EX-10 2 d410541dex10.htm FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT DATED AS OF AUGUST 30, 2012 FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of August 30, 2012

Exhibit 10.1

EXECUTION COPY

FOURTH AMENDMENT

TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of August 30, 2012

Among

CASCADES INC.

CASCADES USA INC.

CASCADES EUROPE SAS

(as Borrowers)

and

NATIONAL BANK OF CANADA

(as Administrative Agent)

THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA

(as Collateral Agent)

– and –

THE LENDERS

FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO

MCCARTHY TÉTRAULT LLP


FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE FEBRUARY 10, 2011 CASCADES CREDIT AGREEMENT made as of August 30, 2012.

 

BETWEEN:

   CASCADES INC. (“Cascades”)

AND :

   CASCADES USA INC.

AND :

   CASCADES EUROPE SAS
   (each a “Borrower” and collectively, the “Borrowers”)

AND:

   THE LENDERS PARTY TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT REFERRED TO BELOW
   (each a “Lender” and collectively the “Lenders”)

AND:

   NATIONAL BANK OF CANADA
   (as “Administrative Agent”)

AND:

   THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA
   (as “Collateral Agent”)

RECITALS

 

A. The Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders are party to a credit agreement dated as of February 10, 2011, as amended further to request letters dated April 14, 2011, May 19, 2011 and June 22, 2011 (the “Credit Agreement”), providing for a Facility in an amount of $750,000,000.

 

B. The Lenders have been requested by the Borrowers to (i) extend the Facility Maturity Date to February 10, 2016 and (ii) reduce the Applicable Margins (or Rates) set out in the pricing grid of Schedule “A”.

 

C. The parties have also agreed to changes in the amount of the Commitment of certain Lenders.

 

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NOW, THEREFORE, THE PARTIES AGREE AS FOLLOWS:

 

1. Interpretation

 

  1.1 Capitalized terms used herein and defined in the Credit Agreement have the meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement unless otherwise defined herein.

 

  1.2 This Agreement may be referred to as the Fourth Amendment to the February 10, 2011 Cascades Credit Agreement.

 

  1.3 Any reference to the Credit Agreement in any Credit Document refers to the Credit Agreement as amended hereby.

 

2. Amendments to the Credit Agreement

 

  2.1 On the date this Agreement becomes effective, the Commitments of the Lenders under the Facility and each Tranche will be as specified opposite their names on the signature pages of this Agreement.

 

  2.2 Section 1.2 of the Credit Agreement is amended by replacing the definition of “Facility Maturity Date” with the following:

Facility Maturity Date” means February 10, 2016;”

 

  2.3 Section 2.14 of the Credit Agreement is deleted.

 

  2.4 Schedule “A” to the Credit Agreement is amended by replacing the grid applicable to the Applicable Margins (or Rates) with the following grid:

 

Rating

   Prime,
US Base
     Acceptance Fee / Libor
European Rate/L/C Fee
     Stand-By
Fee
 

BBB/Baa2 or Higher

     50.0 bps         150.0 bps         30.0 bps   

BBB-/Baa3

     75.0 bps         175.0 bps         35.0 bps   

BB+/Bal

     112.5 bps         212.5 bps         42.5 bps   

BB/Ba2

     150.0 bps         250.0 bps         50.0 bps   

BB-/Ba3 or Lower

     200.0 bps         300.0 bps         60.0 bps   

 

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  2.5 Paragraph 4 of Schedule “A” to the Credit Agreement is amended to provide that adjustments to Acceptance fees as a result of a change of Rate will be payable by the Borrowers or the Lenders (as applicable), and not only by Cascades. Accordingly, paragraph 4 will be replaced by the following:

 

  “4. Interest, Letter of Credit fees and stand-by fees will be calculated, for any day, using the applicable Rate in effect on the relevant day. Acceptance fees will be calculated using the Rate in effect on the date such fees are payable. Any change of Rate (including as a result of an amendment to the Credit Agreement) will give rise to adjustments to Acceptance fees previously calculated if the period of calculation extended beyond the date of the modification. The adjustments will apply to the number of days remaining to accrue from the date of the modification. The adjustments will be calculated by the Administrative Agent and be payable by Cascades or the Lenders (as applicable) within three Business Days from the date of a demand therefor by the Administrative Agent.”

 

3. Adjustments

On the date this Agreement becomes effective, the Administrative Agent will notify Cascades and the Lenders of the adjustments which are required to be made among the Lenders to ensure that the outstanding Borrowings under the Facility and each Tranche are owed to the Lenders in the proportion of their respective Commitments under the Facility and each Tranche (as set out on the signature pages of this Agreement). The amounts payable by Lenders as a result of such adjustments will be payable by the Lenders concerned to the Agent on the Business Day following the date of notification. The Agent will thereafter promptly remit such amounts to the Lenders in whose favour the adjustments are payable. The Borrowers will be bound by such adjustments.

 

4. Effectiveness and Conditions Precedent

This Agreement will become effective on the date that the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrowers and the Lenders (through Intralinks in the case of the Lenders) that this Agreement has been executed by all parties hereto and that the Administrative Agent has received copies of the corporate documents evidencing the authority of the persons acting on behalf of the Borrowers.

 

5. Fees and Expenses

 

  5.1 On the date this Agreement becomes effective, Cascades must pay to each Lender an extension fee of 7.5 bps calculated on the total amount of its Commitment as specified opposite its name on the signature pages of this Agreement. The Administrative Agent is authorized to debit such fees to an account of Cascades with the Administrative Agent.

 

  5.2 The Borrowers agree to pay on demand all reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery and implementation and administration of this Agreement.

 

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6. Confirmation

Each of the Borrowers represents to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that this Agreement will not result in any Default.

 

7. Counterparts

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered will be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together will constitute but one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by telecopier will be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

8. Governing Law

This Agreement is governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the Province of Quebec and of the laws of Canada applicable therein.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date and year first above written.

 

CASCADES INC.

Per: /s/ Robert F. Hall                                             

        Robert F. Hall

CASCADES USA INC.

Per: /s/ Allan Hogg                                                 

        Allan Hogg

CASCADES EUROPE SAS

Per: /s/ Louise Paul                                                 

        Louise Paul

Per: /s/ Mario Plourde                                                 

        Mario Plourde

NATIONAL BANK OF CANADA, as Administrative  Agent

Per: /s/ Dominic Albanese                                    

        Dominic Albanese

        Director

Per: /s/ Roch Ledoux                                             

        Roch Ledoux

        Directeur - Director

THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, as Collateral Agent
Per: illegible
(the names and signatures of the Lenders are on the next page)

[Signature page – Fourth Amendment Cascades]

 

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Commitment Amounts

    

Lenders

Tranche A:

     $73,333,334       National Bank of Canada

Tranche B:

     $13,333,333      

Tranche C:

     $13,333,333      

per : /s/ Dominic Albanese    

        Dominic Albanese

        Director

Total:

     $100,000,000      

per: /s/ Roch Ledoux    

        Roch Ledoux

              Directeur - Director

Percentage:

     13.33%      
      National Bank of Canada, New York Branch (in respect of Tranche B)
     

per : /s/ Vincent Lima    

        Vincent Lima - Vice President

             

per: /s/ Peter Fiorillo            

        Peter Fiorillo - AVP

Tranche A:

     $73,333,334       The Bank of Nova Scotia

Tranche B:

     $13,333,333      

Tranche C:

     $13,333,333       per : illegible

Total:

     $100,000,000       per: illegible

Percentage:

     13.33%        

Tranche A:

     $55,000,000       Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

Tranche B:

     $10,000,000      

Tranche C:

     $10,000,000      

per : /s/ Jens Paterson    

        Jens Paterson

        Executive Director

Total :

     $75,000,000      

per: /s/ Peter Dietrich    

        Peter Dietrich

        Executive Director

Percentage:

     10.00%      
      CIBC Inc., as designated Lender with respect to Tranche B
      per : illegible
      per : illegible

 

[Signature page – Fourth Amendment Cascades]

 

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Commitment Amounts

    

Lenders

Tranche A:

     $55,000,000       Caisse centrale Desjardins

Tranche B:

     $10,000,000      

Tranche C:

     $10,000,000       per : illegible

Total :

     $75,000,000      
     

per: illegible

Percentage:

     10.00%      
      Caisse centrale Desjardins US Branch, as designated Lender with respect to Tranche B
             

per: /s/ Michel Brouillet    

        Michel Brouillet

        Vice President

Tranche A:

     $55,000,000       Wells Fargo Capital Finance Corporation Canada

Tranche B:

     $10,000,000      

Tranche C:

     $10,000,000      

Total :

     $75,000,000      

per : /s/ Raymond Eghobamien            

        Raymond Eghobamien V. P.

Percentage:

     10.00%       Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as designated Lender with respect to Tranche B and Tranche C
     

per : /s/ Gary W. Wessels        

        Gary W. Wessels

        Senior Vice President

 

[Signature page – Fourth Amendment Cascades]

 

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Commitment Amounts

    

Lenders

Tranche A:

     $36,666,666       BNP Paribas (Canada)

Tranche B:

     $6,666,667      

Tranche C:

     $6,666,667      

per : /s/ Edouard Sinor

        Edouard Sinor

        Director

Total:

     $50,000,000      

per: /s/ Jean Rolin

        Jean Rolin

Percentage:

     6.67%       BNP Paribas, New York Branch, as designated Lender with respect to Tranche B
     

per : /s/ Donna La Spina

        Donna La Spina

        Vice President

     

per: /s/ Jacqueline Bouych

        Jacqueline Bouych

        Vice President

      BNP Paribas, as designated Lender with respect to Tranche C
      per : illegible
             

per: /s/ Lucien Charmois

        Lucien Charmois

Tranche A:

     $36,666,666       Bank of America, N. A., Canada Branch

Tranche B:

     $6,666,667      

Tranche C:

     $6,666,667      
     

per : /s/ Medina Sales de Andrade

        Medina Sales de Andrade

        Vice President

Total:

     $50,000,000      

Percentage:

     6.67%       per :

Tranche A:

     $34,833,333       Comerica Bank, Canada Branch

Tranche B:

     $6,333,335      

Tranche C:

     $6,333,332      
     

per : /s/ illegible                        

        PORTFOLIO MANAGER

Total:

     $47,500,000      
      Comerica Bank,

Percentage:

     6.33%       (in respect of Tranche B and Tranche C)
      per : illegible

 

[Signature page – Fourth Amendment Cascades]

 

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Commitment Amounts

    

Lenders

Tranche A:

     $34,833,332       Rabobank Nederland, Canadian Branch

Tranche B:

     $6,333,333      

Tranche C:

     $6,333,335      
      per : /s/ Marc J. Drouin            
              Marc J. Drouin
              Vice President

Total:

     $47,500,000      

Percentage:

     6.33%       per: /s/ Andrew Chewpa            
              Andrew Chewpa
              Managing Director, RI North America Wholesale
     

        Regional Head Loan Product Group

 

     

Tranche A:

     $25,666,666       The Toronto-Dominion Bank

Tranche B:

     $4,666,667      

Tranche C:

     $4,666,667       per : illegible

Total:

     $35,000,000       per: illegible

Percentage:

     4.67%       Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as designated Lender with respect to Tranche B
      per : /s/ Kelly Hundal                                   
              Kelly Hundal - Authorized Signatory
     

The Toronto-Dominion Bank, London Office, (in respect of Tranche C)

      per : /s/ James N. Stewart            
              James N. Stewart
     

        Regional Head of Credit Management London

 

     

Tranche A:

     $25,666,666       Royal Bank of Canada

Tranche B:

     $4,666,667      

Tranche C:

     $4,666,667       per : /s/ Khalil Ben Achour            
              Khalil Ben Achour
              Authorized Signatory

Total:

     $35,000,000       per:

Percentage:

     4.67%      

Royal Bank of Canada,

(in respect of Tranche B)

      per: /s/ Khalil Ben Achour            
              Khalil Ben Achour
              Authorized Signatory

 

[Signature page – Fourth Amendment Cascades]

 

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Commitment Amounts

    Lenders

Tranche A:

     $25,666,666      Bank of Montreal

Tranche B:

     $4,666,667        

Tranche C:

     $4,666,667      per :    /s/ Bruno Jarry                        

 

Total:

     $35,000,000        

      Bruno Jarry

      Director/Directeur

 

Percentage:

     4.67     
     Bank of Montreal, Chicago Branch (in respect of Tranche B)
     per :   

/s/ Yacouba Kane                    

                 

      Yacouba Kane

      Vice President

Tranche A:

     $18,333,335      Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec

Tranche B:

     $3,333,332        

Tranche C:

     $3,333,333      per :   

/s/ Jean - Pierre Jetté                    

       

      Jean - Pierre Jetté

      Senior Portfolio Manager

Total:

     $25,000,000      per :   

/s/ James B. McMullan                

 

Percentage:

  

 

 

 

3.33

 

    

      James B. McMullan

      Senior Vice President

 

[Signature page – Fourth Amendment Cascades]

 

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CONFIRMATION BY THE DESIGNATED SUBSIDIARIES

We, the undersigned, as Designated Subsidiaries and guarantors under the Credit Agreement, hereby agree with the terms of this Fourth Amending Agreement.

7251637 CANADA INC.

7678169 CANADA INC.

CASCADES CANADA ULC

CASCADES ENVIROPAC HPM LLC

CASCADES SPG SALES INC.

CASCADES GIE INC.

CASCADES HOLDING US INC.

CASCADES MOULDED PULP, INC.

CASCADES PAPERBOARD INTERNATIONAL INC.

CASCADES PLASTICS INC.

CASCADES TENDERCO INC.

CASCADES TISSUE LLC

CASCADES TRANSPORT INC.

CASCADES FINE PAPERS GROUP INC.

KINGSEY FALLS INVESTMENTS INC.

CASCADES TISSUE GROUP – IFC DISPOSABLES INC.

CASCADES TISSUE GROUP – NEW YORK INC.

CASCADES TISSUE GROUP – ARIZONA INC.

CASCADES TISSUE GROUP- SALES INC.

CASCADES TISSUE GROUP – TENNESSEE INC.

CASCADES ENERGY ACTION INC.

NORAMPAC INC.

NORAMPAC EXPORT SALES CORP.

NORAMPAC NEW ENGLAND INC.

NORAMPAC NEW YORK CITY INC.

NORAMPAC FINANCE US INC.

NORAMPAC INDUSTRIES INC.

NORAMPAC SCHENECTADY INC.

each of the foregoing entities being represented by

 

Name:       /s/ Robert Hall
  Robert Hall, duly authorized as he so declares

 

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