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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934 FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-11803
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AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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DELAWARE 04-3164298
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
17304 PRESTON ROAD, SUITE 700, DALLAS, TX 75252-5613
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
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Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (972) 733-6200
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
NONE
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $.01 PER SHARE
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Indicate by check mark whether each Registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that each
Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes /X/ No / /
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrants' knowledge, in definitive proxy of information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. / /
As of March 30, 2000, there were 28,527,983 outstanding shares of American
Pad & Paper Company common stock and the aggregate market value of the common
stock of American Pad & Paper Company held by non-affiliates was approximately
$4.2 million.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
None.
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ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ITEM PAGE
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PART 1
1. Business.................................................... 3
Recent Developments......................................... 4
2. Properties.................................................. 11
3. Legal Proceedings........................................... 13
4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders......... 14
PART II
5. Market of Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder
Matters................................................... 15
6. Selected Financial Data..................................... 16
7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations................................. 18
7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market
Risk...................................................... 27
8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data................. 27
9. Changes in and Disagreements on Accounting and Financial
Disclosure................................................ 27
PART III
10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant.......... 28
11. Executive Compensation...................................... 30
12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
Management................................................ 37
13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.............. 38
PART IV
14. Exhibits, Financial Statements Schedules and Reports on
Form 8-K.................................................. 40
Signatures.................................................. 70
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American Pad & Paper Company (the "Company") is a holding company with no
separate operations. At March 30, 2000, the Company had 28,527,983 shares of
outstanding common stock traded on the National Association of Security Dealers
Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board System. The Company owns 100% of the outstanding
common shares of WR Acquisition, Inc. ("WR Acquisition"). WR Acquisition is also
a holding company with no separate operations. WR Acquisitions owns 100% of the
outstanding common shares of American Pad & Paper Company of Delaware, Inc.
("AP&P Delaware"), and AP&P Delaware owns 100% of the outstanding common shares
of AP&P Manufacturing, Inc. ("Manufacturing"). AP&P Delaware and Manufacturing
are the primary operating companies in which all significant operations of the
Company take place. AP&P Delaware has $130 million of 13% Senior Subordinated
Notes ("Notes") outstanding. The Company has followed full push-down accounting
for the financial statements of AP&P Delaware such that the only differences
between the Company and AP&P Delaware relate to the capital structure just
described.
ITEM 1 BUSINESS
GENERAL
The Company is one of the largest manufacturers and marketers of nationally
branded and private label paper-based office products (excluding copy paper) in
the $60 billion to $70 billion North American office products industry. Through
its Ampad division, the Company is among the largest manufacturers of writing
pads and notebooks, filing supplies, retail envelopes and machine papers to many
of the largest office product retailers and distributors. Established in 1888,
the Company's Ampad division has been a leading supplier of pads and other
paper-based writing products throughout its history. Acquired in October 1995,
the Company's Williamhouse division is the leading supplier of mill branded
specialty and commodity business envelopes and machine papers to paper
merchants/distributors and jobbers. The Company maintains several nationally
recognized brand names such as AMPAD-REGISTERED TRADEMARK-, CENTURY-TM-,
EMBASSY-REGISTERED TRADEMARK-, EVIDENCE-REGISTERED TRADEMARK-, GOLD-FIBRE-TM-,
HUXLEY-TM-, KAROLTON-REGISTERED TRADEMARK-, KENT-REGISTERED TRADEMARK-, PEEL &
SEEL-REGISTERED TRADEMARK-, SCM-TM-, WILLIAMHOUSE-TM- and WORLD FIBRE-TM-.
Since the mid-1980s, the office products industry has experienced
significant changes in the channels through which office products are
distributed. Such changes include the emergence of new channels including
national office product superstores, national contract stationers and mass
merchandisers, and consolidation within these and other channels. The channels
through which office products are distributed from the manufacturer to the
end-user include retail channels such as national office products superstores,
mass merchandisers and warehouse clubs; commercial channels such as national
contract stationers; paper merchants/distributors and jobbers; and other
channels such as regional distributors, school campuses and direct mail.
HISTORY
From 1986 to 1992, Ampad operated as a subsidiary of Mead Corporation
("Mead"). In July 1992, the Company acquired Ampad from Mead in an acquisition
led by Bain Capital, Inc. ("Bain Capital") and former senior management. Since
the acquisition, of Ampad, the Company has made additional acquisitions in order
to enhance the Company's scale, broaden its product line, expand upon its
national presence and strengthen its distribution capabilities.
In July 1994, the Company acquired the assets and assumed certain
liabilities of SCM, one of the industry leaders in hanging files and writing
products. In August 1995, the Company acquired certain file folder and file
product lines of American Trading and Production Corporation's ("Atapco")
Globe-Weis-Registered Trademark- office products division. Prior to the
acquisition, Atapco was one of the leading providers of file folders and hanging
files to office product superstores. The acquisitions of the SCM-TM- and
Globe-Weis-Registered Trademark- product lines further strengthened the
Company's position in the filing supplies and writing products categories.
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In October 1995, the Company acquired WR Acquisition and its wholly owned
subsidiary, Williamhouse-Regency of Delaware, Inc. (collectively referred to as
"Williamhouse"). Williamhouse is a leading supplier to many of the largest
national, regional, and independent paper merchants/distributors and jobbers.
Williamhouse also includes the Creative Card operations. Creative Card is an
industry leader in design and publishing of boxed holiday greeting cards, all
occasion greeting cards, social and business announcements, wedding invitations
and pre-printed papers for desktop publishing. The Company's management
identified the Regency Division of Williamhouse as a nonstrategic asset
following the Williamhouse acquisition and, in June 1996, completed the sale of
the Regency Division.
In June 1996, the Company acquired Niagara Envelope Company, Inc.
("Niagara"). Niagara supplies mill branded, specialty and commodity envelopes to
paper merchants/distributors through four manufacturing facilities located near
Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas and Denver.
In February 1997, the Company acquired Shade/Allied, Inc. ("Shade/Allied").
Shade/Allied supplied continuous forms to paper merchants/distributors and
retail customers through four manufacturing facilities located near Green Bay,
Seattle, Atlanta and Philadelphia. In July 1997, the Atlanta facility was
closed, and in September 1997, the Seattle facility's lease was terminated. In
November 1998, the remaining operations of Shade/Allied were combined with
similar manufacturing operations of Ampad.
In November 1999, the Company announced it had engaged Lazard Freres & Co.
LLC ("Lazard Freres") to investigate the possible sale of its Williamhouse
division, as well as other business assets of the Company, in order to reduce
debt. In March 2000, the Company announced it had signed a letter of intent to
sell its Creative Card division to Taylor Corporation. Such sale is subject to
the approval of the bankruptcy court. Efforts by Lazard Freres to sell the
Williamhouse division and other business assets are continuing.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Since the Company's last acquisition in 1997 revenues have declined, margins
have eroded, competitive pressures in the marketplace kept the Company from
fully recouping increasing paper prices, and inventory levels were, for a period
of time, built to an excessive level. Through the rationalization plan initiated
in late 1998, three manufacturing plants were closed, inventory levels were
reduced and production was better coordinated with sales. Although competitive
pressures continued, price increases were initiated which, while not fully
recouping prices movements in raw materials, caused amounts absorbed by the
Company to be reduced. Despite the progress on operational and pricing issues,
the Company's capital structure and high level of debt have limited its abiity
to return to profitability.
DEBT DEFAULT AND PROCEEDINGS UNDER CHAPTER 11 OF THE BANKRUPTCY CODE. On
November 12, 1999, the Company was notified by its banking group of a default of
its revolving credit facility. The default stemmed from the formation of new
subsidiaries in December 1997 related to a reorganization of the Company's
corporate structure without proper notification to the banks. The reorganization
was implemented primarily for state tax purposes and included the transfer of
assets between existing entities and transfers to the new subsidiaries. The
default on the revolving credit facility prevented the Company from paying
interest on its publicly traded Notes due November 15, 1999, thereby causing a
default on the Notes as well.
On January 10, 2000, certain holders of the Company's 13% Senior
Subordinated Notes due November 15, 2005 filed an involuntary chapter 11
petition against the Company and all of its subsidiaries except Notepad Funding
Corporation (the "Debtors") in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the
District of Delaware. On January 14, 2000, each of the Debtors consented to the
entry of an Order for Relief and filed voluntary petitions under chapter 11 of
title 11 of the United States Code (the "Bankruptcy Code"). The bankruptcy Case
Numbers 00-00066 (RRM) through 00-00072 (RRM) are being jointly administered
under Case Number 00-00066 (RRM). Each of the Debtors is continuing to operate
its business and manage its property as a debtor-in-possession pursuant to
sections 1107 (a) and
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1108 of the Bankruptcy Code. On January 28, 2000, an Official Committee of
Unsecured Creditors was appointed in these cases. No plan of reorganization has
yet been proposed by the Company.
On January 10, 2000, as a result of the chapter 11 filings, the Company's
$60.0 million accounts receivable financing facility terminated and no further
sales of receivables occurred. Although no post-termination receivables were
sold under this facility, the Company continues to act as servicer under the
facility and to collect and remit remaining outstanding receivables as provided
in the facility.
On February 9, 2000, the Bankruptcy Court entered a final order approving
$65 million DIP financing in the form of a revolving credit facility provided by
the Company's existing bank group. Availability under the facility is contingent
upon a borrowing base of accounts receivable and inventory, and bears interest
at a rate of prime plus 2.5%. The revolving credit facility matures July 17,
2000, and may be extended upon satisfaction of certain conditions.
On March 8, 2000, the Company announced that it had signed a letter of
intent with Taylor Corporation for the purchase of the Company's Creative Card
division located in Chicago. Negotiations are continuing with Taylor Corporation
and the Company expects the sale to be finalized in the second quarter of 2000.
Such sale, subject to the approval of the bankruptcy court, is expected to
result in a loss of $5 to $10 million.
On March 21, 2000, the Company was notified by one of its major customers of
the Ampad division that it intends to move its business to other suppliers. In
1999, that customer accounted for approximately $42 million or 6.4% of the
Company's sales.
Although Chapter 11 bankruptcy raises substantial doubt about the Company's
ability to continue as a going concern, the accompanying consolidated financial
statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles applicable to a company on a going-concern basis which contemplates
the continuity of operations, realization of assets and the liquidation of
liabilities in the ordinary course of business. As a result of the Chapter 11
filing, realization of assets and liquidation of liabilities are subject to
significant uncertainties. Specifically, the financial statements do not present
the amount that will be paid to settle liabilities and contingencies that may be
allowed in Chapter 11 reorganization. Also, the consolidated financial
statements do not reflect i) adjustments to assets and liabilities which may
occur in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles STATEMENT OF
POSITION 90-7, FINANCIAL REPORTING BY ENTITIES IN REORGANIZATION UNDER THE
BANKRUPTCY CODE (SOP 90-7) following the confirmation of a plan of
reorganization; or ii) the realizable value of assets which would be required to
be recorded if the Company presents a plan which contemplates the disposal of
all or portions of its assets and operations. The filing of a plan of
reorganization could materially affect the carrying value of the assets and
liabilities currently disclosed in the consolidated financial statements.
MANAGEMENT CHANGES. On March 31, 2000, William L. Morgan retired as
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company.
Additionally, on March 31, 2000, the Company appointed William J. Mays as Chief
Operations Officer. Mr. Mays joined the Company in December 1998 as Vice
President, Operations Controller.
COMPANY INITIATIVES/RESTRUCTURING. During 1999, the Company closed its
Holland, New York; Dallas, Texas and Kosciusko, Mississippi facilities and
consolidated the equipment at those facilities into its Scottdale, Pennsylvania;
Corsicana, Texas; Mattoon, Illinois and Holyoke, Massachusetts facilities to
eliminate excess space, reduce fixed overhead expenses and operating costs and
improve customer service. Additionally, the Company consolidated six stand-alone
distribution facilities into two, and relocated the Scottdale finished goods
warehouse to a new state-of-the-art distribution facility in nearby New Stanton,
Pennsylvania.
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COMPETITIVE STRENGTHS
Although the recent bankruptcy could limit the Company's ability to further
capitalize or build on its competitive strengths, the Company still enjoys the
following advantages:
MARKET LEADER. The Company believes it is a market leader in core products
sold to customers in the largest office product channels by offering one of
the broadest assortments of high quality products in the industry.
Furthermore, the Company enjoys national brand awareness in many of its
product lines, including AMPAD-REGISTERED TRADEMARK-, CENTURY-TM-,
EMBASSY-REGISTERED TRADEMARK-, EVIDENCE-REGISTERED TRADEMARK-,
GOLD-FIBRE-TM-, HUXLEY-TM-, KAROLTON-REGISTERED TRADEMARK-,
KENT-REGISTERED TRADEMARK-, PEEL & SEEL-REGISTERED TRADEMARK-, SCM-TM-,
WILLIAMHOUSE-TM- and WORLD FIBRE-TM-.
WELL-POSITIONED AND DIVERSIFIED CUSTOMER BASE. The Company maintains strong
relationships with a combination of national, regional and independent paper
merchants throughout the country. The Company also maintains strong customer
relationships across all of the office products distribution channels,
including superstores, contract stationers, mass merchandisers, warehouse
clubs, office products wholesalers and independent dealers.
NATIONAL SCALE AND SERVICE CAPABILITY. The Company's extensive product
line, multiple brands and broad price point coverage provide significant
advantages and economies of scale in selling to and servicing its customers.
The Company is an important strategic partner to its customers as they seek
higher value-added products, simplify their purchasing organizations and
consolidate their relationships among selected national suppliers. The
Company's national presence and network of 13 strategically located
manufacturing and distribution facilities have enabled it to maintain rapid
and efficient order fulfillment standards. In addition, the Company's
advanced Electronic Data Interchange ("EDI") capabilities enable it to meet
its customers' EDI requirements, executing automated transactions rapidly,
efficiently and accurately.
INNOVATION/NEW PRODUCTS. During the third and fourth quarters of 1999, the
company introduced several value-added innovative products including: a new
poly filing line, expandable filing products, REGAL
MILLS-REGISTERED TRADEMARK- (papers), GEL MATES-TM- (papers), envelopes (new
sizes, colors, features, etc.) and TWIN PERF-TM- writing pads. The Company
is focused on developing a constant flow of new products. By developing new
products and continuing the branding initiatives, the Company intends to
increase its mix of value-added products. The Company believes these new
products, combined with a new branding strategy, will improve inventory turn
rates and return on inventory investment.
LOW-COST MANUFACTURER. The Company believes completion of its plant
rationalization plan has made it among the lowest-cost manufacturers of
paper-based office products in the industry.
PURCHASING ADVANTAGES. The Company has strong relationships with most of
the country's largest paper mills, many of which have been conducting
business with the Company for more than 30 years. The Company is one of the
largest purchasers of the principal paper grades used in its manufacturing
operations. In addition, the Company has the largest number of designated
mill relationships which involve some of the largest and most recognized
paper mill brands such as Hammermill, Fox River, Gilbert, Neenah and
Strathmore.
GROWTH STRATEGY
Although the recent bankruptcy will impact the Company's strategy, its
recent initiatives have laid the foundation for the future growth of its various
divisions.
E-COMMERCE INITIATIVE. Recognizing the growth in online commerce, the
Company believes it can expand the Ampad division's presence in the SOHO
(small office, home office) marketplace by working directly with both
E-Tailers who offer the Company's products via the Internet and
Commercial/Wholesale distributors who provide fulfillment for Internet sales
of the Company's products. The
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Company began its efforts in the E-Commerce channel in mid-1999 and the
Ampad division currently has products available on approximately 30 Internet
sites with an average of 175 items per site.
ENHANCING PROFITABILITY. The plant rationalization plan completed in 1999
has produced the intended cost savings and has enabled the Company to be
included among the lowest cost producers within its product category.
Additional efforts are continuing that improve asset management,
particularly inventory, equipment and receivables; enhance information
systems, including those that increase productivity and provide efficiency;
and provide better communication and coordination both internally and with
its customers and vendors.
FOCUS ON MARKET GROWTH AND INCREASING MARKET SHARE. The Company serves many
of the largest and best positioned customers in the office products market
segment including national office products superstores, mass merchandisers
and warehouse clubs, national contract stationers and national and regional
paper merchants/distributors and jobbers. The Company expects that its
national scope and broad product line will be increasingly important in
meeting the needs of its customers. The Company will continue to target
those customers who are on the forefront of their markets.
CONTINUE TO INTRODUCE NEW PRODUCTS. New, higher value-added products give
the Company a greater selection to offer its customers and improve product
line profitability for both the Company and its customers. The Company plans
to differentiate itself from other suppliers and improve profitability
through product innovation, differentiation and line extensions.
BROADEN PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION. The Company's market presence and
distribution strengths position it to sell new or acquired product lines
across its distribution channels, including paper merchants, national office
products superstores, national contract stationers, office product
wholesalers and mass merchandisers.
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
PADS AND OTHER PAPER-BASED WRITING PRODUCTS. The Company is one of the
largest manufacturers and marketers of paper-based writing products (excluding
copy paper) in North America, offering approximately 725 SKUs of writing pads,
notebooks and specialty papers. Many of the Company's writing products are
available in multiple sizes, grades of paper (including recycled), and colors
and with glued, perforated tops or wire binding. All writing products are
offered under the AMPAD-REGISTERED TRADEMARK- brand name or a retailer's private
label. The Company has created innovative packaging especially for sale through
warehouse clubs (bulk and crate packaging), superstores and mass merchandisers.
FILING SUPPLIES. The Company is one of the three largest manufacturers of
filing supplies in North America. The product line includes approximately 465
SKUs of filing supplies including file folders, hanging files, index cards and
expandable folders under the SCM-TM- and Globe-Weis-Registered Trademark- brand
names. The Company is attempting to grow its market share in filing supplies by
focusing its sales efforts on large retail customers and contract stationers and
by expanding into other areas of the mass market channel.
ENVELOPES. The Company is among the largest manufacturers of envelopes
serving the paper merchant/distributor and office product superstore channels.
In 1999, the Company produced approximately 20 billion envelopes. The Company's
broad envelope product line includes products manufactured from mill branded
paper, which is paper unique in color and texture to a particular mill,
typically with an identifying watermark. The Company is the largest designated
envelope manufacturer, producing envelopes for 33 mill brands. These mills
include the Hammermill, Strathmore and Beckett divisions of International Paper
Company, the Neenah division of Kimberly-Clark Corporation, the Gilbert division
of Mead and the Fox River Paper Company.
The Company also produces a wide variety of standard size and specialty
envelopes made from commodity paper and Tyvek-Registered Trademark- (a high
density polyurethane based product made by Du Pont), including
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booklet and catalog mailing envelopes, envelopes closable by metal clasp or
button-and-string, PEEL & SEEL-REGISTERED TRADEMARK- (pressure sensitive
adhesion) envelopes, and jumbo, X-ray and remittance envelopes. The Company
offers in excess of 27,000 SKUs of envelopes (which the Company believes is more
than any of its competitors), providing its customers with a wide choice of
paper grades, colors and sizes.
MACHINE PAPERS. The Company manufactures machine papers, a product category
defined by the Company which includes inkjet papers, printed formats, fine
papers such as cotton content and laid papers, as well as continuous forms.
INVITATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS. The Company manufactures invitations and
announcements, Christmas and holiday cards, and presentation folders. These
products are sold principally to paper merchants/ distributors, personalizing
businesses (including the former Regency Division), and other wholesale outlets
throughout the United States. The Company offers a wide variety of such
products, primarily made from the same mill branded grades of paper used in
manufacturing envelopes.
Principal products, customers and selected brands of the Company include:
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AMPAD WILLIAMHOUSE CREATIVE CARD
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PRODUCTS
- - Pads and Notebooks - Business Envelopes - Invitations
- - Filings Supplies - Invitations - Announcements
- - Retail envelopes - Announcements - Christmas Cards
- - Machine Papers - Christmas and Holiday Cards - Holiday Cards
- - Christmas and Holiday Cards - Machine Papers - PC/Desktop Stationary
- - Invitations
- - Announcements
DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS
- - Office Products Superstores - Paper Merchants/Distributors - Superstores
- - Mass Merchants - Jobbers - Mass Merchandisers
- - Contract Stationers - Personalizing Businesses - Card Distributors
- - Wholesalers - Imprinters
- - Buying Groups - Card Outlets
SELECTED BRANDS
- - AMPAD-Registered Trademark- - Century-TM- - Century-TM-
- - - Huxley-TM-
Embassy-Registered Trademark- -
- - Karolton-Registered Trademark-
Evidence-Registered Trademark- - Kent-Registered Trademark-
- - Globe -
Weis-Registered Trademark- Kentwove-Registered Trademark-
- - Gold-Fibre-TM- - Peel &
- - SCM-TM- Seel-Registered Trademark-
- - World Fibre-TM- - Williamhouse-TM-
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SALES, DISTRIBUTION AND MARKETING
The Company markets its broad range of products to a wide variety of
customers. One customer accounted for 21%, 15% and 12% of the Company's net
sales in 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively.
The Company markets its writing products, filing supplies, retail envelopes
and machine papers through virtually every channel of distribution for
paper-based office products including the largest mass merchant retailers,
office product superstores, warehouse clubs, major contract stationers, paper
merchants/distributors and other traditional outlets for office supplies such as
office product wholesalers, independent dealers, buying groups and mail order
firms.
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The Company sells its business envelopes and machine papers principally to
paper merchants/ distributors and other wholesale outlets throughout the United
States, primarily through an in-house sales force. In addition, mill branded
products are sold directly to personalizing businesses (including the former
Regency Division). The Company currently employs sales representatives
throughout the United States and sells products to over 1,700 paper
merchant/distributor locations in the United States and Canada. The Williamhouse
acquisition provided the Company with the ability to manufacture and distribute
retail envelopes to the Ampad division customers under the
AMPAD-Registered Trademark- and private label names.
Current key customers of the Company include:
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OFFICE PRODUCT SUPERSTORES MASS MERCHANTS PAPER MERCHANTS/DISTRIBUTORS
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Office Max Wal-Mart Nationwide
Staples xpedx
Unisource
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CONTRACT STATIONERS OFFICE PRODUCT WHOLESALERS WAREHOUSE CLUBS
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Boise Cascade Office Products S. P. Richards Sam's Warehouse Club
BT Office Products United Stationers
Staples*
U.S. Office Products
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* Contract Stationers division.
RAW MATERIAL
The Company's principal raw material is paper. Historically, certain
commodity grades utilized by the Company have shown considerable price
volatility. For example, all the key commodity grades of paper used by the
Company increased in cost between 9% and 28% in 1999. To the extent that the
Company is not able to pass such price changes on to its customers due to
strategic customer considerations or competitive market conditions, this price
volatility has and is expected to continue to have an effect on net sales and
cost of sales. The Company's gross margin was adversely affected in 1999 due to
these paper price increases. There is no assurance that the Company will not be
materially affected by future fluctuations in the price of paper.
The Company has strong relationships with most of the country's largest
paper mills, many of which have been doing business with the Company for more
than 30 years. The Company is one of the largest purchasers of the principal
paper grades used in its manufacturing operations. In addition, the Company has
the largest number of designated mill relationships, which involve some of the
largest and most recognized paper mill brands such as Hammermill, Fox River,
Gilbert, Neenah and Strathmore. The Company believes that these relationships
afford it certain paper purchasing advantages, including stable supply and
favorable pricing arrangements. While these relationships are stable, all but
one of the designated manufacturer arrangements are oral and terminable at will
at the option of either party. There can be no assurance that any of the
supplier or designated manufacturer relationships will not be terminated in the
future. While the Company has been able to obtain sufficient paper supplies
during paper shortages and otherwise, the Company is subject to the risk that it
will be unable to purchase sufficient quantities of paper to meet its production
requirements during times of tight supply.
COMPETITION
The markets for the Company's products are highly competitive. Competition
is based largely on a company's ability to offer a broad range of products on a
regional or national scale at competitive prices and to deliver these products
on a timely basis. The Company has many local and regional competitors. The
markets in which the Company operates have become increasingly characterized by
a limited number
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of large companies selling under recognized trade names. These larger companies,
including the Company, have the economies of scale, national presence,
management information systems and breadth of product line required by the major
customers. In addition to branded product lines, manufacturers also produce
private label products, especially in the context of broader supply
relationships with office product superstores and contract stationers.
In the writing products segment, the Company's key domestic competitors
include Mead, Pen-Tab Industries, and the Tops division of Wallace Computer
Services. In the filing supplies segment, the Company's key domestic competitors
include Esselte AB and Smead Manufacturing. In the machine papers segment, the
Company's key domestic competitors are CST/Star and Willamette Industries.
Envelope manufacturers compete in three distinct channels. In the paper
merchant/distributor channel, where the Company competes, manufacturers sell a
wide variety of mill branded, specialty and commodity envelope products to paper
merchants/distributors. The Company believes that envelope competitors in one
channel have the ability to compete in other channels, as competitive conditions
change.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
The Company registers some of its material trademarks, tradenames and
copyrights and has acquired patent protection for some of its proprietary
processes. In the opinion of management, the Company has current trademark
rights to conduct its business as now constituted. The Company has the right to
use the Globe-Weis-Registered Trademark- name on a non-exclusive basis through
August 15, 2000, pursuant to the extension of a royalty agreement it obtained
when it purchased certain file folder and hanging file assets from Atapco.
Thereafter, it shall continue in force for successive 12-month periods unless
terminated by either party. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company pays a
royalty of 0.3% of the net selling price of licensed products to Atapco.
EMPLOYEES
As of January 1, 2000, the Company had 3,834 full-time employees. All the
Company's operations are non-union except for the operations located in
Scottdale, Pennsylvania and Appleton, Wisconsin which have, in total, 917
employees participating in collective bargaining agreements. The collective
bargaining contracts covering the Company's employees will expire as follows:
the Scottdale contract expires April 30, 2003 and covers 777 employees; and the
Appleton contract expires March 31, 2001 and covers 140 employees. With the
exception of a strike at the Company's Marion, Indiana plant, as described
below, there have been no work stoppages at any Company facility during the last
five years. The Company believes that its relations with its employees and
unions are satisfactory.
In July 1994, the Company acquired the writing products and filing supplies
assets of SCM. Work rules and associated costs at SCM's plant in Marion, Indiana
were less favorable to the Company than those at other plants. As a result of
management's effort to bring the labor agreement at the plant more in line with
its other plants, a labor strike occurred on September 1, 1994. Consequently,
the Company closed the Marion, Indiana plant on February 15, 1995, and moved the
equipment to other facilities.
As part of the rationalization substantially completed in 1999, a total of
436 employees were severed in connection with the closures of Kosciusko,
Mississippi; Dallas, Texas and Holland, New York.
BACKLOG
The Company does not consider backlog to be a significant factor is its
business. Customer orders are generally received anywhere from same day to three
months in advance of shipment dates and are satisfied with on-hand finished
goods inventory or completed manufacturing within the customers delivery
deadlines.
10
<PAGE>
KNOWN TRENDS AND SEASONALITY
The Company experiences some seasonality in its business operations. During
the Company's third and fourth quarters, net sales tend to be higher than in the
first and second quarters due to sales of back-to-school items, seasonal
greeting card and tax filing products. With the sale of the Company's Creative
Card division, fourth quarter sales will likely be lower than they ordinarily
would have been.
The Company's Ampad division sells primarily to customers such as office
product superstores, mass merchants and national contract stationers. Such
customers periodically adjust the levels of inventory in the retail distribution
channels, either in retail stores or in distribution centers. The Company will
experience lower sales during periods when downward adjustments are made. The
Company is not able to predict the future effect of such adjustments; however,
it is likely that its retail customers will continue to adjust inventory levels
in the future.
The Company's gross profit is directly affected by, among other factors, the
mix of products sold. Based on the Company's current product categories, the
Company's gross profit will be negatively or positively affected as the actual
product sales mix changes.
ITEM 2 PROPERTIES
PROPERTIES AND FACILITIES
As of December 31, 1999, the Company operated manufacturing, distribution,
office and warehouse space in the United States with a total area of
approximately 5.4 million square feet. Of this area, approximately 2.5 million
square feet are leased and the Company owns approximately 2.9 million square
feet. Three closed facilities totaling approximately 343,000 square feet in
Gainesville, Georgia; Dallas, Texas and Holland, New York were held for sale at
December 31, 1999. All of the Company's owned facilities are pledged as
collateral under the Company's financing agreements.
To provide a cost efficient supply of products to its customers, the Company
maintains centralized management of nationwide manufacturing and distribution
facilities. Since 1992, the Company has consolidated 32 manufacturing and
distribution facilities into 23 facilities. The Company believes that
substantially all of its property and equipment is in good condition and that it
has sufficient capacity to
11
<PAGE>
meet its current and projected manufacturing and distribution needs in the
foreseeable future. The following table describes the principal properties of
the Company as of December 31, 1999:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
BUSINESS OWNED OR EXPIRATION OF SQUARE
LOCATION DIVISION(1) LEASED LEASE(2) FEET
- ----------------------------------------- ----------- -------- --------------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
ARKANSAS Bentonville A Leased 2000
CALIFORNIA City of Industry W Owned -- 85,000
City of Industry W Leased 2008 105,000
COLORADO Aurora W Leased 2001 55,000
GEORGIA Gainesville(c) A Owned (c) 70,000
ILLINOIS Bedford Park C Leased 2000 107,000
Bedford Park C Leased (d) 183,000
Chicago C Owned -- 40,000
Chicago C Leased 2000 227,000
Columbia A Leased month-to-month 29,200
Elk Grove Village W Owned -- 128,716
Mattoon A Leased 2009 172,000
Mattoon A Owned -- 261,800
Mattoon A Leased month-to-month 43,115
INDIANA Marion A Leased 2000 279
MASSACHUSETTS Holyoke A Owned -- 536,000
Holyoke A Owned -- 30,000
Springfield A Leased 2000 132,600
Westfield A Owned -- 165,785
MISSISSIPPI Kosciusko A Leased 2000 303,085
NEW JERSEY Bloomfiled W Leased 2003 70,000
NEW YORK Holland(c) W Owned (c) 168,000
New York City W Leased 2000 4,000
New York City W Leased 2009(b) 50,000
PENNSYLVANIA Lancaster F Leased 2001 105,000
Mt. Pleasant W Leased 2001 226,000
New Stanton W Leased 2009 176,000
Scottdale W Owned -- 400,000
TENNESSEE Morristown A Owned -- 255,000
Morristown A Leased 2000 52,500
TEXAS Corsicana W Owned -- 250,000
Dallas Corporate Leased 2002 49,119
Dallas(c) W Owned (c) 105,000
Dallas A Leased 2002 5,000
UTAH Salt Lake City A Leased 2016 385,106
WASHINGTON Kent W Leased month-to-month 38,400
WISCONSIN DePere F Owned (a) 95,853
Appleton W Owned (a) 313,000
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
(1) "A" indicates operations associated with the Company's Ampad division, "W"
indicates operations associated with the Company's Williamhouse division,
"F" indicates operations associated with the Company's Forms division, and
"C" indicates operations associated with the Company's Creative Card
division.
(2) (a) Two or more properties owned at this location.
(b) Subleased to third parties
(c) Closed facility held for sale
(d) Lease was rejected as part of the bankruptcy proceedings.
12
<PAGE>
ITEM 3 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
CHAPTER 11 PROCEEDINGS
On January 10, 2000, certain holders of the Company's 13% Senior
Subordinated Notes due November 15, 2003 filed an involuntary chapter 11
petition against the Company and all of its subsidiaries except Notepad Funding
Corporation (the "Debtors") in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the
District of Delaware. On January 14, 2000, each of the Debtors consented to the
entry of an Order for Relief and filed voluntary petitions under chapter 11 of
title 11 of the United States Code (the "Bankruptcy Code"). The bankruptcy Case
Numbers 00-00066 (RRM) through 00-00072 (RRM) are being jointly administered
under Case Number 00-00066 (RRM). Each of the Debtors is continuing to operate
its business and manage its property as a debtor-in-possession pursuant to
sections 1107 (a) and 1108 of the Bankruptcy Code. On January 28, 2000, an
Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors was appointed in these cases. With
Court approval, the Company has obtained debtor in possession financing in the
amount of $65 million from a subset of its prepetition secured bank group. No
plan of reorganization has yet been proposed by the Company.
OTHER LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
As previously reported, between March 10, 1998 and April 11, 1998, three
complaints were filed in the United States District Court for the Northern
District of Texas naming as defendants the Company, certain of its officers and
directors and certain of the underwriters and other related entities involved in
the Company's initial public offering. The plaintiffs in the first two
complaints purport to represent a class of stockholders who acquired shares of
the Company's common stock between July 2, 1996 and December 17, 1997. The
complaints seek unspecified damages and other relief under the federal
securities laws based on allegations that the Company made omissions and
misleading disclosures in public reports and press releases and to securities
analysts during 1996 and 1997 concerning the Company's financial condition, its
future business prospects and the impact of various acquisitions. These two
lawsuits were consolidated on July 2, 1998. The third complaint was dismissed
without prejudice by the plaintiffs on September 29, 1998. Motions to dismiss
have been filed in the consolidated cases and all briefing is complete. Pending
a ruling on the motions to dismiss, all proceedings in the consolidated action
have been stayed. To the extent that the motions to dismiss are denied in whole
or in part, the Company believes that it has meritorious defenses to plaintiff's
claims and, subject to actions relating to the lawsuit under the company's
bankruptcy proceedings, intends to vigorously defend the action.
ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH AND SAFETY MATTERS
The operations of the Company are subject to federal, state and local laws
and regulations relating to the environment. Certain of the more significant
federal laws are described below. The implementation of these laws by the United
States Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") and the states will continue to
affect the Company's operations by imposing increased operating and maintenance
costs and capital expenditures required for compliance.
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ("RCRA") of 1976, as amended,
affects the Company through its reporting, recordkeeping and waste management
requirements, thereby increasing the cost of all types of waste disposal.
Regulations under RCRA prohibit certain types of waste disposal, further
increasing Company costs for waste management. The Comprehensive Environmental
Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended ("CERCLA") creates
the potential for substantial liability for the costs of study and cleanup of
waste disposal sites and requires the reporting of certain releases into the
environment. Court interpretation of this Act may result in joint and several
liability even for parties not primarily responsible for hazardous waste
disposal sites. Additional laws and the regulations promulgated thereunder also
have resulted in additional reporting duties.
13
<PAGE>
Violations of any federal environmental statutes or regulations or orders
issues thereunder, as well as relevant state and local laws and regulations,
could result in civil or criminal actions.
While there can be no assurance that the Company is at all times in complete
compliance with all such laws and regulations, the Company has made and will
continue to make capital and other expenditures to comply with such
requirements. The Company spent approximately $1.2 million, $880,000 and
$839,000 in 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively, on environmental capital
projects, primarily for the acquisition of waste paper baling and vacuum systems
to improve the collection of paper waste at its plants. The Company estimates
that its environmental capital expenditures will be approximately $0.3 million
in each of 2000 and 2001. As is the case with manufacturers in general, if a
release of hazardous substances occurs on or from the Company's properties or
any associated offsite disposal location, or if contamination from prior
activities is discovered at any of the Company's properties, the Company may be
held liable and the amount of such liability could be material.
The Company is aware that three of its facilities have been the subject of
certain soil and groundwater investigations. The prior owner of the facilities
has indemnified the Company for certain environmental liabilities associated
with historical use of the properties. The Company currently believes that any
environmental liabilities associated with such facilities would not be material
or have been adequately covered by agreements with the former owners. Soil and
groundwater contamination relating to underground storage tanks has been
identified at an additional facility not covered by an indemnification agreement
with the prior owner. The Company is cooperating with state and local
environmental officials to finalize remediation plans for the site. Current
cleanup costs are not expected to exceed $150,000.
The Company has been named a potentially responsible party ("PRP") under
CERCLA at five waste disposal sites. The Company settled its liability at four
of these sites as a de minimis party. At the Spectron site in Elkton, Maryland,
the Company paid approximately $1,300 in 1989 as a de minimis settlement for an
initial removal action at the site. In 1995, the Company received a notice of a
remedial action at the site, and based upon its allocation in 1989, expects to
be eligible for a de minimis or de micromis settlement. The Company is aware
that Niagara has been named a PRP at the Envirotek II site in Tonawanda, New
York with respect to which Niagara expects to be eligible for a de minimis
settlement.
GENERAL
The potential effect of the Company's chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings will
be considered by the Company with regard to any decisions or actions relating to
the foregoing Legal Proceedings. The resolution in any reporting period of one
or more of the foregoing matters in a manner adverse to the Company could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition or results of
operations. The Company is also a party to various other litigation matters
incidental to the conduct of its business. Although the outcome of these matters
cannot be predicted with certainty, management does not expect the outcome of
any of the matters in which it is currently involved to have a material adverse
effect on the Company's financial position.
ITEM 4 SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
There were no matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Company
during the quarter ended December 31, 1999.
14
<PAGE>
PART II
ITEM 5 MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANTS' COMMON STOCK
Until January 25, 1999, the common stock of the Company was traded on the
New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol "AGP". On January 26, 1999, the
NYSE suspended trading of the Company's common stock and the NYSE applied to the
Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. for removal of the common
stock of the Company from listing and registration on the NYSE. On January 26,
1999, the Company's common stock began trading on the NASD Over-the-Counter
Bulletin Board System under the symbol "AMPP." The quarterly high and low prices
for the common stock during 1999 and 1998 were:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
QUARTER ENDED LOW PRICE HIGH PRICE
- ------------- --------- ----------
<S> <C> <C>
1999:
March 31, 1999.......................................... $0.500 $1.750
June 30, 1999........................................... $1.125 $2.750
September 30, 1999...................................... $0.469 $2.500
December 31, 1999....................................... $0.203 $0.625
1998:
March 31, 1998.......................................... $6.875 $9.500
June 30, 1998........................................... $4.500 $7.500
September 30, 1998...................................... $1.063 $5.125
December 31, 1998....................................... $1.188 $3.438
</TABLE>
As of December 31, 1999, there were approximately 6,000 stockholders of the
Company's common stock. The Company has not sold any unregistered securities
during the last fiscal year.
DIVIDEND POLICY
Subsequent to its initial public offering, the Company has not declared or
paid any cash or other dividends on its common stock and does not expect to pay
dividends for the foreseeable future. Instead, the Company currently intends to
retain earnings to reduce debt. As a holding company, the ability of the Company
to pay dividends in the future is dependent upon the receipt of dividends or
other payments from its principal operating subsidiaries, AP&P Delaware and
Manufacturing. The payment of dividends by AP&P Delaware and Manufacturing to
the Company for purposes of paying dividends to holders of common stock is
prohibited by the revolving credit facility and restricted by the indenture
related to the Notes. Any future determination to pay dividends will be at the
discretion of the Company's Board of Directors and will depend upon, among other
factors, the Company's results of operations, financial condition, capital
requirements and contractual restrictions.
15
<PAGE>
ITEM 6 SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The selected historical consolidated financial data set forth below for the
years ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997 have been derived from, and are
qualified by reference to, the audited consolidated financial statements of the
Company included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. The selected historical
consolidated financial data set forth for the years ended December 31, 1996 and
1995 have been derived from the Company's audited financial statements not
included in this Form 10-K. The selected historical consolidated financial data
set forth below should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified by
reference to, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations" and the audited consolidated financial statements and
accompanying notes thereto included elsewhere in this Form 10-K.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
-----------------------------------------------------
INCOME STATEMENT DATA(1,2) 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995
- -------------------------- --------- -------- -------- -------- --------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net sales................................................... $ 572,616 $662,031 $687,335 $583,859 $257,160
Cost of sales(3)............................................ 531,085 597,456 598,416 466,385 209,633
--------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Gross profit............................................ 41,531 64,575 88,919 117,474 47,527
--------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Operating expenses:
Selling and marketing..................................... 22,204 21,261 22,246 16,964 6,254
General and administrative................................ 26,780 31,840 19,133 16,438 10,447
Rationalization charges(4)................................ (2,773) 5,741 -- -- --
Losses on sales of accounts receivable.................... 3,295 3,226 2,954 1,823 423
Amortization of goodwill and intangible assets............ 5,133 5,939 6,110 4,488 879
Write down of assets--Shade/Allied(5)..................... -- 41,000 -- --
Nonrecurring compensation charge(6)....................... -- -- -- -- 27,632
Management fees and services(7)........................... 1,500 2,030 4,871 3,880 542
--------- -------- -------- -------- --------
56,139 111,037 55,314 43,593 46,177
--------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Income (loss) from operations............................... (14,608) (46,462) 33,605 73,881 1,350
Other income (expense):
Interest.................................................. (44,865) (44,970) (37,843) (42,968) (13,657)
Other income, net......................................... 2,005 1,411 389 1,153 735
--------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Income (loss) before income taxes........................... (57,468) (90,021) (3,849) 32,066 (11,572)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes........................ 23,270 (11,374) 642 13,852 (6,538)
--------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Income (loss) before extraordinary item and cumulative
effect of a change in accounting principle................ (80,738) (78,647) (4,491) 18,214 (5,034)
Extraordinary loss from extinguishment of debt, net of
income tax................................................ -- -- -- (19,995) (9,652)
Loss before cumulative effect of a change in accounting
principal................................................. (80,738) (78,647) (4,491) (1,781) (14,686)
Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle(11)... (726) -- -- -- --
--------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net loss.................................................... $ (81,464) $(78,647) $ (4,491) $ (1,781) $(14,686)
========= ======== ======== ======== ========
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
Earnings (loss) before extraordinary item and cumulative
effect of a change in accounting principle.............. $ (2.89) $ (2.84) $ (0.16) $ 1.05 $ (0.69)
Extraordinary loss from extinguishment of debt, net of
income tax.............................................. -- -- -- (1.15) (1.32)
Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle..... (0.03) -- -- -- --
--------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net loss.................................................. $ (2.92) $ (2.84) $ (0.16) $ (0.10) $ (2.01)
========= ======== ======== ======== ========
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
Earnings (loss) before extraordinary item and cumulative
effect of a change in accounting principle.............. $ (2.89) $ (2.84) $ (0.16) $ 0.99 $ (0.69)
Extraordinary loss from extinguishment of debt, net of
income tax.............................................. -- -- -- (1.09) (1.32)
Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle..... (0.03) -- -- -- --
--------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net loss.................................................. $ (2.92) $ (2.84) $ (0.16) $ (0.10) $ (2.01)
========= ======== ======== ======== ========
Weighted average shares outstanding:(8)
Basic..................................................... 27,944 27,718 27,431 17,408 7,307
Diluted................................................... 27,944 27,718 27,431 18,426 7,307
Other Data:
Depreciation and amortization............................. $ 20,156 $ 19,769 $ 18,639 $ 14,253 $ 4,248
Capital expenditures...................................... $ 11,876 $ 15,000 $ 23,095 $ 15,109 $ 5,640
</TABLE>
16
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31,
-----------------------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997 1996 1995
--------- -------- -------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balance Sheet Data:
Working capital........................................... $(343,178) $ 73,308 $152,819 $ 77,857 $108,845
Total assets.............................................. $ 472,228 $516,480 $638,401 $509,417 $504,356
Long-term debt, less current maturities(9)................ $ -- $373,675 $398,577 $269,812 $443,794
Stockholders' equity (deficit)(10)........................ $ (60,779) $ 20,713 $100,666 $104,599 $(66,421)
</TABLE>
The Company has completed the following acquisitions during the periods
presented. All such acquisitions have been accounted for using the purchase
method of accounting. The results of operations for each of the businesses
acquired are included in the Company's results of operations from the date of
acquisition through the end of the year in which the acquisition occurred and in
each subsequent year presented.
(1) - Effective August 16, 1995, the Company acquired the inventory and certain
equipment of the file folder and hanging file product lines of the
Globe-Weis office products division of Atapco.
- Effective October 31, 1995, the Company acquired Williamhouse. The
Personalizing Division of Williamhouse was identified as a non-strategic
asset at the date of the acquisition and was reflected as an asset held
for sale in the consolidated balance sheet through June 27, 1996, when it
was sold. As such, the operating results of the Personalizing Division are
excluded from the results of operations from the date of the Williamhouse
acquisition.
- Effective June 28, 1996, the Company acquired Niagara.
- Effective February 11, 1997, the Company acquired Shade/Allied.
(2) Certain amounts in the 1998, 1997 and 1996 consolidated financial
statements have been reclassified in order to conform to the presentation
in the 1999 consolidated financial statements.
(3) Inventory cost is determined using the LIFO method of valuation.
(4) In the third quarter of 1998, the Company recorded a $5.7 million charge
for part of the plan to rationalize the Company's manufacturing operations.
In the fourth quarter of 1999, the Company reversed $2.8 million of the
restructuring charges for a facility not closed as planned.
(5) In the second quarter of 1998, the Company wrote off $41.0 million of
goodwill and intangible assets associated with the Shade/ Allied continuous
forms business. See Note 5, "Impairment of Shade/Allied Long-Lived Assets,"
in Part IV, Item 14(a)(1).
(6) Includes non-cash stock option compensation charges of $24.3 million
directly related to the Williamhouse acquisition as well as other
non-recurring cash and non-cash charges aggregating $3.3 million.
(7) Includes $2.5 million in 1997 and 1996 related to a one-year consulting
agreement with the former president and major shareholder of Niagara, which
ended in 1997.
(8) In the fourth quarter of 1997, the Company adopted the provisions of
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, EARNINGS PER SHARE,
and the provisions of Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting
Bulletin No. 98. Basic earnings per share are computed using the actual
weighted average number of outstanding common shares for each period after
giving effect to the Company's 8.1192-for-one stock split prior to the
Company's initial public offering. However, changes in the Company's
capital structure at the time of the initial public offering relative to
preferred stock and preferred stock option conversions to common stock and
common stock options are not presented retroactively. Diluted earnings per
share are based on the weighted average number of outstanding common shares
and give effect to the exercise of common stock options. Diluted earnings
per share are not presented for years in which the Company incurred losses,
as the earnings per share information would be anti-dilutive.
(9) All indebtedness of the Company, in the aggregate amount of $392 million,
is in default at December 31, 1999, and has been classified as a current
liability in its balance sheet.
(10) For 1995, includes $4.5 million to pay the liquidation preference,
including the return of original cost, of the Company's Class P common
stock and $70.6 million to redeem a portion of its preferred stock.
(11) For 1999, reflects a charge of $0.7 million, net of tax, for the write off
of previously recorded start-up costs. The Accounting Standards Executive
Committee (AcSEC) issued Statement of Position (SOP) 98-5, which is
effective for fiscal years commencing after December 15, 1998. SOP 98-5,
"Reporting on the Costs of Start-up Activities", prescribes that start-up
costs should be expensed as incurred. The SOP states that its adoption
should be reported as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting
principle.
17
<PAGE>
ITEM 7 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
OVERVIEW
The Company is one of the largest manufacturers and marketers of nationally
branded and private label paper-based office products (excluding copy paper) in
the $60 billion to $70 billion North American office products industry. Through
its Ampad division, the Company is among the largest manufacturers of writing
pads and notebooks, filing supplies, retail envelopes and machine papers to many
of the largest office product retailers and distributors. Through its
Williamhouse division, the Company is the leading supplier of mill branded,
specialty and commodity business envelopes to paper merchants and distributors.
The Company believes that certain aspects of its future operating results, such
as year to year revenue growth, will not be directly comparable to its
historical operating results because of the effect of its strategic
acquisitions. Certain factors, which have affected, and may affect
prospectively, the operating results of the Company are discussed below.
STRATEGIC ACQUISITIONS. In October 1995, the Company acquired Williamhouse,
a leading supplier of envelopes to many of the largest distributors, for an
aggregate purchase price (including assumption of debt) of approximately
$300.7 million plus reimbursement of certain expenses to the sellers. In
June 1996, the Company acquired Niagara, a national supplier of envelopes to
distributors, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $53.2 million,
including costs of the acquisition and a $5.0 million one-year consulting
agreement with Niagara's former president. With these acquisitions, the Company
became the largest supplier of envelopes to the national paper merchants. The
Williamhouse acquisition was financed through the Company's revolving credit
facility and the assumption of senior subordinated notes. The Niagara
acquisition was financed with proceeds from the sale of the Personalizing
Division of Williamhouse. In February 1997, the Company acquired Shade/Allied, a
national supplier of machine papers, principally continuous computer forms. The
purchase price of $50.7 million was financed through the Company's revolving
credit facility. Both the Ampad and Williamhouse divisions distribute machine
papers products.
PURCHASE ACCOUNTING EFFECTS. The Company's acquisitions have been accounted
for using the purchase accounting method. The acquisitions have currently
affected, and will prospectively affect, the Company's results of operations in
certain significant respects. The aggregate acquisition costs (including
assumption of debt) are allocated to the assets acquired based on the fair
market value of such assets on the date of acquisition. The allocations of the
purchase price result in an increase in the historical book value of certain
assets such as property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, including
goodwill, which results in incremental annual depreciation and amortization
expense each year.
RAW MATERIAL. The Company's principal raw material is paper. Historically,
certain commodity grades utilized by the Company have shown considerable price
volatility. For example, all the key commodity grades of paper utilized by the
Company increased in cost between 9% and 28% in 1999. To the extent that the
Company is not able to pass such price changes on to its customers due to
strategic customer considerations or competitive market conditions, this price
volatility has and is expected to continue to have an effect on net sales and
cost of sales. The Company's gross margin was adversely affected in 1999 due to
these paper price increases. There is no assurance that the Company will not be
materially affected by future fluctuations in the price of paper.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Since the Company's last acquisition in 1997 revenues have declined, margins
have eroded, competitive pressures in the marketplace kept the Company from
fully recouping increasing paper prices, and inventory levels were, for a period
of time, built to an excessive level. Through the rationalization plan initiated
in late 1998, three manufacturing plants were closed, inventory levels were
reduced and production was better coordinated with sales. Although competitive
pressures continued, price increases were initiated which, while not fully
recouping prices movements in raw materials, caused amounts absorbed by
18
<PAGE>
the Company to be reduced. Despite the progress on operational and pricing
issues, the Company's capital structure and high level of debt have limited its
ability to return to profitability.
DEBT DEFAULT AND PROCEEDINGS UNDER CHAPTER 11 OF THE BANKRUPTCY CODE. On
November 12, 1999, the Company was notified by its banking group of a default of
its revolving credit facility. The default stemmed from the formation of new
subsidiaries in December 1997 related to a reorganization of the Company's
corporate structure without proper notification to the banks. The reorganization
was implemented primarily for state tax purposes and included the transfer of
assets between existing entities and transfers to the new subsidiaries. The
default on the revolving credit facility prevented the Company from paying
interest on its publicly traded Notes due November 15, 1999, thereby causing a
default on the Notes as well.
On January 10, 2000, certain holders of the Company's 13% Senior
Subordinated Notes due November 15, 2005 filed an involuntary chapter 11
petition against the Company and all of its subsidiaries except Notepad Funding
Corporation (the "Debtors") in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the
District of Delaware. On January 14, 2000, each of the Debtors consented to the
entry of an Order for Relief and filed voluntary petitions under chapter 11 of
title 11 of the United States Code (the "Bankruptcy Code"). The bankruptcy Case
Numbers 00-00066 (RRM) through 00-00072 (RRM) are being jointly administered
under Case Number 00-00066 (RRM). Each of the Debtors is continuing to operate
its business and manage its property as a debtor-in-possession pursuant to
sections 1107 (a) and 1108 of the Bankruptcy Code. On January 28, 2000, an
Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors was appointed in these cases. No plan
of reorganization has yet been proposed by the Company.
On January 10, 2000, as a result of the chapter 11 filings, the Company's
$60.0 million accounts receivable financing facility terminated and no further
sales of receivables occurred. Although no post-termination receivables were
sold under this facility, the Company continues to act as servicer under the
facility and to collect and remit remaining outstanding receivables as provided
in the facility.
On February 9, 2000, the Bankruptcy Court entered a final order approving
$65 million DIP financing in the form of a revolving credit facility provided by
the Company's existing bank group. Availability under the facility is contingent
upon a borrowing base of accounts receivable and inventory, and bears interest
at a rate of prime plus 2.5%. The revolving credit facility matures July 17,
2000, and may be extended upon satisfaction of certain conditions.
Although Chapter 11 bankruptcy raises substantial doubt about the Company's
ability to continue as a going concern, the accompanying consolidated financial
statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles applicable to a company on a going-concern basis which contemplates
the continuity of operations, realization of assets and the liquidation of
liabilities in the ordinary course of business. As a result of the Chapter 11
filing, realization of assets and liquidation of liabilities are subject to
significant uncertainties. Specifically, the financial statements do not present
the amount that will be paid to settle liabilities and contingencies that may be
allowed in Chapter 11 reorganization. Also the consolidated financial statements
do not reflect i) adjustments to assets and liabilities which may occur in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, STATEMENT OF POSITION
90-7, FINANCIAL REPORTING BY ENTITIES IN REORGANIZATION UNDER THE BANKRUPTCY
CODE (SOP 90-7) following the confirmation of a plan of reorganization; or
ii) the realizable value of assets which would be required to be recorded if the
Company presents a plan which contemplates the disposal of all or portions of
its assets and operations. The filing of a plan of reorganization could
materially affect the carrying value of the assets and liabilities currently
disclosed in the consolidated financial statements.
MANAGEMENT CHANGES. On March 30, 2000, William L. Morgan retired as
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company.
Additionally, on March 30, 2000, the Company appointed William J. Mays as Chief
Operations Officer. Mr. Mays joined the Company in December 1998 as Vice
President, Operations Controller.
19
<PAGE>
COMPANY INITIATIVES/RESTRUCTURING. Under the leadership of new management,
the Company performed a review of all operations with the goals of rebuilding
market share, reducing debt and returning the Company to profitability.
As previously reported in 1998, the Company announced a plan to rationalize
its manufacturing operations, and recorded a $5.7 million dollar restructuring
charge to include employee termination costs, costs to exit facilities, lease
termination costs, and property taxes after ceasing operations. The plan
included plant consolidations, equipment moves, plant/product changes, warehouse
consolidations and the addition of new distribution centers.
In 1999, the Company closed three plants as part of the rationalization
plan. The closing of the Kosciusko, Mississippi plant was announced on
November 10, 1998, and final production occurred on April 14, 1999. The closing
of the Dallas, Texas, plant was announced on January 19, 1999, and final
production occurred on April 22, 1999. The closing of the Holland, New York,
plant was announced on May 10, 1999, and final production occurred on
November 30, 1999. As of December 31, 1999, 436 employees have been severed and
severance and benefit payments totaling $1.3 million have been charged to the
restructuring reserve.
The original rationalization plan included the consolidation of two existing
plants. After attempts to hire additional skilled labor at the receiving plant
failed, the decision to close the first plant was reversed; as such,
$2.8 million of the originally recorded restructuring charges were reversed in
the third and fourth quarters of 1999.
The Company additionally recorded one-time implementation costs associated
with the rationalization plan of $9.4 million in cost of sales during 1999.
These expenses represent costs to move equipment and inventory, interim
warehouse costs, employee retention and relocation, recruiting costs, and other
training and efficiency costs. The Company also recorded one-time capital
expenditure costs of $2.0 million in 1999 associated with the rationalization
plan. The major undertakings of the rationalization plan have been completed as
of December 31, 1999.
OTHER. On March 8, 2000, the Company announced that it had signed a letter
of intent with Taylor Corporation for the purchase of the Company's Creative
Card division located in Chicago. Negotiations are continuing with Taylor
Corporation and the Company expects the sale to be finalized in the second
quarter of 2000. Such sale, subject to the approval of the bankruptcy court, is
expected to result in a loss of $5 to $10 million.
On March 21, 2000, the Company was notified by one of its major customers of
the Ampad division that it intends to move its business to other suppliers. In
1999, that customer accounted for approximately $42 million or 6.4% of the
Company's sales.
20
<PAGE>
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table summarizes the Company's historical results of
operations as a percentage of net sales for the years 1999, 1998, and 1997. The
Company's historical results of operations for each of these periods are
significantly affected by the results of the February 1997 acquisition by the
Company of Shade/Allied.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
-------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Net sales................................................... 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Gross profit............................................ 7.3% 9.8% 12.9%
Operating expenses:
Selling and marketing..................................... 3.9% 3.2% 3.2%
General and administrative................................ 4.7% 4.8% 2.8%
Rationalization charges................................... (0.5)% 0.9% 0.0%
Losses on sales of accounts receivable.................... 0.6% 0.5% 0.4%
Amortization of goodwill and intangible assets............ 0.9% 0.9% 0.9%
Write down of assets--Shade/Allied........................ 0.0% 6.2% 0.0%
Management fees and services.............................. 0.3% 0.3% 0.7%
------ ------ ------
9.9% 16.8% 8.0%
------ ------ ------
Income (loss) from operations............................... (2.6)% (7.0)% 4.9%
Other income (expense):
Interest.................................................. (7.8)% (6.8)% (5.6)%
Other income, net......................................... 0.4% 0.2% 0.1%
------ ------ ------
Loss before income taxes.................................... (10.0)% (13.6)% (0.6)%
Provision (benefit) for income taxes........................ 4.1% (1.7)% 0.1%
------ ------ ------
Loss before cumulative effect of a change in accounting
principle................................................. (14.1)% (11.9)% (0.7)%
Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle....... (0.1)% 0.0% 0.0%
------ ------ ------
Net loss.................................................... (14.2)% (11.9)% (0.7)%
====== ====== ======
</TABLE>
YEAR 1999 COMPARED TO 1998
NET SALES decreased to $572.6 million in 1999 from $662.0 million in 1998, a
decrease of $89.4 million or 13.5%. The decrease is comprised of a
$84.4 million decrease in sales and a $5.0 million increase in customer
incentives. The net sales decrease is primarily attributable to the loss of a
superstore customer in 1998, the Company's efforts to eliminate unprofitable
business, and the continued effort by the Company's superstore customers to
reduce inventory. The decrease was partially offset by increases in sales to the
remaining superstore customers.
GROSS PROFIT decreased to $41.5 million, or 7.3% of net sales, in 1999 from
$64.6 million, or 9.8% of net sales, in 1998. This $23.1 million decrease in
gross profit margin is primarily attributable to lower sales and LIFO charges
that exceeded 1998 charges by $9.5 million. These variances were partially
offset by lower standard costs and operating variances. In addition, 1999 cost
of sales included $9.4 million of one-time costs associated with the plant
rationalization plan. These expenses represent costs to move equipment,
efficiency costs and recruiting costs.
SELLING AND MARKETING expenses increased to $22.2 million in 1999 from
$21.3 million in 1998, or $0.9 million, due to increased advertising costs
associated with an effort to re-align branding and revise merchandising within
the Company's Ampad division.
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE expenses decreased to $26.8 million in 1999 from
$31.8 million in 1998, or $5 million. This decrease is primarily attributable to
1998 one-time severance and consulting costs paid to certain former executives
of the Company of $3.0 million, $2.1 million of consulting fees paid in 1998
related to work on the Company's restructuring, and $1.4 million in management
bonus and sales incentives in 1998; partially offset by $3.0 million in 1999 in
fees paid to professionals to assist in negotiations with the banks regarding
potential debt restructuring.
21
<PAGE>
RATIONALIZATION CHARGES recorded in September 1998 of $2.8 million were
reversed during 1999. The original rationalization plan included the
consolidation of two existing plants. After attempts to hire additional skilled
labor at the receiving plant failed, the decision to close the first plant was
reversed. Restructuring charges for 1998 were $5.7 million.
LOSSES ON SALES OF ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE increased to $3.3 million in 1999
from $3.2 million in 1998 due primarily to a higher average level of accounts
receivable sold to the third party trust in 1999, partially offset by slightly
lower average interest rates. The losses on sales of accounts receivable
represent the Company's cost of using a third party trust to provide off balance
sheet financing of trade accounts receivable.
GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSET AMORTIZATION expense decreased to
$5.1 million in 1999 from $5.9 million in 1998. The decrease of $0.8 million is
due primarily to the amortization associated with the $41.0 million writedown of
intangible assets in the second quarter of 1998. (SEE WRITE DOWN OF INTANGIBLE
ASSETS BELOW.)
WRITE DOWN OF INTANGIBLE ASSETS expense of $41.0 million for the year ended
1998 reflects a write-off of goodwill and a writedown of intangible assets
associated with the Shade/Allied continuous forms business.
MANAGEMENT FEES AND SERVICES decreased to $1.5 million in 1999 from
$2.0 million for 1998, representing a decrease of $0.5 million. The change in
management fees is due to the renegotiation of the Company's Advisory Agreement
with Bain Capital to reduce the fee from $2.0 million to $1.5 million annually.
INTEREST EXPENSE decreased from $45 million in 1998 to $44.9 million in
1999, representing a decrease of $0.1 million. This $0.1 million variance was
due primarily to the conversion from base rate denominated debt in 1998, to
Euro-dollar denominated debt in 1999, following the November default.
THE INCOME TAX PROVISION for the year ended December 31, 1999, reflects an
effective income tax rate of 39.9% as compared with the effective income tax
benefit rate of 12.6% for the year ended December 31, 1998. In 1999, the Company
recorded a deferred tax asset valuation allowance of $43.3 million based on
management's uncertainty surrounding the realizability of certain deferred tax
assets. Therefore, the 1999 income tax benefit was reduced by a provision of
$43.3 million related to the valuation allowance. In future periods, the
Company's provision for income taxes may be impacted by adjustments to the
valuation allowance. In 1998, the Company's loss before income taxes included
non-deductible expenses of $45.0 million. These expenses were primarily the
write off of goodwill and other intangibles, goodwill amortization, and travel
and entertainment costs. In 1998, the Company recorded a net deferred tax
valuation allowance of $6.3 million to reduce the deferred tax asset to an
amount which the Company believed, based on the Company's estimates of near-term
taxable earnings, was realizable.
CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF A CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE for the year ended
December 31, 1999, reflects a charge of $0.7 million, net of tax, for the write
off of previously recorded start-up costs. The Accounting Standards Executive
Committee (AcSEC) issued Statement of Position (SOP) 98-5, which is effective
for fiscal years commencing after December 15, 1998. SOP 98-5, "Reporting on the
Costs of Start-up Activities", prescribes that start-up costs should be expensed
as incurred. The SOP states that its adoption should be reported as a cumulative
effect of a change in accounting principle.
YEAR 1998 COMPARED TO 1997
NET SALES decreased to $662.0 million in 1998 from $687.3 million in 1997, a
decrease of $25.3 million or (3.7%). This net sales decrease is comprised
primarily of a $12.4 million decrease in sales and a $12.5 million increase in
customer incentives. The net sales decrease is primarily attributable to
unfavorable volume variances and the loss of a major customer, partially offset
by favorable mix and price variances, and owning Shade/Allied ($3.3 million) for
twelve months of 1998 versus only ten and one-half months in the same period in
1997. The sales decrease occurred primarily in the merchant channel due to the
consolidation and restructuring experienced in that channel. The increased
customer incentives are due to additional rebate programs caused by more
competitive pricing, changing product mix, higher volumes
22
<PAGE>
resulting in certain customers reaching the next incentive tier level and a
write off related to the loss of a major customer.
GROSS PROFIT decreased to $64.6 million, or 9.8% of net sales, in 1998 from
$88.9 million, or 12.9% of net sales, in 1997. This $24.3 million decrease in
gross profit margin is primarily attributable to increased customer incentives
discussed above, higher unit production costs due to underutilized capacity
resulting from the Company's efforts to reduce its inventory, the lower sales,
and increased manufacturing costs. In addition, 1998 included approximately
$7.5 million of charges resulting from reevaluating certain inventories based on
changes in current market conditions and accruals for workers' compensation and
property tax; approximately $1.9 million of net charges for additional
obsolescence reserves; $0.9 million of one-time costs associated with the plant
rationalization plan.
SELLING AND MARKETING expenses decreased to $21.3 million in 1998 from
$22.2 million in 1997, or $0.9 million due to efforts to control costs.
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE expenses increased to $31.8 million in 1998 from
$19.1 million in 1997, or $12.7 million. This increase is primarily attributable
to $3.0 million of severance and consulting costs paid to certain former
executives of the Company, $2.1 million of consulting fees related to work on
the Company's rationalization plan, and $1.4 million of management bonus and
sales incentives. In addition, the Company's second quarter reevaluation of
certain assets resulted in $1.7 million of current charges for additional
allowance for doubtful accounts and other severance and litigation costs of
$1.3 million. The remainder of the increase is attributable to owning
Shade/Allied for the full year in 1998 versus only ten and one-half months in
the same period in 1997 and one time charges associated with centralizing
certain functions in Dallas.
RESTRUCTURING CHARGES for the year ended 1998 of $5.7 million represents
part of the rationalization plan of the Company's manufacturing operations.
LOSSES ON SALES OF ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE increased to $3.2 million in 1998
from $3.0 million in 1997 due primarily to a higher average level of accounts
receivable sold to the third party trust in 1998, partially offset by slightly
lower average interest rates. The losses on sales of accounts receivable
represent the Company's cost of using a third party trust to provide off balance
sheet financing of trade accounts receivable.
GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSET AMORTIZATION expense decreased to
$5.9 million in 1998 from $6.1 million in 1997. The decrease of $200,000 is due
primarily to the amortization associated with the $41.0 million writedown of
intangible assets in the second quarter of 1998. (SEE WRITE DOWN OF INTANGIBLE
ASSETS BELOW.)
WRITE DOWN OF INTANGIBLE ASSETS expense of $41.0 million for the year ended
1998 reflects a writeoff of goodwill and a writedown of intangible assets
associated with the Shade/Allied continuous forms business.
In June 1998, the Company's management reviewed all operations of the
Company and determined that the acquired Shade/Allied continuous forms business
was underperforming as a result of several factors. Principally among these
factors were (i) the greater use of personal computers and desk printers
resulting in lesser reliance on large mainframe printers, and (ii) the
disappearance of tractor-fed personal printers from the marketplace. These two
factors seemed to be driving a permanent decline of 6-8% per year in continuous
forms usage. Increased competition and aggressive pricing in response to the
overall decline in usage had contributed to the Company's year-over-year decline
in sales and margins. Finally, certain marketing and pricing strategies and cost
saving synergies assumed at the time of acquisition did not occur.
As part of its review, management considered various alternatives for its
continuous forms business including measures to improve operations, potential
strategic alliances, and the possible exit of the business. At June 30, 1998,
based upon management's intention to explore exiting the business, a write down
of goodwill and other intangibles totaling $41 million was recorded to reduce
the carrying value of
23
<PAGE>
the long-lived assets to their net realizable value. The Company has discussed
the sale of the acquired Shade/Allied business with potential purchasers but has
not reached agreement on any potential sale.
This $41 million charge recorded at June 30, 1998, consisted of a
$39.9 million write down of goodwill and a $1.1 million write down of trade
names. The recorded values of the property, plant and equipment and trade names
at December 31, 1998, are $10.7 million and $4.3 million respectively.
In November 1998, the continuous forms business was consolidated from six
separate manufacturing facilities where forms comprised only a portion of the
plant's manufacturing operations into two dedicated continuous forms plants
located in DePere, Wisconsin and Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Although manufacturing
efficiencies and margins have improved, management continues to consider the
sale of the business as well as various other alternatives.
At December 31, 1998, an analysis based upon the discounted expected future
cash flows of the acquired continuous forms business indicated that no further
write down of the carrying value of the long-lived assets was required.
MANAGEMENT FEES AND SERVICES decreased to $2.0 million in 1998 from
$4.9 million for 1997, representing a decrease of $2.9 million. The change in
management fees is due primarily to a one-year non-recurring consulting
agreement with the former president of Niagara, which expired June 30, 1997.
INTEREST EXPENSE increased to $45.0 million in 1998 from $37.8 million in
1997, representing an increase of $7.2 million. Of this increase, approximately
$2.5 million is attributable to increased debt levels, approximately
$3.0 million is attributable to increased interest rates and approximately
$1.7 million is attributable to amortization of fees paid in connection with
amendments to the revolving credit facility.
THE INCOME TAX PROVISION for the year ended December 31, 1998, reflects an
effective income tax benefit rate of 12.6% as compared with the effective income
tax provision rate of 16.7% for the year ended December 31, 1997. In 1998, the
Company's loss before income taxes included non-deductible expenses of
$45.0 million. These expenses were primarily the write off of goodwill and other
intangibles, goodwill amortization, and travel and entertainment costs. In 1998,
the Company recorded a net deferred tax valuation allowance of $6.3 million to
reduce the deferred tax asset to an amount which the Company believes, based on
the Company's estimates of near-term taxable earnings, is realizable. In 1997,
the Company's loss before income taxes was relatively low, $3.8 million, in
comparison to the amount of expenses which were not deductible, $5.4 million.
Such expenses primarily consist of goodwill amortization, certain travel and
entertainment costs and life insurance for certain current and former employees.
As a result, the Company had taxable income for tax reporting purposes versus a
loss for financial reporting purposes and, therefore, the Company recorded a tax
provision for 1997.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended 1999 was
$4.2 million compared to the year ended 1998 of $43.3 million. The decreased
cash flow from operations in 1999 is primarily the net result of the following:
(i) cash used by the net loss of $40.1 million after adjustment for non-cash
expenses, (ii) a decrease in accounts receivable of $21.3 million due to lower
sales in 1999, (iii) a decrease in inventories of $18.5 million, (iv) a
reduction of accounts payable of $9.7 million, and (v) a net change in all other
assets and liabilities of $14.2 million. Cash provided by operating activities
in 1998 was $43.3 million and consisted of (i) $20.4 million of cash generated
from the net loss, after adding back non-cash charges, (ii) a decrease in
accounts receivable of $17.5 million as a result of improving days sales
outstanding in receivables, (iii) a decrease in inventories of $42.2 million,
(iv) a reduction of accounts payable of $6.8 million, and v) a net change in all
other assets and liabilities of $10.7 million. Cash used by operating activities
in 1997 amounted to $62.4 million and consisted of (i) $17.4 million of cash
generated from the net loss, after adding back non-cash charges, (ii) cash used
to fund increases in accounts receivable of $17.3 million, (iii) cash used to
fund increases in inventories of $44.2 million (iv) an increase in accounts
payable of $4.6 million and (v) a decrease in all other assets and liabilities
of $22.9 million.
24
<PAGE>
Cash used in investing activities for the year ended 1999 and 1998 was
$6.2 million and $13.2 million, respectively. The year 1999 use was due to the
purchase of production equipment and computer software and related hardware in
the amount of $11.8 million, offset by proceeds from the sale of assets of
$5.6 million. The year 1998 use was due to the purchase of equipment,
principally production equipment. The year 1997 use of $69.7 million was due to
the Shade/Allied acquisition of $50.7 million and purchases of equipment of
$23.1 million.
Net cash provided by financing activities during 1999 was $20.6 million
compared to net cash used by financing activities in 1998 of $32.6 million. Net
cash provided in 1999 included $18.3 million net borrowings on the revolving
credit facility, $1.7 million repayment of long-term debt, an increase of
$4 million in the financing outstanding under the accounts receivable financing
facility, a reduction of $.1 million for accrued interest on stockholders'
notes, and $.1 million paid-in-capital received from the exercising of stock
options. Net cash used during 1998 included $25.8 million repayment of long-term
debt, the payment of fees in connection with amendments to the revolving credit
facility of $2.8 million, and a reduction of $4.0 million in financing
outstanding under the accounts receivable financing facility. During 1997, the
Company borrowed $130.4 million to finance the acquisition of Shade/Allied of
$50.7 million and the purchases of equipment of $23.1 million and to fund the
increase in working capital of $56.6 million.
A portion of the consolidated debt of the Company bears interest at floating
rates; therefore, its financial condition is and will continue to be affected by
changes in prevailing interest rates. The Company has entered into an interest
rate cap to reduce the impact from a significant rise in interest rates.
However, there were no amounts received under the agreement in 1999, 1998 and
1997.
On November 12, 1999, the Company was notified by its banking group of a
default of its revolving credit facility. The default stemmed from the formation
of new subsidiaries in December 1997 related to a reorganization of the
Company's corporate structure without proper notification to the banks. The
reorganization was implemented primarily for state tax purposes and included the
transfer of assets between existing entities and transfers to the new
subsidiaries. The default on the revolving credit facility prevented the Company
from paying interest on its publicly traded Notes due November 15, 1999, thereby
causing a default on the Notes as well.
On January 10, 2000, certain holders of the Company's 13% Senior
Subordinated Notes due November 15, 2005 filed an involuntary chapter 11
petition against the Company and all of its subsidiaries except Notepad Funding
Corporation (the "Debtors") in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the
District of Delaware. On January 14, 2000, each of the Debtors consented to the
entry of an Order for Relief and filed voluntary petitions under chapter 11 of
title 11 of the United States Code (the "Bankruptcy Code"). The bankruptcy Case
Numbers 00-00066 (RRM) through 00-00072 (RRM) are being jointly administered
under Case Number 00-00066 (RRM). Each of the Debtors is continuing to operate
its business and manage its property as a debtor-in-possession pursuant to
sections 1107 (a) and 1108 of the Bankruptcy Code. On January 28, 2000, an
Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors was appointed in these cases. No plan
of reorganization has yet been proposed by the Company.
On January 10, 2000, as a result of the chapter 11 filings, the Company's
$60.0 million accounts receivable financing facility terminated and no further
sales of receivables occurred. Although no post-termination receivables were
sold under this facility, the Company continues to act as servicer under the
facility and to collect and remit remaining outstanding receivables as provided
in the facility.
On February 9, 2000, the Bankruptcy Court entered a final order approving
$65 million DIP financing in the form of a revolving credit facility provided by
the Company's existing bank group. Availability under the facility is contingent
upon a borrowing base of accounts receivable and inventory, and bears interest
at a rate of prime plus 2.5%. The revolving credit facility matures July 17,
2000, and may be extended upon satisfaction of certain conditions.
25
<PAGE>
INFLATION
The Company believes that inflation has not had a material impact on its
financial position or its results of operations for 1999, 1998, and 1997.
NEWLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 ("FAS 133"), ACCOUNTING FOR DERIVATIVE
INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES. FAS 133 is effective for all fiscal quarters
of all fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2000. FAS 133 requires that all
derivative instruments be recorded on the balance sheet at fair value. Changes
in the fair value of derivatives are recorded each period in current earnings or
other comprehensive income, depending on whether a derivative is designated at
part of a hedge transaction and the type of hedge transaction. The ineffective
portion of all hedges will be recognized in earnings. Adoption of the Statement
is not expected to have a material impact on the Division's financial position
and results of operations.
IMPACT OF YEAR 2000
In prior years, the Company discussed the nature and progress of its plans
to become Year 2000 compliant. In late 1999, the Company completed its Year 2000
project. As a result of the Company's efforts, the Company experienced no
significant disruptions related to Year 2000. The Company is not aware of any
material problems resulting from Year 2000 issues either with its products, its
internal systems, or with vendors, customers and other third parties.
The total estimated cost of the Year 2000 project, including system
upgrades, was approximately $3.5 million. As of December 31, 1999, all costs had
been incurred. Of the total cost of the project, approximately $2.5 million was
attributable to new software and related hardware, which was capitalized. The
remaining costs were expensed as incurred.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The Company is including the following cautionary statement in this
Form 10-K to make applicable and take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 for any forward-looking
statements made by, or on behalf of, the Company. Forward-looking statements
include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future
events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements which are
other than statements of historical facts. From time to time, the Company may
publish or otherwise make available forward-looking statements of this nature.
All such subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral and
whether made by or on behalf of the Company, are also expressly qualified by
these cautionary statements. Certain statements contained herein are
forward-looking statements and accordingly involve risks and uncertainties,
which could cause actual results, or outcomes to differ materially from those
expressed in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements
contained herein are based on various assumptions, many of which are based, in
turn, upon further assumptions. The Company's expectations, beliefs and
projections are expressed in good faith and are believed by the Company to have
a reasonable basis, including without limitation, management's examination of
historical operating trends, data contained in the Company's records and other
data available from third parties, but there can be no assurance that
management's expectation, beliefs or projections will result or be achieved or
accomplished. In addition to the other factors and matters discussed elsewhere
herein, the following are important factors that, in the view of the Company,
could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the
forward-looking statements:
1. Changes in economic conditions, in particular those, which affect the
retail and wholesale office product markets.
2. Changes in the availability and/or price of paper, in particular if
increases in the price of paper are not passed along to the Company's
customers.
26
<PAGE>
3. Changes in senior management or control of the Company.
4. Inability to obtain new customers or retain existing ones.
5. Significant changes in competitive factors, including product pricing
conditions affecting the Company.
6. Governmental/regulatory actions and initiatives, including those
affecting financings.
7. Significant changes from expectations in actual capital expenditures and
operating expenses.
8. Occurrences affecting the Company's ability to obtain funds from
operations, debt or equity to finance needed capital expenditures and
other investments.
9. Significant changes in rates of interest, inflation or taxes.
10. Significant changes in the Company's relationship with its employees and
the potential adverse effects if labor disputes or grievances were to
occur.
11. Changes in accounting principles and/or the application of such
principles to the Company.
12. Completion of the Company's restructuring plan.
13. Emergence from Chapter 11 filing.
The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking
statements to reflect events or other circumstances after date hereof.
ITEM 7A QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The Company has market risk exposure arising from changes in interest rates.
The Company's earnings are affected by changes in short-term interest rates as a
result of borrowings under its revolving credit facility, which bear interest
based on floating rates. The Company has entered into an interest rate cap to
reduce the impact from a significant rise in interest rates on its floating rate
debt and may do so in the future. However, there were no amounts received under
the agreement in 1999, 1998, and 1997.
At December 31, 1999, the Company had approximately $252.7 million of
variable rate debt obligations outstanding with a weighted average interest rate
of 8.48%. A hypothetical 10% change in the effective interest rate for these
borrowings, assuming debt levels at December 31, 1999, would change interest
expense by approximately $2.0 million.
As a result of the Chapter 11 filing, principal or interest payments may not
be made on any pre-petition debt until a plan of reorganization defining the
repayment terms has been approved by the Bankruptcy Court.
ITEM 8 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
See Item 14(a)(1) of the Exhibit Index for a listing of the Company's
financial statements included with this Form 10-K.
ITEM 9 CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
27
<PAGE>
PART III
ITEM 10 DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
The following table sets forth information concerning the executive officers
and directors of the Company as of March 1, 2000:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AGE POSITION
- ---- -------- ------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
James W. Swent III............. 49 Co-Chairman of the Board & Chief Executive Officer, and
Director
Robert C. Gay.................. 48 Co-Chairman of the Board and Director
John H. Rodgers................ 56 Senior Vice President & General Counsel, Secretary and
Director
Scott R. Watterson............. 44 Director
Gregory M. Benson.............. 44 Director
Paul B. Edgerley............... 44 Director
Jeffrey K. Hewson.............. 56 Director
William L. Morgan*............. 60 Executive Vice President, and Chief Operating Officer
John J. Grymes................. 42 President, Williamhouse division
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
* Mr. Morgan retired from the Company on March 31, 2000.
JAMES W. SWENT III. Co-Chairman of the Board since March 17, 1999; Director
and Chief Executive Officer since July 1998; Chief Financial Officer since
June 1998; Executive Vice President from June 1998 to July 1998. Chief Executive
Officer, Cyrix Corporation, from December 1996 to December 1997; Senior Vice
President Finance and Administration from July 1996 to December 1996. Vice
President, Business Development, Northern Telecom, from September 1993 to
July 1996.
ROBERT C. GAY. Co-Chairman of the Board since March 17, 1999; Director
since 1992; Chairman of the Board from July 1998 to March 1999. Managing
Director, Bain Capital, Inc. ("Bain Capital") since 1993. A General Partner of
Bain Venture Capital since 1989; Principal from 1988 through 1989. Vice Chairman
of the Board of Directors, IHF Capital, Inc., the parent of ICON Health &
Fitness Inc. Director, Cambridge Industries, Inc., GS Industries, Inc. and its
subsidiary GS Technologies Operating Co., Inc. and Nutraceutical International
Corporation.
JOHN H. RODGERS. Director of the Company since March 17, 1999; Senior Vice
President and General Counsel, Secretary since September 1998. President,
Clairemead Corporation, operator of small retail and service businesses, since
1996. Executive Vice President, The Southland Corporation, from 1992 to 1995;
Chief Administrative Officer from 1991 to 1995; General Counsel from 1979 to
1992; other management positions, including Senior Vice President, Vice
President and Secretary, from 1973 to 1995.
SCOTT R. WATTERSON. Director of the Company since December 1996. Chairman
of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, IHF Capital, Inc., the parent of ICON
Health & Fitness Inc., since November 1994. President and Chief Executive
Officer, Weslo, Inc., since 1977. President and Chief Executive Officer, ProForm
Fitness Products, Inc., since 1988.
GREGORY M. BENSON. Director of the Company since 1992. Executive Vice
President, Bain Capital since November 1996. Acting Chief Financial Officer of
the Company from December 1997 to June 1998; Executive Vice President and
Director of Strategic Planning and Acquisitions from May 1996 through
November 1996; Chief Financial Officer and Secretary from 1992 to August 1996.
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Administrative Officer and Director of Ampad
Corporation (the principal operating subsidiary of the Company during that
period) from 1992 to 1995.
28
<PAGE>
PAUL B. EDGERLEY. Director of the Company since July 1998. Managing
Director, Bain Capital since 1993. General Partner, Bain Venture Capital, since
1990 and a Principal, Bain Venture Capital, from 1988 to 1990. Director, GS
Technologies Corporation, AMF Group Inc., Anthony Crane Rental and Sealy
Corporation.
JEFFERY K. HEWSON. Director of the Company since March 17, 1999. President,
The Beckley Cardy Group from 1996 to 1997. Chief Executive Officer, United
Stationers, Inc., from 1995 to 1996; President and Chief Operating Officer from
1991 to 1995. Formerly, President, ACCO World Corporation, US Division.
President, ACCO World Corporation, Canada; Director, ISA International, a
publicly held company in Great Britain.
JOHN J. GRYMES. President, Williamhouse division since May 1996. National
Sales Manager, Williamhouse-Regency of Delaware, Inc. from 1991 to 1996 prior to
and after its acquisition by the Company in October 1995; Employee of
Williamhouse since 1987.
WILLIAM L. MORGAN. Executive Vice President since July 1998 and Chief
Operating Officer since May 10, 1999. Retired from 1994 until July 1998.
Corporate Vice President and President, Transmission, Connection & Broadband
Systems, Northern Telecom, LTD., from 1991 to 1994. Mr. Morgan retired from the
Company on March 31, 2000.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
At present, no separate compensation or fees are payable to employee
Directors of the Company. The Company pays non-employee Directors an annual
retainer of $20,000. In addition, the Company reimburses Directors for
reasonable travel expenses incurred in attending Board of Directors' meetings.
Pursuant to the Company's Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan (the "Non
Employee Director Plan"), non-employee Directors are granted options to purchase
25,000 shares of Common Stock upon their initial election or appointment to the
Board (or upon the adoption of the Non Employee Director Plan for those
Directors in office on the date of such adoption) and will be granted options to
purchase an additional 2,000 shares of Common Stock on an annual basis beginning
on the later of the fourth anniversary of the adoption of the Non Employee
Director Plan (July 8, 2000) or a Director's fourth anniversary of being elected
to the Board. The Directors do not receive any additional compensation for
committee participation.
29
<PAGE>
ITEM 11 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The table below sets forth the compensation paid by the Company to its Chief
Executive Officer and each of its four other current executive officer for 1999
and 1998; and for the last three fiscal years for one former executive officer
who received compensation in 1999. The amounts shown include compensation for
services in all capacities that were provided to the Company.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LONG TERM
COMPENSATION
AWARDS
ANNUAL COMPENSATION ------------
------------------------------------------------ SECURITIES
OTHER ANNUAL UNDERLYING ALL OTHER
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY BONUS(5) COMPENSATION(6) OPTIONS COMPENSATION(7)
- --------------------------- -------- -------- -------- --------------- ------------ ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
James W. Swent III ............... 1999 $490,735 $200,000 -- 300,000 5,000
Chief Executive Officer(1) 1998 184,423 89,682 600,000 0
William L. Morgan ................ 1999 $305,481 $ 82,500 -- 100,000 0
Executive Vice President & 1998 134,238 100,000 200,000 0
Chief Operating Officer(2)
John J. Grymes ................... 1999 $234,545 $ 68,500 -- 75,000 3,793
President, Williamhouse division 1998 225,000 0 150,000 4,615
John H. Rodgers .................. 1999 $243,637 $ 37,500 -- 65,000 2,712
Senior Vice President & 1998 76,881 37,500 100,000 0
General Counsel; Secretary(3)
James V. Heim .................... 1999 $246,925 $ 20,000 -- 62,500 73,289
President, Ampad division(4)
</TABLE>
- --------------------------
(1) Mr. Swent was employed by the Company on June 1, 1998. Mr. Swent entered
into an employment agreement with the Company effective as of September 3,
1998. The 1998 annual salary for Mr. Swent was determined based upon a
survey of compensation paid to similar officers at comparably sized
companies and a recognition of their importance to the Company. See
"Employment Agreements."
(2) Mr. Morgan was employed by the Company on July 20, 1998 and retired as an
executive officer on March 31, 2000.
(3) The Company employed Mr. Rodgers on August 26, 1998.
(4) Mr. Heim was employed by the Company on December 1, 1998 and resigned as an
executive officer of the Company on January 18, 2000.
(5) Bonus levels for Messrs. Swent, Grymes, Morgan, Rodgers and Heim in 1999
were established by the Board to recognize attainment of certain objectives,
including plant rationalization, which was substantially completed in
December, 1999. 1998 bonus payments to Messrs. Swent, Morgan and Rodgers
were paid as inducements for employment.
(6) The aggregate amount of perquisites and other personal benefits given to
each of the Named Executive Officers, valued on the basis of the aggregate
incremental cost to the Company, was less than either $50,000 or 10% of the
total of annual salary and bonus for that Named Executive Officer during
each of the periods presented. Such benefits included automobile allowances.
(7) The amounts shown for "All Other Compensation" in 1999 for Messrs. Swent,
Grymes and Rodgers include $5,000, $3,793 and $2,712, respectively, which
represents a matching contribution made by the Company on behalf of each
executive officer to the Company's 401 (k) plan. Additionally, the amount
shown for "All Other Compensation" in 1998 for Mr. Grymes includes $4,615,
which represents a matching contribution made by the Company on behalf of
Mr. Grymes to the Company's 401 (k) plan. In addition, the amounts shown for
Mr. Heim in 1999, include $73,289, which represents a matching contribution
made by the Company on behalf of Mr. Heim to the Company's 401 (k) plan, and
reflect relocation expenses paid by the Company ($65,294), and the gross up
of taxes on the imputed income from such payment ($7,430).
30
<PAGE>
STOCK OPTION GRANTS
The following table provides information relating to the stock options
awarded to the Named Executive Officers during the Company's last fiscal year.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INDIVIDUAL GRANTS(1) POTENTIAL REALIZABLE VALUE AT
------------------------ ASSUMED ANNUAL RATES OF
NUMBER OF % OF TOTAL MARKET STOCK PRICE APPRECIATION
SECURITIES OPTIONS EXERCISE PRICE ON FOR OPTION TERM(2)
UNDERLYING GRANTED TO OR BASE DATE OF --------------------------------
OPTIONS EMPLOYEES PRICE GRANT EXPIRATION
NAME GRANTED (#) IN FY ($/SHARE) ($/SHARE) DATE 5% ($) 10% ($)
- ---- ----------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
James W. Swent III..... 300,000 18.14% 1.8125 1.8125 05/03/2009 341,961 866,597
William L. Morgan...... 100,000 6.05% 1.8125 1.8125 05/03/2009 113,987 288,866
John J. Grymes......... 75,000 4.53% 1.8125 1.8125 05/03/2009 85,490 216,649
John H. Rodgers........ 65,000 3.93% 1.8125 1.8125 05/03/2009 74,092 187,763
James V. Heim.......... 62,500 3.78% 1.8125 1.8125 05/03/2009 71,242 180,541
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
(1) Options vest in three equal installments on each anniversary of the date of
grant. Unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee of the
Board, options expire upon the termination of the executive's employment
with the exception of options which are then exercisable in the following
circumstances: (i) 180 days following the executive's death or disability;
(ii) 90 days following the executive's retirement; and (iii) 30 days
following the termination of the executive's employment by the Company other
than by cause.
(2) Amounts reflect certain assumed rates of appreciation set forth in the SEC's
compensation disclosure rules. Actual gains, if any, on stock options
exercises depend on future performance of the Common Stock and overall
market conditions.
STOCK OPTION HOLDINGS
The following table sets forth information with respect to the Named
Executive Officers concerning stock options outstanding as of December 31, 1999.
There were no options exercised by the Named Executive Officers in 1999 for
securities of the Company.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF SECURITIES VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
UNDERLYING IN-THE-MONEY
UNEXERCISED OPTIONS OPTIONS AT FY-END
AT FY-END (#) ($)(1)
-------------------- --------------------
SHARES AQUIRED EXERCISABLE/ EXERCISABLE/
NAME ON EXERCISE (#) VALUE REALIZED ($) UNEXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE
- ---- --------------- ------------------ -------------------- --------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
James W. Swent III.......... -- -- 200,000/700,000 --/--
William L. Morgan........... -- -- 66,667/233,333 --/--
John J. Grymes.............. -- -- 50,000/175,000 --/--
John H. Rodgers............. -- -- 33,333/131,667 --/--
James V. Heim............... -- -- 41,667/145,833 --/--
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
(1) The closing sale price of the Common Stock on December 31, 1999, was $.2344
per share, as reported by the National Association of Security Dealers
Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board System. The value of such options at fiscal
year end is calculated on the basis of the difference between the option
exercise price and $1.5625 multiplied by the number of shares of Common
Stock underlying the option. As of December 31, 1999, no Named Executive
Officer held any in-the-money options, exercisable or unexercisable.
31
<PAGE>
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS.
Effective September 3, 1998, the Company and Mr. Swent entered into an
employment agreement (the "Swent Agreement"), pursuant to which Mr. Swent agreed
to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Under the Swent
Agreement, the Company agreed to pay to Mr. Swent: (i) an annual base salary
equal to at least $425,000; (ii) an annual bonus in 1998 of $200,000 and
thereafter an annual bonus not to exceed 120% of his annual base salary (based
upon the Company achieving certain operating targets); and (iii) certain fringe
and severance benefits. In February 2000, the severance benefits payable to
Mr. Swent under the Swent Agreement were amended and superceded by a one-time
stay-on bonus payable to Mr. Swent upon the occurrence of specific events under
the Retention Plan [See Below]. Mr. Swent has agreed not to compete with the
Company for a period of twelve months following his termination of employment
with the Company and not to disclose any confidential information at any time
without the prior written consent of the Company.
RETENTION PLAN.
On November 30, 1999, the Board of Directors approved a retention and
incentive plan (the "Retention Plan") for key employees who have been identified
by management as critical to continue the operations of the Company throughout
the bankruptcy and reorganization process. Under the Retention Plan, a maximum
of $6,470,000 has been approved to be paid to 85 designated employees as special
incentives for continued employment though established transition periods and,
for certain managers, as a special award for the successful sale of specified
business units of the Company. The Retention Plan includes a special severance
program totaling $2,686,158 to be paid in lieu of regular severance pay to key
employees in the event that their employment with the Company is involuntarily
terminated without cause. The amount of the incentives was determined as a
percentage of base pay by level of job and responsibility within the Company. An
order approving the Retention Plan was entered by the Bankruptcy Court on
February 7, 2000.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Compensation Committee was established by the Board of Directors in
June 1996 in connection with the Company's IPO. At such time, Messrs. Robert C.
Gay and Marc B. Wolpow, Managing Directors of Bain Capital, were appointed to
the Committee. The Bain Capital Funds collectively own approximately 34.9% of
the outstanding Common Stock. The Board selected Messrs. Gay and Wolpow to help
ensure that the compensation policies of the Company serve to align the
interests of the Company's management with those of its stockholders.
In 1999, Mr. Wolpow resigned from the Compensation Committee, and
Messrs. Jeffrey K. Hewson and Scott R. Watterson were named to the Compensation
Committee.
The Compensation Committee is responsible for (i) determining the
compensation of the Company's executive officers; (ii) reviewing the
recommendations of the Company's Chief Executive Officer on compensation levels
of all other officers of the Company; and (iii) adopting and changing
compensation policies and practices of the Company and reporting its
recommendations to the full Board of Directors. In making its recommendations to
the Board concerning adjustments to compensation levels, the Compensation
Committee considers the financial condition and operational performance of the
Company during the prior year. The Company's executive compensation program
consists of three principal components (i) base salary; (ii) annual bonus; and
(iii) long-term equity incentives.
BASE SALARY. The base salary for each of the Company's executive officers
was determined in 1999 pursuant to the terms of his respective employment
agreement or arrangement with the Company. The executive officers' base salaries
are based on their respective expected levels of responsibility and competitive
market conditions. Messrs. Swent's, Grymes', Morgan's, Rodgers' and Heim's base
salaries
32
<PAGE>
were increased in December 1999. Mr. Swent entered into an employment agreement
with the Company effective September 3, 1998. See "Compensation of Executive
Officers--Employment Agreements."
ANNUAL BONUS. Each of the executive officers and senior management of the
Company is eligible, under the terms of his or her employment with the Company,
to participate annually in a Key Manager Bonus Program based upon individual
bonus targets and the Company achieving certain operating targets. In general,
such operating targets relate to the attainment by the Company of certain
minimum levels of EBITDA, which are recommended by management and established by
the Board of Directors. In 1999, the Company did not implement the Key Manager
Bonus Program and, as a result, no annual bonuses were paid under the program to
executive officers. In January and February 2000 bonus payments were made to
selected named executives of the Company to recognize their continuing
performance and support of the Company's strategic objectives. During that
period, the Company paid a total of $382,000 to named executive officers and
senior management.
LONG-TERM EQUITY INCENTIVES. Long-term incentive awards are intended to
develop and retain strong management through stock ownership that recognizes
future performance. The Board believes that a significant portion of senior
executives' compensation should depend on value created for the stockholders. In
order to more closely align the interests of the Company's senior management
with those of its stockholders, and to link the value of management's holdings
directly to the market value of the Common Stock, the Company has adopted the
1999 Key Employees Stock Incentive Plan (the "1999 Option Plan") and the 1996
Key Employee Stock Incentive Plan (the "1996 Option Plan") and the Management
Stock Purchase Plan.
On February 16, 1999, the Board of Directors adopted the American Pad &
Paper Company 1999 Key Employees Stock Incentive Plan (the "1999 Option Plan")
which provides that the Compensation Committee (the "Committee") of the Board,
on behalf of the Company, may enter into any type of arrangement with an
employee that is consistent with the provisions of the 1999 Option Plan and that
by its terms involves the issuance or potential issuance of (i) shares of Common
Stock or (ii) a Derivative Security (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1
promulgated under the Exchange Act as such Rule may be amended from time to
time) with an exercise or conversion right at a price related to the Common
Stock or with a value derived from the value of the shares of Common Stock. The
entering into of any such arrangement is referred to under the 1999 Option Plan
as the grant of an "Award."
The maximum number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance upon
exercise of Awards granted to employees under the 1999 Option Plan is 1,500,000,
subject to adjustment in the event of a stock dividend, stock split or similar
change in outstanding shares of Common Stock. Common Stock purchased under the
1999 Option Plan will be purchased from the Company; therefore the Company will
receive the purchase price paid for the Common Stock, if any. The Compensation
Committee granted a total of 1,204,250 new options under the 1999 Option Plan in
1999, of which 602,500 were granted to executive officers. As of December 31,
1999, a total of 1,122,750 options were outstanding under the 1999 Option Plan.
The following description of certain features of the 1999 Option Plan is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the 1999 Option Plan, a copy of which
is attached hereto as Appendix A and incorporated herein by reference. Terms
with their initial letter capitalized that are used in this description and not
specifically defined herein shall have the same meaning given such terms in the
1999 Option Plan.
PURPOSE AND ADOPTION. The purpose of the 1999 Option Plan is to enable the
Company and its subsidiaries to attract, retain and motivate their employees by
providing for or increasing the proprietary interests of such employees in the
corporation. The 1999 Option Plan was originally adopted by the Board of
Directors on February 16, 1999, approved by the stockholders of the Company on
April 27, 1999, and became effective on April 27, 1999.
33
<PAGE>
AWARDS. Awards are not restricted to any specified form or structure and
may include, without limitation, sales or bonuses of stock, restricted stock,
stock options, reload stock options, stock purchase warrants, other rights to
acquire stock, securities convertible into or redeemable for stock, stock
appreciation rights, limited stock appreciation rights, phantom stock, dividend
equivalents, performance units or performance shares, and an Award may consist
of one or more such security or benefit. The Company anticipates that under the
1999 Option Plan it will only issue nonqualified stock options ("NQOs") that are
not intended to qualify as incentive stock options under Section 422 of the
Internal Revenue Code ("ISOs").
ADMINISTRATION. The Committee administers the 1999 Option Plan. The
Committee currently consists of two Directors, and, subject to certain
limitations in the 1999 Option Plan, the Committee (or its Authorized Delegate)
is authorized and empowered to do all things necessary or desirable in
connection with the administration of the 1999 Option Plan, including the
following:
(i) adopt, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the 1999
Option Plan;
(ii) determine which persons meet the requirements for eligibility under
the 1999 Option Plan and to which of such eligible persons, if any,
Awards shall be granted;
(iii) determine whether, and the extents to which adjustments are required
under the 1999 Option Plan;
(iv) interpret and construe the 1999 Option Plan and the terms and
conditions of any Award granted under the 1999 Option Plan; and
(v) correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any
inconsistency in the 1999 Option Plan or in any Award in the manner and
to the extent the Committee deems necessary or desirable to carry it
into effect.
Any decision of the Committee (or any Authorized Delegate) in the interpretation
and administration of the 1999 Option Plan lies within its sole and absolute
discretion and is final, conclusive and binding on all parties concerned.
TRANSFERABILITY. Except as may be set forth in an Award or otherwise
approved by the Committee, an employee's rights and interest under the 1999
Option Plan may not be assigned or transferred, hypothecated or encumbered in
whole or in part either directly or by operation of law or otherwise (except in
the event of an employee's death) including, but not by way of limitation,
execution, levy, garnishment, attachment, pledge, bankruptcy or in any other
manner.
ELIGIBILITY. Any person employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries
including any Director who is so employed is eligible to be considered for the
grant of Awards under the 1999 Option Plan.
AMENDMENT, TERMINATION AND ADJUSTMENT. The Board may amend or terminate the
1999 Option Plan at any time and in any manner; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no such
amendment or termination may deprive the recipient of an Award previously
granted under the 1999 Option Plan of any of his or her rights thereunder
without the consent of such recipient; and; PROVIDED FURTHER, that no amendment
shall become effective without stockholder approval if such stockholder approval
is required by law. No Awards may be granted under the 1999 Option Plan after
April 27, 2009. Shares of Common Stock may be issued after April 27, 2009
pursuant to Awards granted prior to such date; however, no shares of Common
Stock may be issued under the 1999 Option Plan after April 27, 2019.
ADJUSTMENTS. If the outstanding securities of the class then subject to the
1999 Option Plan are increased, decreased or exchanged for or converted into
cash, property or a different number or kind of securities, or if cash, property
or securities are distributed in respect of such outstanding securities, in
either case as a result of a reorganization, merger, consolidation,
recapitalization, restructuring, reclassification, dividend (other than a
regular, quarterly cash dividend) or other distribution, stock split, reverse
34
<PAGE>
stock split or the like, or if substantially all of the property and assets of
the Company are sold, then, unless the terms of such transaction provide
otherwise, the Committee must make appropriate and proportionate adjustments in
(a) the number and type of shares or other securities or cash or other property
that may be acquired pursuant to Awards theretofore granted under the 1999
Option Plan, (b) the maximum number and type of shares or other securities that
may be issued pursuant to Awards thereafter granted under the 1999 Option Plan
and (c) to the extent permitted under the 1999 Option Plan, the maximum number
of shares of Common Stock with respect to which Awards may be granted to any
employee during any calendar year; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no adjustment may be
made to the number of shares of Common Stock that may be acquired pursuant to
outstanding ISOs or the maximum number of shares of Common Stock with respect to
which ISOs may be granted under the 1999 Option Plan to the extent such
adjustment would result in such options being treated as other than ISOs;
PROVIDED FURTHER, that no such adjustment may be made to the extent the
Committee determines that such adjustment would result in the disallowance of a
federal income tax deduction for compensation attributable to Awards hereunder
by causing such compensation to be other than performance-based compensation.
CONSIDERATION. Common Stock may be issued pursuant to an Award for any
lawful consideration as determined by the Committee, including without
limitation, services rendered by the recipient of such Award.
Under the 1996 Option Plan, the Compensation Committee was granted broad
authority to award equity-based compensation arrangements to any eligible
employee of the Company. An aggregate of 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock was
reserved for issuance upon the exercise of awards granted to eligible
participants under the 1996 Option Plan. Under the Management Stock Purchase
Plan, eligible management employees of the Company are entitled to purchase
shares of Common Stock at a purchase price equal to 75% of its fair market value
using up to 25% of their annual incentive bonuses. The Management Stock Purchase
Plan is designed to encourage management employees of the Company to acquire an
ownership interest in the Company and thereby permit such employees to share in
the growth in value of the Company. No annual bonuses were paid for 1998 and
consequently no shares of Common Stock were purchased under the Management Stock
Purchase Plan in 1998. In September 1998, the Board approved a proposal to
re-price currently outstanding options under the 1996 Option Plan. Under the
proposal, on a voluntary basis, the Company offered to exchange at an exchange
rate of .8 to 1, all currently outstanding stock options granted under the 1996
Option Plan prior to July 1, 1998, and to re-price such outstanding options to a
market valuation of $4.50 per share with a vesting period of three years
commencing on October 1, 1998. The proposal further offered to the holders of
such outstanding options a three year retention bonus equal to $2.50 for each
new option share granted to be paid in three equal payments on the same vesting
terms and schedule as the new option grants. A total of 413,200 options were
granted in exchange for 516,500 outstanding options pursuant to the re-pricing
program. After taking into account options exchanged under the re-pricing
program, the Compensation Committee granted a net of 1,117,800 new options under
the 1996 Option Plan in 1998 of which 350,000 were granted to executive
officers, and granted 60,000 new options under the 1996 Option Plan in 1999. A
total of 1,214,600 options were outstanding under the 1996 Option Plan as of
December 31, 1999.
In September 1998, the Board, with the prior approval of the New York Stock
Exchange, reserved a total of 1,210,000 option shares to be available for option
grants outside of the 1996 Option Plan and as conditions of employment to
certain newly hired executives in individual amounts and at option prices to be
approved by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee granted
800,000 options to executive officers outside of the 1996 Option Plan in 1998.
POLICY WITH RESPECT TO QUALIFYING COMPENSATION FOR DEDUCTIBILITY AND OTHER
MATTERS. Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code generally limits to
$1 million the annual tax-deductible compensation paid to a covered officer.
However, the limitation does not apply to performance-based compensation,
provided certain conditions are satisfied. Although the Compensation Committee
recognizes that, under certain circumstances, compensation paid pursuant to the
options granted outside the 1996 Option Plan could
35
<PAGE>
exceed the limitations of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, it does
not believe that any executives will earn in excess of deductible limits.
The Company's policy is generally to preserve the federal income tax
deductibility of compensation paid. Accordingly, the Company has taken, to the
extent it believes feasible, appropriate actions to preserve the deductibility
of annual incentive, long-term performance, and stock option awards. However,
notwithstanding the Company's general policy, the Committee retains the
authority to authorize payments that may not be deductible if it believes that
is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
The Compensation Committee will continue to review the compensation package
provided for the Chief Executive Officer and all other officers, and to monitor
its competitiveness within the industry and the community, as well as its
relationship to stockholders' returns. The Compensation Committee will recommend
adjustments that are deemed appropriate, both in compensation policies and
practices, compensation structure and the actual compensation paid.
PERFORMANCE GRAPH. The Performance Graph below compares the value at
year-end 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999 of an investment in the Common Stock of $100
on July 2, 1996, the date the Common Stock became publicly traded at an initial
offering price of $15.00 per share. Also shown are the values, assuming $100
invested in the Russell 2000 Stock Index and a peer group index selected by the
Company consisting of manufacturers, distributors or retailers of office
products, also beginning on July 2, 1996, and at year-end 1996, 1997 and 1998.
The companies selected to form the Company's peer group index are Avery Dennison
Corporation, Day Runner, Inc., Mail-Well, Inc., Mead Corporation, Moore
Corporation LTD, New England Business Services, Wallace Computer Services,
Westvaco Corporation and Willamette Industries. The Company may decide, in
future years, to change the composition of the peer group if the Company
believes that comparative data is available. Total returns are based on market
capitalization.
COMPARE CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
AMONG AMERICAN PAD & PAPER,
RUSSELL 2000 INDEX AND PEER GROUP INDEX
EDGAR REPRESENTATION OF DATA POINTS USED IN PRINTED GRAPHIC
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY RUSSELL 2000 STOCK INDEX PEER GROUP INDEX
<S> <C> <C> <C>
July 2, 1996 $100 $100 $100
1996 $151 $106 $114
1997 $64 $129 $125
1998 $10 $126 $118
1999 $2 $150 $155
</TABLE>
ASSUMES $100 INVESTED ON JULY 2, 1996
ASSUMES DIVIDENDS REINVESTED
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31ST
--------------------------------------------------
JULY 2, 1996 1996 1997 1998 1999
------------ -------- -------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
American Pad & Paper Company......................... $100 $151 $ 64 $ 10 $ 2
Russell 2000 Stock Index............................. $100 $106 $129 $126 $150
Peer Group Index..................................... $100 $114 $125 $118 $155
</TABLE>
36
<PAGE>
ITEM 12 SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
Except as otherwise noted, the following table sets forth certain
information as of March 1, 2000, as to the security ownership of equity
securities of the Company by (i) each of the executive officers named in the
Summary Compensation Table; (ii) each of the Directors and Director nominees of
the Company; (iii) all Directors and executive officers as a group; and
(iv) those persons owning of record or known to the Company to be the beneficial
owner of more than five percent of the voting securities of the Company. All
information with respect to beneficial ownership has been furnished by the
respective Director, Director nominee, executive officer or five percent
beneficial owner, as the case may be. Unless otherwise indicated, the persons
named below have sole voting and investment power with respect to the number of
shares set forth opposite their names. Beneficial ownership of the Common Stock
has been determined for this purpose in accordance with the applicable rules and
regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
COMMON STOCK
---------------------
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, NUMBER PERCENT
DIRECTORS AND 5% STOCKHOLDERS OF SHARES OF CLASS
- ----------------------------- ---------- --------
<S> <C> <C>
Executive Officers and Directors:
Robert C. Gay(1)........................................ 9,967,141 34.9%
James W. Swent III(2)................................... 250,000 *
Gregory M. Benson(3).................................... 845,842 3.0%
Paul B. Edgerley(4)..................................... 9,956,641 34.9%
John J. Grymes(5)....................................... 92,943 *
Jeffrey K. Hewson....................................... 0 *
William L. Morgan(6).................................... 66,667 *
John H. Rodgers(7)...................................... 39,908 *
Scott R. Watterson(8)................................... 25,000 *
James V. Heim(9)........................................ 41,667 *
All Directors and Executive Officers as a 11,343,668 39.8%
group (10 persons)(10)................................
5% Stockholders:
Bain Capital Funds(11) ................................. 9,942,141 34.9%
c/o Bain Capital, Inc.
Two Copley Place
Boston, Massachusetts 02116
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
* Less than one percent.
(1) Includes (i) 25,000 shares of Common Stock that can be acquired through
currently exercisable options and (ii) 9,942,141 shares held collectively
by Bain Capital partnerships as described herein. Mr. Gay is a general
partner of Bain Venture Capital, a California limited partnership ("BVC"),
which is the general partner of the Tyler Capital Fund, L.P. ("TCF"), Tyler
Massachusetts L.P. ("TM") and Tyler International L.P.-II ("TI").
Accordingly, Mr. Gay may be deemed to beneficially own shares held by such
investment funds. In addition, Mr. Gay is a general partner of BCIP Trust
Associates L.P. ("BCIP Trust") and BCIP Associates ("BCIP") and, as a
result, may be deemed to beneficially own shares held by such partnerships.
Mr. Gay disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares in which he does not
have a pecuniary interest. The address of Mr. Gay is c/o Bain
Capital, Inc., Two Copley Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02116.
37
<PAGE>
(2) Includes 200,000 shares of Common Stock that can be acquired through
currently exercisable options.
(3) Includes 299,457 shares of Common Stock that can be acquired through
currently exercisable options.
(4) Includes (i) 12,500 shares of Common Stock that can be acquired through
currently exercisable options and (ii) 9,942,141 shares held collectively
by Bain Capital partnerships as described herein. Mr. Edgerley is a general
partner of BVC, which is the general partner of TCF, TM and TI.
Accordingly, Mr. Edgerley may be deemed to beneficially own shares held by
such investment funds. In addition, Mr. Edgerley is a general partner of
BCIP Trust and BCIP and, as a result, may be deemed to beneficially own
shares held by such partnerships. Mr. Edgerley disclaims beneficial
ownership of such shares in which he does not have a pecuniary interest.
(5) Includes 50,000 shares of Common Stock that can be acquired through
currently exercisable options.
(6) Includes 66,667 shares of Common Stock that can be acquired through
currently exercisable options.
(7) Includes 33,333 shares of Common Stock that can be acquired through
currently exercisable options.
(8) Includes 25,000 shares of Common Stock that can be acquired through
currently exercisable options.
(9) Includes 41,667 shares of Common Stock that can be acquired through
currently exercisable options.
(10) Includes shares, which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by
Messrs. Gay and Edgerley as a result of their relationship with the Bain
Capital Funds and shares that the Directors and executive officers can
acquire through currently exercisable options.
(11) Includes (i) 7,270,836 shares held by TCF; (ii) 1,489,744 shares held by
TM; (iii) 435,915 shares held by TI; (iv) 620,562 shares held by BCIP; and
(v) 125,084 shares held by BCIP Trust (BCIP Trust, TCF, TM, TI and BCIP
are collectively referred to herein as the "Bain Capital Funds"). BVC, as
the sole general partner of TCF, TM and TI, may be deemed to be the
beneficial owner of the shares of Common Stock held by such investment
funds. In addition to Mr. Gay, the other general partners of BVC include:
Joshua Bekenstein, Paul B. Edgerley, Adam W. Kirsch, Geoffrey S. Rehnert,
W. Mitt Romney and Robert F. White. All such persons disclaim beneficial
ownership of all such shares in which they do not have a pecuniary
interest.
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE. Section 16(a) of the Exchange
Act requires the Company's officers, Directors and persons who beneficially own
more than ten percent of the Company's Common Stock to file reports of
securities ownership and changes in such ownership with the Securities and
Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Officers, Directors and greater than ten percent
beneficial owners also are required by rules promulgated by the SEC to furnish
the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
Based solely upon a review of the copies of such forms furnished to the
Company, or written representations that no Form 5 filings were required, the
Company believes that during the period from January 1, 1999, through
December 31, 1999, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its
officers, Directors and greater than ten percent beneficial owners were complied
with.
ITEM 13 CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
ADVISORY AGREEMENT. In October 1995, the Company entered into a ten-year
Management Advisory Agreement (the "Advisory Agreement") with Bain Capital to
replace Bain Capital's prior agreement with the Company. In connection with the
Company's IPO, the Company and Bain Capital amended and restated the Advisory
Agreement to provide for an initial term of four years, subject to automatic
one-year extensions beyond the initial term (not to exceed an aggregate of eight
years) on each anniversary of the effective date of such agreement so long as
Bain Capital continues to own at least 5% of the outstanding
38
<PAGE>
Common Stock. Under the amended Advisory Agreement, the Company agreed to pay
Bain Capital an annual cash advisory fee of $2.0 million, payable by the Company
on a quarterly basis in arrears, and a transaction fee in connection with the
consummation of each acquisition, divestiture or financing by the Company or its
subsidiaries in an amount equal to 1% of the aggregate value of such transaction
(the "Bain Fees"), plus reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. In September 1998,
the Company and Bain Capital mutually agreed to reduce the advisory fee to
$1.5 million annually. Amendments to the Company's revolving credit agreement,
approved on September 30, 1998, prohibit future payments of the Bain Fees, with
a right to accrue them, until satisfaction of all obligations under the
revolving credit agreement or unless otherwise permitted by the Company's
banking group. For the year ended December 31, 1999, the Company accrued Bain
Fees of $1.5 million, plus expenses of approximately $46,000. The Company
believes that the fees received for the professional services rendered are at
least as favorable to the Company as those which could be negotiated with an
independent third party.
REGISTRATION AGREEMENT. The Company and certain of its executive officers
and other existing stockholders, including investment funds controlled by Bain
Capital (the "Bain Capital Funds"), are parties to a registration agreement (the
"Registration Agreement"). Under the Registration Agreement, the holders of a
majority of the registrable securities owned by the Bain Capital Funds and
related investors have the right, at any time and subject to certain conditions,
to require the Company to register any or all of their shares of Common Stock
under the Securities Act on Form S-1 on three occasions at the Company's expense
and on Form S-2 or Form S-3 on an unlimited number of occasions at the Company's
expense. In addition, all holders of registrable securities are entitled to
request the inclusion of any shares of Common Stock subject to the Registration
Agreement in any registration statement at the Company's expense whenever the
Company proposes to register any of its securities under the Securities Act,
subject to certain conditions. As of December 31, 1999, the holders of an
aggregate of 9,979,641 shares of Common Stock (including 37,500 shares that
could be acquired through exercisable options) had demand registration rights
pursuant to the Registration Agreement.
INDEBTEDNESS OF MANAGEMENT. On July 2, 1996, the Company lent Mr. Needham,
a former executive officer of the Company, an aggregate of $324,537 in order to
permit him to purchase shares of Common Stock in the Company's IPO. The loan had
an interest rate of 8% per annum, was due on July 2, 1998, and requires
Mr. Needham to prepay the loan with 40% of any bonus received by him during the
first four years of his employment agreement with the Company or with any
proceeds he receives from the sale of any of his shares of Common Stock. The
amounts due under the loan are with full recourse and are secured by a pledge of
all such shares of Common Stock purchased by Mr. Needham. On February 6, 1998,
the Company extended the due date of the loan to July 2, 2000, and, effective
July 7, 1998, in conjunction with the amendment of Mr. Needham's employment
agreement, reduced the interest rate under the loan to the lesser of (i) 6% per
annum or (ii) the highest rate permitted by applicable law. On December 31,
1999, approximately $289,000 in aggregate principal and interest remained
outstanding under the loan.
On March 31, 1998, the Company lent Mr. Benson, a director and former
executive officer of the Company, an aggregate of $1.0 million in order to
permit him to purchase shares of Common Stock. The loan has an interest rate of
5.89% per annum, is due on March 31, 2001, and requires Mr. Benson to prepay the
loan with any proceeds he receives from the sale of any of his shares of Common
Stock. The amounts due under the loan are with full recourse and are secured by
a pledge of 546,385 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Benson and certain stock
options granted to Mr. Benson, together with certain stock issuable to
Mr. Benson, under certain of the Company's stock option agreements. On
December 31, 1999, approximately $1.1 million in aggregate principal and
interest remained outstanding under the loan.
39
<PAGE>
PART IV
ITEM 14 EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
ITEM 14(A)(1) INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
--------
<S> <C>
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
Responsibility for the Consolidated Financial Reports....... 44
Report of Independent Accountants........................... 45
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 1999 and 1998... 46
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended
December 31 1999, 1998, and 1997.......................... 47
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity
(Deficit) for the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998, and
1997...................................................... 48
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended
December 31, 1999, 1998, and 1997......................... 49
</TABLE>
ITEM 14(A)(2) FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Other than the schedule listed below, the information required by this item
is included in the consolidated financial statements or is omitted because the
schedules are not applicable to the Company.
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS SCHEDULE
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999, 1998 AND 1997
(IN THOUSANDS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
BALANCE AT CHARGED TO
BEGINNING COSTS AND CHARGED TO BALANCE AT
OF PERIOD EXPENSES OTHER ACCOUNTS DEDUCTIONS END OF PERIOD
---------- ---------- -------------- ---------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Allowance for doubtful accounts
and sales returns (a) (b)
1999 $2,248 $6,823 $ -- $4,994 $4,077
1998 2,794 4,204 -- 4,750 2,248
1997 2,216 3,279 225 2,926 2,794
Inventory obsolescence reserve (a) (b)
1999 $3,517 $ 724 $ -- $2,354 $1,887
1998 1,647 2,332 -- 462 3,517
1997 2,135 32 300 820 1,647
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
(a) APB 16 purchase accounting
(b) Accounts written off and customer returns
40
<PAGE>
ITEM 14(B) REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
The Company filed the following Current Reports on Form 8-K during 1999 and
through March 15, 2000:
(1) Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 22, 1999, relating to the
Company's January 8, 1999, press release. A press release on January 8,
1999, announcing that the NYSE is delisting the Company's common stock.
(2) Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 4, 1999, relating to the
Company's January 19, 1999, January 26, 1999, and February 1, 1999,
press releases. A press release on January 19, 1999, announcing that the
Company's plant in Dallas, Texas will be closed and consolidated as part
of a previously announced restructuring plan. A press release on
January 26, 1999, announcing that the Company will begin trading on the
NASD OTC Bulletin Board System under the symbol AMPP effective
January 26, 1999. A press release on February 1, 1999, announcing that
the Williamhouse division of the Company will increase the price of
White Wove Commodity Envelopes to its customers by approximately 7%
effective February 15, 1999.
(3) Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 24, 1999, relating to the
Company's February 9, 1999, and February 17, 1999, press releases. A
press release on February 9, 1999, announcing the appointments of
William J. Mays as Vice President of Operations and Leon W. Hall as Vice
President of Sales for Ampad. A press release on February 17, 1999,
announcing financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended
December 31, 1998.
(4) Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 1, 1999, relating to the
Company's March 22, 1999, press release. A press release on March 22,
1999, announcing that the Board of Directors elected two new directors,
Jeffery K. Hewson and John H. Rodgers, and has named James W. Swent III
as Co-Chairman of the Board, effective March 17, 1999.
(5) Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 28, 1999, relating to the
Company's April 19, 1999, press release. A press release on April 19,
1999, announcing reported financial results for the first quarter ended
March 31, 1999.
(6) Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 14, 1999, relating to the Company's
May 10, 1999, press release. A press release on May 10, 1999, announcing
the appointment of William L. Morgan as Chief Operating Officer (COO).
(7) Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 14, 1999, relating to the Company's
May 10, 1999, press release. A press release on May 10, 1999, announcing
the closing and consolidation of the Holland, New York plant.
(8) Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 3, 1999, relating to the Company's
June 1, 1999, press release. A press release on June 1, 1999, announcing
the appointment of Lee E. Meyer as President of its Creative Card
division.
(9) Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 26, 1999, relating to the
Company's July 19, 1999, press release. A press release on July 19,
1999, announcing reported financial results of the second quarter ended
June 30, 1999.
(10) Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 26, 1999, relating to the
Company's August 18, 1999, press release. A press release on August 18,
1999, announcing the appointment of Raj Tanna as Vice President of
E*Commerce.
(11) Current Report on Form 8-K filed September 20, 1999, relating to the
Company's September 13, 1999, press release. A press release on
September 13, 1999, announcing the appointment of Barry L. Silberman as
Vice President of Marketing for Ampad division.
41
<PAGE>
(12) Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 16, 1999, relating to the
Company's November 15, 1999, press release. A press release on
November 15, 1999, announcing reported financial results of the third
quarter ended September 30, 1999. A press release on November 15, 1999,
announcing that a default of the Company's bank credit agreement will
preclude payment of its November 15, 1999 interest payment to its
subordinated debt holders; and that the Company has engaged Lazard
Freres & Co. LLC to investigate and pursue various strategic and
financial alternatives, including the possible sale of the Williamhouse
division.
(13) Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 17, 1999, relating to the
Company's December 16, 1999, press release. A press release on
December 16, 1999, announcing that the Company is in continuing
negotiations with its bank group and a committee of bondholders, that
the Company believes represents holders of over 70% of the principal
amount of its subordinated debt.
(14) Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 11, 2000, relating to the
Company's January 11, 2000, press release. A press release on
January 11, 2000, announcing that a group of its bondholders filed a
petition on January 10, 2000 with the United States Bankruptcy Court in
Delaware asking the court to place the Company in an involuntary Chapter
11. The Company has 20 days to respond to this petition and is not
currently operating in Chapter 11.
(15) Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 18, 2000, relating to the
Company's January 14 press release, and to the January 18, 2000
resignation of James V. Heim as President of the Ampad division. A press
release on January 14, 2000, announcing that the Company has filed a
petition in the United States Bankruptcy Court in Delaware to convert
the involuntary Chapter 11 petition filed by its bondholders on
January 10, 2000 to a voluntary Chapter 11 proceeding under the Federal
Bankruptcy Code; and that it had received a commitment for $65 million
of debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing from a group of its current bank
lenders.
(16) Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 20, 2000, relating to the
Company's January 19, 2000, press release. A press release on
January 19, 2000, announcing that it has received Bankruptcy Court
approval to, among other things, pay employee wages, salaries and
benefits during its voluntary reorganization under Chapter 11; and that
the Court has approved interim debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing for
immediate use by the Company for its day-to-day operational needs.
ITEM 14(B) EXHIBITS
See Exhibit Index that follows on pages 69 to 71.
42
<PAGE>
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
--------
<S> <C>
Responsibility for the Consolidated Financial Reports....... 44
Report of Independent Accountants........................... 45
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 1999 and 1998... 46
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended
December 31 1999, 1998, and 1997.......................... 47
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity
(Deficit) for the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998, and
1997...................................................... 48
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended
December 31, 1999, 1998, and 1997......................... 49
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.................. 50
</TABLE>
43
<PAGE>
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL REPORTS
Company management is responsible for the preparation, accuracy and
integrity of the consolidated financial statements and other financial
information included in this Annual Report. This responsibility includes
preparing the statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles and necessarily includes estimates that are based on management's
best judgments.
To help ensure the accuracy and integrity of the Company's financial data,
management maintains a system of internal controls which are designed to provide
reasonable assurance that transactions are executed as authorized, that they are
accurately recorded and that assets are properly safeguarded. Internal financial
and operations management monitors these controls. It is essential for all
Company employees to conduct their business affairs in keeping with the highest
ethical standards as outlined in our code of conduct policy. Careful selection
of employees and appropriate divisions of responsibility also help us to achieve
our control objectives.
The financial statements have been audited by the Company's independent
accountants, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Their report is shown on page 45.
The Board of Directors, acting through its Audit Committee composed entirely
of outside directors, oversees the adequacy of the Company's control
environment. The Audit Committee meets periodically with representatives of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and internal financial management to review
accounting, control, auditing and financial reporting matters. The independent
accountants also have full and free access to meet privately with the Audit
Committee.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
/s/ JAMES W. SWENT III /s/ DAVID N. PILOTTE
- --------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
James W. Swent III David N. Pilotte
CO-CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND VICE PRESIDENT, CORPORATE CONTROLLER
DIRECTOR AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING OFFICER)
(PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND
PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER)
</TABLE>
44
<PAGE>
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY:
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements listed in the index
appearing under Item 14(a)(1) and (2) on page 40 present fairly, in all material
respects, the financial position of American Pad & Paper Company and its
subsidiaries at December 31, 1999 and 1998, and the results of their operations
and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 1999, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted
in the United States. These financial statements are the responsibility of the
Company's management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these
statements in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the
United States, which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the
accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and
evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our
audits provide a reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above.
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the
Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Notes 1 and 11 to the
consolidated financial statements, the Company is currently in bankruptcy and is
in default under substantially all of its debt agreements. These matters raise
substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.
Management's plans in regard to these matters involve the potential sale of
assets as described in Note 1. The accompanying financial statements do not
include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP
April 13, 2000
Dallas, Texas
45
<PAGE>
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AMOUNTS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31,
---------------------
1999 1998
--------- ---------
<S> <C> <C>
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash...................................................... $ 19,976 $ 1,371
Accounts receivable....................................... 35,385 60,660
Inventories............................................... 93,083 112,169
Income taxes receivable................................... -- 1,700
Prepaid expenses and other current assets................. 3,521 1,240
--------- ---------
Total current assets.................................... 151,965 177,140
Property, plant, and equipment............................ 145,982 152,198
Goodwill and intangible assets............................ 173,210 185,805
Other..................................................... 1,071 1,337
--------- ---------
Total assets............................................ $ 472,228 $ 516,480
========= =========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt......................... $ 391,567 $ 1,236
Accounts payable.......................................... 39,892 49,598
Accrued expenses.......................................... 60,020 47,078
Deferred income taxes..................................... 2,300 (40)
Income taxes payable...................................... 300 300
Restructuring reserve..................................... 1,064 5,660
--------- ---------
Total current liabilities............................... 495,143 103,832
Long-term debt.............................................. -- 373,675
Deferred income taxes....................................... 37,067 16,972
Other....................................................... 797 1,288
--------- ---------
Total liabilities....................................... 533,007 495,767
--------- ---------
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity (deficit):
Preferred stock, 150,000 shares authorized, no shares
issued and outstanding.................................. -- --
Common Stock, voting $.01 par value, 75,000,000 shares
authorized, 28,527,983 and 27,724,045 shares issued and
outstanding, respectively............................... 285 277
Additional paid-in-capital................................ 301,329 301,287
Stockholder notes......................................... (1,395) (1,317)
Accumulated deficit....................................... (360,998) (279,534)
--------- ---------
Total stockholders equity (deficit)..................... (60,779) 20,713
--------- ---------
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit).... $ 472,228 $ 516,480
========= =========
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
46
<PAGE>
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AMOUNTS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
-------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Net sales................................................... $572,616 $662,031 $687,335
Cost of sales............................................... 531,085 597,456 598,416
-------- -------- --------
Gross profit............................................ 41,531 64,575 88,919
-------- -------- --------
Operating expenses:
Selling and marketing..................................... 22,204 21,261 22,246
General and administrative................................ 26,780 31,840 19,133
Restructuring charges/(credits)........................... (2,773) 5,741 --
Losses on sales of accounts receivable.................... 3,295 3,226 2,954
Amortization of goodwill and intangible assets............ 5,133 5,939 6,110
Write down of assets--Shade/Allied........................ -- 41,000
Management fees and services.............................. 1,500 2,030 4,871
-------- -------- --------
56,139 111,037 55,314
-------- -------- --------
Income (loss) from operations............................... (14,608) (46,462) 33,605
Other income (expense):
Interest.................................................. (44,865) (44,970) (37,843)
Other income, net......................................... 2,005 1,411 389
-------- -------- --------
Loss before income taxes.................................... (57,468) (90,021) (3,849)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes........................ 23,270 (11,374) 642
-------- -------- --------
Loss before cumulative effect of a change in accounting
principal................................................. (80,738) (78,647) (4,491)
Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principal....... (726) -- --
-------- -------- --------
Net loss.................................................... $(81,464) $(78,647) $ (4,491)
======== ======== ========
Basic and diluted loss per share:
Loss before cumulative effect of a change in accounting
principal............................................... $ (2.89) $ (2.84) $ (0.16)
Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principal..... (0.03) -- --
-------- -------- --------
Net loss.................................................. $ (2.92) $ (2.84) $ (0.16)
======== ======== ========
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic and diluted......................................... 27,944 27,718 27,431
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
47
<PAGE>
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
(IN THOUSANDS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PREFERRED STOCK COMMON STOCK
------------------- ------------------- PAID IN STOCKHOLDER ACCUMULATED
SHARES AMOUNT SHARES AMOUNT CAPITAL NOTES DEFICIT TOTAL
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ----------- ----------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balance at December 31,
1996..................... -- $ -- 27,400 $274 $300,721 $ (338) $(196,396) $104,261
Common stock sold under
the Management stock
purchase plan.......... -- -- 36 -- 558 -- -- 558
Reduction in stockholder
notes.................. -- -- 49 -- 49
Net loss................. -- -- -- -- -- -- (4,491) (4,491)
---- ---- ------ ---- -------- ------- --------- --------
Balance at December 31,
1997..................... -- -- 27,436 274 301,279 (289) (200,887) 100,377
Exercise of stock
options................ -- -- 288 3 8 -- -- 11
Stockholder notes-new.... -- -- -- (1,045) -- (1,045)
Reduction in stockholder
notes.................. -- -- -- -- -- 17 -- 17
Net loss................. -- -- -- -- -- -- (78,647) (78,647)
---- ---- ------ ---- -------- ------- --------- --------
Balance at December 31,
1998..................... -- -- 27,724 277 301,287 (1,317) (279,534) 20,713
Exercise of stock
options................ -- -- 804 8 42 -- -- 50
Addition to stockholder
notes.................. -- -- -- -- -- (78) -- (78)
Net loss................. -- -- -- -- -- -- (81,464) (81,464)
---- ---- ------ ---- -------- ------- --------- --------
Balance at December 31,
1999..................... -- $ -- 28,528 $285 $301,329 $(1,395) $(360,998) $(60,779)
==== ==== ====== ==== ======== ======= ========= ========
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
48
<PAGE>
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
-------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss.................................................. $(81,464) $(78,647) $ (4,491)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by
(used in) operating activities:
Deferred income taxes................................... 22,436 (11,674) 642
Depreciation............................................ 15,023 13,830 12,529
Amortization of goodwill and intangible assets.......... 5,133 5,939 6,110
Write-down of assets--Shade/Allied...................... -- 41,000 --
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle..... 726 -- --
Restructuring charges/(credits)......................... (2,773) 5,741 --
Amortization of debt issuance costs..................... 2,771 4,277 2,529
(Gain) loss on sale of assets........................... (1,941) (859) 86
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of
acquistions:
Accounts receivable................................... 21,275 17,543 (17,300)
Income tax receivable................................. 1,700 3,479 (4,059)
Inventories........................................... 18,463 42,190 (44,186)
Prepaid expenses and other............................ (2,281) 163 598
Income tax payable.................................... -- 300 --
Accounts payable...................................... (9,706) (6,758) 4,553
Accrued expenses...................................... 15,084 6,841 (22,049)
Other assets and liabilities.......................... (226) (68) 2,580
-------- -------- --------
Net cash provided by (used in) operating
activities........................................ 4,220 43,297 (62,458)
-------- -------- --------
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of stock and net assets of businesses, including
acquisition costs....................................... -- -- (50,677)
Purchases of property and equipment....................... (11,877) (14,379) (23,095)
Proceeds from sale of assets.............................. 5,634 1,221 4,056
-------- -------- --------
Net cash used in investing activities............... (6,243) (13,158) (69,716)
-------- -------- --------
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net borrowings on credit agreement........................ 18,343 -- 130,400
Repayment of long-term debt............................... (1,687) (25,826) (2,268)
Debt issuance costs....................................... -- (2,780) --
Net proceeds from new accounts receivable financing
facility................................................ 4,000 (4,000) 6,000
Stockholder notes......................................... (78) (1,028) 49
Options and management stock purchase plan................ 50 11 558
-------- -------- --------
Net cash provided by (used in) financing
activities........................................ 20,628 (33,623) 134,739
-------- -------- --------
Net increase (decrease) in cash............................. 18,605 (3,484) 2,565
-------- -------- --------
Cash, beginning of year..................................... 1,371 4,855 2,290
-------- -------- --------
Cash, end of year........................................... $ 19,976 $ 1,371 $ 4,855
======== ======== ========
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest................................................ $ 32,474 $ 42,807 $ 34,292
Income taxes............................................ $ 489 $ 367 $ 4,519
======== ======== ========
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing activity:
Notes payable issued to purchase equipment................ $ -- $ 621 $ --
-------- -------- --------
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
49
<PAGE>
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. ORGANIZATION, BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND BUSINESS
ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
American Pad & Paper Company (formerly Ampad Holding Corporation and
referred to hereafter as the "Company") was incorporated on June 2, 1992, as a
holding company to acquire all of the outstanding stock of Ampad Corporation
("Ampad"), the surviving entity from the merger between Ampad Acquisition
Corporation and Ampad. The Company had no operations through July 31, 1992.
On October 3, 1995, the Company agreed to acquire in a merger transaction
all of the outstanding stock of WR Acquisition, Inc. ("WR"). In a series of
transactions, the Company exchanged 100% of the stock of its wholly owned
subsidiary, Ampad, for newly issued shares of WR. WR then contributed Ampad to
its wholly owned subsidiary, Williamhouse-Regency of Delaware, Inc., renamed
American Pad & Paper Company of Delaware, Inc. (referred to hereafter on a
pre-October 31, 1995 basis as "Williamhouse-Regency" and on a post-October 31,
1995 basis as "AP&P Delaware"), in exchange for a right to receive
$140.0 million of merger consideration. The Company, principally using bank
borrowings by AP&P Delaware aggregating $245.0 million, funded WR's right to
receive the merger consideration. WR in turn repurchased 100% of the WR shares
not owned by the Company. The Company accounted for the transaction as a
purchase of the stock of WR. As a result of the transactions, the Company owns
100% of WR, which in turn owns 100% of AP&P Delaware.
The financial statements of the Company include the historical accounts and
operations of the Company, AP&P Delaware and Manufacturing. Included in the
historical accounts and operations of AP&P Delaware are the accounts and
operations of Ampad, the envelope operations of Williamhouse and Niagara, and
the continuous form operations of Shade/Allied since their respective dates of
acquisition. Additionally, the consolidated financial statements include the
accounts of Notepad Funding Corporation ("Notepad"), a special purpose
corporation used in the accounts receivable financing facility. All significant
intercompany balances have been eliminated.
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY OF DELAWARE, INC.
The Company's wholly owned subsidiary, AP&P Delaware, is the issuer of 13%
Senior Subordinated Notes ("Notes"). Terms of the Notes require, among other
matters, that AP&P Delaware provide annual audited and quarterly unaudited
financial statements to the holders of the Notes. The Company is providing the
holders of the Notes with its quarterly and annual consolidated financial
statements as well as its periodic reports as filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. There are no material differences between the financial
statements of the Company and those of AP&P Delaware. The composition of AP&P
Delaware's stockholders' equity at December 31, 1999, consists of one hundred
shares of $0.01 par value common stock, paid in capital of $252.4 million and an
accumulated deficit of $217.6 million and, in total, is equal to the
stockholders' equity (deficit) of the Company. The Company believes that
providing such consolidated financial statements satisfies the financial
information and debt compliance reporting needs of the holders of the Notes.
DEBT DEFAULT AND CHAPTER 11 FILING
On November 12, 1999, the Company was notified by its banking group of a
default of its revolving credit facility. The default stemmed from the formation
of new subsidiaries in December 1997 related to a reorganization of the
Company's corporate structure without proper notification to the banks. The
reorganization was implemented primarily for state tax purposes and included the
transfer of assets between existing entities and transfers to the new
subsidiaries. The default on the revolving credit facility
50
<PAGE>
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
1. ORGANIZATION, BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND BUSINESS (CONTINUED)
prevented the Company from paying interest on its publicly traded Notes due
November 15, 1999, thereby causing a default on the Notes as well.
On January 10, 2000, certain holders of the Company's 13% Senior
Subordinated Notes due November 15, 2005 filed an involuntary chapter 11
petition against the Company and all of its subsidiaries except Notepad Funding
Corporation (the "Debtors") in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the
District of Delaware. On January 14, 2000, each of the Debtors consented to the
entry of an Order for Relief and filed voluntary petitions under chapter 11 of
title 11 of the United States Code (the "Bankruptcy Code"). The bankruptcy Case
Numbers 00-00066 (RRM) through 00-00072 (RRM) are being jointly administered
under Case Number 00-00066 (RRM). Each of the Debtors is continuing to operate
its business and manage its property as a debtor-in-possession pursuant to
sections 1107 (a) and 1108 of the Bankruptcy Code. On January 28, 2000, an
Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors was appointed in these cases. No plan
of reorganization has yet been proposed by the Company.
On January 10, 2000, as a result of the chapter 11 filings, the Company's
$60.0 million accounts receivable financing facility terminated and no further
sales of receivables occurred. Although no post-termination receivables were
sold under this facility, the Company continues to act as servicer under the
facility and to collect and remit remaining outstanding receivables as provided
in the facility.
On February 9, 2000, the Bankruptcy Court entered a final order approving
$65 million DIP financing in the form of a revolving credit facility provided by
the Company's existing bank group. Availability under the facility is contingent
upon a borrowing base of accounts receivable and inventory, and bears interest
at a rate of prime plus 2.5%. The revolving credit facility matures July 17,
2000, and may be extended upon satisfaction of certain conditions.
In November 1999, the Company announced that it had engaged Lazard Freres &
Co. LLC ("Lazard Freres") to investigate the possible sale of its Williamhouse
division, as well as other business assets of the Company, in order to reduce
debt. In March 2000, the Company announced it had signed a letter of intent to
sell its Creative Card division to Taylor Corporation. Negotiations with Taylor
Corporation are continuing and the Company expects the sale to be final in the
second quarter of 2000. Such sale, subject to the approval of the bankruptcy
court, is expected to result in a loss of $5 to $10 million. Efforts by Lazard
Freres to sell the Williamhouse division and other business assets are
continuing.
Although Chapter 11 bankruptcy raises substantial doubt about the Company's
ability to continue as a going concern, the accompanying consolidated financial
statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles applicable to a company on a going-concern basis which contemplates
the continuity of operations, realization of assets and the liquidation of
liabilities in the ordinary course of business. As a result of the Chapter 11
filing, realization of assets and liquidation of liabilities are subject to
significant uncertainties. Specifically, the financial statements do not present
the amount that will be paid to settle liabilities and contingencies that may be
allowed in Chapter 11 reorganization. Also the consolidated financial statements
do not reflect i) adjustments to assets and liabilities which may occur in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles STATEMENT OF POSITION
90-7, FINANCIAL REPORTING BY ENTITIES IN REORGANIZATION UNDER THE BANKRUPTCY
CODE (SOP 90-7) following the confirmation of a plan of reorganization; or
ii) the realizable value of assets which would be required to be recorded if the
Company presents a plan which, if approved, contemplates the disposal of all or
portions of its assets and operations. The filing of a plan of reorganization
could materially affect the carrying value of the assets and liabilities
currently disclosed in the consolidated financial statements.
51
<PAGE>
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
1. ORGANIZATION, BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND BUSINESS (CONTINUED)
BUSINESS
The Company is a leading manufacturer and marketer of nationally branded and
private label paper-based office products in North America. The Company operates
in one business segment, converting paper into office products, and offers a
broad assortment of products through two complementary divisions: Ampad (writing
pads, file folders, retail envelopes, and other paper-based office products) and
Williamhouse (business envelopes and seasonal greeting cards). The Company's
products are distributed through large mass merchant retailers, office product
superstores, warehouse clubs, major contract stationers, office products
wholesalers, paper merchants, and independent dealers.
Since the Company's last acquisition in 1997 revenues have declined, margins
have eroded, competitive pressures in the marketplace kept the Company from
fully recouping increasing paper prices, and inventory levels were, for a period
of time built to an excessive level. Through the rationalization plan initiated
in late 1998, three manufacturing plants were closed, inventory levels were
reduced and production was better coordinated with sales. Although competitive
pressures continued, price increases were initiated which, while not fully
recouping prices movements in raw materials, caused amounts absorbed by the
Company to be reduced. Despite the progress on operational and pricing issues,
the Company's capital structure and high level of debt have limited its abiity
to return to profitability.
PRO FORMA INFORMATION
The pro forma information included in these financial statements and notes
is unaudited.
QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The quarterly financial information included in these financial statements
is unaudited and includes all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring
adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the Company's financial
position, its results of operations and its cash flows. Operating results for
any particular quarter are not necessarily indicative of results for the full
fiscal year.
CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF A CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE
The Accounting Standards Executive Committee (AcSEC) issued Statement of
Position (SOP) 98-5, which is effective for fiscal years commencing after
December 15, 1998. The statement of operations reflects a charge of
$0.7 million, net of tax in 1999, for the write off of previously recorded
start-up costs. SOP 98-5, "Reporting on the Costs of Start-up Activities",
prescribes that start-up costs should be expensed as incurred. The SOP states
that its adoption should be reported as a cumulative effect of a change in
accounting principle.
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Significant accounting policies followed in the preparation of the
consolidated financial statements are as follows:
USE OF ESTIMATES
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
52
<PAGE>
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of
financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during
the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
The Company considers all highly liquid, interest-bearing instruments with
an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash
overdrafts of $12.8 million and $28.5 million at December 31, 1999 and 1998,
respectively were reclassed to accounts payable.
REVENUE RECOGNITION
The Company recognizes revenue upon shipment of the product. All risks and
rewards of ownership pass to the customer upon shipment. Damaged or defective
products may be returned to the Company for replacement or credit. The Company
also offers sales volume rebates or contractual allowance payments to customers
based on their level of sales activity or period of time customers agree to sell
the Company's products, which period does not exceed three years. The effects of
returns, discounts and other incentives are estimated and recorded at the time
of shipment. Volume rebates are estimated and recorded based on sales activity
or amount of time customers agree to sell the Company's products.
CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK
The Company sells its products into various wholesale and retail channels,
primarily for the commercial office products marketplace. Management believes
its credit policies are prudent and reflect normal industry terms and business
risks. The Company performs periodic credit evaluations of its customers and
does not require collateral. Historically, the Company has not experienced
significant losses related to individual customers or groups of customers in any
particular industry or geographic area. An allowance is maintained at a level
that management believes is sufficient to cover potential credit losses
including potential losses on receivables sold with recourse.
INVENTORIES
Inventories, which consist primarily of paper and converted paper products,
are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined by the last-in,
first-out (LIFO) method. Costs include material, labor and overhead.
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation is provided using
the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the individual
assets. Significant repairs or improvements, which extend the useful life of an
asset, are capitalized and depreciated over the asset's remaining useful life.
Interest costs associated with capital projects during the time that
expenditures have been made until the asset is placed in service are capitalized
as part of the historical cost of the asset.
GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Goodwill represents the cost in excess of fair value of the net assets of
companies acquired in purchase transactions. Goodwill is amortized using the
straight-line method over periods ranging from 20
53
<PAGE>
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
to 40 years. Intangible assets represent trade names acquired in the WR and
Shade/Allied acquisitions and are amortized using the straight-line method.
Trade names in the aggregate gross amount of $31.7 million and $6.2 million for
WR are amortized over 40 and 15 years, respectively, and originally, trade names
totaling $5.6 million for Shade/Allied were amortized over 40 years. In the
fourth quarter of 1999, the Company reduced goodwill by $2.7 million and trade
names by $1.2 million by reversing certain transition reserves established with
the Williamhouse, Niagara, and Shade/Allied acquisitions. In the second quarter
of 1998, the Company wrote off $39.9 million of goodwill and $1.1 million of
trade names associated with the Shade/Allied continuous forms business. (See
footnote 5 "Impairment of Shade/Allied Long-Lived Assets.") Amortization expense
was $5.1 million in 1999, $5.9 million in 1998 and $6.1 million in 1997.
LONG-LIVED ASSETS
The Company periodically reviews the net realizable value of its long-lived
assets, including goodwill and intangible assets, through an assessment of the
estimated future cash flows related to such assets. In the event that assets are
found to be carried at amounts which are in excess of estimated gross future
cash flows, the carrying value of the asset is reduced to a level commensurate
with a discounted cash flow analysis. Based upon its most recent analysis, the
Company does not believe an impairment of long-lived assets exists at
December 31, 1999.
DEBT ISSUANCE COSTS
Costs associated with debt issuance are capitalized and amortized to
interest expense using the effective interest method of accounting over the
terms of the related debt agreement.
INCOME TAXES
The Company accounts for income taxes following the liability method, which
prescribes an asset and liability approach that requires the recognition of
deferred tax assets and liabilities for the future tax consequences of events
that have been recognized in the Company's financial statements or tax returns.
Deferred tax assets are recognized, net of any valuation allowance, for
deductible temporary differences and tax operating loss and credit
carryforwards. Deferred tax expense represents the change in the deferred tax
asset or liability balances. The Company periodically reviews the realizability
of its deferred tax assets and, as needed, records valuation allowances when
realizability of the deferred tax asset is not reasonably assured. The Company
recorded a deferred tax valuation allowance of $43.3 million and $6.3 million in
1999 and 1998, respectively.
DERIVATIVES
In January 1996, the Company entered into a four-year interest rate cap that
entitles the Company to receive, on a quarterly basis from the counterparty, the
amount, if any, by which LIBOR exceeds 6.5% for the first two years of the
agreement and 7.5% for the last two years on a notional principal amount of
$100.0 million. The counterparty to this agreement is a large financial
institution. Premiums are amortized as interest expense over the term of the
agreement. Amounts receivable under the agreement are recorded as a reduction of
interest expense. There were no amounts received under this agreement in 1999,
1998 or 1997.
54
<PAGE>
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Carrying values of cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued
expenses approximate fair value due to the short-term maturities of these assets
and liabilities. The carrying value of senior bank debt bearing interest at
floating rates approximates fair value. At December 31, 1999 and 1998, the
carrying value of the Notes of $130.0 million compares to the Notes' fair value
of $14.3 million and $87.1 million, respectively, based on quoted market trades.
RECLASSIFICATIONS
Certain amounts in the 1998 and 1997 consolidated financial statements have
been reclassified in order to conform to the presentation in the 1999
consolidated financial statements. Specifically, stockholder notes totalling
$1.4 million were reclassified from other assets to stockholders' deficit at
December 31, 1999.
NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENT
In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 ("FAS 133"), ACCOUNTING FOR DERIVATIVE
INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES. FAS 133 is effective for all fiscal quarters
of all fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2000. FAS 133 requires that all
derivative instruments be recorded on the balance sheet at fair value. Changes
in the fair value of derivatives are recorded each period in current earnings or
other comprehensive income, depending on whether a derivative is designated at
part of a hedge transaction and the type of hedge transaction. The ineffective
portion of all hedges will be recognized in earnings. Adoption of the Statement
is not expected to have a material impact on the Division's financial position
and results of operations.
3. ACQUISITIONS
SHADE/ALLIED, INC.
Effective February 11, 1997, the Company acquired all of the outstanding
common and preferred stock of Shade/Allied, Inc., ("Shade/Allied"). This
acquisition was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting.
Accordingly, the aggregate acquisition cost was allocated to the net assets
acquired based on the fair value of such net assets. The aggregate acquisition
costs totaled $50.7 million, consisting of cash of $49.5 million and direct
acquisition costs of $1.2 million. The Company financed this acquisition with
proceeds from its revolving credit facility. The aggregate acquisition costs
were allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as follows:
accounts receivable of $4.6 million; inventory of $5.8 million; prepaid and
other assets of $129,000; property and equipment of $14.5 million; identifiable
intangible assets of $5.6 million; other long-term assets of $725,000; accounts
payable of $6.9 million; accrued liabilities of $7.2 million; income taxes
payable of $215,000; deferred income tax payable of $6.7 million; and pension
liability of $1.0 million. The aggregate acquisition costs exceeded the fair
market value of net assets acquired by $41.4 million. Accordingly, goodwill was
recorded and was amortized on the basis of a 40 year life until it was written
off as of June 30, 1998. (SEE FOOTNOTE 5, "IMPAIRMENT OF SHADE/ALLIED LONG-
LIVED ASSETS.") The operating results of the acquisition have been included in
the accompanying consolidated financial statements since the date of
acquisition.
55
<PAGE>
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
3. ACQUISITIONS (CONTINUED)
ACQUISITION INTEGRATION COSTS
At acquisition, certain costs were expected to be incurred in connection
with the Company's plans to integrate and consolidate certain plant,
administrative, sales and corporate functions of the acquired division
businesses. Such costs, estimated to total $27.5 million, included lease
termination expenses, severance and contractual change of control benefits, and
the liabilities for such costs were included in the purchase price allocation
within accrued expenses. The remaining $0.9 million of the acquisition
integration costs at December 31, 1999, is intended to cover the remaining costs
of integrating plants, administrative, sales and corporate functions.
4. RESTRUCTURING CHARGES
On September 1, 1998, the Company announced a plan to rationalize its
manufacturing operations. The plan included plant consolidations, equipment
moves, plant/product changes, warehouse consolidations and the addition of new
distribution centers. The previously reported third quarter 1998 restructuring
charge of $5.7 million shown in the accompanying statement of operations
represents the Company's rationalization plan.
The Company has closed three plants as part of the rationalization plan. The
closing of the Kosciusko, Mississippi plant was announced on November 10, 1998,
and final production occurred on April 14, 1999. The closing of the Dallas,
Texas plant was announced on January 19, 1999, and final production occurred on
April 22, 1999. The closing of the Holland, New York plant was announced on
May 10, 1999, and final production occurred on November 30, 1999. As of
December 31, 1999, 371 employees have been severed and severance and benefit
payments totaling $1.3 million have been charged to the restructuring reserve.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1998 1998 1999 CHANGE IN DEC. 31, 1999
CHARGE EXPENDITURES EXPENDITURES ESTIMATE BALANCE
-------- ------------ ------------ --------- -------------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Severance and benefits....... $1,848 $(81) $(1,181) $ (584) $ 2
Closing costs to exit
facilities................. 2,484 -- (273) (1,440) 771
Lease termination costs...... 468 -- (264) -- 204
Property taxes after ceasing
operations................. 941 -- (105) (749) 87
------ ---- ------- ------- ------
Total........................ $5,741 $(81) $(1,823) $(2,773) $1,064
====== ==== ======= ======= ======
</TABLE>
Restructuring charges recorded in September 1998 of approximately
$2.8 million were reversed during the third and fourth quarters of 1999. The
original rationalization plan included the consolidation of two existing plants.
After attempts to hire additional skilled labor at the receiving plant failed,
the decision to close the first plant was reversed.
The Company recorded one-time implementation costs associated with the
rationalization plan of $9.4 million in cost of sales during 1999. These
expenses represent costs to move equipment and inventory, interim warehouse
costs, employee retention and relocation, recruiting costs, and other training
and efficiency costs. The Company also recorded one-time capital expenditure
costs of $2.0 million in 1999 associated with the rationalization plan. The
major undertakings of the rationalization plan were completed in 1999.
56
<PAGE>
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
5. IMPAIRMENT OF SHADE/ALLIED LONG-LIVED ASSETS
The $41 million charge recorded at June 30, 1998 consisted of $39.9 million
write down of goodwill and a $1.1 million write down of trade names. The
recorded values of property, plant and equipment and trade names at
December 31, 1999, are $9.1 million and $3.3 million, respectively.
In November 1998, the continuous forms business was consolidated from six
separate manufacturing facilities where forms comprised only a portion of the
plant's manufacturing operations into two dedicated continuous forms plants.
Although manufacturing efficiencies and margins have improved, in 1999, the
Company announced its intentions to sell the Division.
At December 31, 1999, an analysis based upon the discounted expected future
cash flows of the acquired continuous forms business indicated that no further
write down of the carrying value of the long-lived assets was required.
6. RECEIVABLES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31,
-------------------
1999 1998
-------- --------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C>
Accounts receivable--trade................................ $36,870 $59,936
Accounts receivable--other................................ 2,592 2,972
Less allowance for doutful accounts and reserves for
customer deductions, returns and cash discounts......... (4,077) (2,248)
------- -------
$35,385 $60,660
======= =======
</TABLE>
On May 24, 1996, the Company entered into a $60.0 million accounts
receivable facility. Accounts receivable are sold under the Company's accounts
receivable financing facility without legal recourse. However, under the terms
of the facility, receivables that become past due beyond a predetermined limit
are deemed "ineligible receivables" and the Company assumes the credit risk for
the collection of such accounts. As such, a portion of the allowance for
doubtful accounts covers receivables no longer reflected on the balance sheet.
In the event of a termination of the facility, as in the case of the Company's
chapter 11 filing, the lenders to the facility bear the risk of uncollectible
accounts.
Bad debt expense for 1999 and 1998 was $2.1 million and $2.5 million,
respectively.
7. INVENTORIES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31,
-------------------
1999 1998
-------- --------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C>
Raw material............................................. $28,633 $ 29,892
Work-in-process.......................................... 4,586 5,440
Finished goods........................................... 66,406 77,788
------- --------
99,625 113,120
LIFO reserve............................................. (6,542) (951)
------- --------
$93,083 $112,169
======= ========
</TABLE>
57
<PAGE>
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
7. INVENTORIES (CONTINUED)
In connection with the acquisitions of WR, Niagara and Shade/Allied, total
inventories for financial accounting purposes were written up by $15.8 million
to fair market value at the dates of acquisition including the reversal of
$7.3 million related to historical LIFO reserves. Using the LIFO method of
accounting, such write up formed the historical base year cost for the
inventories acquired.
In 1999, the liquidation of LIFO layers decreased cost of goods sold by
$1.0 million and in 1998, increased cost of goods sold by $1.7 million.
8. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ESTIMATED DECEMBER 31,
USEFUL LIVES -------------------
IN YEARS 1999 1998
------------ -------- --------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Land......................................... $ 4,837 $ 7,002
Buildings.................................... 40 34,796 34,585
Machinery and equipment...................... 3-12 139,640 132,721
Office furniture and fixtures................ 3-7 16,324 12,351
Construction-in-progress..................... 4,477 5,109
-------- --------
200,074 191,768
Less accumulated depreciation................ 54,092 39,570
-------- --------
$145,982 $152,198
======== ========
</TABLE>
In connection with the Shade/Allied acquisition, acquired property, plant,
and equipment was valued at $6.7 million in excess of it historical book value.
The land was written down by $34,000; buildings were written down $3.1 million;
and machinery and equipment were written up by $9.8 million. The Company
capitalized interest expense of $462,000 and $443,000 for 1999 and 1998,
respectively.
Included in property and equipment is real estate held for sale at closed
plants in Dallas, Texas; Gainesville, Georgia and Holland, New York with a
combined net book value of $5.7 million at December 31, 1999. No additional loss
is expected upon the ultimate disposition of these assets.
9. GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31,
-------------------
1999 1998
-------- --------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C>
Goodwill................................................ $145,716 $148,460
Intangible assets, primarily tradenames................. 41,545 43,665
Debt issuance costs..................................... 20,048 20,048
-------- --------
207,309 212,173
Less accumulated amortization........................... 34,099 26,368
-------- --------
$173,210 $185,805
======== ========
</TABLE>
In 1999, the Company reversed transition reserves associated with the
Williamhouse and Niagara acquisitions to reduce goodwill and tradenames by
$3.9 million. In 1998, the Company wrote-down goodwill and tradenames associated
with its Shade/Allied business by $41.0 million. See note 5.
58
<PAGE>
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
10. ACCRUED EXPENSES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31,
1999 1998
-------- --------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C>
Acquisition integration costs............................. $ 900 $ 6,190
Sales volume discounts.................................... 28,022 18,572
Salaries, wages and benefits.............................. 3,756 4,922
Interest.................................................. 16,557 3,808
Insurance reserves........................................ 3,624 5,550
Other..................................................... 7,161 8,036
------- -------
$60,020 $47,078
======= =======
</TABLE>
11. LONG-TERM DEBT
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31,
-------------------
1999 1998
-------- --------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C>
Revolving credit facility............................... $252,650 $235,150
13% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2005.................. 130,000 130,000
Industrial revenue bonds................................ 6,515 7,165
Notes payable........................................... 763 584
Capitalized lease obligations........................... 1,639 2,012
-------- --------
391,567 374,911
Less current portion.................................... 391,567 1,236
-------- --------
$ -- $373,675
======== ========
</TABLE>
As of December 31, 1999, all indebtedness of the Company is in default and
has been classified as a current liability in its balance sheet.
REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY
Prior to the Chapter 11 filing, the Company maintained a $275 million
revolving credit facility, which was used, in part, to finance the Company's
operations. The revolving credit facility required that substantially all of the
Company's assets were pledged as collateral. On November 12, 1999, the Company
was notified by its banking group of a default of its revolving credit facility.
The default stemmed from the formation of new subsidiaries in December 1997
related to a reorganization of the Company's corporate structure without proper
notification to the banks. The reorganization was implemented primarily for
state tax purposes and included the transfer of assets between existing entities
and transfers to the new subsidiaries.
On February 9, 2000, the Bankruptcy Court entered a final order approving
$65 million DIP financing in the form of a revolving credit facility provided by
the Company's existing bank group. Availability under the facility is contingent
upon a borrowing base of accounts receivable and inventory, and bears interest
at a rate of prime plus 2.5%. The revolving credit facility matures July 17,
2000, and may be extended upon satisfaction of certain conditions.
59
<PAGE>
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
11. LONG-TERM DEBT (CONTINUED)
At December 31, 1999 and 1998, the Company had letters of credit outstanding
totaling $11.8 million and $12.3 million, respectively.
SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES
In June 1996, AP&P Delaware issued $200 million of publically traded notes
("Notes") of which $130 million remains outstanding. The Notes are unsecured and
subordinated to all senior bank debt. Interest is payable semi-annually on
May 15 and November 15. The Notes are redeemable on and after November 15, 2000,
at AP&P Delaware's option, at redemption prices ranging from 106.5% of the face
value of the notes in 2000 to 100% of the face value of the notes in 2003 or
thereafter.
The Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by all subsidiaries of
AP&P Delaware, except Notepad, on a joint, several and senior subordinated basis
(AP&P is not a guarantor of the Notes). The Notes contain restrictive covenants
which, among other things, limit dividends, repurchase of capital stock and
investments, incurrence of additional indebtedness, transactions with affiliates
and other matters customarily restricted in such agreements. The default
described above on the revolving credit facility prevented AP&P from paying
interest on the Notes due November 15, 1999, thereby causing a default on the
Notes as well.
OTHER
At December 31, 1999, the Company had outstanding various industrial revenue
bonds in the aggregate of $6.5 million. The bonds bear interest rates ranging
from 3.2% to 4.8%. Aggregate annual principal payments ranging from $650,000 to
$1.2 million are due through 2010. The payment of principal and interest on the
bonds is secured by letters of credit and guarantees by the Company. In
addition, at December 31, 1999, the Company had outstanding notes payable
contracts totaling $763,000 for the purchase of equipment.
12. PENSION PLAN AND 401(k) PLAN
At December 31, 1999, the Company was a sponsor of three qualified defined
benefit pension plans and a post retirement plan, all of which were assumed as
part of acquisitions. During 1998, two of the qualified defined benefit pension
plans were merged. The Company's liabilities under such plans are included in
other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.
The Company maintains retirement plans (401(k) plan) for the benefit of all
employees who meet minimum age and service requirements. Company contributions
to the plans may be made at the discretion of its Board of Directors.
Contributions to the plans were approximately $1.4 million, $2.3 million and
$1.2 million for the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively.
13. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND STOCK OPTIONS
In July 1996, the Company sold 12,500,000 shares of common stock in an
initial public offering. The net proceeds amounted to $172.8 million after
deducting underwriting discounts, legal and accounting fees, registration fees
and travel expenses. The Company used the proceeds and working capital
to:(i) repay $95.8 million on the indebtedness incurred under the old bank
credit agreement, (ii) redeem $70.0 million principal amount of the 13% Notes
from the holders thereof on a pro rata basis, and (iii) pay $7.7 million in
redemption premium on such Notes.
60
<PAGE>
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
13. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND STOCK OPTIONS (CONTINUED)
Prior to the completion of the initial public offering, the Company's
shareholders approved an 8.1192-for-one stock split for all of the then
outstanding common stock shares and common stock options. Concurrently with the
stock split, all of the outstanding preferred stock and preferred stock options
were converted into shares of common stock and common stock options,
respectively, using a conversion price determined by dividing the preferred
stock liquidation value of $1,948.50 per share by the initial public offering
price per share of $15. All common stock share amounts have been restated to
reflect the stock split; however, the common stock share amounts have not been
restated to reflect the conversion of preferred stock and preferred stock
options.
The preferred stock has no dividend rights and, except as required by law,
is non-voting. There was no preferred stock outstanding during 1999, 1998 and
1997.
STOCK OPTIONS
1992 STOCK PLAN. On July 31, 1992, the Board of Directors of the Company
adopted the AMPAD HOLDING CORPORATION 1992 KEY EMPLOYEES STOCK OPTION PLAN
("1992 Stock Plan"), which authorized grants of stock options and the sale of
common stock to current or future employees, directors, consultants or advisers
of the Company or its subsidiaries. During 1992, 1994 and 1995, the Company
granted options to purchase 2,839,000 shares of common stock to three of its
officers, who were also stockholders, at weighted average purchase prices
ranging from $.007 to $1.65 per share. Currently, all options granted pursuant
to the 1992 Stock Plan are exercisable and originally expired 15 months after
the termination of the option holder's employment with the Company or any of its
subsidiaries. The expiration period for certain options granted under this plan
were extended in 1998 upon termination of employment of the option holders. The
extension of the option terms did not result in compensation expense in excess
of that previously recorded upon granting of options. On June 22, 1996, the
Board of Directors terminated the 1992 Stock Plan.
1996 STOCK PLAN. On June 22, 1996, the Company adopted the 1996 KEY
EMPLOYEES STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN ("1996 Stock Plan"). The 1996 Stock Plan provides
for the granting to employees and other key individuals who perform services for
the Company the following types of incentive awards: options to purchase common
stock, stock appreciation rights with respect to the common stock, restricted
shares of common stock, performance grants and other types of awards that the
Compensation Committee deems to be consistent with the purposes of the 1996
Stock Plan. The 1996 Stock Plan affords the Company flexibility in tailoring
incentive compensation to support corporate and business objectives, and to
anticipate and respond to changing business environments and competitive
compensation practices.
An aggregate of 1,500,000 shares of common stock of the Company has been
reserved for issuance under the 1996 Stock Plan. Except for any other
adjustments made by the Board of Directors relating to a stock split or certain
other changes in the number of shares of common stock, or to reflect
extraordinary corporate transactions, further increases in the number of shares
authorized for issuance under the 1996 Stock Plan must be approved by the
stockholders of the Company. Stock options granted during 1996 under the Stock
Plan have a maximum term of ten years and vest equally over three years. During
1996, the Company granted options to purchase 742,000 shares of common stock at
a weighted average purchase price of $15.00 per share. During 1998, the Company
granted options to purchase 1,221,000 shares of common stock at a weighted
averaged purchase price of $3.32 per share. Effective October 1, 1998, all
options outstanding under the 1996 Stock Plan were repriced at $4.50 per share.
As part of the repricing, options outstanding were reduced using a conversion
ratio of .8 repriced option share for each former
61
<PAGE>
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
13. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND STOCK OPTIONS (CONTINUED)
option shares and the vesting period was restarted. In 1999, the Company granted
option to purchase 60,000 shares of common stock at a price of $4.50 per share.
NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR PLAN. On June 22, 1996, the Company adopted the
NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION PLAN ("Non-Employee Director Plan"). Pursuant
to the Non-Employee Director Plan, each non-employee director will receive a
one-time option grant to purchase 25,000 shares of common stock upon election or
appointment to the Board. In addition, each director will receive an annual
grant of options to purchase 2,000 shares of common stock beginning on the
latter of the date of such director's fourth anniversary of being elected to the
Board, or four years from the initial public offering date. The initial one-time
grants will vest over three years with 50% vesting in the first year and 25% in
the subsequent two years. The annual grants will vest in three equal
installments. The exercise price for all options granted under the Non-Employee
Director Plan will be at fair market value as of the date of grant. Options
granted under the Non-Employee Director Plan terminate ten years after the date
such options become exercisable. An aggregate of 350,000 shares of common stock
has been reserved for issuance under the Non-Employee Director Plan. During
1996, the Company granted options to purchase 125,000 shares of common stock to
the Company's non-employee directors at a weighted average purchase price of
$17.38 per share. In 1998, the Company granted options to purchase 25,000 shares
of common stock to a new director at $4.75 per share. In 1999, the Company
granted options to purchase 25,000 shares of common stock to a director at $1.50
per share.
MANAGEMENT STOCK PLAN. On June 22, 1996, the Company adopted the MANAGEMENT
STOCK PURCHASE PLAN ("Management Stock Plan"). The Management Stock Plan is
designed to provide equity incentives to selected members of the Company's
management, including employee Directors and executive officers. The
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the
Company's Chief Executive Officer, will select eligible participants. Under the
Management Stock Plan, eligible participants will be able to elect to purchase
shares of common stock in lieu of up to 25% of their annual incentive bonuses.
The common stock will be sold under the Management Stock Plan at a 25% discount
from the fair market value on the date of purchase. An aggregate of 250,000
shares of common stock has been reserved under the plan and 36,000 shares were
sold in 1997.
KEY EMPLOYEES STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN. On April 27, 1999, the Company adopted
the 1999 KEY EMPLOYEES STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN ("Key Employee Plan"). The Key
Employee Plan is designed to enable the Company to attract, retain and motivate
its employees by providing for or increasing the proprietary interests of such
employees in the Company. A committee of the Board of Directors of the Company,
in its sole and absolute discretion, will select eligible participants. Awards
under the plan may include, without limitation, sales or bonuses of stock,
restricted stock, restricted stock unit, stock options, reload stock options,
stock purchase warrants, other rights to acquire stocks, securities convertible
into or redeemable for stock, stock appreciation rights, phantom stock, dividend
equivalents, performance units or performance shares, and an Award may consist
of one or more such security or benefit. 1,500,000 shares, subject to
adjustments, have been reserved under the plan, and no one employee shall be
granted more than 100,000 shares in any one calendar year. Stock options granted
during 1999 under the Key Employee Plan have a maximum term of ten years and
vest equally over three years. In 1999, the Company granted options to purchase
1,204,250 shares to various employees at a weighted average purchase price of
$1.595 per share.
OTHER OPTIONS. During 1998, the Company granted options to purchase
800,000 shares of common stock at $2.00 in connection with the recruiting of
executive officers. These options were approved by the
62
<PAGE>
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
13. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND STOCK OPTIONS (CONTINUED)
Board of Directors and issued without stockholder approval pursuant to rules of
the New York Stock Exchange. These options were not issued under any of the
previously mentioned plans.
For the three years ended December 31, 1999, stock option activity is as
follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
WEIGHTED
SHARES SUBJECT AVERAGE
TO OPTION EXERCISE PRICE
-------------- --------------
(SHARES IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C>
Balance, December 31, 1996......................... 3,094 $ 4.413
Stock options forfeited............................ (80) $15.000
-----
Balance December 31, 1997.......................... 3,014 $ 4.130
Stock options granted.............................. 2,046 $ 2.826
Stock options exercised............................ (288) $ 0.038
Stock options cancelled due to reprice............. (517) $10.497
Stock options granted due to reprice............... 413 $ 4.500
Stock options forfeited............................ (451) $14.582
-----
Balance December 31, 1998.......................... 4,217 $ 1.919
Stock options granted.............................. 1,289 $ 1.728
Stock options exercised............................ (804) $ 0.062
Stock options forfeited............................ (330) $ 5.991
----- -------
Balance, December 31, 1999......................... 4,372 $ 1.854
===== =======
</TABLE>
In 1999 all options were granted at fair market value on the date of the
grant.
As of December 31, 1999, the following information is presented for stock
options outstanding.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
WEIGHTED
AVERAGE WEIGHTED WEIGHTED
NUMBER REMAINING AVERAGE NUMBER AVERAGE
OUTSTANDING CONTRACTUAL SHARES SUBJECT EXERCISABLE EXERCISE
RANGE OF EXERCISE PRICES AT 12/31/99 LIFE IN YEARS TO OPTION AT 12/31/99 PRICE
- ------------------------------------ ----------- ------------- -------------- ----------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$ 0.028 1,007 0.7 $ 0.028 1,007 $ 0.028
$ 0.131 $ 1.750 603 8.6 $ 1.442 340 $ 1.681
$ 1.760 $ 1.874 948 9.7 $ 1.870 -- $ --
$ 1.875 $ 2.440 1,299 8.6 $ 2.023 678 $ 2.031
$ 3.125 $ 4.500 380 7.4 $ 4.500 373 $ 4.483
$ 4.750 $ 6.938 85 8.9 $ 4.574 19 $ 4.750
$15.000 $21.375 50 6.7 $18.188 50 $18.188
----- ------
4,372 2,467
----- ------
</TABLE>
The average life is the average remaining contractual life of the
outstanding options in years. The average fair value at the date of the grant of
common stock options granted in 1999 was $1.728 per share. The average fair
value at the date of the grant of common stock options granted in 1998 was
$1.460 per share. There were no options granted in 1997.
63
<PAGE>
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
13. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND STOCK OPTIONS (CONTINUED)
In 1996, the Company adopted the disclosure-only option under Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, ACCOUNTING FOR STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION,
("SFAS No. 123").
On a pro forma basis, if the Company had recorded compensation expense in
1999, 1998 and 1997 for the stock options granted in accordance with the
accounting provisions of SFAS No. 123, the pro forma net loss before
extraordinary item would have been $83.5 million, $80.6 million and
$5.8 million, respectively; the basic pro forma net loss per share before
extraordinary item would have been $2.99, $2.91 and $0.21, respectively; and the
diluted pro forma net loss per share before extraordinary item for 1999, 1998
and 1997 would have been $2.99, $2.91 and $0.21. There was no dilution in 1999,
1998 and 1997 due to the loss.
The significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the stock
options granted in 1999 include risk free rates of return ranging from 4.91% to
6.32%, an expected option life of 5 years, an expected volatility of 76% and no
expected dividend payments.
The significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the stock
options granted in 1998 include risk free rates of return ranging from 4.44% to
5.80%, an expected option life of 5 years, an expected volatility of 22.7% and
no expected dividend payments.
14. INCOME TAXES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
-------- -------- --------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Current
Federal.......................................... $ -- $ -- $ --
State............................................ 834 300 --
------- -------- ----
834 300 --
Deferred provision (benefit)....................... 22,436 (11,674) 642
------- -------- ----
Provision (benefit) for income taxes............... $23,270 $(11,374) $642
======= ======== ====
</TABLE>
Reconciliation between the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate and the
Company's effective income tax rate is as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
-------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Federal income tax rate......................... -(35.0)% -(35.0)% -(35.0)%
Valuation allowance............................. 74.0 % 7.0 % 0.0 %
Goodwill and intangible amortization............ 2.2 % 17.6 % 45.2 %
State taxes, net................................ -(2.0)% -(2.4)% 2.1 %
Other, net...................................... 0.7 % 0.2 % 4.4 %
------ ------ ------
Effective tax rate.............................. 39.9 % -(12.6)% 16.7 %
====== ====== ======
</TABLE>
64
<PAGE>
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
14. INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)
Temporary tax differences by balance sheet line item are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31,
------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
-------- -------- --------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Current deferred tax assets (liabilities):
Accrued expenses............................. $ 92 $ 5,331 $ 4,896
Accounts receivable and allowances........... 505 1,219 6
Inventory valuation.......................... (2,897) (6,510) (6,687)
Net operating losses and tax credits......... -- -- 13,777
-------- -------- --------
Current deferred tax asset/(liability),
net........................................ $ (2,300) $ 40 $ 11,992
======== ======== ========
Noncurrent deferred tax assets (liabilities):
Trade names and intangibles.................. $(15,187) $(15,614) $(16,347)
Net operating losses and tax credits......... 49,509 26,728 --
Property and equipment, net.................. (29,206) (29,153) (30,780)
Accrued expenses............................. 7,326 7,400 7,650
-------- -------- --------
Noncurrent deferred tax asset/(liability).... 12,442 (10,639) (39,477)
Valuation allowance.......................... (49,509) (6,333) --
-------- -------- --------
Noncurrent deferred tax liability, net....... $(37,067) $(16,972) $(39,477)
======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
A deferred tax asset valuation allowance of $43.3 million was recorded in
1999 and a deferred tax asset valuation allowance of $6.3 million was recorded
in 1998. This valuation allowance reduced the deferred tax asset to an amount
which the Company believes, based on the Company's estimates of its future
taxable earnings, is realizable. Therefore, the effect on the income tax
provision related to the valuation allowance was an expense of $43.3 million for
the year ended December 31, 1999, and $6.3 million for the year ended
December 31, 1998. In future periods, the Company's provision for income taxes
may be impacted by adjustments to the valuation allowance.
At December 31, 1999, the Company had net operating loses available to
reduce future taxable income of approximately $124.5 million which will expire
in the years 2007 through 2019. In the event certain changes in ownership occur
as defined by Internal Revenue Code Section 382 there would be an annual
limitation on the amount of net operating loss carryforwards that could be
utilized. In addition, the Company has approximately $1.4 million of alternative
minimum tax credit carried forward. The acquisition of WR (Note 1) resulted in a
change of control of WR. Consequently, the utilization of these credits in
future periods may be subject to limitation.
65
<PAGE>
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
15. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
COMMITMENTS
The Company is obligated under noncancelable operating leases for office
space and machinery and equipment, which expire at various times through 2016.
Annual minimum lease commitments under these leases amount to the following:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR AMOUNT
- ---- --------------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C>
2000........................................................ $ 6,502
2001........................................................ 5,005
2002........................................................ 4,634
2003........................................................ 3,634
2004........................................................ 3,436
Thereafter.................................................. 29,264
-------
Total....................................................... $52,475
=======
</TABLE>
Total rent expense was approximately $7.5 million, $7.9 million,
$6.6 million for 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively.
LITIGATION
Between March 10, 1998 and April 11, 1998, three complaints were filed in
the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas naming as
defendants the Company, certain of its officers and directors and certain of the
underwriters and other related entities involved in the Company's initial public
offering. The plaintiffs in the first two complaints purport to represent a
class of stockholders who acquired shares of the Company's common stock between
July 2, 1996 and December 17, 1997. The complaints seek unspecified damages and
other relief under the federal securities laws based on allegations that the
Company made omissions and misleading disclosures in public reports and press
releases and to securities analysts during 1996 and 1997 concerning the
Company's financial condition, its future business prospects and the impact of
various acquisitions. These two lawsuits were consolidated on July 2, 1998. The
third complaint was dismissed without prejudice by the plaintiffs on
September 29, 1998. Motions to dismiss have been filed in the consolidated cases
and all briefing is complete. Pending a ruling on the motions to dismiss, all
proceedings in the consolidated action have been stayed. To the extent that the
motions to dismiss are denied in whole or in part, the Company believes that it
has meritorious defenses to plaintiff's claims and, subject to actions relating
to the lawsuit under the company's bankruptcy proceedings, intends to vigorously
defend the action.
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
The operations of the Company are subject to federal, state and local laws
and regulations relating to the environment. Such laws and regulations impose
limitations on the discharge of pollutants and establish standards for
management of waste. While there can be no assurance that the Company is at all
times in complete compliance with all such requirements, the Company has made
and will continue to make capital and other expenditures to comply with such
requirements.
The Company has been named a potentially responsible party ("PRP") under
CERCLA at five waste disposal sites. The Company settled its liability at four
of these sites as a de minimis party. At the Spectron
66
<PAGE>
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
15. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (CONTINUED)
site in Elkton, Maryland, the Company paid approximately $1,300 in 1989 as a de
minimis settlement for an initial removal action at the site. In 1995, the
Company received a notice of a remedial action at the site, and based upon its
allocation in 1989, expects to be eligible for a de minimis or de micromis
settlement. The Company is aware that Niagara has been named a PRP at the
Envirotek II site in Tonawanda, New York with respect to which Niagara expects
to be eligible for a de minimis settlement.
GENERAL
The potential effect of the Company's chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings will
be considered by the Company with regard to any decisions or actions relating to
the foregoing Legal Proceedings. The resolution in any reporting period of one
or more of the foregoing matters in a manner adverse to the Company could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition or results of
operations. The Company is also a party to various other litigation matters
incidental to the conduct of its business. Although the outcome of these matters
cannot be predicted with certainty, management does not expect the outcome of
any of the matters in which it is currently involved to have a material adverse
effect on the Company's financial position.
16. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
For the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997, the Company expensed
$1.7 million, $2.2 million and $2.4 million, respectively, for management and
directors' fees and out of pocket expenses payable to the principal stockholder.
Unpaid fees of $2.7 million and $.9 million are included in accounts payable and
accrued expenses in the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 1999 and
1998, respectively. The Company's revolving credit facility, as amended through
September 30, 1998, prohibits the future payment of management fees pursuant to
the Company's Advisory Agreement with its principal stockholder. The principal
stockholder has agreed to waive any default arising from such non-payment of
fees through December 31, 1999, or until such earlier time as the Company is
allowed to pay such fees by its banking group. In September 1998, the Company
renegotiated its Advisory Agreement to reduce the fee from $2.0 million to
$1.5 million annually.
The Company had an outstanding note receivable of approximately $289,000,
and $273,000 at December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively, from its former
President and Chief Operating Officer. In 1998, the note was extended to
July 2000, and bears interest at 6.00%.
On March 31, 1998, the Company's loaned its former Chief Financial Officer,
who is also a director, $1.0 million related to the exercise of stock options.
The loan is due in March 2001 and bears interest at a rate of 5.89%. The Company
had an outstanding note receivable of approximately $1.1 million and
$1.0 million at December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively. The loan is secured by
shares of common stock.
Mr. Herbert M. Kohn, a former Director of the Company, is also a partner in
the law firm of Bryan Cave LLP. The firm provided legal services to the Company
valued at approximately $173,400, $424,400 and $444,000 in 1999, 1998 and 1997,
respectively.
The notes are reflected as adjustments to stockholders' deficit at
December 31, 1999 and 1998.
17. OTHER INFORMATION
Substantially all of the Company's operations are conducted within the
United States.
67
<PAGE>
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
17. OTHER INFORMATION (CONTINUED)
One customer accounted for 21%, 15% and 12% of the Company's net sales in
1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively.
18. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On March 8, 2000, the Company announced that it has signed a letter of
intent with Taylor Corporation for the purchase of the Company's Creative Card
division located in Chicago. The Company expects the sale to be finalized in the
second quarter of 2000. Such sale subject to the approval of the bankruptcy
court, is not expected to result in a gain.
On March 21, 2000, the Company was notified by one of its major customers of
the Ampad division that it intends to move its business to other suppliers. In
1999, that customer accounted for approximately $42 million or 6.4% of the
Company's sales.
19. SUMMARIZED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES
The 13% Senior Subordinated Notes are guaranteed by all wholly owned
subsidiaries of American Pad & Paper Company of Delaware, Inc. except for
Notepad. The subsidiary guaranties are full, unconditional and joint and
several. The Company is not a guarantor of the Senior Subordinated Notes.
Separate financial statements of the guarantor subsidiary are not presented
because management has determined that they would not be material to investors.
However, summarized financial information as of December 31, 1999 and 1998 and
for the years then ended is presented. The summarized financial information is
as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999
----------------------------------------------------------
AP&P DELAWARE
& GUARANTOR NONGUARANTOR
SUBSIDIARIES SUBSIDIARY ELIMINATIONS CONSOLIDATED
------------- ------------ ------------ ------------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Current assets............................. $109,871 $42,094 $ -- $151,965
Non-current assets......................... 362,133 110 (41,980) 320,263
-------- ------- -------- --------
Total assets............................... $472,004 $42,204 $(41,980) $472,228
======== ======= ======== ========
Current liabilities........................ $494,919 $ 224 $ -- $495,143
Non-current liabilities.................... 37,864 -- -- 37,864
Equity (deficit)........................... (60,779) 41,980 (41,980) (60,779)
-------- ------- -------- --------
Total liabilities and equity (deficit)..... $472,004 $42,204 $(41,980) $472,228
======== ======= ======== ========
Net sales.................................. $572,616 $ -- $ -- $572,616
Gross profit............................... 41,531 -- -- 41,531
Income(loss) from continuing operations.... (16,348) 4,350 (2,610) (14,608)
Net income(loss)........................... $(81,464) $ 2,610 $ (2,610) $(81,464)
</TABLE>
68
<PAGE>
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
19. SUMMARIZED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES (CONTINUED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998
----------------------------------------------------------
AP&P DELAWARE
& GUARANTOR NONGUARANTOR
SUBSIDIARIES SUBSIDIARY ELIMINATIONS CONSOLIDATED
------------- ------------ ------------ ------------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Current assets............................. $137,813 $39,327 $ -- $177,140
Non-current assets......................... 378,480 230 (39,370) 339,340
-------- ------- -------- --------
Total assets............................... $516,293 $39,557 $(39,370) $516,480
======== ======= ======== ========
Current liabilities........................ $103,645 $ 187 $ -- $103,832
Non-current liabilities.................... 391,935 -- -- 391,935
Equity (deficit)........................... 20,713 39,370 (39,370) 20,713
-------- ------- -------- --------
Total liabilities and equity (deficit)..... $516,293 $39,557 $(39,370) $516,480
======== ======= ======== ========
Net sales.................................. $662,031 $ -- $ -- $662,031
Gross profit............................... 64,575 -- -- 64,575
Income(loss) from continuing operations.... (47,172) 1,774 (1,064) (46,462)
Net income(loss)........................... $(78,647) $ 1,064 $ (1,064) $(78,647)
</TABLE>
20. QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1999--QUARTER ENDED
------------------------------------------------
MARCH 31 JUNE 30 SEPTEMBER 30 DECEMBER 31
-------- -------- ------------ -----------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net sales........................................ $137,631 $134,051 $144,717 $156,217
Gross profit..................................... 12,860 8,576 12,733 7,362
Net loss......................................... (12,767) (14,183) (9,201) (45,313)
Basic/diluted loss per share
Loss before cumulative effect of change in
accounting principle......................... $ (0.43) $ (0.51) $ (0.33) $ (1.59)
Cumulative effect of a change in accounting
principle.................................... (0.03) 0.00 0.00 (0.00)
-------- -------- -------- --------
Net loss....................................... $ (0.46) $ (0.51) $ (0.33) $ (1.59)
<CAPTION>
1998--QUARTER ENDED
------------------------------------------------
MARCH 31 JUNE 30 SEPTEMBER 30 DECEMBER 31
-------- -------- ------------ -----------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net sales........................................ $161,595 $146,724 $174,160 $179,552
Gross profit..................................... 19,422 3,397 17,698 24,058
Net loss......................................... (2,085) (55,937) (13,394) (7,231)
Basic/diluted EPS--net loss per share............ $ (0.08) $ (2.02) $ (0.48) $ (0.26)
</TABLE>
69
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities and
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant have duly caused this reportto signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, as of March 30, 2000.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY
as Registrant
/s/ JAMES W. SWENT III /s/ DAVID N. PILOTTE
- ------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------
James W. Swent III David N. Pilotte
CO-CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND VICE PRESIDENT, CORPORATE CONTROLLER
DIRECTOR AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING OFFICER)
(PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND
PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER)
</TABLE>
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934,
this report has been signed below as of March 30, 2000, by the following persons
on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
/s/ ROBERT C. GAY /s/ JOHN H. RODGERS
- ------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------
Robert C. Gay John H. Rodgers
CO-CHAIRMAN AND DIRECTOR DIRECTOR
/s/ SCOTT R. WATTERSON /s/ GREGORY M. BENSON
- ------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------
Scott R. Watterson Gregory M. Benson
DIRECTOR DIRECTOR
/s/ PAUL B. EDGERLEY /s/ JEFFREY K. HEWSON
- ------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------
Paul B. Edgerley Jeffrey K. Hewson
DIRECTOR DIRECTOR
</TABLE>
70
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NO. DESCRIPTION
- --------------------- -----------
<C> <S>
2.1 Stock Purchase Agreement, dated May 29, 1996, by and among
American Pad & Paper Company of Delaware, Inc., Niagara
Envelope Company, Inc. and the person named therein.(1)
3.1(i) Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company(3)
3.1(ii) Amended and Restricted By-laws of the Company.(3)
4.1 Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1995, among American
Pad & Paper Company of Delaware, Inc., the Subsidiary
Guarantors and the Trustee (including Form of Note).(2)
4.2 Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 17, 1994, among
American Pad & Paper Company of Delaware, Inc., the
Subsidiary Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers.(1)
4.3 Registration Rights Agreement dated as of December 1, 1995,
among American Pad & Paper Company of Delaware, Inc., the
Subsidiary Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers named
therein.(1)
4.7 Notepad Funding Receivables Master Trust Pooling and
Servicing Agreement, dated October 31, 1995, among APPC,
Notepad Funding Corporation and Manufacturers and Traders
Trust Company (the "Pooling and Service Agreement").(1)
4.8 Series 1995-1 Supplement to the Pooling and Service
Agreement, dated October 31, 1995.(1)
4.9 Revolving Certificate Purchase Agreement, dated October 31,
1995 among APPC, Notepad Funding Corporation, Bankers
Trust Company and the Purchasers described therein.(1)
4.10 Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated October 31, 1995,
among APP., Notepad Funding Corporation and certain
subsidiaries.(1)
4.11 Credit Agreement, dated as of July 8, 1996, among the
Company, WR Acquisition, Inc., American Pad & Paper
Company of Delaware, Inc., various Lending Institutions,
Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Trust Company, Bank One, Texas,
N.A., The Bank of Nova Scotia and the First National Bank
of Boston, as Co-Agents and Bankers Trust Company, as
Agent(3)
4.12 Security Agreement, dated as of July 8, 1996, among the
Company, WR Acquisition, Inc., American Pad & Paper
Company of Delaware, Inc., certain other subsidiaries of
American Pad & Paper Company, and Bankers Trust Company,
as Collateral Agent.(3)
4.13 Pledge Agreement, dated as of July 8, 1996, among the
Company, WR Acquisition, Inc., American Pad & Paper
Company of Delaware, Inc., the Lenders from time to time
party thereto, and Bankers Trust Company, as Agent.(3)
4.14 Form of Revolving and Swingline Note of American Pad & Paper
Company of Delaware, Inc.(3)
4.15 Subsidiary Guaranty, dated as of July 8, 1996, among each of
the Company's subsidiaries named therein and Bankers Trust
Company, as Agent for the Bank.(3)
4.16 Second Amendment to the Credit Agreement, dated as of
December 18, 1997, among the Company, WR
Acquisition, Inc., American Pad & Paper Company of
Delaware, Inc., various Lending Institutions, Bank of
Tokyo-Mitsubishi Trust Company, Bank One, Texas, N.A., The
Bank of Nova Scotia and the First National Bank of Boston,
as Co-Agents and Bankers Trust Company, as Agent.
</TABLE>
71
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NO. DESCRIPTION
- --------------------- -----------
<C> <S>
4.17 Third Amendment to the Credit Agreement, dated as of
February 11, 1998, among the Company, WR
Acquisition, Inc., American Pad & Paper Company of
Delaware, Inc., various Lending Institutions, Bank of
Tokyo-Mitsubishi Trust Company, Bank One, Texas, N.A., The
Bank of Nova Scotia and the First National Bank of Boston,
as Co-Agents and Bankers Trust Company, as Agent.
4.18 Fourth Amendment to the Credit Agreement, dated as of April
6, 1998, among the Company, WR Acquisition, Inc., American
Pad & Paper Company of Delaware, Inc., various Lending
Institutions, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Trust Company, Bank
One, Texas, N.A., The Bank of Nova Scotia and the First
National Bank of Boston, as Co-Agents and Bankers Trust
Company, as Agent(9).
4.19 Fifth Amendment to the Credit Agreement, dated as of June
30, 1998, among the Company, WR Acquisition, Inc.,
American Pad & Paper Company of Delaware, Inc., various
Lending Institutions, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Trust
Company, Bank One, Texas, N.A., The Bank of Nova Scotia
and the First National Bank of Boston, as Co-Agents and
Bankers Trust Company, as Agent(10).
4.20 Sixth Amendment to the Credit Agreement, dated as of July
24, 1998, among the Company, WR Acquisition, Inc.,
American Pad & Paper Company of Delaware, Inc., various
Lending Institutions, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Trust
Company, Bank One, Texas, N.A., The Bank of Nova Scotia
and the First National Bank of Boston, as Co-Agents and
Bankers Trust Company, as Agent(10).
4.21 Seventh Amendment to the Credit Agreement, dated as of
September 30, 1998, among the Company, WR
Acquisition, Inc., American Pad & Paper Company of
Delaware, Inc., various Lending Institutions, Bank of
Tokyo-Mitsubishi Trust Company, Bank One, Texas, N.A., The
Bank of Nova Scotia and the First National Bank of Boston,
as Co-Agents and Bankers Trust Company, as Agent(11).
4.22 Eighth Amendment to the Credit Agreement, dated as of March
5, 1999, among the Company, WR Acquisition, Inc., American
Pad & Paper Company of Delaware, Inc., various Lending
Institutions, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Trust Company, Bank
One, Texas, N.A., The Bank of Nova Scotia and the First
National Bank of Boston, as Co-Agents and Bankers Trust
Company, as Agent(12).
4.23 Debtor-In-Possession Financing, dated as of January 18,
2000, among American Pad & Paper Company of
Delaware, Inc., et al and various Lending Institutions,
Bankers Trust, as Agent, First Union National Bank, as
Syndication Agent, and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as
Arranger.(13).
4.24 First Amendment to the Debtor-In-Possession Financing, dated
as of January 28, 2000, among American Pad & Paper Company
of Delaware, Inc., et al and various Lending Institutions,
Bankers Trust, as Agent, First Union National Bank, as
Syndication Agent, and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as
Arranger.(13).
4.25 Second Amendment to the Debtor-In-Possession Financing,
dated as of February 9, 2000, among American Pad & Paper
Company of Delaware, Inc., et al and various Lending
Institutions, Bankers Trust, as Agent, First Union
National Bank, as Syndication Agent, and Deutsche Bank
Securities Inc., as Arranger.(13).
10.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 3, 1995,
among the Company, WHR Acquisition, Inc. and WR
Acquisition, Inc.(1)
10.2 Amendment No. 1 to WHR Merger Agreement, dated as of
October 31, 1995, among the Company, WHR
Acquisition, Inc. and WR Acquisition, Inc.(1)
</TABLE>
72
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NO. DESCRIPTION
- --------------------- -----------
<C> <S>
10.3 Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 30, 1995,
among WR Acquisition, Inc. and the Company(1)
10.4 Tax Sharing Agreement, dated as of October 30, 1995, among
American Pad & Paper Company of Delaware, Inc. and the
Subsidiary Guarantors.(1)
10.5 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 31, 1995,
among Williamhouse Regency of Delaware, Inc. and Ampad
Corporation.(1)
10.6 Amended and Restricted Advisory Agreement, dated as of
October 31, 1995, among American Pad & Paper Company of
Delaware, Inc. and Bain Capital, Inc.(4)
10.7 Ampad Holding Corporation 1992 Key Employees Stock Option
Plan.(1)
10.12 Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 29, 1994, by and
between Huxley Envelope corp., The Kent Paper Co., Inc.
and Williamhouse of California, Inc.(2)
10.13 Lease Agreement for City of Industry, California.(1)
10.14 Lease Agreement for Dubuque, Iowa(1)
10.15 Lease Agreement for Miamisburg, Ohio.(1)
10.16 Lease Agreement for North Salt Lake City, Utah.(1)
10.17 Lease Agreement for Tacoma, Washington.(1)
10.18 Change of Control Agreement between WR Acquisition, Inc. and
certain officers of American Pad & Paper Company of
Delaware, Inc.(1)
10.19 Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of July 31, 1992,
between the Company and the stockholders named therein.(2)
10.20 1996 Key Employee Stock Incentive Plan(3)
10.21 1996 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan.(3)
10.22 Employment Agreement between the Company and Charles Hanson
III.(2)(A)
10.23 Employment Agreement between the Company and Russell
Gard.(2)(A)
10.24 Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement between American
Pad & Paper Company and Bain Capital, Inc.(2)
10.25 Management Stock Purchase Plan.(3)
10.26 Employment Agreement between the Company and Timothy
Needham.(2)(A)
10.27 Agreement and Plan of Merger by and between
Shade/Allied, Inc. and American Pad & Paper Company of
Delaware, Inc.(6)
10.28 Indemnification Agreement by and between the Company and its
officers and directors(8).
10.29 Release Agreement with Charles Hanson III(10)
10.30 Severance Agreement with Charles Hanson III(10)
10.31 Release Agreement with Russell Gard(10)
10.32 Severance Agreement with Russell Gard(10)
10.33 Employment Agreement between the Company and James W. Swent
III(12)(A)
10.34 Release Agreement with Timothy Needham(12)
10.35 Severance Agreement with Timothy Needham(12)
10.36 1999 Key Employees Stock Incentive Plan(13)
</TABLE>
73
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NO. DESCRIPTION
- --------------------- -----------
<C> <S>
21.1 Subsidiaries of the Company.
23.1 Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
27.1 Financial Data Schedule.
</TABLE>
The exhibits listed above are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
in this Form 10-K or are incorporated by reference as follows:
(1) Same-numbered exhibit to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of American
Pad & Paper of Delaware, Inc. (File No. 333-3006); (2) Same-numbered exhibit to
the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of American Pad & Paper Company (File
No. 333-4000); (3) Exhibits to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the
registrants for the quarter ended June 30, 1996; (4) Exhibits to the Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q of the registrants for the quarter ended September 30, 1996;
(5) Exhibits to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the registrants for the year
ended December 31, 1996; (6) Exhibits to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of
the registrants for the quarter ended March 31, 1997; (7) Exhibits to the
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the registrants for the quarter ended June 30,
1997 and (8) Exhibits to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the registrants
for the quarter ended September 30, 1997.(9) Exhibits to the Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q of the registrants for the quarter ended March 31, 1998,
(10) Exhibits to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the registrants for the
quarter ended June 30, 1998, (11) Exhibits to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
of the registrants for the quarter ended September 30, 1998, (12) Exhibits to
the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the registrant for the year ended
December 31, 1998, (13) Exhibits to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the
registrant for the year ended December 31, 1999.
(A) These agreements constitute management compensation contracts for the
individuals named.
74
<PAGE>
HELPFUL INVESTOR INFORMATION
INVESTOR INQUIRIES AND CORRESPONDENCE
Investors with questions about AP&P should contact:
Mark Lipscomb, Vice President
Investor and Corporate Communications
American Pad & Paper Company
17304 Preston Road, Suite 700
Dallas, TX 75252
Telephone: (972) 733-5415
Fax: (972) 733-6298
Email: [email protected]
COMPANY WEB SITE
American Pad & Paper makes information available on the
World Wide Web, our internet address is:
www.americanpad.com
COMPANY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Several publications including the annual report and forms
10-K and 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission are available without charge by contacting:
American Pad & Paper Company
17304 Preston Road, Suite 700
Dallas, TX 75252
Telephone: (972) 733-5471
ADMINISTRATIVE INQUIRIES
The transfer agent for American Pad & Paper Company is
Boston EquiServe. Administrative inquiries relating to stock-
Holder records, stock transfer or change of ownership or
Address should be directed to:
Boston Bank c/o EquiServe
PO Box 8040
Boston, MA 02266-8040
Telephone: (781) 575-3120
Web site: www.equiserve.com
ANNUAL MEETING
Stockholders will be invited to attend the 2000 American Pad
& Paper Annual Meeting once the date is set. Formal notice
of the meeting will be included with the proxy statement.
COMMON STOCK INFORMATION
The Company's common stock trades on the OTC Bulletin
Board (OTCBB) under the symbol: AMPP
At December 31, 1999, there were about 28.5 million shares
outstanding and approximately 6,000 total stockholders.
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Dallas, Texas
All other brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective holders.
75
<PAGE>
================================================================================
DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION CREDIT AGREEMENT
among
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY,
as Debtor-in-Possession,
WR ACQUISITION, INC.,
as Debtor-in-Possession,
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY OF DELAWARE, INC.,
as Debtor-in-Possession,
THE SUBSIDIARIES OF THE BORROWER,
each as a Debtor-in-Possession,
VARIOUS LENDING INSTITUTIONS,
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
as Agent,
FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK,
as Syndication Agent
and
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.,
as Arranger
--------------------------------
January 18, 2000
--------------------------------
================================================================================
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
----
SECTION 1. Amount and Terms of Credit....................................2
1.1 Commitments...................................................2
1.2 Minimum Borrowing Amounts, etc................................4
1.3 Notice of Borrowing...........................................5
1.4 Disbursement of Funds.........................................6
1.5 Notes.........................................................6
1.6 [Intentionally Omitted].......................................8
1.7 Pro Rata Borrowings...........................................8
1.8 Interest......................................................8
1.9 [Intentionally Omitted].......................................9
1.10 Increased Costs...............................................9
1.11 [Intentionally Omitted].......................................9
1.12 Change of Lending Office......................................9
1.13 [Intentionally Omitted]......................................10
1.14 Priority and Liens...........................................10
1.15 Payment of Obligations.......................................12
1.16 No Discharge; Survival of Claims.............................12
SECTION 2. Letters of Credit............................................12
2.1 Letter of Credit.............................................12
2.2 Letter of Credit Requests; Notice of Issuance................14
2.3 Agreement to Repay Letter of Credit Drawings.................14
2.4 Letter of Credit Participations..............................15
2.5 Increased Costs..............................................18
SECTION 3. Fees; Commitments............................................18
3.1 Fees.........................................................18
3.2 Voluntary Termination or Reduction of Total Unutilized
Revolving Loan Commitment....................................20
3.3 Mandatory Reduction of Commitments...........................20
SECTION 4. Payments.....................................................21
4.1 Voluntary Prepayments........................................21
4.2 Mandatory Prepayments; Cash Collateralization................22
4.3 Method and Place of Payment..................................23
4.4 Net Payments.................................................24
SECTION 5. Conditions Precedent.........................................26
5.1 Conditions Precedent to Credit Events on the Initial
Borrowing Date...............................................26
5.2 Conditions Precedent to All Credit Events....................31
5.3 Conditions Precedent to Term Loans...........................34
SECTION 6. Representations, Warranties and Agreements...................34
6.1 Corporate Status.............................................35
6.2 Corporate Power and Authority................................35
6.3 No Violation.................................................35
-i-
<PAGE>
6.4 Litigation...................................................36
6.5 Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations..........................36
6.6 Governmental Approvals.......................................37
6.7 Investment Company Act.......................................37
6.8 Public Utility Holding Company Act...........................37
6.9 True and Complete Disclosure.................................37
6.10 Financial Condition; Financial Statements....................37
6.11 [Intentionally Omitted]......................................38
6.12 Transaction..................................................38
6.13 Special Purpose Corporations.................................39
6.14 Compliance with ERISA........................................39
6.15 Capitalization...............................................40
6.16 Subsidiaries.................................................41
6.17 Intellectual Property........................................41
6.18 Compliance with Statutes, etc................................42
6.19 Environmental Matters........................................42
6.20 Properties...................................................43
6.21 Labor Relations..............................................43
6.22 Tax Returns and Payments.....................................43
6.23 Existing Indebtedness........................................44
6.24 Senior Subordinated Notes....................................44
6.25 Year 2000 Compliance.........................................44
6.26 Common Officers, etc.........................................45
6.27 Interim and Final Orders.....................................45
6.28 Accounts Receivable Facility Purchase Agreement..............45
SECTION 7. Affirmative Covenants........................................45
7.1 Information Covenants........................................46
7.2 Books, Records and Inspections...............................52
7.3 Insurance....................................................52
7.4 Payment of Taxes.............................................52
7.5 Corporate Franchises.........................................53
7.6 Compliance with Statutes, etc................................53
7.7 Compliance with Environmental Laws...........................53
7.8 ERISA........................................................54
7.9 Good Repair..................................................55
7.10 End of Fiscal Years; Fiscal Quarters.........................55
7.11 Additional Security; Further Assurances......................55
7.12 Register.....................................................57
7.13 [Intentionally Omitted]......................................57
7.14 Contributions; Payments......................................57
7.15 [Intentionally Omitted]......................................57
7.16 Consultants..................................................58
7.17 Payment of Obligation........................................58
7.18 Cash Collateral Account......................................58
7.19 Operations of Ampad Division.................................59
7.20 Corporate Overhead Reduction.................................59
7.21 Operations of Forms and Creative Cards Divisions.............59
7.22 Crisis Manager...............................................59
7.23 Appraisal....................................................59
7.24 Collateral Access Agreements.................................60
-ii-
<PAGE>
SECTION 8. Negative Covenants...........................................60
8.1 Changes in Business..........................................60
8.2 Consolidation, Merger, Sale or Purchase of Assets, etc.......61
8.3 Liens........................................................63
8.4 Indebtedness.................................................65
8.5 Designated Senior Debt.......................................66
8.6 Advances, Investments and Loans..............................66
8.7 Dividends, etc...............................................68
8.8 Transactions with Affiliates.................................69
8.9 Capital Expenditures.........................................70
8.10 Minimum Consolidated EBITDA..................................70
8.11 Maximum Inventory Amount.....................................70
8.12 [Intentionally Omitted]......................................70
8.13 Limitation on Voluntary Payments and Modifications of
Indebtedness; Modifications of Certificate of
Incorporation, By-Laws and Certain Other Agreements;
Issuances of Capital Stock; etc..............................70
8.14 Limitation on Certain Restrictions on Subsidiaries...........71
8.15 Limitation on the Creation of Subsidiaries...................72
8.16 [Intentionally Omitted]......................................72
8.17 Additional Bank Accounts.....................................72
8.18 Securities Accounts..........................................72
8.19 Chapter 11 Claims............................................72
8.20 Use of Proceeds..............................................73
8.21 Prepetition Payments.........................................73
8.22 Employment Matters...........................................73
8.23 Leases.......................................................73
8.24 Reclamation Claims; Bankruptcy Code " 546(g) Agreements......74
8.25 Excess Cash..................................................74
8.26 Refinancing of Revolving Loans...............................74
SECTION 9. Events of Default............................................74
9.1 Payments.....................................................74
9.2 Representations, etc.........................................75
9.3 Covenants....................................................75
9.4 Default Under Other Agreements...............................75
9.5 Bankruptcy, etc..............................................75
9.6 ERISA........................................................77
9.7 Security Documents...........................................77
9.8 Guaranties...................................................78
9.9 Judgments....................................................78
9.10 Ownership....................................................78
9.11 Environmental Violations.....................................78
9.12 Net Cash Flow Deviation......................................78
9.13 Disbursements Deviation......................................78
9.14 Material Adverse Effect......................................78
SECTION 10. Definitions..................................................81
-iii-
<PAGE>
SECTION 11. The Agent...................................................112
11.1 Appointment.................................................112
11.2 Delegation of Duties........................................113
11.3 Exculpatory Provisions......................................113
11.4 Reliance by Agent...........................................114
11.5 Notice of Default...........................................114
11.6 Nonreliance on Agent and Other Lenders......................115
11.7 Indemnification.............................................115
11.8 Agent in its Individual Capacity............................116
11.9 Holders.....................................................116
11.10 Resignation of the Agent; Successor Agent...................116
11.11 No Duties of Arranger or Syndication Agent..................117
SECTION 12. Miscellaneous...............................................117
12.1 Payment of Expenses, etc....................................117
12.2 Right of Setoff.............................................118
12.3 Notices.....................................................119
12.4 Benefit of Agreement........................................119
12.5 No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative..............................121
12.6 Payments Pro Rata...........................................122
12.7 Calculations; Computations..................................122
12.8 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Venue............123
12.9 Counterparts, etc...........................................124
12.10 Effectiveness...............................................124
12.11 Headings Descriptive........................................124
12.12 Amendment or Waiver; etc....................................124
12.13 Survival....................................................126
12.14 Domicile of Loans...........................................126
12.15 Confidentiality.............................................126
12.16 Waiver of Jury Trial........................................127
12.17 Absence of Prejudice to the Existing Lenders with
Respect to Matters Before the Bankruptcy Court..............127
12.18 [Intentionally Omitted].....................................127
12.19 Application of Proceeds; Priority of Revolving Loans and
Letter of Credit Outstandings...............................127
12.20 Remedies Cumulative.........................................128
12.21 Discontinuance of Proceedings...............................129
12.22 Existing Credit Agreement...................................129
12.23 Addition of Term Lenders....................................129
SECTION 13. Parent's Guaranty...........................................129
13.1 The Guaranty................................................129
13.2 Nature of Liability.........................................130
13.3 Independent Obligation......................................131
13.4 Authorization...............................................131
13.5 Reliance....................................................132
13.6 Subordination...............................................132
13.7 Waiver......................................................133
iv
<PAGE>
ANNEX I List of Lenders and Commitments
ANNEX II Lender Addresses
ANNEX III Bank Accounts
ANNEX IV Real Properties
ANNEX V Existing Investments
ANNEX VI Subsidiaries
ANNEX VII Existing Indebtedness
ANNEX VIII Existing Letters of Credit
ANNEX IX Existing Liens
ANNEX X Existing Litigation
ANNEX XI Environmental Matters
EXHIBIT A-1 -- Form of Notice of Borrowing
EXHIBIT A-2 -- Form of Letter of Credit Request
EXHIBIT B-1 -- Form of Revolving Note
EXHIBIT B-2 -- Form of Swingline Note
EXHIBIT B-3 -- Form of Term Note
EXHIBIT C -- Form of Section 4.4(b)(ii) Certificate
EXHIBIT D -- Form of Opinion of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher
EXHIBIT E -- Form of Officers' Certificate
EXHIBIT F -- Form of Pledge Agreement
EXHIBIT G -- Form of Security Agreement
EXHIBIT H -- Form of Subsidiary Guaranty
EXHIBIT I -- Form of Collateral Access Agreement
EXHIBIT J -- Form of Subordination Provisions
EXHIBIT K -- Form of Assignment and Assumption Agreement
EXHIBIT L -- Form of Intercompany Note
EXHIBIT M -- Form of Shareholder Subordinated Note
EXHIBIT N -- Form of Borrowing Base Certificate
EXHIBIT O -- Form of Blocked Account Agreement
EXHIBIT P -- Form of Concentration Account Agreement
-v-
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 4.23
THIS DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of January 18,
2000, among AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY OF DELAWARE, INC., a Delaware
corporation and a debtor and debtor-in-possession in a case pending under
Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code (the "Borrower"), AMERICAN PAD & PAPER
COMPANY, a Delaware corporation and a debtor and debtor-in-possession in a case
under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code ("Holdings"), WR ACQUISITION, INC., a
Delaware corporation and a debtor and debtor-in-possession in a case under
Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code ("WR Acquisition"), the Subsidiary Guarantors,
each of which is a debtor and debtor-in-possession in their respective cases
pending under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code (the cases of the Borrower and
the Guarantors, each a "Case" and collectively, the "Cases"), the lenders from
time to time party hereto (each, a "Lender" and, collectively, the "Lenders"),
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, as Agent (in such capacity, the "Agent"), FIRST UNION
NATIONAL BANK, as Syndication Agent (in such capacity, the "Syndication Agent"),
and DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC., as Arranger (the "Arranger"). Unless
otherwise defined herein, all capitalized terms shall have the same meanings
given to them in Section 10.
W I T N E S S E T H :
- - - - - - - - - -
WHEREAS, on the Petition Date, involuntary petitions were filed
against the Borrower and each of the Guarantors with the Bankruptcy Court
commencing the Cases and the Borrower and the Guarantors have continued in
possession of their assets and in the management of their businesses pursuant to
Sections 1107 and 1108 of the Bankruptcy Code;
WHEREAS, the Borrower, Holdings, WR Acquisition, the Existing
Lenders and the Prepetition Agent are party to the Credit Agreement, dated as of
July 8, 1996 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the
Petition Date, the "Existing Credit Agreement");
WHEREAS, under the Existing Credit Agreement, the Existing Lenders
provided the Borrower with revolving credit loans and other financial
accommodations in an aggregate principal amount (including letters of credit) of
$264,473,176.27 (the "Existing Lender Debt" and, together with all accrued and
unpaid interest, fees, costs, expenses obligations and other charges related
thereto, the "Prepetition Obligations");
WHEREAS, to secure the Prepetition Obligations, the Borrower and the
Guarantors granted the Prepetition Agent, for the benefit of the Existing
Lenders, security interests in substantially all of their respective assets
which were properly perfected and are subject to no prior liens or security
interests except as provided in the Existing Credit Agreement;
<PAGE>
WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Lenders (i) provide a
revolving credit and letter of credit facility (subject to mandatory and
optional reductions and a limit on advances pending entry of the Final Order)
and (ii) provide a term loan facility for the purpose of converting the Existing
Lender Debt into term loans (subject to mandatory and optional reductions);
WHEREAS, the Lenders are willing to extend such postpetition credit
to the Borrower in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement including, without limitation, the requirement that the Obligations be
afforded the treatment, rights and protections set forth in sections 364(c)(1),
364(c)(3), 364(d)(1) and 364(e) of the Bankruptcy Code; and
WHEREAS, on or about January 18, 2000, the Bankruptcy Court entered
the Interim Order authorizing the Borrower to borrow up to $20,000,000 of Loans
from the Lenders on an interim basis pending entry of the Final Order on the
terms and conditions set forth in the Interim Order and this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED:
SECTION 1. Amount and Terms of Credit.
1.1 Commitments.
(a) Subject to and upon the terms and conditions herein set
forth, each Lender severally agrees, at any time and from time to time on and
after the Initial Borrowing Date and prior to the Final Maturity Date, to make a
revolving loan or loans (each a "Revolving Loan" and, collectively, the
"Revolving Loans") to the Borrower, which Revolving Loans (i) shall be
denominated in U.S. Dollars, (ii) shall be incurred and maintained as Base Rate
Loans, (iii) may be repaid and reborrowed in accordance with the provisions
hereof; (iv) shall not exceed for any Lender at any time outstanding that
aggregate principal amount which, when combined with such Lender's Percentage of
all Other Revolving Exposure, equals the Revolving Loan Commitment of such
Lender at such time; (v) shall not exceed for all Lenders at any time
outstanding that aggregate principal amount which, when added to all Other
Revolving Exposure, equals the lesser of (1) the Total Revolving Loan Commitment
and (2) the Borrowing Base at such time; and (vi) in the case of Revolving Loans
made prior to the entry of the Final Order, shall not exceed the lesser of (A)
$20,000,000 and (B) the aggregate maximum amount authorized pursuant to the
Interim Order.
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<PAGE>
(b) Subject to and upon the terms and conditions herein set
forth, BTCo in its individual capacity agrees to make at any time and from time
to time on and after the Initial Borrowing Date and prior to the Swingline
Expiry Date, a loan or loans to the Borrower (each a "Swingline Loan" and,
collectively, the "Swingline Loans"), which Swingline Loans (i) shall be made
and maintained as Base Rate Loans, (ii) shall be denominated in U.S. Dollars,
(iii) may be repaid and reborrowed in accordance with the provisions hereof,
(iv) shall not exceed in aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding,
when combined with the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Loans then
outstanding and the Letter of Credit Outstandings (exclusive of Unpaid Drawings
relating to Letters of Credit which are repaid with the proceeds of, and
simultaneously with the incurrence of, the respective incurrence of Revolving
Loans) at such time, an amount equal to the lesser of (a) the Total Revolving
Loan Commitment and (b) the Borrowing Base then in effect; and (v) shall not
exceed in aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding the Maximum
Swingline Amount. BTCo shall not be obligated to make any Swingline Loans at a
time when a Lender Default exists unless BTCo has entered into arrangements
satisfactory to it and the Borrower to eliminate BTCo's risk with respect to the
Defaulting Lender's or Lenders' participation in such Swingline Loans, including
by cash collateralizing such Defaulting Lender's or Lenders' Percentage of the
outstanding Swingline Loans. BTCo will not make a Swingline Loan after it has
received written notice from the Borrower or the Required Lenders stating that a
Default or an Event of Default exists until such time as BTCo shall have
received a written notice of (i) rescission of such notice from the party or
parties originally delivering the same or (ii) a waiver of such Default or Event
of Default from the Required Lenders.
-3-
<PAGE>
(c) On any Business Day, BTCo may, in its sole discretion,
give notice to the Lenders that its outstanding Swingline Loans shall be funded
with a Borrowing of Revolving Loans (provided that each such notice shall be
deemed to have been automatically given upon the exercise of any of the remedies
provided in the last two paragraphs of Section 9), in which case a Borrowing of
Revolving Loans (each such Borrowing, a "Mandatory Borrowing") shall be made on
the immediately succeeding Business Day by all Revolving Lenders pro rata based
on each Lender's Percentage, and the proceeds thereof shall be applied directly
to repay BTCo for such outstanding Swingline Loans. Each Lender hereby
irrevocably agrees to make Revolving Loans upon one Business Day's notice
pursuant to each Mandatory Borrowing in the amount and in the manner specified
in the preceding sentence and on the date specified in writing by BTCo
notwithstanding (i) that the amount of the Mandatory Borrowing may not comply
with the Minimum Borrowing Amount otherwise required hereunder, (ii) whether any
conditions specified in Section 5 are then satisfied, (iii) whether a Default or
an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (iv) the date of such
Mandatory Borrowing and (v) any reduction in the Total Revolving Loan Commitment
after any such Swingline Loans were made. In the event that any Mandatory
Borrowing cannot for any reason be made on the date otherwise required above,
each Lender (other than BTCo) hereby agrees that it shall forthwith purchase
from BTCo (without recourse or warranty) such assignment of the outstanding
Swingline Loans as shall be necessary to cause the Lenders to share in such
Swingline Loans ratably based upon their respective Percentages, provided that
all interest payable on the Swingline Loans shall be for the account of BTCo
until the date the respective assignment is purchased and, to the extent
attributable to the purchased assignment, shall be payable to the Lender
purchasing the same from and after such date of purchase.
(d) The Agent, at any time in the exercise of its Permitted
Discretion, may (i) establish and increase or decrease reserves against Eligible
Accounts Receivable and Eligible Inventory, (ii) reduce the advance rates
provided for in the definitions of Accounts Borrowing Base and Inventory
Borrowing Base, or restore such advance rates to any level equal to or below the
advance rates in effect as of the date of this Agreement, and (iii) impose
additional restrictions (or eliminate the same) to the standards of eligibility
set forth in the definitions of Eligible Accounts Receivable and Eligible
Inventory. The Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, rely solely on each
Borrowing Base Certificate and any other schedules or reports in determining the
eligibility of Accounts and Inventory.
-4-
<PAGE>
(e) On the Term Loan Effective Date, (i) a portion of each
Lender's Term Loan Commitment shall be deemed to be utilized to irrevocably and
unconditionally purchase a participation, to the extent of such Lender's Term
Loan Percentage, in each Existing Letter of Credit and the terms and provisions
of the Existing Credit Agreement shall be incorporated herein by reference to
the extent they are applicable to the Existing Letters of Credit and (ii) each
Lender shall be deemed to have made a term loan (collectively, the "Term Loans")
to the Borrower in an amount equal to the remaining Term Loan Commitment of such
Lender and the Existing Lender Debt (excluding the Existing Letters of Credit)
shall be deemed to be paid in full with the proceeds of all such Term Loans. All
Term Loans (i) shall be maintained as Base Rate Loans, (ii) shall be subject to
mandatory prepayment in accordance with the terms hereof, and (iii) shall not
exceed in aggregate principal amount the Total Term Loan Commitment. Once
repaid, the Term Loans may not be reborrowed.
1.2 Minimum Borrowing Amounts, etc. The aggregate principal amount
of each Borrowing of Revolving and Swingline Loans shall not be less than the
Minimum Borrowing Amount applicable to such Loans.
1.3 Notice of Borrowing.
(a) Whenever the Borrower desires to incur Loans hereunder
(excluding Borrowings of Swingline Loans, Revolving Loans incurred pursuant to
Mandatory Borrowings and Term Loans), it shall give the Agent at its Notice
Office, prior to 11:00 A.M. (New York time), at least one Business Day's prior
written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each
Borrowing of Loans to be made hereunder. Each such notice (each a "Notice of
Borrowing") shall be irrevocable, and, in the case of each written notice and
each confirmation of telephonic notice, shall be in the form of Exhibit A-1,
appropriately completed to specify (i) the aggregate principal amount of the
Loans to be made pursuant to such Borrowing and (ii) the date of such Borrowing
(which shall be a Business Day). The Agent shall promptly give each Lender
written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each
proposed Borrowing, of such Lender's proportionate share thereof and of the
other matters covered by the Notice of Borrowing.
-5-
<PAGE>
(b) (i) Whenever the Borrower desires to incur Swingline Loans
hereunder, it shall give BTCo not later than 12:00 Noon (New York
time) on the day such Swingline Loan is to be made, written notice
(or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each
Swingline Loan to be made hereunder. Each such notice shall be
irrevocable and shall specify in each case (x) the date of such
Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day) and (y) the aggregate
principal amount of the Swingline Loan to be made pursuant to such
Borrowing.
(ii) Mandatory Borrowings shall be made upon the notice
specified in Section 1.1(c), with the Borrower irrevocably agreeing,
by its incurrence of any Swingline Loan, to the making of Mandatory
Borrowings as set forth in such Section 1.1(c).
(c) Without in any way limiting the obligation of the Borrower
to confirm in writing any telephonic notice permitted to be given hereunder, the
Agent or BTCo (in the case of a Borrowing of Swingline Loans) or the Letter of
Credit Issuer (in the case of the issuance of Letters of Credit), as the case
may be, may prior to receipt of written confirmation act without liability upon
the basis of such telephonic notice, believed by the Agent, BTCo or the Letter
of Credit Issuer, as the case may be, in good faith to be from an Authorized
Officer of the Borrower. In each such case, the Borrower hereby waives the right
to dispute the Agent's, BTCo's or the Letter of Credit Issuer's record of the
terms of such telephonic notice.
-6-
<PAGE>
1.4 Disbursement of Funds.
(a) Not later than 1:00 P.M. (New York time) on the date
specified in each Notice of Borrowing (or (x) in the case of Swingline Loans,
not later than 2:00 P.M. (New York time) on the date specified in Section
1.3(b)(i) or (y) in the case of Mandatory Borrowings, not later than 12:00 Noon
(New York time) on the date specified in Section 1.1(c)), each Lender will make
available its pro rata share, if any, of each Borrowing requested to be made on
such date (or in the case of Swingline Loans, BTCo shall make available the full
amount thereof) in the manner provided below. All amounts shall be made
available to the Agent in U.S. Dollars and in immediately available funds at the
Payment Office and the Agent promptly will make available to the Borrower by
depositing to its account at the Payment Office the aggregate of the amounts so
made available in the type of funds received. Unless the Agent shall have been
notified by any Lender prior to the date of Borrowing that such Lender does not
intend to make available to the Agent its portion of the Borrowing or Borrowings
to be made on such date, the Agent may assume that such Lender has made such
amount available to the Agent on such date of Borrowing, and the Agent, in
reliance upon such assumption, may (in its sole discretion and without any
obligation to do so) make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. If
such corresponding amount is not in fact made available to the Agent by such
Lender and the Agent has made available same to the Borrower, the Agent shall be
entitled to recover such corresponding amount from such Lender. If such Lender
does not pay such corresponding amount forthwith upon the Agent's demand
therefor, the Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower, and the Borrower shall
immediately pay such corresponding amount to the Agent. The Agent shall also be
entitled to recover from the Lender or the Borrower, as the case may be,
interest on such corresponding amount in respect of each day from the date such
corresponding amount was made available by the Agent to the Borrower to the date
such corresponding amount is recovered by the Agent, at a rate per annum equal
to (x) if paid by such Lender, the overnight Federal Funds Rate or (y) if paid
by the Borrower, the then applicable rate of interest, calculated in accordance
with Section 1.8.
(b) Nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from
its obligation to fulfill its Commitments hereunder or to prejudice any rights
which the Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any default by
such Lender hereunder.
-7-
<PAGE>
1.5 Notes.
(a) The Borrower's obligation to pay the principal of, and
interest on, all the Loans made to it by each Lender shall be evidenced (i) if
Revolving Loans, by a promissory note substantially in the form of Exhibit B-1
with blanks appropriately completed in conformity herewith (as amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, each a "Revolving Note"
and, collectively, the "Revolving Notes"), (ii) if Swingline Loans, by a
promissory note substantially in the form of Exhibit B-2 with blanks
appropriately completed in conformity herewith (as amended, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time, the "Swingline Note") and (iii) if Term
Loans, by a promissory note duly executed and delivered by the Borrower
substantially in the form of Exhibit B-3, with blanks appropriately completed in
conformity herewith (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time, each a "Term Note" and, collectively, the "Term Notes").
(b) The Revolving Note issued to each Revolving Lender shall
(i) be executed by the Borrower, (ii) be payable to such Lender or its
registered assigns and be dated the Initial Borrowing Date, (iii) be in a stated
principal amount equal to the Revolving Loan Commitment of such Lender and be
payable in the principal amount of the outstanding Revolving Loans evidenced
thereby, (iv) mature on the Final Maturity Date, (v) bear interest as provided
in Section 1.8, (vi) be subject to voluntary prepayment as provided in Section
4.1 and mandatory repayment as provided in Section 4.2, and (vii) be entitled to
the benefits of this Agreement, the other Credit Documents and the Orders.
(c) The Swingline Note issued to BTCo shall (i) be executed by
the Borrower, (ii) be payable to BTCo or its registered assigns and be dated the
Initial Borrowing Date, (iii) be in a stated principal amount equal to the
Maximum Swingline Amount and be payable in the principal amount of the
outstanding Swingline Loans evidenced thereby, (iv) mature on the Swingline
Expiry Date, (v) bear interest as provided in Section 1.8, (vi) be subject to
voluntary prepayment as provided in Section 4.1 and mandatory repayment as
provided in Section 4.2, and (vii) be entitled to the benefits of this
Agreement, the other Credit Documents and the Orders.
-8-
<PAGE>
(d) The Term Note issued to each Term Lender shall (i) be
executed by the Borrower, (ii) be payable to such Lender or its registered
assigns and be dated the Initial Borrowing Date (or, if issued after the Initial
Borrowing Date, be dated the date of issuance thereof), (iii) be in a stated
principal amount equal to the difference between the Term Loan Commitment of
such Lender and such Lender's Term Loan Percentage of the aggregate Stated
Amount of all Existing Letters of Credit, and be payable in the outstanding
principal amount of the Term Loans evidenced thereby, (iv) mature on the Final
Maturity Date, (v) bear interest as provided in the appropriate clause of
Section 1.8, (vi) be subject to mandatory repayment as provided in Section 4.2,
and (vii) be entitled to the benefits of this Agreement, the other Credit
Documents and the Orders.
(e) Each Lender will note on its internal records the amount
of each Loan made by it and each payment in respect thereof and will prior to
any transfer of any of its Notes endorse on the reverse side thereof the
outstanding principal amount of Loans evidenced thereby. Failure to make any
such notation shall not affect the Borrower's obligations in respect of such
Loans.
1.6 [Intentionally Omitted].
1.7 Pro Rata Borrowings. All Borrowings of Revolving Loans and Term
Loans under this Agreement shall be made by the Lenders pro rata on the basis of
their Revolving Loan Commitments or Term Loan Commitments, respectively. It is
understood that no Lender shall be responsible for any default by any other
Lender of its obligation to make Loans hereunder and that each Lender shall be
obligated to make the Loans to be made by it hereunder, regardless of the
failure of any other Lender to fulfill its commitments hereunder.
1.8 Interest.
(a) The unpaid principal amount of each Loan shall bear
interest from the date of the Borrowing thereof until the maturity (whether by
acceleration or otherwise) of such Loan at a rate per annum which shall at all
times be the Applicable Base Rate Margin plus the Base Rate in effect from time
to time.
-9-
<PAGE>
(b) [Intentionally Omitted]
(c) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event
of Default, principal and, to the extent permitted by law, overdue interest in
respect of each Loan shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the rate
which is 2% in excess of the rate otherwise applicable to Base Rate Loans from
time to time. Interest which accrues under this Section 1.8(c) shall be payable
on demand.
(d) Interest shall accrue from and including the date of any
Borrowing to but excluding the date of any repayment thereof. Interest on all
Loans (other than the Term Loans) shall be payable monthly in arrears on the
last Business Day of each month, on the Termination Date (whether by
acceleration or otherwise) and, after the Termination Date, on demand. Interest
on the Term Loans shall be payable on the Term Loan Interest Payment Date and,
after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, on
demand.
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<PAGE>
(e) All computations of interest hereunder shall be made in
accordance with Section 12.7(b).
1.9 [Intentionally Omitted].
1.10 Increased Costs. If any Lender shall have determined that after
the date hereof, the adoption or effectiveness of any applicable law, rule or
regulation regarding capital adequacy, or any change therein, or any change in
the interpretation or administration thereof by any governmental authority,
central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or
administration thereof, or compliance by such Lender or any corporation
controlling such Lender with any request or directive regarding capital adequacy
(whether or not having the force of law) of any such authority, central bank or
comparable agency, has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return
on such Lender's or such other corporation's capital or assets as a consequence
of such Lender's Commitments or obligations hereunder to a level below that
which such Lender or such other corporation could have achieved but for such
adoption, effectiveness, change or compliance (taking into consideration such
Lender's or such other corporation's policies with respect to capital adequacy),
then from time to time, upon written demand by such Lender (with a copy to the
Agent), accompanied by the notice referred to in the last sentence of this
Section 1.10, the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amount or
amounts as will compensate such Lender or such other corporation for such
reduction. Each Lender, upon determining in good faith that any additional
amounts will be payable pursuant to this Section 1.10, will give prompt written
notice thereof to the Borrower, which notice shall set forth the basis of the
calculation of such additional amounts, although the failure to give any such
notice shall not release or diminish the Borrower's obligations to pay
additional amounts pursuant to this Section 1.10 upon the subsequent receipt of
such notice.
-11-
<PAGE>
1.11 [Intentionally Omitted].
1.12 Change of Lending Office. Each Lender agrees that, upon the
occurrence of any event giving rise to the operation of Section 1.10, 2.5 or 4.4
with respect to such Lender, it will, if requested by the Borrower, use
reasonable efforts (subject to overall policy considerations of such Lender) to
designate another lending office for any Loans or Letters of Credit affected by
such event; provided, that such designation is made on such terms that, in the
sole judgment of such Lender, such Lender and its lending office suffer no
economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage, with the object of avoiding the
consequences of the event giving rise to the operation of any such Section.
Nothing in this Section 1.12 shall affect or postpone any of the obligations of
the Borrower or the right of any Lender provided in Section 1.10, 2.5 or 4.4.
-12-
<PAGE>
1.13 [Intentionally Omitted].
1.14 Priority and Liens.
-13-
<PAGE>
(a) The Borrower and each of the Guarantors hereby covenants,
represents and warrants that, upon entry of the Interim Order (and the Final
Order, as applicable), the Postpetition Obligations of the Borrower and the
Guarantors hereunder and under the Credit Documents and, on or after the Term
Loan Effective Date and subject to Section 1.14(c), the Prepetition Obligations,
(i) pursuant to Section 364(c)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code, shall at all times
constitute allowed Super-priority Claims, (ii) pursuant to Section 364(c)(2) of
the Bankruptcy Code, shall at all times be secured by a perfected first priority
Lien on all Collateral (except property acquired by the Credit Parties pursuant
to the exercise of their avoiding powers under the Bankruptcy Code), including,
without limitation, all cash maintained in the Cash Collateral Account, the
Concentration Account and the Blocked Account, and any direct investment of the
funds contained therein that is otherwise not encumbered by a valid and
perfected Lien as of the Petition Date, (iii) pursuant to Section 364(c)(3) of
the Bankruptcy Code, shall be secured by a perfected junior Lien upon all
Collateral (other than Collateral that is subject to existing Liens that, prior
to the Term Loan Effective Date, secure the Prepetition Obligations, as to which
the Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent and the Lenders will be as described
in clause (iv) of this sentence) that is subject to valid and perfected Liens in
existence on the Petition Date or valid Liens perfected (but not granted)
thereafter to the extent such post-Petition Date perfection in respect of a
pre-Petition Date claim is expressly permitted under the Bankruptcy Code, and to
other valid and perfected Liens which are senior (after giving effect to the
Interim Order and the Final Order, as applicable) to the Liens granted to the
Collateral Agent and the Lenders pursuant to the Interim Order (and the Final
Order, as applicable) and (iv) shall be secured by a perfected first priority,
senior priming Lien on all Prepetition Collateral and any property of the
Debtors on which a Lien is granted after the Petition Date to provide adequate
protection in respect of the Prepetition Obligations, subject and subordinate in
each case with respect to subclauses (i) through (iv) above, only to (x)
following the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default or an Event of
Default, the payment (as the same may be due and payable) of professional fees
and disbursements allowed by order of the Bankruptcy Court and incurred by the
Credit Parties and any statutory committee of unsecured creditors appointed in
the Cases and any disbursements of any member of such committee in an aggregate
amount not to exceed $5,000,000 (in addition to compensation previously awarded
whether or not paid), (y) the unfunded portion of Retention Payments and (z) the
payment of unpaid fees pursuant to 28 U.S.C. " 1930 and any fees payable to the
Clerk of the Bankruptcy Court (collectively, the "Carve-Out"), provided further
that following the Termination Date amounts in the Cash Collateral Account shall
not be subject to the Carve-Out. The Lenders agree that so long as no Default or
Event of Default shall have occurred and be
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continuing, the Borrower and the Guarantors shall be permitted to pay
compensation and reimbursement of expenses allowed and payable under Sections
330 and 331 of the Bankruptcy Code, as the same may be payable, and the amounts
so paid shall not reduce the Carve-Out. Nothing herein shall limit the rights of
the Agent and the Prepetition Agent to object to any request to the Bankruptcy
Court for payment or reimbursement of fees and expenses of professionals. The
Borrowers and the Guarantors shall not be in default of their representations
and warranties with respect to the Prepetition Obligations under this Section
1.14(a) solely by virtue of a successful challenge by a Person (other than a
Credit Party) to the priority of the Liens securing the Prepetition Obligations,
in accordance with Section 16 of the Interim Order.
(b) The Borrower and the Guarantors acknowledge and agree
that, as adequate protection for the Existing Lenders' interests in the Liens
that are being primed as set forth in subsection 1.14(a)(iv), the use of the
Cash Collateral in which the Existing Lenders have an interest and the
imposition of the automatic stay pursuant to Section 362(a) of the Bankruptcy
Code, the Existing Lenders shall, pursuant to the Interim Order (and the Final
Order, as applicable), receive during the period from the Petition Date until
the Term Loan Effective Date (i) a Super-priority Claim junior only to the
Super-priority Claim granted to the Collateral Agent and the Lenders hereunder,
(ii) a replacement Lien on the Collateral having a priority immediately junior
to the priming and other Liens granted in favor of the Collateral Agent and the
Lenders hereunder and under the other Credit Documents and the Orders (subject
and subordinate, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) above, to the Carve-Out and
valid and perfected Liens which are senior (after giving effect to the Interim
Order and the Final Order, as applicable) to the Liens granted to the Collateral
Agent and the Lenders pursuant to the Interim Order (and the Final Order, as
applicable), (iii) the payment on the Effective Date of all other fees, costs
and charges owing in respect thereof under the Existing Credit Agreement on such
date (including, without limitation, the fees and expenses of attorneys and
financial consultants of the Prepetition Agent) and (iv) the right to accrue
interest on the Existing Lender Debt at the non-default rate determined in
accordance with Section 1.08 of the Existing Credit Agreement.
(c) The Liens and Super-priority Claims granted to the
Revolving Lenders to secure the Revolving Loans, Swingline Loans and Letter of
Credit Outstandings shall be senior and prior to the Liens and Super-priority
Claims granted to secure the Prepetition Obligations prior to the Term Loan
Effective Date and the Term Loans and the Existing Letters of Credit on and
after the Term Loan Effective Date.
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1.15 Payment of Obligations. Upon the maturity (whether by
acceleration or otherwise) of any of the Obligations under this Agreement or any
of the other Credit Documents, the Lenders shall be entitled to immediate
payment of such Obligations without further application to or order of the
Bankruptcy Court, subject to the remedial provisions in Section 9.
1.16 No Discharge; Survival of Claims. Each of the Borrower and the
Guarantors agrees that to the extent its Obligations hereunder are not satisfied
in full, (i) its Obligations arising hereunder shall not be discharged by the
entry of a Confirmation Order (and each of the Borrower and the Guarantors
pursuant to Section 1141(d)(4) of the Bankruptcy Code, hereby waives any such
discharge) and (ii) the Super-priority Claim and Liens granted to the Collateral
Agent and the Lenders pursuant to the Orders and described in Section 1.14 shall
not be affected in any manner by the entry of a Confirmation Order.
SECTION 2. Letters of Credit.
2.1 Letter of Credit.
(a) Subject to and upon the terms and conditions herein set
forth, the Borrower may request a Letter of Credit Issuer at any time and from
time to time on or after the Initial Borrowing Date and prior to the Business
Day (or the 30th day in the case of trade Letters of Credit) preceding the Final
Maturity Date to issue, for the account of the Borrower and in support of (x)
trade obligations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that arise in the
ordinary course of business and are in respect of purchases of raw materials and
inventory of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, and/or
(y) on a standby basis, L/C Supportable Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries to any other Person, irrevocable letters of credit in such form
as may be approved by such Letter of Credit Issuer (each such letter of credit,
a "Letter of Credit" and, collectively, the "Letters of Credit").
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Letter of Credit Issuer shall be under any
obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if at the time of such issuance:
(i) any order, judgment or decree of any governmental
authority or arbitrator shall purport by its terms to enjoin or
restrain such Letter of Credit Issuer from issuing such Letter of
Credit or any requirement of law applicable to such Letter of Credit
Issuer or any request or directive (whether or not having the force
of law) from any governmental authority with jurisdiction over such
Letter of Credit Issuer shall prohibit, or request that such Letter
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of Credit Issuer refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit
generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose
upon such Letter of Credit Issuer with respect to such Letter of
Credit any restriction or reserve or capital requirement (for which
such Letter of Credit Issuer is not otherwise compensated) not in
effect on the date hereof, or any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense
which was not applicable, in effect or known to such Letter of
Credit Issuer as of the date hereof and which such Letter of Credit
Issuer in good faith deems material to it; or
(ii) such Letter of Credit Issuer shall have received notice
from the Borrower or the Required Lenders prior to the issuance of
such Letter of Credit of the type described in clause (v) of Section
2.1(b).
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(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) no Letter of Credit
shall be issued the Stated Amount of which, when added to the Letter of Credit
Outstandings (exclusive of Unpaid Drawings which are repaid on the date of, and
prior to the issuance of, the respective Letter of Credit) at such time, would
exceed either (x) the Letter of Credit Sublimit or (y) when added to the
aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans then
outstanding, the lesser of (I) Total Revolving Loan Commitment or (II) the
Borrowing Base at such time; (ii) no Letter of Credit shall have an expiry date
occurring later than the Final Maturity Date; provided that if the Final
Maturity Date occurs prior to the expiration of any Letter of Credit, the
Borrower, on or prior to the Final Maturity Date shall (A) cause such Letter of
Credit to be replaced and returned to the Letter of Credit Issuer undrawn and
marked "cancelled," or (B) to the extent the Borrower is unable to so replace
and return such Letter of Credit in accordance with clause (A), either (x)
provide a "back to back" letter of credit to the Letter of Credit Issuer in a
form satisfactory to the Letter of Credit Issuer, issued by a bank satisfactory
to the Letter of Credit Issuer, in an amount equal to 105% of the Stated Amount
of such Letter of Credit or (y) pay to the Agent at the Payment Office an amount
of cash or Cash Equivalents, to be held in the Cash Collateral Account as
security by the Agent, as is equal to 105% of the Stated Amount of such Letter
of Credit; (iii) each Letter of Credit shall be denominated in U.S. Dollars;
(iv) the Stated Amount of each Letter of Credit shall not be less than $100,000
or such lesser amount as is acceptable to the respective Letter of Credit
Issuer; (v) no Letter of Credit Issuer will issue any Letter of Credit after it
has received written notice from the Borrower or the Required Lenders stating
that a Default or an Event of Default exists until such time as such Letter of
Credit Issuer shall have received a written notice of (x) rescission of such
notice from the party or parties originally delivering the same or (y) a waiver
of such Default or Event of Default by the Required Lenders; and (vi) no Letter
of Credit Issuer will issue any Letter of Credit unless the need for such Letter
of Credit has been identified in the then effective Budget and such Letter of
Credit has been approved by the Agent.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event a Lender
Default exists, no Letter of Credit Issuer shall be required to issue any Letter
of Credit unless the respective Letter of Credit Issuer has entered into
arrangements satisfactory to it and the Borrower to eliminate such Letter of
Credit Issuer's risk with respect to the participation in Letters of Credit of
the Defaulting Lender or Lenders, including by cash collateralizing such
Defaulting Lender's or Lenders' Percentage of the Letter of Credit Outstandings,
as the case may be.
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2.2 Letter of Credit Requests; Notice of Issuance.
(a) Whenever the Borrower desires that a Letter of Credit be
issued, the Borrower shall give the Agent and the respective Letter of Credit
Issuer written notice (or telephonic notice confirmed in writing) thereof prior
to 12:00 Noon (New York time) at least five Business Days (or such shorter
period as may be acceptable to the respective Letter of Credit Issuer) prior to
the proposed date of issuance (which shall be a Business Day) which written
notice shall be in the form of Exhibit A-2 (each, a "Letter of Credit Request").
Each Letter of Credit Request shall include any other documents as such Letter
of Credit Issuer customarily requires in connection therewith.
(b) Each Letter of Credit Issuer shall, promptly after each
issuance of, or amendment or modification to, a Letter of Credit issued by it,
give the Agent, each Revolving Lender and the Borrower written notice of the
issuance of, or amendment or modification to, such Letter of Credit, accompanied
by a copy to the Agent of the Letter of Credit or Letters of Credit issued by it
and each such amendment or modification thereto.
2.3 Agreement to Repay Letter of Credit Drawings.
(a) The Borrower hereby agrees to reimburse each Letter of
Credit Issuer, by making payment to the Agent in immediately available funds at
the Payment Office, for any payment or disbursement made by such Letter of
Credit Issuer under any Letter of Credit issued by it (each such amount so paid
or disbursed until reimbursed, an "Unpaid Drawing") no later than one Business
Day following the date of such payment or disbursement, with interest on the
amount so paid or disbursed by such Letter of Credit Issuer, to the extent not
reimbursed prior to 1:00 P.M. (New York time) on the date of such payment or
disbursement, from and including the date paid or disbursed to but not including
the date such Letter of Credit Issuer is reimbursed therefor at a rate per annum
which shall be the Applicable Base Rate Margin for Revolving Loans in excess of
the Base Rate as in effect from time to time (plus an additional 2% per annum if
not reimbursed by the third Business Day after the date of such payment or
disbursement), such interest also to be payable on demand. Each Letter of Credit
Issuer shall provide the Borrower prompt notice of any payment or disbursement
made by it under any Letter of Credit issued by it, although the failure of, or
delay in, giving any such notice shall not release or diminish the obligations
of the Borrower under this Section 2.3(a) or under any other Section of this
Agreement.
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(b) The Borrower's obligation under this Section 2.3 to
reimburse the respective Letter of Credit Issuer with respect to Unpaid Drawings
(including, in each case, interest thereon) shall be absolute and unconditional
under any and all circumstances and irrespective of any setoff, counterclaim or
defense to payment which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries may have or
have had against such Letter of Credit Issuer, the Agent or any Lender,
including, without limitation, any defense based upon the failure of any drawing
under a Letter of Credit issued by it to conform to the terms of the Letter of
Credit or any nonapplication or misapplication by the beneficiary of the
proceeds of such drawing; provided, however, that the Borrower shall not be
obligated to reimburse such Letter of Credit Issuer for any wrongful payment
made by such Letter of Credit Issuer under a Letter of Credit issued by it as a
result of acts or omissions constituting willful misconduct or gross negligence
on the part of such Letter of Credit Issuer.
2.4 Letter of Credit Participations.
(a) Immediately upon the issuance by a Letter of Credit Issuer
of any Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Issuer shall be deemed to have
sold and transferred to each other Revolving Lender, and each such Revolving
Lender (each a "Participant") shall be deemed irrevocably and unconditionally to
have purchased and received from such Letter of Credit Issuer, without recourse
or warranty, an undivided interest and participation, to the extent of such
Participant's Percentage, in such Letter of Credit, each substitute Letter of
Credit, each drawing made thereunder and the obligations of the Borrower under
this Agreement with respect thereto (although Letter of Credit Fees shall be
payable directly to the Agent for the account of the Revolving Lenders as
provided in Section 3.1(b) and the Participants shall have no right to receive
any portion of any Facing Fees with respect to such Letters of Credit) and any
security therefor or guaranty pertaining thereto. Upon any change in the
Revolving Loan Commitments of the Lenders pursuant to Section 1.13 or 12.4(b),
it is hereby agreed that, with respect to all outstanding Letters of Credit and
Unpaid Drawings with respect thereto, there shall be an automatic adjustment to
the participations pursuant to this Section 2.4 to reflect the new Percentages
of the assigning and assignee Lender.
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(b) In determining whether to pay under any Letter of Credit,
no Letter of Credit Issuer shall have any obligation relative to the
Participants other than to determine that any documents required to be delivered
under such Letter of Credit have been delivered and that they appear to
substantially comply on their face with the requirements of such Letter of
Credit. Any action taken or omitted to be taken by any Letter of Credit Issuer
under or in connection with any Letter of Credit issued by it if taken or
omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct, shall not
create for such Letter of Credit Issuer any resulting liability.
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(c) In the event that any Letter of Credit Issuer makes any
payment under any Letter of Credit issued by it and the Borrower shall not have
reimbursed such amount in full to the Letter of Credit Issuer pursuant to
Section 2.3(a), such Letter of Credit Issuer shall promptly notify the Agent,
and the Agent shall promptly notify each Participant of such failure, and each
such Participant shall promptly and unconditionally pay to the Agent for the
account of such Letter of Credit Issuer, the amount of such Participant's
Percentage of such payment in U.S. Dollars and in same day funds; provided,
however, that no Participant shall be obligated to pay to the Agent its
Percentage of such unreimbursed amount if the Letter of Credit was issued or the
payment was made as a result of acts or omissions constituting willful
misconduct or gross negligence on the part of the Letter of Credit Issuer. If
the Agent so notifies any Participant required to fund a payment under a Letter
of Credit prior to 11:00 A.M. (New York time) on any Business Day, such
Participant shall make available to the Agent for the account of the respective
Letter of Credit Issuer such Participant's Percentage of the amount of such
payment on such Business Day in same day funds (and, to the extent such notice
is given after 11:00 A.M. (New York time) on any Business Day, such Participant
shall make such payment on the immediately following Business Day). If and to
the extent such Participant shall not have so made its Percentage of the amount
of such payment available to the Agent for the account of the respective Letter
of Credit Issuer, such Participant agrees to pay to the Agent for the account of
such Letter of Credit Issuer, forthwith on demand such amount, together with
interest thereon, for each day from such date until the date such amount is paid
to the Agent for the account of the Letter of Credit Issuer at the overnight
Federal Funds Rate. The failure of any Participant to make available to the
Agent for the account of the respective Letter of Credit Issuer its Percentage
of any payment under any Letter of Credit issued by it shall not relieve any
other Participant of its obligation hereunder to make available to the Agent for
the account of such Letter of Credit Issuer its applicable Percentage of any
payment under any such Letter of Credit on the date required, as specified
above, but no Participant shall be responsible for the failure of any other
Participant to make available to the Agent for the account of such Letter of
Credit Issuer such other Participant's Percentage of any such payment.
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(d) Whenever any Letter of Credit Issuer receives a payment of
a reimbursement obligation as to which the Agent has received for the account of
such Letter of Credit Issuer any payments from the Participants pursuant to
clause (c) above, such Letter of Credit Issuer shall pay to the Agent and the
Agent shall promptly pay to each Participant which has paid its Percentage
thereof, in U.S. Dollars and in same day funds, an amount equal to such
Participant's Percentage of the principal amount thereof and interest thereon
accruing after the purchase of the respective participations.
(e) The obligations of the Participants to make payments to
the Agent for the account of the respective Letter of Credit Issuer with respect
to Letters of Credit issued by it shall be irrevocable and not subject to
counterclaim, set-off or other defense or any other qualification or exception
whatsoever and shall be made in accordance with the terms and conditions of this
Agreement under all circumstances, including, without limitation, any of the
following circumstances:
(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of this
Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents;
(ii) the existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other
right which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries may have at any
time against a beneficiary named in a Letter of Credit, any
transferee of any Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such
transferee may be acting), the Agent, any Letter of Credit Issuer,
any Lender, or other Person, whether in connection with this
Agreement, any Letter of Credit, the transactions contemplated
herein or any unrelated transactions (including any underlying
transaction between the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and the
beneficiary named in any such Letter of Credit);
(iii) any draft, certificate or other document presented under
the Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or
insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or
inaccurate in any respect;
(iv) the surrender or impairment of any security for
the performance or observance of any of the terms of any of the
Credit Documents; or
(v) the occurrence of any Default or Event of
Default.
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2.5 Increased Costs. If, after the date hereof, the adoption or
effectiveness of any applicable law, rule or regulation, or any change therein,
or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any
governmental authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the
interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any Letter of Credit
Issuer or any Participant with any request or directive (whether or not having
the force of law) by any such authority, central bank or comparable agency shall
either (i) impose, modify or make applicable any reserve, deposit, capital
adequacy or similar requirement against Letters of Credit issued by such Letter
of Credit Issuer or such Participant's participation therein, or (ii) impose on
any Letter of Credit Issuer or any Participant any other conditions affecting
this Agreement, any Letter of Credit or such Participant's participation
therein; and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such
Letter of Credit Issuer or such Participant of issuing, maintaining or
participating in any Letter of Credit, or to reduce the amount of any sum
received or receivable by such Letter of Credit Issuer or such Participant
hereunder, then, upon written demand to the Borrower by such Letter of Credit
Issuer or such Participant (a copy of which notice shall be sent by such Letter
of Credit Issuer or such Participant to the Agent), accompanied by the
certificate described in the last sentence of this Section 2.5, the Borrower
shall pay to such Letter of Credit Issuer or such Participant such additional
amount or amounts as will compensate such Letter of Credit Issuer or such
Participant for such increased cost or reduction. A certificate submitted to the
Borrower by such Letter of Credit Issuer or such Participant, as the case may be
(a copy of which certificate shall be sent by such Letter of Credit Issuer or
such Participant to the Agent), setting forth the basis for the determination of
such additional amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Letter of Credit
Issuer or such Participant as aforesaid shall be final and conclusive and
binding on the Borrower absent manifest error, although the failure to deliver
any such certificate shall not release or diminish the Borrower's obligations to
pay additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.5 upon subsequent receipt of
such certificate.
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SECTION 3. Fees; Commitments.
3.1 Fees.
(a) The Borrower shall pay to the Agent for distribution to
each Revolving Lender that is a Non-Defaulting Lender a commitment fee (the
"Commitment Fee") for the period from the date of the entry of the Interim Order
to but not including the Final Maturity Date (or such earlier date as the Total
Revolving Loan Commitment shall have been terminated), computed at a rate for
each day equal to the Applicable Commitment Fee Percentage on the average daily
Unutilized Revolving Loan Commitment of such Lender. Accrued Commitment Fees
shall be due and payable monthly in arrears on the last Business Day of each
month and the date upon which the Total Revolving Loan Commitment is terminated.
(b) The Borrower shall pay to the Agent for the account of the
Revolving Lenders pro rata on the basis of their Percentages, a fee in respect
of each Letter of Credit (the "Letter of Credit Fee") computed at a rate per
annum equal to 2.50% of the daily Stated Amount of such Letter of Credit.
Accrued Letter of Credit Fees shall be due and payable monthly in arrears on the
last Business Day of each month and upon the first day on or after the
termination of the Total Revolving Loan Commitment upon which no Letters of
Credit remain outstanding.
(c) The Borrower shall pay to the Agent for the account of
each Letter of Credit Issuer a facing fee in respect of each Letter of Credit
issued by such Letter of Credit Issuer (the "Facing Fee") computed at the rate
of 1/4 of 1% per annum on the daily Stated Amount of such Letter of Credit,
provided, that in no event shall the annual Facing Fee with respect to each
Letter of Credit be less than $500; it being agreed that, on the date of
issuance of any Letter of Credit and on each anniversary thereof prior to the
termination of such Letter of Credit, if $500 will exceed the amount of Facing
Fees that will accrue with respect to such Letter of Credit for the immediately
succeeding 12-month period, the full $500 shall be payable on the date of
issuance of such Letter of Credit and on each such anniversary thereof prior to
the termination of such Letter of Credit. Except as provided in the immediately
preceding sentence, accrued Facing Fees shall be due and payable monthly in
arrears on the last Business Day of each month and upon the first day on or
after the termination of the Total Revolving Loan Commitment upon which no
Letters of Credit remain outstanding.
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(d) The Borrower shall pay directly to each Letter of Credit
Issuer upon each issuance of, payment under, and/or amendment of, a Letter of
Credit issued by such Letter of Credit Issuer such amount as shall at the time
of such issuance, payment or amendment be the administrative charge which such
Letter of Credit Issuer is customarily charging for issuances of, payments under
or amendments of, letters of credit issued by it.
(e) On the Effective Date the Borrower shall pay to the Agent,
for the account of the Revolving Lenders pro rata on the basis of their
Percentages, a closing fee of $1,787,500.
(f) On the Effective Date the Borrower shall pay to the Agent
(i) for the Account of the Arranger, an arrangement fee of $162,500 and (ii) for
the account of the Agent, an agent's fee of $75,000.
(g) All computations of Fees shall be made in accordance
with Section 12.7(b).
3.2 Voluntary Termination or Reduction of Total Unutilized Revolving
Loan Commitment. Upon at least two Business Days' prior written notice (or
telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) to the Agent at its Notice
Office (which notice the Agent shall promptly transmit to each of the Lenders),
the Borrower shall have the right, without premium or penalty, to terminate or
partially reduce the Total Unutilized Revolving Loan Commitment, provided that
(x) any such termination or partial reduction shall apply to proportionately and
permanently reduce the Revolving Loan Commitment of each of the Lenders and (y)
any partial reduction pursuant to this Section 3.2 shall be in the amount of at
least $500,000 and in integral multiples of $100,000 in excess thereof.
3.3 Mandatory Reduction of Commitments.
(a) [Intentionally Omitted].
(b) In addition to any other mandatory commitment reductions
pursuant to this Section 3.3, (i) on the Term Loan Effective Date, the Total
Term Loan Commitment shall be reduced by the amount of the Term Loans and (ii)
the Total Term Loan Commitment (and the Term Loan Commitment of each Lender)
shall be deemed to be fully drawn and utilized as of the date of entry of the
Final Order and no further Borrowings constituting Term Loans shall be permitted
hereunder (but nothing herein shall limit the obligations of each Term Lender
with respect to its participation in each Existing Letter of Credit to the
extent of its Term Loan Percentage).
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(c) In addition to any other mandatory commitment reductions
pursuant to this Section 3.3, on each date on or after the Initial Borrowing
Date on which Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries receives any cash proceeds
from any incurrence of Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness permitted to be
incurred pursuant to Section 8.4 as in effect on the Effective Date) by Holdings
or any of its Subsidiaries, the Total Revolving Loan Commitment shall be
permanently reduced by an amount equal to 100% of the cash proceeds (net of all
underwriting discounts, fees and commissions and other costs and expenses
associated therewith) of the respective incurrence of Indebtedness.
(d) In addition to any other mandatory commitment reductions
pursuant to this Section 3.3, on each date on or after the Initial Borrowing
Date on which Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries receives any Cash Proceeds
from any Asset Sale, the Total Revolving Loan Commitment shall be permanently
reduced in accordance with Section 4.2(d).
(e) In addition to any other mandatory commitment reductions
pursuant to this Section 3.3, within 10 days following each date on or after the
Initial Borrowing Date on which Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries receives any
cash proceeds from any Recovery Event, the Total Revolving Loan Commitment shall
be permanently reduced by an amount equal to 100% of such cash proceeds of such
Recovery Event (net of all costs, expenses and taxes incurred in connection with
such Recovery Event).
(f) [Intentionally Omitted]
(g) The Total Commitment (and the Commitment of each Lender)
shall terminate in its entirety on the Termination Date.
(h) Each reduction of the Total Revolving Loan Commitment
pursuant to this Section 3.3 shall apply proportionately to reduce the Revolving
Loan Commitment of each Revolving Lender.
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SECTION 4. Payments.
4.1 Voluntary Prepayments. The Borrower shall have the right to
prepay the Loans, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty except as
otherwise provided in this Agreement, from time to time on the following terms
and conditions: (i) the Borrower shall give the Agent at its Notice Office
written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of its
intent to prepay the Loans, whether such Loans are Revolving Loans, Term Loans
or Swingline Loans and the amount of such prepayment, which notice shall be
given by the Borrower prior to 11:00 A.M. (New York time) (x) at least one
Business Day prior to the date of such prepayment in the case of Revolving Loans
and Term Loans, and (y) on the date of such prepayment in the case of Swingline
Loans which notice shall, except in the case of Swingline Loans, promptly be
transmitted by the Agent to each of the Lenders; (ii) each partial prepayment of
Revolving Loans and Term Loans shall be in an aggregate principal amount of at
least $500,000 and in integral multiples of $100,000 in excess thereof (or
$50,000 and in integral multiples of $50,000 in excess thereof in the case of
Swingline Loans); and (iii) each prepayment in respect of any Revolving Loans
made pursuant to a Borrowing shall be applied pro rata among such Revolving
Loans, provided, that at the Borrower's election in connection with any
prepayment of Loans pursuant to this Section 4.1, such prepayment shall not be
applied to any Loans of a Defaulting Lender.
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4.2 Mandatory Prepayments; Cash Collateralization.
(a) If on any date the sum of (i) the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans (after giving effect to
all other repayments thereof on such date) plus (ii) the Letter of Credit
Outstandings on such date exceeds the lesser of (x) the Total Revolving Loan
Commitment and (y) the Borrowing Base as then in effect, the Borrower shall
repay on such date the principal of Swingline Loans, and if no Swingline Loans
are or remain outstanding, Revolving Loans in an aggregate amount equal to such
excess. If, after giving effect to the prepayment of all outstanding Swingline
Loans and Revolving Loans, the aggregate amount of Letter of Credit Outstandings
exceeds the lesser of (x) the Total Revolving Loan Commitment and (y) the
Borrowing Base as then in effect, the Borrower shall pay to the Agent on such
date an amount in cash and/or Cash Equivalents equal to such excess (up to the
aggregate amount of Letter of Credit Outstandings at such time) and the Agent
shall hold such payment in the Cash Collateral Account as security for the
obligations of the Borrower hereunder pursuant to a cash collateral agreement to
be entered into in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent
(which shall permit certain investments in Cash Equivalents reasonably
satisfactory to the Agent until the proceeds are applied to the secured
obligations).
(b) Each repayment of Revolving Loans required by this Section
4.2 shall be applied pro rata among such Revolving Loans.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
elsewhere in this Agreement, (i) all then outstanding Swingline Loans shall be
repaid in full on the Swingline Expiry Date and (ii) all then outstanding
Revolving Loans and Term Loans shall be repaid in full on the Final Maturity
Date, in each case together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon.
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(d) In addition to any other mandatory repayments pursuant to
this Section 4.2, on any Business Day on or after the Initial Borrowing Date on
which Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries receives Cash Proceeds from any Asset
Sale, an amount equal to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds from such Asset Sale
shall be applied first, as a mandatory repayment of outstanding Revolving Loans,
second, to the payment in full of any Unpaid Drawings in respect of Letters of
Credit, third, to deposit in the Cash Collateral Account an amount equal to 105%
of the aggregate Stated Amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit, fourth, if
the Term Loan Effective Date has occurred, as a mandatory repayment of
outstanding Term Loans, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon,
fifth, if the Term Loan Effective Date has occurred, to the payment in full of
any reimbursement obligation in respect of Existing Letters of Credit, and
sixth, if the Term Loan Effective Date has occurred, to deposit in the Cash
Collateral Account an amount equal to 105% of the aggregate Stated Amount of all
outstanding Existing Letters of Credit; provided, that if Holdings or any of its
Subsidiaries receives Cash Proceeds from any Asset Sale prior to the Term Loan
Effective Date, then the Net Cash Proceeds from such Asset Sale shall be applied
to the payment in full of the Prepetition Obligations after the application of
such Net Cash Proceeds to the Postpetition Obligations. Unless otherwise agreed
by the Required Lenders, the Total Revolving Loan Commitment shall be
permanently reduced by the aggregate amount applied pursuant to clauses "first,"
"second," and "third" of the immediately preceding sentence. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Credit Parties may pay out of such Net Cash Proceeds retention
bonuses to the key employees of the Credit Parties in an aggregate amount not to
exceed $6,500,000, which have been authorized by the Bankruptcy Court after
appropriate notice and an opportunity to be heard (the "Retention Payments"); it
being agreed that the aggregate amount of Retention Payments is within the range
of reasonableness.
(e) In addition to any other mandatory repayments pursuant to
this Section 4.2, if, on or before the thirtieth day following the Petition
Date, the Final Order, in form and substance acceptable to the Agent, the
Required Lenders and counsel to the Agent, shall not have been entered, not be
in full force and effect and not otherwise have been stayed, reversed, vacated
or otherwise modified, all then outstanding Loans (together with all accrued and
unpaid interest thereon) shall be repaid in full on such date.
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(f) In addition to any other mandatory repayments pursuant to
this Section 4.2, on each Business Day, after giving effect on such Business Day
to anticipated receipts by, and disbursements of, Holdings and its Subsidiaries,
the Borrower shall apply cash on deposit in the Concentration Account in excess
of $1,000,000 first, to the prepayment in full of the Revolving Loans, second,
to the payment in full of any Unpaid Drawings in respect of Letters of Credit
and, third, to deposit in the Cash Collateral Account an amount equal to 105% of
the aggregate Stated Amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit.
4.3 Method and Place of Payment. Except as otherwise specifically
provided herein, all payments under this Agreement or under any Note shall be
made to the Agent for the ratable account of the Lenders entitled thereto, not
later than 12:00 Noon (New York time) on the date when due and shall be made in
immediately available funds and in U.S. Dollars at the Payment Office, it being
understood that written, telex or facsimile transmission notice by the Borrower
to the Agent to make a payment from the funds in the Borrower's account at the
Payment Office shall constitute the making of such payment to the extent of such
funds held in such account. Any payments under this Agreement or under any Note
which are made later than 12:00 Noon (New York time) shall be deemed to have
been made on the next succeeding Business Day. Whenever any payment to be made
hereunder or under any Note shall be stated to be due on a day which is not a
Business Day, the due date thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding
Business Day and, with respect to payments of principal, interest shall be
payable during such extension at the applicable rate in effect immediately prior
to such extension.
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4.4 Net Payments.
(a) All payments made by the Borrower hereunder or under any
Note will be made without setoff, counterclaim or other defense. Except as
provided in Section 4.4(b), all such payments will be made free and clear of,
and without deduction or withholding for, any present or future taxes, levies,
imposts, duties, fees, assessments or other charges of whatever nature now or
hereafter imposed by any jurisdiction or by any political subdivision or taxing
authority thereof or therein with respect to such payments (but excluding,
except as provided in the second succeeding sentence, any tax imposed on or
measured by the net income or net profits of a Lender pursuant to the laws of
the jurisdiction in which it is organized or the jurisdiction in which the
principal office or applicable lending office of such Lender is located or any
subdivision thereof or therein) and all interest, penalties or similar
liabilities with respect thereto (all such nonexcluded taxes, levies, imposts,
duties, fees, assessments or other charges being referred to collectively as
"Taxes"). If any Taxes are so levied or imposed, the Borrower agrees to pay the
full amount of such Taxes, and such additional amounts as may be necessary so
that every payment of all amounts due under this Agreement or under any Note,
after withholding or deduction for or on account of any Taxes, will not be less
than the amount provided for herein or in such Note. If any amounts are payable
in respect of Taxes pursuant to the preceding sentence, the Borrower agrees to
reimburse each Lender, upon the written request of such Lender, for taxes
imposed on or measured by the net income or net profits of such Lender pursuant
to the laws of the jurisdiction in which the principal office or applicable
lending office of such Lender is located or under the laws of any political
subdivision or taxing authority of any such jurisdiction in which the principal
office or applicable lending office of such Lender is located and for any
withholding of taxes as such Lender shall determine are payable by, or withheld
from, such Lender in respect of such amounts so paid to or on behalf of such
Lender pursuant to the preceding sentence and in respect of any amounts paid to
or on behalf of such Lender pursuant to this sentence. The Borrower will furnish
to the Agent within 45 days after the date the payment of any Taxes is due
pursuant to applicable law certified copies of tax receipts evidencing such
payment by the Borrower. The Borrower agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
Lender, and reimburse such Lender upon its written request, for the amount of
any Taxes so levied or imposed and paid by such Lender.
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(b) Each Lender that is not a United States person (as such
term is defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) agrees to deliver to the
Borrower and the Agent on or prior to the Effective Date, or in the case of a
Lender that is an assignee or transferee of an interest under this Agreement
pursuant to Section 1.13 or 12.4 (unless the respective Lender was already a
Lender hereunder immediately prior to such assignment or transfer), on the date
of such assignment or transfer to such Lender, (i) two accurate and complete
original signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form 4224 or 1001 (or
successor forms) certifying to such Lender's entitlement to a complete exemption
from United States withholding tax with respect to payments to be made under
this Agreement and under any Note, or (ii) if the Lender is not a "bank" within
the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code and cannot deliver either
Internal Revenue Service Form 1001 or 4224 pursuant to clause (i) above, (x) a
certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C (any such certificate, a
"Section 4.4(b)(ii) Certificate") and (y) two accurate and complete original
signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 (or successor form)
certifying to such Lender's entitlement to a complete exemption from United
States withholding tax with respect to payments of interest to be made under
this Agreement and under any Note. In addition, each Lender agrees that from
time to time after the Effective Date, when a lapse in time or change in
circumstances renders the previous certification obsolete or inaccurate in any
material respect, it will deliver to the Borrower and the Agent two new accurate
and complete original signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form 4224 or
1001, or Form W-8 and a Section 4.4(b)(ii) Certificate, as the case may be, and
such other forms as may be required in order to confirm or establish the
entitlement of such Lender to a continued exemption from or reduction in United
States withholding tax with respect to payments under this Agreement and any
Note, or it shall immediately notify the Borrower and the Agent of its inability
to deliver any such Form or Certificate in which case such Lender shall not be
required to deliver any such Form or Certificate pursuant to this Section
4.4(b). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 4.4(a),
but subject to Section 12.4(b) and the immediately succeeding sentence, (x) the
Borrower shall be entitled, to the extent it is required to do so by law, to
deduct or withhold income or similar taxes imposed by the United States (or any
political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein) from interest,
fees or other amounts payable hereunder for the account of any Lender which is
not a United States person (as such term is defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of
the Code) for U.S. Federal income tax purposes to the extent that such Lender
has not provided to the Borrower U.S. Internal Revenue Service Forms that
establish a complete exemption from such deduction or withholding and (y) the
Borrower shall not be obligated pursuant to Section 4.4(a) hereof to gross-up
payments to be made to a Lender in respect of income or similar taxes imposed by
the
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United States if (I) such Lender has not provided to the Borrower the Internal
Revenue Service Forms required to be provided to the Borrower pursuant to this
Section 4.4(b) or (II) in the case of a payment, other than interest, to a
Lender described in clause (ii) above, to the extent that such Forms do not
establish a complete exemption from withholding of such taxes. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in the preceding sentence or elsewhere in
this Section 4.4 and except as set forth in Section 12.4(b), the Borrower agrees
to pay additional amounts and to indemnify each Lender in the manner set forth
in Section 4.4(a) (without regard to the identity of the jurisdiction requiring
the deduction or withholding) in respect of any amounts deducted or withheld by
it as described in the immediately preceding sentence as a result of any changes
after the Effective Date in any applicable law, treaty, governmental rule,
regulation, guideline or order, or in the interpretation thereof, relating to
the deducting or withholding of income or similar Taxes.
SECTION 5. Conditions Precedent.
5.1 Conditions Precedent to Credit Events on the Initial Borrowing
Date. The obligation of each Lender to make Loans, and the obligation of the
Letter of Credit Issuer to issue Letters of Credit, on the Initial Borrowing
Date, is subject at the time of the making of such Loans or the issuance of such
Letters of Credit to the satisfaction of the following conditions:
(a) Interim Order. The Agent shall have received, with a copy
to each Lender, a copy of the Interim Order which shall have been entered no
later than 15 days after the Petition Date and shall, among other things,
approve the Credit Documents, grant Super-priority Claim status and Liens and
find that the Lenders are extending credit to the Credit Parties in good faith
within the meaning of Section 364(e) of the Bankruptcy Code, which shall also
(i) be in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, the Required Lenders and
counsel to the Agent, (ii) have been entered upon an application of the Borrower
and the Guarantors reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Agent,
(iii) prior to the entry of the Final Order, be in full force and effect and
(iv) not have been stayed, reversed, vacated, rescinded, modified or amended in
any respect without the prior written consent of the Agent and the Required
Lenders and, if the Interim Order is the subject of a pending appeal in any
respect, neither the making of such Loan nor the performance by the Borrower or
any of the Guarantors of any of their respective obligations hereunder or under
the other Credit Documents or under any other instrument or agreement referred
to herein shall be the subject of a presently effective stay pending appeal.
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(b) First Day Orders. All orders entered by the Bankruptcy
Court (other than the Interim Order which is dealt with in Section 5.1(a)) on
the date of the conversion of the Cases from involuntary cases to voluntary
cases shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, including
providing for the continuation of the cash management system of the Borrower and
the Guarantors, as modified in accordance with this Agreement.
(c) Budget. The Agent shall have received, with a copy to each
Lender, a copy of the initial Budget covering the four-week period commencing on
the Petition Date and other cash flow and financial projections which the Agent
may request that itemize, on a weekly basis, all material expenditures proposed
to be made (including payments proposed to be made in respect of pre-Petition
Date trade payables), all in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and
the Required Revolving Lenders.
(d) Due Diligence. The Agent and the Lenders shall have
received such information (financial or otherwise) as may be reasonably
requested by the Agent or the Lenders, and the Agent shall have completed, and
shall be satisfied with the results of, all due diligence deemed reasonably
necessary by it.
(e) Corporate Documents; Proceedings; etc.
(i) On the Initial Borrowing Date, the Agent shall have
received a certificate from each Credit Party, dated the Initial
Borrowing Date, signed by the Chairman of the Board, the President
or any Vice President of such Credit Party, and attested to by the
Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of such Credit Party, in the
form of Exhibit E with appropriate insertions, together with copies
of the certificate of incorporation (or equivalent organizational
document) and by-laws of such Credit Party and the resolutions of
such Credit Party referred to in such certificate, and the foregoing
shall be in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Agent.
(ii) All corporate and legal proceedings and all instruments
and agreements in connection with the Cases and the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the other Credit Documents shall
be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Agent and
the Required Lenders, and the Agent shall have received all
information and copies of all documents and papers, including
records of corporate proceedings, governmental approvals, good
standing certificates and bring-down telegrams or facsimiles, if
any, which the Agent reasonably may have requested in
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connection therewith, such documents and papers where appropriate to
be certified by proper corporate or governmental authorities.
(f) Tax Sharing Agreements. On or prior to the Initial
Borrowing Date, the Agent shall have received certified copies of all tax
sharing, tax allocation and other similar agreements entered into by Holdings or
any of its Subsidiaries, including the Holdings Tax Allocation Agreement
(collectively, the "Tax Agreements"), which shall be in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and the Required Lenders.
(g) Approvals, Consents, etc. On or prior to the Initial
Borrowing Date, all necessary governmental (domestic and foreign) and third
party approvals and/or consents in connection with the transactions contemplated
by the Credit Documents and otherwise referred to herein or therein shall have
been obtained and remain in effect and all applicable waiting periods with
respect thereto shall have expired without any action being taken by any
competent authority which restrains, prevents or imposes materially adverse
conditions upon, the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Credit
Documents or otherwise referred to herein or therein. Additionally, there shall
not exist any judgment, order, injunction or other restraint issued or filed or
a hearing seeking injunctive relief or other restraint pending or notified
prohibiting or imposing materially adverse conditions upon, or materially
delaying, or making economically unfeasible, the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by the Credit Documents or otherwise required to be
consummated herein or therein.
(h) Litigation. On the Initial Borrowing Date, other than the
commencement of the Cases and any actions commenced in the Cases by Persons
other than the Credit Parties and except as set forth on Annex X, there shall be
no actions, suits or proceedings pending or threatened (i) with respect to this
Agreement or any other Credit Document or (ii) which the Agent or the Required
Lenders shall reasonably determine could reasonably be expected to have a
material adverse effect on (a) the business, operations, property, assets,
liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the rights or remedies of the Lenders or
the Agent hereunder or under any other Credit Document or (c) the ability of any
Credit Party to perform its respective obligations to the Lenders or the Agent
hereunder or under any other Credit Document.
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(i) Financial Statements and Projections. On or prior to the
Initial Borrowing Date, the Agent shall have received projected balance sheets
and cash flow statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated
basis and projected income statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a
consolidating basis by division (including corporate, Williamhouse, Ampad, Forms
and Creative Card), prepared by or under the supervision of the Crisis Manager
(following the Borrower's retention of the Crisis Manager) or an Authorized
Officer (prior to the Borrower's retention of the Crisis Manager) in accordance
with GAAP consistently applied, for the three-month period commencing on the
date of such projections (the "Projections"), which shall be in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and the Required Lenders.
(j) Pledge Agreement. On the Initial Borrowing Date, each
Credit Party shall have duly authorized, executed and delivered the Pledge
Agreement in the form of Exhibit F (as amended, modified or supplemented from
time to time, the "Pledge Agreement") and shall have delivered to the Collateral
Agent, as pledgee thereunder, all of the Pledged Securities referred to therein
and owned by such Credit Party, (x) endorsed in blank in the case of promissory
notes constituting Pledged Securities and (y) together with executed and undated
stock powers in the case of capital stock constituting Pledged Securities.
(k) Security Agreement. On the Initial Borrowing Date, each
Credit Party shall have duly authorized, executed and delivered the Security
Agreement in the form of Exhibit G (as modified, supplemented or amended from
time to time, the "Security Agreement") covering all of such Credit Party's
present and future Security Agreement Collateral, together with proper Financing
Statements (Form UCC-1 or the equivalent) fully executed for filing under the
UCC or other appropriate filing offices as may be necessary or, in the
reasonable opinion of the Collateral Agent, desirable to perfect the security
interests purported to be created by the Security Agreement.
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(l) Execution of Agreement; Revolving Notes and Other Credit
Documents. On or prior to the Initial Borrowing Date, (i) the Effective Date
shall have occurred and (ii) there shall have been delivered to the Agent (A)
for the account of each of the Revolving Lenders the appropriate Revolving
Notes, duly executed by the Borrower and to the Swingline Lender, the Swingline
Note executed by the Borrower, in each case, in the amount, maturity and as
otherwise provided herein, (B) the Subsidiary Guaranty, in the form of Exhibit H
(as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
"Subsidiary Guaranty"), duly executed by the Subsidiary Guarantors, (C) the
Blocked Account Agreement, duly executed by all parties thereto, (D) the
Concentration Account Agreement, duly executed by all parties thereto and (E) a
Borrowing Base Certificate, duly executed by an Authorized Officer of the
Borrower.
(m) Opinion of Counsel. The Agent shall have received an
opinion from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, special counsel to the Credit Parties,
covering the matters set forth in Exhibit D and such other matters incident to
the transaction contemplated herein as the Agent may reasonably request.
(n) Insurance Certificates. The Agent shall have received
certificates of insurance complying with the requirements of Section 7.3 for the
business and properties of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and naming the Collateral Agent as an
additional insured and as loss payee, and stating that such insurance shall not
be cancelled without at least 30 days prior written notice by the insurer to the
Collateral Agent (or such shorter period of time as a particular insurance
company generally provides).
(o) [Intentionally Omitted.]
(p) Adequate Protection Payment. The Borrower shall have paid
to the Prepetition Agent for the benefit of the Existing Lenders and the issuer
of the Existing Letters of Credit all accrued and unpaid fees, costs and charges
owing to the Prepetition Agent, such issuer and the Existing Lenders under the
Existing Credit Agreement.
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(q) Lien Searches. The Agent shall have received UCC lien
searches (dated as of a date reasonably satisfactory to the Agent) conducted in
the jurisdictions in which the Credit Parties conduct business or maintain
assets and reflecting the absence of Liens on the assets of each of the Credit
Parties that are senior in priority to the Liens securing the Obligations (other
than such Liens as may be permitted under the Existing Credit Agreement or
otherwise acceptable to the Agent), all in form and substance satisfactory to
the Agent.
(r) Year 2000 Program. The Agent shall have received a copy of
the Y2K Compliance Plan, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the
Agent.
(s) Consultants. The Credit Parties shall have engaged
Lazard Freres & Co. LLC pursuant to a retention letter in form and substance
acceptable to the Agent.
(t) Fees. The Borrower shall have paid to the Agent and each
Lender all costs, fees and expenses and other amounts (including, without
limitation fees payable in accordance with Section 3 and all reasonable fees and
expenses of professionals engaged by the Agent and the Lenders) incurred through
the Petition Date, that are then due and payable and authorized by the
Bankruptcy Court in the Interim Order.
(u) Termination or Amendment of Receivables Program. The
Accounts Receivable Facility Purchase Agreement shall have been terminated or
amended, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Agent and the Required
Lenders.
(v) Cash Management System. The Agent shall have received
satisfactory evidence that (i) all cash of the Credit Parties shall have been
transferred to the Concentration Account, except for cash on deposit in the
Blocked Account and payroll accounts and disbursement accounts that are
permitted under Section 8.17 and (ii) the Credit Parties shall have irrevocably
directed Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company to transfer all amounts
otherwise payable to the Receivables Entity to the Concentration Account.
(w) Williamhouse Sale Plan. The Agent and the Required
Revolving Lenders shall (i) be satisfied with the Borrower's plan to consummate
the Williamhouse Sale during the pendency of the Cases (the "Sale Proposal"),
and (ii) the Agent and the Lenders shall have received a copy of the book or
other materials prepared by Lazard Freres & Co. that will be circulated to
potential purchasers of the assets of the Williamhouse division.
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5.2 Conditions Precedent to All Credit Events. The obligation of
each Lender to make Loans (including Loans made on the Initial Borrowing Date),
and the obligation of the Letter of Credit Issuer to issue Letters of Credit, is
subject, at the time of each such Credit Event (except as hereinafter
indicated), to the satisfaction of the following conditions:
(a) No Default; Representations and Warranties. At the time of
each such Credit Event and also after giving effect thereto (i) there shall
exist no Default or Event of Default and (ii) all representations and warranties
contained herein and in the other Credit Documents shall be true and correct in
all material respects with the same effect as though such representations and
warranties had been made on the date of such Credit Event (it being understood
and agreed that any representation or warranty which by its terms is made as of
a specified date shall be required to be true and correct in all material
respects only as of such specified date).
(b) Notice of Borrowing; Letter of Credit Request.
(i) Prior to the making of each Loan (other than a Term Loan,
a Swingline Loan and a Revolving Loan made pursuant to a Mandatory
Borrowing), the Agent shall have received a Notice of Borrowing
meeting the requirements of Section 1.3(a). Prior to the making of
each Swingline Loan, the Swingline Lender shall have received the
notice referred to in Section 1.3(b)(i).
(ii) Prior to the issuance of each Letter of Credit, the Agent
and the Letter of Credit Issuer shall have received a Letter of
Credit Request meeting the requirements of Section 2.2(a).
(c) Bankruptcy Court Approval. The Interim Order shall be in
full force and effect or, if the date of the requested Loan is more than 30 days
after the Initial Borrowing Date, or the amount of such requested Loan, together
with the amount of all Loans outstanding as of such date, shall exceed the
maximum amount authorized pursuant to the Interim Order, the Final Order shall
have been entered in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, the Required
Revolving Lenders and counsel to the Agent, and shall be in full force and
effect and shall not have been stayed, reversed, vacated or otherwise modified
without the prior written consent of the Agent and the Required Revolving
Lenders. The Bankruptcy Court shall have converted the Cases from involuntary
cases to voluntary cases under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.
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(d) Borrowing Certificate. The Agent shall have received a
certificate, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and executed by the
Crisis Manager (after the Borrower's retention of the Crisis Manager) or an
Authorized Officer (before the Borrower's retention of the Crisis Manager) of
the Borrower, certifying that (i) the requested Loan or Letter of Credit and the
intended use of proceeds thereof are consistent with the terms of this Agreement
and will be used solely for expenditures, and in the approximate amounts, set
forth in the then applicable Budget, (ii) the proceeds thereof are necessary,
after utilization and application of the Borrower's and the Guarantors'
available Cash Collateral, in order for the Borrower and the Guarantors to
satisfy their obligations with respect to the items set forth in the then
applicable Budget, (iii) all of the representations and warranties contained in
Section 6 are true and correct in all material respects (except for those that
expressly relate to a specific date, in which case they shall be true and
correct in all material respects as of such date), (iv) the Borrower and the
Guarantors have observed and performed all applicable covenants and agreements
contained herein, in the other Credit Documents and the Interim Order or the
Final Order (as applicable) and satisfied in all material respects each
condition to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit
contained herein, in the other Credit Documents or in the Interim Order or the
Final Order (as applicable) to be observed, performed or satisfied by the Credit
Parties, (v) the making of any requested Revolving Loan or the issuance of any
requested Letter of Credit would not cause the aggregate principal amount of all
Revolving Loans, when added to all Other Revolving Exposure, to exceed the
lesser of (x) the Total Revolving Loan Commitment, (y) the Borrowing Base then
in effect and (z) the amount of loans and letters of credit set forth in the
Budget for the period in which such Revolving Loan is to be borrowed or such
Letter of Credit is to be issued, (vi) such officer or the Crisis Manager, as
the case may be, has no knowledge of the existence of any Default or Event of
Default, (vii) the information provided in the then applicable Budget continues
to be true and correct in all material respects and (viii) the requested Loan or
Letter of Credit will not result in the Credit Parties exceeding any amounts in
the then applicable Budget.
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(e) Adverse Change, etc. Nothing shall have occurred since the
date of the most recent Credit Event with respect to the Borrower or the
Guarantors (and neither any Lender nor the Agent shall have become aware of any
facts or conditions not previously known) which either the Agent or the Required
Lenders shall determine has had, or is reasonably likely to have, in each case
as of the date of the requested Credit Event, (i) a Material Adverse Effect or
(ii) a material adverse effect on the rights or remedies of the Lenders or the
Agent hereunder or under any other Credit Documents, or on the ability of the
Borrower of any of the Guarantors to perform their obligations to the Lenders
and the Agent (in any event, other than any change occurring as a direct result
of the commencement of the Cases).
(f) Pleadings. No pleading shall have been filed in the
Bankruptcy Court by or on behalf of any Credit Party or its Affiliates which is
not withdrawn, dismissed or denied within 15 days after filing, and no pleading
shall have been filed in the Bankruptcy Court by any Person if any of the
following relief is granted, in either case seeking (i) to dismiss or convert
any of the Cases to a Chapter 7 case, (ii) the appointment of a Chapter 11
trustee in any of the Cases, (iii) the appointment of an examiner having
enlarged powers relating to the operation of the business of the Borrower or any
of the Guarantors (beyond those set forth under Section 1106(a)(3) and (4) of
the Bankruptcy Code) under Section 1106(b) of the Bankruptcy Code, (iv) the
allowance of a Super-priority Claim or a Lien pari passu or senior to that of
the Agent, the Prepetition Agent, the Lenders or the Existing Lenders granted
pursuant to any Security Document, (v) to stay, reverse, vacate, or otherwise
modify the Interim Order or the Final Order without the prior written consent of
the Agent and the Required Lenders or, if required by Section 12.12(a), all of
the Lenders, or (vi) relief from the automatic stay so as to allow a third party
to proceed against any material property or assets of the Borrower or any
Guarantor.
(g) Fees. The Borrower shall have paid to the Agent and each
Lender all costs, fees and expenses and other amounts (including, without
limitation, all reasonable fees and expenses of professionals engaged by the
Agent and the Lenders) payable to the Agent and such Lender to the extent then
due and authorized by the Bankruptcy Court.
(h) Cash Management System. Unless otherwise consented to by
the Agent and Required Lenders, there shall have been no change to the
Borrower's cash management system (including the requirement to maintain the
Concentration Account with BTCo).
The acceptance of the benefits of each Credit Event shall constitute
a representation and warranty by each Credit
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Party to the Agent and each of the Lenders that all of the applicable conditions
specified above exist as of the date of such Credit Event. All of the
certificates, legal opinions and other documents and papers referred to in this
Section 5, unless otherwise specified, shall be delivered to the Agent at its
Notice Office for the account of each of the Lenders and, except for the Notes,
in sufficient counterparts for each of the Lenders and shall be reasonably
satisfactory in form and substance to the Agent and the Required Lenders.
5.3 Conditions Precedent to Term Loans. The utilization of the
Term Loan Commitments in accordance with Section 1.1(e) is subject to the
satisfaction of the following conditions:
(a) Execution of Agreement; Term Notes. On or prior to the
date of the entry of the Final Order, there shall have been delivered to the
Agent (i) counterparts of this Agreement executed by each Existing Lender in its
capacity as a Term Lender and (ii) for the account of each Term Lender, the Term
Notes executed by the Borrower.
(b) Bankruptcy Court Approval. The Final Order shall
have been entered.
SECTION 6. Representations, Warranties and Agreements. In order to
induce the Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to make the Loans and issue
and/or participate in the Letters of Credit provided for herein, each of
Holdings, WR Acquisition and the Borrower makes the following representations,
warranties and agreements with the Lenders in each case after giving effect to
the transactions contemplated hereby, all of which shall survive the execution
and delivery of this Agreement, the making of the Loans and the issuance of the
Letters of Credit (with the occurrence of each Credit Event being deemed to
constitute a representation and warranty that the matters specified in this
Section 6 are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of
each such Credit Event, unless stated to relate to a specific earlier date in
which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all
material respects as of such earlier date):
6.1 Corporate Status. Each of Holdings and each of its Subsidiaries
(i) is a duly organized and validly existing corporation in good standing under
the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (ii) has the corporate power
and authority to own its property and assets and to transact the business in
which it is engaged and presently proposes to engage and (iii) is duly qualified
and is authorized to do business and is in good standing in all jurisdictions
where it is required to be so qualified and where the failure to be so qualified
would have a Material Adverse Effect.
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6.2 Corporate Power and Authority. Subject to the entry by the
Bankruptcy Court of the Interim Order or the Final Order (when applicable), each
Credit Party has the corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and carry
out the terms and provisions of the Documents to which it is a party and has
taken all necessary corporate action to authorize the execution, delivery and
performance of the Credit Documents to which it is a party. Each Credit Party
has duly executed and delivered each Credit Document to which it is a party and
each such Credit Document constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of
such Credit Party enforceable in accordance with its terms.
6.3 No Violation. Subject to the entry by the Bankruptcy Court of
the Interim Order or the Final Order (when applicable), neither the execution,
delivery or performance by any Credit Party of the Credit Documents to which it
is a party nor compliance by any Credit Party with the terms and provisions
thereof, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein or
therein, (i) will contravene any applicable provision of any law, statute, rule
or regulation, or any order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or
governmental instrumentality, (ii) will conflict or be inconsistent with or
result in any breach of, any of the terms, covenants, conditions or provisions
of, or constitute a default under, or (other than pursuant to the Security
Documents and the Accounts Receivable Facility Documents) result in the creation
or imposition of (or the obligation to create or impose) any Lien upon any of
the property or assets of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to the
terms of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, credit
agreement or any other material agreement or instrument to which Holdings or any
of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of its property or assets
are bound or to which it may be subject or (iii) will violate any provision of
the Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws of Holdings or any of its
Subsidiaries.
6.4 Litigation. Other than the commencement of the Cases and any
actions commenced in the Cases by Persons other than the Credit Parties and
except as set forth in Annex X, there are no actions, suits or proceedings
pending or, to the knowledge of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, threatened,
with respect to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries (i) that are likely to have
a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) that could reasonably be expected to have a
material adverse effect on the rights or remedies of the Agent or the Lenders or
on the ability of any Credit Party to perform its respective obligations to the
Agent or the Lenders hereunder and under the other Credit Documents to which it
is, or will be, a party. Additionally, there does not exist any judgment, order
or injunction prohibiting or imposing material adverse conditions upon the
occurrence of any Credit Event.
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6.5 Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations.
(a) The proceeds of all Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans
(and in the case of (ii) below, Term Loans) shall be used, all in accordance
with this Agreement and the then applicable Budget, (i) to fund general
corporate purposes relating to post-Petition Date operations, to make payments
to critical prepetition vendors (which have been approved by the Bankruptcy
Court) and to make Retention Payments (which have been approved by the
Bankruptcy Court) in accordance with, and limited by, those items set forth in
the then applicable Budget, (ii) to repay the Existing Lender Debt in accordance
with Section 1.1(e) and the Obligations, (iii) to pay all reasonable legal fees
and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation and
documentation of this Agreement by the Prepetition Agent and each Existing
Lender, (iv) to pay all legal and other professional fees and expenses of the
Agent and the Lenders incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation,
documentation and enforcement of this Agreement and (v) to repay the emergency
loan of $3,000,000 made by BTCo and authorized by the Emergency Order on January
14, 2000, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon (the "Emergency
Loan"); it being agreed that the proceeds of the initial Loan made hereunder
shall be used to repay the Emergency Loan.
(b) Neither the making of any Loan, nor the use of the
proceeds thereof, will violate the provisions of Regulation T, U or X of the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and no part of the proceeds of
any Loan will be used to purchase or carry any Margin Stock or to extend credit
for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock.
6.6 Governmental Approvals. Except for the entry by the Bankruptcy
Court of the Interim Order and the Final Order (when applicable), no order,
consent, approval, license, authorization, or validation of, or filing,
recording or registration with, or exemption by, any foreign or domestic
governmental or public body or authority, or any subdivision thereof, is
required to authorize or is required in connection with (i) the execution,
delivery and performance of any Credit Document or (ii) the legality, validity,
binding effect or enforceability of any Credit Document.
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6.7 Investment Company Act. Neither Holdings nor any of its
Subsidiaries is an "investment company" or a company "controlled" by an
"investment company," within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended.
6.8 Public Utility Holding Company Act. Neither Holdings nor any of
its Subsidiaries is a "holding company," or a "subsidiary company" of a "holding
company," or an "affiliate" of a "holding company" or of a "subsidiary company"
of a "holding company," within the meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company
Act of 1935, as amended.
6.9 True and Complete Disclosure. All factual information (taken as
a whole) heretofore or contemporaneously furnished by or on behalf of Holdings
or any of its Subsidiaries in writing to the Agent, any Lender or the Bankruptcy
Court (including, without limitation, all information contained in the
Documents) for purposes of or in connection with this Agreement or any
transaction contemplated herein is, and all other such factual information
(taken as a whole) hereafter furnished by or on behalf of any such Persons in
writing to the Agent, any Lender or the Bankruptcy Court will be, true and
accurate in all material respects on the date as of which such information is
dated or certified and not incomplete by omitting to state any material fact
necessary to make such information (taken as a whole) not misleading at such
time in light of the circumstances under which such information was provided.
6.10 Financial Condition; Financial Statements.
(a) The statements of financial condition of Holdings and its
Subsidiaries at December 31, 1998 and September 30, 1999 and the related
statements of income and cash flows and changes in shareholders' equity of
Holdings and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year or nine-month period, as the
case may be, ended as of said dates, copies of which have heretofore been
furnished to each Lender, present fairly in all material respects the
consolidated financial condition of Holdings and its Subsidiaries at the dates
of said statements and the results for the periods covered thereby. All such
financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently
applied except to the extent provided in the notes to said financial statements
and subject, in the case of the September 30, 1999 statements, to normal
year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.
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(b) Except as fully reflected in the financial statements
described in Section 6.10(a) and the Indebtedness incurred under this Agreement,
(i) there were as of the Initial Borrowing Date (and after giving effect to any
Loans made on such date), no liabilities or obligations (excluding current
obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business) with respect to
Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries of any nature whatsoever (whether absolute,
accrued, contingent or otherwise and whether or not due), and (ii) neither
Holdings nor the Borrower knows of any basis for the assertion against Holdings
or any of its Subsidiaries of any such liability or obligation which, either
individually or in the aggregate, are or would be reasonably likely to have, a
Material Adverse Effect.
(c) The Projections are based on good faith estimates and
assumptions made by the management of Holdings, and on the Initial Borrowing
Date such management believed that the Projections were reasonable and
attainable, it being recognized by the Lenders, however, that projections as to
future events are not to be viewed as facts and that the actual results during
the period or periods covered by the Projections probably will differ from the
projected results and that the differences may be material. There is no fact
known to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries which would have a Material Adverse
Effect, which has not been disclosed herein or in such other documents,
certificates and statements furnished to the Lenders for use in connection with
the transactions contemplated hereby.
6.11 [Intentionally Omitted].
6.12 Transaction. At the time of consummation thereof, the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been or will be consummated in
accordance with all applicable laws. At the time of consummation thereof, all
consents and approvals of, and filings and registrations with, and all other
actions in respect of, all governmental agencies, authorities or
instrumentalities required to make or consummate the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement have been obtained, given, filed or taken or waived and are or
will be in full force and effect (or effective judicial relief with respect
thereto has been obtained) except where the failure to obtain, give, file, or
take would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Additionally, there does not exist any judgment, order or injunction prohibiting
or imposing material adverse conditions upon the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, or the occurrence of any Credit Event or the performance by
Holdings and its Subsidiaries of their obligations under the Documents and all
applicable laws.
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6.13 Special Purpose Corporations.
(a) Holdings has no assets (other than the capital stock of WR
Acquisition and Foreign Sales and immaterial assets used for the performance of
those activities permitted to be performed by Holdings pursuant to Section
8.1(b) and any obligations held by it to the extent permitted by Section 8.6(e))
or liabilities (other than those liabilities under this Agreement, the other
Documents to which it is a party and the Shareholder Subordinated Notes).
(b) WR Acquisition has no assets (other than the capital stock
of the Borrower and immaterial assets used for the performance of those
activities permitted to be performed by WR Acquisition pursuant to Section
8.1(c)) or liabilities (other than those liabilities under this Agreement and
the other Documents to which it is a party).
(c) Foreign Sales has no assets (other than immaterial assets
used for the performance of those activities permitted to be performed by
Foreign Sales pursuant to Section 8.1(e)) or liabilities (other than those
liabilities under this Agreement and the other Documents to which it is a
party).
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6.14 Compliance with ERISA.
(a) Each Plan is in substantial compliance with ERISA and the
Code; no Reportable Event has occurred with respect to a Plan; no Plan is
insolvent or in reorganization; no Plan has an Unfunded Current Liability; no
Plan has an accumulated or waived funding deficiency, has permitted decreases in
its funding standard account or has applied for a waiver of the minimum funding
standard or an extension of any amortization period within the meaning of
Section 412 of the Code; all contributions required to be made with respect to a
Plan and a Foreign Pension Plan have been timely made; neither Holdings nor any
Subsidiary of Holdings nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any material
liability to or on account of a Plan pursuant to Section 409, 502(i), 502(l),
515, 4062, 4063, 4064, 4069, 4201, 4204 or 4212 of ERISA or Section 401(a)(29),
4971, 4975 or 4980 of the Code or reasonably expects to incur any material
liability (including any indirect, contingent or secondary liability) under any
of the foregoing Sections with respect to any Plan (other than liabilities of
any ERISA Affiliate which could not, by operation of law or otherwise, become a
liability of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries); no proceedings have been
instituted to terminate, or to appoint a trustee to administer, any Plan; no
condition exists which presents a material risk to Holdings or any Subsidiary of
Holdings or any ERISA Affiliate of incurring a liability to or on account of a
Plan pursuant to the foregoing provisions of ERISA and the Code; using actuarial
assumptions and computation methods consistent with subpart 1 of subtitle E of
Title IV of ERISA, the aggregate liabilities of Holdings and its Subsidiaries
and its ERISA Affiliates to all Plans which are multiemployer plans (as defined
in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA) in the event of a complete withdrawal therefrom,
as of the close of the most recent fiscal year of each such Plan ended prior to
the date of the most recent Credit Event, would not result in a Material Adverse
Effect; no lien imposed under the Code or ERISA on the assets of Holdings or any
Subsidiary of Holdings or any ERISA Affiliate exists or is likely to arise on
account of any Plan; and Holdings and its Subsidiaries do not maintain or
contribute to any employee welfare benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(1) of
ERISA) which provides benefits to retired employees or other former employees
(other than as required by Section 601 of ERISA) or any employee pension benefit
plan (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) the obligations with respect to which
could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(b) Each Foreign Pension Plan has been maintained in
substantial compliance with its terms and with the requirements of any and all
applicable laws, statutes, rules, regulations and orders and has been
maintained, where required, in good standing with applicable regulatory
authorities. Neither Holdings nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any
material obligation in connection with the termination of or withdrawal from any
Foreign Pension Plan. The present value of the accrued benefit liabilities
(whether or not vested) under each Foreign Pension Plan which is funded,
determined as of the end of the most recently ended fiscal year of the Borrower
on the basis of actuarial assumptions, each of which is reasonable, did not
exceed the current value of the assets of such Foreign Pension Plan, and for
each Foreign Pension Plan which is not funded, the obligations of such Foreign
Pension Plan are properly accrued.
6.15 Capitalization.
(a) On the Initial Borrowing Date, the authorized capital
stock of Holdings shall consist of (i) 75,000,000 shares of common stock, $.01
par value per share (the "Holdings Common Stock") and (ii) 150,000 shares of
preferred stock, $.01 par value per share, none of which shares of preferred
stock shall be issued and outstanding. All outstanding shares of Holdings Common
Stock have been duly and validly issued, and are fully paid and nonassessable.
Holdings does not have outstanding any securities convertible into or
exchangeable for its capital stock or outstanding any rights to subscribe for or
to purchase, or any options for the purchase of, or any agreement providing for
the issuance (contingent or otherwise) of, or any calls, commitments or claims
of any character relating to, its capital stock except for options to purchase
Holdings Common Stock issued or to be issued to management of Holdings and its
Subsidiaries.
(b) On the Initial Borrowing Date, the authorized capital
stock of WR Acquisition shall consist of 1,000 shares of common stock, $.01 par
value per share, all of which shares shall be issued and outstanding and owned
by Holdings. All such outstanding shares have been duly and validly issued, and
are fully paid and nonassessable. WR Acquisition does not have outstanding any
securities convertible into or exchangeable for its capital stock or outstanding
any rights to subscribe for or to purchase, or any options for the purchase of,
or any agreements providing for the issuance (contingent or otherwise) of, or
any calls, commitments or claims of any character relating to, its capital
stock.
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(c) On the Initial Borrowing Date, the authorized capital
stock of the Borrower shall consist of 200 shares of common stock, $.01 par
value per share, all of which shares shall be issued and outstanding and owned
by WR Acquisition. All such outstanding shares have been duly and validly
issued, and are fully paid and nonassessable. The Borrower does not have
outstanding any securities convertible into or exchangeable for its capital
stock or outstanding any rights to subscribe for or to purchase, or any options
for the purchase of, or any agreements providing for the issuance (contingent or
otherwise) of, or any calls, commitments or claims of any character relating to,
its capital stock.
6.16 Subsidiaries. On and as of the Initial Borrowing Date, Holdings
has no Subsidiaries other than Foreign Sales and WR Acquisition and its
Subsidiaries, WR Acquisition has no Subsidiaries other than the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, Foreign Sales has no Subsidiaries, the Borrower has no
Subsidiaries other than those Subsidiaries listed on Annex VI and the Borrower
has no Foreign Subsidiaries other than Foreign Sales. Annex VI correctly sets
forth, as of the Initial Borrowing Date, a list of all Persons that own 5% or
more of any class of any shares of capital stock of any Credit Party, the
percentage ownership (direct and indirect) of Holdings in each class of capital
stock of each of its Subsidiaries and also identifies the direct owner thereof.
6.17 Intellectual Property. Each of Holdings and each of its
Subsidiaries owns or holds a valid license to use all the material patents,
trademarks, permits, service marks, trade names, technology, know-how and
formulas or other rights with respect to the foregoing, free from restrictions
that are materially adverse to the use thereof, that are used in the operation
of the business of Holdings and each of its Subsidiaries as presently conducted.
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6.18 Compliance with Statutes, etc. Each of Holdings and each of its
Subsidiaries is in compliance with all applicable statutes, regulations and
orders of, and all applicable restrictions imposed by, all governmental bodies,
domestic or foreign, in respect of the conduct of its business and the ownership
of its property (including compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws
with respect to any Real Property or governing its business and the requirements
of any permits issued under such Environmental Laws with respect to any such
Real Property or the operations of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries), except
such non-compliance as is not likely to, individually or in the aggregate, have
a Material Adverse Effect.
6.19 Environmental Matters.
(a) Except as set forth on Annex XI, each of Holdings and each
of its Subsidiaries has complied with, and on the date of each Credit Event is
in compliance with, all applicable Environmental Laws and the requirements of
any permits issued under such Environmental Laws. There are no pending or, to
the best knowledge of Holdings and the Borrower, past or threatened
Environmental Claims against Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or any Real
Property owned or operated by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries. There are no
facts, circumstances, conditions or occurrences on any Real Property owned or
operated by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the best knowledge of
Holdings and the Borrower, on any property adjoining or in the vicinity of any
such Real Property that would reasonably be expected (i) to form the basis of an
Environmental Claim against Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or any such Real
Property or (ii) to cause any such Real Property to be subject to any
restrictions on the ownership, occupancy, use or transferability of such Real
Property by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries under any applicable
Environmental Law.
(b) Except as set forth on Annex XI, Hazardous Materials have
not at any time been generated, used, treated or stored on, or transported to or
from, any Real Property owned or operated by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries
where such generation, use, treatment or storage has violated or would
reasonably be expected to violate any Environmental Law. Hazardous Materials
have not at any time been Released on or from any Real Property owned or
operated by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries. There are not now any
underground storage tanks located on any Real Property owned or operated by
Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries.
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(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section
6.19, the representations made in this Section 6.19 shall only be untrue if the
aggregate effect of all conditions, failures, noncompliances, Environmental
Claims, Releases and presence of underground storage tanks, in each case of the
types described above, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
6.20 Properties. All Real Property owned by Holdings or any of its
Subsidiaries and all material Leaseholds leased by Holdings or any of its
Subsidiaries, in each case as of the Initial Borrowing Date, and the nature of
the interest therein, is correctly set forth in Annex IV. Each of Holdings and
each of its Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to, or a validly
subsisting leasehold interest in, all material properties owned or leased by it,
including all Real Property reflected in Annex IV or in the financial statements
referred to in Section 6.10(a), free and clear of all Liens, other than
Permitted Liens.
6.21 Labor Relations. Neither Holdings nor any of its Subsidiaries
is engaged in any unfair labor practice that could reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect. There is (i) no unfair labor practice complaint
pending against Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the best knowledge of
Holdings and the Borrower, threatened against any of them, before the National
Labor Relations Board, and no grievance or arbitration proceeding arising out of
or under any collective bargaining agreement is so pending against Holdings or
any of its Subsidiaries or, to the best knowledge of Holdings and the Borrower,
threatened against any of them, (ii) no strike, labor dispute, slowdown or
stoppage pending against Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the best
knowledge of Holdings and the Borrower, threatened against Holdings or any of
its Subsidiaries and (iii) to the best knowledge of Holdings and the Borrower,
no union representation question existing with respect to the employees of
Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries and, to the best knowledge of Holdings and
the Borrower, no union organizing activities are taking place, except (with
respect to any matter specified in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, either
individually or in the aggregate) such as is not reasonably likely to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
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6.22 Tax Returns and Payments. All Federal, material state and other
material returns, statements, forms and reports for taxes (the "Returns")
required to be filed by or with respect to the income, properties or operations
of Holdings and/or any of its Subsidiaries have been timely filed with the
appropriate taxing authority. The Returns accurately reflect all liability for
taxes of Holdings and its Subsidiaries for the periods covered thereby. Holdings
and each of its Subsidiaries have paid all taxes payable by them other than
immaterial taxes and other taxes which are not yet due and payable, and other
than taxes contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been
established in accordance with GAAP. Except as disclosed in the financial
statements referred to in Section 6.10(a), there is no material action, suit,
proceeding, investigation, audit, or claim now pending or, to the knowledge of
Holdings and the Borrower, threatened by any authority regarding any taxes
relating to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries. As of the Initial Borrowing
Date, neither Holdings nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered into an agreement
or waiver or been requested to enter into an agreement or waiver extending any
statute of limitations relating to the payment or collection of taxes of
Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, or is aware of any circumstances that would
cause the taxable years or other taxable periods of Holdings or any of its
Subsidiaries not to be subject to the normally applicable statute of
limitations. Neither Holdings nor any of its Subsidiaries has provided, with
respect to themselves or property held by them, any consent under Section 341 of
the Code. Neither Holdings nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred, or will
incur, any material tax liability in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby.
6.23 Existing Indebtedness. Annex VII sets forth a true and complete
list of all Indebtedness of Holdings and its Subsidiaries (other than
Indebtedness which in the aggregate does not exceed $100,000) as of the Initial
Borrowing Date and which is to remain outstanding after giving effect to the
incurrence of Loans on such date (excluding the Loans, the Letters of Credit,
the Accounts Receivable Facility, the Existing Credit Agreement and the Senior
Subordinated Notes, the "Existing Indebtedness"), in each case showing the
aggregate principal amount thereof and the name of the respective borrower and
any other entity which directly or indirectly guaranteed such debt.
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6.24 Senior Subordinated Notes. The subordination provisions
contained in the Senior Subordinated Note Indenture, the Senior Subordinated
Note Guarantees and the Senior Subordinated Notes are enforceable against the
Borrower, the respective Guarantors and the holders thereof, and all Obligations
and Guaranteed Obligations (as defined herein and in the Subsidiary Guaranty)
are within the definition of "Senior Debt" or "Guarantor Senior Debt," as the
case may be, included in such subordination provisions. This Agreement
constitutes the "Bank Credit Agreement" under (and as defined in) the Senior
Subordinated Note Indenture.
6.25 Year 2000 Compliance. Any reprogramming required to permit the
proper functioning in and following the year 2000 of (i) the computer systems of
the Credit Parties and (ii) equipment containing embedded microchips (including
systems and equipment supplied by others or with which the systems of the Credit
Parties interface) and the testing of all such systems and equipment, as so
reprogrammed, has been completed in accordance with the Y2K Compliance Plan. The
cost to the Credit Parties of such reprogramming and testing and of the
reasonably foreseeable consequences of year 2000 to the Credit Parties
(including, without limitation, reprogramming errors and the failure of others'
systems or equipment) has not resulted and will not result in a Material Adverse
Effect. Except for such of the reprogramming referred to in the preceding
sentence as may be necessary, the computer and management information systems of
the Credit Parties are and, with ordinary course upgrading and maintenance, will
continue to be, sufficient to permit the Credit Parties to conduct business
without the occurrence of a Material Adverse Effect.
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6.26 Common Officers, etc. (a) Holdings issues consolidated
financial statements that include each of the Credit Parties (including, without
limitation, the Additional Subsidiaries) in the consolidation, and each of the
Credit Parties (including, without limitation, the Additional Subsidiaries) are
fully consolidated by virtue of Holdings' direct or indirect 100% ownership of
the capital stock of each of the other Credit Parties (including, without
limitation, the Additional Subsidiaries); (b) the Credit Parties (including,
without limitation, the Additional Subsidiaries) have common officers and
directors; (c) the Credit Parties (including, without limitation, the Additional
Subsidiaries) share office space and do not maintain separate books and records
in all instances; (d) a significant portion of the assets of Borrower, Holdings,
WR Acquisition and the Additional Subsidiaries are commingled and would be
difficult to segregate; and (e) the businesses of the Credit Parties (including,
without limitation, the Additional Subsidiaries) are managed along divisional
reporting lines without giving effect to the separate legal entities whose
assets comprise such divisions, and the Ampad and Williamhouse divisions are
divisions of more than one Credit Party.
6.27 Interim and Final Orders. As of the Initial Borrowing Date,
each of the Emergency Order and the Interim Order has been entered and has not
been stayed, amended, vacated, reversed, rescinded or otherwise modified in any
respect. As of the date of the making of a subsequent Loan hereunder, the
Interim Order and/or the Final Order, as the case may be, have been entered and
have not been stayed, amended (except in accordance with the terms hereof),
reversed, vacated, rescinded or otherwise modified (except in accordance with
the terms hereof) in any respect.
6.28 Accounts Receivable Facility Purchase Agreement. The
Accounts Receivable Facility Purchase Agreement was terminated.
SECTION 7. Affirmative Covenants. Holdings, WR Acquisition and the
Borrower hereby covenant and agree that as of the Effective Date and thereafter
for so long as this Agreement is in effect and until the Total Commitment has
terminated, no Letters of Credit (other than Letters of Credit, together with
all Fees that have accrued and will accrue thereon through the stated
termination date of such Letters of Credit, which have been supported in a
manner satisfactory to the Letter of Credit Issuer in its sole and absolute
discretion) or Notes are outstanding and the Loans and Unpaid Drawings, together
with interest, Fees and all other Obligations (other than any indemnities
described in Section 12.13 which are not then due and payable) incurred
hereunder, are paid in full:
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7.1 Information Covenants. Holdings will furnish to each Lender:
(a) Monthly Reports. Within 30 days after the end of each
fiscal month of Holdings, the consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and its
Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal month and the related consolidated
statements of income and retained earnings of cash flows for such fiscal month
and for the elapsed portion of the fiscal year ended with the last day of such
fiscal month, in each case setting forth comparative figures for the
corresponding fiscal month in the prior fiscal year and comparable budgeted
figures for such fiscal month as reflected in the Bankruptcy Forecast dated as
of December 30, 1999, all of which shall be certified by the Crisis Manager
(following the Borrower's retention of the Crisis Manager) or an Authorized
Officer of Holdings (prior to the Borrower's retention of the Crisis Manager),
subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes. Each
monthly report delivered pursuant to this Section 7.1(a) shall include a
management discussion and summary of operating results for such month, which
shall be prepared in a form substantially similar to the form provided under the
Existing Credit Agreement and shall describe in reasonable detail the results of
operations of Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis and of each
division (including corporate, Williamhouse, Ampad, Forms and Creative Card) on
a consolidating basis.
(b) Quarterly Financial Statements.
(i) Within 45 days after the close of the first three
quarterly accounting periods in each fiscal year of Holdings, the
consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and its Subsidiaries as at
the end of such quarterly accounting period and the related
consolidated statements of income and retained earnings and of cash
flows for such quarterly accounting period and for the elapsed
portion of the fiscal year ended with the last day of such quarterly
accounting period; all of which shall be in reasonable detail and
certified by the Crisis Manager (following the Borrower's retention
of the Crisis Manager) or an Authorized Officer of Holdings (prior
to the Borrower's retention of the Crisis Manager) that they fairly
present in all material respects the financial condition of Holdings
and its Subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of
their operations and changes in their cash flows for the periods
indicated, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the
absence of footnotes.
(ii) Within 45 days after the close of the
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first three quarterly accounting periods in each fiscal year of
Holdings, the sales and operating income (before corporate overhead)
for each division of Holdings and its Subsidiaries (including
corporate, Williamhouse, Ampad, Forms and Creative Card) for such
quarterly accounting period and for the elapsed portion of the
fiscal year ended with the last day of such quarterly accounting
period; all of which shall be in reasonable detail and certified by
the Crisis Manager (following the Borrower's retention of the Crisis
Manager) or an Authorized Officer of Holdings (prior to the
Borrower's retention of the Crisis Manager) that they fairly
represent in all material respects the information contained therein
for the periods indicated, subject to normal year-end audit
adjustments and the absence of footnotes.
(c) Annual Financial Statements.
(i) Within 90 days after the close of each fiscal year of
Holdings, the consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and its
Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year and the related
consolidated statements of income and retained earnings and of cash
flows for such fiscal year and setting forth comparative
consolidated figures for the preceding fiscal year and comparable
budgeted figures for such fiscal year and (except for such
comparable budgeted figures) certified by PriceWaterhouseCoopers or
such other independent certified public accountants of recognized
national standing as shall be reasonably acceptable to the Agent, in
each case to the effect that such statements fairly present in all
material respects the financial condition of Holdings and its
Subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of their
operations and changes, together with a certificate of such
accounting firm stating that in the course of its regular audit of
the business of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, which audit was
conducted in accordance with GAAP, no Default or Event of Default
which has occurred and is continuing has come to their attention
insofar as such Default or Event of Default relates to financial and
accounting matters or, if such a Default or an Event of Default has
come to their attention, a statement as to the nature thereof.
(ii) Within 90 days after the close of each fiscal year of
Holdings, the sales and operating income (before corporate overhead)
for each division of the Holdings and its Subsidiaries (including
corporate, Williamhouse, Ampad, Forms and Creative Card) for such
fiscal year; all of which shall be in reasonable detail
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and certified by the Crisis Manager (following the Borrower's
retention of the Crisis Manager) or an Authorized Officer of
Holdings (prior to the Borrower's retention of the Crisis Manager)
that they fairly present in all material respects the information
contained therein for the periods indicated.
(d) Budgets, Projections and Variance Reports.
(i) Within 15 days after the end of each month, updated
Projections for the three-month period commencing on the first day
of the succeeding month, which shall be prepared on a monthly basis;
(ii) Within 15 days after the end of each month, a comparison
of the financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for
the three-month period ended on the last day of such month to the
Projections for such three-month period, which in each case shall be
in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent;
(iii) Not later than 5:00 P.M. (New York time) on Tuesday of
each week, (A) a Budget covering the four-week period commencing on
the first Business Day of the next week, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Agent reflecting (on a line-item basis)
anticipated weekly cash receipts and expenditures for the succeeding
four weeks, which shall be itemized in sufficient detail including
line items for vendor payments, payroll, interest, professional
fees, capital expenditures, rationalization costs, retention
payments and payments of prepetition and "involuntary gap"
liabilities to critical vendors, it being understood that each such
Budget shall take into consideration reduced cash needs and reduced
expenses resulting from the sale of assets, and (B) a copy of a
Variance Report reflecting (on a line-item basis) the actual cash
receipts and disbursement for the preceding week and the percentage
variance of such actual results from those reflected in the Budget
for the preceding week;
(iv) Weekly, before 12:00 noon on the second Business Day of
each week (except the last week of each month); monthly, within two
(2) Business Days after the last Business Day of each month, and at
any other time requested by the Agent during the continuance of a
Default or Event of Default, a borrowing base certificate,
substantially in the form of Exhibit N (the "Borrowing Base
Certificate"), which shall: (A) detail the Credit Parties' Eligible
Accounts Receivable and the Credit Parties' Eligible Inventory
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as of each Saturday of the immediately preceding week and as of the
last day of each month, as applicable (or as of such other date as
the Agent may request); (B) prepared by the Crisis Manager
(following the Borrower's retention of the Crisis Manager) or an
Authorized Officer of the Borrower (prior to the Borrower's
retention of the Crisis Manager) and certified by such officer
subject only to adjustment upon completion of the normal year-end
audit of physical inventory; and (C) attach thereto such additional
schedules and other information as the Agent may reasonably request
(including, without limitation, a monthly aging of Accounts);
(v) Not later than the last day of each week, a report
describing the then current status of the Credit Parties'
relationships with their vendors, which description shall be on a
vendor-by-vendor basis; and
(vi) Not later than the last Business Day of each week,
Holdings shall deliver to the Agent a certificate of the Crisis
Manager (following the Borrower's retention of the Crisis Manager)
or an Authorized Officer of Holdings (prior to the Borrower's
retention of the Crisis Manager) to the effect that the Credit
Parties (i) are keeping separate records of post-Petition Date
Accounts and payments thereon, (ii) are not applying payments on
post-Petition Date Accounts to pre-Petition Date Accounts and (iii)
are not allowing offsets against post-Petition Date Accounts on
account of pre-Petition Date rebates, allowances or offsets
(excluding certain pre-Petition Date and post-Petition Date rebates
and volume discounts which are payable to customers after the
Petition Date and which are described in such certificate).
(e) Officer's Certificates. At the time of the delivery of the
financial statements provided for in Section 7.1(b) and (c), a certificate of
the Crisis Manager (following the Borrower's retention of the Crisis Manager) or
an Authorized Officer of Holdings (prior to the Borrower's retention of the
Crisis Manager) to the effect that no Default or Event of Default exists or, if
any Default or Event of Default does exist, specifying the nature and extent
thereof, which certificate shall set forth the calculations required to
establish whether Holdings and its Subsidiaries were in compliance with the
provisions of Sections 8.5, 8.6 and 8.9, as at the end of such fiscal quarter or
year, as the case may be.
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(f) Notice of Default or Litigation. Promptly, and in any
event within five Business Days (or 10 Business Days in the case of clause (y)
below) after any executive or senior officer of Holdings, WR Acquisition or the
Borrower obtains knowledge thereof, notice of (x) the occurrence of any event
which constitutes a Default or an Event of Default, which notice shall specify
the nature thereof, the period of existence thereof and what action Holdings, WR
Acquisition or the Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto and (y) the
commencement of, or threat of, or any significant development in, any litigation
or governmental proceeding pending against Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries
which is likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, or a material adverse effect
on the ability of any Credit Party to perform its respective obligations
hereunder or under any other Credit Document.
(g) Auditors' Reports. Promptly upon receipt thereof, a copy
of each report or "management letter" submitted to Holdings or any of its
Subsidiaries by its independent accountants in connection with any annual,
interim or special audit made by them of the books of Holdings or any of its
Subsidiaries.
(h) Environmental Matters. Promptly after obtaining knowledge
of any of the following (but only to the extent that any of the following,
either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect), written notice of:
(i) any pending or threatened Environmental Claim
against Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or any Real Property
owned or operated by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries;
(ii) any condition or occurrence on any Real Property owned or
operated by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries that (x) results in
material noncompliance by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries with
any applicable Environmental Law or (y) could reasonably be
anticipated to form the basis of an Environmental Claim against
Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or any such Real Property;
(iii) any condition or occurrence on any Real Property owned
or operated by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries that could
reasonably be anticipated to cause such Real Property to be subject
to any material restrictions on the ownership, occupancy, use or
transferability by Holdings or its Subsidiary, as the case may be,
of its interest in such Real Property under any Environmental Law;
and
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(iv) the taking of any material removal or remedial action in
response to the actual or alleged presence of any Hazardous Material
on any Real Property owned or operated by Holdings or any of its
Subsidiaries.
All such notices shall describe in reasonable detail the nature of the claim,
investigation, condition, occurrence or removal or remedial action and Holdings'
or the Borrower's response thereto. In addition, Holdings agrees to provide the
Lenders with copies of all material written communications by Holdings or any of
its Subsidiaries with any Person, government or governmental agency relating to
any of the matters set forth in clauses (i)-(iv) above, and such detailed
reports relating to any of the matters set forth in clauses (i)-(iv) above as
may reasonably be requested by the Agent or the Required Lenders.
(i) Sale Proposal. On or before the first Business Day of each
week, a written report from the Consultants, in form and substance satisfactory
to the Agent, summarizing the status of the Borrower's efforts to consummate the
Sale Proposal; provided that Holdings shall promptly deliver a written report
summarizing all material developments relating to the Sale Proposal. In
addition, if requested by the Agent, the Borrower shall conduct bi-weekly
conference calls with the Lenders to report on the status of the Sale Proposal.
(j) Other Information. Promptly upon transmission thereof,
copies of any filings and registrations with, and reports to, the SEC by
Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries and copies of all financial statements,
proxy statements, notices and reports as Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries
shall send generally to analysts, the holders of their capital stock or of the
Senior Subordinated Notes in their capacity as such holders or the purchasers
under the Accounts Receivable Facility in their capacity as such purchasers (in
each case to the extent not theretofore delivered to the Lenders pursuant to
this Agreement) and, with reasonable promptness, such other information or
documents (financial or otherwise) as the Agent on its own behalf or on behalf
of the Required Lenders may reasonably request from time to time.
(k) Bankruptcy Information. Promptly after the same is
available, the Borrower shall furnish to counsel for the Agent all pleadings,
motions, applications, judicial information, financial information and other
documents filed by or on behalf of any Credit Party with the Bankruptcy Court or
the United States Trustee in the Cases, or distributed by or on behalf of any
Credit Party to any official committee appointed in the Cases.
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(l) Bankruptcy Schedules. Holdings and each of its
Subsidiaries shall file their respective bankruptcy schedules and statements of
financial affairs no later than the date set forth in the Federal Rules of
Bankruptcy Procedure or in any order entered by the Bankruptcy Court with
respect to an extension of time to file such schedules and statements and shall
promptly deliver a copy thereof to the Agent and its counsel.
(m) Accounts Collection Report. Within two Business Days of
the receipt of any check or other remittance payable to any Credit Party, such
Credit Party shall deliver to the Agent a report describing whether such check
or remittance is in respect of the payment of Accounts arising before the
Petition Date or arising on or after the Petition Date.
7.2 Books, Records and Inspections. Holdings will, and will cause
each of its Subsidiaries to, permit officers and designated representatives of
the Agent or the Required Lenders to visit and inspect any of the properties or
assets of Holdings and any of its Subsidiaries in whomsoever's possession, and
to examine the books and records and books of account of Holdings and any of its
Subsidiaries and discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of Holdings and of
any of its Subsidiaries with, and be advised as to the same by, their officers,
advisors and independent accountants, all at such times during normal business
hours as the Agent or the Required Lenders may desire.
7.3 Insurance. Holdings will, and will cause each of its
Subsidiaries to, at all times maintain in full force and effect insurance with
reputable and solvent insurance carriers in such amounts, covering such risks
and liabilities and with such deductibles or self-insured retentions as are in
accordance with normal industry practice. Holdings will furnish to the Agent on
the Initial Borrowing Date and on each such later date as the Agent or the
Required Lenders may reasonably request a summary of the insurance carried in
respect of Holdings and its Subsidiaries and the assets of Holdings and its
Subsidiaries together with certificates of insurance and other evidence of such
insurance, if any, naming the Collateral Agent as an additional insured and/or
loss payee.
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7.4 Payment of Taxes. Holdings will pay and discharge, and will
cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay and discharge, all taxes, assessments and
governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or upon its income or profits, or
upon any properties belonging to it, prior to the date on which material
penalties attach thereto, and all lawful claims for sums that have become due
and payable which, if unpaid, might become a Lien not otherwise permitted under
Section 8.3(a) or charge upon any properties of Holdings or any of its
Subsidiaries; provided, that neither Holdings nor any of its Subsidiaries shall
be required to pay any such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim (i) which is
being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings if it has maintained
adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP or (ii) the
payment of which is excused or stayed as a result of Holdings' or its
Subsidiaries' status as a debtor-in-possession in the Cases.
7.5 Corporate Franchises. Holdings will do, and will cause each of
its Subsidiaries to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary to preserve
and keep in full force and effect its existence and its material rights,
franchises and authority to do business; provided, however, that any transaction
permitted by Section 8.2 will not constitute a breach of this Section 7.5.
7.6 Compliance with Statutes, etc. Holdings will, and will cause
each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with all applicable statutes, regulations
and orders of, and all applicable restrictions imposed by, all governmental
bodies, domestic or foreign, in respect of the conduct of its business and the
ownership of its property (including applicable statutes, regulations, orders
and restrictions relating to environmental standards and controls) except for
such noncompliance as (a) is excused or stayed as a result of Holdings' or its
Subsidiaries' status as a debtor-in-possession in the Cases or (b) would not
have a Material Adverse Effect or a material adverse effect on the ability of
any Credit Party to perform its obligations under any Credit Document to which
it is a party.
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7.7 Compliance with Environmental Laws.
(a) Holdings will pay, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries
to pay, all costs and expenses incurred by it in keeping in compliance with all
Environmental Laws, and will keep or cause to be kept all Real Properties owned
or operated by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries free and clear of any Liens
imposed pursuant to such Environmental Laws; and (b) neither Holdings nor any of
its Subsidiaries will generate, use, treat, store, release or dispose of, or
permit the generation, use, treatment, storage, release or disposal of,
Hazardous Materials on any Real Property owned or operated by Holdings or any of
its Subsidiaries, or transport or permit the transportation of Hazardous
Materials to or from any such Real Property, unless the failure to comply with
the requirements specified in clause (a) or (b) above, either individually or in
the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. If Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, or any tenant or occupant of any
Real Property owned or operated by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, cause or
permit any intentional or unintentional act or omission resulting in the
presence or Release of any Hazardous Material (except in compliance with
applicable Environmental Laws), each of Holdings, WR Acquisition and the
Borrower agrees to undertake, and/or to cause any of its Subsidiaries, tenants
or occupants to undertake, at their sole expense, any clean up, removal,
remedial or other action required pursuant to Environmental Laws to remove and
clean up any Hazardous Materials from any Real Property except where the failure
to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
provided that neither Holdings nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to
comply with any such order or directive which is being contested in good faith
and by proper proceedings so long as it has maintained adequate reserves with
respect to such compliance to the extent required in accordance with GAAP.
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7.8 ERISA. As soon as possible and, in any event, within 10 days
after Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings or any ERISA Affiliate knows or has
reason to know of the occurrence of any of the following events to the extent
that one or more of such events is reasonably likely to result in a material
liability to Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings, Holdings will deliver to
each of the Lenders a certificate of the Crisis Manager (following the
Borrower's retention of the Crisis Manager) or an Authorized Officer of Holdings
(prior to the Borrower's retention of the Crisis Manager) setting forth details
as to such occurrence and the action, if any, which Holdings, such Subsidiary or
such ERISA Affiliate is required or proposes to take, together with any notices
required or proposed to be given to or filed with or by Holdings, the
Subsidiary, the ERISA Affiliate, the PBGC, a Plan participant or the Plan
administrator with respect thereto: that a Reportable Event has occurred, that
an accumulated funding deficiency has been incurred or an application may be or
has been made to the Secretary of the Treasury for a waiver or modification of
the minimum funding standard (including any required installment payments) or an
extension of any amortization period under Section 412 of the Code with respect
to a Plan; that a contribution required to be made to a Plan or Foreign Pension
Plan has not been timely made; that a Plan has been or may be terminated,
reorganized, partitioned or declared insolvent under Title IV of ERISA; that a
Plan has an Unfunded Current Liability giving rise to a lien under ERISA or the
Code; that proceedings may be or have been instituted to terminate or appoint a
trustee to administer a Plan; that a proceeding has been instituted pursuant to
Section 515 of ERISA to collect a delinquent contribution to a Plan; that
Holdings, any Subsidiary of Holdings or any ERISA Affiliate will or may incur
any material liability (including any contingent or secondary liability) to or
on account of the termination of or withdrawal from a Plan under Section 4062,
4063, 4064, 4069, 4201, 4204 or 4212 of ERISA or with respect to a Plan under
Section 401(a)(29), 4971, 4975 or 4980 of the Code or Section 409, 502(i) or
502(l) of ERISA; or that Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings has or may incur
any material liability under any employee welfare benefit plan (within the
meaning of Section 3(1) of ERISA) that provides benefits to retired employees or
other former employees (other than as required by Section 601 of ERISA) or any
employee pension benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA). At the
request of any Lender, Holdings will deliver to such Lender a complete copy of
the annual report (Form 5500) of each Plan required to be filed with the
Internal Revenue Service. In addition to any certificates or notices delivered
to the Lenders pursuant to the first sentence hereof, at the request of the
Agent or any Lender, copies of annual reports and any notices received by
Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings or any ERISA Affiliate with respect to
any Plan or Foreign Pension Plan shall be delivered to the Lenders no later than
10 days after the date such report has been filed with
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the Internal Revenue Service or received by Holdings or the Subsidiary or the
ERISA Affiliate.
7.9 Good Repair. Holdings will, and will cause each of its
Subsidiaries to, ensure that its material properties and equipment used in its
business are kept in good repair, working order and condition, normal wear and
tear and damage by casualty excepted, and, subject to Section 8.9, that from
time to time there are made in such properties and equipment all needful and
proper repairs, renewals, replacements, extensions, additions, betterments and
improvements thereto, to the extent and in the manner useful or customary for
companies in similar businesses.
7.10 End of Fiscal Years; Fiscal Quarters. Holdings will, for
financial reporting purposes, cause (i) each of its, and each of its
Subsidiaries', fiscal years to end on December 31 of each year and (ii) each of
its, and each of its Subsidiaries', fiscal quarters to end on March 31, June 30,
September 30 and December 31 of each year.
7.11 Additional Security; Further Assurances.
(a) Holdings will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries
(other than the Receivables Entity) to, grant to the Collateral Agent security
interests and mortgages in such assets and real property of Holdings and its
Subsidiaries as are not covered by the original Security Documents, and as may
be requested from time to time by the Agent or the Required Lenders
(collectively, the "Additional Security Documents"). All such security interests
and mortgages shall be granted pursuant to documentation reasonably satisfactory
in form and substance to the Agent and shall constitute valid and enforceable
perfected security interests and mortgages superior to and prior to the rights
of all third Persons and subject to no other Liens except for Permitted Liens.
The Credit Parties acknowledge that, pursuant to the Orders, the Liens granted
from time to time pursuant to the Additional Security Documents shall be
perfected without recordation of any financing statements, notices of security
interest or other similar instruments. In addition, the Additional Security
Documents or instruments related thereto shall have been duly recorded or filed
in such manner and in such places as the Agent deems necessary or desirable to
establish, perfect, preserve and protect the Liens in favor of the Collateral
Agent required to be granted pursuant to the Additional Security Documents and
all taxes, fees and other charges payable in connection therewith shall have
been paid in full.
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(b) Holdings will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries
(other than the Receivables Entity) to, at the expense of Holdings, WR
Acquisition and the Borrower, make, execute, endorse, acknowledge, file and/or
deliver to the Collateral Agent from time to time such vouchers, invoices,
schedules, confirmatory assignments, conveyances, financing statements, transfer
endorsements, powers of attorney, certificates, real property surveys, reports
and other assurances or instruments and take such further steps relating to the
Collateral covered by any of the Security Documents as the Collateral Agent may
reasonably require. Furthermore, Holdings shall cause to be delivered to the
Collateral Agent such opinions of counsel, title insurance and other related
documents as may be reasonably requested by the Agent to assure themselves that
this Section 7.11 has been complied with.
(c) If the Agent or the Required Lenders determine that they
are required by law or regulation to have appraisals prepared in respect of the
Real Property of Holdings and its Subsidiaries constituting Collateral, the
Borrower shall provide to the Agent appraisals which satisfy the applicable
requirements of the Real Estate Appraisal Reform Amendments of the Financial
Institution Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 and which shall be in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.
(d) Holdings, WR Acquisition and the Borrower agree that each
action required above by this Section 7.11 shall be completed within 30 days
after such action is either requested to be taken by the Agent or the Required
Lenders or required to be taken by Holdings and its Subsidiaries pursuant to the
terms of this Section 7.11; provided that in no event shall Holdings, WR
Acquisition or the Borrower be required to take any action, other than using its
best efforts, to obtain consents from third parties with respect to its
compliance with this Section 7.11.
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7.12 Register. The Borrower hereby designates the Agent to serve as
the Borrower's agent, solely for purposes of this Section 7.12, to maintain a
register (the "Register") on which it will record the Commitments from time to
time of each of the Lenders, the Loans made by each of the Lenders and each
repayment in respect of the principal amount of the Loans of each Lender.
Failure to make any such recordation, or any error in such recordation shall not
affect the Borrower's obligations in respect of such Loans. With respect to any
Lender, the transfer of the Commitments of such Lender and the rights to the
principal of, and interest on, any Loan made pursuant to such Commitment shall
not be effective until such transfer is recorded on the Register maintained by
the Agent with respect to ownership of such Commitment and Loans and prior to
such recordation all amounts owing to the transferor with respect to such
Commitment and Loans shall remain owing to the transferor. The registration of
assignment or transfer of all or part of any Commitment and Loans shall be
recorded by the Agent on the Register only upon the acceptance by the Agent of a
properly executed and delivered Assignment and Assumption Agreement pursuant to
Section 12.4(b). Coincident with the delivery of such an Assignment and
Assumption Agreement to the Agent for acceptance and registration of assignment
or transfer of all or part of a Loan, or as soon thereafter as practicable, the
assigning or transferor Lender shall surrender the Note evidencing such Loan,
and thereupon one or more new Notes in the same aggregate principal amount shall
be issued to the assigning or transferor Lender and/or the new Lender. The
Borrower agrees to indemnify the Agent from and against any and all losses,
claims, damages and liabilities of whatsoever nature which may be imposed on,
asserted against or incurred by the Agent in performing its duties under this
Section 7.12.
7.13 [Intentionally Omitted].
7.14 Contributions; Payments. Holdings will contribute as an equity
contribution to the capital of WR Acquisition, and WR Acquisition will
contribute as an equity contribution to the capital of the Borrower, in each
case upon its receipt thereof, any cash proceeds (net of reasonable costs
associated with any sale or issuance) received by Holdings and/or WR Acquisition
from any asset sale, any incurrence of Indebtedness, any Recovery Event, any
sale or issuance of its preferred or common equity or any cash capital
contributions received by Holdings and/or WR Acquisition.
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7.15 [Intentionally Omitted].
7.16 Consultants. Holdings and its Subsidiaries shall continue to
retain the Consultants pursuant to engagement letters approved by the Bankruptcy
Court after the Agent and the Lenders have received notice and an opportunity to
be heard; provided, that this Section 7.16 shall not apply to the Crisis Manager
until 10 days after the entry of the Interim Order and provided further, that
nothing herein shall be deemed to be a waiver of the right of the Agent or any
Lender to object to the terms of either of the engagement letters.
7.17 Payment of Obligation. Except as provided in the Bankruptcy
Code or an applicable order of the Bankruptcy Court, each Credit Party shall
pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy at or before maturity or before they become
delinquent, as the case may be, all its material obligations of whatever nature
that constitute administrative expenses under Section 503(b) of the Bankruptcy
Code in the Cases, except, so long as no material property or assets (other than
money for such obligation and the interest or penalty accruing thereon) of the
Credit Parties is in danger of being lost or forfeited as a result thereof, no
such obligation need be paid if the amount or validity thereof is currently
being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and reserves in
conformity with GAAP with respect thereto have been provided on the books of
each Credit Party.
7.18 Cash Collateral Account.
(a) Each Credit Party hereby reaffirms its grant to the
Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Lenders of a security interest in the
Cash Collateral Account. Each of the Credit Parties agrees that it will continue
to maintain the Cash Collateral Account which is under the sole dominion and
control of the Collateral Agent. None of the Credit Parties nor any
representative of any Credit Party will have any right to withdraw, transfer or
give any directions with respect to any amounts on deposit in the Cash
Collateral Account. No Credit Party will deposit any amounts into the Cash
Collateral Account other than tax refunds, proceeds of the Collateral and other
amounts required to be deposited therein in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement and the other Credit Documents. The Collateral Agent will apply
amounts on deposit in the Cash Collateral Account from time to time to the
repayment of the Obligations in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement
and the other Credit Documents.
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(b) Each Credit Party will (i) take all such action as may be
required or advisable, in the reasonable opinion of the Agent or the Required
Lenders, to have the proceeds of any United States federal tax refunds to any
Credit Party may be entitled deposited directly by the payor of such refunds
into the Cash Collateral Account and (ii) immediately deposit in the Cash
Collateral Account on the date of receipt, any United States federal tax refunds
received by any Credit Party.
7.19 Operations of Ampad Division. Within 45 days after the entry of
the Interim Order, the Borrower shall advise the Agent as to its plan for the
interim maintenance of operations of the Ampad division, which shall be
satisfactory to the Agent and the Required Revolving Lenders or, if the Borrower
shall have determined to cease operations of the Ampad division, the Borrower
shall advise the Agent as to its plan for the sale of the assets of such
division, which shall be satisfactory to the Agent and the Required Revolving
Lenders. After the Borrower's retention of the Crisis Manager, any such plan
shall be prepared by or under the supervision of the Crisis Manager.
7.20 Corporate Overhead Reduction. Within 45 days after the entry of
the Interim Order, the Borrower shall advise the Agent as to its plan for the
permanent reduction of unallocated corporate overhead expenses, which shall be
reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and the Required Revolving Lenders. After
the Borrower's retention of the Crisis Manager, such plan shall be prepared by
or under the supervision of the Crisis Manager.
7.21 Operations of Forms and Creative Cards Divisions. Within
twenty-one days after the entry of the Interim Order, the Borrower shall advise
the Agent as to its plan for the interim maintenance of the operations of the
Forms division or the Creative Cards divisions, which shall be satisfactory to
the Agent and the Required Revolving Lenders or, if the Borrower shall have
determined to cease operations of any such division, the Borrower shall advise
the Agent as to its plan for the sale of the assets of such division, which
shall be satisfactory to the Agent and the Required Revolving Lenders. After the
Borrower's retention of the Crisis Manager, any such plan shall be prepared by
or under the supervision of the Crisis Manager.
7.22 Crisis Manager. Within 10 days after the entry of the Interim
Order, the Borrower shall retain a crisis manager acceptable to the Agent and
the Required Revolving Lenders (the "Crisis Manager") to advise and assist the
Credit Parties in connection with the bankruptcy process and creditor relations,
pursuant to a retention letter satisfactory to the Agent and the Required
Revolving Lenders.
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7.23 Appraisal. Holdings shall deliver to the Agent, as soon as
available and in any event within 15 days after the Effective Date, copies of
the interim report and final report prepared by Norman Levy & Associates with
respect to the appraisal of the assets (excluding real estate) of Holdings and
its Subsidiaries. Each of the Credit Parties hereby irrevocably authorizes
Norman Levy & Associates to discuss such reports and give the Agent and the
Lenders access to the records of Norman Levy & Associates relating to such
reports.
7.24 Collateral Access Agreements. With respect to Eligible
Inventory that is located on property that is either leased by a Borrowing Base
Party or leased or owned by a warehousemen, such Borrowing Base Party shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to deliver to the Agent a Collateral Access
Agreement executed by the lessor or the warehousemen, as the case may be, of
such property.
SECTION 8. Negative Covenants. Holdings, WR Acquisition and the
Borrower hereby covenant and agree that as of the Effective Date and thereafter
for so long as this Agreement is in effect and until the Total Commitment has
terminated, no Letters of Credit (other than Letters of Credit, together with
all Fees that have accrued and will accrue thereon through the stated
termination date of such Letters of Credit, which have been supported in a
manner satisfactory to the Letter of Credit Issuer in its sole and absolute
discretion) or Notes are outstanding and the Loans, together with interest, Fees
and all other Obligations (other than any indemnities described in Section 12.13
which are not then due and payable) incurred hereunder, are paid in full:
8.1 Changes in Business.
(a) Holdings and its Subsidiaries will not, and will not apply
to the Bankruptcy Court for authority to, engage in any business other than the
businesses in which Holdings and its Subsidiaries are engaged in as of the
Petition Date and activities directly related thereto, and similar or related
businesses.
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(b) Holdings will not engage in any business other than its
ownership of the capital stock of WR Acquisition and Foreign Sales and those
obligations of officers and employees of Holdings permitted by Section 8.6(e)
and having those liabilities which it is responsible for under this Agreement,
the other Documents to which it is a party and under any Permitted Holdings PIK
Securities issued by it, provided that Holdings may engage in those activities
that are incidental to (x) the maintenance of its corporate existence in
compliance with applicable law, (y) legal, tax and accounting matters in
connection with any of the foregoing activities and (z) the entering into, and
performing its obligations under, this Agreement and the other Documents to
which it is a party.
(c) WR Acquisition will not engage in any business other than
its ownership of the capital stock of the Borrower and having those liabilities
which it is responsible for under this Agreement and the other Documents to
which it is a party, provided that WR Acquisition may engage in those activities
that are incidental to (x) the maintenance of its corporate existence in
compliance with applicable law and (y) the entering into, and performing its
obligations under, this Agreement and the other Documents to which it is a
party.
(d) The Receivables Entity will not engage in any business.
(e) Foreign Sales will not engage in any business other than
having those liabilities which it is responsible for under this Agreement and
the other Documents to which it is a party, provided that Foreign Sales may
engage in those activities that are incidental to (x) the maintenance of its
corporate existence in compliance with applicable law and (y) entering into, and
performing its obligations under, this Agreement and the other Documents to
which it is a party.
8.2 Consolidation, Merger, Sale or Purchase of Assets, etc. Holdings
will not, will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, and will not apply to the
Bankruptcy Court for authority to, wind up, liquidate or dissolve its affairs or
enter into any transaction of merger or consolidation, or convey, sell, lease or
otherwise dispose of (or agree to do any of the foregoing at any future time)
all or any part of its property or assets (other than inventory in the ordinary
course of business), or enter into any partnerships, joint ventures or
sale-leaseback transactions, or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one or a
series of related transactions) any part of the property or assets (other than
purchases or other acquisitions of inventory, materials and equipment in the
ordinary course of business) of any Person, except that the following shall be
permitted:
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(a) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may, as lessee or
lessor, enter into operating leases in the ordinary course of business with
respect to real or personal property;
(b) Capital Expenditures by the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries to the extent not in violation of Section 8.9 or the Budget then
in effect;
(c) the advances, investments and loans permitted pursuant to
Section 8.6;
(d) each of the Credit Parties may sell assets pursuant to the
Sale Proposal and other assets with the prior written consent of the Required
Lenders so long as the Net Cash Proceeds therefrom are applied in accordance
with Sections 3.3(d) and 4.2(d);
(e) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may sell or discount, in
each case without recourse, accounts receivable arising in the ordinary course
of business, but only in connection with the compromise or collection thereof;
(f) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may sell or exchange
specific items of equipment, so long as the purpose of each such sale or
exchange is to acquire (and results within 90 days of such sale or exchange in
the acquisition of) replacement items of equipment which are the functional
equivalent of the item of equipment so sold or exchanged;
(g) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may, in the ordinary
course of business, license, as licensor or licensee, patents, trademarks,
copyrights and know-how to third Persons and to one another, so long as any such
license by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in its capacity as licensor is
permitted to be assigned pursuant to the Security Agreement (to the extent that
a security interest in such patents, trademarks, copyrights and know-how is
granted thereunder) and does not otherwise prohibit the granting of a Lien by
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to the Security Agreement in
the intellectual property covered by such license;
(h) the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries that are
Subsidiary Guarantors may sell or otherwise transfer inventory between or among
themselves in the ordinary course of business for resale by the Borrower or such
Domestic Subsidiaries, as the case may be, so long as the security interest
granted to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Creditors
pursuant to the Security Agreement in the inventory so transferred shall remain
in full force and effect and perfected (to at least the same extent as in effect
immediately prior to such transfer);
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(i) the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries that are
Subsidiary Guarantors may sell or otherwise transfer accounts receivable between
or among themselves in the ordinary course of business so long as the security
interest granted to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured
Creditors pursuant to the Security Agreement in the accounts receivable so
transferred shall remain in full force and effect and perfected (to at least the
same extent as in effect immediately prior to such transfer);
(j) any Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower that is a
Subsidiary Guarantor may transfer assets (other than accounts receivable and
inventory) to the Borrower or to any other Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower
that is a Subsidiary Guarantor so long as the security interests granted to the
Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Creditors pursuant to the
Security Documents in the assets so transferred shall remain in full force and
effect and perfected (to at least the same extent as in effect immediately prior
to such transfer);
(k) any Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge with and
into, or be dissolved or liquidated into, the Borrower so long as (i) the
Borrower is the surviving corporation of any such merger, dissolution or
liquidation and (ii) the security interests granted to the Collateral Agent for
the benefit of the Secured Creditors pursuant to the Security Documents in the
assets of such Domestic Subsidiary shall remain in full force and effect and
perfected (to at least the same extent as in effect immediately prior to such
merger, dissolution or liquidation);
(l) any Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower that is a
Subsidiary Guarantor may merge with and into, or be dissolved or liquidated
into, any Wholly-Owned Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower that is a Subsidiary
Guarantor (other than the Receivables Entity) so long as (i) such Wholly-Owned
Domestic Subsidiary is the surviving corporation of any such merger, dissolution
or liquidation and (ii) the security interests granted to the Collateral Agent
for the benefit of the Secured Creditors pursuant to the Security Documents in
the assets of such Domestic Subsidiary shall remain in full force and effect and
perfected (to at least the same extent as in effect immediately prior to such
merger, dissolution or liquidation);
(m) leases or subleases granted by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries to third Persons in the ordinary course or business and not
interfering in any material respect with the business of the Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries; and
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(n) WR Acquisition may merge with and into, or be dissolved or
liquidated into, the Borrower so long as (i) the Borrower is the surviving
corporation of any such merger, dissolution or liquidation and (ii) the security
interests granted to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured
Creditors pursuant to the Security Documents in the assets of WR Acquisition
shall remain in full force and effect and perfected (to at least the same extent
as in effect immediately prior to such merger, dissolution or liquidation).
8.3 Liens. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon or with
respect to any property or assets of any kind (real or personal, tangible or
intangible) of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, whether now owned or
hereafter acquired, or sell any such property or assets subject to an
understanding or agreement, contingent or otherwise, to repurchase such property
or assets (including sales of accounts receivable or notes with recourse to
Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries) or assign any right to receive income, or
apply to the Bankruptcy Court for authority to do the foregoing, except for the
following (collectively, the "Permitted Liens"):
(a) inchoate Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental
charges or levies not yet due or Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental
charges or levies being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings
for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP;
(b) Liens in respect of property or assets of the Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries imposed by law which were incurred in the ordinary
course of business and which have not arisen to secure Indebtedness for borrowed
money, such as carriers', warehousemen's and mechanics' Liens, statutory
landlord's Liens, and other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of
business, and which either (x) do not in the aggregate materially detract from
the value of such property or assets or materially impair the use thereof in the
operation of the business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or (y) are
being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings which proceedings have
the effect of preventing the forfeiture or sale of the property or asset subject
to such Lien;
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(c) Liens created by or pursuant to this Agreement and
the Security Documents;
(d) (i) Liens in favor of the Prepetition Agent securing
Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.4(i) and (ii) other Liens in existence on
the Initial Borrowing Date which are listed, and the property subject thereto
described, in Annex IX, without giving effect to any extensions or renewals
thereof;
(e) Liens arising from judgments, decrees or attachments in
circumstances not constituting an Event of Default under Section 9.9;
(f) Liens incurred or deposits made (x) in the ordinary course
of business in connection with workers' compensation, unemployment insurance and
other types of social security, or to secure the performance of tenders,
statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, bids, government contracts,
performance and return-of-money bonds and other similar obligations incurred in
the ordinary course of business (exclusive of obligations in respect of the
payment for borrowed money); and (y) to secure the performance of leases of Real
Property, to the extent incurred or made in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practices;
(g) licenses, leases or subleases granted to third Persons not
interfering in any material respect with the business of the Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries;
(h) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, minor defects or
irregularities in title and other similar charges or encumbrances not
interfering in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;
(i) Liens arising from precautionary UCC financing statements
regarding operating leases permitted by this Agreement;
(j) any interest or title of a licensor, lessor or sublessor
under any license or lease permitted by this Agreement;
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(k) Liens (i) granted by the Designated Credit Parties in
favor of the Receivables Entity consisting of UCC-1 financing statements filed
to effect the sale of accounts receivable and related assets pursuant to the
Accounts Receivable Facility Documents, (ii) granted by the Receivables Entity
on those accounts receivable and related assets acquired by it pursuant to the
Accounts Receivable Facility Documents to the extent that such Liens are created
by the Accounts Receivable Facility Documents and (iii) consisting of the right
of setoff granted to any financial institution acting as a lockbox bank in
connection with the Accounts Receivable Facility; provided, that the Liens
described in this clause (n) shall only attach to accounts receivable arising
before the Accounts Receivable Facility Purchase Agreement was terminated.
8.4 Indebtedness. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, contract, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any
Indebtedness or apply to the Bankruptcy Court for authority to do so, except:
(a) Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this Agreement and the
other Credit Documents;
(b) Existing Indebtedness outstanding on the Initial Borrowing
Date and listed on Annex VII, without giving effect to any subsequent extension,
renewal or refinancing thereof;
(c) Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors
incurred under the Senior Subordinated Notes and the other Senior Subordinated
Note Documents in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $130,000,000;
(d) Indebtedness constituting Intercompany Loans to the extent
permitted by Section 8.6(g);
(e) Indebtedness of Holdings under the Shareholder
Subordinated Notes;
(f) Indebtedness consisting of guaranties (x) by the Borrower
of Indebtedness, leases and other contractual obligations permitted to be
incurred by Domestic Subsidiaries of the Borrower that are Subsidiary Guarantors
and (y) by Domestic Subsidiaries of the Borrower (other than the Receivables
Entity) of Indebtedness, leases and other contractual obligations permitted to
be incurred by the Borrower or other Domestic Subsidiaries of the Borrower that
are Subsidiary Guarantors;
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(g) Indebtedness of the Receivables Entity under the Accounts
Receivable Facility Documents that was incurred prior to the termination of the
Accounts Receivable Facility Purchase Agreement;
(h) Indebtedness consisting of a guaranty by the Borrower of
the obligations of the other Designated Credit Parties under the Accounts
Receivable Facility Documents that was incurred prior to the termination of the
Accounts Receivable Facility Purchase Agreement; and
(i) Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries incurred
under the Existing Credit Agreement and outstanding on the date hereof.
8.5 Designated Senior Debt. Holdings will not, will not permit any
of its Subsidiaries to, and will not apply to the Bankruptcy Court for authority
to, designate any Indebtedness (other than the Obligations and the Existing
Credit Agreement Debt) as "Designated Senior Debt" for purposes of, and as
defined in, the Senior Subordinated Note Indenture.
8.6 Advances, Investments and Loans. Holdings will not, and will not
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, lend money or credit or make advances to any
Person, or purchase or acquire any stock, obligations or securities of, or any
other interest in, or make any capital contribution to, any Person, or purchase
or own a futures contract or otherwise become liable for the purchase or sale of
currency or other commodities at a future date in the nature of a futures
contract, or hold any cash, Cash Equivalents or Foreign Cash Equivalents or
apply to the Bankruptcy Court for authority to do any of the foregoing, except:
(a) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may invest in cash and
Cash Equivalents, and Foreign Subsidiaries of the Borrower also may invest in
Foreign Cash Equivalents ; provided that 100% of all cash and Cash Equivalents
held by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (other than the Receivables Entity) at
any time, including without limitation cash and Cash Equivalents pledged or
deposited in accordance with Section 8.3(f), must be held in one or more
accounts maintained with the Agent or a Lender;
(b) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may acquire and hold
receivables owing to it, if created or acquired in the ordinary course of
business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with customary trade terms
(including the dating of receivables) of the Borrower or such Subsidiary;
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(c) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may acquire and own
investments (including debt obligations) received in connection with the
bankruptcy or reorganization of suppliers and customers and in settlement of
delinquent obligations of, and other disputes with, customers and suppliers
arising in the ordinary course of business;
(d) advances, loans and investments in existence on the
Petition Date and listed on Annex V shall be permitted, without giving effect to
any additions thereto or replacements thereof (except those additions or
replacements which are existing obligations as of the Petition Date but only to
the extent such further obligations are described on such Annex V);
(e) Holdings may acquire and hold obligations of one or more
officers or other employees of Holdings or its Subsidiaries in connection with
such officers' or employees' acquisition of shares of Holdings Common Stock so
long as no cash is paid by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries in connection
with the acquisition of any such obligations;
(f) deposits made in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practices to secure the performance of leases shall be
permitted;
(g) the Borrower may make intercompany loans and advances to
any of its Domestic Subsidiaries (other than the Receivables Entity) that are
Subsidiary Guarantors and any Subsidiary of the Borrower (other than the
Receivables Entity) may make intercompany loans and advances to the Borrower or
any Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower (other than the Receivables Entity) that
is a Subsidiary Guarantor (collectively, "Intercompany Loans"), provided, that
(x) each Intercompany Loan made by a Foreign Subsidiary to the Borrower or a
Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower shall contain the subordination provisions
set forth on Exhibit J, (y) each Intercompany Loan shall be evidenced by an
Intercompany Note and (z) each such Intercompany Note (other than Intercompany
Notes held by Foreign Subsidiaries of the Borrower) shall be pledged to the
Collateral Agent pursuant to the Pledge Agreement;
(h) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may acquire and hold
promissory notes and/or equity securities issued by the purchaser or purchasers
in connection with the sale of assets to the extent permitted under Section
8.2(d);
(i) Holdings may make equity contributions to the capital
of WR Acquisition, and WR Acquisition may make equity contributions to the
capital of the Borrower;
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(j) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may make transfers
of assets to their respective Subsidiaries in accordance with Sections
8.2(h), (i) and (j);
(k) the Borrower and the other Designated Credit Parties may
hold one or more Receivables Purchase Money Notes issued by the Receivables
Entity in respect of purchases of accounts receivable prior to the termination
of the Accounts Receivable Facility Purchase Agreement so long as such
Receivables Purchase Money Notes have been duly pledged and delivered to the
Collateral Agent pursuant to the Pledge Agreement;
(l) the Receivables Entity may invest those accounts
receivable purchased from the Designated Credit Parties prior to the termination
of the Accounts Receivable Facility Purchase Agreement in the master trust for
the Accounts Receivable Facility pursuant to, and in accordance with the terms
of, the Accounts Receivable Facility Documents.
8.7 Dividends, etc. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of
its Subsidiaries to, declare or pay any dividends (other than dividends payable
solely in common stock of Holdings or any such Subsidiary, as the case may be)
or return any capital to, its stockholders or authorize or make any other
distribution, payment or delivery of property or cash to its stockholders as
such, or redeem, retire, purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly,
for a consideration, any shares of any class of its capital stock, now or
hereafter outstanding (or any warrants for or options or stock appreciation
rights in respect of any of such shares), or set aside any funds for any of the
foregoing purposes, and Holdings will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to
purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of any class of the
capital stock of Holdings or any other Subsidiary, as the case may be, now or
hereafter outstanding (or any options or warrants or stock appreciation rights
issued by such Person with respect to its capital stock) (all of the foregoing
"Dividends") or apply to the Bankruptcy Court for authority to do so, except
that:
(i) any Subsidiary of the Borrower may pay Dividends to the
Borrower or any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower;
(ii) [Intentionally Omitted];
(iii) [Intentionally Omitted];
(iv) the Borrower may pay cash Dividends to WR Acquisition,
which in turn shall immediately use such cash proceeds to pay cash
Dividends to Holdings so
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long as the cash proceeds thereof are promptly used by Holdings to
pay operating expenses in the ordinary course of business
(including, without limitation, professional fees and expenses) and
other similar corporate overhead costs and expenses, provided that
such costs and expenses shall be as set forth in the Budget and the
aggregate amount of cash Dividends paid pursuant to this clause (iv)
shall at no time during any fiscal year of the Borrower exceed
$100,000; and
(v) the Borrower may pay cash Dividends to WR Acquisition,
which in turn shall immediately use such cash proceeds to pay cash
Dividends to Holdings in the amounts and at the times of any payment
by Holdings in respect of taxes, provided that (x) the amount of
cash Dividends paid pursuant to this clause (v) to enable Holdings
to pay federal income taxes at any time shall not exceed, when added
to the amount of payments made pursuant to the Holdings Tax
Allocation Agreement for such purposes, the lesser of (A) the amount
of such federal income taxes owing by Holdings at such time for the
respective period and (B) the amount of such federal income taxes
that would be owing by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis for such period if determined without regard to
Holdings' ownership of the Borrower and (y) any refunds shall
promptly be delivered to the Collateral Agent.
8.8 Transactions with Affiliates. Holdings will not, will not permit
any of its Subsidiaries to, and will not apply to the Bankruptcy Court for
authority to, enter into any transaction or series of transactions with any
Affiliate other than in the ordinary course of business and on terms and
conditions substantially as favorable to Holdings or such Subsidiary as would be
reasonably expected to be obtainable by Holdings or such Subsidiary at the time
in a comparable arm's-length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate;
provided, that the following shall in any event be permitted: (i) Holdings and
its Domestic Subsidiaries may enter into the Holdings Tax Allocation Agreement
and may make payments thereunder (subject to the limitations set forth in
Section 8.7(v)); and (ii) transactions between or among the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries to the extent that such transactions are otherwise permitted under
this Agreement.
8.9 Capital Expenditures. Holdings will not, will not permit any of
its Subsidiaries to, and will not apply to the Bankruptcy Court for authority
to, make any Capital Expenditures, except for Capital Expenditures contemplated
by the Budget then in effect and which are necessary to maintain the assets of
the Credit Parties in good working order and repair.
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8.10 Minimum Consolidated EBITDA. The Borrower will not permit
Consolidated EBITDA for any period set forth below to be less than the amount
set forth opposite such period below:
Period Minimum
------ Consolidated EBITDA
-------------------
1/1/00-2/29/00 $ (4,802,000)
1/1/00-3/31/00 (6,032,000)
1/1/00-4/30/00 (6,079,000)
1/1/00-5/31/00 (6,635,000)
1/1/00-6/30/00 (5,760,000)
8.11 Maximum Inventory Amount. Holdings will not permit the
book value of all Inventory on the last day of any fiscal quarter to be
greater than the amount set forth opposite such period below:
Fiscal Quarter Ended Maximum
-------------------- Inventory Amount
----------------
1/31/00 $ 115,627,000
2/29/00 112,517,000
3/31/00 101,520,000
4/30/00 99,208,000
5/31/00 100,100,000
6/30/00 97,421,421
8.12 [Intentionally Omitted].
8.13 Limitation on Voluntary Payments and Modifications of
Indebtedness; Modifications of Certificate of Incorporation, By-Laws and Certain
Other Agreements; Issuances of Capital Stock; etc. Holdings will not, will not
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, and will not apply to the Bankruptcy Court
for authority to:
(i) make (or give any notice in respect of) any voluntary or
optional payment or prepayment on or redemption or acquisition for
value of (including, without limitation, by way of depositing with
the trustee with respect thereto or any other Person money or
securities before due for the purpose of paying
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when due) any Senior Subordinated Note or any Permitted Holdings PIK
Security;
(ii) make (or give any notice in respect of) any prepayment or
redemption of any Senior Subordinated Note as a result of any asset
sale, change of control or similar event (including, without
limitation, by way of depositing with the trustee with respect
thereto or any other Person money or securities before due for the
purpose of paying when due any Senior Subordinated Note);
(iii) make (or give any notice in respect of) any principal or
interest payment on, or any redemption or acquisition for value of,
any Shareholder Subordinated Note;
(iv) amend or modify, or permit the amendment or modification
of, any provision of any Senior Subordinated Note Document;
(v) amend, modify or change in any way adverse to the
interests of the Lenders, any Tax Agreement, its Certificate of
Incorporation (including, without limitation, by the filing or
modification of any certificate of designation) or By-Laws;
(vi) amend or modify, or permit the amendment or modification
of, any provision of any Accounts Receivable Facility Document in a
manner adverse to the interests of the Lenders;
(vii) issue any class of capital stock other than
non-redeemable common stock; and
(viii) amend or modify, or permit the amendment or
modification of, any provision of any Permitted Holdings PIK
Security in any manner inconsistent with the definition of Permitted
Holdings PIK Security.
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8.14 Limitation on Certain Restrictions on Subsidiaries. Holdings
will not, will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, and will not apply to the
Bankruptcy Court for authority to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise
cause or suffer to exist or become effective any encumbrance or restriction on
the ability of any such Subsidiary to (a) pay dividends or make any other
distributions on its capital stock or any other interest or participation in its
profits owned by Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings, or pay any Indebtedness
owed to Holdings or a Subsidiary of Holdings, (b) make loans or advances to
Holdings or any of Holdings' Subsidiaries or (c) transfer any of its properties
or assets to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, except for such encumbrances
or restrictions existing under or by reason of (i) applicable law, (ii) this
Agreement and the other Credit Documents, (iii) customary provisions restricting
subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest of the
Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower, (iv) customary provisions restricting
assignment of any licensing agreement entered into by the Borrower or a
Subsidiary of the Borrower in the ordinary course of business, (v) the Senior
Subordinated Note Documents, (vi) the agreements evidencing the Existing
Indebtedness that remain outstanding after the Petition Date, (vii) customary
provisions restricting the transfer of assets subject to Liens permitted under
Section 8.3(k), and (viii) the Existing Credit Documents.
8.15 Limitation on the Creation of Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Holdings will not, will
not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, and will not apply to the Bankruptcy
Court for authority to, establish, create or acquire after the Initial Borrowing
Date any Subsidiary.
8.16 [Intentionally Omitted].
8.17 Additional Bank Accounts. Holdings will not, will not permit
any of its Subsidiaries to, and will not apply to the Bankruptcy Court for
authority to, at any time open, maintain or otherwise have any checking, savings
or other accounts at any bank or other financial institution, or any other
account where money is or may be deposited or maintained with any Person, other
than the accounts listed on Annex III, Securities Accounts that comply with the
terms of Section 8.18 or as otherwise agreed to in writing by the Agent.
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8.18 Securities Accounts. Holdings will not, will not permit any of
its Subsidiaries to, and will not apply to the Bankruptcy Court for authority
to, establish or maintain any Securities Account unless the Agent shall have
received a Control Agreement in respect of such Securities Account, duly
executed by the Credit Party and the securities intermediary parties thereto
that is in full force and effect.
8.19 Chapter 11 Claims. Except for the Carve-Out or as otherwise
provided in the Security Documents, Holdings will not, will not permit any of
its Subsidiaries to, and will not apply to the Bankruptcy Court for the
authority to, incur, create, assume, suffer to exist or permit any other
Super-priority Claim or Lien which is pari passu with or senior to (a) the
claims of the Collateral Agent and the Lenders granted pursuant to the Security
Documents or (b) other than for claims referenced in clause (a), the claims of
the Prepetition Agent and the Existing Lenders granted pursuant to the Security
Documents.
8.20 Use of Proceeds. Holdings will not, will not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, and will not apply to the Bankruptcy Court for the authority to
(a) use the proceeds of the Loans or any Letter of Credit for purposes other
than those detailed in Section 6.5 and the Budget in effect, or (b) use the
proceeds of the Loans, any Letter of Credit, the Existing Lenders' Cash
Collateral, or the Carve-Out or the Collateral to investigate, commence or
prosecute any action or objection with respect to (i) the claims of the
Prepetition Agent or the Existing Lenders against the Borrower or the Guarantors
or the Prepetition Agent's or the Existing Lenders' Liens which secure the
Prepetition Obligations or (ii) the Super-priority Claim or Liens granted to the
Agent and the Lenders pursuant to the Security Documents and the Orders;
provided, that Holdings and its Subsidiaries may use up to $75,000 of proceeds
of the Loans in the aggregate to investigate any such action or objection.
8.21 Prepetition Payments. Holdings will not, will not permit any of
its Subsidiaries to, and will not apply to the Bankruptcy Court for authority to
(a) make any payment in respect of pre-Petition Date Indebtedness including
payments to pre-Petition Date vendors (other than as permitted by the Orders),
(b) amend, modify or change any agreement or document relating to any
pre-Petition Date Indebtedness, and (c) make any payment on any post-Petition
Date Indebtedness outside the Borrower's ordinary course of business; provided,
however, that the Credit Parties may make the payments specifically contemplated
in the first day orders referred to in Section 5.1(b) so long as such payments
are consistent with the applicable Budget and the terms of this Agreement.
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8.22 Employment Matters. Holdings will not, will not permit any of
its Subsidiaries to, and will not apply to the Bankruptcy Court for authority to
(a) make any material adverse change to the severance arrangements currently in
effect for their respective employees, and (b) pay, or enter into any agreement
to pay, any retention, stay or similar payment to its employees other than
payments constituting the Retention Payments in accordance with any agreements
or plans approved by the Agent and the Required Lenders.
8.23 Leases. Holdings will not, will not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, and will not apply to the Bankruptcy Court for authority to,
enter into any agreements to rent or lease any real property, or assume the
obligations under any such agreements entered into prior to the Petition Date,
in either case without the prior written consent of the Agent and the Required
Lenders (other than the assumption of any existing lease in respect of property
described on Annex IV hereto) on material terms no less favorable to such Credit
Party, as the case may be, than the terms of such lease on the Effective Date,
taken as a whole.
8.24 Reclamation Claims; Bankruptcy Code " 546(g) Agreements.
(a) Unless otherwise agreed by the Required Lenders, Holdings
will not, will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, and will not apply to the
Bankruptcy Court for authority to, make any payments or transfer any property on
account of claims asserted by any vendors of Holdings or any Subsidiary for
reclamation in accordance with UCC Section 2-702 and Section 546(c) of the
Bankruptcy Code.
(b) Unless otherwise agreed by the Required Lenders, Holdings
will not, will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, and will not apply to the
Bankruptcy Court for authority to, enter into any agreements or file any motion
seeking a Bankruptcy Court order for the return of Inventory to any vendor
pursuant to Section 546(g) of the Bankruptcy Code.
8.25 Excess Cash. Holdings will not, will not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, and will not apply to the Bankruptcy Court for authority to,
maintain in the aggregate in all deposit or similar accounts (other than the
Blocked Account, the Concentration Account, disbursement accounts and payroll
accounts) total cash balances in excess of $1,000,000 at any time during which
any Revolving Loans are outstanding, except for amounts which are required to be
applied to repay amounts owing under the Accounts Receivable Facility Purchase
Agreement provided that such amounts are promptly so applied.
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8.26 Refinancing of Revolving Loans. Holdings will not, will not
permit any of its Subsidiaries to and will not apply to the Bankruptcy Court for
authority to, refinance any or all of the Revolving Loans unless all of the Term
Loans are simultaneously refinanced.
SECTION 9. Events of Default. Upon the occurrence of any of the
following specified events (each an "Event of Default"):
9.1 Payments. The Borrower shall (i) default in the payment when due
of any principal of the Loans or (ii) default, and such default shall continue
for two or more Business Days, in the payment when due of any Unpaid Drawing,
any interest on the Loans or any Fees or any other amounts owing hereunder or
under any other Credit Document;
9.2 Representations, etc. Any representation, warranty or statement
made by any Credit Party herein or in any other Credit Document or in any
statement or certificate delivered pursuant hereto or thereto shall prove to be
untrue in any material respect on the date as of which made or deemed made; or
9.3 Covenants. Any Credit Party shall (a) default in the due
performance or observance by it of any term, covenant or agreement contained in
Sections 7.1(d), (e), (f), (m) or (i), 7.3, 7.11, 7.14, 7.16 or 8, or (b)
default in the due performance or observance by it of any term, covenant or
agreement (other than those referred to in Section 9.1, 9.2 or clause (a) of
this Section 9.3) contained in this Agreement and such default shall continue
unremedied for a period of at least 10 days after notice to the defaulting party
by the Agent or the Required Lenders; or
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9.4 Default Under Other Agreements.
(a) Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries shall, after the
Petition Date, (i) default in any payment with respect to any Indebtedness
(other than the Obligations) beyond the period of grace, if any, provided in the
instrument or agreement under which Indebtedness was created or (ii) default in
the observance or performance of any agreement or condition relating to any such
Indebtedness or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or
relating thereto, or any other event shall occur or condition exist, the effect
of which default or other event or condition is to cause, or to permit the
holder or holders of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such
holder or holders) to cause any such Indebtedness to become due prior to its
stated maturity; or (b) any Indebtedness (other than the Obligations) of
Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries shall, other than as a result of the
commencement of the Cases, be declared to be due and payable, or shall be
required to be prepaid other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment
or as a mandatory prepayment (unless such required prepayment or mandatory
prepayment results from a default thereunder or an event of the type that
constitutes an Event of Default), prior to the stated maturity thereof; or
9.5 Bankruptcy, etc.
(a) (i) Any of the Cases shall be dismissed or converted to a
case under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code or (ii) a trustee under Chapter 11
of the Bankruptcy Code shall be appointed in any of the Cases;
(b) (i) An order of the Bankruptcy Court shall be entered
granting another Super-priority Claim or Lien pari passu with or senior to that
granted (x) to the Collateral Agent and the Lenders pursuant to this Agreement
and the Orders, or (y) to the Existing Lenders pursuant to the Interim Order
(other than pursuant to clause (x) above), (ii) unless the Agent and the
Required Revolving Lenders otherwise agree, an order of a court of competent
jurisdiction shall be entered amending, supplementing or otherwise modifying
either of the Orders (x) in respect of the Total Revolving Outstandings, the
Total Revolving Loan Commitment, the Total Term Loan Commitment or the Term
Loans, or (y) in respect of the grant of adequate protection pursuant to Section
1.14(b) or the Interim Order, without the Prepetition Agent's and the Required
Lenders' consent, or (iii) the Existing Lenders' Cash Collateral shall be used
in a manner inconsistent with either of the Orders;
(c) Unless all of the Lenders otherwise agree, an order of a
court of competent jurisdiction shall be entered reversing, staying, vacating or
rescinding either of the Orders;
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(d) An order of the Bankruptcy Court shall be entered in any
of the Cases appointing an examiner having enlarged powers relating to the
operation of the business of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries (powers beyond
those set forth under Sections 1106(a)(3) and (4) of the Bankruptcy Code) under
Section 1106(b) of the Bankruptcy Code;
(e) Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries shall make any
payments of Indebtedness relating to Prepetition Date obligations other than (i)
as permitted under the Orders or the orders entered in accordance with Section
5.1(b), (ii) pre-Petition Date wages and benefits which are payable with the
approval of the Bankruptcy Court and sales tax and employee withholding taxes
which have been collected by the Borrower but not yet paid, (iii) as otherwise
permitted under this Agreement or (iv) in connection with the assumption of any
contract or lease approved by the Bankruptcy Court;
(f) The entry of an order granting relief from the automatic
stay so as to allow a third party to proceed against any asset or assets of
Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries which have a value in excess of $3,000,000
in the aggregate, but only if concomitantly therewith such relief shall not have
also been granted to the Agent and the Lenders;
(g) The filing of any pleading by Holdings or any of its
Subsidiaries seeking, or otherwise consenting to, any of the matters set forth
in paragraphs (a) through (f) of this Section 9.5;
(h) Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries shall file a Plan
of Reorganization not supported by the Agent and the Required Lenders;
(i) The entry of the Final Order shall not have occurred
within 30 days after the Petition Date; or
(j) Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries shall file any
pleading seeking, or otherwise consenting to, (i) the invalidation,
subordination or other challenging of the claims asserted by the Existing Agent
or the Existing Lenders with respect to the Prepetition Obligations or the Liens
granted to secure the Prepetition Obligations or (ii) any relief under Section
506(c) of the Bankruptcy Code with respect to any property which secures the
Prepetition Obligations.
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9.6 ERISA.
(a) Any Plan shall fail to satisfy the minimum funding
standard required for any plan year or part thereof or a waiver of such standard
or extension of any amortization period is sought or granted under Section 412
of the Code, any Plan shall have had or is likely to have a trustee appointed to
administer such Plan, any Plan is, shall have been or is likely to be terminated
or the subject of termination proceedings under ERISA, any Plan shall have an
Unfunded Current Liability, a contribution required to be made to a Plan or a
Foreign Pension Plan has not been timely made, Holdings or any Subsidiary of
Holdings or any ERISA Affiliate has incurred or is likely to incur a liability
to or on account of a Plan under Section 409, 502(i), 502(l), 515, 4062, 4063,
4064, 4069, 4201, 4204 or 4212 of ERISA or Section 401(a)(29), 4971, 4975 or
4980 of the Code, or Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings has incurred or is
likely to incur liabilities pursuant to one or more employee welfare benefit
plans (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) which provide benefits to retired
employees and other former employees (other than as required by Section 601 of
ERISA) or employee pension benefit plans (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA)
or Foreign Pension Plans; (b) there shall result from any such event or events
the imposition of a lien, the granting of a security interest, or a liability or
a material risk of incurring a liability; and (c) which lien, security interest
or liability which arises from such event or events will have a Material Adverse
Effect; or
9.7 Security Documents. (a) Except in each case to the extent
resulting from the failure of the Collateral Agent to retain possession of the
applicable Pledged Securities, any Security Document shall cease to be in full
force and effect, or shall cease to give the Collateral Agent the Liens, rights,
powers and privileges purported to be created thereby in favor of the Collateral
Agent, or (b) any Credit Party shall default in the due performance or
observance of any term, covenant or agreement on its part to be performed or
observed pursuant to any such Security Document and such default shall continue
beyond any cure or grace period specifically applicable thereto pursuant to the
terms of any such Security Document; or
9.8 Guaranties. The Guaranties or any provision thereof shall cease
to be in full force and effect, or any Guarantor or any Person acting by or on
behalf of such Guarantor shall deny or disaffirm such Guarantor's obligations
under any Guaranty or any Guarantor shall default in the due performance or
observance of any term, covenant or agreement on its part to be performed or
observed pursuant to any Guaranty; or
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9.9 Judgments. One or more judgments or decrees shall be entered
after the Petition Date against Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries involving a
liability (to the extent not paid or not fully covered by insurance) in excess
of $2,000,000 for all such judgments and decrees and all such judgments or
decrees shall not have been vacated, discharged or stayed or bonded pending
appeal within 60 days from the entry thereof; or
9.10 Ownership. A Change of Control Event shall have occurred;
or
9.11 Environmental Violations. It shall be determined (whether by
the Bankruptcy Court or by any other judicial or administrative forum) that
Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries is liable for the payment of claims arising
out of any failure to comply (or to have complied) with applicable Environmental
Laws or regulations the payment of which could have a Material Adverse Effect;
or
9.12 Net Cash Flow Deviation. Holdings and its Subsidiaries (on
a consolidated basis) shall have unfavorably deviated, as of any date of
determination, by more than 10% (on a cumulative basis) from the projected
net cash flow as set forth in the Budget in effect on such date; or
9.13 Disbursements Deviation. Holdings and its Subsidiaries (on
a consolidated basis) shall have unfavorably deviated, as of any date of
determination, by more than 10% (on a cumulative basis) from the projected
disbursements as set forth in the Budget in effect on such date; or
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9.14 Material Adverse Effect. There shall have occurred an
event or condition that has had a Material Adverse Effect;
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then, and in any such event, and at any time thereafter, if any Event of Default
shall then be continuing, and without further order of or application to the
Bankruptcy Court: the Agent shall, upon the written request of the Required
Revolving Lenders, by written notice to the Borrower (with a copy to counsel for
any statutory committee of unsecured creditors appointed in the Cases and to the
United States Trustee), take any or all of the following actions, without
prejudice to the rights of the Agent or any Lender to enforce its claims against
any Guarantor or the Borrower, except as otherwise specifically provided for in
this Agreement (provided, that with respect to clause (vi) below and the
enforcement of Liens or other remedies with respect to the Collateral under
clause (iii) below, the Agent shall provide the Credit Parties (with a copy to
counsel for any statutory committee of unsecured creditors appointed in the
Cases and to the United States Trustee) with five Business Days' written notice
prior to taking the action contemplated thereby): (i) declare the Total
Revolving Loan Commitment terminated, whereupon the Revolving Loan Commitment of
each Lender shall forthwith terminate immediately and any Commitment Fees shall
forthwith become due and payable without any other notice of any kind; (ii)
declare the principal of and any accrued interest in respect of all Revolving
Loans and all Obligations in respect of Revolving Loans owing hereunder
(including Unpaid Drawings) to be, whereupon the same shall become, forthwith
due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any
kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; (iii) enforce, as
Collateral Agent (or direct the Collateral Agent to enforce), upon five Business
Days' notice to the Borrower (with a copy to counsel for any statutory committee
of unsecured creditors appointed in the Cases), any or all of the Liens and
security interests created pursuant to the Security Documents and the Orders;
(iv) terminate any Letter of Credit which may be terminated in accordance with
its terms; and (v) direct the Borrower to pay (and the Borrower hereby agrees
upon receipt of such notice, to pay) into the Cash Collateral Account such
additional amounts of cash, to be held as security for the Borrower's
reimbursement obligations in respect of Letters of Credit then outstanding,
equal to 105% of the aggregate Stated Amount of all Letters of Credit then
outstanding and, to the extent the Borrower shall fail to furnish such funds as
demanded by the Agent, the Agent shall be authorized to debit the accounts of
the Credit Parties maintained with the Agent in such amount for the deposit of
such amounts in the Cash Collateral Account; and (vi) set-off amounts in the
Cash Collateral Account, the Concentration Account or any other accounts of the
Credit Parties and apply such amounts to the Obligations of the Credit Parties
hereunder and under the other Credit Documents; provided, however, that any
proceeds of Collateral or other amounts received by any Lender or the Agent
shall be applied in accordance with the Super-priority Claim and the Lien
priorities set forth in Section 1.14 and 12.19.
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On or after the Termination Date (or upon the occurrence of an Event of Default
if the Maturity Date occurs before the Termination Date) and without further
order of or application to the Bankruptcy Court: the Agent shall, upon the
written request of the Required Term Lenders, by written notice to the Borrower
(with a copy to counsel for any statutory committee of unsecured creditors
appointed in the Cases and to the United States Trustee), take any or all of the
following actions, without prejudice to the rights of the Agent or any Lender to
enforce its claims against any Guarantor or the Borrower, except as otherwise
specifically provided for in this Agreement (provided, that with respect to
clause (iv) below and the enforcement of Liens or other remedies with respect to
the Collateral under clause (iii) below, the Agent shall provide the Credit
Parties (with a copy to counsel for any statutory committee of unsecured
creditors appointed in the Cases and to the United States Trustee) with five
Business Days' written notice prior to taking the action contemplated thereby):
(i) declare the Total Term Loan Commitment terminated, whereupon the Term Loan
Commitment of each Lender shall forthwith terminate immediately without any
other notice of any kind; (ii) declare the principal of and any accrued interest
in respect of all Term Loans and all Obligations in respect of Term Loans and
Existing Letters of Credit owing hereunder to be, whereupon the same shall
become, forthwith due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other
notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; (iii)
enforce, as Collateral Agent (or direct the Collateral Agent to enforce), upon
five Business Days' notice to the Borrower (with a copy to counsel for any
statutory committee of unsecured creditors appointed in the Cases), any or all
of the Liens and security interests created pursuant to the Security Documents
and the Orders; (iv) set-off amounts in the Cash Collateral Account, the
Concentration Account or any other accounts of the Credit Parties and apply such
amounts to the Obligations of the Credit Parties hereunder and under the other
Credit Documents; (v) terminate any Existing Letter of Credit which may be
terminated in accordance with its terms; and (vi) direct the Borrower to pay
(and the Borrower hereby agrees upon receipt of such notice, to pay) into the
Cash Collateral Account such additional amounts of cash, to be held as security
for the Borrower's reimbursement obligations in respect of Existing Letters of
Credit then outstanding, equal to 105% of the aggregate Stated Amount of all
Existing Letters of Credit then outstanding and, to the extent the Borrower
shall fail to furnish such funds as demanded by the Agent, the Agent shall be
authorized to debit the accounts of the Credit Parties maintained with the Agent
in such amount for the deposit of such amounts in the Cash Collateral Account;
provided, however, that any proceeds of Collateral or other amounts received by
any Lender or the Agent shall be applied in accordance with the Super-priority
Claim and the Lien priorities set forth in Sections 1.14 and
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12.19.
SECTION 10. Definitions. As used herein, the following terms shall
have the meanings herein specified unless the context otherwise requires.
Defined terms in this Agreement shall include in the singular number the plural
and in the plural the singular:
"Accounts" shall mean, with respect to any Person, all present and
future accounts, contract rights and other rights to payment for property sold
or leased (whether or not delivered) or for services rendered, whether or not
they have been earned by performance, and any letter of credit, guarantee,
security interest or other security held by or granted to secure payment by an
account debtor.
"Accounts Borrowing Base" shall mean, on any day, an amount up to
85% of the outstanding Eligible Accounts Receivable of the Borrower and the
Subsidiary Guarantors on such day.
"Accounts Receivable Facility" shall mean the Series 1996-1
Supplement to Pooling and Servicing Agreement, dated as of May 24, 1996, among
the Receivables Entity, as transferor, the Borrower, as servicer, and
Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company, as trustee, as the same may be amended,
modified, supplemented, increased, refinanced or replaced from time to time.
"Accounts Receivable Facility Documents" shall mean the Accounts
Receivable Facility Purchase Agreement, the Certificate Purchase Agreement
(Series 1996-1 Class A), the Certificate Purchase Agreement (Series 1996-1 Class
B), the Accounts Receivable Facility Pooling and Servicing Agreement and each of
the other documents and agreements entered into in connection therewith,
including all documents and agreements relating to the issuance, funding and/or
purchase of Investor Certificates and Purchased Interests, in each case as such
documents and agreements may be amended, modified, supplemented, refinanced or
replaced from time to time.
"Accounts Receivable Facility Pooling and Servicing Agreement" shall
mean the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, dated as of May 24, 1996, among the
Receivables Entity, as transferor, the Borrower, as servicer, and Manufacturers
and Traders Trust Company, as trustee, as the same may be amended, modified,
supplemented, refinanced or replaced from
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time to time.
"Accounts Receivable Facility Purchase Agreement" shall mean the
Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 24, 1996, among the Borrower and
the other Designated Credit Parties, as sellers, and the Receivables Entity, as
buyer, as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented, refinanced or
replaced from time to time.
"Additional Security Documents" shall have the meaning provided in
Section 7.11.
"Additional Subsidiaries" shall mean American Pad & Paper Sales
Company, Inc., AP&P Financing Company, Inc., AP&P Manufacturing, Inc. and
American Pad and Paper Foreign Sales Corporation.
"Adjusted Certificate of Deposit Rate" shall mean, on any day, the
sum (rounded to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) of (1) the rate obtained by dividing
(x) the most recent weekly average dealer offering rate for negotiable
certificates of deposit with a three-month maturity in the secondary market as
published in the most recent Federal Reserve System publication entitled "Select
Interest Rates," published weekly on Form H.15 as of the date hereof, or if such
publication or a substitute containing the foregoing rate information shall not
be published by the Federal Reserve System for any week, the weekly average
offering rate determined by the Agent on the basis of quotations for such
certificates received by it from three certificate of deposit dealers in New
York of recognized standing or, if such quotations are unavailable, then on the
basis of other sources reasonably selected by the Agent, by (y) a percentage
equal to 100% minus the stated maximum rate of all reserve requirements as
specified in Regulation D applicable on such day to a three-month certificate of
deposit of a member bank of the Federal Reserve System in excess of $100,000
(including, without limitation, any marginal, emergency, supplemental, special
or other reserves), plus (2) the then daily net annual assessment rate as
estimated by the Agent for determining the current annual assessment payable by
BTCo to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for insuring three month
certificates of deposit.
"Affiliate" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person
directly or indirectly controlling (including but not limited to all directors
and officers of such Person), controlled by, or under direct or indirect common
control with such Person. A Person shall be deemed to control a corporation if
such Person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power (i) to vote 10% or more
of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors of
such corporation or (ii) to direct or cause the direction of the management and
policies of such corporation, whether through the ownership of voting
securities, by contract or otherwise, it being understood that the Receivables
Entity shall not be an Affiliate of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries until
such time as the Borrower and its Subsidiaries own 100% of the capital stock of
the Receivables Entity.
"Agent" shall have the meaning provided in the first
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paragraph of this Agreement and shall include any successor to the Agent
appointed pursuant to Section 11.10.
"Agreement" shall mean this Debtor-in-Possession Credit Agreement,
as the same may be from time to time modified, amended and/or supplemented.
"Applicable Base Rate Margin" shall mean a percentage per annum
equal to (i) 3% with respect to the Term Loans and (ii) 2.50% with respect to
all other Loans.
"Applicable Commitment Fee Percentage" shall mean a percentage per
annum equal to .50%.
"Asset Sale" shall mean any sale, transfer or other disposition by
Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries to any Person other than the Borrower or any
Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower of any asset (including, without
limitation, any capital stock or other securities of another Person, but
excluding the sale by such Person of its own capital stock) of Holdings or such
Subsidiary other than (i) sales, transfers or other dispositions of inventory
made in the ordinary course of business and (ii) sales of assets pursuant to
Sections 8.2 (e), (f), (g) and (i).
"Assignment and Assumption Agreement" shall mean the Assignment and
Assumption Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit K (appropriately
completed).
"Authorized Officer" shall mean the Chief Executive Officer or the
Chief Financial Officer of Holdings or the Borrower.
"Bain Affiliates" shall mean any Affiliate of Bain Capital, provided
that for purposes of the definition of "Change of Control Event", the term Bain
Affiliate shall not include (x) any portfolio company of either Bain Capital or
any Affiliate of Bain Capital or (y) any officer or director of Holdings or any
of its Subsidiaries that is not also a partner or stockholder of Bain Capital on
the Effective Date.
"Bain Capital" shall mean Bain Capital, Inc., a Delaware
corporation.
"Bankruptcy Code" shall mean Title 11 of the United States Code
entitled "Bankruptcy," as now or hereafter in effect, or any successor thereto.
"Bankruptcy Court" shall mean the United States Bankruptcy Court for
the District of Delaware or any other court having jurisdiction over the Cases
from time to time.
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"Base Rate" at any time shall mean the higher of (x) the rate which
is 1/2 of 1% in excess of the Adjusted Certificate of Deposit Rate and (y) the
Prime Lending Rate.
"Base Rate Loan" shall mean each Loan bearing interest at the rates
provided in Section 1.8(a).
"Blocked Account" shall have the meaning provided in the Blocked
Account Agreement.
"Blocked Account Agreement" shall mean the Blocked Account Agreement
in the form of Exhibit O, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time.
"Borrower" shall have the meaning provided in the first paragraph of
this Agreement.
"Borrowing" shall mean and include (i) the borrowing of Swingline
Loans from BTCo on a given date, (ii) the borrowing of Revolving Loans from all
of the Revolving Lenders on a given date and (iii) the borrowing of Term Loans
from all of the Term Lenders on a given date.
"Borrowing Base" shall mean, on any day, subject to Section 1.1(d),
an amount equal to the sum of (a) the Accounts Borrowing Base on such day and
(b) the Inventory Borrowing Base on such day.
"Borrowing Base Certificate" shall have the meaning given to such
term in Section 7.1(d).
"Borrowing Base Parties" shall mean the Borrower and the
Subsidiary Guarantors.
"BTCo" shall mean Bankers Trust Company, in its individual capacity,
and any successor corporation thereto by merger, consolidation or otherwise.
"Budget" shall mean the cash flow projections prepared by or under
the supervision of the Crisis Manager (following the Borrower's retention of the
Crisis Manager) or an Authorized Officer of Holdings (prior to the Borrower's
retention of the Crisis Manager) on a consolidated basis, showing (on a
line-item basis) weekly anticipated cash receipts and expenditures of Holdings
and its Subsidiaries for the four-week period commencing on the date of such
projections which shall be itemized in sufficient detail including line items
for Post-Petition Date vendor payments, payroll, interest, professional fees,
capital expenditures, rationalization costs, retention payments and payments of
prepetition and "involuntary gap" liabilities to critical vendors; provided,
however that Holdings shall submit an amended Budget for approval by the Agent
no later than 5:00 P.M.
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(New York time) on Tuesday of each week pursuant to Section 7.1(d)(iii). If
there is no objection to such amended Budget from the Agent within two Business
Days, such amended Budget shall be deemed to be the Budget in effect after such
time. If the Agent objects to such amended Budget within two Business Days the
previous Budget shall, until there is an agreement between the Borrower and the
Agent on an amended Budget, be deemed to be in force and effect as the Budget.
"Business Day" shall mean any day excluding Saturday, Sunday and any
day which shall be in the City of New York a legal holiday or a day on which
banking institutions are authorized by law or other governmental actions to
close.
"Capital Expenditures" shall mean, with respect to any Person, all
expenditures by such Person which should be capitalized in accordance with GAAP,
including all such expenditures with respect to fixed or capital assets
(including, without limitation, expenditures for maintenance and repairs which
should be capitalized in accordance with GAAP) and the amount of all Capitalized
Lease Obligations incurred by such Person.
"Capital Lease," as applied to any Person, shall mean any lease of
any property (whether real, personal or mixed) by that Person as lessee which,
in conformity with GAAP, is accounted for as a capital lease on the balance
sheet of that Person.
"Capitalized Lease Obligations" shall mean all obligations under
Capital Leases of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in each case taken at
the amount thereof accounted for as liabilities in accordance with GAAP.
"Carve-Out" shall have the meaning provided in Section 1.14(a);
provided, that the amount of the Carve-Out shall be set forth in the Orders.
"Cases" shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory
paragraph of this Agreement.
"Cash Collateral" shall have the meaning provided in Section 363(a)
of the Bankruptcy Code, excluding cash actually applied to repay amounts owing
under the Accounts Receivable Facility Purchase Agreement.
"Cash Collateral Account" shall mean the account established with
Bankers Trust Company which is in the name (and under the sole dominion and
control) of the Collateral Agent, and any other cash collateral account
maintained with, and under the sole dominion and control of, the Collateral
Agent.
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"Cash Equivalents" shall mean (i) securities issued or directly and
fully guaranteed or insured by the United States of America or any agency or
instrumentality thereof (provided, that the full faith and credit of the United
States of America is pledged in support thereof) having maturities of not more
than twelve months from the date of acquisition, (ii) U.S. dollar denominated
time deposits, certificates of deposit and bankers acceptances of (x) any Lender
or (y) any bank whose short-term commercial paper rating from S&P is at least
A-1 or the equivalent thereof or from Moody's is at least P-1 or the equivalent
thereof (any such bank or Lender, an "Approved Lender"), in each case with
maturities of not more than twelve months from the date of acquisition, (iii)
commercial paper issued by any Approved Lender or by the parent company of any
Approved Lender and commercial paper issued by, or guaranteed by, any industrial
or financial company with a short-term commercial paper rating of at least A-1
or the equivalent thereof by S&P or at least P-1 or the equivalent thereof by
Moody's, or guaranteed by any industrial company with a long term unsecured debt
rating of at least A or A2, or the equivalent of each thereof, from S&P or
Moody's, as the case may be, and in each case maturing within twelve months
after the date of acquisition, (iv) 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 maturing within twelve months from
the date of acquisition thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having one of
the two highest ratings obtainable from either S&P or Moody's and (v)
investments in money market funds substantially all the assets of which are
comprised of securities of the types described in clauses (i) through (iv)
above.
"Cash Proceeds" shall mean, with respect to any Asset Sale, the
aggregate cash payments (including any cash received by way of deferred payment
pursuant to a note receivable issued in connection with such Asset Sale, other
than the portion of such deferred payment constituting interest, but only as and
when so received) received by Holdings and/or any of its Subsidiaries from such
Asset Sale.
"Certificate Purchase Agreement (Series 1996-1 Class A)" shall mean
the Revolving Certificate Purchase Agreement (Series 1996-1 Class A), dated as
of May 24, 1996, among the Receivables Entity, the Borrower, as the initial
servicer, the purchasers party thereto, and BTCo, as Agent, as the same may be
amended, modified, supplemented, refinanced or replaced from time to time.
"Certificate Purchase Agreement (Series 1996-1 Class B)" shall mean
the Revolving Certificate Purchase Agreement (Series 1996-1 Class B), dated as
of May 24, 1996, among the Receivables Entity, the Borrower, as the initial
servicer, the purchasers party thereto, and BTCo, as Agent, as the same may be
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amended, modified, supplemented, refinanced or replaced from time to time.
"Change of Control Event" shall mean (a) Holdings shall cease to own
directly 100% on a fully diluted basis of the economic and voting interest in WR
Acquisition's capital stock or (b) WR Acquisition shall cease to own directly
100% on a fully diluted basis of the economic and voting interest in the
Borrower's capital stock or (c) any Person or "group" (within the meaning of
Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect on
the (Effective Date), other than Bain Capital and/or the Bain Affiliates, shall
(A) have acquired beneficial ownership of 30% or more on a fully diluted basis
of the voting and/or economic interest in Holdings' capital stock or (B)
obtained the power (whether or not exercised) to elect a majority of Holdings'
directors or (d) the Board of Directors of Holdings shall cease to consist of a
majority of Continuing Directors or (e) a "change of control" or similar event
shall occur as provided in the Senior Subordinated Note Indenture.
"Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from
time to time, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.
Section references to the Code are to the Code, as in effect at the date of this
Agreement and any subsequent provisions of the Code amendatory thereof,
supplemental thereto or substituted therefor.
"Collateral" shall mean all property (whether real or personal) with
respect to which any security interests have been granted (or purported to be
granted) pursuant to any Security Document, including, without limitation, all
Pledge Agreement Collateral, all Security Agreement Collateral, the Mortgaged
Properties and all cash and Cash Equivalents delivered as collateral.
"Collateral Access Agreements" shall mean any landlord waivers,
mortgagee waivers, bailee letters or any similar acknowledgment agreements of
any warehouseman or processor in possession of Inventory, in each case
substantially in the form of Exhibit I with such changes thereto as are
acceptable to the Agent.
"Collateral Agent" shall mean the Agent acting as collateral agent
for the Secured Creditors.
"Commitment" shall mean any of the commitments of any Lender,
whether a Revolving Loan Commitment or a Term Loan Commitment.
"Commitment Fee" shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.1(a).
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"Concentration Account" shall have the meaning provided in the
Concentration Account Agreement.
"Concentration Account Agreement" shall mean the Concentration
Account Agreement in the form of Exhibit P, as amended, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time.
"Confirmation Order" shall mean an order of the Bankruptcy Court
confirming a Reorganization Plan.
"Consolidated EBIT" shall mean, for any period, Consolidated Net
Income, before total interest expense (inclusive of amortization of deferred
financing fees and any original issue discount) of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis and provisions for taxes based
on income, and determined (i) without giving effect to any extraordinary gains
or losses from sales of assets sold outside the ordinary course of business but
with giving effect to gains or losses from sales of assets sold in the ordinary
course of business, (ii) without giving effect to any impact from the LIFO
method of inventory accounting, (iii) without giving effect to any noncash
charge deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period and
related to the issuance by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries of stock,
warrants or options to management (or any exercise of any such warrants or
options) and (iv) without giving effect to any charges deducted in determining
Consolidated Net Income for such period and related to the employee retention
program of Holdings and its Subsidiaries and post-Petition Date professional
fees.
"Consolidated EBITDA" shall mean, for any period, Consolidated EBIT,
adjusted by adding thereto the amount of all depreciation expense and
amortization expense that were deducted in determining Consolidated EBIT for
such period, it being understood and agreed, however, that Consolidated EBITDA
shall be determined without giving effect to any Restructuring Charges otherwise
deducted in determining Consolidated EBITDA for such period.
"Consolidated Net Income" shall mean, for any period, the net income
(or loss), after provision for taxes, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
(including as a Subsidiary for this purpose the Receivables Entity although the
definition of Subsidiary might require otherwise) on a consolidated basis for
such period taken as a single accounting period.
"Consultants" shall mean Lazard Freres & Co. LLC, the Crisis Manager
or such other advisors as the Borrower may select and as may be acceptable to
the Agent and the Required Lenders.
"Contingent Obligations" shall mean as to any Person any obligation
of such Person guaranteeing or intended to
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guarantee any Indebtedness, leases, dividends or other obligations ("primary
obligations") of any other Person (the "primary obligor") in any manner, whether
directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of such
Person, whether or not contingent, (a) to purchase any such primary obligation
or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor, (b) to
advance or supply funds (x) for the purchase or payment of any such primary
obligation or (y) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary
obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary
obligor, (c) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the
purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of
the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation or (d) otherwise
to assure or hold harmless the owner of such primary obligation against loss in
respect thereof; provided, however, that the term Contingent Obligation shall
not include endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection or standard
contractual indemnities entered into, in each case in the ordinary course of
business. The amount of any Contingent Obligation shall be deemed to be an
amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in
respect of which such Contingent Obligation is made or, if not stated or
determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof
(assuming such Person is required to perform thereunder) as determined by such
Person in good faith.
"Continuing Directors" shall mean the directors of Holdings on the
Effective Date and each other director if such director's nomination for the
election to the Board of Directors of Holdings is recommended by a majority of
the then Continuing Directors.
"Control Agreement" shall mean a control agreement, in form and
substance satisfactory to the Agent, among Holdings or one of its Subsidiaries,
the Agent and the applicable securities intermediary with respect to the
applicable Securities Account and the investment property maintained in such
Account.
"Credit Documents" shall mean this Agreement, the Notes, the
Guaranties, each Security Document and all other documents and instruments
executed in connection therewith, as such documents and instruments may be
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
"Credit Event" shall mean the making of a Loan (other than a
Revolving Loan made pursuant to a Mandatory Borrowing) or the issuance of a
Letter of Credit.
"Credit Party" shall mean Holdings, WR Acquisition, the Borrower and
each Subsidiary Guarantor.
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"Crisis Manager" shall have the meaning provided in Section 7.22.
"Default" shall mean any event, act or condition which with notice
or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.
"Defaulting Lender" shall mean any Lender with respect to which a
Lender Default is in effect.
"Designated Credit Parties" shall mean the Borrower and those
Subsidiary Guarantors that are from time to time party to the Accounts
Receivable Facility Documents.
"Dividends" shall have the meaning provided in Section 8.7.
"Documents" shall mean the Credit Documents and the Existing
Credit Documents.
"Domestic Subsidiary" shall mean each Subsidiary of the Borrower
incorporated or organized in the United States or any State or territory
thereof.
"Effective Date" shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.10.
"Eligible Accounts Receivable" shall mean Accounts of the Borrowing
Base Parties payable in Dollars and deemed by the Agent in its Permitted
Discretion to be eligible for inclusion in the calculation of the Borrowing
Base. In determining the amount to be so included, the face amount of such
Accounts shall be reduced by the amount of all returns, discounts, claims,
credits, charges, chargebacks, or other allowances (including accrued but
unapplied customer rebates or other customer offsets) and by the aggregate
amount of all reserves, limits and deductions provided for in this definition
and elsewhere in this Agreement. Unless otherwise approved in writing by the
Agent, no Account shall be deemed to be an Eligible Account Receivable if:
(a) it arises out of a sale made by a Borrowing Base Party to
an Affiliate; or
(b) the Account is unpaid more than 60 days after the original
payment due date; or
(c) the Account is unpaid more than 90 days after the date of the
original invoice, other than an Account with standard terms, consistent with
past practice, that permit such Account to be paid beyond 90 days after the date
of the original invoice, in which case such Account shall not be deemed to be an
Eligible Account Receivable if it is unpaid beyond such longer period
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after the date of the original invoice; or
(d) it is from the same account debtor (or any Affiliate thereof)
and 25% or more, in face amount, of all Accounts from such account debtor (or
any Affiliate thereof) are ineligible pursuant to (b) or (c) above; or
(e) (i) the account debtor has disputed its liability on, or the
account debtor has made any claim with respect to, such Account or any other
Account due from such account debtor to a Borrowing Base Party, which has not
been resolved, to the extent of the amount of such dispute or claim, or (iii)
the Account otherwise is or may become subject to any legal right of setoff by
the account debtor, to the extent of the amount of such setoff; provided, that
up to $1,250,000 of Accounts owing by each of Unisource and XPEDX (each, a
"Specified Account Debtor") shall not be deemed to be ineligible under clause
(ii) above unless such Specified Account Debtor exercises any setoff or similar
rights against a Borrowing Base Party in which case all of the Accounts owing by
such Specified Account Debtor shall be deemed to be ineligible; or
(f) the account debtor has commenced a voluntary case under the
federal bankruptcy laws, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or made an
assignment for the benefit of creditors, or if a decree or order for relief has
been entered by a court having jurisdiction over the account debtor in an
involuntary case under the federal bankruptcy laws, as now constituted or
hereafter amended, or if any other petition or other application for relief
under the federal bankruptcy laws has been filed by or against the account
debtor, or if the account debtor has filed a certificate of dissolution under
applicable state law or shall be liquidated, dissolved or wound-up, or shall
authorize or commence any action or proceeding for dissolution, winding-up or
liquidation, or if the account debtor has failed, suspended business, declared
itself to be insolvent, is generally not paying its debts as they become due or
has consented to or suffered a receiver, trustee, liquidator or custodian to be
appointed for it or for all or a significant portion of its assets or affairs,
unless the payment of Accounts from such account debtor is secured in a manner
satisfactory to the Agent or, if the Account from such account debtor arises
subsequent to a decree or order for relief with respect to such account debtor
under the federal bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter in effect, the Agent
shall have determined that the timely payment and collection of such Account
will not be impaired; or
(g) the sale is to an account debtor outside of the continental
United States, unless either (i) the Account is denominated in United States
dollars and the account debtor is an Affiliate of a domestic account debtor of a
Borrowing Base Party
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or (ii) the account debtor thereon has supplied the applicable Borrowing Base
Party with an irrevocable letter of credit in form and substance satisfactory to
the Agent, issued by a financial institution satisfactory to the Agent and which
has been duly pledged to the Agent (together with sufficient documentation to
permit direct draws by the Agent); or
(h) the sale to the account debtor is on a bill-and-hold, guaranteed
sale, sale-and-return, sale on approval or consignment basis or made pursuant to
any other written agreement providing for repurchase or return; or
(i) the Agent determines in its Permitted Discretion that collection
of such Account is insecure or that such Account may not be paid by reason of
the account debtor's financial inability to pay; or
(j) the account debtor is the United States of America or any
department, agency or instrumentality thereof, unless the Borrower duly
assigns its rights to payment of such Account to the Agent pursuant to the
Assignment of Claims Act of 1940, as amended (31 U.S.C. " 3727 et seq.); or
(k) the goods giving rise to such Account have not been shipped and
delivered to and accepted by the account debtor or the services giving rise to
such Account have not been performed by the applicable Borrowing Base Party and
accepted by the account debtor or the Account otherwise does not represent a
final sale; or
(l) the Account does not comply with all applicable legal
requirements, including, where applicable, the Federal Consumer Credit
Protection Act, the Federal Truth in Lending Act and Regulation Z of the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, in each case as amended; or
(m) the Collateral Agent does not have a valid and perfected first
priority security interest in such Account or the Account does not otherwise
conform to the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or the
other Credit Documents.
"Eligible Inventory" shall mean Inventory of the Borrowing Base
Parties (other than Excluded Inventory) deemed by the Agent in its Permitted
Discretion to be eligible for inclusion in the calculation of the Borrowing
Base. In determining the amount to be so included, the amount of such Inventory
shall be valued at the lower of cost or market on a basis consistent with the
applicable Borrowing Base Party's current and historical accounting practice,
less any goods returned or rejected by such Borrowing Base Party's customers and
goods in transit to third parties (other than to such Borrowing
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Base Party's agents and warehouses that are not excluded pursuant to clause (b)
below), less any reserves otherwise required by the Agent pursuant to Section
1.1(d), and less any Inventory that the Agent determines to be ineligible
pursuant to Section 1.1(d). Unless otherwise approved in writing by the Agent,
no Inventory shall be deemed Eligible Inventory if:
(a) the Inventory is not owned solely by a Borrowing Base Party and
with respect to which such Borrowing Base Party does not have good, valid and
marketable title; or
(b) [Intentionally Omitted]; or
(c) the Inventory is not subject to a perfected first priority Lien
in favor of the Collateral Agent except, with respect to Eligible Inventory
stored at sites described in clause (b) above, for Liens for normal and
customary warehouseman charges; or
(d) the Inventory is not located in the United States; or
(e) the Inventory is on consignment, is demonstration inventory, is
obsolete or slow moving or the Inventory does not otherwise conform to the
representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or the other Credit
Documents.
"Eligible Transferee" shall mean and include a commercial bank,
financial institution or other "accredited investor" (as defined in Regulation D
of the Securities Act).
"Emergency Order" shall mean an order of the Bankruptcy Court
entered in the Cases Authorizing Emergency Borrowing Secured By Liens on
Property of the Debtor's Estates Pursuant to Section 364(c) of the Bankruptcy
Code dated January 14, 2000.
"Environmental Claims" shall mean any and all administrative,
regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens,
notices of non-compliance or violation, investigations or proceedings relating
in any way to any violation (or alleged violation) by Holdings or any of its
Subsidiaries under any Environmental Law (hereafter "Claims") or any permit
issued to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries under any such law, including,
without limitation, (a) any and all Claims by governmental or regulatory
authorities for enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other
actions or damages pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law, and (b) any and
all Claims by any third party seeking damages, contribution, indemnification,
cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief resulting from Hazardous
Materials or arising from alleged injury or threat of injury to health, safety
or the environment.
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"Environmental Law" shall mean any federal, state or local policy,
statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code or rule of common law now or
hereafter in effect and in each case as amended, and any judicial or
administrative interpretation thereof, including any judicial or administrative
order, consent, decree or judgment (for purposes of this definition
("collectively, Laws")), relating to the environment, or Hazardous Materials or
health and safety to the extent such health and safety issues arise under the
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as amended, or any such similar
Laws.
"ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated and the
rulings issued thereunder. Section references to ERISA are to ERISA as in effect
at the date of this Agreement and any subsequent provisions of ERISA amendatory
thereof, supplemental thereto or substituted therefor.
"ERISA Affiliate" shall mean each person (as defined in Section 3(9)
of ERISA) which together with Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings would be
deemed to be a "single employer" within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m)
or (o) of the Code.
"Event of Default" shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.
"Excluded Inventory" shall mean (a) sub-assembly Inventory of the
Ampad division, (b) Inventory of the Creative Card division, (c)
work-in-process, (d) packaging and supplies, (e) Inventory in-transit, (f)
temporary stock keeping items made to customer specifications, (g) discontinued
raw materials and finished goods, (h) steel coils, (i) Inventory located at
subcontractors and (j) Inventory rejected by customers.
"Existing Credit Agreement" shall have the meaning provided in the
recitals to this Agreement.
"Existing Credit Agreement Debt" shall mean the "Obligations" of the
"Credit Parties" under the "Credit Documents" as such terms are defined in the
Existing Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof.
"Existing Credit Documents" shall mean the Existing Credit Agreement
and all documents and instruments executed or delivered in connection therewith,
as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
"Existing Indebtedness" shall have the meaning provided in Section
6.23.
"Existing Lender Debt" shall have the meaning provided
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in the recitals to this Agreement.
"Existing Lenders" shall mean the financial institutions party as
lenders to the Existing Credit Agreement on the Petition Date.
"Existing Letters of Credit Outstandings" shall mean, at any time,
the sum of, without duplication, (i) the aggregate Stated Amount of all Existing
Letters of Credit and (ii) the aggregate amount of all unpaid obligations in
respect of all Existing Letters of Credit.
"Existing Letters of Credit" shall mean each of the letters of
credit listed on Annex VIII and which were issued under the Existing Credit
Agreement and are outstanding on the Effective Date, including any renewals of
any of the foregoing.
"Facing Fee" shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.1(c).
"Federal Funds Rate" shall mean, for any period, a fluctuating
interest rate equal for each day during such period to the weighted average of
the rates on overnight Federal Funds transactions with members of the Federal
Reserve System arranged by Federal Funds brokers, as published for such day (or,
if such day is not a Business Day, for the next preceding Business Day) by the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any
day which is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day on such
transactions received by the Agent from three Federal Funds brokers of
recognized standing selected by the Agent.
"Fees" shall mean all amounts payable pursuant to, or referred to
in, Section 3.1.
"Final Maturity Date" shall mean the earliest to occur of (i) the
Maturity Date, as the same may be extended in accordance with the terms hereof,
(ii) the Termination Date and (iii) the effective date of the Reorganization
Plan.
"Final Order" shall mean an order of the Bankruptcy Court entered in
the Cases after a final hearing under Bankruptcy Rule 4001(c)(2) granting final
approval of this Agreement (including, without limitation, Section 1.1(e)) and
the other Credit Documents and granting the Liens and Super-priority Claims
described in the Security Documents in favor of the Agent and the Lenders,
substantially in the form of, and containing substantially similar provisions
as, the Interim Order and otherwise in form and substance satisfactory to the
Agent and the Required Lenders.
"Foreign Cash Equivalents" shall mean certificates of
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deposit or bankers acceptances of any bank organized under the laws of Canada,
Japan or any country that is a member of the European Economic Community whose
short-term commercial paper rating from S&P is at least A-1 or the equivalent
thereof or from Moody's is at least P-1 or the equivalent thereof, in each case
with maturities of not more than twelve months from the date of acquisition.
"Foreign Pension Plan" shall mean any plan, fund (including, without
limitation, any superannuation fund) or other similar program established or
maintained outside the United States of America by Holdings or any one or more
of its Subsidiaries primarily for the benefit of employees of Holdings or such
Subsidiaries residing outside the United States of America, which plan, fund or
other similar program provides, or results in, retirement income, a deferral of
income in contemplation of retirement or payments to be made upon termination of
employment, and which plan is not subject to ERISA or the Code.
"Foreign Sales" shall mean American Pad and Paper Foreign Sales
Corporation, a Barbados corporation.
"Foreign Subsidiary" shall mean each Subsidiary of the Borrower
other than a Domestic Subsidiary.
"GAAP" shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States of America as in effect from time to time.
"Guaranteed Creditors" shall mean and include each of the Agent, the
Collateral Agent, the Lenders and each Letter of Credit Issuer.
"Guaranteed Obligations" shall mean the full and prompt payment when
due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the
principal and interest on each Note issued by the Borrower to each Lender, and
Loans made under this Agreement and all reimbursement obligations and Unpaid
Drawings with respect to Letters of Credit, together with all the other
obligations (including obligations which, but for the automatic stay under
Section 362(a) of the Bankruptcy Code, would become due) and liabilities
(including, without limitation, indemnities, fees and interest thereon) of the
Borrower to such Lender, the Agent and the Collateral Agent now existing or
hereafter incurred under, arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or
any other Credit Document and the due performance and compliance with all the
terms, conditions and agreements contained in the Credit Documents by the
Borrower.
"Guarantor" shall mean each Parent Guarantor and each Subsidiary
Guarantor.
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"Guaranty" shall mean and include each of the Parents Guaranty and
the Subsidiary Guaranty.
"Hazardous Materials" shall mean (a) any petrochemical or petroleum
products, radioactive materials, asbestos in any form that is or could become
friable, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, transformers or other equipment that
contain dielectric fluid containing levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, and
radon gas; and (b) any chemicals, materials or substances defined as or included
in the definition of "hazardous substances," "hazardous wastes," "hazardous
materials," "restricted hazardous materials," "extremely hazardous wastes,"
"restrictive hazardous wastes," "toxic substances," "toxic pollutants,"
"contaminants" or "pollutants," or words of similar meaning and regulatory
effect.
"Holdings" shall have the meaning provided in the first paragraph of
this Agreement.
"Holdings Common Stock" shall have the meaning provided in Section
6.15.
"Holdings Tax Allocation Agreement" shall mean the Tax Sharing
Agreement, dated as of October 31, 1995, among Holdings and its Domestic
Subsidiaries.
"Indebtedness" of any Person shall mean, without duplication, (i)
all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money, (ii) the deferred purchase
price of assets or services payable to the sellers thereof or any of such
seller's assignees which in accordance with GAAP would be shown on the liability
side of the balance sheet of such Person but excluding deferred rent as
determined in accordance with GAAP, (iii) the face amount of all letters of
credit issued for the account of such Person and, without duplication, all
drafts drawn thereunder, (iv) all Indebtedness of a second Person secured by any
Lien on any property owned by such first Person, whether or not such
Indebtedness has been assumed, (v) all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such
Person, (vi) all obligations of such Person to pay a specified purchase price
for goods or services whether or not delivered or accepted, i.e., take-or-pay
and similar obligations, and (vii) all Contingent Obligations of such Person,
provided, that Indebtedness shall not include trade payables and accrued
expenses, in each case arising in the ordinary course of business.
"Initial Borrowing Date" shall mean the date upon which the initial
Borrowing of Loans occurs.
"Intercompany Loan" shall have the meaning provided in Section
8.6(g).
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"Intercompany Notes" shall mean promissory notes, in the form of
Exhibit L, evidencing Intercompany Loans.
"Interim Order" shall mean an order of the Bankruptcy Court entered
in the Cases after the conclusion of the preliminary hearing under Bankruptcy
Rule 4001(c) (I) Authorizing Secured Postpetition Financing on a Superpriority
Basis Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. " 364, (II) Authorizing Use of Cash Collateral
Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. " 3636, (III) Granting Adequate Protection Pursuant to 11
U.S.C. "" 363 and 364, and (IV) Scheduling a Final Hearing Pursuant to
Bankruptcy Rule 4001(c) and otherwise in form and substance satisfactory to the
Agent and the Required Lenders.
"Inventory" shall mean all of the Borrowing Base Parties',
inventory, including without limitation: (i) all raw materials, work in process,
parts, components, assemblies, supplies and materials used or consumed in the
businesses of the Borrowing Base Parties; (ii) all goods, wares and merchandise,
finished or unfinished, held for sale or lease or leased or furnished or to be
furnished under contracts of service; and (iii) all goods returned or
repossessed by the Borrowing Base Parties.
"Inventory Borrowing Base" shall mean, on any day, an amount up to
50% of the amount of the Eligible Inventory on such day.
"Investor Certificate" shall have the meaning provided in the
Accounts Receivable Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
"L/C Supportable Indebtedness" shall mean (i) obligations of the
Borrower or its Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business with
respect to insurance obligations and workers' compensation, surety bonds and
other similar statutory obligations and (ii) such other obligations of the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries as are reasonably acceptable to the Agent
and the Letter of Credit Issuer and otherwise permitted to exist pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement.
"Leasehold" of any Person shall mean all of the right, title and
interest of such Person as lessee or licensee in, to and under leases or
licenses of land, improvements and/or fixtures.
"Lender" shall have the meaning provided in the first paragraph of
this Agreement.
"Lender Default" shall mean (i) the refusal (which has not been
retracted) of a Lender to make available its portion of
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any Borrowing (including any Mandatory Borrowing) or to fund its portion of any
unreimbursed payment under Section 2.4(c) or (ii) a Lender having notified the
Agent and/or the Borrower that it does not intend to comply with the obligations
under Section 1.1(a), 1.1(c) or 2.4(c), whether or not as a result of the
appointment of a receiver or conservator with respect to such Lender at the
direction or request of any regulatory agency or authority.
"Letter of Credit" shall have the meaning provided in Section
2.1(a).
"Letter of Credit Fees" shall have the meaning provided in Section
3.1(b).
"Letter of Credit Issuer" shall mean BTCo and any other Lender
which, at the request of the Borrower and with the consent of the Agent, agrees
in such Lender's sole discretion to become a Letter of Credit Issuer for
purposes of issuing Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 2.
"Letter of Credit Outstandings" shall mean, at any time, the sum of,
without duplication, (i) the aggregate Stated Amount of all outstanding Letters
of Credit and (ii) the aggregate amount of all Unpaid Drawings in respect of all
Letters of Credit.
"Letter of Credit Request" shall have the meaning provided in
Section 2.2(a).
"Letter of Credit Sublimit" shall mean $2,000,000.
"Lien" shall mean any mortgage, pledge, security interest,
encumbrance, lien or charge of any kind (including any agreement to give any of
the foregoing, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any
financing or similar statement or notice filed under the UCC or any similar
recording or notice statute, and any lease having substantially the same effect
as the foregoing).
"Loan" shall mean each Revolving Loan, each Term Loan and each
Swingline Loan.
"Mandatory Borrowing" shall have the meaning provided in Section
1.1(c).
"Margin Stock" shall have the meaning provided in Regulation U.
"Material Adverse Effect" shall mean a material adverse effect on
the business, properties, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or
otherwise) or prospects of Holdings,
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WR Acquisition, the Borrower, Holdings and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
"Maturity Date" shall mean July 17, 2000; provided that the Borrower
shall have the option to extend the Maturity Date for one three-month period if
(A) at least 30 days prior to the then effective Maturity Date, the Borrower
delivers to the Agent, with a copy for each Lender, a revised budget covering
the three-month period commencing on the then effective Maturity Date, in form
and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and the Required Revolving
Lenders, (B) on the then effective Maturity Date, no Default or Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing, (C) the Borrower shall have filed a
motion in the Cases pursuant to Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code seeking
approval of the process for the Williamhouse Sale, which motion shall be in form
and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and the Required Revolving
Lenders and (D) at least five days prior to the then effective Maturity Date,
Sections 8.10 and 8.11 of this Agreement shall have been amended in a manner
reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and the Required Revolving Lenders;
provided, further that the Borrower shall have the option to extend the Maturity
date for one additional three-month period if (A) at least 30 days prior to the
then effective Maturity Date, the Borrower delivers to the Agent, with a copy
for each Lender, a revised budget covering the three-month period commencing on
the then effective Maturity Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Agent and the Required Revolving Lenders, (B) on or before the then
effective Maturity Date, either (i) the Borrower delivers to the Agent, with a
copy for each Lender, a disclosure statement and a Reorganization Plan for the
Credit Parties which has been filed with the Bankruptcy Court, reflects the
agreement of the Credit Parties with their creditors and is in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and the Required Revolving
Lenders or (ii) the Agent and the Required Revolving Lenders shall be satisfied,
in their sole discretion, with the progress of the Borrower's efforts to
consummate the Williamhouse Sale, (C) on or before the then effective Maturity
Date, the Agent and the Required Revolving Lenders are satisfied with the
progress of the Cases, (D) on the then effective Maturity Date, no Default or
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (E) at least five
days prior to the then effective Maturity Date, Sections 8.10 and 8.11 of this
Agreement shall have been amended in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the
Agent and the Required Revolving Lenders. If the Borrower notifies the Agent in
writing that it desires to extend the Maturity Date for a second three-month
period as provided above, the Agent shall, not later than ten days prior to the
then effective Maturity Date, notify the Borrower if such additional three month
extension will be granted.
"Maximum Swingline Amount" shall mean (i) $20,000,000 from the
Effective Date through and including January 29, 2000
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and (ii) $5,000,000 thereafter.
"Minimum Borrowing Amount" shall mean (i) for Revolving Loans,
$1,000,000 and (ii) for Swingline Loans, $250,000.
"Moody's" shall mean Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
"Mortgage" shall mean each mortgage, deed to secure debt or deed of
trust pursuant to which any Credit Party shall have granted to the Collateral
Agent a mortgage lien on such Credit Party's Mortgaged Property, each as
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
"Mortgaged Property" shall mean each parcel of Real Property owned
or leased by any Credit Party which is encumbered by a Mortgage.
"Mortgage Policies" shall have the meaning provided in the Existing
Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof.
"Mortgaged Properties" shall have the meaning provided in the
Existing Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof.
"Net Cash Proceeds" shall mean, with respect to any Asset Sale, the
Cash Proceeds resulting therefrom net of (a) cash expenses of sale (including
brokerage fees, if any, transfer taxes and payment of principal, premium and
interest of Indebtedness other than the Loans and the Existing Credit Agreement
Debt required to be repaid as a result of such Asset Sale) and (b) incremental
income taxes paid or payable as a result thereof.
"Non-Defaulting Lender" shall mean each Lender other than a
Defaulting Lender.
"Note" shall mean each Revolving Note, each Term Note and the
Swingline Note.
"Notice of Borrowing" shall have the meaning provided in Section
1.3(a).
"Notice Office" shall mean the office of the Agent located at 130
Liberty Street, New York, New York 10006 or such other office as the Agent may
designate to Holdings, the Borrower and the Lenders from time to time.
"Obligations" shall mean all amounts, direct or indirect, contingent
or absolute, of every type or description, and at any time existing, owing to
the Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender pursuant to the terms of the
Existing Credit Agreement, this Agreement or any other Credit Document and all
obligations and liabilities of the Credit Parties to BTCo in
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connection with the bank accounts and cash management system of the Credit
Parties.
"Orders" shall mean the Interim Order and the Final Order.
"Other Revolving Exposure" shall mean all Swingline Loans then
outstanding and the Letter of Credit Outstandings (exclusive of Unpaid Drawings
relating to Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans which are repaid with the
proceeds of, and simultaneously with the incurrence of, the respective
incurrence of Revolving Loans) at such time.
"Parent Guarantor" shall mean and include each of Holdings and WR
Acquisition.
"Parents Guaranty" shall mean the guaranty of the Parent Guarantors
pursuant to Section 13.
"Participant" shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.4(a).
"Payment Office" shall mean the office of the Agent located at One
Bankers Trust Plaza, New York, New York 10006 or such other office as the Agent
may designate to Holdings, the Borrower and the Lenders from time to time.
"PBGC" shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
established pursuant to Section 4002 of ERISA, or any successor thereto.
"Percentage" shall mean, at any time for each Lender, the percentage
obtained by dividing such Lender's Revolving Loan Commitment at such time by the
Total Revolving Loan Commitment then in effect, provided, that if the Total
Revolving Loan Commitment has been terminated, the Percentage of each Lender
shall be determined by dividing such Lender's Revolving Loan Commitment as in
effect immediately prior to such termination by the Total Revolving Loan
Commitment as in effect immediately prior to such termination.
"Permitted Covenant" shall mean (i) any periodic reporting covenant,
(ii) any covenant restricting payments by Holdings with respect to any
securities of Holdings which are junior to the Permitted Holdings PIK
Securities, (iii) any covenant the default of which can only result in an
increase in the amount of any redemption price, repayment amount, dividend rate
or interest rate, (iv) any covenant the default of which gives rise only to
rights or remedies which are subject to subordination terms reasonably
acceptable to the Agent, (v) any covenant providing board observance rights with
respect to Holdings' board of directors and (vi) any other covenant that
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does not adversely affect the interests of the Lenders (as reasonably determined
by the Agent).
"Permitted Discretion" shall mean the Agent's judgment exercised in
good faith based upon its consideration of any factor which the Agent believes
in good faith: (i) will or could adversely affect the value of any Collateral,
the enforceability or priority of the Collateral Agent's Liens thereon or the
amount which the Agent and the Lenders would be likely to receive (after giving
consideration to delays in payment and costs of enforcement) in the liquidation
of such Collateral; (ii) suggests that any collateral report or financial
information delivered to the Agent or the Collateral Agent by any Person on
behalf of the Credit Parties is incomplete, inaccurate or misleading in any
material respect; or (iii) creates or reasonably could be expected to create a
Default or Event of Default. In exercising such judgment, the Agent may rely on
independent advisors and professionals retained by the Agent to verify whether
the assumptions made prior to the Effective Date relating to the value of
Accounts and Inventory are supported by the current information and data. In
exercising such judgment, the Agent may consider such factors already included
in or tested by the definition of Eligible Accounts Receivable or Eligible
Inventory, as well as any of the following: (i) the financial and business
climate of the Credit Parties' industry and general macroeconomic conditions,
(ii) changes in collection history and dilution with respect to the Accounts,
(iii) changes in demand for, and pricing of, Inventory, (iv) changes in any
concentration of risk with respect to Accounts and Inventory, and (v) any other
factors that change the credit risk of lending to the Credit Parties on the
security of the Accounts and Inventory. The burden of establishing lack of good
faith hereunder shall be on the Credit Parties.
"Permitted Encumbrances" shall mean (i) those liens, encumbrances
and other matters affecting title to any Mortgaged Property listed in the
Mortgage Policies in respect thereof and found reasonably acceptable by the
Agent, (ii) as to any particular Mortgaged Property at any time, such easements,
encroachments, covenants, rights of way, minor defects, irregularities or
encumbrances on title which do not, in the reasonable opinion of the Agent,
materially impair such Mortgaged Property for the purpose for which it is held
by the mortgagor thereof, or the lien held by the Collateral Agent, (iii) zoning
and other municipal ordinances which are not violated in any material respect by
the existing improvements and the present use made by the mortgagor thereof of
the Premises (as defined in the respective Mortgage), (iv) general real estate
taxes and assessments not yet delinquent, and (v) such other similar items as
the Agent may consent to (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld).
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"Permitted Holdings PIK Securities" shall mean any preferred stock
or subordinated promissory note of Holdings (or any security of Holdings that is
convertible or exchangeable into any preferred stock or subordinated promissory
note of Holdings), so long as the terms of any such preferred stock,
subordinated promissory note or security of Holdings (i) do not provide any
collateral security, (ii) do not provide any guaranty or other support by any
Subsidiary of Holdings, (iii) do not contain any mandatory put, redemption,
repayment, sinking fund or other similar provision occurring before the sixth
anniversary of the Initial Borrowing Date, (iv) do not require the cash payment
of dividends or interest before the sixth anniversary of the Initial Borrowing
Date, (v) do not contain any covenants other than any Permitted Covenant, (vi)
do not grant the holders thereof any voting rights except for (x) voting rights
required to be granted to such holders under applicable law and (y) limited
customary voting rights on fundamental matters such as mergers, consolidations,
sales of substantial assets, or liquidations involving Holdings and (vii) are
otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.
"Permitted Liens" shall have the meaning provided in Section 8.3.
"Person" shall mean any individual, partnership, joint venture,
firm, corporation, limited liability company, association, trust or other
enterprise or any government or political subdivision or any agency, department
or instrumentality thereof.
"Petition Date" shall mean January 10, 2000.
"Plan" shall mean any multiemployer or single-employer plan as
defined in Section 4001 of ERISA, which is maintained or contributed to by (or
to which there is an obligation to contribute of) Holdings, any of its
Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate and each such plan for the five calendar
year period immediately following the latest date on which Holdings, any of its
Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate maintained, contributed to or had an
obligation to contribute to such plan.
"Pledge Agreement" shall have the meaning provided in Section
5.1(j).
"Pledge Agreement Collateral" shall mean all "Collateral" as defined
in the Pledge Agreement.
"Pledged Securities" shall mean all the Pledged Securities as
defined the Pledge Agreement.
"Postpetition Obligations" shall mean all Obligations other than the
Prepetition Obligations.
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"Prepetition Agent" shall mean Bankers Trust Company in its capacity
as agent under the Existing Credit Agreement.
"Prepetition Collateral" shall mean all property and assets of the
Credit Parties securing the Prepetition Obligations.
"Prepetition Obligations" shall have the meaning provided in the
recitals hereto.
"Prime Lending Rate" shall mean the rate which BTCo announces from
time to time as its prime lending rate, the Prime Lending Rate to change when
and as such prime lending rate changes. The Prime Lending Rate is a reference
rate and does not necessarily represent the lowest or best rate actually charged
to any customer. BTCo may make commercial loans or other loans at rates of
interest at, above or below the Prime Lending Rate.
"Projections" shall have the meaning provided in Section 5.1(i).
"Real Property" of any Person shall mean all of the right, title and
interest of such Person in and to land, improvements and fixtures, including
Leaseholds.
"Receivables Entity" shall mean Notepad Funding Corporation, a
Delaware corporation.
"Receivables Purchase Money Note" shall mean those purchase money
notes issued by the Receivables Entity to the Designated Credit Parties pursuant
to the terms of the Accounts Receivable Facility Documents.
"Recovery Event" shall mean the receipt by Holdings or any of its
Subsidiaries of any insurance or condemnation proceeds payable (i) by reason of
theft, physical destruction or damage or any other similar event with respect to
any properties or assets of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) by reason
any condemnation, taking, seizing or similar event with respect to any
properties or assets of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries and (iii) under any
policy of insurance required to be maintained under Section 7.3.
"Register" shall have the meaning provided in Section 7.12.
"Regulation D" shall mean Regulation D of the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System as from time to time in effect and any successor to
all or a portion thereof establishing reserve requirements.
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"Regulation T" shall mean Regulation T of the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System as from to time in effect and any successor to all or
any portion thereof.
"Regulation U" shall mean Regulation U of the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System as from time to time in effect and any successor to
all or a portion thereof.
"Regulation X" shall mean Regulation X of the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System as from time to time in effect and any successor to
all or any portion thereof.
"Release" means disposing, discharging, injecting, spilling,
pumping, leaking, leaching, dumping, emitting, escaping, emptying, seeping,
placing, pouring and the like, into or upon any land or water or air, or
otherwise entering into the environment.
"Reorganization Plan" shall mean a plan of reorganization in the
Cases.
"Reportable Event" shall mean an event described in Section 4043(c)
of ERISA with respect to a Plan as to which the 30-day notice requirement has
not been waived by the PBGC.
"Required Lenders" shall mean collectively (and not individually)
Non-Defaulting Lenders the sum of whose Revolving Loan Commitments and Term Loan
Commitments (or, if after the Total Revolving Loan Commitment and the Total Term
Loan Commitment have been terminated, outstanding Revolving Loans, Term Loans,
Term Loan Percentages of Existing Letter of Credit Outstandings and Percentages
of outstanding Swingline Loans and Letter of Credit Outstandings) constitute
greater than 50% of the Total Revolving Loan Commitment and the Total Term Loan
Commitment less the aggregate Revolving Loan Commitments and Term Loan
Commitments of Defaulting Lenders (or, if after the Total Revolving Loan
Commitment and the Total Term Loan Commitment have been terminated, the total
outstanding Revolving Loans and Term Loans of Non-Defaulting Lenders, the
aggregate Term Loan Percentages of all Non-Defaulting Lenders of the Existing
Letter of Credit Outstandings at such time and the aggregate Percentages of all
Non-Defaulting Lenders of the total outstanding Swingline Loans and Letter of
Credit Outstandings at such time). Prior to the Term Loan Effective Date, the
determination of Required Lenders shall include each Lender's interest in the
Prepetition Indebtedness instead of each Lender's interest in the Term Loan
Commitments, Term Loans and Existing Letters of Credit.
"Required Revolving Lenders" shall mean collectively (and not
individually) Non-Defaulting Lenders the sum of whose Revolving Loan Commitments
(or, if after the Total Revolving Loan Commitment has been terminated,
outstanding Revolving Loans and
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Percentages of outstanding Swingline Loans and Letter of Credit Outstandings)
constitute greater than 50% of the Total Revolving Loan Commitment less the
aggregate Revolving Loan Commitments of Defaulting Lenders (or, if after the
Total Revolving Loan Commitment has been terminated, the total outstanding
Revolving Loans of Non-Defaulting Lenders and the aggregate Percentages of all
Non-Defaulting Lenders of the total outstanding Swingline Loans and Letter of
Credit Outstandings at such time).
"Required Term Lenders" shall mean collectively (and not
individually) Non-Defaulting Lenders the sum of whose Term Loan Commitments (or,
if after the Total Term Loan Commitment has been terminated, outstanding Term
Loans and Term Loan Percentages of Existing Letter of Credit Outstandings)
constitute greater than 50% of the Total Term Loan Commitment less the aggregate
Term Loan Commitments of Defaulting Lenders (or, if after the Total Term Loan
Commitment has been terminated, the total outstanding Term Loans of
Non-Defaulting Lenders and the aggregate Term Loan Percentages of all
Non-Defaulting Lenders of the Existing Letter of Credit Outstandings at such
time).
"Restructuring Charges" shall mean restructuring charges taken by
Holdings and its Subsidiaries relating to plant rationalization, provided that
such restructuring charges shall only constitute Restructuring Charges hereunder
if taken on or after January 15, 2000 and on or before June 30, 2000, and the
aggregate amount of Restructuring Charges shall not exceed $8,000,000.
"Retention Payments" shall have the meaning provided in Section
4.2(d).
"Returns" shall have the meaning provided in Section 6.22.
"Revolving Lender" shall mean a Lender that has a Revolving Loan
Commitment or has made Revolving Loans.
"Revolving Loan" shall have the meaning provided in Section 1.1(a).
"Revolving Loan Commitment" shall mean, with respect to each Lender,
the amount set forth opposite such Lender's name in Annex I directly below the
column entitled "Revolving Loan Commitment," as the same may be reduced from
time to time pursuant to Section 3.2, Section 3.3 and/or Section 9.
"Revolving Note" shall have the meaning provided in Section 1.5(a).
"Revolving Obligations" shall mean all Obligations in respect of the
Revolving Loans and the Letters of Credit.
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"Sale Proposal" shall have the meaning provided in Section 5.1(w).
"SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any
successor thereto.
"Section 4.4(b)(ii) Certificate" shall have the meaning provided in
Section 4.4(b)(ii).
"Secured Creditors" shall have the meaning provided in the Security
Documents.
"Securities Account" shall have the meaning provided in Section
8-501 of the New York UCC.
"Security Agreement" shall have the meaning provided in Section
5.1(k).
"Security Agreement Collateral" shall mean all "Collateral" as
defined in the Security Agreement.
"Security Documents" shall mean and include the Security Agreement,
the Pledge Agreement, the Blocked Account Agreement, the Concentration Account
Agreement, each Mortgage and each Additional Security Document, if any.
"Senior Subordinated Note Documents" shall mean and include the
Senior Subordinated Note Indenture, the Senior Subordinated Notes and the Senior
Subordinated Note Guarantees, as in effect on the Initial Borrowing Date, and as
the same may be modified, supplemented or amended from time to time pursuant to
the terms hereof and thereof.
"Senior Subordinated Note Guarantees" shall mean the guarantees
issued by the Subsidiaries of the Borrower pursuant to (or contained in) the
Senior Subordinated Note Indenture.
"Senior Subordinated Note Indenture" shall mean the Indenture, dated
as of December 1, 1995, by and between the Borrower and IBJ Schroder Bank &
Trust Company, as trustee thereunder, as in effect on the Initial Borrowing
Date, and as the same may be modified, amended or supplemented from time to time
in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.
"Senior Subordinated Notes" shall mean the Borrower's 13% Senior
Subordinated Notes due 2005, as in effect on the Initial Borrowing Date, and as
the same may be modified, supplemented or amended from time to time pursuant to
the terms hereof and thereof (it being understood that all references herein to
the Senior Subordinated Notes shall be a reference to the Senior Subordinated
Notes issued under the Senior
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Subordinated Note Indenture and outstanding on the Initial Borrowing Date as the
same may be exchanged into the Series B Senior Subordinated Notes pursuant to,
and in accordance with the provisions of, the Senior Subordinated Note
Indenture).
"Shareholder Subordinated Note" shall mean an unsecured junior
subordinated note issued by Holdings (and not guaranteed or supported in any way
by WR Acquisition or any of its Subsidiaries) in the form of Exhibit M.
"S&P" shall mean Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, a division of
McGraw Hill, Inc.
"Stated Amount" of each Letter of Credit and Existing Letter of
Credit shall mean the maximum amount available to be drawn thereunder
(regardless of whether any conditions for drawing could then be met).
"Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean and include (i) any
corporation more than 50% of whose stock of any class or classes having by the
terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the directors of such
corporation (irrespective of whether or not at the time stock of any class or
classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of
the happening of any contingency) is at the time owned by such Person directly
or indirectly through Subsidiaries and (ii) any partnership, association, joint
venture or other entity (other than a corporation) in which such Person directly
or indirectly through Subsidiaries, has more than a 50% equity interest at the
time.
"Subsidiary Guarantor" shall mean each Subsidiary of the Borrower
listed on Annex VI, including without limitation, the Additional Subsidiaries.
"Subsidiary Guaranty" shall have the meaning provided in Section
5.1(l).
"Super-priority Claim" shall mean a claim against the Borrower or
any Guarantor in any of the Cases which is an administrative expense having
priority over any and all administrative expenses of the kind specified in
Sections 503(b) or 507(b) of the Bankruptcy Code.
"Swingline Expiry Date" shall mean the date which is five Business
Days prior to the Final Maturity Date.
"Swingline Loan" shall have the meaning provided in Section 1.1(b).
"Swingline Note" shall have the meaning provided in Section 1.5(a).
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"Tax Agreements" shall have the meaning provided in Section 5.1(f).
"Taxes" shall have the meaning provided in Section 4.4.
"Termination Date" shall mean the earliest to occur of (i) the
Maturity Date, (ii) the effective date of a Reorganization Plan confirmed by the
Bankruptcy Court pursuant to the Confirmation Order, or (iii) the termination of
the Total Revolving Loan Commitment upon the occurrence of an Event of Default
or otherwise in accordance with the terms hereof.
"Term Lender" shall mean a Lender that has a Term Loan Commitment or
has made Term Loans. Prior to the Term Loan Effective Date, there shall be
deemed to be no Term Lenders.
"Term Loan" shall have the meaning provided in Section 1.1(e).
"Term Loan Commitment" shall mean, on and after the Term Loan
Effective Date, with respect to each Lender, the amount set forth opposite such
Lender's name in Annex I directly below the column entitled "Term Loan
Commitment." Prior to the Term Loan Effective Date, no Lender shall have a Term
Loan Commitment.
"Term Loan Effective Date" shall mean the date on which the
conditions precedent in Section 5.3 are satisfied.
"Term Loan Interest Payment Date" shall mean the earliest to occur
of (i) the effective date of a Reorganization Plan confirmed by the Bankruptcy
Court pursuant to the Confirmation Order, (ii) the consummation of the
Williamhouse Sale and (iii) the Maturity Date.
"Term Loan Percentage" shall mean, at any time for each Lender, the
percentage obtained by dividing such Lender's Term Loan Commitment at such time
by the Total Term Loan Commitment then in effect, provided, that if the Total
Term Loan Commitment has been terminated, the Term Loan Percentage of each
Lender shall be determined by dividing such Lender's Term Loan Commitment as in
effect immediately prior to such termination by the Total Term Loan Commitment
as in effect immediately prior to such termination.
"Term Note" shall have the meaning provided in Section 1.5(a).
"Termination Date" shall mean the earliest to occur of (i) the
Maturity Date, (ii) the effective date of a Reorganization Plan confirmed by the
Bankruptcy Court pursuant to the Confirmation Order, or (iii) the termination of
the Total
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Revolving Loan Commitment upon the occurrence of an Event of Default or
otherwise in accordance with the terms hereof.
"Total Commitment" shall mean, at any time, the sum of the Total
Revolving Loan Commitment and the Total Term Loan Commitment at such time.
"Total Revolving Loan Commitment" shall mean the sum of the
Revolving Loan Commitments of each of the Lenders.
"Total Revolving Outstandings" shall mean, at any time, the sum of
(i) the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Loans outstanding at such
time, (ii) the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans outstanding at
such time and (iii) the aggregate amount of all Letter of Credit Outstandings at
such time.
"Total Term Loan Commitment" shall mean, on and after the Term Loan
Effective Date, the sum of the Term Loan Commitments of each of the Lenders.
Prior to the Term Loan Effective Date, the Total Term Loan Commitment shall be
zero.
"Total Unutilized Revolving Loan Commitment" shall mean, at any
time, (i) the Total Revolving Loan Commitment at such time less (ii) the sum of
the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans
outstanding at such time plus the Letter of Credit Outstandings at such time.
"UCC" shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time
to time in the relevant jurisdiction.
"Unfunded Current Liability" of any Plan shall mean the amount, if
any, by which the actuarial present value of the accumulated plan benefits under
the Plan as of the close of its most recent plan year exceeds the fair market
value of the assets allocable thereto, each determined in accordance with
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 35, based upon the actuarial
assumptions used by the Plan's actuary in the most recent annual valuation of
the Plan.
"Unpaid Drawing" shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.3(a).
"Unutilized Revolving Loan Commitment" with respect to any Lender at
any time shall mean such Lender's Revolving Loan Commitment at such time less
the sum of (i) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Revolving Loans
made by such Lender and (ii) such Lender's Percentage of the Letter of Credit
Outstandings at such time.
"U.S. Dollars" and the sign "$" shall each mean freely transferable
lawful money of the United States of America.
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"Variance Report" shall mean the report to be delivered by Holdings
to the Agent on a weekly basis (commencing one week after the Effective Date)
reflecting the actual cash receipts and disbursements (on a line item basis) for
the preceding week (and on a cumulative basis since the Effective Date) and the
percentage variance of such amounts from those set forth on the Budget for the
preceding week (and cumulatively).
"Wholly-Owned Domestic Subsidiary" shall mean, as to any Person, any
Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of such Person which is a Domestic Subsidiary.
"Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiary" shall mean, as to any Person, any
Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of such Person which is a Foreign Subsidiary.
"Wholly-Owned Subsidiary" shall mean, as to any Person, (i) any
corporation 100% of whose capital stock (other than director's qualifying shares
and/or other nominal amounts of shares required to be held other than by such
Person under applicable law) is at the time owned by such Person and/or one or
more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person and (ii) any partnership,
association, joint venture or other entity in which such Person and/or one or
more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person has a 100% equity interest at such
time.
"Williamhouse Sale" shall mean the sale of all or substantially all
of the assets of the Williamhouse division of the Credit Parties.
"WR Acquisition" shall have the meaning provided in the first
paragraph of this Agreement.
"Written" (whether lower or upper case) or "in writing" shall mean
any form of written communication or a communication by means of telex,
facsimile device, telegraph or cable.
"Y2K Compliance Plan" shall mean the Y2K compliance plan of the
Borrower delivered to the Agent pursuant to Section 5.1(r).
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SECTION 11. The Agent.
11.1 Appointment. Each Lender hereby irrevocably designates and
appoints BTCo as Agent of such Lender (such term to include for purposes of this
Section 11, BTCo acting as Collateral Agent) to act as specified herein, in the
other Credit Documents and in the Orders, and each such Lender hereby
irrevocably authorizes BTCo as the Agent to take such action on its behalf under
the provisions of this Agreement, the other Credit Documents and the Orders and
to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to
the Agent by the terms of this Agreement, the other Credit Documents and the
Orders, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.
The Agent agrees to act as such upon the express conditions contained in this
Section 11. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary elsewhere in this
Agreement, in any other Credit Document or in the Orders, the Agent shall not
have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein, in
the other Credit Documents, or in the Orders or any fiduciary relationship with
any Lender, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties,
obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement, the other Credit
Documents or the Orders or otherwise exist against the Agent. The provisions of
this Section 11 are solely for the benefit of the Agent and the Lenders, and
none of Holdings nor any of its Subsidiaries shall have any rights as a third
party beneficiary of any of the provisions hereof. In performing its functions
and duties under this Agreement, the Agent shall act solely as agent of the
Lenders and the Agent does not assume and shall not be deemed to have assumed
any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with or for Holdings or any of
its Subsidiaries.
11.2 Delegation of Duties. The Agent may execute any of its duties
under this Agreement, any other Credit Document or the Orders by or through
agents or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel
concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The Agent shall not be
responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agents or attorneys-in-fact
selected by it with reasonable care except to the extent otherwise required by
Section 11.3.
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11.3 Exculpatory Provisions. Neither the Agent nor any of its
officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates shall be
(i) liable for any action lawfully taken or omitted to be taken by it or such
Person in its capacity as Agent under or in connection with this Agreement, the
other Credit Documents or the Orders (except for its or such Person's own gross
negligence or willful misconduct) or (ii) responsible in any manner to any of
the Lenders for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by
Holdings, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers contained
in this Agreement or the other Credit Documents, any other Document or in any
certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in,
or received by the Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any
other Document or for any failure of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or any
of their respective officers to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder.
The Agent shall not be under any obligation to any Lender to ascertain or to
inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained
in, or conditions of, this Agreement or the other Documents, or to inspect the
properties, books or records of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries. The Agent
shall not be responsible to any Lender for the effectiveness, genuineness,
validity, enforceability, collectability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any
other Document or for any representations, warranties, recitals or statements
made herein or therein or made in any written or oral statement or in any
financial or other statements, instruments, reports, certificates or any other
documents in connection herewith or therewith furnished or made by the Agent to
the Lenders or by or on behalf of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries to the
Agent or any Lender or be required to ascertain or inquire as to the performance
or observance of any of the terms, conditions, provisions, covenants or
agreements contained herein or therein or as to the use of the proceeds of the
Loans or of the existence or possible existence of any Default or Event of
Default.
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11.4 Reliance by Agent. The Agent shall be entitled to rely, and
shall be fully protected in relying, upon any note, writing, resolution, notice,
consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, cablegram, telegram, facsimile, telex
or teletype message, statement, order or other document or conversation
reasonably believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed,
sent or made by the proper Person or Persons and upon advice and statements of
legal counsel (including, without limitation, counsel to Holdings or any of its
Subsidiaries), independent accountants and other experts selected by the Agent.
The Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action
under this Agreement, any other Credit Document or the Orders unless it shall
first receive such advice or concurrence of the Required Lenders as it deems
appropriate or it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders
against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason
of taking or continuing to take any such action. The Agent shall in all cases be
fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement,
the other Credit Documents and the Orders in accordance with a request of the
Required Lenders, and such request and any action taken or failure to act
pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Lenders.
11.5 Notice of Default. The Agent shall not be deemed to have
knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default unless
the Agent has actually received notice from a Lender, Holdings, WR Acquisition
or the Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Default or Event of
Default and stating that such notice is a "notice of default." In the event that
the Agent receives such a notice, the Agent shall give prompt notice thereof to
the Lenders. The Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default or
Event of Default as shall be reasonably directed by the Required Lenders;
provided, that, unless and until the Agent shall have received such directions,
the Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from
taking such action, with respect to such Default or Event of Default as it shall
deem advisable in the best interests of the Lenders.
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11.6 Nonreliance on Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender expressly
acknowledges that neither the Agent nor any of its respective officers,
directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates have made any
representations or warranties to it and that no act by the Agent hereinafter
taken, including any review of the affairs of Holdings or any of its
Subsidiaries, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by
the Agent to any Lender. Each Lender represents to the Agent that it has,
independently and without reliance upon the Agent or any other Lender, and based
on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own
appraisal of and investigation into the business, assets, operations, property,
financial and other condition, prospects and creditworthiness of Holdings and
its Subsidiaries and made its own decision to make its Loans hereunder and enter
into this Agreement. Each Lender also represents that it will, independently and
without reliance upon the Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents
and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its
own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action
under this Agreement, and to make such investigation as it deems necessary to
inform itself as to the business, assets, operations, property, financial and
other condition, prospects and creditworthiness of Holdings and its
Subsidiaries. The Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any
Lender with any credit or other information concerning the business, operations,
assets, property, financial and other condition, prospects or creditworthiness
of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries which may come into the possession of the
Agent or any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or
affiliates.
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11.7 Indemnification. The Lenders agree to indemnify the Agent in
its capacity as such ratably according to their respective "percentages" as used
in determining the Required Lenders at such time (with such "percentages" to be
determined as if there are no Defaulting Lenders), from and against any and all
liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits,
costs, reasonable expenses or disbursements of any kind whatsoever which may at
any time (including, without limitation, at any time following the payment of
the Obligations) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Agent in its
capacity as such in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement, any
other Credit Document, the Orders, or any documents contemplated by or referred
to herein or the transactions contemplated hereby or any action taken or omitted
to be taken by the Agent under or in connection with any of the foregoing, but
only to the extent that any of the foregoing is not paid by Holdings or any of
its Subsidiaries; provided, that no Lender shall be liable to the Agent for the
payment of any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages,
penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting
solely from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Agent. To the
extent any Lender would be required to indemnify the Agent pursuant to the
immediately preceding sentence but for the fact that it is a Defaulting Lender,
such Defaulting Lender shall not be entitled to receive any portion of any
payment or other distribution hereunder until each other Lender shall have been
reimbursed for the excess, if any, of the aggregate amount paid by such Lender
under this Section 11.7 over the aggregate amount such Lender would have been
obligated to pay had such first Lender not been a Defaulting Lender. If any
indemnity furnished to the Agent for any purpose shall, in the opinion of the
Agent be insufficient or become impaired, the Agent may call for additional
indemnity and cease, or not commence, to do the acts indemnified against until
such additional indemnity is furnished. The agreements in this Section 11.7
shall survive the payment of all Obligations.
11.8 Agent in its Individual Capacity. The Agent and its affiliates
may make loans to, accept deposits from and generally engage in any kind of
business with Holdings and its Subsidiaries as though the Agent were not the
Agent hereunder. With respect to the Loans made by it and all Obligations owing
to it, the Agent shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as
any Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Agent and the
terms "Lender" and "Lenders" shall include the Agent in its individual capacity.
The parties hereto acknowledge that BTCo is the agent under the Existing Credit
Agreement. In acting under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, the
Agent may consider the interests of the Existing Lenders with respect to the
Existing Credit Agreement.
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11.9 Holders. The Agent may deem and treat the payee of any Note as
the owner thereof for all purposes hereof unless and until a written notice of
the assignment, transfer or endorsement thereof, as the case may be, shall have
been filed with the Agent. Any request, authority or consent of any Person or
entity who, at the time of making such request or giving such authority or
consent, is the holder of any Note shall be conclusive and binding on any
subsequent holder, transferee, assignee or indorsee, as the case may be, of such
Note or of any Note or Notes issued in exchange therefor.
11.10 Resignation of the Agent; Successor Agent. The Agent may
resign as the Agent upon 30 days' notice to the Lenders. Upon the resignation of
the Agent, the Required Lenders shall appoint from among the Lenders a successor
Agent which is a bank or a trust company for the Lenders subject to prior
approval by the Borrower (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld,
provided that such approval shall not be required if an Event of Default then
exists), whereupon such successor agent shall succeed to the rights, powers and
duties of the Agent, and the term "Agent" shall include such successor agent
effective upon its appointment, and the resigning Agent's rights, powers and
duties as the Agent shall be terminated, without any other or further act or
deed on the part of such former Agent or any of the parties to this Agreement.
After the resignation of the Agent hereunder, the provisions of this Section 11
shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it
while it was Agent under this Agreement.
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11.11 No Duties of Arranger or Syndication Agent. Neither the
Arranger nor the Syndication Agent shall have any duties, obligations or
liabilities hereunder or under any other Credit Document.
SECTION 12. Miscellaneous.
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12.1 Payment of Expenses, etc. The Borrower agrees to: (i) whether
or not the transactions herein contemplated are consummated, pay all reasonable
out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Agent and the Lenders (including,
without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the
Agent and each Lender and professionals engaged by the Agent and the Lenders) in
connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution and delivery of the
Credit Documents and the documents and instruments referred to therein, the
consummation and administration of the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby and any amendment, waiver or consent relating thereto and in connection
with the Agent's syndication efforts with respect to this Agreement; (ii) pay
all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Agent, each Letter of
Credit Issuer and each of the Lenders in connection with the enforcement of the
Credit Documents and the documents and instruments referred to therein and,
after an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the protection
of the rights of the Agent, each Letter of Credit Issuer and each of the Lenders
thereunder (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements
of counsel (including in-house counsel) for the Agent, for each Letter of Credit
Issuer and for each of the Lenders); (iii) pay and hold each of the Lenders
harmless from and against any and all present and future stamp and other similar
taxes with respect to the foregoing matters and save each of the Lenders
harmless from and against any and all liabilities with respect to or resulting
from any delay or omission (other than to the extent attributable to such
Lender) to pay such taxes; (iv) pay all reasonable expenses of the Agent and
each Lender related to this Agreement and the other Credit Documents in
connection with the Cases (including, without limitation, the ongoing monitoring
by the Agent and each Lender of the Cases, including attendance by the Agent,
each Lender and their respective counsel at hearings or other proceedings and
the ongoing review of documents filed with the Bankruptcy Court); and (v)
indemnify the Agent, the Collateral Agent, each Letter of Credit Issuer and each
Lender, their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives and
agents from and hold each of them harmless against any and all losses,
liabilities, claims, damages or expenses incurred by any of them as a result of,
or arising out of, or in any way related to, or by reason of, (a) any
investigation, litigation or other proceeding (whether or not the Agent, the
Collateral Agent, any Letter of Credit Issuer or any Lender is a party thereto
and whether or not any such investigation, litigation or other proceeding is
between or among the Agent, the Collateral Agent, any Letter of Credit Issuer,
any Lender, any Credit Party or any third Person or otherwise) related to the
entering into and/or performance of this Agreement or any other Document or the
use of the proceeds of any Loans hereunder or the consummation of any
transactions contemplated in any Document (but excluding any such losses,
liabilities, claims, damages or expenses to the extent incurred by reason of the
gross
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negligence or willful misconduct of the Person to be indemnified), or (b) the
actual or alleged presence of Hazardous Materials in the air, surface water or
groundwater or on the surface or subsurface of any Real Property or any
Environmental Claim, in each case, including, without limitation, the reasonable
fees and disbursements of counsel and independent consultants incurred in
connection with any such investigation, litigation or other proceeding.
12.2 Right of Setoff. In addition to any rights now or hereafter
granted under applicable law or otherwise, and not by way of limitation of any
such rights, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Agent, each Letter
of Credit Issuer and each Lender is hereby authorized at any time or from time
to time, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind to
Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or to any other Person, any such notice
being hereby expressly waived, and without further order of or application to
the Bankruptcy Court, to set off and to appropriate and apply any and all
deposits (general or special) and any other Indebtedness at any time held or
owing by the Agent, such Letter of Credit Issuer or such Lender (including,
without limitation, by branches and agencies of the Agent, such Letter of Credit
Issuer and such Lender wherever located) to or for the credit or the account of
Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries against and on account of the Obligations of
Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries to the Agent, such Letter of Credit Issuer
or such Lender under this Agreement or under any of the other Credit Documents,
including, without limitation, all interests in Obligations of Holdings or any
of its Subsidiaries purchased by such Lender pursuant to Section 12.6(b), and
all other claims of any nature or description arising out of or connected with
this Agreement or any other Credit Document, irrespective of whether or not the
Agent, such Letter of Credit Issuer or such Lender shall have made any demand
hereunder and although said Obligations shall be contingent or unmatured;
provided, however, that in accordance with the terms of the Orders, the Agent
and the Lenders may exercise the rights described in this Section 12.2 only
after providing three Business Days' prior written notice to the Borrower, the
United States Trustee and any statutory committee appointed in the Cases.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 12.2, no
Lender shall exercise any such right of set-off without the prior consent of the
Agent or the Required Lenders so long as the Obligations shall be secured by any
Real Property located in the State of California, it being understood and
agreed, however, that this sentence is for the sole benefit of the Letter of
Credit Issuers and the Lenders and may be amended, modified or waived in any
respect by the Required Lenders without the requirement of prior notice to or
consent by any Credit Party and does not constitute a waiver of any rights
against any Credit Party or against any Collateral.
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12.3 Notices. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all
notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing
(including telegraphic, telex, facsimile or cable communication) and mailed,
telegraphed, telexed, telecopied, cabled or delivered, if to any Credit Party,
at the address specified opposite its signature below or in the other relevant
Credit Documents, as the case may be; if to the Agent or any Lender, at its
address specified for the Agent or such Lender on Annex II; or, at such other
address as shall be designated by any party in a written notice to the other
parties hereto. All such notices and communications shall be mailed,
telegraphed, telexed, telecopied or cabled or sent by overnight courier, and
shall be effective when received.
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12.4 Benefit of Agreement.
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(a) This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of and be enforceable by the respective successors and assigns of the
parties hereto; provided, however, the Borrower may not assign or transfer any
of its rights, obligations or interest hereunder or under any other Credit
Document without the prior written consent of the Lenders and, provided further,
that, although any Lender may transfer, assign or grant participations in its
rights hereunder, such Lender shall remain a "Lender" for all purposes hereunder
(and may not transfer or assign all or any portion of its Revolving Loan
Commitment hereunder except as provided in Section 12.4(b)) and the transferee,
assignee or participant, as the case may be, shall not constitute a "Lender"
hereunder and, provided further, that no Lender shall transfer or grant any
participation under which the participant shall have rights to approve any
amendment to or waiver of this Agreement or any other Credit Document except to
the extent such amendment or waiver would (i) extend the final scheduled
maturity of any Loan, Note or Letter of Credit (unless such Letter of Credit is
not extended beyond the Final Maturity Date) in which such participant is
participating, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest or
Fees thereon (except in connection with a waiver of applicability of any
post-default increase in interest rates) or reduce the principal amount thereof,
or increase the amount of the participant's participation over the amount
thereof then in effect (it being understood that a waiver of any Default or
Event of Default or of a mandatory reduction in the Total Revolving Loan
Commitment or the Total Term Loan Commitment shall not constitute a change in
the terms of such participation, and that an increase in any Commitment or Loan
shall be permitted without the consent of any participant if the participant's
participation is not increased as a result thereof), (ii) consent to the
assignment or transfer by the Borrower of any of its rights and obligations
under this Agreement or (iii) release all or substantially all of the Collateral
under all of the Security Documents (except as expressly provided in the Credit
Documents) supporting the Loans hereunder in which such participant is
participating and, provided further, that no Lender shall transfer, assign or
grant participations in any interest in such Lender's Revolving Loans or
Revolving Loan Commitment to any Person without a simultaneous transfer,
assignment or grant of a participation in a pro rata amount of such Lender's
Term Loans and Term Loan Commitment to such Person. In the case of any such
participation, the participant shall not have any rights under this Agreement,
any of the other Credit Documents, the Interim Order or the Final Order (the
participant's rights against such Lender in respect of such participation to be
those set forth in the agreement executed by such Lender in favor of the
participant relating thereto) and all amounts payable by the Borrower hereunder
shall be determined as if such Lender had not sold such participation.
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(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Lender (or any Lender
together with one or more other Lenders) may (x) assign all or a portion of its
Commitments (and related outstanding Obligations hereunder) to its parent
company and/or any affiliate of such Lender which is at least 50% owned by such
Lender or its parent company or to one or more Lenders or (y) assign all, or if
less than all, a portion equal to at least $2,500,000 in the aggregate for the
assigning Lender or assigning Lenders, of such Commitments (and related
outstanding Obligations hereunder) to one or more Eligible Transferees, each of
which assignees shall become a party to this Agreement as a Lender by execution
of an Assignment and Assumption Agreement, provided that (i) at such time Annex
I shall be deemed modified to reflect the Commitments of such new Lender and of
the existing Lenders, (ii) the assigning Lender shall advise the assignee that
the Borrower shall not be obligated to execute replacement Notes and shall add a
legend to any of its Notes which evidence all or any part of the Loans assigned
to the effect that rights thereunder have been assigned, (iii) the consent of
the Agent shall be required in connection with any such assignment pursuant to
clause (y) of this Section 12.4(b) (which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld), (iv) at the time of any assignment of Revolving Loan Commitments (or
related Obligations) pursuant to clause (y) of this Section 12.4(b), the
assigning Lender shall either (A) simultaneously assign a pro rata share of the
Prepetition Obligations (or, as appropriate, the Term Loans) to the same
assignee or (B) the assigning Lender shall give all Lenders which have both
Revolving Loans and Prepetition Obligations (or, as appropriate, Term Loans) an
opportunity to purchase its Revolving Loan Commitments (and related Obligations)
on the same terms as the proposed assignment and (v) the Agent shall receive at
the time of each such assignment, from the assigning or assignee Lender, the
payment of a non-refundable assignment fee of $3,500 and, provided further, that
such transfer or assignment will not be effective until recorded by the Agent on
the Register pursuant to Section 7.12 and, provided further, that after giving
effect to such assignment, the sum of the Commitments and the outstanding Loans
of such assigning Lender shall not be less than $2,500,000. The Agent will give
the Borrower notice of each such assignment after it is consummated. To the
extent of any assignment pursuant to this Section 12.4(b), the assigning Lender
shall be relieved of its obligations hereunder with respect to its assigned
Commitment. At the time of each assignment pursuant to this Section 12.4(b) to a
Person which is not already a Lender hereunder and which is not a United States
person (as such term is defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) for Federal
income tax purposes, the respective assignee Lender shall provide to the
Borrower and the Agent the appropriate Internal Revenue Service Forms (and, if
applicable a Section 4.4(b)(ii) Certificate) described in Section 4.4(b). To the
extent that an assignment of all or any portion of a Lender's Revolving Loan
Commitment and related outstanding
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Obligations pursuant to Section 1.13 or this Section 12.4(b) would, at the time
of such assignment, result in increased costs under Section 1.10, 2.5 or 4.4
from those being charged by the respective assigning Lender prior to such
assignment, then the Borrower shall not be obligated to pay such increased costs
(although the Borrower shall be obligated to pay any other increased costs of
the type described above resulting from changes after the date of the respective
assignment).
(c) Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or prohibit any
Lender from pledging its Loans and Notes hereunder to a Federal Reserve Bank in
support of borrowings made by such Lender from such Federal Reserve Bank.
12.5 No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative. No failure or delay on the part
of the Agent or any Lender in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder
or under any other Credit Document and no course of dealing between any Credit
Party and the Agent or any Lender shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall
any single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder or
under any other Credit Document preclude any other or further exercise thereof
or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege hereunder or thereunder.
The rights and remedies herein expressly provided are cumulative and not
exclusive of any rights or remedies which the Agent or any Lender would
otherwise have. No notice to or demand on any Credit Party in any case shall
entitle any Credit Party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or
other circumstances or constitute a waiver of the rights of the Agent or the
Lenders to any other or further action in any circumstances without notice or
demand.
12.6 Payments Pro Rata.
(a) The Agent agrees that promptly after its receipt of each
payment from or on behalf of any Credit Party in respect of any Obligations of
such Credit Party, it shall, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement,
distribute such payment to the Lenders (other than any Lender that has consented
in writing to waive its pro rata share of such payment) pro rata based upon
their respective shares, if any, of the Obligations with respect to which such
payment was received.
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(b) Each of the Lenders agrees that, if it should receive any
amount hereunder (whether by voluntary payment, by realization upon security, by
the exercise of the right of setoff or banker's lien, by counterclaim or cross
action, by the enforcement of any right under the Credit Documents, or
otherwise) which is applicable to the payment of the principal of, or interest
on, the Loans, Unpaid Drawings or Fees, of a sum which with respect to the
related sum or sums received by other Lenders is in a greater proportion than
the total of such Obligation then owed and due to such Lender bears to the total
of such Obligation then owed and due to all of the Lenders immediately prior to
such receipt, then such Lender receiving such excess payment shall purchase for
cash without recourse or warranty from the other Lenders an interest in the
Obligations of the respective Credit Party to such Lenders in such amount as
shall result in a proportional participation by all of the Lenders in such
amount; provided, that if all or any portion of such excess amount is thereafter
recovered from such Lender, such purchase shall be rescinded and the purchase
price restored to the extent of such recovery, but without interest.
12.7 Calculations; Computations.
(a) The financial statements to be furnished to the Lenders
pursuant hereto shall be made and prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently
applied throughout the periods involved (except as set forth in the notes
thereto or as otherwise disclosed in writing by Holdings or the Borrower to the
Lenders); provided, that except as otherwise specifically provided herein, all
computations determining compliance with Sections 3.3 and 8, including
definitions used therein, shall, in each case, utilize accounting principles and
policies in effect at the time of the preparation of, and in conformity with
those used to prepare, the December 31, 1998 financial statements delivered to
the Lenders pursuant to Section 6.10(a).
(b) All computations of interest and Fees hereunder shall be
made on the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 360 days.
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12.8 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Venue.
(a) THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS AND THE
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER AND THEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED
BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND, TO
THE EXTENT APPLICABLE, THE BANKRUPTCY CODE. Any legal action or proceeding with
respect to this Agreement or any other Credit Document may be brought in the
Bankruptcy Court and, if the Bankruptcy Court does not have (or abstains from)
jurisdiction, in the courts of the State of New York or of the United States for
the Southern District of New York, and, by execution and delivery of this
Agreement, each Credit Party hereby irrevocably accepts for itself and in
respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, the jurisdiction of the
aforesaid courts. Each Credit Party hereby further irrevocably waives any claim
that any such courts lack jurisdiction over such Credit Party, and agrees not to
plead or claim, in any legal action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement
or any other Credit Document brought in any of the aforesaid courts, that any
such court lacks jurisdiction over such Credit Party. Each Credit Party
irrevocably consents to the service of process in any such action or proceeding
by the mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail, postage
prepaid, to such Credit Party, at its address for notices pursuant to Section
12.3, such service to become effective 30 days after such mailing. Each Credit
Party hereby irrevocably waives any objection to such service of process and
further irrevocably waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any action or
proceeding commenced hereunder or under any other Credit Document that service
of process was in any way invalid or ineffective. Nothing herein shall affect
the right of the Agent, any Lender or the holder of any Note to serve process in
any other manner permitted by law or to commence legal proceedings or otherwise
proceed against any Credit Party in any other jurisdiction.
(b) Each Credit Party hereby irrevocably waives any objection
which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any of the
aforesaid actions or proceedings arising out of or in connection with this
Agreement or any other Credit Document brought in the courts referred to in
clause (a) above and hereby further irrevocably waives and agrees not to plead
or claim in any such court that any such action or proceeding brought in any
such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
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12.9 Counterparts, etc. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts,
each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of
which shall together constitute one and the same instrument. A complete set of
counterparts executed by all the parties hereto shall be lodged with the
Borrower and the Agent. This Agreement may be executed and delivered by
telecopier with the same force and effect as if the same were manually executed
and delivered.
12.10 Effectiveness. This Agreement shall become effective on the
date (the "Effective Date") on which (i) Holdings, WR Acquisition, the Borrower,
the Agent and each of the Revolving Lenders shall have signed a counterpart
hereof (whether the same or different counterparts) and shall have delivered the
same to the Agent at the Notice Office or, in the case of the Revolving Lenders,
shall have given to the Agent telephonic (confirmed in writing), written, telex
or facsimile notice (actually received) at such office that the same has been
signed and mailed to it and (ii) the Interim Order shall have been entered and
shall be in full force and effect. The Agent will give Holdings, WR Acquisition,
the Borrower and each Revolving Lender prompt written notice of the occurrence
of the Effective Date.
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12.11 Headings Descriptive. The headings of the several
sections and subsections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only
and shall not in any way affect the meaning or construction of any provision
of this Agreement.
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12.12 Amendment or Waiver; etc. Neither this Agreement nor any other
Credit Document nor any terms hereof or thereof may be changed, waived,
discharged or terminated unless such change, waiver, discharge or termination is
in writing signed by the respective Credit Parties party thereto and the
Required Revolving Lenders, provided that no such change, waiver, discharge or
termination shall, without the consent of each Lender (other than a Defaulting
Lender) (with Obligations being directly affected thereby in the case of the
following clause (i)), (i) extend the final scheduled maturity of any Loan or
Note or extend the stated maturity of any Letter of Credit or Existing Letter of
Credit beyond the Final Maturity Date, or reduce the rate or extend the time of
payment of interest or Fees thereon, or reduce the principal amount thereof (it
being understood that any amendment or modification to the financial definitions
in this Agreement shall not constitute a reduction in any rate of interest or
fees for purposes of this clause (i)), (ii) release all or substantially all of
the Collateral (except as expressly provided in the Security Documents) under
all the Security Documents, (iii) amend, modify or waive any provision of
Section 9.5(j) or this Section 12.12, (iv) reduce the percentage specified in
the definition of Required Lenders (it being understood that, with the consent
of the Required Lenders, additional extensions of credit pursuant to this
Agreement may be included in the determination of the Required Lenders on
substantially the same basis as the extensions of Commitments are included on
the Effective Date), (v) consent to the assignment or transfer by the Borrower
of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement, (vi) modify the
provisions of the Orders with respect to the priority of claims thereunder or
modify the Super-priority Claim status of the Lenders in respect of any Lender's
Loans, extensions of credit hereunder, Existing Letters of Credit or Letters of
Credit or (vii) amend, waive or modify any provision of the Credit Documents
that expressly provides for the consent of all Lenders; provided further, that
no such change, waiver, discharge or termination shall, without the consent of
all Revolving Lenders (other than a Defaulting Lender) (i) amend, modify or
waive any provision of this Agreement that expressly provides for the consent of
all of the Revolving Lenders, (ii) amend the definition of "Required Revolving
Lenders", (iii) extend the time for repayment (including final maturity) of any
principal amount of the Revolving Loans or increase the Total Revolving Loan
Commitment, (iv) increase the advance rate from that set forth in the definition
of "Accounts Borrowing Base" or "Inventory Borrowing Base," or (v) amend, modify
or waive any provision that expressly provides for the consent of all Revolving
Lenders, provided further that no such change, waiver, discharge or termination
shall increase the Commitments of any Lender over the amount thereof then in
effect without the consent of such Lender (it being understood that waivers or
modifications of conditions precedent, covenants, Defaults or Events of Default
or of a mandatory reduction in the
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Total Revolving Loan Commitment or the Total Term Loan Commitment shall not
constitute an increase of the Commitment of any Lender, and that an increase in
the available portion of any Commitment of any Lender shall not constitute an
increase in the Commitment of such Lender), provided further, that no such
change, waiver, discharge or termination shall, without the consent of the
Required Lenders, modify the second sentence of Section 4.2(d) or any provision
of Section 8.26, provided further, that no such change, waiver, discharge or
termination shall, without the consent of all Term Lenders (other than a
Defaulting Lender), modify any provision of Section 5.3, provided further that
no such change, waiver, discharge or termination shall (x) without the consent
of each Letter of Credit Issuer, amend, modify or waive any provision of Section
2 or alter its rights or obligations with respect to Letters of Credit or
Swingline Loans, (y) without the consent of the Agent, amend, modify or waive
any provision of Section 11 as same applies to the Agent or any other provision
as same relates to the rights or obligations of the Agent and (z) without the
consent of the Collateral Agent, amend, modify or waive any provision relating
to the rights or obligations of the Collateral Agent.
12.13 Survival. All indemnities set forth herein including, without
limitation, in Section 1.10, 2.5, 4.4, 11.7 or 12.1, shall survive the execution
and delivery of this Agreement and the making and repayment of the Loans.
12.14 Domicile of Loans. Each Lender may transfer and carry its
Loans at, to or for the account of any branch office, subsidiary or affiliate of
such Lender; provided, that the Borrower shall not be responsible for costs
arising under Section 1.10, 2.5 or 4.4 resulting from any such transfer (other
than a transfer pursuant to Section 1.12) to the extent such costs would not
otherwise be applicable to such Lender in the absence of such transfer.
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12.15 Confidentiality.
(a) Each of the Lenders agrees that it will use its reasonable
efforts not to disclose without the prior consent of the Borrower (other than to
its directors, employees, auditors, counsel or other professional advisors, to
affiliates or to another Lender if the Lender or such Lender's holding or parent
company in its sole discretion determines that any such party should have access
to such information) any information with respect to Holdings, WR Acquisition,
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries which is furnished pursuant to this
Agreement; provided, that any Lender may disclose any such information (a) as
has become generally available to the public, (b) as may be required or
appropriate (x) in any report, statement or testimony submitted to any
municipal, state or Federal regulatory body having or claiming to have
jurisdiction over such Lender or to the Federal Reserve Board or the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation or similar organizations (whether in the United
States or elsewhere) or their successors (y) in connection with any request or
requirement of any such regulatory body or (z) in connection with the Cases, (c)
as may be required or appropriate in response to any summons or subpoena or in
connection with any litigation, (d) to comply with any law, order, regulation or
ruling applicable to such Lender, and (e) to any prospective transferee in
connection with any contemplated transfer of any of the Notes or any interest
therein by such Lender; provided, that such prospective transferee agrees to be
bound by this Section 12.15 to the same extent as such Lender.
(b) Each of Holdings, WR Acquisition and the Borrower hereby
acknowledges and agrees that each Lender may share with any of its affiliates
any information related to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries (including,
without limitation, any nonpublic customer information regarding the
creditworthiness of Holdings and its Subsidiaries), provided that such Persons
shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 12.15 to the same extent as
such Lender.
12.16 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT
HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING
OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE OTHER CREDIT
DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.
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12.17 Absence of Prejudice to the Existing Lenders with Respect to
Matters Before the Bankruptcy Court. Each of the Credit Parties acknowledges
that the Bankruptcy Code and Bankruptcy Rules require it to seek Bankruptcy
Court authorization for certain matters that may also be addressed in this
Agreement. None of the Credit Parties will (a) mention in any pleading or
argument before the Bankruptcy Court in support of, or in any way relating to, a
position that Bankruptcy Court authorization should be granted on the ground
that such authorization is permitted by this Agreement (unless a Person opposing
any such pleading or argument relies on this Agreement to assert or question the
propriety of such) or (b) in any way attempt to support a position before the
Bankruptcy Court based on the provisions of this Agreement. The Agent or any
Lender, in its capacity as the Prepetition Agent or an Existing Lender,
respectively, shall be free to bring, oppose or support any matter before the
Bankruptcy Court no matter how treated in this Agreement, and the fact that the
Agent is also the Prepetition Agent and any Lender is also an Existing Lender
shall in no way prejudice the rights of the Agent or any Existing Lender under
the Existing Credit Agreement or hereunder.
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12.18 [Intentionally Omitted].
12.19 Application of Proceeds; Priority of Revolving Loans and
Letter of Credit Outstandings.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Agreement or any other Credit Document, (i) if the Agent takes action under
Section 9 upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default,
any payment by the Borrower or any Guarantor on account of principal of and
interest on the Loans and any proceeds arising out of any realization (including
after foreclosure) upon the Collateral shall be applied as follows: first, to
the payment in full of all costs and expenses (including without limitation,
reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements) paid or incurred by the Agent or
any of the Lenders in connection with any such realization upon the Collateral,
second, as a permanent reduction of the Revolving Loan Commitments, pro rata to
the payment in full of the Revolving Loans (including any accrued and unpaid
interest thereon, and any fees and other Obligations in respect thereof), third,
as a permanent reduction of the Revolving Loan Commitments, to the payments in
full of Letter of Credit Outstandings constituting unreimbursed drawings under
any Letter of Credit, fourth, as a permanent reduction of the Revolving Loan
Commitments, to cash collateralize Letters of Credit in an amount equal to 105%
of the aggregate amount of all Letter of Credit Outstandings constituting
undrawn Letters of Credit, fifth, if the Term Loan Effective Date has occurred,
to the payment in full of the principal of and interest on the Term Loans
(including any accrued and unpaid interest thereon and any fees and other
Obligations in respect thereof), sixth, if the Term Loan Effective Date has
occurred, to pay unreimbursed drawings under any Existing Letter of Credit,
seventh, if the Term Loan Effective Date has occurred, to cash collateralize
Existing Letters of Credit in an amount equal to 105% of the aggregate undrawn
face amount of Existing Letters of Credit, eighth, to the payment in full of any
remaining Obligations, provided that if any payments or distributions are
received prior to the Term Loan Effective Date, then such payments or
distribution shall be applied pursuant to this clause eighth to the payment in
full of the Prepetition Obligations after application of such payments or
distributions to the remaining Postpetition Obligations, and (ii) any payments
or distributions of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or
securities, made by the Borrower or any Guarantor or otherwise in a manner
inconsistent with clause (i) of this Section 12.19(a) shall be held in trust and
paid over or delivered to the Agent so that the priorities and requirements set
forth in such clause (i) are satisfied.
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(b) It is understood that the Borrower and the Guarantors
shall remain liable to the extent of any deficiency between the amount of the
proceeds of the Collateral and the amount of the Obligations.
12.20 Remedies Cumulative. Each and every right, power and remedy
hereby specifically given to the Agent shall be in addition to every other
right, power and remedy specifically given under this Agreement, the Orders or
the other Credit Documents or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity, or
by statute and each and every right, power and remedy whether specifically
herein given or otherwise existing may be exercised from time to time or
simultaneously and as often and in such order as may be deemed expedient by the
Agent. All such rights, powers and remedies shall be cumulative and the exercise
or the beginning of exercise of one shall not be deemed a waiver of the right to
exercise of any other or others. No delay or omission of the Agent in the
exercise of any such right, power or remedy and no renewal or extension of any
of the Obligations shall impair any such right, power or remedy or shall be
construed to be a waiver of any Default or Event of Default or an acquiescence
therein. In the event that the Agent shall bring any suit to enforce any of its
rights hereunder and shall be entitled to judgment, then in such suit the Agent
may recover reasonable expenses, including attorney's fees, and the amounts
thereof shall be included in such judgment.
12.21 Discontinuance of Proceedings. In case the Agent shall have
instituted any proceeding to enforce any right, power or remedy under this
Agreement by foreclosure, sale, entry or otherwise, and such proceeding shall
have been discontinued or abandoned for any reason or shall have determined
adversely to the Agent, then and in every such case the Borrower, the Agent and
each holder of any of the Obligations shall be restored to their former
positions and rights hereunder with respect to the Collateral subject to the
security interest created under this Agreement, and all rights, remedies and
powers of the Agent and the Lenders shall continue as if no such proceeding had
been instituted.
12.22 Existing Credit Agreement. The Credit Parties hereby
acknowledge that (a) they are truly and justly indebted to the Existing Lenders
for the Existing Lender Debt in the aggregate principal amount of
$264,473,176.27 (including $11,823,176.23 in undrawn Existing Letters of Credit)
plus accrued and unpaid interest, fees and expenses, without defense,
counterclaim or offset of any kind and (b) the Existing Lender Debt is secured
by valid, perfected and enforceable Liens on substantially all of the assets of
the Credit Parties.
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12.23 Addition of Term Lenders. The parties hereto acknowledge that
no Term Lender shall be a party to this Agreement as of the Effective Date. The
parties hereto agree that, on the Term Loan Effective Date and without the need
to obtain the consent of any party hereto, the Term Lenders will become parties
hereto by executing and delivering a counterpart of this Agreement with Term
Loan Commitments in the amounts set forth on Annex I and the Agent may amend
Annex I to reflect the Term Loan Commitments of the Term Lenders as of the Term
Loan Effective Date (it being understood that the Total Term Loan Commitment
shall be equal to the Existing Lender Debt). Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary set forth herein, no Term Lender shall be deemed to be a Lender unless
and until the conditions set forth in Section 5.3 have been satisfied.
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SECTION 13. Parent's Guaranty.
13.1 The Guaranty. In order to induce the Lenders to enter into this
Agreement and to extend credit hereunder and in recognition of the direct
benefits to be received by each Parent Guarantor from the proceeds of the Loans
and the issuance of the Letters of Credit, each Parent Guarantor hereby agrees
with the Lenders as follows: Each Parent Guarantor hereby unconditionally and
irrevocably, jointly and severally, guarantees, as primary obligor and not
merely as surety, the full and prompt payment when due, whether upon maturity,
acceleration or otherwise, of any and all of the Guaranteed Obligations of the
Borrower to the Guaranteed Creditors. If any or all of the Guaranteed
Obligations of the Borrower to the Guaranteed Creditors becomes due and payable
hereunder, each Parent Guarantor, jointly and severally, and unconditionally
promises to pay such Guaranteed Obligations to the Guaranteed Creditors, or
order, on demand, together with any and all expenses (including reasonable legal
fees and expenses) which may be incurred by the Guaranteed Creditors in
collecting or enforcing any of the Guaranteed Obligations. If claim is ever made
upon any Guaranteed Creditor for repayment or recovery of any amount or amounts
received in payment or on account of any of the Guaranteed Obligations and any
of the aforesaid payees repays all or part of said amount by reason of (i) any
judgment, decree or order of any court or administrative body having
jurisdiction over such payee or any of its property or (ii) any settlement or
compromise of any such claim effected by such payee with any such claimant
(including the Borrower), then and in such event each Parent Guarantor agrees
that any such judgment, decree, order, settlement or compromise shall be binding
upon such Parent Guarantor, notwithstanding any revocation of this Guaranty or
any other instrument evidencing any liability of the Borrower, and each Parent
Guarantor shall be and remain jointly and severally liable to the aforesaid
payees hereunder for the amount so repaid or recovered to the same extent as if
such amount had never originally been received by any such payee. This is a
guaranty of payment and not of collection.
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13.2 Nature of Liability.
(a) The liability of each Parent Guarantor hereunder is joint
and several and exclusive and independent of any security for or other guaranty
of the Guaranteed Obligations of the Borrower whether executed by such Parent
Guarantor, any other Parent Guarantor, any other guarantor or by any other
party, and the liability of each Parent Guarantor hereunder is not affected or
impaired by (a) any direction as to application of payment by the Borrower or by
any other party, or (b) any other continuing or other guaranty, undertaking or
maximum liability of a guarantor or of any other party as to the Guaranteed
Obligations of the Borrower, or (c) any payment on or in reduction of any such
other guaranty or undertaking, or (d) any dissolution, termination or increase,
decrease or change in personnel by the Borrower, or (e) any payment made to the
Guaranteed Creditors on the Guaranteed Obligations which any such Guaranteed
Creditor repays to the Borrower pursuant to court order in any bankruptcy,
reorganization, arrangement, moratorium or other debtor relief proceeding, and
each Parent Guarantor waives any right to the deferral or modification of its
obligations hereunder by reason of any such proceeding.
(b) It is the desire and intent of each Parent Guarantor and
the Guaranteed Creditors that this Guaranty shall be enforced against each
Parent Guarantor to the fullest extent permissible under the laws and public
policies applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. If,
however, and to the extent that, the obligations of any Parent Guarantor under
this Guaranty shall be adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason
(including, without limitation, because of any applicable state or federal law
relating to fraudulent conveyances or transfers), then the amount of the
Guaranteed Obligations of such Parent Guarantor shall be deemed to be reduced
and such Parent Guarantor shall pay the maximum amount of the Guaranteed
Obligations which would be permissible under applicable law.
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13.3 Independent Obligation. The obligations of each Parent
Guarantor hereunder are independent of the obligations of any other Parent
Guarantor, any other guarantor, any other party or the Borrower, and a separate
action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against each Parent Guarantor
whether or not action is brought against any other Parent Guarantor, any other
guarantor, any other party or the Borrower and whether or not any other
guarantor, any other party or the Borrower be joined in any such action or
actions. Each Parent Guarantor waives, to the full extent permitted by law, the
benefit of any statute of limitations affecting its liability hereunder or the
enforcement thereof. Any payment by the Borrower or other circumstance which
operates to toll any statute of limitations as to the Borrower shall operate to
toll the statute of limitations as to any Parent Guarantor.
13.4 Authorization. Each Parent Guarantor authorizes the Guaranteed
Creditors without notice or demand (except as shall be required by applicable
statute and cannot be waived), and without affecting or impairing its liability
hereunder, from time to time to:
(a) change the manner, place or terms of payment of, and/or
change or extend the time of payment of, renew, increase, accelerate or alter,
any of the Guaranteed Obligations (including any increase or decrease in the
rate of interest thereon), any security therefor, or any liability incurred
directly or indirectly in respect thereof, and the Guaranty herein made shall
apply to the Guaranteed Obligations as so changed, extended, renewed or altered;
(b) take and hold security for the payment of the Guaranteed
Obligations and sell, exchange, release, surrender, realize upon or otherwise
deal with in any manner and in any order any property by whomsoever at any time
pledged or mortgaged to secure, or howsoever securing, the Guaranteed
Obligations or any liabilities (including any of those hereunder) incurred
directly or indirectly in respect thereof or hereof, and/or any offset
thereagainst;
(c) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the
Borrower or others or otherwise act or refrain from acting;
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(d) release or substitute any one or more endorsers,
guarantors, the Borrower or other obligors;
(e) settle or compromise any of the Guaranteed Obligations,
any security therefor or any liability (including any of those hereunder)
incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof or hereof, and may
subordinate the payment of all or any part thereof to the payment of any
liability (whether due or not) of the Borrower to its creditors other than the
Guaranteed Creditors;
(f) apply any sums by whomsoever paid or howsoever realized to
any liability or liabilities of the Borrower to the Guaranteed Creditors
regardless of what liability or liabilities of the Borrower remain unpaid;
(g) consent to or waive any breach of, or any act, omission or
default under, this Agreement, any other Credit Document or any of the
instruments or agreements referred to herein or therein, or otherwise amend,
modify or supplement this Agreement, any other Credit Document or any of such
other instruments or agreements; and/or
(h) take any other action which would, under otherwise
applicable principles of common law, give rise to a legal or equitable discharge
of any Parent Guarantor from its liabilities under this Guaranty.
13.5 Reliance. It is not necessary for the Guaranteed Creditors to
inquire into the capacity or powers of the Borrower or the officers, directors,
partners or agents acting or purporting to act on their behalf, and any
Guaranteed Obligations made or created in reliance upon the professed exercise
of such powers shall be guaranteed hereunder.
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13.6 Subordination. Any of the indebtedness of the Borrower now or
hereafter owing to any Parent Guarantor is hereby subordinated to the Guaranteed
Obligations of the Borrower owing to the Guaranteed Creditors; and if the Agent
so requests at a time when an Event of Default exists, all such indebtedness of
the Borrower to any Parent Guarantor shall be collected, enforced and received
by such Parent Guarantor for the benefit of the Guaranteed Creditors and be paid
over to the Agent on behalf of the Guaranteed Creditors on account of the
Guaranteed Obligations of the Borrower to the Guaranteed Creditors, but without
affecting or impairing in any manner the liability of any Parent Guarantor under
the other provisions of this Guaranty. Prior to the transfer by any Parent
Guarantor of any note or negotiable instrument evidencing any of the
indebtedness of the Borrower to such Parent Guarantor, such Parent Guarantor
shall mark such note or negotiable instrument with a legend that the same is
subject to this subordination. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
each Parent Guarantor hereby agrees with the Guaranteed Creditors that it will
not exercise any right of subrogation which it may at any time otherwise have as
a result of this Guaranty (whether contractual, under Section 509 of the
Bankruptcy Code or otherwise) until all Guaranteed Obligations have been
irrevocably paid in full in cash.
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13.7 Waiver.
(a) Each Parent Guarantor waives any right (except as shall be
required by applicable statute and cannot be waived) to require any Guaranteed
Creditor to (i) proceed against the Borrower, any other Parent Guarantor, any
other guarantor or any other party, (ii) proceed against or exhaust any security
held from the Borrower, any other Parent Guarantor, any other guarantor or any
other party or (iii) pursue any other remedy in any Guaranteed Creditor's power
whatsoever. Each Parent Guarantor waives any defense based on or arising out of
any defense of the Borrower, any other Parent Guarantor, any other guarantor or
any other party, other than payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations, based
on or arising out of the disability of the Borrower, any other Parent Guarantor,
any other guarantor or any other party, or the unenforceability of the
Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof from any cause, or the cessation from
any cause of the liability of the Borrower other than payment in full of the
Guaranteed Obligations. The Guaranteed Creditors may, at their election,
foreclose on any security held by the Agent, the Collateral Agent or any other
Guaranteed Creditor by one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales, whether or not
every aspect of any such sale is commercially reasonable (to the extent such
sale is permitted by applicable law), or exercise any other right or remedy the
Guaranteed Creditors may have against the Borrower or any other party, or any
security, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of any Parent
Guarantor hereunder except to the extent the Guaranteed Obligations have been
paid. Each Parent Guarantor waives any defense arising out of any such election
by the Guaranteed Creditors, even though such election operates to impair or
extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of
such Parent Guarantor against the Borrower or any other party or any security.
(b) Each Parent Guarantor waives all presentments, demands for
performance, protests and notices, including, without limitation, notices of
nonperformance, notices of protest, notices of dishonor, notices of acceptance
of this Guaranty, and notices of the existence, creation or incurring of new or
additional Guaranteed Obligations. Each Parent Guarantor assumes all
responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the Borrower's financial
condition and assets, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of
nonpayment of the Guaranteed Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the
risks which each Parent Guarantor assumes and incurs hereunder, and agrees that
the Guaranteed Creditors shall have no duty to advise any Parent Guarantor of
information known to them regarding such circumstances or risks.
-161-
<PAGE>
(c) Each Parent Guarantor understands, is aware and hereby
acknowledges that to the extent the Guaranteed Obligations are secured by real
property located in the State of California, such Parent Guarantor shall be
liable for the full amount of its liability hereunder notwithstanding
foreclosure on such real property by trustee sale or any other reason impairing
such Parent Guarantor's or any Guaranteed Creditor's right to proceed against
any Credit Party. Each Parent Guarantor hereby waives, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, all rights and benefits under Section 2809 of the California
Civil Code purporting to reduce a guarantor's obligation in proportion to the
principal obligation. Each Parent Guarantor hereby waives all rights and
benefits under Section 580a of the California Code of Civil Procedure purporting
to limit the amount of any deficiency judgment which might be recoverable
following the occurrence of a trustee's sale under a deed of trust and all
rights and benefits under Section 580b of the California Code of Civil Procedure
stating that no deficiency may be recovered on a real property purchase money
obligation. Each Parent Guarantor further understands, is aware and hereby
acknowledges that if the Guaranteed Creditors elect to nonjudicially foreclose
on any real property security located in the State of California any right of
subrogation of such Parent Guarantor against the Guaranteed Creditors may be
impaired or extinguished and that as a result of such impairment or
extinguishment of subrogation rights, such Parent Guarantor may have a defense
to a deficiency judgment arising out of the operation of (i) Section 580d of the
California Code of Civil Procedure which states that no deficiency may be
recovered on a note secured by a deed of trust on real property in case such
real property is sold under the power of sale contained in such deed of trust,
and (ii) related principles of estoppel. To the fullest extent permitted by law,
each Parent Guarantor waives all rights and benefits and any defense arising out
of the operation of Section 580d of the California Code of Civil Procedure and
related principles of estoppel, even though such election operates to impair or
extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of
such Parent Guarantor against any Credit Party or any other party or any
security. In addition, each Parent Guarantor hereby waives, to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing or any other provision hereof, all rights and benefits which might
otherwise be available to such Parent Guarantor under Section 726 of the
California Code of Civil Procedure and all rights and benefits which might
otherwise be available to such Parent Guarantor under California Civil Code
Sections 2809, 2810, 2815, 2819, 2821, 2839, 2845, 2848, 2849, 2850, 2899 and
3433.
(d) Each Parent Guarantor hereby further waives (to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law): (1) all rights and defenses arising
out of an election of remedies by the
-162-
<PAGE>
Guaranteed Creditors, even though that election of remedies, such as a
nonjudicial foreclosure with respect to security for a Guaranteed Obligation,
has destroyed such Parent Guarantor's rights of subrogation and reimbursement
against the principal by the operation of Section 580d of the California Code of
Civil Procedure or otherwise; (2) such Parent Guarantor's rights of subrogation
and reimbursement and any other rights and defenses available to such Parent
Guarantor by reason of the California Civil Code Sections 2787 to 2855,
inclusive, including, without limitation, (i) any defenses such Parent Guarantor
may have to the Guaranteed Obligations by reason of an election of remedies by
the Guaranteed Creditors and (ii) any rights or defenses such Parent Guarantor
may have by reason of protection afforded to the principal borrower with respect
to the obligation so guaranteed pursuant to the antideficiency or other laws of
the State of California limiting or discharging the borrower's indebtedness,
including, without limitation, California Code of Civil Procedure Sections 580a,
580b, 580d or 726.
-163-
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their duly
authorized officers to execute and deliver this Agreement as of the date first
above written.
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY, as Debtor
and Debtor-in-Possession
By: /s/ James W. Swent III
--------------------------------
Name: James W. Swent III
Title: Chief Executive Officer
WR ACQUISITION, INC., as Debtor and
Debtor-in-Possession
By: /s/ James W. Swent III
--------------------------------
Name: James W. Swent III
Title: Chief Executive Officer
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY OF DELAWARE,
INC., as Debtor and Debtor-in-Possession
By: /s/ James W. Swent III
--------------------------------
Name: James W. Swent III
Title: Chief Executive Officer
AP&P MANUFACTURING, INC., as Debtor and
Debtor-in-Possession
By: /s/ James W. Swent III
--------------------------------
Name: James W. Swent III
Title: Chief Executive Officer
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER SALES COMPANY, INC.,
as Debtor and Debtor-in-Possession
By: /s/ James W. Swent III
--------------------------------
Name: James W. Swent III
Title: Chief Executive Officer
<PAGE>
AMERICAN PAD AND PAPER FOREIGN SALES
CORPORATION, as Debtor and
Debtor-in-Possession
By: /s/ James W. Swent III
--------------------------------
Name: James W. Swent III
Title: Chief Executive Officer
AP&P FINANCING COMPANY, INC., as Debtor
and Debtor-in-Possession
By: /s/ James W. Swent III
--------------------------------
Name: James W. Swent III
Title: Chief Executive Officer
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
as Agent
By: /s/ Robert P. Tinari
--------------------------------
Name: Robert P. Tinari
Title: Managing Director
<PAGE>
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
By: /s/ Robert P. Tinari
--------------------------------
Name: Robert P. Tinari
Title: Managing Director
<PAGE>
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
By: /s/ Edward Harmon
--------------------------------
Name: Edward Harmon
Title: Assistant Vice President
<PAGE>
BANK OF SCOTLAND
By: /s/ Annie Glynn
--------------------------------
Name: Annie Glynn
Title: Senior Vice President
<PAGE>
BANK ONE TEXAS, N.A.
By: /s/ Randall B. Durant
--------------------------------
Name: Randall B. Durant
Title: First Vice President
<PAGE>
CARL MARKS MANAGEMENT COMPANY, L.P.
By: /s/ Andrew M. Boas
--------------------------------
Name: Andrew M. Boas
Title: General Partner
<PAGE>
CIBC INC.
By: /s/ Ronald Spitzer
--------------------------------
Name: Ronald Spitzer
Title: Agent
<PAGE>
CITIBANK, N.A.
By: /s/ Carlton B. Klein
--------------------------------
Name: Carlton B. Klein
Title: Managing Director
<PAGE>
ERSTE BANK DER OESTERREICHISCHEN SPARKASSEN AG
By: /s/ Anca Trifan
--------------------------------
Name: Anca Trifan
Title: Vice President
By: /s/ John S. Runion
--------------------------------
Name: John S. Runion
Title: First Vice President
<PAGE>
FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK, as Syndication Agent and a Lender
By: /s/ Jill W. Akre
--------------------------------
Name: Jill W. Akre
Title: Vice President and
Director
<PAGE>
GUARANTY BUSINESS CREDIT CORPORATION, dba Fidelity Funding
By: /s/ Michael D. Haddad
--------------------------------
Name: Michael D. Haddad
Title: President and Chief
Executive Officer
<PAGE>
HCM OFFSHORE TRUST
By: /s/ Michael E. Lewitt
--------------------------------
Name: Michael E. Lewitt
Title: Authorized Signatory
<PAGE>
LEHMAN COMMERCIAL PAPER INC.
By: /s/ Jeffrey D. Tuck
--------------------------------
Name: Jeffrey D. Tuck
Title: Authorized Signatory
<PAGE>
PAM CAPITAL FUNDING, L.P.
By: Highland Capital Management,
L.P., as Collateral Manager
By: /s/ Mark K. Okada
--------------------------------
Name: Mark K. Okada
Title: Executive Vice President
<PAGE>
TRI-LINKS INVESTMENT TRUST
By: Wilmington Trust Company,
solely in its capacity as Owner Trustee
By: /s/ David A. Vanaskey, Jr.
--------------------------------
Name: David A. Vanaskey, Jr.
Title: Vice President
<PAGE>
ANNEX I
LIST OF LENDERS AND COMMITMENTS
Lender Revolving Term Loan
- ------ Loan Commitment
Commitment (after the Term
---------- Loan Effective
Date)
---------------
Bankers Trust Company $6,500,000 $26,549,723.52
Bank of America, N.A. 3,000,000 4,439,843.19
Bank of Scotland 3,250,000 13,223,658.81
Bank One Texas, N.A. 6,500,000 26,447,317.63
Carl Marks Management 4,000,000 16,238,148.28
Co., L.P.
CIBC, Inc. 3,250,000 10,899,500.59
Citibank, N.A. 4,000,000 16,954,778.71
Erste Bank Der 1,000,000 4,407,885.27
Oesterreichischen
Sparkassen AG
First Union National Bank 15,000,000 18,883,695.39
Guaranty Business 9,500,000
Credit Corporation
Guaranty Federal Bank, 17,631,546.08
F.S.B.
HCM Offshore Trust 1,000,000 4,007,169.33
Lehman Commercial Paper 3,000,000 4,897,651.41
Pam Capital Funding, L.P. 3,000,000 12,422,224.95
Tri-Links Investment Trust 2,000,000 4,808,603.20
BankBoston, N.A. 18,432,078.86
Chase Securities, Inc. 12,430,239.28
Christiania Bank og 8,816,772.55
Kreditkasse
Franklin Mutual Advisers, 7,693,785.14
LLC
ING Barings (U.S.) Capital 1,745,344.85
LLC
Contrarian Capital 6,732,044.49
Management LLC
Resurgence Asset 4,407,888.27
Management, L.L.C.
Societe Generale 17,631,545.08
Tribeca Distressed 5,823,762.79
Securities, LLC
----------- ---------------
Total: $65,000,000 $264,473,176.27
<PAGE>
ANNEX II
--------
LENDER ADDRESSES
----------------
<PAGE>
ANNEX III
---------
BANK ACCOUNTS
-------------
<PAGE>
ANNEX IV
--------
REAL PROPERTIES
---------------
<PAGE>
ANNEX V
-------
EXISTING INVESTMENTS
--------------------
<PAGE>
ANNEX VI
--------
SUBSIDIARIES
------------
<PAGE>
ANNEX VII
---------
EXISTING INDEBTEDNESS
---------------------
<PAGE>
ANNEX VIII
----------
EXISTING LETTERS OF CREDIT
--------------------------
<PAGE>
ANNEX IX
--------
EXISTING LIENS
Filing Debtor Secured Party File Original Description
Location ------ ------------- Number File Date of Collateral
- -------- ------ --------- -------------
<PAGE>
ANNEX X
-------
EXISTING LITIGATION
-------------------
<PAGE>
Exhibit 4.24
FIRST AMENDMENT TO
DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION CREDIT AGREEMENT
FIRST AMENDMENT (this "Amendment") dated as of January 25, 2000 to
the Debtor-in-Possession Credit Agreement, dated as of January 18, 2000 (as
amended from time to time, the "Credit Agreement"), among American Pad & Paper
Company of Delaware, Inc. (the "Borrower"), American Pad & Paper Company, WR
Acquisition, Inc., the subsidiary guarantors party thereto, each a debtor and
debtor-in-possession in a case pending under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code,
the lenders from time to time party thereto (the "Lenders"), Bankers Trust
Company, as Agent (in such capacity, the "Agent") for the Lenders, First Union
National Bank, as Syndication Agent, and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as
Arranger. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein have
the meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement.
R E C I T A L S
WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Lenders amend the
Credit Agreement as set forth herein; and
WHEREAS, the undersigned Lenders are agreeable to such request, but
only on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION .1. Amendments. Effective as of the date hereof but
subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2 hereof,
the Credit Agreement is hereby amended as follows:
(a) The last "WHEREAS" clause on Page 2 is amended and restated
as follows:
"WHEREAS, on January 18, 2000, the Bankruptcy Court approved
an interim order authorizing the Borrower to borrow up to
$20,000,000 of Loans from the Lenders (the "First Interim Order")
and on January 25, 2000 the Bankruptcy Court approved a revised
interim order authorizing the Borrower to borrow up to an additional
$15,000,000 of Loans from the Lenders (the "Revised Interim Order"),
in each case on an interim basis pending entry of the Final Order
and on the terms
<PAGE>
and conditions set forth in the First Interim Order, the Revised
Interim Order, the Credit Documents and this Agreement."
(b) Section 1.1(a)(vi)(A) is amended by deleting "$20,000,000"
and substituting therefor "$35,000,000."
(c) Section 3.1(a) is amended by deleting "the date of the entry of
the Interim Order" and substituting therefor "January 18, 2000."
(d) Section 7.16 is amended by deleting the phrase "10 days after
the entry of the Interim Order" and substituting therefor "January 28, 2000."
(e) Section 7.19 is amended by deleting the phrase "Within 45 days
after the entry of the Interim Order" and substituting therefor "On or prior to
March 3, 2000."
(f) Section 7.20 is amended by deleting the phrase "Within 45 days
after the entry of the Interim Order" and substituting therefor "On or prior to
March 3, 2000."
(g) Section 7.21 is amended by deleting the phrase "Within
twenty-one days after the entry of the Interim Order" and substituting therefor
"On or prior to February 8, 2000."
(h) Section 7.22 is amended by deleting the phrase "Within 10 days
after the entry of the Interim Order" and substituting therefor "On or prior to
January 28, 2000."
(i) The definition of "Interim Order" in Section 10 is amended
and restated as follows:
"'Interim Order' shall mean, as applicable, (a) the First
Interim Order and (b) the Revised Interim Order, both in form and
substance satisfactory to the Agent and the Required Lenders."
SECTION .2. Conditions to Effectiveness.
This Amendment shall become effective when, and only when (i) the
Agent shall have received counterparts of this Amendment, duly executed by each
Credit Party and the Required Revolving Lenders and (ii) the Revised Interim
Order shall have been approved by the Bankruptcy Court.
-2-
<PAGE>
SECTION .3. Representations and Warranties. Each Credit Party
represents and warrants as follows:
(a) Subject to the approval by the Bankruptcy Court of the Revised
Interim Order, the execution, delivery and performance by such Credit Party of
this Amendment and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby are
within such Credit Party's corporate powers, have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action on the part of such Credit Party, and do not (i)
violate such Credit Party's Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws, (ii)
contravene any applicable provision of any law, statute, rule or regulation, or
any order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or governmental
instrumentality or (iii) conflict or be inconsistent with, or result in the
breach of, or constitute a default under, any provision of any loan agreement,
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or any other material agreement to which such
Credit Party is a party or by which it or any of its assets are bound or to
which it may be subject.
(b) Except for the approval by the Bankruptcy Court of the Revised
Interim Order, no order, consent, approval, license, authorization or validation
of, or filing, recording or registration with, or exemption by, any foreign or
domestic governmental or public body or authority, or any subdivision thereof,
is required to authorize or is required in connection with (i) the execution,
delivery and performance by such Credit Party of this Amendment or (ii) the
legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of this Amendment.
(c) This Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by such
Credit Party and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such
Credit Party, enforceable against such Credit Party in accordance with its
terms.
(d) No Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing.
(e) All representations and warranties contained in the Credit
Agreement and the other Credit Documents are true and correct in all material
respects with the same effect as though made on the date hereof (except for any
representation or warranty which by its terms is made as of a specified date, in
which case such representation or warranty was true and correct as of such
specified date).
-3-
<PAGE>
SECTION .4. Reference to and Effect on the Credit Documents.
(a) Upon the effectiveness hereof, 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 Credit
Documents to the Credit Agreement, "thereunder," "thereof" or words of like
import referring to the Credit Agreement, shall mean and be a reference to the
Credit Agreement, as amended hereby.
(b) Except as specifically provided herein, each Credit Document is
and shall continue to be in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and
confirmed in all respects.
(c) The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment
shall not, except as expressly provided herein, operate as an amendment to or a
waiver of any right, power or remedy of the Agent or any Lender under any of the
Credit Documents, nor constitute an amendment to or a waiver of any provision of
any of the Credit Documents.
(d) This Amendment shall constitute a Credit Document.
SECTION .5. Costs and Expenses. The Borrower agrees to pay promptly
all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Agent and each Lender in
connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of this Amendment and
any other instrument or document delivered in connection herewith (including,
without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Agent
and each Lender).
SECTION .6. Governing Law. This Amendment shall be governed
by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York and,
to the extent applicable, the Bankruptcy Code.
SECTION .7. Execution in Counterparts; etc. This Amendment may be
executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and
delivered shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together
shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart
of a signature page to this Amendment by telecopier shall be as effective as
delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Amendment.
-4-
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to
be executed by their respective duly authorized officers as of the date first
above written.
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY, as Debtor
and Debtor-in-Possession
By:
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
WR ACQUISITION, INC., as Debtor and
Debtor-in-Possession
By:
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY OF DELAWARE,
INC., as Debtor and Debtor-in-Possession
By:
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
AP&P MANUFACTURING, INC., as Debtor and
Debtor-in-Possession
By:
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
-5-
<PAGE>
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER SALES COMPANY, INC.,
as Debtor and Debtor-in-Possession
By:
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
AMERICAN PAD AND PAPER FOREIGN SALES
CORPORATION, as Debtor and
Debtor-in-Possession
By:
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
AP&P FINANCING COMPANY, INC., as Debtor
and Debtor-in-Possession
By:
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, as Agent and a
Lender
By:
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
By:
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
-6-
<PAGE>
BANK OF SCOTLAND
By:
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
BANK ONE TEXAS, N.A.
By:
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
CARL MARKS MANAGEMENT COMPANY, L.P.
By:
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
CIBC INC.
By:
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
CITIBANK, N.A.
By:
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
-7-
<PAGE>
ERSTE BANK DER OESTERREICHISCHEN
SPARKASSEN AG
By:
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
By:
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK, as Syndication
Agent and a Lender
By:
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
GUARANTY BUSINESS CREDIT CORPORATION, dba
Fidelity Funding
By:
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
HCM OFFSHORE TRUST
By:
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
LEHMAN COMMERCIAL PAPER INC.
By:
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
-8-
<PAGE>
PAM CAPITAL FUNDING, L.P.
By: Highland Capital Management,
L.P., as Collateral Manager
By:
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
TRI-LINKS INVESTMENT TRUST
By: Wilmington Trust Company,
solely in its capacity as Owner
Trustee
By:
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
-9-
<PAGE>
Exhibit 4.25
SECOND AMENDMENT TO
DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION CREDIT AGREEMENT
SECOND AMENDMENT (this "Amendment") dated as of February 8, 2000 to
the Debtor-in-Possession Credit Agreement, dated as of January 18, 2000 (as
amended by the First Amendment dated as of January 25, 2000 and as the same may
be further amended from time to time, the "Credit Agreement"), among American
Pad & Paper Company of Delaware, Inc. (the "Borrower"), American Pad & Paper
Company, WR Acquisition, Inc., the subsidiary guarantors party thereto, each a
debtor and debtor-in-possession in a case pending under Chapter 11 of the
Bankruptcy Code, the lenders from time to time party thereto (the "Lenders"),
Bankers Trust Company, as Agent (in such capacity, the "Agent") for the Lenders,
First Union National Bank, as Syndication Agent, and Deutsche Bank Securities
Inc., as Arranger. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined
herein have the meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement.
R E C I T A L S
WHEREAS, on January 18, 2000, the Bankruptcy Court approved the
First Interim Order authorizing the Borrower to borrow up to $20,000,000 of
Loans on an interim basis pursuant to the terms set forth in the First Interim
Order and the Credit Agreement;
WHEREAS, on January 28, 2000, the Bankruptcy Court approved the
Revised Interim Order authorizing the Borrower to borrow up to an additional
$15,000,000 of Loans on an interim basis pursuant to the terms set forth in the
Revised Interim Order and the Credit Agreement as amended by the First Amendment
dated as of January 25, 2000;
WHEREAS, the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors (the
"Creditors' Committee") filed an objection (the "Objection") to the approval of
the Final Order;
WHEREAS, the parties conducted negotiations concerning the Objection
following which (i) the Credit Parties withdrew their request for approval of
the Term Loans and (ii) the Creditors' Committee withdrew the Objection;
WHEREAS, the Credit Parties and the undersigned Lenders have agreed
to amend the Credit Agreement to, among other things, eliminate any requirement
that the Final Order approve Section 1.1(e) of the Credit Agreement and
authorize the Term
<PAGE>
Loans;
WHEREAS, the Credit Parties and the undersigned Lenders acknowledge
that the Term Loan Effective Date has not and will not occur and that there will
be no Term Loans under the Credit Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Lenders amend the
Credit Agreement as set forth herein; and
WHEREAS, the undersigned Lenders are agreeable to the Borrower's
request, but only on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION .1. Amendments. Effective as of the date hereof but
subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2 hereof,
the Credit Agreement is hereby amended as follows:
(a) Section 1.5 is amended by adding at the end thereof a new
clause (f) as follows:
"(f) If any Lender assigns any of its rights under this
Agreement in accordance with Section 12.4(b), the Borrower shall not
be obligated to issue replacement Notes unless requested by the
applicable Lender."
(b) Section 1.8(d) is amended by deleting "Termination Date" from
each place it appears and substituting therefor "Final Maturity Date."
(c) Section 1.14(a) is amended by:
(i) inserting "and subject to the provisions thereof" in the
third line immediately after "upon entry of the Interim Order (and
the Final Order, as applicable)"; and
(ii) deleting "Termination Date" from the proviso and
substituting therefor "Final Maturity Date."
(d) Section 1.14(c) is amended by deleting "The Liens" at the
beginning of such Section and substituting therefor "Pursuant to the Orders, the
Liens."
-2-
<PAGE>
(e) Section 1.16 is amended by inserting the following immediately
before the period at the end of such Section: "; provided, however, that this
Section 1.16(ii) shall not apply to any portion of the Obligations that is
treated as a prepetition unsecured claim as a result of a successful challenge
by any Person (other than a Credit Party) to the priority of the Liens securing
the Prepetition Obligations in accordance with paragraph 16 of the Interim
Order."
(f) Section 2.1(a)(x) is amended by inserting "or to assure
performance of contracts and similar obligations" immediately before "as the
case may be."
(g) Section 2 is amended by adding at the end thereof a new
Section 2.6 as follows:
"2.6 Existing Letters of Credit. If a drawing is made under
any Existing Letter of Credit and the beneficiary thereunder returns
any amount of such drawing to the Borrower, the Borrower shall
promptly pay such amount to the Prepetition Agent in reduction of
the Borrower's reimbursement obligation with respect to such
Existing Letter of Credit."
(h) Section 3.3(g) is amended by deleting "Termination Date" and
substituting therefor "Final Maturity Date."
(i) Section 4.2(d) is amended by:
(i) inserting "pursuant to the Orders" immediately after
"shall be applied" in each place it appears; and
(ii) inserting the following immediately before the period at
the end of the second sentence of such Section: "; provided, that
the Total Revolving Loan Commitment shall not be reduced pursuant to
this clause (d) below the lesser of (i) an amount reasonably
necessary to preserve the value of the Credit Parties' assets
remaining after such Asset Sale, as reflected in a revised Budget
approved by the Agent, the Required Lenders and the Required
Revolving Lenders, which revised Budget shall be consistent with the
plans furnished by the Borrower pursuant to Sections 7.19, 7.20 and
7.21 and (ii) the Borrowing Base as adjusted by the Agent in
accordance with Section 1.1(d) after such Asset Sale."
(j) Section 5.1(i) is amended by deleting "(following the Borrower's
retention of the Crisis Manager) or an Authorized Officer (prior to the
Borrower's retention of the Crisis Manager)" and substituting therefor (when the
Crisis Manager is in place) or an Authorized Officer (when the Crisis Manager is
not in place)."
-3-
<PAGE>
(k) Section 5.1(s) is amended and restated as follows:
"(s) Consultants. The Credit Parties shall have engaged Lazard
Freres & Co. LLC pursuant to an engagement letter which shall be
subject to Bankruptcy Court approval and subject to the right of the
Agent and any Lender to object thereto."
(l) Section 5.1(w) is amended by adding "in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement" immediately after "during the pendency of the Cases."
(m) Section 5.2(d) is amended and restated as follows:
"(d) Borrowing Certificate. The Agent shall have received a
certificate, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and
executed by the Crisis Manager (when the Crisis Manager is in place)
or an Authorized Officer (when the Crisis Manager is not in place)
of the Borrower, certifying that (i) the requested Loan or Letter of
Credit and the intended use of proceeds thereof are consistent with
the terms of this Agreement and will be used solely for
expenditures, and in the approximate amounts, set forth in the then
applicable Budget, (ii) the proceeds thereof are necessary, after
utilization and application of the Borrower's and the Guarantors'
available Cash Collateral, in order for the Borrower and the
Guarantors to satisfy their obligations with respect to the items
set forth in the then applicable Budget, (iii) all of the
representations and warranties contained in Section 6 are true and
correct in all material respects (except for those that expressly
relate to a specific date, in which case they shall be true and
correct in all material respects as of such date), (iv) the Borrower
and the Guarantors have observed and performed all applicable
covenants and agreements contained herein, in the other Credit
Documents and the Interim Order or the Final Order (as applicable)
and satisfied in all material respects each condition to the making
of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit contained
herein, in the other Credit Documents or in the Interim Order or the
Final Order (as applicable) to be observed, performed or satisfied
by the Credit Parties, (v) the making of any requested Revolving
Loan or the issuance of any requested Letter of Credit would not
cause the
-4-
<PAGE>
aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Loans, when added to all
Other Revolving Exposure, to exceed the lesser of (y) the Total
Revolving Loan Commitment and (z) the Borrowing Base then in effect,
(vi) such officer or the Crisis Manager, as the case may be, has no
knowledge of the existence of any Default or Event of Default, (vii)
the information provided in the then applicable Budget continues to
be true and correct in all material respects, (viii) the requested
Loan or Letter of Credit will not result in the Credit Parties
exceeding any amounts in the then applicable Budget by more than
10%, (ix) the Credit Parties are keeping separate records of
post-Petition Date Accounts and payments thereon, (x) the Credit
Parties are not applying payments on post-Petition Date Accounts to
pre-Petition Date Accounts, (xi) the Credit Parties are not allowing
offsets against post-Petition Date Accounts on account of
pre-Petition Date rebates, allowances or offsets (excluding certain
pre-Petition Date and post-Petition Date rebates and volume
discounts which are payable to customers after the Petition Date and
which are described in such certificate) and (xii) the Credit
Parties are not remitting any payments on post-Petition Date
Accounts in payment of the Accounts Receivable Facility."
(n) Section 6.3 is amended by inserting "and subject to the
provisions thereof" in the third line immediately after "the Interim Order or
the Final Order (when applicable)."
(o) Section 6.16 is amended by deleting "and the Borrower has no
Foreign Subsidiaries other than Foreign Sales."
(p) Section 6.24 is amended by deleting "The subordination
provisions" and substituting therefor "Subject to the reservation of rights
provisions in the Orders in favor of any Person (other than a Credit Party), the
subordination provisions."
(q) Section 7.1(a) is amended by:
-5-
<PAGE>
(i) deleting "of cash flows" in the fifth line and
substituting therefor "and cash flows";
(ii) deleting "December 30, 1999" in the tenth line and
substituting therefor "January 17, 2000"; and
(iii) deleting "certified by the Crisis Manager (following the
Borrower's retention of the Crisis Manager) or an Authorized Officer
(prior to the Borrower's retention of the Crisis Manager)" and
substituting therefor "reviewed by the Crisis Manager as evidenced
by the Crisis Manager's signature thereon (when the Crisis Manager
is in place) or certified by an Authorized Officer of Holdings (when
the Crisis Manager is not in place)."
(r) Section 7.1(b)(i) is amended by deleting "certified by the
Crisis Manager (following the Borrower's retention of the Crisis Manager) or an
Authorized Officer of Holdings (prior to the Borrower's retention of the Crisis
Manager)" and substituting therefor "reviewed by the Crisis Manager as evidenced
by the Crisis Manager's signature thereon (when the Crisis Manager is in place)
or certified by an Authorized Officer of Holdings (when the Crisis Manager is
not in place)."
(s) Section 7.1(b)(ii) is amended by deleting "certified by the
Crisis Manager (following the Borrower's retention of the Crisis Manager) or an
Authorized Officer of Holdings (prior to the Borrower's retention of the Crisis
Manager)" and substituting therefor "reviewed by the Crisis Manager as evidenced
by the Crisis Manager's signature thereon (when the Crisis Manager is in place)
or certified by an Authorized Officer of Holdings (when the Crisis Manager is
not in place)."
(t) Section 7.1(d)(i) is amended by deleting "15" and substituting
therefor "20."
(u) Section 7.1(d)(ii) is amended by:
-6-
<PAGE>
(i) deleting "15 days after the end of each month" and
substituting therefor "30 days after the end of each month other
than for January 2000"; and
(ii) adding the following immediately before the semicolon at
the end of such Section: "(it being understood that Holdings shall
be permitted to furnish one comparison that satisfies the
requirements of Section 7.1(a) and this Section 7.1(d)(ii) for each
such month)."
(v) Section 7.1(d)(iv) is amended and restated as follows:
"Weekly, before 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on the second
Business Day of each week, and at any other time requested by the
Agent during the continuance of a Default or Event of Default, a
borrowing base certificate, substantially in the form of Exhibit N
(the "Borrowing Base Certificate"), which shall: (A) detail the
Credit Parties' Eligible Accounts Receivable and the Credit Parties'
Eligible Inventory as of each Saturday of the immediately preceding
week (or as of such other date as the Agent may request); (B)
prepared under the direction of the Crisis Manager (when the Crisis
Manager is in place) or an Authorized Officer of the Borrower (when
the Crisis Manager is not in place) and reviewed by the Crisis
Manager as evidenced by his signature thereon or certified by such
officer subject only to adjustment upon completion of the normal
year-end audit of physical inventory; and (C) attach thereto such
additional schedules and other information as the Agent may
reasonably request (including, without limitation, a monthly aging
of Accounts);"
(w) Sections 7.1(d)(v) and (vi) are amended and restated as
follows:
"(v) On or before 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on Tuesday of each
week, an oral report or, if reasonably requested by the Agent (but
in no event more than once per month), a written report describing
the then current status of the Credit Parties' relationship with
their vendors, which (in the case of the twenty largest vendors of
the Credit Parties) shall be on a vendor-by-vendor basis; and
(vi) [Intentionally Omitted]."
-7-
<PAGE>
(x) Section 7.1(e) is amended by deleting "(following the Borrower's
retention of the Crisis Manager) or an Authorized Officer of Holdings (prior to
the Borrower's retention of the Crisis Manager)" and substituting therefor
"(when the Crisis Manager is in place) or an Authorized Officer (when the Crisis
Manager is not in place)."
(y) Section 7.1(i) is amended and restated as follows:
"(i) On or before 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on Tuesday of each
week, a report from the Consultants summarizing the status of the
Borrower's efforts to consummate the Sale Proposal. In addition, if
requested by the Agent, the Borrower shall conduct bi-weekly
conference calls with the Lenders to report on the status of the
Sale Proposal."
(z) Section 7.1(j) is amended by adding "Holdings shall make
available" immediately before "copies of any filings and registrations."
(aa) Section 7.1(m) is amended and restated as follows:
"(m) Accounts Collection Report. Within three Business Days of
the receipt of any remittance in an amount in excess of $100,000
received by any Credit Party during the preceding week, such Credit
Party shall deliver to the Agent a report describing whether such
remittance is in respect of the payment of Accounts arising before
the Petition Date or arising on or after the Petition Date."
(bb) Section 7.8 is amended by deleting "(following the Borrower's
retention of the Crisis Manager) or an Authorized Officer of Holdings (prior to
the Borrower's retention of the Crisis Manager)" and substituting therefor
"(when the Crisis Manager is in place) or an Authorized Officer of Holdings
(when the Crisis Manager is not in place)."
(cc) Section 7.13 is amended and restated as follows:
"7.13 Reorganization Plan. Prior to filing any proposed
Reorganization Plan, Holdings will, and will cause each of its
Subsidiaries to, discuss in good faith any proposed Reorganization
Plan with the Agent and the Required Lenders and use reasonable
efforts to obtain the support of the Agent and the Required Lenders
to any Reorganization Plan."
(dd) Section 7.14 is amended by inserting "Subject to the provisions
of the Bankruptcy Code," immediately before
-8-
<PAGE>
Holdings will contribute."
(ee) Section 7.19 is amended by deleting "After the Borrower's
retention of the Crisis Manager" and substituting therefor "While the Crisis
Manager is in place."
(ff) Section 7.20 is amended by deleting "After the Borrower's
retention of the Crisis Manager" and substituting therefor "While the Crisis
Manager is in place."
(gg) Section 7.21 is amended by:
(i) deleting "Cards" from each place is appears and
substituting therefor "Card"; and
(ii) deleting "After the Borrower's retention of the Crisis
Manager" and substituting therefor "While the Crisis Manager is in
place."
(hh) Section 7.22 is amended by adding the following sentence at the
end thereof: "The Crisis Manager may be removed at the reasonable discretion of
the Borrower after the Borrower notifies the Agent of the Borrower's reason for
such removal; provided, that within 10 days after such removal, the Borrower
shall retain a replacement Crisis Manager acceptable to the Agent and the
Required Revolving Lenders pursuant to an engagement letter satisfactory to the
Agent and the Required Revolving Lenders."
(ii) Section 7.23 is amended by deleting "such reports and give" and
substituting therefor "such reports with the Agent and Arthur Andersen and to
give."
(jj) Section 8.2 is amended by deleting "Holdings will not, will not
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, and will not apply to the Bankruptcy Court
for authority to "and substituting therefor "Except as authorized by the
Bankruptcy Court after notice and a hearing and after providing a proposal to
the Agent and discussing such proposal with the Agent, Holdings will not, and
will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to."
(kk) Clause (d) of Section 8.2 is amended and restated as
follows:
"(d) each Credit Party may sell (i) assets if the sales price
for such sale or group of related sales does not exceed $1,000,000
and such sale or sales are for fair value and at arm's length and
(ii) other assets (including assets pursuant to the Sales Proposal)
with the prior written consent of the Required Lenders, in any case
so long as the Net Cash
-9-
<PAGE>
Proceeds therefrom are applied in accordance with Sections 3.3(d)
and 4.2(d);".
(ll) Clause (f) of Section 8.2 is amended and restated as
follows:
"(f) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may, in the ordinary
course of business, sell by-products (such as paper scraps) in an
aggregate amount not to exceed $100,000;"
(mm) Section 8.3 is amended by:
(i) deleting the period at the end of clause (k) and
substituting therefor "; and"; and
(ii) adding at the end thereof a new clause (l) as follows:
"(l) Liens upon assets of any Credit Party subject to
Capitalized Lease Obligations to the extent such Capitalized Lease
Obligations are permitted under Section 8.4(j); provided, that (x)
such Liens only secure the payment of Indebtedness arising under
such Capitalized Lease Obligation and (y) the Lien encumbering the
asset giving rise to the Capitalized Lease Obligation does not
encumber any other asset of any Credit Party."
(nn) Section 8.4 is amended by:
(i) deleting "and" at the end of clause (h);
(ii) deleting the period at the end of clause (i) and
substituting therefor "; and"; and
(iii) adding at the end thereof a new clause (j) as
follows:
"(j) Indebtedness of the Credit Parties evidenced by
Capitalized Lease Obligations to the extent permitted under Section
8.9, provided that the aggregate principal amount of Capitalized
Lease Obligations permitted by this clause (j) shall not exceed the
amount permitted in the then applicable Budget."
(oo) Section 8.6 is amended by:
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<PAGE>
(i) deleting "one or more accounts maintained with the Agent
or a Lender" from clause (a) and substituting therefor "accordance
with Sections 8.17 and 8.25";
(ii) deleting clause (f) and substituting therefor the
following: "(f) deposits made in the ordinary course of business
shall be permitted, excluding deposits of advanced payments in favor
of vendors in excess of $250,000 in the aggregate;"
(iii) deleting the period at the end of clause (l) and
substituting therefor ";and"; and
(iv) adding at the end thereof a new clause (m) as follows:
"(m) The Borrower and its Subsidiaries may make travel
advances to employees in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with past practice; provided that the aggregate
outstanding amount of advances permitted by this clause (m) shall
not exceed $50,000 at any time."
(pp) Section 8.15 is amended by adding the following immediately
before the period at the end thereof: ", except that, with the prior written
consent of the Agent and the Required Revolving Lenders, the Credit Parties may
create a Subsidiary to facilitate the Sale Proposal or any other sale of an
operating division permitted under this Agreement; provided, that if such
Subsidiary is not sold within a reasonable period of time pursuant to the Sale
Proposal or such other sale, such Subsidiary shall, promptly upon the request of
the Agent, comply with Section 7.11."
(qq) Section 8.21 is amended by inserting "or any other order of the
Bankruptcy Court" immediately after "permitted by the Orders."
(rr) Section 8.22 is amended by:
(i) inserting "outside the ordinary course of business"
immediately after "any agreement to pay"; and
(ii) deleting "in accordance with any agreements or plans
approved by the Agent and the Required Lenders."
(ss) Section 8.24(a) is amended by inserting "or
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<PAGE>
ordered by the Bankruptcy Court" immediately after "the Required Lenders."
(tt) Section 9.5(f) is amended by adding ", unless such relief is
granted with respect to litigation of a claim which is covered by insurance"
immediately before the semicolon at the end of such Section.
(uu) Section 9.5(h) is amended and restated as follows:
"(h) [Intentionally Omitted];"
(vv) Section 9.5(j) is amended by deleting the period at the end of
such Section and substituting therefor the following: "; provided, however, that
in no event shall an Event of Default occur solely as a result of a successful
challenge by any Person (other than a Credit Party) to the priority of the Liens
securing the Prepetition Obligations in accordance with paragraph 16 of the
Interim Order; or"
(ww) Section 9.9 is amended by adding the following immediately
before the semicolon at the end of such Section: "; provided, however, that in
no event shall an Event of Default occur solely as a result of the assertion of
claims against Holding or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to any provision of
the Bankruptcy Code."
(xx) The definition of "Authorized Officer" in Section 10 is amended
by adding "or the Crisis Manager (when the Crisis Manager is in place)"
immediately before the period at the end of such definition.
(yy) The definition of "Budget" in Section 10 is amended by deleting
"(following the Borrower's retention of the Crisis Manager) or an Authorized
Officer (prior to the Borrower's retention of the Crisis Manager)" and
substituting therefor "(when the Crisis Manager is in place) or an Authorized
Officer (when the Crisis Manager is not in place)."
(zz) Clause (i) in the definition of "Consolidated EBIT" in Section
10 is amended and restated as follows: "(i) without giving effect to any
extraordinary gains or losses from sales or disposals of assets sold outside the
ordinary course of business or to gains or losses from the sale of assets (other
than inventory) sold in the ordinary course of business".
(aaa) The definition of "Consolidated EBITDA" in Section 10 is
amended by deleting "Consolidated EBITDA" from the last place it appears and
substituting therefor "Consolidated EBIT."
-12-
<PAGE>
(bbb) Clause (e) of the definition of "Eligible Accounts
Receivable" in Section 10 is amended by:
(i) deleting "(iii)" and substituting therefor "(ii); and
(ii) deleting the proviso and substituting therefor the
following: "provided, that Accounts owing by each of Nationwide,
Unisource and xpedx (each, a "Specified Account Debtor") shall not
be deemed ineligible under clause (ii) unless (A) a Specified
Account Debtor has a legally enforceable right of setoff against a
Borrowing Base Party in which case the Account owing by such
Specified Account Debtor shall be deemed to be ineligible, to the
extent of the amount of such setoff, or (B) a Specified Account
Debtor exercises any setoff or similar rights against a Borrowing
Base Party in which case all Accounts owing by such Specified
Account Debtor shall be deemed to be ineligible, to the extent of
the amounts owed by the Borrowing Base Parties to such Specified
Account Debtor or its affiliates; or"
(ccc) Clause (h) of the definition of "Eligible Accounts Receivable"
in Section 10 is amended by deleting "sale-and-return,".
(ddd) The definition of "Final Order" in Section 10 is amended by
deleting "(including, without limitation, Section 1.1(e))".
(eee) The definition of "Inventory" in Section 10 is amended by
deleting the comma immediately after "the Borrowing Base Parties'."
(fff) The definition of "Letter of Credit" in Section 10 is amended
by adding the following at the end thereof: "An Existing Letter of Credit or a
renewal of an Existing Letter of Credit shall not be considered a Letter of
Credit as defined in Section 2.1(a)."
(ggg) The definition of "Maximum Swingline Amount" in Section 10 is
amended by deleting "January 29, 2000" and substituting therefor "the date on
which the Final Order is entered."
(hhh) The definition of "Required Lenders" in Section 10 is amended
by deleting "Prepetition Indebtedness" and substituting therefor "Prepetition
Obligations."
(iii) Section 10 is amended by deleting the
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<PAGE>
definition of "Termination Date" from the first place it appears.
(jjj) The definition of "Termination Date" in Section 10 is amended
and restated as follows:
"'Termination Date' shall mean the date of the termination of
the Total Revolving Loan Commitment upon the occurrence of an Event
of Default or otherwise in accordance with the terms hereof."
(kkk) Section 12.1 is amended by:
(i) deleting "and" immediately before "(v)"; and
(ii) adding the following immediately before the period at the
end of such Section: "; and (vi) to pay to the Prepetition Agent,
for the benefit of itself, the Existing Lenders and the issuer of
the Existing Letters of Credit, all accrued and unpaid fees, costs
and charges from time to time owing to the Prepetition Agent, such
issuer and the Existing Lenders under the Existing Credit Agreement.
The Borrower shall not be obligated to pay or reimburse any Person
for any out-of-pocket costs and expenses pursuant to this Section
12.1 unless the Borrower receives an invoice in reasonable detail
for such costs and expenses."
(lll) Section 12.4(b) is amended by:
(i) inserting "unless requested by the Lender
pursuant to Section 1.5(f)," immediately after "replacement
Notes" in clause (ii) of the first proviso to such Section; and
(ii) inserting "either such assigning Lender shall have no
Commitments and outstanding Loans or" immediately before "the sum of
the Commitments" in the third proviso to such Section.
(mmm) The second proviso in Section 12.12 is amended by:
(i) inserting "or" immediately before "(iv)"; and
(ii) deleting "or (v) amend, modify or waive any provision
that expressly provides for the consent of all Revolving Lenders,".
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<PAGE>
(nnn) Section 12.19(a)(i) is amended by:
(i) inserting ", subject to the provisions of the Bankruptcy
Code and pursuant to the Orders," immediately before "be applied as
follows";
(ii) inserting the following immediately after clause first:
"second, to the Credit Parties to fund amounts owing under the
Carve-Out,";
(iii) renumbering (A) clause second as clause third, (B)
clause third as clause fourth, (C) clause fourth as clause fifth,
(D) clause fifth as clause sixth, (E) clause sixth as clause
seventh, (F) clause seventh as clause eighth and (G) clause eighth
as clause ninth; and
(iv) deleting "this clause eighth" and substituting therefor
"this clause ninth."
SECTION .2. Conditions to Effectiveness. This Amendment shall become
effective when, and only when (a) the Agent shall have received counterparts of
this Amendment, duly executed by each Credit Party and the Required Lenders and
(b) the Final Order shall have been entered.
SECTION .3. No Addition of Term Lenders to Credit Agreement, etc.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Amendment, the Credit
Agreement or the other Credit Documents, the parties hereto agree that (a) the
Term Loan Effective Date shall be deemed to have not occurred, (b) no Lender
shall be a Term Lender, (c) no Lender shall have a Term Loan Commitment, (d) no
Term Loans shall be made or deemed to be made, (e) the Total Term Loan
Commitment shall be zero at all times and (f) any reference in the Credit
Agreement to the phrase "prior to the Term Loan Effective Date" shall be deemed
to mean during the term of the Credit Agreement.
-15-
<PAGE>
SECTION .4. Representations and Warranties. Each Credit Party
represents and warrants as follows:
(a) Subject to the approval by the Bankruptcy Court of the Final
Order, the execution, delivery and performance by such Credit Party of this
Amendment and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby are
within such Credit Party's corporate powers, have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action on the part of such Credit Party, and do not (i)
violate such Credit Party's Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws, (ii)
contravene any applicable provision of any law, statute, rule or regulation, or
any order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or governmental
instrumentality or (iii) conflict or result in any inconsistency with, or result
in the breach of, or constitute a default under, any provision of any loan
agreement, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or any other material agreement to
which such Credit Party is a party or by which it or any of its assets are bound
or to which it may be subject.
(b) Except for the approval by the Bankruptcy Court of the Final
Order, no order, consent, approval, license, authorization or validation of, or
filing, recording or registration with, or exemption by, any foreign or domestic
governmental or public body or authority, or any subdivision thereof, is
required to authorize or is required in connection with (i) the execution,
delivery and performance by such Credit Party of this Amendment or (ii) the
legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of this Amendment.
(c) This Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by such
Credit Party and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such
Credit Party, enforceable against such Credit Party in accordance with its
terms.
(d) No Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing.
(e) All representations and warranties contained in the Credit
Agreement and the other Credit Documents are true and correct in all material
respects with the same effect as though made on the date hereof (except for any
representation or warranty which by its terms is made as of a specified date, in
which case such representation or warranty was true and correct as of such
specified date).
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<PAGE>
SECTION .5. Reference to and Effect on the Credit Documents.
(a) Upon the effectiveness hereof, 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 Credit
Documents to the Credit Agreement, "thereunder," "thereof" or words of like
import referring to the Credit Agreement, shall mean and be a reference to the
Credit Agreement, as amended hereby.
(b) Except as specifically provided herein, each Credit Document is
and shall continue to be in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and
confirmed in all respects.
(c) The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment
shall not, except as expressly provided herein, operate as an amendment to or a
waiver of any right, power or remedy of the Agent or any Lender under any of the
Credit Documents, nor constitute an amendment to or a waiver of any provision of
any of the Credit Documents.
(d) This Amendment shall constitute a Credit Document.
SECTION .6. Costs and Expenses. The Borrower shall pay promptly all
reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Agent and each Lender in
connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of this Amendment and
any other instrument or document delivered in connection herewith (including,
without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Agent
and each Lender).
SECTION .7. Governing Law. This Amendment shall be governed
by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York and,
to the extent applicable, the Bankruptcy Code.
SECTION .8. Execution in Counterparts; etc. This Amendment may be
executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and
delivered shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together
shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart
of a signature page to this Amendment by telecopier shall be as effective as
delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Amendment.
-17-
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to
be executed by their respective duly authorized officers as of the date first
above written.
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY, as Debtor
and Debtor-in-Possession
By:
--------------------------------------
Name: James W. Swent III
Title: Chief Executive Officer
WR ACQUISITION, INC., as Debtor and
Debtor-in-Possession
By:
--------------------------------------
Name: James W. Swent III
Title: Chief Executive Officer
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY OF DELAWARE,
INC., as Debtor and Debtor-in-Possession
By:
--------------------------------------
Name: James W. Swent III
Title: Chief Executive Officer
AP&P MANUFACTURING, INC., as Debtor and
Debtor-in-Possession
By:
--------------------------------------
Name: James W. Swent III
Title: Chief Executive Officer
(Signature Page to Second Amendment)
<PAGE>
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER SALES COMPANY, INC.,
as Debtor and Debtor-in-Possession
By:
--------------------------------------
Name: James W. Swent III
Title: Chief Executive Officer
AMERICAN PAD AND PAPER FOREIGN SALES
CORPORATION, as Debtor and
Debtor-in-Possession
By:
--------------------------------------
Name: James W. Swent III
Title: Chief Executive Officer
AP&P FINANCING COMPANY, INC., as Debtor
and Debtor-in-Possession
By:
--------------------------------------
Name: James W. Swent III
Title: Chief Executive Officer
[Signature Page to Second Amendment]
<PAGE>
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, as Agent, a
Revolving Lender and a Term Lender
By:
--------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
[Signature Page to Second Amendment]
<PAGE>
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Revolving
Lender
By:
--------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
[Signature Page to Second Amendment]
<PAGE>
BANK OF SCOTLAND, as a Revolving
Lender and a Term Lender
By:
--------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
[Signature Page to Second Amendment]
<PAGE>
BANK ONE TEXAS, N.A., as a Revolving Lender
and a Term Lender
By:
--------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
[Signature Page to Second Amendment]
<PAGE>
CARL MARKS MANAGEMENT COMPANY, L.P., as a
Revolving Lender and a Term Lender
By:
--------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
[Signature Page to Second Amendment]
<PAGE>
CIBC INC., as a Revolving Lender
and a Term Lender
By:
--------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
[Signature Page to Second Amendment]
<PAGE>
CITIBANK, N.A., as a Revolving Lender
and a Term Lender
By:
--------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
[Signature Page to Second Amendment]
<PAGE>
ERSTE BANK DER OESTERREICHISCHEN SPARKASSEN
AG, as a Revolving Lender and a Term Lender
By:
--------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
By:
--------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
[Signature Page to Second Amendment]
<PAGE>
FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK, as Syndication
Agent, a Revolving Lender and a Term Lender
By:
--------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
[Signature Page to Second Amendment]
<PAGE>
GUARANTY BUSINESS CREDIT CORPORATION,
dba Fidelity Funding, as a Revolving Lender
By:
--------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
<PAGE>
HCM OFFSHORE TRUST, as a Revolving Lender
and a Term Lender
By:
--------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
[Signature Page to Second Amendment]
<PAGE>
LEHMAN COMMERCIAL PAPER INC., as a Revolving
Lender and a Term Lender
By:
--------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
[Signature Page to Second Amendment]
<PAGE>
PAM CAPITAL FUNDING, L.P., as a Revolving
Lender and a Term Lender
By: Highland Capital Management,
L.P., as Collateral Manager
By:
--------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
[Signature Page to Second Amendment]
<PAGE>
TRI-LINKS INVESTMENT TRUST, as a
Revolving Lender and a Term Lender
By: Wilmington Trust Company,
solely in its capacity as Owner
Trustee
By:
--------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
[Signature Page to Second Amendment]
<PAGE>
Exhibit 10.36
AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY
1999 KEY EMPLOYEES STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
SECTION 1. Purpose
The purpose of the American Pad & Paper Company 1999 Key Employees
Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan") is to enable American Pad & Paper Company, a
Delaware corporation (the "Company") and its subsidiaries to attract, retain and
motivate their employees by providing for or increasing the proprietary
interests of such employees in the Company.
SECTION 2. Persons Eligible
Any person employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries
including any director who is so employed (an "Employee"), shall be eligible to
be considered for the grant of Awards (as defined below) under the Plan.
SECTION 3. Awards
(a) The Committee (as defined below), on behalf of the Company, is
authorized under the Plan to enter into any type of arrangement with an Employee
that is consistent with the provisions of the Plan and that by its terms
involves the issuance or potential issuance of (i) shares of Common Stock, par
value $.01 per share, of the Company ("Common Stock") or (ii) a Derivative
Security (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1 promulgated under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), as such Rule may be
amended from time to time) with an exercise or conversion right at a price
related to Common Stock or with a value derived from the value of the shares of
Common Stock. The entering into of any such arrangement is referred to herein as
the grant of an "Award."
(b) Awards are not restricted to any specified form or structure and
may include, without limitation, sales or bonuses of stock, restricted stock,
restricted stock unit, stock options, reload stock options, stock purchase
warrants, other rights to acquire stock, securities convertible into or
redeemable for stock, stock appreciation rights, limited stock appreciation
rights, phantom stock, dividend equivalents, performance units or performance
shares, and an Award may consist of one or more such security or benefit.
(c) Common Stock may be issued pursuant to an Award for any lawful
consideration as determined by the Committee, including, without limitation,
services rendered by the recipient of such Award.
-1-
<PAGE>
(d) Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee, in its
sole and absolute discretion, shall determine all of the terms and conditions of
each Award granted under the Plan, which terms and conditions may include
without limitation:
(i) a provision permitting the recipient of such Award, including a
director or officer of the Company, to pay the purchase price of the
Common Stock or other property issuable pursuant to such Award, or such
recipient's tax withholding obligation with respect to such Award, in
whole or in part, by any one or more of the following:
(A) the delivery of previously owned shares of Common Stock or
other property,
(B) a reduction in the amount of Common Stock or other property
otherwise issuable pursuant to such Award, or
(C) the delivery of a promissory note, the terms and conditions
of which shall be determined by the Committee;
(ii) a provision conditioning or accelerating the receipt of
benefits pursuant to such Award, either automatically or in the discretion
of the Committee, upon the occurrence of specified events, including a
change of control of the Company, an acquisition of a specified percentage
of the voting power of the Company, the dissolution or liquidation of the
Company, a sale of substantially all of the property and assets of the
Company or an event of the type described in Section 7 hereof; or
(iii) a provision required in order for such Award to qualify as an
incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code (an
"Incentive Stock Option").
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, no one Employee
shall be granted options or other Awards with respect to more than 100,000
shares of Common Stock in any one calendar year; provided, however, that this
limitation shall not apply if it is not required in order for the compensation
attributable to Awards hereunder to qualify as performance-based compensation
described in Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code ("Performance-Based
Compensation"). The limitation set forth in this Section 3(e) shall be subject
to adjustment as provided in Section 7 hereof, but only to the extent such
adjustment would not affect the status of compensation attributable to Awards
hereunder as Performance-Based Compensation.
SECTION 4. Stock Subject to Plan
(a) At any time, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock
issued and issuable pursuant to all Awards granted under the Plan shall not
exceed 1,500,000, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 7 hereof. Shares
of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Plan may be authorized but unissued
shares, treasury shares, reacquired shares or any combination thereof.
(b) For purposes of Section 4(a) hereof, the aggregate number of
shares of Common Stock issued and issuable pursuant to Awards granted under the
Plan shall at any time be deemed to be equal to the sum of the number of shares
of Common Stock which have been issued
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<PAGE>
pursuant to Awards and which have not been repurchased by the Company and the
number of shares which are or may be issuable at or after such time pursuant to
Awards granted prior to such time.
SECTION 5. Duration
No Awards shall be granted under the Plan after April 27, 2009.
Shares of Common Stock may be issued after April 27, 2009 pursuant to Awards
granted prior to such date, however, no shares of Common Stock shall be issued
under the Plan after April 27, 2019.
SECTION 6. Administration
(a) The Plan shall be administered by a committee (the "Committee")
of the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") consisting of two or more
directors, each of whom is a "Non-Employee Director" (as such term is defined in
Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to
time) and an "outside director" as defined in Section 162(m) of the Internal
Revenue Code; provided that to the extent permitted at any time under Rule 16b-3
or any successor rule and under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code or
any successor statutory provision, and any implementing regulations, without
adversely affecting the ability of the Plan to comply with the conditions for
exemption from Section 16 of the Exchange Act provided by Rule 16b-3 and the
exemption from the limitations on the deductibility of certain executive
compensation provided by Section 162(m), the Committee may delegate the
administration of the Plan in whole or in part, on such terms and conditions, to
such other person or persons as it may determine in its discretion, which
persons may be officers or employees of the Company or third parties (each such
person, an "Authorized Delegate").
(b) Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee (or its
Authorized Delegate) shall be authorized and empowered to do all things
necessary or desirable in connection with the administration of the Plan,
including the following:
(i) adopt, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to
the Plan;
(ii) determine which persons meet the requirements of Section 2
hereof for eligibility under the Plan and to which of such eligible
persons, if any, Awards shall be granted hereunder;
(iii) determine whether, and the extent to which adjustments are
required pursuant to Section 7 hereof;
(iv) interpret and construe the Plan and the terms and
conditions of any Award granted hereunder; and
(v) correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any
inconsistency in the Plan or in any Award in the manner and to the extent
the Committee deems necessary or desirable to carry it into effect.
(c) Any decision of the Committee (or any Authorized Delegate) in
the interpretation and administration of the Plan shall lie within its sole and
absolute discretion and shall
-3-
<PAGE>
be final, conclusive and binding on all parties concerned. The Committee may act
only by a majority of its members in office, except that the members thereof may
authorize any one or more of their members or any Authorized Delegate to execute
and deliver documents or to take any other ministerial action on behalf of the
Committee with respect to Awards made or to be made to Plan participants. No
member of the Committee or Authorized Delegate shall be liable for anything done
or omitted to be done by such member or Authorized Delegate, by any other member
of the Committee or by any other Authorized Delegate in connection with the
performance of duties under the Plan, except for his or her own willful
misconduct or as expressly provided by statute. Determinations to be made by the
Committee under the Plan may be made by Authorized Delegates.
SECTION 7. Adjustments
If the outstanding securities of the class then subject to the Plan
are increased, decreased or exchanged for or converted into cash, property or a
different number or kind of securities, or if cash, property or securities are
distributed in respect of such outstanding securities, in either case as a
result of a reorganization, merger, consolidation, recapitalization,
restructuring, reclassification, dividend (other than a regular, quarterly cash
dividend) or other distribution, stock split, reverse stock split or the like,
or if substantially all of the property and assets of the Company are sold,
then, unless the terms of such transaction shall provide otherwise, the
Committee shall make appropriate and proportionate adjustments in (a) the number
and type of shares or other securities or cash or other property that may be
acquired pursuant to Awards theretofore granted under the Plan, (b) the maximum
number and type of shares or other securities that may be issued pursuant to
Awards thereafter granted under the Plan and (c) to the extent permitted under
Section 3(e) hereof, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock with respect
to which Awards may be granted to any Employee during any calendar year;
provided, however, that no adjustment shall be made to the number of shares of
Common Stock that may be acquired pursuant to outstanding Incentive Stock
Options or the maximum number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which
Incentive Stock Options may be granted under the Plan to the extent such
adjustment would result in such options being treated as other than Incentive
Stock Options; provided further that no such adjustment shall be made to the
extent the Committee determines that such adjustment would result in the
disallowance of a federal income tax deduction for compensation attributable to
Awards hereunder by causing such compensation to be other than Performance-Based
Compensation.
SECTION 8. Amendment and Termination
The Board may amend or terminate the Plan at any time and in any
manner; provided however, that no such amendment or termination shall deprive
the recipient of an Award previously granted under the Plan of any of his or her
rights thereunder, without the consent of such recipient and provided further
that no amendment shall become effective without stockholder approval if such
stockholder approval is required by law.
SECTION 9. Effectiveness
The Plan shall be submitted to the stockholders of the Company for
their approval and adoption in accordance with Section 162(m) under the Internal
Revenue Code. The Plan shall
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<PAGE>
not be effective and no Award shall be made hereunder unless and until the Plan
has been so approved and adopted.
SECTION 10. Miscellaneous Provisions
(a) Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be
construed as giving any Employee or other person any right to continue to be
employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
(b) Except as may be set forth in an Award or otherwise approved by
the Committee an Employee's rights and interest under the Plan may not be
assigned or transferred, hypothecated or encumbered in whole or in part either
directly or by operation of law or otherwise (except in the event of an
Employee's death) including, but not by way of limitation, execution, levy,
garnishment, attachment, pledge, bankruptcy or in any other manner.
(c) It is the intent of the Company that the Plan comply in all
respects with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and Section 162(m) of the
Internal Revenue Code, that any ambiguities or inconsistencies in construction
of the Plan be interpreted to give effect to such intention and that if any
provision of the Plan is found not to be in compliance with Rule 16b-3 or
Section 162(m), such provision shall be deemed null and void to the extent
required to permit the Plan to comply with Rule 16b-3 or Section 162(m), as the
case may be.
(d) The Company shall have the right to deduct from any payment made
under the Plan any federal, state, local or foreign income or other taxes
required by law to be withheld with respect to such payment. It shall be a
condition to the obligation of the Company to issue shares of Common Stock,
other securities or property or any combination thereof, upon exercise,
settlement or payment of any Award under the Plan, that the recipient of an
Award (or any beneficiary or person entitled to act) pay to the Company, upon
its demand, such amount as may be required by the Company for the purpose of
satisfying any liability to withhold such taxes.
(e) By accepting any Award or other benefit under the Plan, each
recipient of an Award and each person claiming under or through him or her shall
be conclusively deemed to have indicated his or her acceptance and ratification
of, and consent to, any action taken under the Plan by the Company, the Board or
the Committee or its delegates.
(f) The validity, construction, interpretation, administration and
effect of the Plan, and of its rules and regulations, and rights relating to the
Plan and to Awards granted under the Plan, shall be governed by the substantive
laws, but not the choice of law rules, of the State of Delaware.
-5-
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (no. 333-17617) of American Pad & Paper Company of our
report dated April 13, 2000 appearing on page 44 of this Form 10-K.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Dallas, Texas
April 13, 2000
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
HISTORICAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF AMERICAN PAD & PAPER COMPANY AND IS QUALIFIED
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1999
<CASH> 19,976
<SECURITIES> 0
<RECEIVABLES> 35,385
<ALLOWANCES> 0
<INVENTORY> 93,083
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 3,521
<PP&E> 145,982
<DEPRECIATION> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 472,228
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 495,143
<BONDS> 0
0
0
<COMMON> 285
<OTHER-SE> (61,064)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 472,228
<SALES> 0
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 574,621
<CGS> (531,085)
<TOTAL-COSTS> 0
<OTHER-EXPENSES> (56,139)
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> (44,865)
<INCOME-PRETAX> (57,468)
<INCOME-TAX> (23,270)
<INCOME-CONTINUING> (80,738)
<DISCONTINUED> 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0
<CHANGES> (726)
<NET-INCOME> (81,464)
<EPS-BASIC> (2.92)
<EPS-DILUTED> (2.92)
</TABLE>
