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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549



FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

January 28, 2018
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  001-33494
(Commission
File Number)
  20-2699372
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

1101 Skokie Boulevard, Suite 300, Northbrook, IL 60062
(Address of principal executive offices)

(847) 239-8800
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

ý
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (Section 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Section 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  o

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  o

   


Item 1.01.    Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Merger Agreement

        On January 28, 2018, KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation, a Delaware corporation (" KapStone "), WestRock Company, a Delaware corporation (" WestRock "), Whiskey Holdco, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a newly formed wholly-owned subsidiary of WestRock (" Holdco "), Kola Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a newly formed wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdco (" Company Merger Sub "), and Whiskey Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a newly formed wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdco (" Parent Merger Sub "), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the " Merger Agreement "). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, and subject to the terms and conditions thereof, WestRock will acquire all of the outstanding shares of KapStone through a transaction in which: (i) WestRock will merge with and into Parent Merger Sub, with WestRock surviving such merger (the " WestRock Merger ") as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdco, a new holding company formed by Holdco which shall, at the effective time of the Mergers described below (the " Effective Time ") change its name to "WestRock Company," and (ii) KapStone will merge with and into Company Merger Sub, with KapStone surviving such merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdco (the " KapStone Merger " and, together with the WestRock Merger, the " Mergers ").

        The board of directors of each of KapStone and WestRock have unanimously approved the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby.

        Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, at the Effective Time:

    (i)
    each share of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of KapStone (the " KapStone Common Stock ") issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (excluding any shares of KapStone Common Stock that are (a) held in treasury or (b) held by any KapStone stockholder who is entitled to exercise, and properly exercises, dissenters' rights with respect to such shares of KapStone Common Stock) will be converted into the right to receive, at the election of the stockholder (subject to proration as described below):

    (a)
    $35.00 in cash, without interest (the " Cash Consideration "), or

    (b)
    0.4981 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Holdco (the " Holdco Common Stock ") (the " Stock Consideration " and, together with the Cash Consideration, the " Merger Consideration "); and

    (ii)
    each share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of WestRock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be converted into one share of Holdco Common Stock.

        KapStone stockholders will be permitted to make an election to receive the Stock Consideration by submitting an election form no later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the business day immediately prior to the stockholder meeting of KapStone that will be held to adopt the Merger Agreement (the " KapStone Stockholders Meeting "). Any KapStone stockholder not making an election will receive the Cash Consideration.

        Elections by KapStone stockholders for Stock Consideration will be subject to proration procedures set forth in the Merger Agreement that will limit the total amount of Stock Consideration to be issued to KapStone stockholders to no more than 25% of the outstanding shares of KapStone Common Stock immediately prior to the Effective Time.

        The Merger Agreement provides that, at the Effective Time, the outstanding KapStone restricted stock unit awards and stock options will convert upon the Effective Time into restricted stock unit awards and stock options with respect to Holdco Common Stock, generally on the same terms and conditions as were applicable to the previously-outstanding KapStone restricted stock unit awards and stock options, after providing that the awards would be (i) in the case of employees, subject to accelerated vesting upon termination of employment under certain circumstances following the


Effective Time, (ii) in the case of non-employee members of the KapStone Board, subject to vesting upon the Effective Time and (iii) appropriately adjusted to reflect the consummation of the Mergers.

        KapStone and WestRock will prepare, and WestRock will cause Holdco to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, a registration statement on Form S-4 (the " Form S-4 ") in connection with the potential issuance of shares of Holdco Common Stock in the Company Merger (the " Stock Issuance "), which will include a prospectus in respect of the Stock Issuance and a proxy statement relating to the KapStone Stockholders Meeting. After the Effective Time, Holdco Common Stock will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

        The completion of the Mergers is subject to customary conditions, including, without limitation, (1) the adoption of the Merger Agreement by KapStone stockholders at the KapStone Stockholders Meeting (the " KapStone Stockholder Approval "), (2) the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended and the receipt of other required antitrust approvals, including in Canada (if required), Germany, Mexico and Austria, (3) the absence of any material applicable law or any order that has the effect of enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the completion of the Mergers, (4) the receipt of certain tax opinions, (5) the absence of a material adverse effect on KapStone and WestRock and (6) the authorization for listing of the shares of Holdco Common Stock forming part of the Merger Consideration on the New York Stock Exchange and the effectiveness of the Form S-4. The completion of the Mergers is not subject to the approval of WestRock's stockholders or the receipt of financing by WestRock.

        The Merger Agreement includes customary representations, warranties and covenants of KapStone, WestRock, Holdco, Parent Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub. Between the date of execution of the Merger Agreement and the Effective Time, KapStone has agreed to use reasonable best efforts to conduct its and its subsidiaries' business in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and to comply with certain operating covenants, and WestRock has also agreed to comply with certain covenants. The Merger Agreement generally requires each party to take reasonable best efforts to take or cause to be taken all actions necessary to cause the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting periods under, and obtain as promptly as reasonably practicable all consents under, any regulatory laws that may be required by a governmental entity so as to enable the parties hereto to consummate the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and take all actions necessary to resolve objections, if any, as may be asserted with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement under any regulatory law (as defined in the Merger Agreement) except that WestRock is not required to take any Divestiture Action (as defined in the Merger Agreement) that would result in a Burdensome Effect (as defined in the Merger Agreement).

        KapStone also has agreed not to, and not to authorize, and to use reasonable best efforts not to permit, any of its representatives to initiate, seek, solicit, knowingly facilitate or knowingly encourage any third-party alternative acquisition proposals and has agreed to certain restrictions on its and its representatives' ability to respond to any such proposals. Prior to the KapStone Stockholder Approval and subject to certain notice and other specified conditions, the KapStone board of directors (the " KapStone Board ") may (i) effect an Adverse Recommendation Change (as defined in the Merger Agreement) in a situation that is not in response to a superior proposal if the KapStone Board has determined in good faith, after consultation with outside legal counsel, that the failure to effect an Adverse Recommendation Change would reasonably be expected to be inconsistent with the directors' fiduciary duties under applicable law or (ii) if KapStone receives an acquisition proposal that the KapStone Board determines in good faith, after consultation with a financial advisor of nationally recognized reputation and outside legal counsel, constitutes a Superior Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement), authorize, adopt or approve such Superior Proposal and cause or permit KapStone to enter into an alternative acquisition agreement with respect to such Superior Proposal, subject to KapStone's payment of the termination fee (described below) to WestRock.

        The Company or WestRock may terminate the Merger Agreement if the Mergers are not consummated by October 29, 2018 (the " End Date "), which date may be extended to April 29, 2019 under certain circumstances described in the Merger Agreement. The Merger Agreement also includes


additional termination provisions for both KapStone and WestRock. The Merger Agreement provides that KapStone will be required to pay WestRock a termination fee equal to approximately $105.6 million if the Merger Agreement is terminated (i) by KapStone, prior to the KapStone Stockholder Approval, to enter into an alternative acquisition agreement providing for a superior proposal as described above or (ii) by WestRock prior to the KapStone Stockholder Approval in the event an adverse recommendation change has occurred. The termination fee is also payable by KapStone to WestRock if the Merger Agreement is terminated in certain circumstances and, within twelve (12) months of such termination, KapStone enters into a definitive agreement with respect to, or consummates, an alternative change of control proposal, subject to certain conditions. The Merger Agreement also provides that KapStone must reimburse WestRock's expenses up to $17.6 million if an acquisition proposal has been publicly made by any person to KapStone or has been made by any person directly to the stockholders of KapStone generally and is not withdrawn prior to the KapStone Stockholder Approval and KapStone or WestRock terminates the agreement as a result of the KapStone Stockholder Approval not having been obtained.

        A copy of the Merger Agreement is attached as Exhibit 2.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein. The foregoing summary of the Merger Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Merger Agreement.

        The foregoing summary has been included to provide investors and security holders with information regarding the terms of the Merger Agreement. It is not intended to provide any other factual information about KapStone, WestRock, Holdco or their respective subsidiaries and affiliates. The Merger Agreement contains representations and warranties by each of the parties to the Merger Agreement, which were made only for purposes of that agreement and as of specified dates. The representations, warranties and covenants in the Merger Agreement were made solely for the benefit of the parties to the Merger Agreement, are subject to limitations agreed upon by the contracting parties, including being qualified by confidential disclosures made for the purposes of allocating contractual risk between the parties to the Merger Agreement instead of establishing these matters as facts, as well as by information contained in each of KapStone's and WestRock's public disclosures with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and may be subject to standards of materiality applicable to the contracting parties that may differ from those applicable to investors. Investors should not rely on the representations, warranties and covenants or any descriptions thereof as characterizations of the actual state of facts or condition of KapStone, WestRock, Holdco or any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates. Moreover, information concerning the subject matter of the representations, warranties and covenants may change after the date of the Merger Agreement, which subsequent information may or may not be fully reflected in KapStone's public disclosures.

Item 5.02.    Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

(e)
Compensatory Arrangements.

        The information set forth in Item 1.01 above with respect to the accelerated vesting of the outstanding KapStone restricted stock unit awards and stock options for employees is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 8.01.    Other Events.

Voting Agreements

        As an inducement for WestRock to enter into the Merger Agreement, concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, WestRock entered into voting agreements (each a " Voting Agreement ") with Roger W. Stone, Executive Chairman of the KapStone Board, and certain affiliated entities, covering shares totaling approximately 5.8% of the outstanding shares of KapStone Common Stock, and with Matthew Kaplan, KapStone's President and Chief Executive Officer, covering shares totaling approximately 3.5% of the outstanding shares of KapStone Common Stock. The Voting Agreements provide that each of Messrs. Stone and Kaplan, among other things, upon the terms and


subject the conditions therein, (i) will vote all the shares of KapStone Common Stock that he beneficially owns in favor of the approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement and against any alternative acquisition proposal and (ii) subject to specified exceptions, will not sell or otherwise transfer his shares of KapStone Common Stock during the term of each Voting Agreement.

        The foregoing summary of the Voting Agreements is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the form of Voting Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein.

Additional Information Regarding the Transaction and Where to Find It

        This Current Report on Form 8-K does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. This Current Report on Form 8-K is being filed in respect of the proposed merger transaction involving KapStone, WestRock, Holdco, Company Merger Sub and Parent Merger Sub. The proposed merger will be submitted to the stockholders of KapStone for their consideration. In connection therewith, the parties intend to file relevant materials with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the " SEC "), including a registration statement on Form S-4, which will include a document that serves as a prospectus with respect to the shares that may be issued by Holdco in the proposed merger and a proxy statement of KapStone (the " proxy statement/prospectus ") and will be mailed to KapStone stockholders. However, such documents are not currently available. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING OR ANY INVESTMENT DECISION, INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS REGARDING THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the registration statement and the definitive proxy statement/prospectus, any amendments or supplements thereto and other documents containing important information about each of KapStone, WestRock and Holdco, once such documents are filed with the SEC, through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by WestRock will be available free of charge on WestRock's website at www.westrock.com or by contacting James Armstrong, WestRock's Vice President—Investor Relations, at (470) 328-6327. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by KapStone will be available free of charge on KapStone's website at www.kapstonepaper.com under the heading "SEC Filings" within the "Investors" section of KapStone's website or by contacting Andrea K. Tarbox, KapStone's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, at (847) 239-8812.

Participants in the Solicitation

        KapStone, WestRock, their respective directors and executive officers, certain other members of KapStone's and WestRock's respective management and certain of KapStone's and WestRock's respective employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of KapStone is set forth in its proxy statement for its 2017 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 5, 2017, and its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, which was filed with the SEC on February 24, 2017, and information about the directors and executive officers of WestRock is set forth in its proxy statement for its 2018 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on December 19, 2017, and its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017, which was filed with the SEC on November 20, 2017. Each of these documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available.


No Offer or Solicitation

        This Current Report on Form 8-K shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

        This Current Report on Form 8-K includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this Current Report on Form 8-K are forward-looking statements subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as "may," "will," "should," "would,' "expect," "project," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "estimate," "potential," "outlook," or "continue," the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: the ability of KapStone and WestRock to receive the required regulatory approvals for the proposed acquisition of KapStone and WestRock (and the risk that such approvals may result in the imposition of conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the transaction) and approval of KapStone's stockholders and to satisfy the other conditions to the closing of the transaction on a timely basis or at all; the occurrence of events that may give rise to a right of one or both of the parties to terminate the merger agreement; negative effects of the announcement or the consummation of the transaction on the market price of WestRock's or KapStone's common stock and/or on their respective businesses, financial conditions, results of operations and financial performance; risks relating to the value of the Holdco shares that may be issued in the transaction, significant transaction costs and/or unknown liabilities; the possibility that the anticipated benefits from the proposed transaction cannot be realized in full or at all or may take longer to realize than expected; risks associated with third party contracts containing consent and/or other provisions that may be triggered by the proposed transaction; risks associated with transaction-related litigation; the possibility that costs or difficulties related to the integration of KapStone's operations with those of WestRock will be greater than expected; the outcome of legally required consultation with employees, their works councils or other employee representatives; and the ability of KapStone and the combined company to retain and hire key personnel. There can be no assurance that the proposed acquisition or any other transaction described above will in fact be consummated in the manner described or at all. For additional information on identifying factors that may cause actual results to vary materially from those stated in forward-looking statements, see the reports of WestRock and KapStone on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K filed with or furnished to the SEC from time to time. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof and the companies assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

Item 9.01.    Financial Statements and Exhibits.

    (d)
    Exhibits
Exhibit No.   Description
  2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 28, 2018, by and among KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation, WestRock Company, Whiskey Holdco, Inc., Kola Merger Sub and Whiskey Merger Sub.

 

99.1

 

Form of Voting Agreement.

Schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The registrant hereby undertakes to furnish supplementally copies of any of the omitted schedules upon request by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.


SIGNATURE

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: January 30, 2018

  KAPSTONE PAPER AND PACKAGING CORPORATION

 

By:

 

/s/ KATHRYN D. INGRAHAM


      Name:   Kathryn D. Ingraham

      Title:   Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel



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TABLE OF CONTENTS


EXHIBIT 2.1

EXECUTION COPY

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

Dated as of January 28, 2018,

among

KAPSTONE PAPER AND PACKAGING CORPORATION,

WESTROCK COMPANY,

WHISKEY HOLDCO, INC.,

WHISKEY MERGER SUB, INC. and

KOLA MERGER SUB, INC.



TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
   
  Page  

ARTICLE I THE MERGERS

    1  

Section 1.01.

 

The Mergers

   
1
 

Section 1.02.

 

Closing

    2  

Section 1.03.

 

Effective Time

    2  

Section 1.04.

 

Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

    2  

Section 1.05.

 

Directors and Officers of Holdco, Parent Surviving Company and Surviving Company

    3  

ARTICLE II EFFECT ON THE CAPITAL STOCK OF THE CONSTITUENT ENTITIES

   
4
 

Section 2.01.

 

Effect on Capital Stock

   
4
 

Section 2.02.

 

Proration

    6  

Section 2.03.

 

Elections

    6  

Section 2.04.

 

Exchange of Shares

    7  

Section 2.05.

 

Shares of Dissenting Holders

    10  

Section 2.06.

 

Treatment of Equity Awards; ESPPs

    10  

ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

   
13
 

Section 3.01.

 

Qualification, Organization, Subsidiaries, etc

   
13
 

Section 3.02.

 

Authority; Execution and Delivery; Enforceability

    14  

Section 3.03.

 

Capital Structure

    14  

Section 3.04.

 

Governmental Authorization; Non-contravention

    16  

Section 3.05.

 

Company SEC Documents

    16  

Section 3.06.

 

Absence of Certain Changes or Events

    18  

Section 3.07.

 

No Undisclosed Liabilities

    18  

Section 3.08.

 

Absence of Litigation

    18  

Section 3.09.

 

Compliance with Applicable Laws; Permits; FCPA

    18  

Section 3.10.

 

Intellectual Property

    19  

Section 3.11.

 

Environmental Matters

    20  

Section 3.12.

 

Material Contracts. 

    21  

Section 3.13.

 

Labor Matters

    23  

Section 3.14.

 

Benefits Matters; ERISA Compliance

    24  

Section 3.15.

 

Real and Personal Properties

    26  

Section 3.16.

 

Taxes

    26  

Section 3.17.

 

Form S-4 and Proxy Statement/Prospectus

    27  

Section 3.18.

 

Brokers' Fees and Expenses

    27  

Section 3.19.

 

Opinion of Financial Advisor

    27  

Section 3.20.

 

Takeover Statutes

    28  

Section 3.21.

 

Insurance

    28  

Section 3.22.

 

Customers and Suppliers

    28  

Section 3.23.

 

Tax Matters

    28  

Section 3.24.

 

No Other Representations or Warranties

    28  

ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT, HOLDCO, PARENT MERGER SUB AND COMPANY MERGER SUB

   
29
 

Section 4.01.

 

Qualification, Organization, Subsidiaries, etc

   
29
 

Section 4.02.

 

Authority; Execution and Delivery; Enforceability

    29  

Section 4.03.

 

Capital Structure

    30  

i


 
   
  Page  

Section 4.04.

 

Governmental Authorization; Non-contravention

    31  

Section 4.05.

 

Parent SEC Documents

    32  

Section 4.06.

 

Absence of Certain Changes or Events

    33  

Section 4.07.

 

Litigation

    33  

Section 4.08.

 

Ownership and Capital Structure of Holdco, Parent Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub

    33  

Section 4.09.

 

Financing

    34  

Section 4.10.

 

No Ownership of Company Shares

    35  

Section 4.11.

 

Form S-4 and Proxy Statement/Prospectus

    35  

Section 4.12.

 

Brokers' Fees and Expenses

    35  

Section 4.13.

 

Takeover Statutes

    35  

Section 4.14.

 

Tax Matters

    35  

Section 4.15.

 

No Other Representations or Warranties

    35  

ARTICLE V COVENANTS

   
36
 

Section 5.01.

 

Conduct of Business

   
36
 

Section 5.02.

 

No Solicitation by the Company; Company Board Recommendation

    40  

Section 5.03.

 

Holdco, Parent Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub Stockholder Approval

    43  

ARTICLE VI ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

   
44
 

Section 6.01.

 

Preparation and Mailing of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus; Form S-4; Company Stockholders Meeting

   
44
 

Section 6.02.

 

Access to Information; Confidentiality

    45  

Section 6.03.

 

Reasonable Best Efforts

    46  

Section 6.04.

 

Indemnification, Exculpation and Insurance

    48  

Section 6.05.

 

Section 16 Matters

    50  

Section 6.06.

 

Public Announcements

    50  

Section 6.07.

 

Employee Matters

    50  

Section 6.08.

 

Holdco, Parent Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub; Parent Subsidiaries; Company Subsidiaries

    52  

Section 6.09.

 

Stock Exchange De-Listing

    52  

Section 6.10.

 

Credit Facility Matters

    52  

Section 6.11.

 

Financing Cooperation

    52  

Section 6.12.

 

Transaction Litigation

    54  

Section 6.13.

 

Stock Exchange Listing

    54  

Section 6.14.

 

Tax Matters

    54  

ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

   
55
 

Section 7.01.

 

Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Mergers

   
55
 

Section 7.02.

 

Conditions to Obligation of Parent

    55  

Section 7.03.

 

Conditions to Obligations of the Company

    56  

ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

   
57
 

Section 8.01.

 

Termination

   
57
 

Section 8.02.

 

Effect of Termination

    58  

Section 8.03.

 

Fees and Expenses

    58  

Section 8.04.

 

Amendment

    59  

Section 8.05.

 

Extension; Waiver

    59  

Section 8.06.

 

Procedure for Termination

    60  

ii


 
   
  Page  

ARTICLE IX GENERAL PROVISIONS

    60  

Section 9.01.

 

Survival

   
60
 

Section 9.02.

 

Notices

    60  

Section 9.03.

 

Definitions

    61  

Section 9.04.

 

Rules of Construction

    67  

Section 9.05.

 

Severability

    68  

Section 9.06.

 

Counterparts

    68  

Section 9.07.

 

Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries

    68  

Section 9.08.

 

Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial

    69  

Section 9.09.

 

Assignment

    69  

Section 9.10.

 

Specific Enforcement

    69  

 

EXHIBITS

 

 

       

EXHIBIT A

 

Form of Voting Agreement

   
71
 

EXHIBIT B-1

 

Form of Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Company

    82  

EXHIBIT B-2

 

Form of Bylaws of the Surviving Company

    84  

EXHIBIT C

 

Terms and Conditions of Company Options and Company Restricted Stock Unit Awards

    95  

iii



INDEX OF DEFINED TERMS

Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement

    72  

Company Stock Plans

    75  

Acquisition Proposal

    51  

Company Stockholder Approval

    17  

Action

    72  

Company Stockholders Meeting

    17  

Adverse Recommendation Change

    49  

Confidentiality Agreement

    54  

Affiliate

    72  

Continuing Employee

    60  

Agreement

    1  

Contract

    75  

Alternative Acquisition Agreement

    72  

DGCL

    1  

Antitrust Laws

    72  

Dissenting Shares

    12  

Applicable Law(s)

    73  

Divestiture Actions

    56  

Assumed Awards

    15  

DOJ

    75  

Book-Entry Share

    73  

DTC

    9  

Burdensome Effect

    57  

Effective Time

    3  

Business Day

    73  

Elected Stock Consideration

    7  

Capitalization Date

    17  

Election Deadline

    8  

Cash Consideration

    5  

Election Form

    7  

CERCLA

    24  

End Date

    67  

Certificate

    73  

Environmental Law

    24  

Closing

    2  

Environmental Permits

    24  

Closing Date

    3  

Equity Award Exchange Ratio

    13  

Closing Parent Stock Price

    73  

ERISA

    75  

Code

    73  

ERISA Affiliate

    75  

Collective Bargaining Agreement

    73  

Excess Amount

    7  

Company

    1  

Exchange Act

    75  

Company Assumed Option Award

    13  

Exchange Agent

    8  

Company Assumed RSU Award

    13  

Exchange Fund

    8  

Company Benefit Plans

    29  

Exchange Ratio

    75  

Company Board

    1  

Excluded Shares

    5  

Company Book-Entry Share

    6  

Existing Credit Facility

    75  

Company Certificate

    6  

Existing Receivables Facility

    75  

Company Certificate of Merger

    3  

FCPA

    76  

Company Disclosure Letter

    15  

Final Determination

    76  

Company ESPP

    73  

Financing

    62  

Company Financing Filing

    63  

Form S-4

    52  

Company Indemnified Party

    58  

FTC

    76  

Company Intended Tax Treatment

    2  

GAAP

    76  

Company Material Adverse Effect

    73  

Governmental Entity

    76  

Company Merger

    1  

Hazardous Materials

    25  

Company Merger Consideration

    6  

Holdco

    1  

Company Merger Sub

    1  

Holdco Common Stock

    5  

Company Merger Sub Organizational Documents

    35  

Holdco Organizational Documents

    35  

Company Option

    74  

Holdco Securities

    40  

Company Organizational Documents

    74  

Holdco Stock Issuance

    36  

Company Personnel

    29  

HSR Act

    76  

Company Preferred Shares

    17  

Indebtedness

    76  

Company Recommendation

    17  

Intellectual Property

    76  

Company Restricted Stock Unit Award

    75  

IRS

    77  

Company SEC Documents

    20  

Knowledge

    77  

Company Securities

    18  

Letter of Transmittal

    9  

Company Shares

    5  

Lien

    77  

Company Stock Award Agreement

    18  

Mailing Date

    7  

iv


Material Contract

    25  

Parent SEC Documents

    38  

Maximum Amount

    58  

Parent Securities

    37  

Maximum Stock Amount

    77  

Parent Shares

    4  

Merger Consideration

    6  

Parent Stock Plans

    78  

Mergers

    1  

Parent Surviving Company

    2  

Multiemployer Plan

    29  

Permits

    78  

No Election Share

    5  

Permitted Liens

    79  

Non-U.S. Company Benefit Plan

    29  

Person

    79  

NYSE

    77  

Proxy Statement/Prospectus

    52  

Order

    77  

Registered IP

    23  

Parent

    1  

Regulation S-K

    79  

Parent Assumed DSU Award

    14  

Regulation S-X

    79  

Parent Assumed Option Award

    14  

Regulatory Laws

    79  

Parent Assumed RSU Award

    14  

Release

    25  

Parent Assumed SAR Award

    14  

Representatives

    47  

Parent Board

    1  

Required Antitrust Approvals

    79  

Parent Book-Entry Share

    6  

Required Financial Information

    62  

Parent Capitalization Date

    36  

SEC

    79  

Parent Certificate

    7  

Securities Act

    80  

Parent Certificate of Merger

    3  

SOX

    80  

Parent Converted Restricted Stock Award

    14  

Specified Employee

    80  

Parent Disclosure Letter

    34  

Specified Person

    69  

Parent DSUs

    36  

Stock Consideration

    6  

Parent ESPP

    36  

Stock Election

    8  

Parent Intended Tax Treatment

    2  

Stock Election Share

    5  

Parent Material Adverse Effect

    77  

Subsidiary

    80  

Parent Merger

    1  

Superior Proposal

    51  

Parent Merger Consideration

    6  

Surviving Company

    2  

Parent Merger Sub

    1  

Takeover Laws

    55  

Parent Merger Sub Organizational Documents

    35  

Tax Returns

    80  

Parent Options

    36  

Taxes

    80  

Parent Organizational Documents

    35  

Termination Fee

    80  

Parent Preferred Stock

    36  

Transfer

    80  

Parent Restricted Stock Awards

    36  

UK Bribery Act

    80  

Parent Restricted Stock Unit Awards

    36  

Victory Benefit Plans

    28  

Parent SARs

    36  

Voting Agreement

    1  

v



AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

        THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this " Agreement ") dated as of January 28, 2018 is among WESTROCK COMPANY (" Parent "), a Delaware corporation, WHISKEY HOLDCO, INC. (" Holdco "), a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent, WHISKEY MERGER SUB, INC. (" Parent Merger Sub "), a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdco, KOLA MERGER SUB, INC. (" Company Merger Sub "), a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdco, and KAPSTONE PAPER AND PACKAGING CORPORATION (the " Company "), a Delaware corporation.


R E C I T A L S

        WHEREAS the board of directors of Parent (the " Parent Board ") has unanimously (i) approved and adopted this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, including the merger of Parent Merger Sub with and into Parent, with Parent surviving such merger (the " Parent Merger ") in accordance with Section 251(g) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended (the " DGCL "), (ii) determined that entering into this Agreement is in the best interests of Parent and its stockholders and (iii) declared this Agreement advisable;

        WHEREAS the board of directors of each of Holdco, Parent Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub has unanimously (i) approved and adopted this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, including the Parent Merger and the merger of Company Merger Sub with and into the Company, with the Company surviving such merger (the " Company Merger " and, together with the Parent Merger, the " Mergers "), (ii) determined that the terms of this Agreement are in the best interests of Holdco, Parent Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub, as applicable, and their respective stockholders and (iii) declared this Agreement advisable;

        WHEREAS the board of directors of the Company (the " Company Board ") has unanimously (i) approved and adopted this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, including the Company Merger, (ii) determined that the terms of this Agreement are in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, (iii) declared this Agreement advisable and (iv) subject to Section 5.02, resolved to recommend adoption of this Agreement to the Company's stockholders;

        WHEREAS concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, and as a condition and inducement to the willingness of Parent to enter into this Agreement, certain stockholders of the Company named therein have entered into an agreement with Parent substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A (the " Voting Agreement "), pursuant to which, subject to the terms and conditions therein, such Persons have agreed to vote all of their respective Company Shares in favor of, and to otherwise support, the Company Merger and to vote against certain Acquisition Proposals; and

        WHEREAS for United States federal income tax purposes, the Parent Merger is intended to qualify as a transaction described in Section 351 of the Code, a "reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code or both (the " Parent Intended Tax Treatment "), and the Company Merger, when taken together with the Parent Merger, is intended to qualify as a transaction described in Section 351 of the Code (the " Company Intended Tax Treatment ").

        NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:


ARTICLE I

THE MERGERS

        Section 1.01.     The Mergers     



        Section 1.02.
    Closing .     Subject to the satisfaction or (to the extent permitted by Applicable Law) waiver of all of the conditions set forth in ARTICLE VII, the closing of the Mergers (the " Closing ") shall take place at the offices of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP at 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the third Business Day following the satisfaction or (to the extent permitted by Applicable Law) waiver of all of the conditions set forth in ARTICLE VII (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or (to the extent permitted by Applicable Law) waiver thereof at the Closing), unless another date or place is agreed to in writing by Parent and the Company. The date on which the Closing actually occurs is referred to in this Agreement as the " Closing Date ".


        Section 1.03.
    Effective Time .     On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, as soon as practicable following the Closing, Parent and the Company will cause the Mergers to be consummated by (a) causing a certificate of merger (the " Parent Certificate of Merger ") in respect of the Parent Merger to be executed, acknowledged and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as provided in Section 251 of the DGCL and (b) causing a certificate of merger (the " Company Certificate of Merger ") in respect of the Company Merger to be executed, acknowledged and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as provided in Section 251 of the DGCL. The Mergers shall become effective at the time on the Closing Date as Parent and the Company shall agree and specify in both the Parent Certificate of Merger and the Company Certificate of Merger (the " Effective Time "), with the Company Merger to become effective immediately following the effective time of the Parent Merger.


        Section 1.04.
    Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws .     

2



        Section 1.05.
    Directors and Officers of Holdco, Parent Surviving Company and Surviving Company .     The directors of Parent Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the directors of the Parent Surviving Company, and the officers of Parent Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the officers of the Parent Surviving Company, in each case until their respective successors shall have been duly elected, designated or qualified, or until their earlier death, resignation or removal. The directors of Company Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the directors of the Surviving Company, and the officers of Company Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the officers of the Surviving Company, in each case until their respective successors shall have been duly elected, designated or qualified, or until their earlier death, resignation or removal. In accordance with Section 251(g) of the DGCL, the directors of Parent at the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the directors of Holdco, and the officers of Parent at the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the officers of Holdco, in each case until their respective successors shall have been duly elected, designated or qualified, or until their earlier death, resignation or removal.

3



ARTICLE II

EFFECT ON THE CAPITAL STOCK OF THE CONSTITUENT ENTITIES

        Section 2.01.     Effect on Capital Stock .     

4


5



        Section 2.02.
    Proration .     Notwithstanding Section 2.01(c):


        Section 2.03.
    Elections .     Each holder of record of Company Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Election Deadline shall have the right, subject to the limitations set forth in this ARTICLE II, to submit a Stock Election on or prior to the Election Deadline in accordance with the following procedures.

6



        Section 2.04.
    Exchange of Shares .     

7


8


9



        Section 2.05.
    Shares of Dissenting Holders .     Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, Company Shares which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and which are held by holders of such Company Shares who have properly exercised appraisal rights with respect thereto (" Dissenting Shares ") in accordance with Section 262 of the DGCL, will not be converted into the right to receive the Company Merger Consideration, and holders of such Dissenting Shares will be entitled to receive in lieu of the Company Merger Consideration payment of the fair value of such Dissenting Shares determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 262 of the DGCL unless and until such holders fail to perfect or effectively withdraw or otherwise lose their rights to appraisal and payment under the DGCL. If, after the Effective Time, any such holder fails to perfect or effectively withdraws or loses such right, such Dissenting Shares will thereupon be treated automatically as if they had been converted into and have become exchangeable for, at the Effective Time, the right to receive solely the Cash Consideration, without any interest thereon. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.05, if this Agreement is terminated prior to the Effective Time, then the right of any holder to be paid the fair value of such holder's Dissenting Shares pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL will cease. The Company will give Parent (i) prompt notice of any written demands received by the Company for appraisal of Dissenting Shares, withdrawals of such demands and any other instruments served pursuant to the DGCL which are received by the Company relating to such holder's rights of appraisal and (ii) the opportunity to direct all negotiations and proceedings with respect to demands for appraisal under the DGCL. The Company will not, except with the prior written consent of Parent, make any payment with respect to any demand for appraisal or settle or offer to settle any such demand, and Parent will not commit to make any such payment or enter into any such settlement prior to the Effective Time without the prior written consent of the Company.


        Section 2.06.
    Treatment of Equity Awards; ESPPs .     

10


11


12



ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

        The Company represents and warrants to Parent, Holdco, Parent Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub that, except (i) as disclosed in the Company SEC Documents filed with, or furnished to, the SEC after January 1, 2016 and publicly available at least two Business Days prior to the date of this Agreement (excluding any disclosures in any risk factors section, in any section related to forward-looking statements and other disclosures that are predictive or forward-looking in nature); provided , however , that (A) in no event shall any disclosure in any Company SEC Documents apply to or qualify any representation or warranty in Section 3.03 and (B) any matter set forth in a Company SEC Document shall be deemed to apply to and qualify any representation or warranty in this ARTICLE III only to the extent that it is reasonably apparent that the description of such matter in such Company SEC Document is relevant to the topic of such representation or warranty; or (ii) as disclosed in the disclosure letter delivered by the Company to Parent at or before the execution and delivery of this Agreement (the " Company Disclosure Letter ") (it being understood that any information set forth in one section or subsection of the Company Disclosure Letter shall be deemed to apply to and qualify the section or subsection of this ARTICLE III to which it corresponds and each other section or subsection of this ARTICLE III only to the extent that it is reasonably apparent that such information is relevant to such other section or subsection):


        Section 3.01.
    Qualification, Organization, Subsidiaries, etc .     

13



        Section 3.02.
    Authority; Execution and Delivery; Enforceability .     The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the Company Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, subject, in the case of the Company Merger, to the receipt of the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding Company Shares (the " Company Stockholders Meeting ") entitled to vote thereon (the " Company Stockholder Approval "). The Company Board has (i) approved and adopted this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, including the Company Merger, (ii) determined that the terms of this Agreement are in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, (iii) declared this Agreement advisable and (iv) subject to Section 5.02, resolved to recommend adoption of this Agreement to the Company's stockholders (the " Company Recommendation "). As of the date of this Agreement, such approvals, determinations, declarations and resolutions are valid and have not been amended or withdrawn. Except for the Company Stockholder Approval at the Company Stockholders Meeting, or any adjournment or postponement thereof, no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize or adopt this Agreement or to consummate the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement (except for the filing of the Company Certificate of Merger and the Parent Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as provided in Section 251 of the DGCL). The Company has duly executed and delivered this Agreement and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by Parent, Holdco, Parent Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub, this Agreement constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms except as enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and by general principles of equity.


        Section 3.03.
    Capital Structure .     

14


15



        Section 3.04.
    Governmental Authorization; Non-contravention .     


        Section 3.05.
    Company SEC Documents .     

16


17



        Section 3.06.
    Absence of Certain Changes or Events.     


        Section 3.07.
    No Undisclosed Liabilities.     Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liabilities or obligations of any nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise), except liabilities or obligations (i) reflected or reserved against in the most recent audited balance sheet (including the notes thereto) of the Company and its Subsidiaries included in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof, (ii) incurred after September 30, 2017, in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (iii) expressly permitted by this Agreement or (iv) as, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.


        Section 3.08.
    Absence of Litigation.     As of the date hereof, there are no Actions pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Order to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, except, in each case, for those that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect and would not reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay or adversely affect the Company's ability to consummate the Mergers or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or comply with its obligations under this Agreement.


        Section 3.09.
    Compliance with Applicable Laws; Permits; FCPA.     

18



        Section 3.10.
    Intellectual Property.     Except as, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect:

19



        Section 3.11.
    Environmental Matters.     Except as, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company and each of its Subsidiaries are and, for the past five (5) years, have been in compliance with all Environmental Laws applicable to the Company and its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses, operations, products or properties, (ii) (x) the Company and its Subsidiaries hold and comply, and, for the past five (5) years, have complied, with all Permits that are required under applicable Environmental Laws for the lawful conduct of their respective businesses as currently conducted (" Environmental Permits ") and (y) to the Knowledge of the Company, there are no facts or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to result in the failure of any Environmental Permit to be timely renewed or re-issued by any Governmental Entity or cause the amendment, revision or modification of any Environmental Permit in a manner that would impose additional compliance obligations or increase the cost of compliance for the businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries as the same are operated on the date hereof, (iii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received (within the past five (5) years or as to a matter that has not been resolved) any written notice of, or is the subject of, any pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened Action by any Person asserting, or any Order addressing, any liability, violation or obligation on the part of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries arising under any Environmental Law, including any notice that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has been identified as a "potentially responsible party" under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, 42 U.S.C. § 6901 et. seq., as amended (" CERCLA "), or comparable Environmental Laws, (iv) to the Knowledge of the Company, (x) no capital or other expenditures or operational changes are required in the next three (3) years for the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to be in compliance with Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits in effect as of the date hereof and (y) there are no pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, proposed changes to any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit that would reasonably be expected to require any capital or other expenditure for compliance, will limit or restrict the production capacity of the business, increase the cost of production for the business or limit or restrict the grades or types of products that can be produced by the Company or its Subsidiaries, (v) there has been no Release of or exposure to any Hazardous Material that would reasonably be expected to form the basis of any Action against or liability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any Environmental Law, (vi) none of the Company or its Subsidiaries has retained or assumed any obligations, including indemnification obligations, or other liabilities by written contract or, to the Knowledge of the Company, by operation of law, that would reasonably be expected to form the basis of any Action against or liability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any Environmental Law and (vii) no less than 20 calendar days prior to the Closing Date, each of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall provide to Parent true, correct and complete copies of any material Phase I, Phase II and other environmental reports relating to the business, including cleanup, investigation or remedial reports in its possession.

20


        For all purposes of this Agreement, (i) " Environmental Law " means any Applicable Law, Order or legally binding agreement issued, promulgated or entered into by or with any Governmental Entity relating to pollution or the protection of the environment (including ambient air, climate, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata), natural resources, endangered or threatened species, noise, transportation of hazardous materials, human health and safety in respect of exposure to Hazardous Materials, including CERCLA, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. §6901 et seq., the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. §7401 et seq., the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §1251 et seq., the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C. §5101 et seq., the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, 29 U.S.C. § 651 et seq., the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (Directive 94/62/EC), REACH Regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006), EU ETS (Directive 2003/87/EC), and RoHS (Directive 2002/95/EC), in each case as amended and including all implementing legislation and regulations; (ii) " Hazardous Materials " means any oil, petroleum or refined petroleum products, radioactive materials or wastes, asbestos in any form, polychlorinated biphenyls, hazardous or toxic substances and any other chemical, material, substance, pollutant or waste that is regulated or for which liability is imposed under any Environmental Law; and (iii) " Release " means any release, spill, emission, leaking, dumping, injection, pouring, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal or leaching into or through the indoor or outdoor environment.


        Section 3.12.
    Material Contracts.     

21


22



        Section 3.13.
    Labor Matters.     

23



        Section 3.14.
    Benefits Matters; ERISA Compliance.     

24


25



        Section 3.15.
    Real and Personal Properties.     Except as, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its Subsidiaries have (i) good and valid fee simple title to all of their respective owned real property, (ii) good and valid title to all the personal properties and assets reflected on the most recent audited balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries included in the Company SEC Documents as being owned by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries or acquired after the date thereof (except for properties and assets that have been disposed of in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since the date thereof) and (iii) valid leasehold interests in all of their respective leased real property, in each case free and clear of all Liens, other than Permitted Liens. Section 3.15 of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth, as of the date of this Agreement, a true, complete and correct list of all of the material real property owned or leased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has complied with the terms of all leases, subleases and licenses entitling it to the use of real property owned by third parties except as, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company and each Subsidiary of the Company is in exclusive possession of the properties or assets purported to be leased under all such leases, except for (i) such failures to have such possession of material properties or assets as, individually or in the aggregate, do not materially impair and would not reasonably be expected to materially impair, the continued use and operation of such material assets to which they relate in the conduct of the Company's and its Subsidiaries' business as presently conducted and (ii) failures to have such possession of properties or assets as, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.


        Section 3.16.
    Taxes.     Except as, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect:

26



        Section 3.17.
    Form S-4 and Proxy Statement/Prospectus.     None of the information supplied or to be supplied by the Company for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (a) the Form S-4 will, at the time the Form S-4 is filed with the SEC, at any time it is amended or supplemented or at the time it becomes effective under the Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading or (b) the Proxy Statement/Prospectus will, at the time it is first mailed to the stockholders of the Company, at the time of any amendment thereof or supplement thereto and at the time of the Company Stockholders Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to statements made or incorporated by reference in the Form S-4 or the Proxy Statement/Prospectus based on information supplied by or on behalf of Parent, Holdco, Parent Merger Sub or Company Merger Sub or any Affiliates thereof for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Form S-4 or the Proxy Statement/Prospectus.


        Section 3.18.
    Brokers' Fees and Expenses.     Except for Moelis & Company LLC and Rothschild Inc., no broker, finder, financial advisor, investment banker or other Person is entitled to any broker's, finder's, financial advisor's, investment banker's or other similar fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Prior to the execution of this Agreement, the Company has made available to Parent true, correct and complete copies of all Contracts between or among the Company, on the one hand, and Moelis & Company LLC or Rothschild Inc., on the other hand, relating to the Mergers or any of the other transactions contemplated hereby.


        Section 3.19.
    Opinion of Financial Advisor.     The Company Board has received the opinions of Moelis & Company LLC and Rothschild Inc., each to the effect that, as of the date hereof and subject to the limitations, qualifications and assumptions set forth therein, the Cash Consideration to be received by the holders of Company Shares is fair from a financial point of view to such holders. It is

27


agreed and understood that such opinions are for the benefit of the Company Board and may not be relied on by Parent, Holdco, Parent Merger Sub or Company Merger Sub. Promptly after the execution of this Agreement, the Company will furnish Parent, solely for informational purposes, true, correct and complete copies of the written opinions of Moelis & Company LLC and Rothschild Inc.; provided that Parent acknowledges that it may not rely on such opinions.


        Section 3.20.
    Takeover Statutes.     Assuming that none of Parent or any of its "affiliates" or "associates" is, or at any time during the last three years has been, an "interested stockholder" of the Company, in each case as defined in Section 203 of the DGCL, the Company Board has taken all action necessary to render the restrictions on "business combinations" (as defined in Section 203 of the DGCL) set forth in Section 203 of the DGCL in applicable to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, and no "fair price," "moratorium," "control share acquisition," "interested stockholder" or other anti-takeover statute or regulation would restrict, prohibit or otherwise be applicable with respect to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein (including the Mergers).


        Section 3.21.
    Insurance.     As of the date hereof, the Company and its Subsidiaries maintain the material insurance policies set forth on Section 3.21 of the Company Disclosure Letter. Except as, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, all insurance policies carried by or covering the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to their business, assets and properties are in full force and effect and all of the premiums due on such policies have been paid by the Company or its Subsidiaries (as applicable), and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no notice of cancellation has been given with respect to any such policy. Except as, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all insurance policies maintained by or on behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and none of the Company or its Subsidiaries is in default or breach under, or has taken any action that would permit termination or material modification of, any insurance policies. Except as, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, all insurance policies of the Company and its Subsidiaries are sufficient for compliance with all Applicable Laws and all Contracts to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound.


        Section 3.22.
    Customers and Suppliers.     The Company has made available to Parent prior to the date hereof the names of the top 20 suppliers and the top 20 customers of the Company and its Subsidiaries by dollar value as of the date hereof. As of the date of this Agreement, none of the top 20 suppliers or top 20 customers of the Company and its Subsidiaries by dollar value has notified the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in writing or, to the Knowledge of the Company, orally, that it is terminating or materially and adversely altering, and the individuals listed in Section 9.03(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter do not reasonably believe (without any obligation of inquiry), as of the date hereof, that any such top 20 supplier or top 20 customer intends to terminate its relationship with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.


        Section 3.23.
    Tax Matters.     Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any action or knows of any fact, agreement, plan or other circumstance that could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the qualification of the Company Merger and the Parent Merger for the Company Intended Tax Treatment and the Parent Intended Tax Treatment, respectively.


        Section 3.24.
    No Other Representations or Warranties.     Except for the representations and warranties contained in ARTICLE IV (as modified by the Parent Disclosure Letter) or in any certificate delivered by Parent, Holdco, Parent Merger Sub or Company Merger Sub to the Company in accordance with the terms hereof, the Company acknowledges that none of Parent, Holdco, Parent Merger Sub or Company Merger Sub or their respective Subsidiaries or any other Person on behalf of Parent, Holdco, Parent Merger Sub or Company Merger Sub makes any other express or implied representation or warranty in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

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ARTICLE IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT, HOLDCO, PARENT MERGER SUB AND COMPANY MERGER SUB

        Parent, Holdco, Parent Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Company that, except (i) as disclosed in the Parent SEC Documents filed with, or furnished to, the SEC after January 1, 2016 and publicly available at least two Business Days prior to the date of this Agreement (excluding any disclosures in any risk factors section, in any section related to forward-looking statements and other disclosures that are predictive or forward-looking in nature); provided , however , that (A) in no event shall any disclosure in any Parent SEC Documents apply to or qualify any representation or warranty in Section 4.03 and (B) any matter set forth in a Parent SEC Document shall be deemed to apply to and qualify any representation or warranty in this ARTICLE IV only to the extent that it is reasonably apparent that the description of such matter in such Parent SEC Document is relevant to the topic of such representation or warranty; or (ii) as disclosed in the disclosure letter delivered by Parent to the Company at or before the execution and delivery of this Agreement (the " Parent Disclosure Letter ") (it being understood that any information set forth in one section or subsection of the Parent Disclosure Letter shall be deemed to apply to and qualify the section or subsection of this ARTICLE IV to which it corresponds and each other section or subsection of this ARTICLE IV only to the extent that it is reasonably apparent that such information is relevant to such other section or subsection):

         Section 4.01.     Qualification, Organization, Subsidiaries, etc.     

         Section 4.02.     Authority; Execution and Delivery; Enforceability.     Each of Parent, Holdco, Parent Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Parent Board has (i) approved and adopted this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) determined that entering into this Agreement is in the best interests of Parent and its stockholders and (iii) declared this Agreement

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advisable. The board of directors of each of Holdco, Parent Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub has (x) approved the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, (y) determined that entering into this Agreement is in the best interests of Holdco, Parent Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub, as applicable, and their respective stockholders and (z) declared this Agreement advisable, and the board of directors of Holdco has approved the issuance of shares of Holdco Common Stock as Stock Consideration upon the consummation of the Company Merger and as Parent Merger Consideration upon the consummation of the Parent Merger, in each case in accordance with this Agreement (collectively, the " Holdco Stock Issuance "). No other corporate proceedings on the part of Parent are necessary to authorize or adopt this Agreement or to consummate the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement (except for the filing of the Parent Certificate of Merger and the Company Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware). The execution, delivery and performance by Holdco, Parent Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub of this Agreement and the consummation by Holdco, Parent Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are within the corporate powers of Holdco, Parent Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of Holdco, Parent Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub, respectively. Parent, Holdco, Parent Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub have each duly executed and delivered this Agreement and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the Company, this Agreement constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms except as enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and by general principles of equity.

         Section 4.03.     Capital Structure.     

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        Section 4.04.
    Governmental Authorization; Non-contravention.     

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        Section 4.05.
    Parent SEC Documents.     

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        Section 4.06.
    Absence of Certain Changes or Events.     Since September 30, 2017, there have not been any changes, effects, events, occurrences or developments that, individually or in the aggregate (i) have had or would reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect or (ii) to the date hereof, would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay or adversely affect the ability of Parent, Holdco, Parent Merger Sub or Company Merger Sub to consummate the Mergers.


        Section 4.07.
    Litigation.     As of the date hereof, there are no Actions pending or, to the Knowledge of Parent, Holdco, Parent Merger Sub or Company Merger Sub, threatened against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Order to which Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, except, in each case, for those that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect and would not reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay or adversely affect the ability of Parent, Holdco, Parent Merger Sub or Company Merger Sub to consummate the Mergers or comply with its obligations under this Agreement.


        Section 4.08.
    Ownership and Capital Structure of Holdco, Parent Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub.     

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        Section 4.09.
    Financing.     Parent will have available to it at the Closing sufficient cash to pay the aggregate Cash Consideration and any other amounts required to be paid in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and to pay all related fees and expenses of Parent, Holdco, Parent Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub, and there is no restriction on the use of cash for such purposes. Parent has the financial resources and capabilities to fully perform its obligations under this Agreement. Parent, Holdco, Parent Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub

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acknowledge that their obligations under this Agreement are not contingent or conditioned in any manner on obtaining any financing.


        Section 4.10.
    No Ownership of Company Shares.     None of Parent, Holdco, Parent Merger Sub, Company Merger Sub or any of their respective controlled Affiliates beneficially owns (as such term is used in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) any Company Shares or any options, warrants or other rights to acquire Company Shares or other securities of, or any other economic interest (through derivatives, securities or otherwise) in the Company. None of Parent, Holdco, Parent Merger Sub, Company Merger Sub or any of their controlled Affiliates is (or during the past three years has been) a party to any Contract (other than this Agreement and the Confidentiality Agreement), arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of any Company Shares or any option, warrant or other rights to acquire any Company Shares.


        Section 4.11.
    Form S-4 and Proxy Statement/Prospectus.     None of the information supplied or to be supplied by Parent, Holdco, Parent Merger Sub or Company Merger Sub for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (i) the Form S-4 will, at the time the Form S-4 is filed with the SEC, at any time it is amended or supplemented or at the time it becomes effective under the Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading or (ii) the Proxy Statement/Prospectus will, at the time it is first mailed to the stockholders of the Company, at the time of any amendment thereof or supplement thereto and at the time of the Company Stockholders Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each of Parent, Holdco, Parent Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub makes no representation or warranty with respect to statements made or incorporated by reference in the Form S-4 or the Proxy Statement/Prospectus based on information supplied by or on behalf of the Company or any Affiliates thereof for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Form S-4 or Proxy Statement/Prospectus.


        Section 4.12.
    Brokers' Fees and Expenses.     Except for Lazard Frères & Co. LLC, the fees and expenses of which will be paid by Parent, no broker, finder, financial advisor, investment banker or other Person is entitled to any broker's, finder's, financial advisor's, investment banker's or other similar fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Parent, Holdco, Parent Merger Sub, Company Merger Sub or any of their respective Affiliates.


        Section 4.13.
    Takeover Statutes.     Assuming that neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries beneficially owns (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) any Parent Shares, no "fair price," "moratorium," "control share acquisition," "interested stockholder" or other anti-takeover statute or regulation would restrict, prohibit or otherwise be applicable with respect to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein and therein (including the Mergers).


        Section 4.14.
    Tax Matters.     Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any action or knows of any fact, agreement, plan or other circumstance that could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the qualification of the Company Merger and the Parent Merger for the Company Intended Tax Treatment and the Parent Intended Tax Treatment, respectively.


        Section 4.15.
    No Other Representations or Warranties.     Except for the representations and warranties contained in ARTICLE III (as modified by the Company Disclosure Letter) or in any certificate delivered by the Company to Parent, Holdco, Parent Merger Sub or Company Merger Sub in accordance with the terms hereof (and notwithstanding the delivery or disclosure to the Company or its Representatives of any other documentation, projections, estimates, budgets or other information),

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Parent acknowledges that none of the Company, its Subsidiaries or any other Person on behalf of the Company makes any other express or implied representation or warranty in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.


ARTICLE V

COVENANTS

        Section 5.01.     Conduct of Business.     

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        Section 5.02.
    No Solicitation by the Company; Company Board Recommendation.     

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        Section 5.03.
    Holdco, Parent Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub Stockholder Approval.     Parent shall, immediately following the execution of this Agreement, approve this Agreement in its capacity as the sole stockholder of Holdco in accordance with Applicable Law and the Holdco Organizational Documents, and Holdco shall, immediately following the execution of this Agreement, approve this Agreement in its capacity as the sole stockholder of Parent Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub, in accordance with Applicable Law and the Parent Merger Sub Organizational Documents and the Company Merger Sub Organizational Documents, respectively.

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ARTICLE VI

ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

        Section 6.01.     Preparation and Mailing of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus; Form S-4; Company Stockholders Meeting.     

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        Section 6.02.
    Access to Information; Confidentiality.     Subject to Applicable Law, the Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, afford Parent and Parent's Representatives reasonable access, upon reasonable advance notice and during normal business hours, during the period prior to the Effective Time, to all their respective properties, books, contracts, commitments, personnel and records and, during such period, the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, furnish promptly to the Parent (a) to the extent not publicly available, a copy of each report, schedule, registration statement and other document filed by it during such period pursuant to the requirements of federal or state securities laws or commission actions and (b) all other information concerning its business, properties and personnel as may be reasonably requested (in each case, in a manner so as to not interfere in any material respect with the normal business operations of the Company its Subsidiaries); provided , however , that the Company shall not be required to permit such access or make such disclosure, to the extent that such disclosure or access would reasonably be likely to (i) violate the

45


terms of any confidentiality agreement or other Contract with a third party ( provided that the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the required consent of such third party to such disclosure or access), (ii) result in the loss of any attorney-client privilege ( provided that the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to allow for such access or disclosure (or as much of it as possible) in a manner that would not be reasonably likely to risk a loss of attorney-client privilege), (iii) violate any Applicable Law, or (iv) result in any environmental sampling or testing without the Company's prior written consent ( provided that the Company shall not unreasonably withhold such consent ) . If any material is withheld by the Company pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, the Company shall, to the extent possible without violating an agreement or Applicable Law or risking a loss of attorney-client privilege, inform Parent as to the general nature of what is being withheld. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to provide any access or make any disclosure to Parent pursuant to this Section 6.02 to the extent such access or information is reasonably pertinent to a litigation where the Company or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and Parent or any of its Affiliates, on the other hand, are adverse parties. The Company may, as it deems advisable and necessary, reasonably designate any competitively sensitive material to be provided to the Parent under this Section 6.02 as "Outside Counsel Only Material." Such material and the information contained therein shall be given only to the outside counsel of the recipient and will not be disclosed by such outside counsel to employees, officers or directors of the recipient unless express permission is obtained in advance from the Company or its legal counsel. All information exchanged pursuant to this Section 6.02 shall be subject to the confidentiality agreement, dated as of December 14, 2017, between Parent and the Company (the " Confidentiality Agreement "). Subject to the limitations and restrictions set forth in, and without expanding the obligations of the parties hereto under, this Section 6.02, the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, reasonably cooperate with Parent and its Subsidiaries to facilitate the planning of the integration of the parties hereto and their respective businesses after the Closing Date, including using reasonable best efforts to take actions prior to the Closing Date with respect to the development, dissemination and implementation of programs as set forth on Section 6.02 of the Parent Disclosure Letter.


        Section 6.03.
    Reasonable Best Efforts.     

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        Section 6.04.
    Indemnification, Exculpation and Insurance.     

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        Section 6.05.
    Section 16 Matters.     Prior to the Effective Time, each of Holdco, Parent and the Company shall be permitted to take such steps as may be reasonably necessary to cause dispositions of Parent equity securities (including derivative securities) and Company equity securities (including derivative securities) and acquisitions of Holdco equity securities (including derivative securities) pursuant to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by each individual who is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, or who will become subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act as of the Effective Time, to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.


        Section 6.06.
    Public Announcements.     Parent and the Company shall consult with each other before issuing, and give each other the opportunity to review and comment upon, any press release or other public statements with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and shall not issue any such press release or make any such public statement prior to such consultation, except as may be required by Applicable Law, court process or the rules and regulations of any national securities exchange or national securities quotation system; provided , however , that the foregoing shall not apply to any release or other public statement to the extent containing information that is consistent with the joint press release referred to below or any other release or public statement previously issued or made in accordance with this Section 6.06 or as may be required by applicable Law or by obligations of a party hereto pursuant to any listing agreement between such party and any national securities exchange; provided , further , that the Company need not consult Parent in connection with the matters referred to in and in accordance with Section 5.02, including any press release or public statement to be issued or made in order to effect an Adverse Recommendation Change made pursuant to and in accordance with Section 5.02, and Parent need not consult the Company in connection with any matters referred to in Section 5.02. The parties hereto agree that the initial press release to be issued with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby following execution of this Agreement shall be a joint press release in the form heretofore agreed to by Parent and the Company. Except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement (including the exceptions contemplated by the first sentence of this Section) or as required by Applicable Law, no party hereto shall issue any press release or make any public statement regarding the other party hereto or such other party's operations, directors, officers or employees without obtaining such other party's prior written consent.


        Section 6.07.
    Employee Matters.     

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        Section 6.08.
    Holdco, Parent Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub; Parent Subsidiaries; Company Subsidiaries.     Parent shall cause each of Holdco, Parent Merger Sub, Company Merger Sub and any other applicable Subsidiary of Parent to comply with and perform all of its obligations under or relating to this Agreement, including in the case of Parent Merger Sub its obligation to consummate the Parent Merger on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and, in the case of Company Merger Sub its obligation to consummate the Company Merger on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. The Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply with and perform all of its obligations under or relating to this Agreement.


        Section 6.09.
    Stock Exchange De-Listing.     Parent shall cause the Company's securities to be de-listed from the NYSE and de-registered under the Exchange Act as soon as practicable following the Effective Time.


        Section 6.10.
    Credit Facility Matters.     At the written request of Parent to be provided at least ten days prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall provide any requisite notices to terminate the Existing Credit Facility as of the Effective Time, with such notices being conditional upon the effectiveness of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and shall request and use reasonable best efforts to obtain and deliver to Parent at the Effective Time a payoff letter (or confirmation that no amounts are then outstanding under the Existing Credit Facility and that all commitments, guaranties and security interest thereunder have been terminated) from the agent under the Existing Credit Facility in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company and Parent with respect thereto.


        Section 6.11.
    Financing Cooperation.     

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        Section 6.12.
    Transaction Litigation.     Subject to Applicable Law, the Company shall give Parent the opportunity to participate in the defense or settlement of any litigation against the Company or its directors or officers by a holder of securities of the Company relating to the Mergers, the Proxy Statement/Prospectus or any other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and no such settlement shall be agreed to without the prior written consent of Parent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.


        Section 6.13.
    Stock Exchange Listing.     Holdco shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the shares of Holdco Common Stock that will be issued in the Holdco Stock Issuance to be listed on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance, prior to the Effective Time.


        Section 6.14.
    Tax Matters.     

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ARTICLE VII

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

        Section 7.01.     Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Mergers.     The respective obligation of each party hereto to effect the Mergers is subject to the satisfaction or waiver on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:


        Section 7.02.
    Conditions to Obligation of Parent.     The obligation of Parent, Holdco, Parent Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub to effect the Mergers is further subject to the satisfaction or waiver on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:

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        Section 7.03.
    Conditions to Obligations of the Company.     The obligation of the Company to effect the Company Merger is further subject to the satisfaction or waiver on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:

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ARTICLE VIII

TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

        Section 8.01.     Termination.     This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time, whether before or after receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval:

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        Section 8.02.
    Effect of Termination.     In the event of termination of this Agreement by either Parent or the Company as provided in Section 8.01, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and have no effect, without any liability or obligation on the part of the Company, Parent, Holdco, Parent Merger Sub or Company Merger Sub, other than the penultimate sentence of Section 6.02, Section 6.11(e), this Section 8.02, Section 8.03 and ARTICLE IX, which provisions shall survive such termination; provided , however , that no such termination or the payment of the Termination Fee by the Company to Parent shall relieve any party hereto from any liability or damages arising out of: (i) any willful or intentional breach of this Agreement by any party hereto or (ii) the breach by Parent of any of its obligations under Section 6.11(a). For the avoidance of doubt, the failure of any party to consummate the Closing when required to do so under Section 1.02 shall be deemed a willful and intentional breach of this Agreement.


        Section 8.03.
    Fees and Expenses.     

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        Any Termination Fee due under this Section 8.03(b) shall be paid by wire transfer of same-day funds (x) in the case of clause (i) and (ii) above, on the second Business Day immediately following the date of termination of this Agreement in the case of termination pursuant to Section 8.01(e), and (y) in the case of clause (ii) above, on the earlier of the date of the execution of such Alternative Acquisition Agreement and the date of consummation of the Acquisition Proposal referred to in clause (ii)(C) above. Any Termination Fee due under this Section 8.03(b) shall be reduced by the amount of the any expenses reimbursed by the Company pursuant to Section 8.03(c).


        Section 8.04.
    Amendment.     This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto at any time before or after receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval; provided , however , that (i) after receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval, there shall be made no amendment that by Applicable Law requires further approval by the stockholders of the Company without the further approval of such stockholders, and (ii) except as provided above, no amendment of this Agreement shall be submitted to be approved by the stockholders of the Company unless required by Applicable Law. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto.


        Section 8.05.
    Extension; Waiver.     At any time prior to the Effective Time, the parties hereto may (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties hereto, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or in any document delivered pursuant to this Agreement, (c) waive compliance with any covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement or (d) waive the satisfaction of any of the conditions contained in this Agreement. No extension or waiver by the Company shall require the approval of the stockholders of the Company unless such approval is required by Applicable Law. Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such party. The failure of any party hereto to assert any of its rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of such rights.

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        Section 8.06.
    Procedure for Termination.     A termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01 shall, in order to be effective, require, in the case of the Company or Parent, action by its Board of Directors or the duly authorized designee thereof. Termination of this Agreement prior to the Effective Time shall not require the approval of the stockholders of either Parent or the Company.

ARTICLE IX

GENERAL PROVISIONS

        Section 9.01.     Survival.     The representations and warranties contained in or made pursuant to this Agreement shall not survive the Closing. The covenants and agreements of the parties hereto contained in or made pursuant to this Agreement that by their terms apply or are to be performed in whole or in part after the Closing, shall survive for the period provided in such covenants and agreements, if any, or until fully performed, and the covenants and agreements of the parties hereto that by their terms apply or are to be performed at or prior to the Closing shall not survive the Closing. Each covenant and agreement shall terminate after such survival period or full performance. This Section 9.01 shall not limit Section 8.02 or any covenant or agreement of the parties hereto which by its terms contemplates performance after the Effective Time.


        Section 9.02.
    Notices.     All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given or made (and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made upon receipt) by delivery in person, by overnight courier service or by electronic mail (followed by delivery of an original via overnight courier service) or two Business Days after being sent by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties hereto at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party hereto as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 9.02):

  (a)   if to the Company, to:

 

 

 

KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation
1101 Skokie Blvd., Suite 300
Northbrook, IL 60062
      Attention:   Kathryn D. Ingraham
Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel
      Email:   Kathryn.Ingraham@kapstonepaper.com

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

 

 

Sidley Austin LLP
One South Dearborn Street
Chicago, Illinois 60603
      Attention:   Kevin F. Blatchford
Scott R. Williams
      Email:   kblatchford@sidley.com
swilliams@sidley.com

 

(b)

 

if to Parent, Holdco, Parent Merger Sub or Company Merger Sub, to:

 

 

 

WestRock Company
1000 Abernathy Road
Atlanta, Georgia 30328
Attention: Robert McIntosh, General Counsel
Email: bob.mcintosh@westrock.com

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with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

 

 

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
Worldwide Plaza
825 Eighth Avenue
New York, New York 10019
      Attention:   Richard Hall
Andrew Elken
      Email:   rhall@cravath.com
aelken@cravath.com


        Section 9.03.
    Definitions.     For purposes of this Agreement:

        " Certificate " means a Parent Certificate or Company Certificate.

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        Section 9.04.
    Rules of Construction.     Interpretation of this Agreement (except as specifically provided in this Agreement, in which case such specified rules of construction shall govern with respect

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to this Agreement) shall be governed by the following rules of construction: (a) words in singular shall be held to include the plural and vice versa, and words of one general shall be held to include the other gender as the context requires; (b) references made to an Article, a Section or an Exhibit, such reference shall be to an Article, a Section or an Exhibit of or to this Agreement unless otherwise indicated; (c) the table of contents, index of defined terms and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement; (d) any capitalized term used in any Exhibit but not otherwise defined therein shall have the meaning assigned to such term in this Agreement; (e) when the words "include", "includes" or "including" are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words "without limitation"; (f) the words "hereof", "hereto", "hereby", "herein" and "hereunder" and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; (g) the term "or" is not exclusive; (h) the word "extent" in the phrase "to the extent" shall mean the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and such phrase shall not mean simply "if"; (i) the definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms; (j) all pronouns and any variations thereof refer to the masculine, feminine or neuter as the context may require; (k) any agreement, instrument or Applicable Law defined or referred to herein means such agreement, instrument or Applicable Law as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented, unless otherwise specifically indicated; (l) references to a Person are also to its permitted successors and assigns; and (m) unless otherwise specifically indicated, all references to "dollars" and "$" will be deemed references to the lawful money of the United States of America. Each of the parties hereto has participated in the drafting and negotiation of this Agreement. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement must be construed as if it is drafted by all the parties hereto, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party hereto by virtue of authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement.


        Section 9.05.
    Severability.     If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced under any Applicable Law or as a matter of public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party hereto. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties hereto as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement be consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.


        Section 9.06.
    Counterparts.     This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement electronically (including portable document format (.pdf)) or by facsimile shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.


        Section 9.07.
    Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries.     This Agreement and any exhibits, annexes or schedules hereto, including the Company Disclosure Letter and the Parent Disclosure Letter, together with the Confidentiality Agreement, constitute the entire agreement, and supersede all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties hereto and their Affiliates, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and, except for (i) if the Effective Time occurs, the right of the holders of Company Shares to receive the Company Merger Consideration and the right of the holders of Parent Shares to receive the Parent Merger Consideration and (ii) the provisions set forth in Section 6.04 of this Agreement, are not intended to and shall not confer upon any Person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder.

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        Section 9.08.
    Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.     


        Section 9.09.
    Assignment.     Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned, in whole or in part, by operation of law or otherwise, by any of the parties hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties hereto. No assignment by any party hereto shall relieve such party of any of its obligations hereunder. Subject to the immediately preceding two sentences, this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Any purported assignment not permitted under this Section 9.09 shall be null and void.


        Section 9.10.
    Specific Enforcement.     Each party hereto acknowledges and agrees that a breach by it of this Agreement would cause irreparable damage to the other parties hereto and that no party hereto will have an adequate remedy at law. Therefore, it is agreed that each party hereto shall be entitled to specific performance and injunctive relief to prevent breaches of this Agreement, including in the case of the Company, the right to specific performance and injunctive relief to cause Parent, Holdco, Parent Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub to effect the Closing in accordance with the requirements of Section 1.02 of this Agreement. Such remedies shall, however, be cumulative and not exclusive and, subject to Section 8.03(e), shall be in addition to any other remedies which any party hereto may have under this Agreement or otherwise. Each of the parties hereto expressly disclaims that it is owed any duties not expressly set forth in this Agreement, and waives and releases any and all tort claims and causes of action that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

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        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company, Parent, Holdco, Parent Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub have duly executed this Agreement, all as of the date first written above.

    KAPSTONE PAPER AND PACKAGING CORPORATION

 

 

By:

 

/s/ MATTHEW KAPLAN

        Name:   Matthew Kaplan
        Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

WESTROCK COMPANY

 

 

By:

 

/s/ STEVEN C. VORHEES

        Name:   Steven C. Vorhees
        Title:   Chief Executive Officer and President

 

 

WHISKEY HOLDCO, INC.

 

 

By:

 

/s/ STEVEN C. VORHEES

        Name:   Steven C. Vorhees
        Title:   Chief Executive Officer and President

 

 

WHISKEY MERGER SUB, INC.

 

 

By:

 

/s/ STEVEN C. VORHEES

        Name:   Steven C. Vorhees
        Title:   Chief Executive Officer and President

 

 

KOLA MERGER SUB, INC.

 

 

By:

 

/s/ STEVEN C. VORHEES

        Name:   Steven C. Vorhees
        Title:   Chief Executive Officer and President


EXHIBIT A

FORM OF VOTING AGREEMENT

        THIS VOTING AGREEMENT (this " Agreement ") is made and entered into as of January 28, 2018 by and between WestRock Company, a Delaware corporation (" Parent "), and the undersigned stockholder (the " Stockholder ") of KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the " Company ").


WITNESSETH:

        WHEREAS concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Parent, Whiskey Holdco, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (" Holdco "), Kola Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdco (" Company Merger Sub "), Whiskey Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (" Parent Merger Sub "), and the Company have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of the date hereof (as it may be amended from time to time, the " Merger Agreement "), which provides for, among other things, the merger of Company Merger Sub with and into the Company, with the Company surviving such merger (the " Company Merger ") and pursuant to which all issued and outstanding shares of common stock of the Company will be converted into the right to receive the consideration set forth in Section 2.01(c) of the Merger Agreement (the " Company Merger Consideration ").

        WHEREAS the Stockholder is the record or beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the " Exchange Act ")) of that number of Company Shares (as defined in the Merger Agreement) set forth below the Stockholder's name on the signature page to this Agreement.

        WHEREAS as a condition and inducement to the willingness of Parent, Holdco, Company Merger Sub and Parent Merger Sub to enter into the Merger Agreement, the Stockholder (in the Stockholder's capacity as a stockholder of the Company) has agreed to enter into this Agreement.

        NOW, THEREFORE, intending to be legally bound, the parties hereto agree as follows:

        1.     Certain Definitions.     All capitalized terms that are used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement. For all purposes of and under this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:

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        2.     Transfer of Shares .    

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        3.     Agreement to Vote Shares; Support .    

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        4.     [Intentionally Omitted] .    

        5.     No Adverse Act.     The Stockholder agrees that prior to any Expiration Date, except as expressly provided or permitted by this Agreement, the Stockholder shall not, and shall cause its controlled Affiliates not to, without the prior written consent of Parent in its sole discretion, directly or indirectly, (a) enter into any Contract, option or other arrangement or understanding (including any profit sharing arrangement) with respect to any of the Shares or any interest therein or (b) take or permit any other action that would in any way (i) restrict, limit or interfere with the performance of the Stockholder's obligations hereunder, (ii) make any representation or warranty of the Stockholder herein untrue or incorrect or (iii) otherwise restrict, limit or interfere with the performance of this Agreement, the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby. The Stockholder hereby agrees not to commence or participate in, and agrees to take all actions necessary to opt out of any class in any class action with respect to, any claim, derivative or otherwise, against Parent or the Company (a) challenging the validity of, or seeking to enjoin or delay the operation of, any provision of the Merger Agreement (including any claim seeking to enjoin or delay the consummation of either of the Mergers) or (b) alleging a breach of any duty of the Company Board in connection with the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall be deemed to prohibit the Stockholder from enforcing his, her or its rights under this Agreement.

        6.     Agreement Not to Exercise Appraisal Rights.     To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Stockholder shall not exercise, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, any statutory rights (including under Section 262 of the DGCL) to demand appraisal of any Shares that may arise in connection with the Mergers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 6 shall constitute, or be deemed to constitute, a waiver or release by the Stockholder of any claim or cause of action against Parent, Holdco, Company Merger Sub or Parent Merger Sub to the extent arising out of a breach of this Agreement by Parent.

        7.     Directors and Officers.     Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the Stockholder (or a designee of the Stockholder) who is a director or officer of the Company from acting in such capacity or fulfilling the obligations of such office (including, for the avoidance of doubt, exercising his fiduciary duties), including by voting, in his capacity as a director or officer of the Company, in the Stockholder's (or its designee's) sole discretion on any matter (it being understood that this Agreement shall apply to the Stockholder solely in the Stockholder's capacity as a stockholder of the Company), including with respect to Section 5.02 of the Merger Agreement. In this regard, the Stockholder shall not be deemed to make any agreement or understanding in this Agreement in the Stockholder's capacity as a director or officer of the Company, including with respect to Section 5.02 of the Merger Agreement.

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        8.     No Solicitation .    

        9.     Irrevocable Proxy.     Subject to Section 3(b) above, prior to the Expiration Date, solely in the event of a failure by the Stockholder to act in accordance with the Stockholder's obligations as to voting pursuant to Section 3(a) no later than the third Business Day prior to any meeting at which the stockholders of the Company will consider and vote on any of the matters described in Section 3(a), the Stockholder hereby irrevocably grants to, and appoints, Parent, and any individual designated in writing by Parent, and each of them individually, as the Stockholder's proxy and attorney-in-fact (with full power of substitution and including for purposes of Section 212 of the DGCL), for and in the name, place and stead of the Stockholder, to vote the Shares, or grant a consent or approval in respect of the Shares, in a manner consistent with this Agreement. The Stockholder understands and acknowledges that Parent is entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon the Stockholder's execution and delivery of this Agreement. The Stockholder hereby affirms that the irrevocable proxy set forth in this Section 9 is given in connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, and that such irrevocable proxy is given to secure the performance of the duties of the Stockholder under this Agreement. The Stockholder hereby further affirms that the irrevocable proxy is coupled with an interest and may be revoked only under the circumstances set forth in the last sentence of this Section 9 . The Stockholder hereby ratifies and confirms all that such irrevocable proxy may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Such irrevocable proxy is executed and intended to be irrevocable in accordance with Applicable Law. The Stockholder shall, upon written request by Parent, as promptly as practicable execute and deliver to Parent a separate written instrument or proxy that embodies the terms of this irrevocable proxy set forth in this Section 9 and is otherwise reasonably acceptable to Parent and the Stockholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the proxy and appointment granted hereby shall be automatically revoked, without any action by the Stockholder, upon the Expiration Date and Parent may terminate any proxy granted pursuant to this Section 9 at any time at its sole discretion by written notice to the Stockholder.

        10.     Representations and Warranties of the Stockholder.     The Stockholder hereby represents and warrants to Parent as follows:

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        11.     Disclosure.     The Stockholder shall permit Parent to publish and disclose in all documents and schedules filed with the SEC, and, after providing the Stockholder with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment thereon prior to any such publication or disclosure, any press release or other disclosure document that Parent reasonably determines to be necessary or desirable in connection with the Mergers and any transactions related to the Mergers, the Stockholder's identity and ownership of Shares and the nature of the Stockholder's commitments, arrangements and understandings under this Agreement. The Stockholder shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates not to, make any press release, public announcement or other public communication with respect to this Agreement, the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, without the prior written consent of Parent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that such consent shall not be required for any disclosure required by Applicable Law ( provided that reasonable notice of any such disclosure will be provided to Parent as promptly as reasonably practicable) and nothing herein shall prohibit the Company from making any disclosure permitted to be made pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement.

        12.     No Ownership Interest.     Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to vest in Parent any direct or indirect ownership or incidence of ownership of or with respect to any Shares. Except as provided in this Agreement, all rights, ownership and economic benefits relating to the Shares shall remain vested in and belong to the Stockholder. For the avoidance of doubt, the Stockholder shall be entitled to any dividends or other distributions declared by the Company Board with respect to the Shares having a record date prior to the Expiration Date.

        13.     Further Assurances.     Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, upon request of Parent, the Stockholder shall use commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary to fulfill such Stockholder's obligations under this Agreement.

        14.     Termination.     This Agreement, and all rights and obligations of the parties hereunder, shall terminate and shall have no further force or effect as of the Expiration Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing set forth in this Section 14 or elsewhere in this Agreement shall relieve either party hereto from liability, or otherwise limit the liability of the Stockholder, for any willful or intentional breach of this Agreement by such party prior to such termination. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in no event shall the Stockholder have any personal liability for any damages resulting from a breach of this Agreement other than in connection with an intentional and willful breach of this Agreement by the Stockholder arising out of actions taken by the Stockholder that the Stockholder knew at such time to be in violation hereof. This Section 14 and Section 1 , Section 7 , and Section 15 (as applicable) shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

        15.     Miscellaneous .    

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If to Parent:


WestRock Company
1000 Abernathy Road
Atlanta, Georgia 30328
Attention: Robert McIntosh, General Counsel
Email: bob.mcintosh@westrock.com


with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:


Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
Worldwide Plaza
825 Eighth Avenue
New York, New York 10019
Attention: Richard Hall
Andrew Elken
Email: rhall@cravath.com
aelken@cravath.com


If to the Stockholder:


[ · ]


 


with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:


[ · ]


 

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[ Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank ]

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        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed and caused to be effective this Agreement as of the date first above written.

WESTROCK COMPANY   STOCKHOLDER

By:

 

 


 

By:

 

    
    Name:           Name:    
    Title:                

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares owned of record or beneficially as of the date hereof:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares owned of record

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares owned beneficially

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EXHIBIT B-1

FORM OF AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF

INCORPORATION

OF

KAPSTONE PAPER AND PACKAGING CORPORATION

        FIRST :    The name of the corporation (hereinafter called the " Corporation ") is KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation.

        SECOND :    The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington County of New Castle, Delaware, 19808, and the name of the registered agent of the Corporation in the State of Delaware at such address is Corporation Service Company.

        THIRD :    The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

        FOURTH :    The aggregate number of shares which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 1,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

        FIFTH :    In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred upon it by law, the Board of Directors of the Corporation is expressly authorized to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation.

        SIXTH :    Subject to the last sentence of Article EIGHTH, the Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provisions contained in this Certificate of Incorporation in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute, and this Certificate of Incorporation, and all rights conferred upon stockholders and directors herein, are granted subject to this reservation.

        SEVENTH :    To the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as it now exists and as it may hereafter be amended, no director or officer of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or any of its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Article EIGHTH shall eliminate or limit the liability of a director or officer (i) for any breach of the director's or officer's duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) pursuant to Section 174 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or (iv) for any transaction from which the director or officer derived an improper personal benefit. No amendment to or repeal of this Article EIGHTH shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any director or officer of the Corporation for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such director or officer occurring prior to such amendment or repeal.

        EIGHTH :    The Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as the same may be amended and supplemented, indemnify any and all persons whom it shall have power to indemnify under said Section from and against any and all of the expenses, liabilities or other matters referred to in or covered by said Section. Such indemnification shall be mandatory and not discretionary. The indemnification provided for herein shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those indemnified may be entitled under any Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his or her official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person. Any repeal or modification of

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this Article NINTH shall not adversely affect any right to indemnification of any persons existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to any matter occurring prior to such repeal or modification.

        The Corporation shall to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware advance all costs and expenses (including without limitation, attorneys' fees and expenses) incurred by any director or officer within 15 days of the presentation of same to the Corporation, with respect to any one or more actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, so long as the Corporation receives from the director or officer an unsecured undertaking to repay such expenses if it shall ultimately be determined that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. Such obligation to advance costs and expenses shall be mandatory, and not discretionary, and shall include, without limitation, costs and expenses incurred in asserting affirmative defenses, counterclaims and cross claims. Such undertaking to repay may, if first requested in writing by the applicable director or officer, be on behalf of (rather than by) such director or officer, provided that in such case the Corporation shall have the right to approve the party making such undertaking.

        NINTH :    Unless and except to the extent that the Bylaws of the Corporation shall so require, the election of directors of the Corporation need not be by written ballot.

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EXHIBIT B-2

FORM OF AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS OF

KAPSTONE PAPER AND PACKAGING CORPORATION

ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS

        SECTION 1.01.     Place of Meetings .     All meetings of stockholders shall be held at such place within or without the State of Delaware as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board (if any), the President or the Secretary.


        SECTION 1.02.
    Annual Meeting .     The annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting shall be held on a date to be fixed by the Board of Directors at the time and place to be fixed by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting.


        SECTION 1.03.
    Special Meetings .     Special meetings of stockholders may be called at any time by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board (if any), the President or the Secretary or the holders of record of not less than 10% of all shares entitled to cast votes at the meeting, for any purpose or purposes prescribed in the notice of the meeting and shall be held at such place, on such date and at such time as the Board may fix. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be confined to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of meeting.


        SECTION 1.04.
    Notice of Meetings .     Written notice of each meeting of stockholders, whether annual or special, shall be given not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date on which the meeting is to be held, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting, except as otherwise provided herein or as required by the Certificate of Incorporation or applicable law. The notices of all meetings shall state the place, date and hour of the meeting. The notice of a special meeting shall state, in addition, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. If mailed, notice is given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder's address as it appears on the records of the corporation.


        SECTION 1.05.
    Voting List .     The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the corporation shall prepare, at least 10 days before each meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting, at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. The list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time of the meeting, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. This list shall determine the identity of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and the number of shares held by each of them.


        SECTION 1.06.
    Quorum .     Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or applicable law, the holders of a majority of the shares of the capital stock of the corporation entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, the chairman of the meeting or the holders of a majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, may adjourn the meeting to another place, date or time.


        SECTION 1.07.
    Adjournments .     Any meeting of stockholders may be adjourned to any other time and to any other place at which a meeting of stockholders may be held under these Bylaws by the chairman of the meeting or, in the absence of such person, by any officer entitled to preside at or to

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act as Secretary of such meeting, or by the holders of a majority of the shares of stock present or represented at the meeting and entitled to vote, although less than a quorum. When a meeting is adjourned to another place, date or time, written notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the place, date and time thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided , however , that if the date of any adjourned meeting is more than 30 days after the date for which the meeting was originally noticed, or if a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, written notice of the place, date, and time of the adjourned meeting shall be given in conformity herewith. At the adjourned meeting, the corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.


        SECTION 1.08.
    Voting and Proxies .     Each stockholder shall have one vote for each share of stock entitled to vote held of record by such stockholder and a proportionate vote for each fractional share so held, unless otherwise provided by applicable law or in the Certificate of Incorporation. Each stockholder of record entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may vote in person or may authorize any other person or persons to vote or act for such stockholder by written proxy executed by the stockholder or the stockholder's authorized agent or by a transmission permitted by applicable law and delivered to the Secretary of the corporation. No stockholder may authorize more than one proxy for the stockholder's shares. Any copy, facsimile transmission or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to this section may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile transmission or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.


        SECTION 1.09.
    Action at Meeting .     When a quorum is present at any meeting, any election shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders entitled to vote at the election, and all other matters shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast affirmatively or negatively on the matter (or if there are two or more classes of stock entitled to vote as separate classes, then in the case of each such class, a majority of each such class present or represented and voting affirmatively or negatively on the matter shall decide such matter), except when a different vote is required by express provision of law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.

        All voting, including on the election of directors, but excepting where otherwise required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, may be by a voice vote; provided , however , that upon demand therefor by a stockholder entitled to vote or such stockholder's proxy, a stock vote shall be taken. Every stock vote shall be taken by ballot, each of which shall state the name of the stockholder or proxy voting and such other information as may be required under the procedure established for the meeting. Every vote taken by ballot shall be counted by an inspector or inspectors appointed by the chairman of the meeting. The corporation may, and to the extent required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. The corporation may designate one or more persons as an alternate inspector to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the person presiding at the meeting may, and to the extent required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, shall, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of such inspector's duties, shall take and sign an oath to faithfully execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of such inspector's ability.


        SECTION 1.10.
    Stockholder Action Without Meeting .     Any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting and without prior notice, if a consent in writing, setting forth the actions so taken, is signed by the holders of outstanding shares having not less than the minimum number of votes which would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. All such consents shall be filed with the Secretary of the corporation and shall be maintained in the corporate

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records. Prompt notice of the taking of a corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing.

        An electronic transmission consenting to an action to be taken and transmitted by a stockholder, or by a proxy holder or other person authorized to act for a stockholder, shall be deemed to be written, signed and dated for the purpose of this Section 1.10, provided that such electronic transmission sets forth or is delivered with information from which the corporation can determine (i) that the electronic transmission was transmitted by the stockholder or by a person authorized to act for the stockholder and (ii) the date on which such stockholder or authorized person transmitted such electronic transmission. The date on which such electronic transmission is transmitted shall be deemed to be the date on which such consent was signed. No consent given by electronic transmission shall be deemed to have been delivered until such consent is reproduced in paper form and until such paper form shall be delivered to the corporation by delivery to its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the corporation having custody of the books in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded.


        SECTION 1.11.
    Meetings by Remote Communication .     If authorized by the Board of Directors, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board may adopt, stockholders and proxy holders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication, participate in the meeting and be deemed present in person and vote at the meeting, whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication, provided that (i) the corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxy holder, (ii) the corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxy holders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings, and (iii) if any stockholder or proxy holder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or other action shall be maintained by the corporation.


ARTICLE II
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

        SECTION 2.01.     General Powers .     The business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of a Board of Directors, who may exercise all of the powers of the corporation except as otherwise provided by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation. In the event of a vacancy in the Board of Directors, the remaining directors, except as otherwise provided by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, may exercise the powers of the full Board until the vacancy is filled.


        SECTION 2.02.
    Number and Term of Office .     The number of directors shall initially be two and, thereafter, shall be fixed from time to time by the stockholders or by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of authorized directors at the time such resolution is presented to the Board for adoption. All directors shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors are elected, except in the case of the death, resignation or removal of any director.


        SECTION 2.03.
    Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships .     Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or other cause (other than removal from office by a vote of the stockholders) may be filled by a majority vote of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director, and directors so chosen shall hold office for a term

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expiring at the next annual meeting of stockholders. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.


        SECTION 2.04.
    Resignation .     Any director may resign by delivering notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the Chairman of the Board (if any), the President or the Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless it is specified to be effective at some other time or upon the happening of some other event.


        SECTION 2.05.
    Removal .     Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, any directors, or the entire Board of Directors, may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. Vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from such removal may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum, by the sole remaining director, or by the stockholders at the next annual meeting or at a special meeting called in accordance with Section 1.3. Directors so chosen shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders.


        SECTION 2.06.
    Regular Meetings .     Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time and place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors; provided that any director who is absent when such a determination is made shall be given notice of the determination. A regular meeting of the Board of Directors may be held without notice immediately after and at the same place as the annual meeting of stockholders.


        SECTION 2.07.
    Special Meetings .     Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board (if any), the President or two or more directors and may be held at any time and place, within or without the State of Delaware.


        SECTION 2.08.
    Notice of Special Meetings .     Notice of any special meeting of directors shall be given to each director by the Secretary or by the officer or one of the directors calling the meeting. Notice shall be duly given to each director by whom it is not waived by (i) giving notice to such director in person or by telephone, electronic transmission or voice message system at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, (ii) sending a facsimile to the director's last known facsimile number, or delivering written notice by hand, to the director's last known business or home address at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, or (iii) mailing written notice to the director's last known business or home address at least three days in advance of the meeting. A notice or waiver of notice of a meeting of the Board of Directors need not specify the purposes of the meeting. Unless otherwise indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.


        SECTION 2.09.
    Participation in Meetings by Telephone Conference Calls or Other Methods of Communication .     Directors or any members of any committee designated by the directors may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.


        SECTION 2.10.
    Quorum .     A majority of the total number of authorized directors shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board of Directors. In the absence of a quorum at any such meeting, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present. Interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board of Directors or at a meeting of a committee which authorizes a particular contract or transaction.

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        SECTION 2.11.
    Action at Meeting .     At any meeting of the Board of Directors at which a quorum is present, the vote of a majority of those present shall be sufficient to take any action, unless a different vote is specified by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws.


        SECTION 2.12.
    Action by Written Consent .     Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent to the action in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writings or electronic transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall he in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.


        SECTION 2.13.
    Committees .     The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the corporation, with such lawfully delegated powers and duties as it therefor confers, to serve at the pleasure of the Board. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members of the committee present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such committee members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors and subject to the provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the corporation and may authorize the seal of the corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it. Each such committee shall keep minutes and make such reports as the Board of Directors may from time to time request. Except as the Board of Directors may otherwise determine, any committee may make rules for the conduct of its business, but unless otherwise provided by such rules, its business shall be conducted as nearly as possible in the same manner as is provided in these Bylaws for the Board of Directors.


        SECTION 2.14.
    Compensation of Directors .     Directors may be paid such compensation for their services and such reimbursement for expenses of attendance at meetings as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the corporation or any of its parent or subsidiary corporations in any other capacity and receiving compensation for such service.


        SECTION 2.15.
    Nomination of Director Candidates .     Subject to the rights of holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, nominations for the election of directors may be made by (i) the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof or (ii) any stockholder entitled to vote in the election of directors.


ARTICLE III
OFFICERS

        SECTION 3.01.     Enumeration .     The officers of the corporation shall be a President and a Secretary and may include a Chairman of the Board of Directors, one or more Vice Presidents and one or more Assistant Secretaries. The Board of Directors may appoint such other officers as it may deem appropriate.


        SECTION 3.02.
    Election .     Officers shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at its first meeting following the annual meeting of stockholders. Officers may be appointed by the Board of Directors at any other meeting.

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        SECTION 3.03.
    Qualification .     No officer need be a stockholder. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.


        SECTION 3.04.
    Tenure .     Except as otherwise provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, each officer shall hold office until such officer's successor is elected and qualified, unless a different term is specified in the vote appointing such officer, or until such officer's earlier death, resignation or removal.


        SECTION 3.05.
    Resignation and Removal .     Any officer may resign by delivering a written resignation to the corporation at its principal office or to the President or the Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless it is specified to be effective at some other time or upon the happening of some other event. Any officer elected by the Board of Directors may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors.


        SECTION 3.06.
    Chairman of the Board .     The Board of Directors may appoint a Chairman of the Board. If the Board of Directors appoints a Chairman of the Board, the Chairman shall perform such duties and possess such powers as are assigned to such officer by the Board of Directors. Unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, the Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders, and, if the Chairman is a director, at all meetings of the Board of Directors.


        SECTION 3.07.
    President .     The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the corporation. The President shall, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, have responsibility for the general management and control of the business and affairs of the corporation and shall perform all duties and have all powers which are commonly incident to the office of President and Chief Executive Officer or which are delegated to such officer by the Board of Directors. The President shall, in the absence of or because of the inability to act of the Chairman of the Board, perform all duties of the Chairman of the Board and preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders. The President shall perform such other duties and shall have such other powers as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. The President shall have power to sign stock certificates, contracts and other instruments of the corporation which are authorized and shall have general supervision and direction of all of the other officers, employees and agents of the corporation other than the Chairman of the Board of Directors.


        SECTION 3.08.
    Vice Presidents .     Any Vice President shall perform such duties and possess such powers as the Board of Directors or the President may from time to time prescribe. In the event of the absence, inability or refusal to act of the President, the Vice President (or if there shall be more than one, the Vice Presidents in the order determined by the Board of Directors) shall perform the duties of the President and when so performing shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the President. The Board of Directors may assign to any Vice President the title of Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or any other title selected by the Board of Directors.


        SECTION 3.09.
    Secretary and Assistant Secretaries .     The Secretary shall perform such duties and shall have such powers as the Board of Directors or the President may from time to time prescribe. In addition, the Secretary shall perform such duties and have such powers as are incident to the office of the Secretary, including, without limitation, the duty and power to give notices of all meetings of stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors, to sign stock certificates, to keep a record of the proceedings of all meetings of stockholders and the Board of Directors, to maintain a stock ledger and prepare lists of stockholders and their addresses as required, to be custodian of corporate records and the corporate seal and to affix and attest to the same on documents.

        Any Assistant Secretary shall perform such duties and possess such powers as the Board of Directors, the President or the Secretary may from time to time prescribe. In the event of the absence, inability or refusal to act of the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary (or if there shall be more than one,

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the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by the Board of Directors) shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary.

        In the absence of the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary at any meeting of stockholders or directors, the person presiding at the meeting shall designate a temporary secretary to keep a record of the meeting. If the Secretary position is vacant, any officer of the corporation may perform the duties and have the power of the Secretary until a Secretary has been elected or appointed.


        SECTION 3.10.
    Salaries .     Officers of the corporation shall be entitled to such salaries, compensation or reimbursement as may be fixed or allowed from time to time by the Board of Directors.


        SECTION 3.11.
    Delegation of Authority .     The Board of Directors may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officers or agents, notwithstanding any provision hereof.


ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL STOCK

        SECTION 4.01.     Issuance of Stock .     Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the whole or any part of any unissued balance of the authorized capital stock of the corporation or the whole or any part of any unissued balance of the authorized capital stock of the corporation held in its treasury may be issued, sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by vote of the Board of Directors in such manner, for such consideration and on such terms as the Board of Directors may determine.


        SECTION 4.02.
    Certificates of Stock .     Every holder of stock of the corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate, in such form as may be prescribed by law and by the Board of Directors, certifying the number and class of shares owned by such stockholder in the corporation. Each such certificate shall be signed by, or in the name of the corporation by, the Chairman or Vice Chairman (if any) of the Board of Directors, or the President, a Vice President (if any) and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary (if any) of the corporation. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile.

        Each certificate for shares of stock which are subject to any restriction on transfer pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, applicable securities laws or any agreement among any number of stockholders or among such holders and the corporation shall have conspicuously noted on the face or back of the certificate either the full text of the restriction or a statement of the existence of such restriction.


        SECTION 4.03.
    Transfers .     Except as otherwise established by rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Directors, and subject to applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation, shares of stock may be transferred on the books of the corporation by the surrender to the corporation or its transfer agent of the certificate representing such shares properly endorsed or accompanied by a written assignment or power of attorney properly executed, and with such proof of authority or authenticity of signature as the corporation or its transfer agent may reasonably require. Except as may be otherwise required by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, the corporation shall be entitled to treat the record holder of stock as shown on its books as the owner of such stock for all purposes, including the payment of dividends and the right to vote with respect to such stock, regardless of any transfer, pledge or other disposition of such stock until the shares have been transferred on the books of the corporation in accordance with the requirements of these Bylaws.


        SECTION 4.04.
    Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates .     The corporation may issue a new certificate of stock in place of any previously issued certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed, upon such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors may prescribe, including the presentation of reasonable evidence of such loss, theft or destruction and the giving of such indemnity

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as the Board of Directors may require for the protection of the corporation or any transfer agent or registrar.


        SECTION 4.05.
    Record Date .     The Board of Directors may fix in advance a record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights in respect of any change, concession or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action. Such record date shall not precede the date on which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted and shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting, nor more than 60 days prior to any other action to which such record date relates.

        If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day before the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day before the day on which the meeting is held. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting when no prior action by the Board of Directors is necessary, shall be the day on which the first written consent is expressed. The record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating to such purpose.

        A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided , however , that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.


ARTICLE V
GENERAL PROVISIONS

        SECTION 5.01.     Fiscal Year .     The fiscal year of the corporation shall be as fixed by the Board of Directors.


        SECTION 5.02.
    Corporate Seal .     The corporate seal shall be in such form as shall be approved by the Board of Directors.


        SECTION 5.03.
    Waiver of Notice .     Whenever any notice whatsoever is required to be given by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, a waiver of such notice either in writing signed by the person entitled to such notice or such person's duly authorized attorney, or by electronic transmission or any other method permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law, whether before, at or after the time stated in such waiver, or the appearance of such person or persons at such meeting in person or by proxy, shall be deemed equivalent to such notice. Neither the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in such a waiver. Attendance at any meeting shall constitute waiver of notice except attendance for the sole purpose of objecting to the timeliness of notice.


        SECTION 5.04.
    Actions with Respect to Securities of Other Corporations .     Except as the Board of Directors may otherwise designate, the President or any officer of the corporation shall have the power to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the corporation, in person, proxy or otherwise, and may waive notice of, and act as, or appoint any person or persons to act as, proxy or attorney-in-fact to this corporation (with or without power of substitution) at any meeting of stockholders (or with respect to any action of stockholders) of any other corporation or organization, the securities of which may be held by this corporation and otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers which this corporation may possess by reason of this corporation's ownership of securities in such other corporation or other organization.

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        SECTION 5.05.
    Evidence of Authority .     A certificate by the Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, or a temporary Secretary, as to any action taken by the stockholders, directors, a committee or any officer or representative of the corporation shall as to all persons who rely on the certificate in good faith be conclusive evidence of such action.


        SECTION 5.06.
    Certificate of Incorporation .     All references in these Bylaws to the Certificate of Incorporation shall be deemed to refer to the Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation, as amended and in effect from time to time.


        SECTION 5.07.
    Severability .     Any determination that any provision of these Bylaws is for any reason inapplicable, illegal or ineffective shall not affect or invalidate any other provision of these Bylaws.


        SECTION 5.08.
    Pronouns .     All pronouns used in these Bylaws shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine or neuter, singular or plural, as the identity of the person or persons may require.


        SECTION 5.09.
    Notices .     Except as otherwise specifically provided herein or required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, all notices required to be given to any stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent shall be in writing and may in every instance be effectively given by hand delivery to the recipient thereof, by depositing such notice in the mails, postage paid, or by sending such notice by commercial courier service, or by facsimile or other electronic transmission; provided that notice to stockholders by electronic transmission shall be given in the manner provided in Section 232 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Any such notice shall be addressed to such stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent at such person's last known address as the same appears on the books of the corporation. The time when such notice shall be deemed to be given shall be the time such notice is received by such stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent, or by any person accepting such notice on behalf of such person, if delivered by hand, facsimile, other electronic transmission or commercial courier service, or the time such notice is dispatched, if delivered through the mail. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively, notice to any stockholder shall be deemed given: (a) if by facsimile, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (b) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (c) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (i) such posting and (ii) the giving of such separate notice; (d) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder; and (e) if by mail, when deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder's address as it appears on the records of the corporation.


        SECTION 5.10.
    Reliance Upon Books, Reports and Records .     Each director, each member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors, and each officer of the corporation shall, in the performance of such person's duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the corporation, including reports made to the corporation by any of its officers, by an independent certified public accountant, or by an appraiser selected with reasonable care.


        SECTION 5.11.
    Time Periods .     In applying any provision of these Bylaws which require that an act be done or not done a specified number of days prior to an event or that an act be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event, calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded, and the day of the event shall be included.


        SECTION 5.12.
    Facsimile Signatures .     In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile signatures elsewhere specifically authorized in these Bylaws, facsimile signatures of any officer or officers of the corporation may be used whenever and as authorized by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof.

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ARTICLE VI
AMENDMENTS

        SECTION 6.01.     By the Board of Directors .     Except as is otherwise set forth in these Bylaws or in the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed or new Bylaws may be adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors at which a quorum is present.


        SECTION 6.02.
    By the Stockholders .     Except as otherwise set forth in these Bylaws or in the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed or new Bylaws may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the shares of capital stock of the corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote generally in any election of directors, voting together as a single class. Such vote may be held at any annual meeting of stockholders, or at any special meeting of stockholders; provided that notice of such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption of new Bylaws shall have been stated in the notice of such special meeting.


ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

        SECTION 7.01.     Right to Indemnification .     Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative ("proceeding"), by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, or as a controlling person of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended against all expenses, liability and loss reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of such person's heirs, executors and administrators: provided , however , that except as provided in Section 7.2, the corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnity in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if (a) such indemnification is expressly required to be made by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, (b) the proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of the corporation, (c) such indemnification is provided by the corporation, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the corporation under the Delaware General Corporation Law, or (d) the proceeding (or part thereof) is brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification or advancement under an indemnity agreement or any other statute or law or otherwise as required under Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. The rights hereunder shall be contract rights and shall include the right to be paid expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided , however , that the payment of such expenses incurred by a director or officer of the corporation in such person's capacity as a director or officer in advance of the final disposition of such proceeding, shall be made only upon delivery to the corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such director or officer, to repay all amounts so advanced if it should be determined by judicial decision that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under this section or otherwise.


        SECTION 7.02.
    Right of Claimant to Bring Suit .     If a claim under Section 7.1 is not paid in full by the corporation within 60 days after a written claim has been received by the corporation, or 20 days in the case of a claim for advancement of expenses, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against the corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, if such suit is not frivolous or brought in bad faith, the claimant shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting such claim. It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for

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expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition where the required undertaking, if any, has been tendered to this corporation) that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible under the Delaware General Corporation Law for the corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed. Neither the failure of the corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel or stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances because the claimant has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law, nor an actual determination by the corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel or stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct. In any suit brought by the corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a judicial decision that the indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law.


        SECTION 7.03.
    Indemnification of Employees and Agents .     The corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, grant rights to indemnification, and to the advancement of related expenses, to any employee or agent of the corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article with respect to the indemnification of and advancement of expenses to directors and officers of the corporation.


        SECTION 7.04.
    Non-Exclusivity of Rights .     The rights conferred on any person in this Article VII shall not be exclusive of any other right which such persons may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.


        SECTION 7.05.
    Indemnification Contracts .     The Board of Directors is authorized to enter into a contract with any director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or any person serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including employee benefit plans, providing for indemnification rights equivalent to or, if the Board of Directors so determines, greater than, those provided for in this Article VII.


        SECTION 7.06.
    Insurance .     The corporation may maintain insurance to the extent reasonably available, at its expense, to protect itself and any such director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any such expense, liability or loss, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the Delaware General Corporation Law.


        SECTION 7.07.
    Effect of Amendment .     Any amendment, repeal or modification of any provision of this Article VII shall not adversely affect any right or protection of an indemnitee or successor thereto in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to such amendment, repeal or modification.

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EXHIBIT C

        The Company Options and Company Restricted Stock Unit Awards that are outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, other than any such award held by a non-employee member of the Company Board, will be amended to provide that if, following the Closing, the employment of a holder thereof is terminated by the Company or any of its Affiliates without Cause or the award holder resigns employment for Good Reason, such Company Options and Company Restricted Stock Unit Awards will immediately vest in full. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Company Options or Company Restricted Stock Unit Awards held by a non-employee member of the Company Board will vest in full at Closing.

        For these purposes:

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EXHIBIT 99.1


FORM OF VOTING AGREEMENT

        THIS VOTING AGREEMENT (this " Agreement ") is made and entered into as of January 28, 2018 by and between WestRock Company, a Delaware corporation (" Parent "), and the undersigned stockholder (the " Stockholder ") of KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the " Company ").


WITNESSETH:

        WHEREAS concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Parent, Whiskey Holdco, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (" Holdco "), Kola Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdco (" Company Merger Sub "), Whiskey Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (" Parent Merger Sub "), and the Company have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of the date hereof (as it may be amended from time to time, the " Merger Agreement "), which provides for, among other things, the merger of Company Merger Sub with and into the Company, with the Company surviving such merger (the " Company Merger ") and pursuant to which all issued and outstanding shares of common stock of the Company will be converted into the right to receive the consideration set forth in Section 2.01(c) of the Merger Agreement (the " Company Merger Consideration ").

        WHEREAS the Stockholder is the record or beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the " Exchange Act ")) of that number of Company Shares (as defined in the Merger Agreement) set forth below the Stockholder's name on the signature page to this Agreement.

        WHEREAS as a condition and inducement to the willingness of Parent, Holdco, Company Merger Sub and Parent Merger Sub to enter into the Merger Agreement, the Stockholder (in the Stockholder's capacity as a stockholder of the Company) has agreed to enter into this Agreement.

        NOW, THEREFORE, intending to be legally bound, the parties hereto agree as follows:


        1.
    Certain Definitions.     All capitalized terms that are used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement. For all purposes of and under this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:



        2.
    Transfer of Shares.     

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        3.
    Agreement to Vote Shares; Support.     

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        4.
    [Intentionally Omitted].     


        5.
    No Adverse Act.     The Stockholder agrees that prior to any Expiration Date, except as expressly provided or permitted by this Agreement, the Stockholder shall not, and shall cause its controlled Affiliates not to, without the prior written consent of Parent in its sole discretion, directly or indirectly, (a) enter into any Contract, option or other arrangement or understanding (including any profit sharing arrangement) with respect to any of the Shares or any interest therein or (b) take or permit any other action that would in any way (i) restrict, limit or interfere with the performance of the Stockholder's obligations hereunder, (ii) make any representation or warranty of the Stockholder herein untrue or incorrect or (iii) otherwise restrict, limit or interfere with the performance of this Agreement, the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby. The Stockholder hereby agrees not to commence or participate in, and agrees to take all actions necessary to opt out of any class in any class action with respect to, any claim, derivative or otherwise, against Parent or the Company (a) challenging the validity of, or seeking to enjoin or delay the operation of, any provision of the Merger Agreement (including any claim seeking to enjoin or delay the consummation of either of the Mergers) or (b) alleging a breach of any duty of the Company Board in connection with the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall be deemed to prohibit the Stockholder from enforcing his, her or its rights under this Agreement.


        6.
    Agreement Not to Exercise Appraisal Rights.     To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Stockholder shall not exercise, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, any statutory rights (including under Section 262 of the DGCL) to demand appraisal of any Shares that may arise in connection with the Mergers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 6 shall constitute, or be deemed to constitute, a waiver or release by the Stockholder of any claim or cause of action against Parent, Holdco, Company Merger Sub or Parent Merger Sub to the extent arising out of a breach of this Agreement by Parent.


        7.
    Directors and Officers.     Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the Stockholder (or a designee of the Stockholder) who is a director or officer of the Company from acting in such capacity or fulfilling the obligations of such office (including, for the avoidance of doubt, exercising his fiduciary duties), including by voting, in his capacity as a director or officer of the Company, in the Stockholder's (or its designee's) sole discretion on any matter (it being understood that this Agreement shall apply to the Stockholder solely in the Stockholder's capacity as a stockholder of the Company), including with respect to Section 5.02 of the Merger Agreement. In this regard, the Stockholder shall not be deemed to make any agreement or understanding in this Agreement in the Stockholder's capacity as a director or officer of the Company, including with respect to Section 5.02 of the Merger Agreement.


        8.
    No Solicitation.     

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        9.
    Irrevocable Proxy.     Subject to Section 3(b) above, prior to the Expiration Date, solely in the event of a failure by the Stockholder to act in accordance with the Stockholder's obligations as to voting pursuant to Section 3(a) no later than the third Business Day prior to any meeting at which the stockholders of the Company will consider and vote on any of the matters described in Section 3(a), the Stockholder hereby irrevocably grants to, and appoints, Parent, and any individual designated in writing by Parent, and each of them individually, as the Stockholder's proxy and attorney-in-fact (with full power of substitution and including for purposes of Section 212 of the DGCL), for and in the name, place and stead of the Stockholder, to vote the Shares, or grant a consent or approval in respect of the Shares, in a manner consistent with this Agreement. The Stockholder understands and acknowledges that Parent is entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon the Stockholder's execution and delivery of this Agreement. The Stockholder hereby affirms that the irrevocable proxy set forth in this Section 9 is given in connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, and that such irrevocable proxy is given to secure the performance of the duties of the Stockholder under this Agreement. The Stockholder hereby further affirms that the irrevocable proxy is coupled with an interest and may be revoked only under the circumstances set forth in the last sentence of this Section 9 . The Stockholder hereby ratifies and confirms all that such irrevocable proxy may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Such irrevocable proxy is executed and intended to be irrevocable in accordance with Applicable Law. The Stockholder shall, upon written request by Parent, as promptly as practicable execute and deliver to Parent a separate written instrument or proxy that embodies the terms of this irrevocable proxy set forth in this Section 9 and is otherwise reasonably acceptable to Parent and the Stockholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the proxy and appointment granted hereby shall be automatically revoked, without any action by the Stockholder, upon the Expiration Date and Parent may terminate any proxy granted pursuant to this Section 9 at any time at its sole discretion by written notice to the Stockholder.


        10.
    Representations and Warranties of the Stockholder.     The Stockholder hereby represents and warrants to Parent as follows:

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        11.
    Disclosure.     The Stockholder shall permit Parent to publish and disclose in all documents and schedules filed with the SEC, and, after providing the Stockholder with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment thereon prior to any such publication or disclosure, any press release or other disclosure document that Parent reasonably determines to be necessary or desirable in connection with the Mergers and any transactions related to the Mergers, the Stockholder's identity and ownership of Shares and the nature of the Stockholder's commitments, arrangements and understandings under this Agreement. The Stockholder shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates not to, make any press release, public announcement or other public communication with respect to this Agreement, the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, without the prior written consent of Parent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that such consent shall not be required for any disclosure required by Applicable Law ( provided that reasonable notice of any such disclosure will be provided to Parent as promptly as reasonably practicable) and nothing herein shall prohibit the Company from making any disclosure permitted to be made pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement.


        12.
    No Ownership Interest.     Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to vest in Parent any direct or indirect ownership or incidence of ownership of or with respect to any Shares. Except as provided in this Agreement, all rights, ownership and economic benefits relating to the Shares shall remain vested in and belong to the Stockholder. For the avoidance of doubt, the Stockholder shall be entitled to any dividends or other distributions declared by the Company Board with respect to the Shares having a record date prior to the Expiration Date.


        13.
    Further Assurances.     Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, upon request of Parent, the Stockholder shall use commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary to fulfill such Stockholder's obligations under this Agreement.


        14.
    Termination.     This Agreement, and all rights and obligations of the parties hereunder, shall terminate and shall have no further force or effect as of the Expiration Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing set forth in this Section 14 or elsewhere in this Agreement shall relieve either party hereto from liability, or otherwise limit the liability of the Stockholder, for any willful or intentional breach of this Agreement by such party prior to such termination. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in no event shall the Stockholder have any personal liability for any damages resulting from a breach of this Agreement other than in connection with an intentional and willful breach of this Agreement by the Stockholder arising out of actions taken by the Stockholder that the Stockholder knew at such time to be in violation hereof. This Section 14 and Section 1 , Section 7 , and Section 15 (as applicable) shall survive any termination of this Agreement.


        15.
    Miscellaneous.     

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  If to Parent:

 

WestRock Company
1000 Abernathy Road
Atlanta, Georgia 30328
  Attention:   Robert McIntosh, General Counsel
  Email:   bob.mcintosh@westrock.com

 

with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
Worldwide Plaza
825 Eighth Avenue
New York, New York 10019
  Attention:   Richard Hall
Andrew Elken
  Email:   rhall@cravath.com
aelken@cravath.com

 

If to the Stockholder:

 

[
· ]

 

with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

[
· ]

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[ Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank ]

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        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed and caused to be effective this Agreement as of the date first above written.

WESTROCK COMPANY   STOCKHOLDER

By:

 


 

 

By:

 


 

Name:

 


 

 

Name:

 


 

Title:

 


 

 

 

 

 
        Shares owned of record or beneficially as of
the date hereof:

 

 

 

 




 

Shares owned of record

 

 

 

 




 

Shares owned beneficially

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FORM OF VOTING AGREEMENT
WITNESSETH