XML 26 R33.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.8
Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 28, 2013
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions
Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions
In connection with the Merger, Holdings entered into a shareholders agreement (the “Shareholders Agreement”) with Blackstone and certain members of the Company's management. The Shareholders Agreement governs certain matters relating to ownership of Holdings, including with respect to the election of directors of our parent companies, restrictions on the issuance or transfer of shares, including tag-along rights and drag-along rights, other special corporate governance provisions and registration rights (including customary indemnification provisions). As of December 28, 2013, the Board of Directors of the Company includes two Blackstone members, four outside members and the Company’s Chief Executive Officer as an employee director. Furthermore, Blackstone has the power to designate all of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company and the right to remove any or all directors, with or without cause.
Blackstone Advisory Agreement
In the second quarter of 2010, the Company entered into an advisory services arrangement (the "Advisory Agreement") with Blackstone Advisory Partners L.P. ("Blackstone Advisory"), an affiliate of Blackstone. Pursuant to the terms of the Advisory Agreement, the Company paid a fee of $2.0 million following the announcement of the parties having entered into the Merger Agreement, and a fee of $4.5 million following consummation of the Merger. In addition, the Company reimbursed Blackstone Advisory for its reasonable documented expenses, and agreed to indemnify Blackstone Advisory and related persons against certain liabilities arising out of its advisory engagement. As a result, the Predecessor recognized $4.5 million during the one month ended January 28, 2011, which is included within Special charges, net in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
In the third quarter of 2013, the Company entered into an advisory services arrangement (the “International Advisory Agreement”) with Blackstone Group International Partners, LLP (“BGIP”), an affiliate of Blackstone. Pursuant to the terms of the International Advisory Agreement, the Company paid an aggregate fee of $3.0 million, associated with the acquisition of Fiberweb, of which 30% was paid following the announcement and the remaining 70% was paid following consummation of the transaction. In addition, the Company reimbursed BGIP for its reasonable documented expenses, and agreed to indemnify BGIP and related persons against certain liabilities arising out of its advisory engagement. As a result, the Successor recognized $3.2 million during the year ended December 28, 2013, which is included within Special charges, net in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
Management Services Agreement
Upon the completion of the Merger, the Company became subject to a management services agreement (“Management Services Agreement”) with Blackstone Management Partners V L.L.C. (“BMP”), an affiliate of Blackstone. Under the Management Services Agreement, BMP (including through its affiliates) has agreed to provide certain monitoring, advisory and consulting services for an annual non-refundable advisory fee, to be paid at the beginning of each fiscal year, equal to the greater of (i) $3.0 million or (ii) 2.0% of the Company’s consolidated EBITDA (as defined under the credit agreement governing our ABL Facility) for the immediately preceding fiscal year. The amount of such fee shall be initially paid based on the Company’s then most current estimate of the Company’s projected EBITDA amount for the fiscal year immediately preceding the date upon which the advisory fee is paid. After completion of the fiscal year to which the fee relates and following the availability of audited financial statements for such period, the parties will recalculate the amount of such fee based on the actual consolidated EBITDA for such period and the Company or BMP, as applicable, shall adjust such payment as necessary based on the recalculated amount. Since the Merger, the Company's advisory fee has been $3.0 million, which is paid at the beginning of each year. The amount is included in Selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
In addition, in the absence of an express agreement to provide investment banking or other financial advisory services to the Company, and without regard to whether such services were provided, BMP will be entitled to receive a fee equal to 1.0% of the aggregate transaction value upon the consummation of any acquisition, divestiture, disposition, merger, consolidation, restructuring, refinancing, recapitalization, issuance of private or public debt or equity securities (including an initial public offering of equity securities), financing or similar transaction by the Company. The fee associated with the Fiberweb transaction totaled $2.5 million and was paid in December of 2013. This amount is included in Special charges, net in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
At any time in connection with or in anticipation of a change of control of the Company, a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or an initial public offering of common equity of the Company or parent entity of the Company or their successors, BMP may elect to receive, in consideration of BMP’s role in facilitating such transaction and in settlement of the termination of the services, a single lump sum cash payment equal to the then-present value of all then-current and future annual advisory fees payable under the Management Services Agreement, assuming a hypothetical termination date of the Management Service Agreement to be the twelfth anniversary of such election. The Management Service Agreement will continue until the earlier of the twelfth anniversary of the date of the agreement or such date as the Company and BMP may mutually determine. The Company will agree to indemnify BMP and its affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents and representatives from and against all liabilities relating to the services contemplated by the transaction and advisory fee agreement and the engagement of BMP pursuant to, and the performance of BMP and its affiliates of the services contemplated by, the Management Services Agreement.
BMP also received transaction fees in connection with services provided related to the Merger. Pursuant to the Management Services Agreement, BMP received, at the closing of the Merger, an $8.0 million transaction fee as consideration for BMP undertaking financial and structural analysis, due diligence and other assistance in connection with the Merger. In addition, the Company agreed to reimburse BMP for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by BMP and its affiliates in connection with the Merger. As a result, the Successor recognized $7.9 million within Special charges, net during the eleven months ended December 31, 2011, as well as capitalized $0.8 million as deferred financing costs as of January 28, 2011. BMP also receives reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses in connection with the provision of services under the Management Services Agreement.
Other Relationships
Blackstone and its affiliates have ownership interests in a broad range of companies. We have entered into commercial transactions in the ordinary course of our business with some of these companies, including the sale of goods and services and the purchase of goods and services. Blackstone Holdings Finance Co., LLC, a Blackstone subsidiary, participated in the Fiberweb financing group and received $0.6 million associated with their pro rata participation.