as
selected by NewPageCo in the applicable Funding Notice or
Conversion/Continuation Notice, (i) initially, commencing on
the Closing Date or Conversion/Continuation Date thereof, as the
case may be; and (ii) thereafter, commencing on the day on
which the immediately preceding Interest Period expires;
provided , (a) if an Interest Period would otherwise
expire on a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Period
shall expire on the next succeeding Business Day unless no further
Business Day occurs in such month, in which case such Interest
Period shall expire on the immediately preceding Business Day;
(b) any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day
of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically
corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest
Period) shall, subject to clause (c), of this definition, end on
the last Business Day of a calendar month; and (c) no Interest
Period with respect to any portion of any Term Loans shall extend
beyond the Term Loan Maturity Date.
“Interest Rate
Agreement” means any interest rate swap agreement
(whether from fixed to floating or from floating to fixed),
interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement,
interest rate hedging agreement or other similar agreement or
arrangement, each of which is for the purpose of hedging the
interest rate exposure associated with NewPageHoldCo’s and
its Subsidiaries’ operations and not for speculative
purposes.
“Interest Rate
Determination Date” means, with respect to any Interest
Period, the date that is two Business Days prior to the first day
of such Interest Period.
“Internal Revenue
Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
to the date hereof and from time to time hereafter and any
successor statutes.
“Investment” means (i) any direct or
indirect purchase or other acquisition by NewPageHoldCo or any of
its Subsidiaries of, or of a beneficial interest in, any of the
Securities of any other Person (other than NewPageCo or a Guarantor
Subsidiary); (ii) any direct or indirect purchase or other
acquisition for value, by any Subsidiary of NewPageHoldCo from any
Person (other than NewPageHoldCo, NewPageCo or any Guarantor
Subsidiary), of any Capital Stock of
25
such Person; and (iii) any direct
or indirect loan, advance (other than advances to officers and
employees for moving, entertainment and travel expenses, drawing
accounts and similar expenditures in the ordinary course of
business) or capital contribution by NewPageHoldCo or any of its
Subsidiaries to any other Person (other than NewPageHoldCo,
NewPageCo or any Guarantor Subsidiary), including all indebtedness
and accounts receivable from that other Person that are not current
assets or did not arise from sales to that other Person in the
ordinary course of business. The amount of any Investment shall be
the original cost of such Investment plus the cost of all additions
thereto, without any adjustments for increases or decreases in
value, or write-ups, write-downs or write-offs with respect to such
Investment.
“IPO”
means a bona fide underwritten initial public offering of Capital
Stock of NewPageHoldCo or SuperHoldCo (or any other direct or
indirect parent of NewPageHoldCo) pursuant to a registration
statement filed with and declared effective by the Securities and
Exchange Commission resulting in total gross proceeds received by
NewPageHoldCo, SuperHoldCo (so long as SuperHoldCo is the direct or
indirect parent of NewPageHoldCo) or other direct or indirect
parent or any holder of the Capital Stock of NewPageHoldCo,
SuperHoldCo (so long as SuperHoldCo is the direct or indirect
parent of NewPageHoldCo) or such parent of at least
$200,000,000.
“Joint
Venture” means a joint venture, partnership or other
similar arrangement, whether in corporate, partnership or other
legal form; provided , in no event shall any corporate
Subsidiary of any Person be considered to be a Joint Venture to
which such Person is a party.
“Landlord Consent
and Estoppel” means, with respect to any Material
Leasehold Interest, a letter, certificate or other instrument in
writing from the lessor under the related lease, pursuant to which,
among other things, the landlord consents to the granting of a
Mortgage on such Leasehold Property by the Credit Party tenant,
such Landlord Consent and Estoppel to be in form and substance
acceptable to Collateral Trustee in its reasonable discretion, but
in any event sufficient for Collateral Trustee to obtain a Title
Policy with respect to such Mortgage.
“Landlord Personal
Property Collateral Access Agreement” means a Landlord
Waiver and Consent Agreement substantially in the form of
Exhibit K with such amendments or modifications as may be
approved by Collateral Trustee.
“Leasehold
Property” means any leasehold interest of any Credit
Party as lessee under any lease of real property.
26
“Lender”
means each financial institution listed on the signature pages
hereto as a Lender, and any other Person that becomes a party
hereto pursuant to an Assignment Agreement.
“Lender
Counterparty” means each Lender or any Affiliate of a
Lender counterparty to a Hedge Agreement (including any Person who
is a Lender (and any Affiliate thereof) as of the Closing Date but
subsequently, whether before or after entering into a Hedge
Agreement, ceases to be a Lender) including, without limitation,
each such Affiliate that enters into a joinder agreement with
Collateral Trustee.
“Lien”
means (i) any lien, mortgage, pledge, assignment, security
interest, charge or encumbrance of any kind (including any
agreement to give any of the foregoing, any conditional sale or
other title retention agreement, and any lease in the nature
thereof) and any option, trust or other preferential arrangement
having the practical effect of any of the foregoing and
(ii) in the case of Securities, any purchase option, call or
similar right of a third party with respect to such
Securities.
“Margin
Stock” as defined in Regulation U of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System as in effect from time to
time.
“Material Adverse
Effect” means a material adverse effect on and/or
material adverse developments with respect to (i) the
business, operations, properties, assets or financial condition of
NewPageHoldCo and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (ii) the
ability of the Credit Parties taken as a whole to fully and timely
perform the Obligations; (iii) the legality, validity, binding
effect or enforceability against a Credit Party of a material
Credit Document to which it is a party; or (iv) the rights,
remedies and benefits available to, or conferred upon, any Agent
and any Lender or any Secured Party under any material Credit
Document.
“Material
Contract” means any contract or other written agreement
to which NewPageHoldCo or any of its Subsidiaries is a party (other
than the Credit Documents) for which breach, nonperformance,
cancellation or failure to renew could reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect.
“Material Leasehold
Interest” means any Leasehold Property held by a Credit
Party which, if not held by such party, would have a Material
Adverse Effect.
“Material Real
Estate Asset” means (i) any fee-owned Real Estate
Asset having a fair market value in excess of $500,000 as of the
date of the acquisition thereof or (ii) any Real Estate Asset
that the Requisite Lenders have determined is material to the
business, operations, properties, assets or condition (financial or
otherwise) of NewPageHoldCo or any Subsidiary thereof, including
NewPageCo.
27
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investor
Services, Inc.
“Mortgage”
means a Mortgage or Deed of Trust substantially in the form of
Exhibit J, as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time.
“Multiemployer
Plan” means any Employee Benefit Plan which is a
“multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 3(37)
of ERISA.
“NAIC”
means The National Association of Insurance Commissioners and any
successor thereto.
“Narrative
Report” means, with respect to the financial statements
for which such narrative report is required, a narrative
report describing the operations of NewPageHoldCo and its
Subsidiaries in the form prepared for presentation to senior
management thereof for the applicable month, Fiscal Quarter or
Fiscal Year and for the period from the beginning of the then
current Fiscal Year to the end of such period to which such
financial statements relate; provided , that such narrative
report may be in the form of a management’s discussion and
analysis of financial condition and results of operations
customarily included in filings made with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
“Net Asset Sale
Proceeds” means, with respect to any Asset Sale, an
amount equal to: (i) Cash payments (including any Cash
received by way of deferred payment pursuant to, or by monetization
of, a note receivable or otherwise, but only as and when so
received) received by NewPageHoldCo or any of its Subsidiaries from
such Asset Sale (net of purchase price adjustments reasonably
expected to be payable in connection therewith; provided that to
the extent such purchase price adjustment is determined to be not
payable or is otherwise not paid within 180 days of such Asset Sale
(other than as a result of a dispute with respect to such purchase
price adjustment which is subject to a resolution procedure set
forth in the applicable transaction documents), such proceeds shall
constitute Net Asset Sale Proceeds), minus (ii) any
bona fide costs incurred in connection with such Asset Sale,
including (a) income or gains taxes payable by the seller as a
result of any gain recognized in connection with such Asset Sale
and any transfer, documentary or other taxes payable by seller in
connection therewith, (b) payment of the outstanding principal
amount of, premium or penalty, if any, and interest on any
Indebtedness (other than the Term Loans) that is secured by a Lien
on the stock or assets in question and that is required to be
repaid under the terms thereof as a result of such Asset Sale and
(c) a reasonable reserve for any payments (fixed or
contingent) attributable to the seller’s indemnities and
representations and warranties to the purchaser or the
seller’s retained liabilities
28
in respect of such Asset Sale undertaken
by NewPageHoldCo or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with such
Asset Sale including pension and other post-employment benefit
liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters and
liabilities under indemnification obligations associated with such
Asset Sale, and (d) brokerage fees, accountants’ fees,
investment banking fees, legal fees, costs and expenses, survey
costs, title insurance premiums and other customary fees, costs and
expenses actually incurred in connection with such Asset
Sale.
“ Net Income
” means the net income (loss) of NewPageHoldCo and its
Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis and in accordance
with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock
dividends, excluding, however, without duplication:
(1) any gain (or loss),
together with any related provision for taxes on such gain (or
loss), realized in connection with: (a) any Asset Sale
(without giving effect to the dollar thresholds provided in the
definition thereof); or (b) the disposition of any securities
by NewPageHoldCo or any its Subsidiaries or the extinguishment of
any Indebtedness of NewPageHoldCo or any of its
Subsidiaries;
(2) any extraordinary gain
(or loss), together with any related provision for taxes on such
extraordinary gain (or loss); and
(3) any unrealized non-cash
gains or losses in respect of Hedging Agreements (including those
resulting from the application of FAS 133), to the extent that such
gains or losses are deducted in computing Net Income.
“Net
Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds” means an amount equal
to: (i) any Cash payments or proceeds received by
NewPageHoldCo or any of its Subsidiaries (a) under any
casualty insurance policy in respect of a covered loss thereunder
or (b) as a result of the taking of any assets of
NewPageHoldCo or any of its Subsidiaries by any Person pursuant to
the power of eminent domain, condemnation or otherwise, or pursuant
to a sale of any such assets to a purchaser with such power under
threat of such a taking, minus (ii) (a) any actual and
reasonable costs incurred by NewPageHoldCo or any of its
Subsidiaries in connection with the adjustment or settlement of any
claims of NewPageHoldCo or such Subsidiary in respect thereof,
including, without limitation, payment of the outstanding principal
amount of, premium or penalty, if any, and interest on any
Indebtedness (other than the Term Loans) that is secured by a Lien
on the assets in question and that is required to be repaid under
the terms thereof as a result of such loss, eminent domain,
condemnation or otherwise or such sale, and (b) any bona fide
direct costs incurred in connection with any sale of such assets as
referred to in clause (i)(b) of this definition, including income
taxes payable as a result of any gain recognized in connection
therewith and any transfer, documentary or other taxes payable in
connection therewith and legal fees, costs and expenses, and other
customary fees, costs and expenses actually incurred.
29
“NewPageCo” as defined in the preamble
hereto.
“NewPageHoldCo” as defined in the preamble
hereto.
“NewPageHoldCo PIK
Note Documents” means the NewPageHoldCo PIK Note
Indenture, the NewPageHoldCo PIK Notes and each other document
executed in connection therewith, and any documents executed in
connection with any refinancings or replacements thereof to the
extent permitted under Section 6.1, as each such document may
be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time
to time.
“NewPageHoldCo PIK
Note Indenture” means that certain Indenture dated as of
May 2, 2005 (as amended or supplemented prior to the date
hereof), pursuant to which the NewPageHoldCo PIK Notes are
issued.
“NewPageHoldCo PIK
Notes” means the notes issued pursuant to the
NewPageHoldCo PIK Note Indenture in the aggregate principal amount
of not less than $125,000,000 (including any promissory notes
issued in payment of accrued interest) and any promissory notes
issued in respect of any refinancing or replacement of such
NewPageHoldCo PIK Notes in a transaction permitted under
Section 6.1, in each case as such notes may thereafter be
amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time to the extent permitted under Section 6.16.
“NewPageHoldCo PIK
Notes Indebtedness” means the obligations of
NewPageHoldCo pursuant to the NewPageHoldCo PIK Note
Documents.
“Non-Consenting
Lender” as defined in Section 2.23.
“Non-US
Lender” as defined in Section 2.20(c).
“Notes Offering
Memorandum” shall mean that certain Offering Memorandum
dated as of April 22, 2005, relating to the issuance of the
Senior Secured Fixed Rate Notes, the Senior Secured Floating Rate
Notes and the Senior Subordinated Notes.
“Notice”
means the Funding Notice or a Conversion/Continuation
Notice.
“Obligations” means all obligations of every
nature of each Credit Party from time to time owed to the Agents
(including former Agents), the Lenders or any of them and Lender
Counterparties, under any Credit Document or Hedge Agreement
(including, without limitation, with respect to a Hedge Agreement,
obligations owed thereunder to any person who was a Lender or an
Affiliate of a Lender at the time such Hedge Agreement was entered
into),
30
whether for principal, interest
(including interest which, but for the filing of a petition in
bankruptcy with respect to such Credit Party, would have accrued on
any Obligation, whether or not a claim is allowed against such
Credit Party for such interest in the related bankruptcy
proceeding), payments for early termination of Hedge Agreements,
fees, expenses, indemnification or otherwise.
“Obligee
Guarantor” as defined in Section 7.7.
“Organizational
Documents” means (i) with respect to any
corporation, its certificate or articles of incorporation or
organization, as amended, and its by-laws, as amended, or, as the
case may be, its memorandum and articles, as amended,
(ii) with respect to any limited partnership, its certificate
of limited partnership, as amended, and its partnership agreement,
as amended, (iii) with respect to any general partnership, its
partnership agreement, as amended, (iv) with respect to any
limited liability company, its articles of organization, as
amended, and its operating agreement, as amended, and (v) with
respect to any other Person, comparable instruments and documents.
In the event any term or condition of this Agreement or any other
Credit Document requires any Organizational Document to be
certified by a secretary of state or similar governmental official,
the reference to any such “Organizational Document”
shall only be to a document of a type customarily certified by such
governmental official.
“Original First Lien
Term Loan Agreement ” means that certain Term Loan Credit
and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of May 2, 2005, as amended,
by and among NewPageCo, NewPageHoldCo and certain subsidiaries of
NewPageCo, as Guarantors, the financial institutions from time to
time party thereto and GSCP, as Administrative Agent, Joint Lead
Arranger, Joint Bookrunner and Co-Syndication Agent.
“Original Revolving
Credit Agreement” means that certain Revolving Credit and
Guaranty Agreement, dated as of May 2, 2005, as amended, by
and among NewPageCo, NewPageHoldCo and certain subsidiaries of
NewPageCo, as Guarantors, the financial institutions from time to
time party thereto, GSCP, as Administrative Agent, Joint Lead
Arranger, Joint Bookrunner and Co-Syndication Agent, and JPMorgan
Chase Bank, N.A., as Collateral Agent.
“Other
Taxes” means any and all present or future stamp or
documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or
similar levies (including interest, fines, penalties and additions
to tax) arising from any payment made or required to be made under
any Credit Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement
of, or otherwise with respect to, any Credit Document.
31
“Outside
Date” means June 19, 2008; provided that, if
the conditions for extension of the Termination Date (as defined in
the Stora Enso Purchase Agreement) set forth in the Stora Enso
Purchase Agreement have been satisfied, such date shall be the
earlier of (a) such extended Termination Date and
(b) September 19, 2008.
“Patriot
Act” as defined in Section 3.1(u).
“PBGC”
means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any successor
thereto.
“Pension
Plan” means any Employee Benefit Plan, other than a
Multiemployer Plan, which is subject to Section 412 of the
Internal Revenue Code or Section 302 of ERISA.
“ Perfection
Certificate ” shall mean a certificate in the form of
Exhibit N-1 or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent,
as it shall be supplemented from time to time by a Perfection
Certificate Supplement or otherwise.
“ Perfection
Certificate Supplement ” shall mean a certificate
supplement in the form of Exhibit N-2 or any other form approved by
the Administrative Agent.
“Permitted
Acquisition” means any acquisition by NewPageCo or any of
its wholly-owned Subsidiaries, whether by purchase, merger or
otherwise, of all or substantially all of the assets of, all of the
Capital Stock of, or a business line or unit or a division of, any
Person; provided ,
(i) immediately prior to such
acquisition, and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event
of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result
therefrom;
(ii) all transactions in
connection therewith shall be consummated, in all material
respects, in accordance with all applicable laws and in conformity
with all applicable Governmental Authorizations;
(iii) in the case of the
acquisition of Capital Stock, all of the Capital Stock (except for
any such Securities in the nature of directors’ qualifying
shares required pursuant to applicable law) acquired or otherwise
issued by such Person or any newly formed Subsidiary of NewPageCo
in connection with such acquisition shall be owned 100% by
NewPageCo or a Guarantor Subsidiary thereof, and NewPageCo shall
have taken, or caused to be taken, as of the date such Person
becomes a Subsidiary of NewPageCo, each of the actions set forth in
Sections 5.10 and/or 5.11, as applicable;
32
(iv) NewPageHoldCo and its
Subsidiaries shall be in compliance with the financial covenants
set forth in Section 6.8 on a pro forma basis after giving
effect to such acquisition as of the last day of the Fiscal Quarter
most recently ended (as determined in accordance with
Section 6.8(f));
(v) NewPageCo shall have
delivered to Administrative Agent (A) at least 10 Business
Days prior to such proposed acquisition, a Compliance Certificate
evidencing pro forma compliance with Section 6.8 as required
under clause (iv) above, together with all relevant financial
information with respect to such acquired assets or Person,
business line or unit, or division, including, without limitation,
the aggregate consideration for such acquisition and any other
information required to demonstrate compliance with
Section 6.8;
(vi) any Person, business
line or unit, division or assets so acquired in accordance herewith
shall be engaged primarily in a Permitted Business; and
(vii) such Permitted
Acquisition shall be consensual and shall have been approved by the
Board of Directors of the Person being acquired.
“Permitted
Business” means any business engaged in by NewPageCo and
its Subsidiaries and/or the Acquired Business on the date the Stora
Enso Acquisition is consummated and any business or other
activities that are reasonably similar or related to the business
in which NewPageCo and its Subsidiaries and/or the Acquired
Business is engaged on such date.
“Permitted
Collateral Liens” means (i) in the case of
Collateral not constituting a Real Property Asset, the Liens
described in clauses (a), (b), (c), (d) with respect to Liens
on cash and cash deposits, equipment and fixtures only, (g), (i),
(j), (k), (l), (m), (n), (p) and (u) of Section 6.2
and (ii) in the case of Collateral constituting a Real Estate
Asset, the Liens described in clauses (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f),
(j), (k), (l), (m), (n), (s), (t) and (u) of
Section 6.2.
“Permitted Cure
Securities” means equity Securities of NewPageHoldCo
having no mandatory redemption, repurchase, repayment or similar
requirements prior to the date which occurs six (6) months
after the final maturity date of the Senior Subordinated Notes and
upon which all dividends or distributions, at the election of
NewPageHoldCo, may be payable in additional shares of such
Security.
“Permitted
Holders” means Sponsor and any of its affiliated
investment funds or managed accounts which are managed or advised
by Sponsor or an Affiliate of Sponsor in the ordinary course of
business and pursuant to written agreements.
33
“Permitted
Liens” means each of the Liens permitted pursuant to
Section 6.2.
“Person”
means and includes natural persons, corporations, limited
partnerships, general partnerships, limited liability companies,
limited liability partnerships, joint stock companies, Joint
Ventures, associations, companies, trusts, banks, trust companies,
land trusts, business trusts or other organizations, whether or not
legal entities, and Governmental Authorities.
“Platform”
as defined in Section 5.1(q).
“Pledge and Security
Agreement” means the Pledge and Security Agreement to be
executed by NewPageCo and each Guarantor substantially in the form
of Exhibit I, as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time.
“PPSA”
means the Personal Property Security Act (or any similar or
equivalent legislation) as in effect in any Province of
Canada.
“Prime
Rate” means the rate of interest quoted in The Wall
Street Journal , Money Rates Section as the Prime Rate
(currently defined as the base rate on corporate loans posted by at
least 75% of the nation’s thirty (30) largest banks), as
in effect from time to time. The Prime Rate is a reference rate and
does not necessarily represent the lowest or best rate actually
charged to any customer. Administrative Agent or any other Lender
may make commercial loans or other loans at rates of interest at,
above or below the Prime Rate.
“Principal
Office” means the Administrative Agent’s
“Principal Office” as set forth on Appendix B, or such
other office or office of a third party or sub-agent, as
appropriate, as such Person may from time to time designate in
writing to NewPageCo and each Lender.
“Prior
Indebtedness” means, collectively, the indebtedness of
the Credit Parties under (a) the Original NewPageCo Revolving
Credit Agreement and (b) the Original First Lien Term Loan
Agreement.
“Projections” as defined in
Section 4.8.
“Property”
shall mean any right, title or interest in or to property or assets
of any kind whatsoever, whether real, personal or mixed and whether
tangible or intangible and including Capital Stock or other
ownership interests of any Person and whether now in existence or
owned or hereafter entered into or acquired, including, without
limitation, all Real Estate Assets.
34
“Pro Rata
Share” means with respect to all payments, computations
and any other matters relating to the Term Loan of any Lender, the
percentage obtained by dividing (a) the Term Loan Exposure of
any Lender by (b) the aggregate Term Loan Exposure of all
Lenders.
“Purchase Agreement
Representations” as defined in
Section 3.1(v).
“Real Estate
Asset” means, at any time of determination, any fee
interest then owned by any Credit Party in any real
property.
“Register”
as defined in Section 2.7(b).
“Regulation D” means Regulation D
of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as in
effect from time to time.
“Reimbursement
Date” as defined in Section 2.4(d).
“Related
Agreements” means, collectively, the Stora Enso Purchase
Agreement, the Revolving Credit Agreement, the 2007 Senior Secured
Fixed Rate Note Documents, the SuperHoldCo PIK Note Documents, the
NewPageHoldCo PIK Note Documents, the Senior Secured Fixed Rate
Note Documents, the Senior Secured Floating Rate Note Documents,
the Senior Subordinated Note Documents, the Commodities Hedge
Agreement and the Fiber Supply Agreements.
“Related
Fund” means, with respect to any Lender that is an
investment fund, any other investment fund that invests in
commercial loans and that is managed or advised by the same
investment advisor as such Lender or by an Affiliate of such
investment advisor.
“Release”
means any release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping, pouring,
injection, escaping, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal,
dumping, leaching or migration of any Hazardous Material into the
environment (including the abandonment or disposal of any barrels,
containers or other closed receptacles containing any Hazardous
Material), including the movement of any Hazardous Material through
the air, soil, surface water or groundwater.
“Remedial
Action” means all actions taken to (i) clean up,
remove, remediate, contain, treat, monitor, assess, evaluate or in
any other way address Hazardous Materials in the environment;
(ii) perform pre-remedial studies and investigations and
post-remedial operation and maintenance activities; or
(iii) any response actions authorized by 42 U.S.C. 9601 et.
seq.
“Replacement
Lender” as defined in Section 2.23.
35
“Requisite
Lenders” means one or more Lenders having or holding Term
Loan Exposure representing more than 50% of the aggregate Term Loan
Exposure of all Lenders. For purposes of this definition, the
amount of the Term Loan Exposure (“ Voting Power
Determinants ”) shall be determined by excluding all
Voting Power Determinants held or beneficially owned by a Sponsor
Affiliated Lender but including all Voting Power Determinants held
or beneficially owned by Sponsor Affiliated Institutional Lenders
so long as the aggregate Voting Power Determinants held or
beneficially owned by all Sponsor Affiliated Institutional Lenders
does not exceed 30% of all Voting Power Determinants. If the
aggregate Voting Power Determinants held or beneficially owned by
all Sponsor Affiliated Institutional Lenders exceed more than 30%,
then, for purposes solely of this definition, (x) the Voting
Power Determinants held or beneficially owned by Sponsor Affiliated
Institutional Lenders shall be ratably reduced so as to equal, in
the aggregate, 30% of the aggregate Voting Power Determinants and
(y) the Voting Power Determinants held or beneficially owned
by Lenders other than Sponsor Affiliated Institutional Lenders
shall be ratably increased so as to equal, in the aggregate, 70% of
the aggregate Voting Power Determinants.
“Restricted Junior
Payment” means (i) any dividend or other
distribution, direct or indirect, on account of any shares of any
class of stock of NewPageHoldCo or NewPageCo now or hereafter
outstanding, except a dividend payable solely in shares of that
class of stock to the holders of that class; (ii) any
redemption, retirement, sinking fund or similar payment, purchase
or other acquisition for value, direct or indirect, of any shares
of any class of stock of NewPageHoldCo or NewPageCo now or
hereafter outstanding; (iii) any payment made to retire, or to
obtain the surrender of, any outstanding warrants, options or other
rights to acquire shares of any class of stock of NewPageHoldCo or
NewPageCo now or hereafter outstanding; (iv) management or
similar fees payable to Sponsor or any of its Affiliates; or
(v) any payment or prepayment of principal of, premium, if
any, or interest on, or redemption, purchase, retirement,
defeasance (including in substance or legal defeasance), sinking
fund or similar payment with respect to, the NewPageHoldCo PIK
Notes (other than payments of interest solely with the issuance of
additional notes as permitted by the NewPageHoldCo PIK Note
Documents), the Revolving Credit Agreement, any Senior Secured
Floating Rate Notes, the Senior Secured Fixed Rate Notes, the 2007
Senior Secured Fixed Rate Notes or the Senior Subordinated
Notes.
“Revolving Credit
Agreement” means that certain Revolving Credit and
Guaranty Agreement dated as of the date hereof among NewPageCo, as
borrower, the Guarantors, the lenders party thereto, GSCP, as Sole
Lead Arranger, Sole Bookrunner and Administrative Agent, JPMorgan
Chase Bank, N.A., as Collateral Agent, and certain other agents
party thereto, as amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or
modified from time to time in accordance with the provision of
Section 6.15 hereof and the Intercreditor
Agreement.
36
“Revolving Credit
Agreement Documents” means the Revolving Credit
Agreement, the notes issues pursuant thereto and each other
document executed in connection therewith, and any documents
executed in connection with any refinancings or replacements
thereof to the extent permitted under Section 6.1, as each
such document may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time.
“Rumford JV
Interests” means the Capital Stock of Rumford
Cogeneration Company LP not owned as of the date of this Agreement,
directly or indirectly, by a Subsidiary of NewPageCo.
“S&P”
means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, a division of
The McGraw Hill Corporation.
“Second Lien
Financing Collateral” means all property and assets of
the Credit Parties other than the Revolving Credit Collateral (as
defined in the Intercreditor Agreement).
“Second
Priority” means, with respect to any Lien purported to be
created on any Collateral pursuant to any Collateral Document, that
such Lien is the only Lien to which such Collateral is subject,
other than (i) First Priority Liens to secure the Indebtedness
under the Revolving Credit Agreement or any refinancing
Indebtedness with respect thereto permitted under Section 6.1,
in either case that are subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and
(ii) Permitted Collateral Liens.
“Secured
Parties” has the meaning assigned to that term in the
Pledge and Security Agreement.
“Securities” means any stock, shares,
partnership interests, voting trust certificates, certificates of
interest or participation in any profit-sharing agreement or
arrangement, options, warrants, bonds, debentures, notes, or other
evidences of indebtedness, secured or unsecured, convertible,
subordinated or otherwise, or in general any instruments commonly
known as “securities” or any certificates of interest,
shares or participations in temporary or interim certificates for
the purchase or acquisition of, or any right to subscribe to,
purchase or acquire, any of the foregoing.
“Securities
Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from
time to time, and any successor statute.
“Senior Leverage
Ratio” means the ratio as of the last day of any Fiscal
Quarter of (i) Consolidated Senior Debt as of such day to
(ii) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the four-Fiscal Quarter
period ending on such date.
37
“Senior
Officer” means the President, Chief Executive Officer,
Chief Financial Officer, or Chief Operating Officer of
NewPageCo.
“Senior Secured
Fixed Rate Note Documents” means the Senior Secured Fixed
Rate Notes Indenture, the Senior Secured Fixed Rate Notes, the 2007
Senior Secured Fixed Rate Notes and each other document executed in
connection with such notes and any documents executed in connection
with any refinancings and replacements thereof to the extent
permitted under Section 6.1, as each such document may be
amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time to the extent permitted under Section 6.15.
“Senior Secured
Fixed Rate Notes” means the 10% Senior Secured Fixed Rate
Notes Due 2012 of NewPageCo in the initial aggregate principal
amount of $350,000,000 and issued pursuant to the Senior Secured
Fixed Rate Notes Indenture, and any registered notes issued by
NewPageCo in exchange for, and as contemplated by, such notes with
substantially identical terms as such notes, and any promissory
notes issued in respect of any refinancing or replacement of such
Senior Secured Fixed Rate Notes in a transaction permitted under
Section 6.1, in each case as such notes may be amended,
restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time to
the extent permitted under Section 6.15.
“Senior Secured
Fixed Rate Notes Indebtedness” means the obligations of
NewPageCo pursuant to the Senior Secured Fixed Rate Note
Documents.
“Senior Secured
Fixed Rate Notes Indenture” means that certain Indenture,
dated May 2, 2005, pursuant to which the Senior Secured Fixed
Rate Notes are issued, as supplemented by the 2007 Supplemental
Indenture.
“Senior Secured
Fixed Rate Notes Trustee” means HSBC Bank USA, N.A., as
trustee under the Senior Secured Fixed Rate Notes Indenture, and
its successors and assigns.
“Senior Secured
Floating Rate Note Documents” means the Senior Secured
Floating Rate Notes Indenture, the Senior Secured Floating Rate
Notes and each other document executed in connection with such
notes, and any documents executed in connection with any
refinancings or replacements thereof to the extent permitted under
Section 6.1, as each such document may be amended, restated,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time to the extent
permitted under Section 6.15.
“Senior Secured
Floating Rate Notes” means the Senior Secured Floating
Rate Notes Due 2012 of NewPageCo in the initial aggregate principal
amount of $225,000,000 and issued pursuant to the Senior Secured
Floating Rate Notes Indenture, and any registered notes issued by
NewPageCo in exchange for, and as contemplated by, such notes with
substantially
38
identical terms as such notes, and any
promissory notes issued in respect of any refinancing or
replacement of such Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes in a
transaction permitted under Section 6.1, in each case as such
notes may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified
from time to time to the extent permitted under
Section 6.15.
“Senior Secured
Floating Rate Notes Indebtedness” means the obligations
of NewPageCo pursuant to the Senior Secured Note
Documents.
“Senior Secured
Floating Rate Notes Indenture” means that certain
Indenture, dated May 2, 2005 (as amended or supplemented prior
to the date hereof), pursuant to which the Senior Secured Floating
Rate Notes are issued.
“Senior Secured
Floating Rate Notes Trustee” means HSBC Bank USA, N.A.,
as trustee under the Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes Indenture,
and its successors and assigns.
“Senior Subordinated
Note Documents” means the Senior Subordinated Notes
Indenture, the Senior Subordinated Notes and each other document
executed in connection with such notes, as each such document may
be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time
to time to the extent permitted under Section 6.16.
“Senior Subordinated
Notes” means the 12% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2013
of NewPageCo in the aggregate principal amount of not less than
$200,000,000 and issued pursuant to the Senior Subordinated Notes
Indenture, and any registered notes issued by NewPageCo in exchange
for, and as contemplated by, such notes with substantially
identical terms as such notes, and any subordinated promissory
notes issued in respect of any refinancing or replacement of such
Senior Subordinated Notes in a transaction permitted under
Section 6.1, in each case as such notes may be amended,
restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time to
the extent permitted under Section 6.16.
“Senior Subordinated
Notes Indebtedness” means the obligations of NewPageCo
pursuant to the Senior Subordinated Note Documents.
“Senior Subordinated
Notes Indenture” means that certain Indenture, dated
May 2, 2005, pursuant to which the Senior Subordinated Notes
are issued.
“Settlement
Confirmation” as defined in
Section 10.6(b).
“Settlement
Service” as defined in Section 10.6(d).
39
“Significant
Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of NewPageHoldCo that
would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in
Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the
Securities Act, as such Regulation is in effect on the date hereof;
provided , however , at all times NewPageCo shall be
deemed to be a “Significant Subsidiary”.
“Sole Lead
Arranger” as defined in the preamble hereto.
“Solvency
Certificate” means a Solvency Certificate of the chief
financial officer of NewPageHoldCo substantially in the form of
Exhibit G-2.
“Solvent”
means, with respect to any Credit Party, that as of the date of
determination, (a) the sum of such Credit Party’s debt
(including contingent liabilities) does not exceed the present fair
saleable value of such Credit Party’s present assets;
(b) such Credit Party’s capital is not unreasonably
small in relation to its business as contemplated on the Closing
Date and reflected in the Projections or with respect to any
transaction contemplated or undertaken after the Closing Date; and
(c) such Person has not incurred and does not intend to incur,
or believe (nor should it reasonably believe) that it will incur,
debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they become due
(whether at maturity or otherwise). For purposes of this
definition, the amount of any contingent liability at any time
shall be computed as the amount that, in light of all of the facts
and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that
can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability
(irrespective of whether such contingent liabilities meet the
criteria for accrual under Statement of Financial Accounting
Standard No. 5).
“Specified
Representations” as defined in
Section 3.1(v).
“Sponsor”
means Cerberus Capital Management L.P.
“Sponsor Affiliated
Institutional Lender” means a bank, insurance company,
investment bank, commercial finance company or other institutional
lender (or any securitization vehicle that is wholly-owned by such
a bank, insurance company, investment bank, commercial finance
company or other institutional lender) that is an Affiliate of
NewPageCo as a result of common direct or indirect ownership by
Sponsor, so long as (i) Sponsor owns directly or indirectly
less than all of the Capital Stock of such Lender, and
(ii) Sponsor does not directly appoint any Person with
responsibility for reviewing or approving credit decisions with
respect to the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents;
provided that such Person shall agree in the applicable Assignment
and Acceptance (or in its Lender Addendum, as applicable) that it
will not provide any information obtained by such Sponsor
Affiliated Institutional Lender in its capacity as a Lender to
Sponsor or any Affiliate of Sponsor that is not itself a Sponsor
Affiliated Institutional Lender.
40
“Sponsor Affiliated
Lender” means investment funds or managed accounts with
respect to which Sponsor or an Affiliate of Sponsor is an advisor
or manager in the ordinary course of business and pursuant to
written agreements provided such Person executes a waiver in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent
that it shall have no right whatsoever so long as such Person is an
Affiliate of NewPageCo, NewPageHoldCo, SuperHoldCo or Sponsor, and
except as provided under Section 11.5(e), (i) to consent
to any amendment, modification, waiver, consent or other such
action with respect to any of the terms of this Agreement or any
other Credit Document, (ii) to require any Agent or other
Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action)
with respect to this Agreement or any other Credit Document,
(iii) otherwise vote on any matter related to this Agreement
or any other Credit Document, (iv) attend any meeting with any
Agent or Lender or receive any information from any Agent or Lender
or (v) make or bring any claim, in its capacity as Lender,
against the Agent or any Lender with respect to the duties and
obligations of such Persons under the Credit Documents.
“Stora Enso
Acquisition” means the consummation of the purchase by
NewPageHoldCo of all of the outstanding capital stock of Stora Enso
North America, Inc. and substantially all of its Subsidiaries from
Stora Enso Oyj pursuant to the Stora Enso Purchase
Agreement.
“Stora Enso Purchase
Agreement” means that certain Stock Purchase Agreement
dated as of September 20, 2007, as amended on
December 21, 2007 among Stora Enso Oyj, Stora Enso North
America, Inc. and NewPageHoldCo, as it may be amended, restated,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time to the extent
permitted under Section 6.15.
“Subject
Transaction” as defined in
Section 6.8(f).
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any
Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company,
association, joint venture or other business entity of which more
than 50% of the total voting power of shares of stock or other
ownership interests entitled (without regard to the occurrence of
any contingency) to vote in the election of the Person or Persons
(whether directors, managers, trustees or other Persons performing
similar functions) having the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies thereof is at the time
owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one
or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination
thereof; provided , in determining the percentage of
ownership interests of any Person controlled by another Person, no
ownership interest in the nature of a “qualifying
share” of the former Person shall be deemed to be
outstanding; provided, further, that for all purposes of this
Agreement (other than the calculation of the financial covenants
set forth in Sections 6.8(a), (b), (c) and (d), and the
related definitions), Consolidated Water Power Company shall not be
considered a Subsidiary of NewPageHoldCo or NewPageCo.
41
“SuperHoldCo” means NewPage Group, Inc., a
Delaware corporation.
“SuperHoldCo PIK
Note Documents” means the SuperHoldCo PIK Note Indenture,
the SuperHoldCo PIK Notes and each other document executed in
connection therewith, and any documents executed in connection with
any refinancings or replacements thereof to the extent permitted
under Section 6.1, as each such document may be amended,
restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time.
“SuperHoldCo PIK
Notes” means the notes issued pursuant to the SuperHoldCo
PIK Notes Indenture in the aggregate principal amount of not less
than $200,000,000 (including any promissory notes issued in payment
of accrued interest) and any promissory notes issued in respect of
any refinancing or replacement of such SuperHoldCo PIK Notes in a
transaction permitted under Section 6.1, in each case as such
notes may thereafter be amended, restated, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time to the extent permitted under
Section 6.16.
“SuperHoldCo PIK
Notes Indebtedness” means the obligations of SuperHoldCo
pursuant to the SuperHoldCo PIK Note Documents.
“SuperHoldCo PIK
Notes Indenture” means that certain Indenture dated as of
the date hereof pursuant to which the SuperHoldCo PIK Notes are
issued.
“Syndication
Agent” as defined in the preamble hereto.
“Tax”
means any present or future tax, levy, impost, duty or similar
assessment, charge, fee, deduction or withholding imposed, levied,
collected, withheld or assessed by any Governmental Authority;
provided , “Tax on the overall net income” of a
Person shall be construed as a reference to a tax imposed by the
jurisdiction in which that Person is organized or in which that
Person’s applicable principal office (and/or, in the case of
a Lender, its lending office) is located or in which that Person
(and/or, in the case of a Lender, its lending office) is deemed to
be doing business on all or part of the net income, profits or
gains (whether worldwide, or only insofar as such income, profits
or gains are considered to arise in or to relate to a particular
jurisdiction, or otherwise) of that Person (and/or, in the case of
a Lender, its applicable lending office).
“Term
Loan” means a Term Loan made by a Lender to NewPageCo
pursuant to Section 2.2(a).
42
“Term Loan
Commitment” means the commitment of a Lender to make or
otherwise fund a Term Loan and “Term Loan
Commitments” means such commitments of all Lenders in the
aggregate. The amount of each Lender’s Term Loan Commitment,
if any, is set forth on Appendix A or in the applicable Assignment
Agreement, subject to any adjustment or reduction pursuant to the
terms and conditions hereof. The aggregate amount of the Term Loan
Commitments as of the Closing Date is $1,600,000,000.
“Term Loan
Exposure” means, with respect to any Lender, as of any
date of determination, the outstanding principal amount of the Term
Loans of such Lender; provided , at any time prior to the
making of the Term Loans, the Term Loan Exposure of any Lender
shall be equal to such Lender’s Term Loan
Commitment.
“Term Loan Maturity
Date” means the earlier of (i) the 7th anniversary
of the Closing Date, (ii) the date that is 181 days prior to
the scheduled maturity date (determined on the date that is 271
days prior to any scheduled maturity date referenced in this clause
(ii), without regard to any events (including refinancings or
extensions) occurring after such determination date) of
(a) the Senior Secured Fixed Rate Notes, (b) the Senior
Secured Floating Rate Notes, (c) the 2007 Senior Secured Fixed
Rate Notes, (d) the Senior Subordinated Notes, (e) the
NewPageHoldCo PIK Notes or (f) any refinancing of any
indebtedness included in items (a) to (e) of this clause
(ii), and (iii) the date that all Term Loans shall become due
and payable in full hereunder, whether by acceleration or
otherwise.
“Term Loan
Note” means a promissory note in the form of
Exhibit B, as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time.
“Terminated
Lender” as defined in Section 2.23.
“Title
Policy” as defined in Section 3.1(i).
“Total Leverage
Ratio” means the ratio as of the last day of any Fiscal
Quarter of (i) Consolidated Total Debt as of such day to
(ii) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the four-Fiscal Quarter
period ending on such date.
“Transaction
Costs” means the fees, costs and expenses payable by
SuperHoldCo, NewPageHoldCo, NewPageCo or any of NewPageCo’s
Subsidiaries on or before the Closing Date (or within a reasonable
period of time after the Closing Date) in connection with the
transactions contemplated by the Credit Documents and the Closing
Date Related Transactions which Transaction Costs shall not exceed
$100,000,000 (exclusive of the closing fee referenced in
Section 2.11 hereof).
43
“Transition Services
Agreement” means that certain Amended and Restated
Transition Services Agreement, dated as of December 21, 2007,
which replaces, in its entirety, the Transition Services Agreement,
made as of September 20, 2007 among Stora Enso North America,
Inc., NewPage Holding Corporation, and Stora Enso Oyj, a
corporation incorporated under the Laws of the Republic of
Finland.
“Type of
Loan” means a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Rate
Loan.
“UBSS” as
defined in the preamble hereto.
“UCC”
means the Uniform Commercial Code (or any similar or equivalent
legislation) as in effect in any applicable jurisdiction and the
PPSA, as applicable.
“Unadjusted
Eurodollar Rate Component” means that component of the
interest costs to NewPageCo in respect of a Eurodollar Rate Loan
that is based upon the rate obtained pursuant to clause (i) of
the definition of Adjusted Eurodollar Rate.
“US
Guarantor” means each Guarantor other than a Canadian
Credit Party.
“Wholly Owned
Subsidiary” shall mean, as to any Person, (a) any
corporation 100% of whose capital stock (other than
directors’ qualifying shares) is at the time owned by such
Person and/or one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person
and (b) any partnership, association, joint venture, limited
liability company or other entity in which such Person and/or one
or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person own 100% of the
Capital Stock of such partnership, association, joint venture,
limited liability company or other entity at such time. Unless
otherwise set forth herein, reference in this Agreement to
“Wholly Owned Subsidiary” shall mean NewPageCo’s
direct and indirect Wholly Owned Subsidiaries.
“2007 Notes Offering
Memorandum” shall mean that certain Offering Memorandum
dated as of even date hereof, relating to the issuance of the 2007
Senior Secured Fixed Rate Notes.
“2007 Senior Secured
Fixed Rate Note Documents” means the Senior Secured Fixed
Notes Indenture, the 2007 Supplemental Indenture, the 2007 Senior
Secured Fixed Rate Notes and each other document executed in
connection therewith, and any documents executed in connection with
any refinancings or replacements thereof to the extent permitted
under Section 6.1, as each such document may be amended,
restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time.
44
“2007 Senior Secured
Fixed Rate Notes” means the notes issued pursuant to the
Senior Secured Fixed Rate Notes Indenture on the Closing Date in
the aggregate principal amount of not less than $456,000,000 and
any registered notes issued by NewPageCo in exchange for, and as
contemplated by, such notes with substantially identical terms as
such notes, and any promissory notes issued in respect of any
refinancing or replacement of such 2007 Senior Secured Fixed Rate
Notes in a transaction permitted under Section 6.1, in each
case as such notes may thereafter be amended, restated,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time to the extent
permitted under Section 6.16.
“2007 Senior Secured
Fixed Rate Notes Indebtedness” means the obligations of
NewPageCo with respect to the 2007 Senior Secured Fixed Rate Notes
pursuant to the 2007 Senior Secured Fixed Rate Note
Documents.
“2007 Supplemental
Indenture” means that certain supplemental Indenture,
dated December 21, 2007, by and among Stora Enso North
America, Inc. and certain of its Subsidiaries as additional
guarantors, NewPageCo as issuer, certain Subsidiaries of NewPageCo
as existing guarantors and HSBC Bank USA, National Association, as
trustee.
1.2. Accounting Terms.
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all accounting terms
not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to
them in conformity with GAAP. Financial statements and other
information required to be delivered by NewPageHoldCo to Lenders
pursuant to Section 5.1(a), 5.1(b) and 5.1(c) shall be
prepared in accordance with GAAP as in effect at the time of such
preparation (and delivered together with the reconciliation
statements provided for in Section 5.1(e), if applicable).
Subject to the foregoing, calculations in connection with the
definitions, covenants and other provisions hereof shall utilize
accounting principles and policies in conformity with those used to
prepare the Historical Financial statements. In the event that any
accounting change shall occur and such change results in a change
in the method of calculation of financial covenants, standards or
terms in this Agreement, then NewPageHoldCo and Administrative
Agent agree to enter into negotiations to amend such provisions of
this Agreement so as to equitably reflect such accounting change
with the desired result that the criteria for evaluating
NewPageHoldCo’s financial condition shall be the same after
such accounting change as if such accounting change had not been
made. Until such time as such an amendment shall have been executed
and delivered by the appropriate Credit Parties and the Requisite
Lenders, all financial covenants, standards and terms in this
Agreement shall continue to be calculated or construed as if such
accounting change had not occurred.
1.3. Interpretation,
etc. Any of the terms defined herein may, unless the context
otherwise requires, be used in the singular or the plural,
depending on the reference. References herein to any Section,
Appendix, Schedule or Exhibit shall be to a Section, an Appendix, a
Schedule or an Exhibit, as the case may be, hereof unless otherwise
specifically provided. The
45
use herein of the word
“include” or “including”, when following
any general statement, term or matter, shall not be construed to
limit such statement, term or matter to the specific items or
matters set forth immediately following such word or to similar
items or matters, whether or not no limiting language (such as
“without limitation” or “but not limited
to” or words of similar import) is used with reference
thereto, but rather shall be deemed to refer to all other items or
matters that fall within the broadest possible scope of such
general statement, term or matter. Any references in this Agreement
to “Articles” and/or “Sections” which make
reference to any particular piece of legislation or statute,
including without limitation, Bankruptcy Code, ERISA, Internal
Revenue Code and/or UCC shall for greater certainty mean the
equivalent section in the applicable piece of legislation to the
extent that the context implies reference to such other similar or
equivalent legislation as is in effect from time to time in any
other applicable jurisdiction, as applicable. Furthermore, where
any such reference is meant to apply to such other similar or
equivalent legislation where such other similar or equivalent
legislation has parallel or like concepts, then such references
shall import such parallel or like concepts from such other similar
or equivalent legislation, as applicable.
SECTION 2. TERM LOANS
2.1.
[Reserved].
2.2. Term
Loans.
(a) Term Loan
Commitments . Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each
Lender severally agrees to make, on the Closing Date, a Term Loan
to NewPageCo in an amount equal to such Lender’s Term Loan
Commitment. NewPageCo may make only one borrowing under the Term
Loan Commitment which shall be on the Closing Date. Any amount
borrowed under this Section 2.2(a) and subsequently repaid or
prepaid may not be reborrowed. Subject to Sections 2.13 and 2.14,
all amounts owed hereunder with respect to the Term Loans shall be
paid in full no later than the Term Loan Maturity Date. Each
Lender’s Term Loan Commitment shall terminate immediately and
without further action on the Closing Date after giving effect to
the funding of such Lender’s Term Loan Commitment on such
date.
(b) Borrowing Mechanics
for Term Loans .
(i) NewPageCo shall deliver
to Administrative Agent a fully executed Funding Notice no later
than one (1) Business Day prior to the Closing Date for Base
Rate Loans and no later than three (3) Business Days prior to
the Closing Date for Eurodollar Rate Loans. Promptly upon receipt
by Administrative Agent of such Certificate, Administrative Agent
shall notify each Lender of the proposed borrowing.
46
(ii) Each Lender shall make
its Term Loan available to Administrative Agent not later than
12:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Closing Date, by wire
transfer of same day funds in Dollars, at the Principal Office
designated by Administrative Agent. Upon satisfaction or waiver of
the conditions precedent specified herein, Administrative Agent
shall make the proceeds of the Term Loans available to NewPageCo on
the Closing Date by causing an amount of same day funds in Dollars
equal to the proceeds of all such Term Loans received by
Administrative Agent from Lenders to be credited to the account of
NewPageCo at the Principal Office designated by Administrative
Agent or to such other account as may be designated in writing to
Administrative Agent by NewPageCo.
2.3.
[Reserved].
2.4.
[Reserved].
2.5. Pro Rata Shares;
Availability of Funds.
(a) Pro Rata Shares .
All Term Loans shall be made, and all participations purchased, by
Lenders simultaneously and proportionately to their respective Pro
Rata Shares, it being understood that no Lender shall be
responsible for any default by any other Lender in such other
Lender’s obligation to make a Term Loan requested hereunder
or purchase a participation required hereby nor shall any Term Loan
Commitment of any Lender be increased or decreased as a result of a
default by any other Lender in such other Lender’s obligation
to make a Term Loan requested hereunder or purchase a participation
required hereby.
(b) Availability of
Funds . Unless Administrative Agent shall have been notified by
any Lender prior to the Closing Date that such Lender does not
intend to make available to Administrative Agent the amount of such
Lender’s Term Loan requested on the Closing Date,
Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such
amount available to Administrative Agent on the Closing Date and
Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, but shall not be
obligated to, make available to NewPageCo a corresponding amount on
the Closing Date. If such corresponding amount is not in fact made
available to Administrative Agent by such Lender, Administrative
Agent shall be entitled to recover such corresponding amount on
demand from such Lender together with interest thereon, for each
day from the Closing Date until the date such amount is paid to
Administrative Agent, at the customary rate set by Administrative
Agent for the correction of errors among banks for three Business
Days and thereafter at the Base Rate. If such Lender does not pay
such corresponding amount forthwith upon Administrative
Agent’s demand therefor, Administrative Agent shall promptly
notify NewPageCo and NewPageCo shall immediately pay such
corresponding amount to Administrative Agent together with interest
thereon, for each day from the Closing Date until the
47
date such amount is paid to
Administrative Agent, at the rate payable hereunder for Base Rate
Loans. Nothing in this Section 2.5(b) shall be deemed to
relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Term Loan
Commitments hereunder or to prejudice any rights that NewPageCo may
have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender
hereunder.
2.6. Use of Proceeds.
The proceeds of the Term Loans shall be applied by NewPageCo
(i) to fund the Stora Enso Acquisition (including refinancing
or retiring on the Closing Date any existing debt of NewPageCo and
its Subsidiaries), (ii) to pay Transaction Costs, and
(iii) to refinance or repay in full certain Existing
Indebtedness. No portion of the proceeds of any Term Loan shall be
used in any manner that causes or might cause such Term Loan or the
application of such proceeds to violate Regulation T,
Regulation U or Regulation X of the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System or any other regulation thereof or to
violate the Exchange Act.
2.7. Evidence of Debt;
Register; Lenders’ Books and Records; Term Loan
Notes.
(a) Lenders’
Evidence of Debt . Each Lender shall maintain on its internal
records an account or accounts evidencing the Obligations of
NewPageCo to such Lender, including the amounts of the Term Loans
made by it and each repayment and prepayment in respect thereof.
Any such recordation shall be conclusive and binding on NewPageCo,
absent manifest error; provided , that the failure to make
any such recordation, or any error in such recordation, shall not
affect NewPageCo’s Obligations in respect of any applicable
Term Loans; and provided further , in the event of
any inconsistency between the Register and any Lender’s
records, the recordations in the Register shall govern.
(b) Register .
Administrative Agent (or its agent or sub-agent appointed by it)
shall maintain at the Principal Office a register for the
recordation of the names and addresses of Lenders and the Term
Loans of each Lender from time to time (the
“Register” ). The Register shall be available
for inspection by NewPageCo or any Lender (with respect to any
entry relating to such Lender’s Term Loans) at any reasonable
time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
Administrative Agent shall record, or shall cause to be recorded,
in the Register the Term Loans in accordance with the provisions of
Section 10.6, and each repayment or prepayment in respect of
the principal amount of the Term Loans, and any such recordation
shall be conclusive and binding on NewPageCo and each Lender,
absent manifest error; provided , failure to make any such
recordation, or any error in such recordation, shall not affect
NewPageCo’s Obligations in respect of any Term Loan.
NewPageCo hereby designates GSCP to serve as NewPageCo’s
agent solely for purposes of maintaining the Register as provided
in this Section 2.7, and NewPageCo hereby agrees that, to the
extent GSCP serves in such capacity, GSCP and its officers,
directors, employees, agents, sub-agents and Affiliates shall
constitute “Indemnitees.”
48
(c) Term Loan Notes .
If so requested by any Lender by written notice to NewPageCo (with
a copy to Administrative Agent) at least two Business Days prior to
the Closing Date, or at any time thereafter, NewPageCo shall
execute and deliver to such Lender (and/or, if applicable and if so
specified in such notice, to any Person who is an assignee of such
Lender pursuant to and in accordance with Section 10.6) on the
Closing Date (or, if such notice is delivered after the Closing
Date, promptly after NewPageCo’s receipt of such notice) a
Term Loan Note or Term Loan Notes to evidence such Lender’s
Term Loan.
2.8. Interest on Term
Loans.
(a) Except as otherwise set
forth herein, each Term Loan shall bear interest on the unpaid
principal amount thereof from the date made through repayment
(whether by acceleration or otherwise) thereof as
follows:
(i) if a Base Rate Loan, at
the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin; or
(ii) if a Eurodollar Rate
Loan, at the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate plus the Applicable
Margin;
(b) The basis for determining
the rate of interest with respect to any Term Loan, and the
Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, shall be
selected by NewPageCo and notified to Administrative Agent and
Lenders pursuant to the applicable Funding Notice or
Conversion/Continuation Notice, as the case may be. If on any day a
Term Loan is outstanding with respect to which a Funding Notice or
Conversion/Continuation Notice has not been delivered to
Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms hereof specifying
the applicable basis for determining the rate of interest, then for
that day such Term Loan shall be a Base Rate Loan.
(c) In connection with
Eurodollar Rate Loans there shall be no more than ten
(10) Interest Periods outstanding at any time. In the event
NewPageCo fails to specify between a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar
Rate Loan in the applicable Funding Notice or
Conversion/Continuation Notice, such Term Loan (if outstanding as a
Eurodollar Rate Loan) will be automatically converted into a Base
Rate Loan on the last day of the then-current Interest Period for
such Term Loan (or if outstanding as a Base Rate Loan will remain
as, or (if not then outstanding) will be made as, a Base Rate
Loan). In the event NewPageCo fails to specify an Interest Period
for any Eurodollar Rate Loan in the applicable Funding Notice or
Conversion/Continuation Notice, NewPageCo shall be deemed to have
selected an Interest Period of one month. As soon as practicable
after 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on each Interest Rate
Determination Date, Administrative Agent shall determine (which
determination
49
shall, absent manifest error, be final,
conclusive and binding upon all parties) the interest rate that
shall apply to the Eurodollar Rate Loans for which an interest rate
is then being determined for the applicable Interest Period and
shall promptly give notice thereof (in writing or by telephone
confirmed in writing) to NewPageCo and each Lender.
(d) Interest payable pursuant
to Section 2.8(a) shall be computed (i) in the case of
Base Rate Loans on the basis of a 365-day or 366-day year, as the
case may be, and (ii) in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, on
the basis of a 360-day year, in each case for the actual number of
days elapsed in the period during which it accrues. In computing
interest on any Term Loan, the date of the making of such Term Loan
or the first day of an Interest Period applicable to such Loan or,
with respect to a Term Loan, the last Interest Payment Date with
respect to such Term Loan or, with respect to a Base Rate Loan
being converted from a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the date of conversion
of such Eurodollar Rate Loan to such Base Rate Loan, as the case
may be, shall be included, and the date of payment of such Term
Loan or the expiration date of an Interest Period applicable to
such Term Loan or, with respect to a Base Rate Loan being converted
to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the date of conversion of such Base Rate
Loan to such Eurodollar Rate Loan, as the case may be, shall be
excluded; provided , if a Term Loan is repaid on the same
day on which it is made, one day’s interest shall be paid on
that Term Loan.
(e) Except as otherwise set
forth herein, interest on each Term Loan (i) shall accrue on a
daily basis and shall be payable in arrears on each Interest
Payment Date with respect to interest accrued on and to each such
payment date; (ii) shall accrue on a daily basis and shall be
payable in arrears upon any prepayment of that Term Loan, whether
voluntary or mandatory, to the extent accrued on the amount being
prepaid; and (iii) shall accrue on a daily basis and shall be
payable in arrears at maturity of the Term Loans, including final
maturity of the Term Loans; provided , however, with respect
to any voluntary prepayment of a Base Rate Loan, accrued interest
shall instead be payable on the applicable Interest Payment
Date.
2.9.
Conversion/Continuation.
(a) Subject to
Section 2.18 and so long as no Default or Event of Default
shall have occurred and then be continuing, NewPageCo shall have
the option:
(i) to convert at any time
all or any part of any Term Loan equal to $5,000,000 and integral
multiples of $1,000,000 in excess of that amount from one Type of
Loan to another Type of Loan; provided , a Eurodollar Rate
Loan may only be converted on the expiration of the Interest Period
applicable to such Eurodollar Rate Loan unless NewPageCo shall pay
all amounts due under Section 2.18 in connection with any such
conversion; or
50
(ii) upon the expiration of
any Interest Period applicable to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, to
continue all or any portion of such Term Loan equal to $5,000,000
and integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess of that amount as a
Eurodollar Rate Loan.
(b) NewPageCo shall deliver a
Conversion/Continuation Notice to Administrative Agent no later
than 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) at least one Business Day in
advance of the proposed conversion date (in the case of a
conversion to a Base Rate Loan) and at least three Business Days in
advance of the proposed conversion/continuation date (in the case
of a conversion to, or a continuation of, a Eurodollar Rate Loan).
Except as otherwise provided herein, a Conversion/Continuation
Notice for conversion to, or continuation of, any Eurodollar Rate
Loans (or telephonic notice in lieu thereof) shall be irrevocable
on and after the related Interest Rate Determination Date, and
NewPageCo shall be bound to effect a conversion or continuation in
accordance therewith.
2.10. Default
Interest. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an
Event of Default, the principal amount of all Term Loans
outstanding and not paid when due, and, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, any interest payments on the Term Loans or any fees
or other amounts owed hereunder and not paid when due, shall
thereafter bear interest (including post-petition interest in any
proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or other applicable bankruptcy
laws) payable on demand at a rate that is 2% per annum in
excess of the interest rate otherwise payable hereunder with
respect to the applicable Term Loans (or, in the case of any such
fees and other amounts, at a rate which is 2% per annum in
excess of the interest rate otherwise payable hereunder for Base
Rate Loans); provided , in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans
that are not paid when due, upon the expiration of the Interest
Period in effect at the time any such increase in interest rate is
effective such Eurodollar Rate Loans shall thereupon become Base
Rate Loans and shall thereafter bear interest payable upon demand
at a rate which is 2% per annum in excess of the interest rate
otherwise payable hereunder for Base Rate Loans. Payment or
acceptance of the increased rates of interest provided for in this
Section 2.10 is not a permitted alternative to timely payment
and shall not constitute a waiver of any Event of Default or
otherwise prejudice or limit any rights or remedies of
Administrative Agent or any Lender. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
any provision of this Agreement that would oblige a Canadian Credit
Party to pay any fine, penalty or rate of interest on any arrears
of principal or interest secured by a mortgage on real property or
hypothec on immovables that has the effect of increasing the charge
on arrears beyond the rate of interest payable on principal money
not in arrears shall not apply to such Canadian Credit Party, which
shall be required to pay interest on money in arrears at the same
rate of interest payable on principal money not in
arrears.
2.11. Fees. NewPageCo
agrees to pay on the Closing Date to each Lender party to this
Agreement as a Lender on the Closing Date, as fee compensation for
the funding of such
51
Lender’s Term Loan, a closing fee
in an amount equal to 3.0% of the stated principal amount of such
Lender’s Term Loan, payable to such Lender from the proceeds
of its Term Loan as and when funded on the Closing Date. Such
closing fee will be in all respects fully earned, due and payable
on the Closing Date and non-refundable and non-creditable
thereafter. In addition to the foregoing fee, NewPageCo agrees to
pay to Agents such other fees, if any, in the amounts and at the
times separately agreed upon.
2.12. Scheduled
Payments. The principal amounts of the Term Loans shall be
repaid in consecutive quarterly installments (each, an
“Installment” ) in the aggregate amounts set
forth below on the four quarterly scheduled Interest Payment Dates
applicable to Term Loans (each, an “Installment
Date” ), commencing March 31, 2008:
|
|
|
|
|
Date
|
|
Installment |
|
March 31, 2008
|
|
$ |
4,000,000 |
|
June 30, 2008
|
|
$ |
4,000,000 |
|
September 30, 2008
|
|
$ |
4,000,000 |
|
December 31, 2008
|
|
$ |
4,000,000 |
|
March 31, 2009
|
|
$ |
4,000,000 |
|
June 30, 2009
|
|
$ |
4,000,000 |
|
September 30, 2009
|
|
$ |
4,000,000 |
|
December 31, 2009
|
|
$ |
4,000,000 |
|
March 31, 2010
|
|
$ |
4,000,000 |
|
June 30, 2010
|
|
$ |
4,000,000 |
|
September 30, 2010
|
|
$ |
4,000,000 |
|
December 31, 2010
|
|
$ |
4,000,000 |
|
March 31, 2011
|
|
$ |
4,000,000 |
|
June 30, 2011
|
|
$ |
4,000,000 |
|
September 30, 2011
|
|
$ |
4,000,000 |
|
December 31, 2011
|
|
$ |
4,000,000 |
|
March 31, 2012
|
|
$ |
4,000,000 |
|
June 30, 2012
|
|
$ |
4,000,000 |
|
September 30, 2012
|
|
$ |
4,000,000 |
|
December 31, 2012
|
|
$ |
4,000,000 |
52
|
|
|
|
|
Date
|
|
Installment |
|
March 31, 2013
|
|
$ |
4,000,000 |
|
June 30, 2013
|
|
$ |
4,000,000 |
|
September 30, 2013
|
|
$ |
4,000,000 |
|
December 31, 2013
|
|
$ |
4,000,000 |
|
March 31, 2014
|
|
$ |
4,000,000 |
|
June 30, 2014
|
|
$ |
4,000,000 |
|
September 30, 2014
|
|
$ |
4,000,000 |
|
Term Loan Maturity Date
|
|
$ |
1,492,000,000 |
Notwithstanding the foregoing,
(x) such Installments shall be reduced in connection with any
voluntary or mandatory prepayments of the Term Loans in accordance
with Sections 2.13, 2.14 and 2.15, as applicable; and
(y) the Term Loans, together with all other amounts owed
hereunder with respect thereto, shall, in any event, be paid in
full no later than the Term Loan Maturity Date.
2.13. Voluntary
Prepayments.
(a) Any time and from time to
time:
(i) with respect to Base Rate
Loans, NewPageCo may prepay any such Term Loans without premium or
penalty on any Business Day in whole or in part, in an aggregate
minimum amount of $5,000,000 and integral multiples of $1,000,000
in excess of that amount; and
(ii) with respect to
Eurodollar Rate Loans, NewPageCo may prepay any such Term Loans
without premium or penalty on any Business Day in whole or in part
in an aggregate minimum amount of $5,000,000 and integral multiples
of $1,000,000 in excess of that amount.
(b) All such prepayments
shall be made:
(i) upon not less than one
Business Day’s prior written or telephonic notice in the case
of Base Rate Loans; and
53
(ii) upon not less than three
Business Days’ prior written or telephonic notice in the case
of Eurodollar Rate Loans;
in each case given to Administrative
Agent by 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the date required and,
if given by telephone, promptly confirmed in writing to
Administrative Agent (and Administrative Agent will promptly
transmit such telephonic or original notice for Term Loans by
telefacsimile or telephone to each Lender). Upon the giving of any
such notice, the principal amount of the Term Loans specified in
such notice shall become due and payable on the prepayment date
specified therein. Any such voluntary prepayment shall be applied
as specified in Section 2.15(a).
2.14. Mandatory
Prepayments.
(a) Asset Sales .
Subject to Section 2.14(g), no later than the second Business
Day following the date of receipt by NewPageHoldCo or any of its
Subsidiaries of any Net Asset Sale Proceeds (other than Net Asset
Sale Proceeds arising from or allocated to the sale of any
Revolving Credit Collateral as defined in the Intercreditor
Agreement), NewPageCo shall prepay the Term Loans as set forth in
Section 2.15 in an aggregate amount equal to such Net Asset
Sale Proceeds; provided , that if, as of the last day of the
most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements
were delivered (or required to be delivered) pursuant to
Section 5.1, the Total Leverage Ratio (determined for any such
period by reference to the Compliance Certificate delivered
pursuant to Section 5.1(d) calculating the Total Leverage
Ratio as of the last day of such Fiscal Quarter) shall be 2.50:1.00
or less, such percentage of Net Asset Sale Proceeds required to be
prepaid hereunder shall be reduced to 50%; provided
further , so long as no Default or Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing, NewPageCo shall have the option,
directly or through one or more of its Subsidiaries, to invest, or
enter into binding commitments to invest, Net Asset Sale Proceeds
within twelve months of receipt thereof in other assets of the
general type used or useful in the Permitted Businesses;
provided further , all such Net Asset Sale Proceeds
committed to be invested within twelve months of receipt thereof
(but not yet invested at such time) shall be so invested within
eighteen months of receipt thereof; provided further
, that if the percentage of any such Net Asset Sale Proceeds that
are so committed to be reinvested within such twelve month period
or are actually reinvested within such eighteen month period is
less than the percentage thereof that would be required to be
applied to repay the Term Loans as provided above, then the portion
of such required percentage not so committed or reinvested shall be
applied to prepay the Term Loans in accordance with
Section 2.15.
54
(b) Insurance/Condemnation
Proceeds . Subject to Section 2.14(g), no later than the
first Business Day following the date of receipt by NewPageHoldCo,
or Administrative Agent as loss payee, of any Net
Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds (other than Net
Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds arising from or with respect to any
Revolving Credit Collateral as defined in the Intercreditor
Agreement), NewPageCo shall prepay the Term Loans as set forth in
Section 2.15 in an aggregate amount equal to such Net
Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds; provided , that if, as of
the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which
financial statements were delivered (or required to be delivered)
pursuant to Section 5.1, the Total Leverage Ratio (determined
for any such period by reference to the Compliance Certificate
delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(d) calculating the Total
Leverage Ratio as of the last day of such Fiscal Quarter) shall be
2.50:1.00 or less, such percentage of Net Insurance/Condemnation
Proceeds required to be prepaid hereunder shall be reduced to 50%;
provided further , so long as no Default or Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing NewPageCo shall have
the option, directly or through one or more of its Subsidiaries to
invest, or enter into binding commitments to invest, such Net
Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds within twelve months of receipt
thereof in other assets of the general type used or useful in the
Permitted Businesses, which investment may include the repair,
restoration or replacement of the applicable assets thereof;
provided further , all such Net
Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds committed to be invested within
twelve months of receipt thereof (but not yet invested at such
time) shall be so invested within eighteen months of receipt
thereof; provided further , that if the percentage of
any such Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds that are so committed
to be reinvested within such twelve month period or are actually
reinvested within such eighteen month period is less than the
percentage thereof that would be required to be applied to repay
the Term Loans as provided above, then the portion of such required
percentage not so committed or reinvested shall be applied to
prepay the Term Loans in accordance with
Section 2.15.
(c) [ Reserved
]
(d) Incurrence of Debt
. Subject to Section 2.14(g), no later than the first Business
Day following the date of receipt by NewPageHoldCo or any of its
Subsidiaries of any Cash proceeds from the incurrence of any
Indebtedness of NewPageHoldCo or any of its Subsidiaries (other
than with respect to any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred
pursuant to Section 6.1), NewPageCo shall prepay the Term
Loans as set forth in Section 2.15 in an aggregate amount
equal to 100% of such proceeds, net of underwriting discounts and
commissions and other reasonable costs and expenses associated
therewith, including reasonable legal fees and expenses.
(e) Consolidated Excess
Cash Flow . Subject to Section 2.14(g), in the event that
there shall be Consolidated Excess Cash Flow for any Fiscal Year,
commencing with the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2008,
NewPageCo shall, no later than ninety days after the end
of
55
such Fiscal Year, prepay the Term Loans
as set forth in Section 2.15 in an aggregate amount equal to
the percentage of such Consolidated Excess Cash Flow as determined
by reference to the Total Leverage Ratio in effect for such period
determined from the most recent Compliance Certificate delivered
pursuant to Section 5.1(d) calculating Total Leverage
Ratio:
|
|
|
|
|
Leverage
Ratio
|
|
Prepayment % |
|
|
³ 3.50:1.00
|
|
50 |
% |
|
< 3.50:1.00
|
|
0 |
% |
(f) Prepayment
Certificate . Concurrently with any prepayment of the Term
Loans pursuant to Sections 2.14(a) through 2.14(e), NewPageCo shall
deliver to Administrative Agent a certificate of an Authorized
Officer demonstrating the calculation of the amount of the
applicable net proceeds or Consolidated Excess Cash Flow, as the
case may be. In the event that NewPageCo shall subsequently
determine that the actual amount received exceeded the amount set
forth in such certificate, NewPageCo shall promptly make an
additional prepayment of the Term Loans in an amount equal to such
excess, and NewPageCo shall concurrently therewith deliver to
Administrative Agent a certificate of an Authorized Officer
demonstrating the derivation of such excess.
(g) Breakage Prepayment
Account . So long as no Default or Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, any amounts to be applied pursuant to
Section 2.14 to prepay or repay any Eurodollar Rate Loan shall
be deposited into a Breakage Prepayment Account (as defined below)
if NewPageCo so requests in order to avoid the incurrence of costs
under Section 2.18(c). On the last day of the applicable
Interest Period, the Administrative Agent shall apply any cash on
deposit in such Breakage Prepayment Account in accordance with
Section 2.15 to amounts due in respect of such Eurodollar Rate
Loan until all amounts due with respect thereof have been satisfied
or until all of the allocable cash on deposit has been exhausted
(with any remaining funds being returned to NewPageCo). For
purposes of this paragraph, “Breakage Prepayment
Account” shall mean a deposit account established by
NewPageCo with the Administrative Agent and over which the
Administrative Agent shall have exclusive control, including the
exclusive right of withdrawal for application in accordance with
this paragraph.
56
2.15. Application of
Prepayments.
(a) Application of
Prepayments . Any voluntary prepayments of any Term Loan
pursuant to Section 2.13 shall be applied to the scheduled
remaining Installments of principal on such Term Loan as NewPageCo
shall so direct; provided that if NewPageCo does not so direct such
application, such prepayment shall be applied on a pro rata basis
to reduce the scheduled remaining Installments of principal on such
Term Loan. Any mandatory prepayments of any Term Loan pursuant to
Section 2.14 shall be applied to prepay the Term Loans (in
accordance with the respective outstanding principal amounts
thereof) on a pro rata basis to reduce the scheduled remaining
Installments of principal on such Term Loan.
(b) Application of
Prepayments of Term Loans to Base Rate Loans and Eurodollar Rate
Loans . Any prepayment of any Term Loan shall be applied first
to Base Rate Loans to the full extent thereof before application to
Eurodollar Rate Loans, in each case in a manner which minimizes the
amount of any payments required to be made by NewPageCo pursuant to
Section 2.18(c).
2.16. General Provisions
Regarding Payments.
(a) All payments by NewPageCo
of principal, interest, fees and other Obligations shall be made in
Dollars in same day funds, without defense, setoff or counterclaim,
free of any restriction or condition, and delivered to
Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon (New York City time)
on the date due at the Principal Office designated by
Administrative Agent for the account of Lenders; for purposes of
computing interest and fees, funds received by Administrative Agent
after that time on such due date shall be deemed to have been paid
by NewPageCo on the next succeeding Business Day.
(b) All payments in respect
of the principal amount of any Term Loan shall be accompanied by
payment of accrued interest on the principal amount being repaid or
prepaid.
(c) Administrative Agent (or
its agent or sub-agent appointed by it) shall promptly distribute
to each Lender at such address as such Lender shall indicate in
writing, such Lender’s applicable Pro Rata Share of all
payments and prepayments of principal and interest due hereunder,
together with all other amounts due thereto, including, without
limitation, all fees payable with respect thereto, to the extent
received by Administrative Agent.
(d) Notwithstanding the
foregoing provisions hereof, if any Conversion/Continuation Notice
is withdrawn as to any Affected Lender or if any Affected Lender
makes Base Rate Loans in lieu of its Pro Rata Share of any
Eurodollar Rate Loans, Administrative Agent shall give effect
thereto in apportioning payments received thereafter.
57
(e) Subject to the provisos
set forth in the definition of “Interest Period”,
whenever any payment to be made hereunder with respect to any Term
Loan shall be stated to be due on a day that is not a Business Day,
such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business
Day.
(f) NewPageCo hereby
authorizes Administrative Agent to charge NewPageCo’s
accounts with Administrative Agent in order to cause timely payment
to be made to Administrative Agent of all principal, interest, fees
and expenses due hereunder (subject to sufficient funds being
available in its accounts for that purpose).
(g) Administrative Agent
shall deem any payment by or on behalf of NewPageCo hereunder that
is not made in same day funds prior to 12:00 noon (New York City
time) to be a non-conforming payment. Any such payment shall not be
deemed to have been received by Administrative Agent until the
later of (i) the time such funds become available funds, and
(ii) the applicable next Business Day. Administrative Agent
shall give prompt telephonic notice to NewPageCo and each
applicable Lender (confirmed in writing) if any payment is
non-conforming. Any non-conforming payment may constitute or become
a Default or Event of Default in accordance with the terms of
Section 8.1(a). Interest shall continue to accrue on any
principal as to which a non-conforming payment is made until such
funds become available funds (but in no event less than the period
from the date of such payment to the next succeeding applicable
Business Day) at the rate determined pursuant to Section 2.10
from the date such amount was due and payable until the date such
amount is paid in full.
(h) If an Event of Default
shall have occurred and not otherwise been waived, and the maturity
of the Obligations shall have been accelerated pursuant to
Section 8.1, all payments or proceeds received by Agents
hereunder in respect of any of the Obligations, shall be applied in
accordance with the application arrangements described in
Section 7.2 of the Pledge and Security Agreement.
2.17. Ratable Sharing.
Lenders hereby agree among themselves that, except as otherwise
provided in the Collateral Documents with respect to amounts
realized from the exercise of rights with respect to Liens on the
Collateral, if any of them shall, whether by voluntary payment
(other than a voluntary prepayment of Term Loans made and applied
in accordance with the terms hereof), through the exercise of any
right of set-off or banker’s lien, by counterclaim or cross
action or by the enforcement of any right under the Credit
Documents or otherwise, or as adequate protection of a deposit
treated as cash collateral under the Bankruptcy Code, receive
payment or reduction of a proportion of the aggregate amount of
principal, interest, fees and other amounts then due and owing to
such Lender hereunder or under the other Credit Documents
(collectively, the “Aggregate Amounts Due” to
such Lender) which is greater than the proportion received by any
other Lender in respect of the Aggregate
58
Amounts Due to such other Lender, then
the Lender receiving such proportionately greater payment shall
(a) notify Administrative Agent and each other Lender of the
receipt of such payment and (b) apply a portion of such
payment to purchase participations (which it shall be deemed to
have purchased from each seller of a participation simultaneously
upon the receipt by such seller of its portion of such payment) in
the Aggregate Amounts Due to the other Lenders so that all such
recoveries of Aggregate Amounts Due shall be shared by all Lenders
in proportion to the Aggregate Amounts Due to them; provided
, if all or part of such proportionately greater payment received
by such purchasing Lender is thereafter recovered from such Lender
upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of NewPageCo or otherwise,
those purchases shall be rescinded and the purchase prices paid for
such participations shall be returned to such purchasing Lender
ratably to the extent of such recovery, but without interest.
NewPageCo expressly consents to the foregoing arrangement and
agrees that, to the extent permitted by law, any holder of a
participation so purchased may exercise any and all rights of
banker’s lien, set-off or counterclaim with respect to any
and all monies owing by NewPageCo to that holder with respect
thereto as fully as if that holder were owed the amount of the
participation held by that holder.
2.18. Making or
Maintaining Eurodollar Rate Loans.
(a) Inability to Determine
Applicable Interest Rate . In the event that Administrative
Agent shall have determined (which determination shall, absent
manifest error, be final and conclusive and binding upon all
parties hereto), on any Interest Rate Determination Date with
respect to any Eurodollar Rate Loans, that by reason of
circumstances affecting the London interbank market adequate and
fair means do not exist for ascertaining the interest rate
applicable to such Term Loans on the basis provided for in the
definition of Adjusted Eurodollar Rate, Administrative Agent shall
on such date give notice (by telefacsimile or by telephone
confirmed in writing) to NewPageCo and each Lender of such
determination, whereupon (i) no Term Loans may be made as, or
converted to, Eurodollar Rate Loans until such time as
Administrative Agent notifies NewPageCo and Lenders that the
circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, and
(ii) any Funding Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice
given by NewPageCo with respect to the Term Loans in respect of
which such determination was made shall be deemed to be rescinded
by NewPageCo.
(b) Illegality or
Impracticability of Eurodollar Rate Loans . In the event that
on any date any Lender shall have determined (which determination
shall, absent manifest error, be final and conclusive and binding
upon all parties hereto but shall be made only after consultation
with NewPageCo and Administrative Agent) that the making,
maintaining or continuation of its Eurodollar Rate Loans
(i) has become unlawful as a result of compliance by such
Lender in good faith with any law, treaty, governmental rule,
regulation, guideline or order (or would conflict with any such
treaty, governmental rule, regulation, guideline or order not
having the force of
59
law even though the failure to comply
therewith could not be unlawful), or (ii) has become
impracticable, as a result of contingencies occurring after the
date hereof which materially and adversely affect the London
interbank market or the position of such Lender in that market,
then, and in any such event, such Lender shall be an
“Affected Lender” and it shall on that day give
notice (by telefacsimile or by telephone confirmed in writing) to
NewPageCo and Administrative Agent of such determination (which
notice Administrative Agent shall promptly transmit to each other
Lender). Thereafter (1) the obligation of the Affected Lender
to make Term Loans as, or to convert Term Loans to, Eurodollar Rate
Loans shall be suspended until such notice shall be withdrawn by
the Affected Lender, (2) to the extent such determination by
the Affected Lender relates to a Eurodollar Rate Loan then being
requested by NewPageCo pursuant to a Funding Notice or a
Conversion/Continuation Notice, the Affected Lender shall make such
Term Loan as (or continue such Loan as or convert such Loan to, as
the case may be) a Base Rate Loan, (3) the Affected
Lender’s obligation to maintain its outstanding Eurodollar
Rate Loans (the “Affected Loans” ) shall be
terminated at the earlier to occur of the expiration of the
Interest Period then in effect with respect to the Affected Loans
or when required by law, and (4) the Affected Loans shall
automatically convert into Base Rate Loans on the date of such
termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent a
determination by an Affected Lender as described above relates to a
Eurodollar Rate Loan then being requested by NewPageCo pursuant to
a Funding Notice or a Conversion/Continuation Notice, NewPageCo
shall have the option, subject to the provisions of
Section 2.18(c), to rescind such Funding Notice or
Conversion/Continuation Notice as to all Lenders by giving notice
(by telefacsimile or by telephone confirmed in writing) to
Administrative Agent of such rescission on the date on which the
Affected Lender gives notice of its determination as described
above (which notice of rescission Administrative Agent shall
promptly transmit to each other Lender). Except as provided in the
immediately preceding sentence, nothing in this
Section 2.18(b) shall affect the obligation of any Lender
other than an Affected Lender to make or maintain Term Loans as, or
to convert Term Loans to, Eurodollar Rate Loans in accordance with
the terms hereof.
(c) Compensation for
Breakage or Non-Commencement of Interest Periods . NewPageCo
shall compensate each Lender, upon written request by such Lender
(which request shall set forth the basis for requesting such
amounts), for all reasonable losses, expenses and liabilities
(including any interest paid by such Lender to Lenders of funds
borrowed by it to make or carry its Eurodollar Rate Loans and any
loss, expense or liability sustained by such Lender in connection
with the liquidation or re-employment of such funds but excluding
loss of anticipated profits) which such Lender may sustain:
(i) if for any reason (other than a default by such Lender) a
borrowing of any Eurodollar Rate Loan does not occur on a date
specified therefor in a Funding Notice or a telephonic request for
borrowing, or a conversion to or continuation of any Eurodollar
Rate Loan does not occur on a date specified therefor in a
Conversion/Continuation Notice or a telephonic request for
conversion or continuation; (ii) if any prepayment or
other
60
principal payment of, or any conversion
of, any of its Eurodollar Rate Loans occurs on a date prior to the
last day of an Interest Period applicable to that Term Loan; or
(iii) if any prepayment of any of its Eurodollar Rate Loans is
not made on any date specified in a notice of prepayment given by
NewPageCo.
(d) Booking of Eurodollar
Rate Loans . Subject to Section 2.21, any Lender may make,
carry or transfer Eurodollar Rate Loans at, to, or for the account
of any of its branch offices or the office of an Affiliate of such
Lender.
(e) Assumptions Concerning
Funding of Eurodollar Rate Loans . Calculation of all amounts
payable to a Lender under this Section 2.18 and under
Section 2.19 shall be made as though such Lender had actually
funded each of its relevant Eurodollar Rate Loans through the
purchase of a Eurodollar deposit bearing interest at the rate
obtained pursuant to clause (i) of the definition of Adjusted
Eurodollar Rate in an amount equal to the amount of such Eurodollar
Rate Loan and having a maturity comparable to the relevant Interest
Period and through the transfer of such Eurodollar deposit from an
offshore office of such Lender to a domestic office of such Lender
in the United States of America; provided , however ,
each Lender may fund each of its Eurodollar Rate Loans in any
manner it sees fit and the foregoing assumptions shall be utilized
only for the purposes of calculating amounts payable under this
Section 2.18 and under Section 2.19.
2.19. Increased Costs;
Capital Adequacy.
(a) Compensation For
Increased Costs and Taxes . Subject to the provisions of
Section 2.20 (which shall be controlling with respect to the
matters covered thereby), in the event that any Lender shall
determine (which determination shall, absent manifest error, be
final and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto) that any
law, treaty or governmental rule, regulation or order, or any
change therein or in the interpretation, administration or
application thereof (including the introduction of any new law,
treaty or governmental rule, regulation or order), or any
determination of a court or governmental authority, in each case
that becomes effective after the date hereof, or compliance by such
Lender with any guideline, request or directive issued or made
after the date hereof by any central bank or other governmental or
quasi-governmental authority (whether or not having the force of
law): (i) subjects such Lender (or its applicable lending
office) to any additional Tax (other than any Tax covered by
Section 2.20, regardless of whether any Credit Party is
required to indemnify or pay any additional amount in respect of
such Tax) with respect to this Agreement or any of the other Credit
Documents or any of its obligations hereunder or thereunder or any
payments to such Lender (or its applicable lending office) of
principal, interest, fees or any other amount payable hereunder;
(ii) imposes, modifies or holds applicable any reserve
(including any marginal, emergency, supplemental, special or other
reserve), special deposit, compulsory loan, FDIC insurance
or
61
similar requirement against assets held
by, or deposits or other liabilities in or for the account of, or
advances or loans by, or other credit extended by, or any other
acquisition of funds by, any office of such Lender (other than any
such reserve or other requirements with respect to Eurodollar Rate
Loans that are reflected in the definition of Adjusted Eurodollar
Rate); or (iii) imposes any other condition (other than with
respect to a Tax matter) on or affecting such Lender (or its
applicable lending office) or its obligations hereunder or the
London interbank market; and the result of any of the foregoing is
to increase the cost to such Lender of agreeing to make, making or
maintaining Term Loans hereunder or to reduce any amount received
or receivable by such Lender (or its applicable lending office)
with respect thereto; then, in any such case, NewPageCo shall
promptly pay to such Lender, upon receipt of the statement referred
to in the next sentence, such additional amount or amounts (in the
form of an increased rate of, or a different method of calculating,
interest or otherwise as such Lender in its sole discretion shall
determine) as may be necessary to compensate such Lender for any
such increased cost or reduction in amounts received or receivable
hereunder. Such Lender shall deliver to NewPageCo (with a copy to
Administrative Agent) a written statement, setting forth in
reasonable detail the basis for calculating the additional amounts
owed to such Lender under this Section 2.19(a), which
statement shall be conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto
absent manifest error.
(b) Capital Adequacy
Adjustment . In the event that any Lender shall have determined
that the adoption, effectiveness, phase-in or applicability after
the Closing Date of any law, rule or regulation (or any provision
thereof) regarding capital adequacy, or any change therein or in
the interpretation or administration thereof after the Closing Date
by any Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency
charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or
compliance by any Lender (or its applicable lending office) with
any guideline, request or directive regarding capital adequacy
(whether or not having the force of law) of any such Governmental
Authority, central bank or comparable agency adopted or becoming
effective or applicable after the Closing Date, has or would have
the effect of reducing the rate of return on the capital of such
Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender as a consequence
of, or with reference to, such Lender’s Term Loans, or
participations therein or other obligations hereunder with respect
to the Loans to a level below that which such Lender or such
controlling corporation could have achieved but for such adoption,
effectiveness, phase-in, applicability, change or compliance
(taking into consideration the policies of such Lender or such
controlling corporation with regard to capital adequacy), then from
time to time, within five Business Days after receipt by NewPageCo
from such Lender of the statement referred to in the next sentence,
NewPageCo shall pay to such Lender such additional amount or
amounts as will compensate such Lender or such controlling
corporation on an after-tax basis for such reduction. No Lender
shall be entitled to request any payment pursuant to this
Section 2.19(b) unless such Lender is generally demanding
payment under comparable provisions of its agreements
with
62
similarly situated borrowers. Such
Lender shall deliver to NewPageCo (with a copy to Administrative
Agent) a written statement, setting forth in reasonable detail the
basis for calculating the additional amounts owed to Lender under
this Section 2.19(b), which statement sha
|