Document:

exhibit10_12-1.htm

Exhibit 10.12.1

FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of August 27, 2010 (this “Amendment”), among APPLETON PAPERS INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), PAPERWEIGHT DEVELOPMENT CORP., a Wisconsin corporation (“Holdings”), FIFTH THIRD BANK, an Ohio banking corporation, as Swing Line Lender, an L/C Issuer and Administrative Agent  (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) for certain financial institutions from time to time party to the Credit Agreement referred to below (each a “Lender” and collectively the “Lenders”), and such Lenders.

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower, Holdings, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders have entered into that certain Credit Agreement dated as of February 8, 2010 (as the same may be amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”).  Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Credit Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Lenders have agreed to make, and have made, certain Loans and other extensions of credit to the Borrower;

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower and Holdings have requested that the Administrative Agent and the Lenders amend the Credit Agreement in certain respects, in each case in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions herein set forth; and

 

WHEREAS, the Administrative Agent and Lenders agree to accommodate such requests of the Borrower and Holdings, in each case on the terms and subject to the conditions herein set forth;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the covenants and conditions contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

 

Section 1. Amendments to Credit Agreement. Effective as of the First Amendment Effective Date (as defined below), and in reliance on the representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in this Amendment and in the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, the Credit Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

              (a) Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the definition of the term "Required Lenders" set forth therein in its entirety and substituting therefor the following language:

  

  

  

“Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders holding more than 50% of the sum of the (a) Total Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition) and (b) aggregate unused Commitments; provided that (i) the Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders, and (ii) at any time that there is more than one (1) Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender, “Required Lenders” shall mean at least two (2) Lenders that are not Defaulting Lenders.

 

(b) Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by inserting therein the following defined term and its definition in the correct alphabetical order:

 

"Co-Collateral Agent" means RBS Business Capital, a division of RBS Asset Finance, Inc., a subsidiary of RBS Citizens, N.A. (“RBS”), from and after the Effective Date as defined in that certain Assignment and Assumption, dated as of such Effective Date , by and between Fifth Third Bank and RBS.

 

(c) Article IX of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by inserting the following language therein immediately following Section 9.10:

 

9.11. Certain Collateral Matters.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein or in any other Loan Document, but subject in any event to the terms and provisions of Section 10.01, all determinations arising directly in connection with or otherwise directly related to the Collateral comprising the Borrowing Base that are expressly assigned to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms hereof or thereof, as the case may be, including, without limitation, all such determinations pertaining to eligibility standards, Reserves and collateral reporting, audits, field examinations and appraisals (each a “Borrowing Base Determination”), shall be made in each case in accordance with this Section 9.11.  Prior to making any Borrowing Base Determination, the Administrative Agent shall give the Co-Collateral Agent written notice thereof, which notice shall set forth in reasonable detail the Administrative Agent’s proposed course of action with respect thereto (each an “Administrative Agent Borrowing Base Proposal”). If the Co-Collateral Agent does not agree with any Administrative Agent Borrowing Base Proposal, within three (3) Business Days after its receipt thereof, the Co-Collateral Agent shall give the Administrative Agent written notice of such disagreement, which notice shall set forth in reasonable detail the Co-Collateral Agent’s own proposed course of action with respect thereto (each a “Co-Collateral Agent Borrowing Base Proposal”). If the Administrative Agent and the Co-Collateral Agent cannot reach agreement with respect to any Borrowing Base Determination within two (2) Business Days after the Administrative Agent’s receipt of any Co-Collateral Agent Borrowing Base Proposal, the applicable Borrowing Base Determination shall be made by the Administrative Agent based on the proposal containing the more conservative course of action; provided, that, if any issue relating to any Borrowing Base Determination cannot be resolved by taking the more conservative course of action, the course of action with respect to such issue proposed by the Administrative Agent shall prevail.

 

  

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Section 2. Conditions to Effectiveness of this Amendment.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, this Amendment shall become effective upon satisfaction in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent of each of the following conditions:

 

(a) the delivery to the Administrative Agent of a counterpart of this Amendment executed by Borrower, Holdings, the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders;

 

(b) the accuracy of the representations and warranties contained in Section 3 hereof;

 

(c) receipt by Administrative Agent of a copy of the acknowledgment attached hereto duly executed and delivered by each of the Loan Parties signatory thereto;  and

 

(d) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

The “First Amendment Effective Date” shall mean the first date on which each of the conditions set forth in this Section 2 have been satisfied.

 

Section 3. Representations and Warranties.

 

To induce the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers to enter into this Amendment, each of the Borrower and Holdings hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers that as of the date hereof:

 

(a) each of the representations and warranties made by such Person contained in the Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects (without duplication of any materiality qualifiers contained therein) as of such date, except to the extent such representation or warranty expressly relates to an earlier date (in which case, such representations and warranties were true and correct in all material respects (without duplication of any materiality qualifiers contained therein) as of such earlier date);

 

(b) such Person has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Amendment and the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby;

 

(c) the execution, delivery and performance by such Person of this Amendment and the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, have been duly authorized by all necessary action by such Person;

 

  

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(d) the execution, delivery and performance by such Person of this Amendment and the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Amendment and the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, do not and will not (i) violate any provision of any law or any governmental rule or regulation applicable to the Holdings, Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, any of the Organizational Documents of the Holdings, Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any order, judgment or decree of any court or other agency of government binding on the Holdings, Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute (with due notice or lapse of time or both) a default under any Contractual Obligation of Holdings, Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; (iii) result in or require the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of Holdings, Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or (iv) require any approval of stockholders, members or partners or any approval or consent of any Person under any Contractual Obligation of Holdings, Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, except for such approvals or consents that were obtained on or before the date hereof and disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent;

 

(e) this Amendment and the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, each constitute, the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Person, enforceable against such Person in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability;

 

(f) no Default or Event of Default presently exists.

 

Section 4. Reference and Effect on the Credit Documents.

 

(a) On and after the First Amendment Effective Date each reference in the Credit Agreement to “this Agreement”, “hereunder”, “hereof” or words of like import referring to the Credit Agreement, and each reference in the other Loan Documents to the “Credit Agreement”, shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement, as amended or otherwise modified hereby.

 

(b) The Credit Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents, as specifically amended or otherwise modified by this Amendment, are and shall continue to be in full force and effect and are hereby in all respects ratified, confirmed and reaffirmed.

 

(c) The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment shall not, except as expressly provided herein, operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of any Lender, any L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent under any of the Loan Documents, nor constitute a waiver of any provision of any of the Loan Documents.  The Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents are in full force and effect and are hereby in all respects ratified and confirmed.

 

(d) Except as expressly set forth herein, nothing contained in this Amendment and no action by, or inaction on the part of, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent shall, or shall be deemed to, directly or indirectly constitute a consent to or waiver of any past, present or future violation of any provisions of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

(e) This Amendment is a Loan Document.

 

 

  

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Section 5. GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION.

 

(a) GOVERNING LAW.  THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

(b) SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION.  THE BORROWER AND HOLDINGS IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AMENDMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.  NOTHING IN THIS AMENDMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR ANY L/C ISSUER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AMENDMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER OR HOLDINGS OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

 

Section 6. Miscellaneous.

 

(a) No Waiver, Etc.  Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, nothing in this Amendment is intended or shall be deemed or construed to extend to or affect in any way any of the Obligations or any of the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any L/C Issuer arising under the Credit Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents or applicable law. The failure of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any L/C Issuer at any time or times hereafter to require strict performance by any Loan Party or any other Person obligated under any Loan Document of any of the respective provisions, warranties, terms and conditions contained herein or therein shall not waive, affect or diminish any right of such Person at any time or times thereafter to demand strict performance thereof; and no rights of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any L/C Issuer hereunder shall be deemed to have been waived by any act or knowledge of such Person, or any of its agents, attorneys, officers or employees, unless such waiver is contained in an instrument in writing signed by an authorized officer of such Person and specifying such waiver.  Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, no waiver by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any L/C Issuer of any of its rights or remedies shall operate as a waiver of any other of its rights or remedies or any of its rights or remedies on a future occasion at any time and from time to time.  All terms and provisions of the Credit Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents remain in full force and effect, except to the extent expressly modified by this Amendment.

 

 

  

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(b) Execution in Counterparts.  This Amendment may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Amendment on any number of separate counterparts, and all of such counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.  Any party hereto may execute and deliver a counterpart of this Amendment by delivering by facsimile transmission or electronic mail in portable document format a signature page of this Amendment signed by such party, and such signature shall be treated in all respects as having the same effect as an original signature.

 

(c) Severability.  The invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of any provision in or obligation under this Amendment in any jurisdiction shall not affect or impair the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions or obligations under this Amendment or of such provision or obligation in any other jurisdiction.

 

(d) No Third Party Beneficiaries.  This Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of each party hereto and their respective successors and assigns.  No Person other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns and any other Lender shall have rights hereunder or be entitled to rely on this Amendment, and all third-party beneficiary rights are hereby expressly disclaimed.

 

(e) Section Titles.  The section and subsection titles contained in this Amendment are included for convenience only, shall be without substantive meaning or content of any kind whatsoever, and are not a part of the agreement between the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers, on the one hand, and the Borrower and Holdings on the other hand.  Any reference in this Amendment to any “Section” refers, unless the context otherwise indicates, to a section of this Amendment.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank; Signature Pages Follow]

 

 

  

  

  

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this Amendment as of the day and year first above written.

 

                      BORROWER AND HOLDINGS:

                      APPLETON PAPERS INC., a Delaware corporation, as Borrower

                      By:           /s/ Patrick J. Jermain

                      Name:      Patrick J. Jermain

                      Its:           Controller

                      PAPERWEIGHT DEVELOPMENT CORP., a Wisconsin corporation, as Holdings

                      By:           /s/ Patrick J. Jermain

                      Name:      Patrick J. Jermain

                      Its:           Controller

  

  

  

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this Amendment as of the day and year first above written.

 

                   AGENTS AND LENDERS:

                   FIFTH THIRD BANK, an Ohio banking corporation, as Administrative Agent, 

                   an L/C Issuer, Swing Line Lender and a Lender

                   By:        /s/ Elizabeth A. DiCola

                   Name:   Elizabeth A. DiCola

                   Title:     Vice President

  

  

  

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

 

Reference is hereby made to (a) the foregoing First Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of August 27, 2010 (the “Amendment”) by and among APPLETON PAPERS INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), PAPERWEIGHT DEVELOPMENT CORP., a Wisconsin corporation (“Holdings”), FIFTH THIRD BANK, an Ohio banking corporation, as Swing Line Lender, an L/C Issuer and Administrative Agent  (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) for certain financial institutions from time to time party to the Credit Agreement referred to below (each a “Lender” and collectively the “Lenders”), and such Lenders, and (b) that certain Guarantee and Collateral Agreement dated as of February 8, 2010 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “Guaranty Agreement”), executed and delivered by APPLETON PAPERS CANADA LTD.,  a corporation formed under the laws of the Province of Ontario (“Guarantor”), in favor of Administrative Agent. Capitalized terms used and not defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Credit Agreement referred to in the Amendment.

 

Guarantor hereby (a) acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Amendment, and (b) agrees that its respective Guarantee Agreement remains in full in force and effect with respect to such Guarantor and that the terms and provisions of the Amendment do not modify or otherwise affect in any way any of such Guarantor’s obligations and liabilities under its respective Guarantee Agreement, all of which obligations and liabilities are hereby ratified, confirmed and reaffirmed.

 

 

- Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank -

Signature Pages Follow

  

  

  

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this Amendment as of the day and year first above written.

 

                   APPLETON PAPERS CANADA LTD., 

                   a corporation formed under the laws of the Province of Ontario

                   By         /s/ Jeffrey J. Fletcher

                   Name:   Jeffrey J. Fletcher

                   Title:     Treasurerexhibit10_21.htm

Exhibit 10.21

February 22, 2012

Mark R. Richards

Appleton Papers Inc.

825 E. Wisconsin Avenue

Appleton, WI  54912

Re:  Appleton Papers Inc. Retention Plan

Dear Mark:

 

I am writing to confirm the arrangements that the Compensation Committee of the Appleton Papers Inc. (“Appleton” or the “Company”) Board of Directors (“Board”) has agreed will apply in the event of a Potential Transaction, as defined herein, and effective as of the date written above.  As part of Appleton’s strategic planning, a number of corporate level transactions are being explored to improve the debt to equity ratio of the Company and/or provide liquidity such that the Company can reach its full potential.   A Potential Transaction may include one or more of the following transactions or series of transactions:  a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or the Company’s parent, Paperweight Development Corp. (“Paperweight”); the issuance of equity securities by the Company or Paperweight in connection with an acquisition; a merger or business combination with another unrelated entity, including but not limited to a merger with a special purpose acquisition company; the sale of equity in a private placement or public offering; an exchange of the Company’s debt securities for equity in the Company or Paperweight; or any combination of the foregoing transactions (“Potential Transaction”).   The Compensation Committee recognizes that a Potential Transaction will require significant time and effort from certain Appleton employees to successfully close the transaction.  Accordingly, in order to retain such Appleton employees during the process of identifying, negotiating, closing and transitioning a Potential Transaction, the Compensation Committee is implementing certain retention payments (the “Plan”) under the terms outlined below.

 

The terms of the Plan are as follows:

	
1)  

	
You will inform the Compensation Committee of the list of employees participating and the proposed payout for each individual within 30 days after entering into written documentation reflecting an intended Potential Transaction, such as executing a letter of intent, executing a support agreement for a debt/equity swap, filing a registration statement for a public offering, or entering into any other agreement of a similar nature depending on the particular Potential Transaction (a “Written Agreement”) or, in the event the nature of the Potential Transaction does not lend itself to a letter of intent or Written Agreement of similar nature, within 30 days after Appleton’s submission or receipt of a draft merger or acquisition agreement reflecting the Potential Transaction (a “Draft Definitive Agreement”).  The proposed payout is for distribution in the event a Change of Control occurs as a result of a Potential Transaction.    “Change of Control” shall have the meaning defined in the Company’s Long Term Incentive Plan. The final payout of Funds is subject to approval by the Compensation Committee, and must also be approved by the Board in advance of, or at the same time, the material definitive agreement is approved by the Board.   If the Potential Transaction does not result in a Change of Control, any Plan payments will be at the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee.

	
2)  

	
Payments shall be made in a lump sum no later than 90 days following the close of the Potential Transaction, but no later than March 15 of the year following the close (“Payment Date”).  If the Potential Transaction involves a series of transactions, the Payment Date will be no later than 90 days following the close of the last transaction in the series of transactions.  An individual will not be eligible for any Plan payments if s/he voluntarily terminates employment before the date payment is made or if that individual acts in a manner that materially compromises a Potential Transaction that is in the best interest of Appleton’s shareholders.

	
3)  

	
The Plan will continue in effect until terminated by the Board; provided, however, that If the Company has entered into a Written Agreement or is in the process of negotiating a Draft Definitive Agreement, then the Plan may only be terminated by the Board with no less than eighteen (18) months advanced written notice to then named individuals with regard to the specific transaction covered by the Written Agreement or Draft Definitive Agreement.

	
4)  

	
General Administration:

	
a.  

	
Plan payments will not be included as “eligible compensation” under any defined contribution plan of the Company, including both qualified and non-qualified plans.

	
b.  

	
All Plan payments are stated in gross sums.  The recipient of any Plan payments shall be responsible for all applicable federal, state and local taxes on any such payments.  The Company shall deduct from any Plan payments any required federal, state or local withholding or other taxes or charges that the Company must deduct under applicable law or court order.

	
c.  

	
All questions or interpretations relating to the Plan will be decided by the Compensation Committee, in its sole discretion.

	
d.  

	
This Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Wisconsin.

Sincerely,

/s/ Kathi P. Seifert

Kathi P. Seifert

Board Director and Chair

Compensation Committee

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