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

 


 

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

x

 

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2007

 

 

 

or

 

o

 

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from           to

Commission File Number:  0-10653

UNITED STATIONERS INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Delaware

36-3141189

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

(I.R.S. Employer

Incorporation or Organization)

Identification No.)

 

One Parkway North Boulevard

Suite 100

Deerfield, Illinois  60015-2559

(847) 627-7000

(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s  Principal Executive Offices)

Indicate by check mark whether registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

 

Yes x    No o

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one):

Large accelerated filer x

Accelerated filer o

Non-accelerated filer o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

 

Yes o    No x

 

 

On October 30, 2007, the registrant had outstanding 25,011,247 shares of common stock, par value $0.10 per share.

 



 

UNITED STATIONERS INC.

FORM 10-Q

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2007

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page No.

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

3

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006

4

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the Three Months and Nine Months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006

5

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006

6

 

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

7

 

 

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

20

 

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

33

 

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

33

 

 

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

34

 

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

35

 

 

Item 6. Exhibits

35

 

 

SIGNATURES

37

 

2



 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors

United Stationers Inc.

We have reviewed the condensed consolidated balance sheet of United Stationers Inc. and Subsidiaries as of September 30, 2007, and the related condensed consolidated statements of income for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007 and 2006. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

We conducted our review in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the objective of which is to express an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the condensed consolidated financial statements referred to above for them to be in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet of United Stationers Inc. as of December 31, 2006, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein) and in our report dated February 28, 2007, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements and included an explanatory paragraph related to changes in accounting principles for stock based compensation and pension and postretirement benefits. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying balance sheet as of December 31, 2006, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.

 

 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chicago, Illinois

 

 

 

 

November 1, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

3



 

UNITED STATIONERS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

As of September 30, 2007

 

As of December 31, 2006

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

11,923

 

$

14,989

 

Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $13,274 in 2007 and $14,481 in 2006

 

291,901

 

273,893

 

Retained interest in accounts receivable sold, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $5,853 in 2007 and $4,736 in 2006

 

147,580

 

107,149

 

Inventories

 

575,611

 

674,157

 

Other current assets

 

36,706

 

36,671

 

Total current assets

 

1,063,721

 

1,106,859

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, at cost

 

402,198

 

389,812

 

Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

237,975

 

208,334

 

Net property, plant and equipment

 

164,223

 

181,478

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intangible assets, net

 

24,841

 

26,756

 

Goodwill, net

 

225,816

 

225,816

 

Other long-term assets

 

16,195

 

12,485

 

Total assets

 

$

1,494,796

 

$

1,553,394

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

479,873

 

$

382,625

 

Accrued liabilities

 

188,932

 

172,195

 

Deferred credits

 

1,266

 

483

 

Total current liabilities

 

670,071

 

555,303

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred income taxes

 

12,218

 

17,044

 

Long-term debt

 

150,700

 

117,300

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

54,994

 

62,807

 

Total liabilities

 

887,983

 

752,454

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.10 par value; authorized - 100,000,000 shares, issued - 37,217,814 in 2007 and 2006

 

3,722

 

3,722

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

371,533

 

360,047

 

Treasury stock, at cost - 11,652,116 shares in 2007 and 7,172,932 shares in 2006

 

(583,773

)

(297,815

)

Retained earnings

 

830,952

 

750,322

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(15,621

)

(15,336

)

Total stockholders’ equity

 

606,813

 

800,940

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

1,494,796

 

$

1,553,394

 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

4



 

UNITED STATIONERS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(in thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended

 

For the Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

 

Net sales

 

$

1,191,956

 

$

1,173,827

 

$

3,526,477

 

$

3,433,150

 

Cost of goods sold

 

1,015,670

 

981,835

 

3,000,452

 

2,876,213

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross profit

 

176,286

 

191,992

 

526,025

 

556,937

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Warehousing, marketing and administrative expenses

 

123,860

 

122,992

 

374,215

 

382,032

 

Restructuring charge (reversal)

 

 

 

1,378

 

(3,522

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

 

123,860

 

122,992

 

375,593

 

378,510

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

52,426

 

69,000

 

150,432

 

178,427

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

2,664

 

2,038

 

7,831

 

4,720

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other expense, net

 

3,695

 

3,430

 

10,754

 

9,418

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

 

46,067

 

63,532

 

131,847

 

164,289

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense

 

18,560

 

24,317

 

52,992

 

62,726

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

27,507

 

39,215

 

78,855

 

101,563

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax

 

 

3

 

 

(2,944

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

27,507

 

$

39,218

 

$

78,855

 

$

98,619

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per share - basic:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per share - continuing operations

 

$

1.02

 

$

1.28

 

$

2.80

 

$

3.25

 

Net loss per share - discontinued operations

 

 

 

 

(0.09

)

Net income per share - basic

 

$

1.02

 

$

1.28

 

$

2.80

 

$

3.16

 

Average number of common shares outstanding - basic

 

26,894

 

30,659

 

28,157

 

31,234

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per share - diluted:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per share - continuing operations

 

$

1.00

 

$

1.26

 

$

2.73

 

$

3.20

 

Net loss per share - discontinued operations

 

 

 

 

(0.09

)

Net income per share - diluted

 

$

1.00

 

$

1.26

 

$

2.73

 

$

3.11

 

Average number of common shares outstanding - diluted

 

27,597

 

31,062

 

28,874

 

31,707

 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

5



 

UNITED STATIONERS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW S

(dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

For the Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

Cash Flows From Operating Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

78,855

 

$

98,619

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

 

32,251

 

27,552

 

Share-based compensation

 

6,576

 

5,855

 

Write-off of capitalized software development costs

 

 

6,501

 

Loss on sale of Canadian Division

 

 

5,912

 

Write down of assets held for sale

 

546

 

 

Loss (gain) on the disposition of plant, property and equipment

 

136

 

(5,667

)

Amortization of capitalized financing costs

 

547

 

609

 

Excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation

 

(5,480

)

(3,457

)

Deferred income taxes

 

(4,826

)

(10,642

)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Increase in accounts receivable, net

 

(18,108

)

(40,900

)

Increase in retained interest in accounts receivable sold, net

 

(40,431

)

(25,832

)

Decrease in inventory

 

98,443

 

33,793

 

Increase in other assets

 

(7,592

)

(6,633

)

Increase in accounts payable

 

120,751

 

7,827

 

Decrease in checks in-transit

 

(23,554

)

(54,379

)

Increase (decrease) in accrued liabilities

 

9,108

 

(6,898

)

Increase (decrease) in deferred credits

 

783

 

(49,381

)

(Decrease) increase in other liabilities

 

(4,722

)

88

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

243,283

 

(17,033

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows From Investing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Sale of Canadian Division

 

1,295

 

13,160

 

Capital expenditures

 

(12,864

)

(40,204

)

Proceeds from the disposition of property, plant and equipment

 

9

 

14,718

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(11,560

)

(12,326

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows From Financing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net borrowings under revolver

 

33,400

 

98,400

 

Net proceeds from the exercise of stock options

 

28,640

 

17,171

 

Acquisition of treasury stock, at cost

 

(301,679

)

(89,940

)

Excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation

 

5,480

 

3,457

 

Debt issuance costs

 

(631

)

 

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

 

(234,790

)

29,088

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

 

1

 

32

 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

 

(3,066

)

(239

)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

 

14,989

 

17,415

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

 

$

11,923

 

$

17,176

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Cash Flow Information:

 

 

 

 

 

Income taxes paid, net

 

$

48,470

 

$

62,580

 

Interest paid

 

6,792

 

3,617

 

Loss on the sale of accounts receivable

 

11,809

 

9,445

 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

6



 

UNITED STATIONERS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

1.               Basis of Presentation

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are unaudited, except for the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2006, which was derived from the December 31, 2006 audited financial statements. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. Accordingly, the reader of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 for further information.

In the opinion of the management of the Company (as hereafter defined), the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the interim periods presented include all adjustments necessary to fairly present the Company’s results for such interim periods and its financial position as of the end of said periods. Certain interim estimates of a normal, recurring nature are recognized throughout the year, relating to accounts receivable, supplier allowances, inventory, customer rebates, price changes and product mix. The Company evaluates these estimates periodically and makes adjustments where facts and circumstances dictate.

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements represent United Stationers Inc. (“USI”) with its wholly owned subsidiary United Stationers Supply Co. (“USSC”), and USSC’s subsidiaries (collectively, “United” or the “Company”). The Company is the largest broad line wholesale distributor of business products in North America, with net sales for the trailing 12 months of $4.6 billion. The Company operates in a single reportable segment as a national wholesale distributor of business products. The Company offers more than 46,000 stockkeeping units (“SKUs”) from over 550 manufacturers. These items include a broad spectrum of technology products, traditional business products, office furniture, janitorial and breakroom supplies products, and foodservice consumables. The Company primarily serves commercial and contract office products dealers. The Company sells its products through a national distribution network of 62 distribution centers to approximately 20,000 resellers, who in turn sell directly to end-consumers.

Canadian Division — Discontinued Operations

During the first quarter of 2006, the Company announced its intention to sell its Azerty United Canada operations (the “Canadian Division”) and therefore began reporting it as discontinued operations at that time. All prior-periods have been reclassified to conform to this presentation.

On June 9, 2006, the Company completed the sale of certain net assets of its Canadian Division to SYNNEX Canada Limited (the “Buyer”), a subsidiary of SYNNEX Corporation, for approximately $14.3 million. The purchase price was subject to certain post-closing adjustments, including an adjustment for the value of any inventory and accounts receivable included in the sale that was not subsequently sold or collected within 180 days from the date of sale. During 2006, the Company received cash payments from the Buyer of $13.3 million. An additional $1.3 million was received during the first quarter of 2007 to finalize this transaction. In addition, the Company had three leased facilities associated with the Canadian Division that have been vacated and are subject to required lease obligations over the next four years. As of December 31, 2006, obligations for two of the three facilities have been settled or are being sublet. Total accrued exit costs associated with the Canadian facilities is $0.1 million at September 30, 2007.

Income (losses) associated with the discontinued operations of the Canadian Division for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2006 were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

For the Three
Months Ended

September 30, 2006

 

For the Nine
Months Ended

September 30, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pre-tax income (loss) from ongoing operations

 

$

542

 

$

(501

)

Pre-tax income (loss) from the sale of the Canadian Division

 

(8

(5,912

)

Total pre-tax income (loss) from discontinued operations

 

534

 

(6,413

)

Total income tax (expense) benefit

 

(531

)

3,469

 

Total after-tax income (loss) from discontinued operations

 

$

3

 

$

(2,944

)

 

7



 

Common Stock Repurchase

As of September 30, 2007, the Company had $150.1 million remaining of Board authorizations to repurchase USI common stock. Effective July 5, 2007, the Company entered into a Second Amended and Restated Five Year Revolving Credit Agreement, that among other things, eliminates restrictions on the Company’s ability to repurchase stock when its debt to EBITDA ratio is less than or equal to 2.75 to 1.00. Refer to Note 8 “Long-Term Debt” for further descriptions of the provisions of the Second Amended and Restated Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement.

During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007, the Company repurchased 5,135,970 shares of common stock at a cost of $301.7 million. During the same nine-month period in 2006, the Company repurchased 1,898,350 shares of common stock at a cost of $89.9 million. A summary of total shares repurchased under the Company’s share repurchase authorizations is as follows (dollars in millions, except share data):

 

 

Share Repurchases
History

 

 

 

Cost

 

Shares

 

Authorizations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007 Authorization ($100 million on March 6 2007; $100 million on May 9, 2007; and $200 million on August 15, 2007)

 

 

 

 

$

400.0

 

 

 

2006 Authorization (completed)

 

 

 

100.0

 

 

 

2005 Authorization (completed)

 

 

 

75.0

 

 

 

2004 Authorization (completed)

 

 

 

100.0

 

 

 

2002 Authorization (completed)

 

 

 

50.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repurchases:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007 repurchases

 

$

(301.7

)

 

 

5,135,970

 

2006 repurchases

 

(124.7

)

 

 

2,626,275

 

2005 repurchases

 

(84.5

)

 

 

1,794,685

 

2004 repurchases

 

(40.9

)

 

 

1,072,654

 

2002 repurchases

 

(23.1

)

 

 

858,964

 

Total repurchases

 

 

 

(574.9

)

11,488,548

 

Remaining repurchase authorized at September 30, 2007

 

 

 

$

150.1

 

 

 

 

Acquired shares are included in the issued shares of the Company and treasury stock, but are not included in average shares outstanding when calculating earnings per share data. During the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, the Company reissued 784,784 and 491,518 shares, respectively, of treasury stock to fulfill its obligations under its equity incentive plans.

 

2.               Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. For all acquisitions, account balances and results of operations are included in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of the date acquired.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Various assumptions and other factors underlie the determination of significant accounting estimates. The process of determining significant estimates is fact specific and takes into account factors such as historical experience, current and expected economic conditions, product mix, and in some cases, actuarial techniques. The Company periodically reevaluates these significant factors and makes adjustments where facts and circumstances dictate. Historically, actual results have not significantly deviated from estimates.

 

8



 

Supplier Allowances

Supplier allowances (fixed or variable) are common practice in the business products industry and have a significant impact on the Company’s overall gross margin. Gross margin is determined by, among other items, file margin (determined by reference to invoiced price), as reduced by customer discounts and rebates as discussed below, and increased by supplier allowances and promotional incentives.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2007, approximately 16% of the Company’s estimated annual supplier allowances and incentives were fixed, based on supplier participation in various Company advertising and marketing publications. Fixed allowances and incentives are taken to income through lower cost of goods sold as inventory is sold.

The remaining 84% of the Company’s annual supplier allowances and incentives during the nine months ended September 30, 2007 were variable, based on the volume and mix of the Company’s product purchases from suppliers. These variable allowances are recorded based on the Company’s annual inventory purchase volumes and product mix and are included in the Company’s financial statements as a reduction to cost of goods sold, thereby reflecting the net inventory purchase cost. Supplier allowances and incentives attributable to unsold inventory are carried as a component of net inventory cost. The potential amount of variable supplier allowances often varies based on purchase volumes by supplier and product category. As a result, lower Company sales volume (which reduces inventory purchase requirements) and product sales mix changes (especially because higher-margin products often benefit from higher supplier allowance rates) can make it difficult to reach some supplier allowance growth hurdles.

Fixed supplier allowances traditionally represented 40% to 45% of the Company’s total annual supplier allowances, compared to the 16% referenced above. This ratio declined as the Company elected to replace the fixed component with variable allowances. The Company transitioned to a calendar year program in its 2006 Supplier Allowance Program for product content syndication. This altered the Company’s timing for recognizing related income and costs, and resulted in a significant one-time positive impact on earnings during 2006. During the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2006, the Company recorded incremental income of $15.8 million and $38.4 million, respectively, related to this new program.

Customer Rebates

Customer rebates and discounts are common practice in the business products industry and have a significant impact on the Company’s overall sales and gross margin. Such rebates are reported in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as a reduction of sales.

Customer rebates include volume rebates, sales growth incentives, advertising allowances, participation in promotions and other miscellaneous discount programs. These rebates are paid to customers monthly, quarterly and/or annually. Estimates for volume rebates and growth incentives are based on estimated annual sales volume to the Company’s customers. The aggregate amount of customer rebates depends on product sales mix and on customer mix changes. Reported results reflect management’s current estimate of such rebates. Changes in estimates of sales volumes, product mix, customer mix or sales patterns, or actual results that vary from such estimates, may impact future results.

During 2006, the Company changed certain marketing programs, which favorably impacted gross margin by $5.8 million and $11.0 million in the third quarter of 2006 and the nine months ended September 30, 2006, respectively.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue is recognized when a service is rendered or when title to the product has transferred to the customer. Management records an estimate for future product returns related to revenue recognized in the current period. This estimate is based on historical product return trends and the gross margin associated with those returns. Management also records customer rebates that are based on estimated annual sales volume to the Company’s customers. Annual rebates earned by customers include growth components, volume hurdle components, and advertising allowances.

Shipping, handling and fuel costs billed to customers are treated as revenues and recognized at the time title to the product has transferred to the customer. Freight costs are included in the Company’s financial statements as a component of cost of goods sold and not netted against shipping and handling revenues. Net sales do not include sales tax charged to customers.

 

9



 

Valuation of Accounts Receivable

The Company makes judgments as to the collectability of accounts receivable based on historical trends and future expectations. Management estimates an allowance for doubtful accounts, which addresses the collectability of trade accounts receivable. This allowance adjusts gross trade accounts receivable downward to its estimated collectible, or net realizable value. To determine the allowance for sales returns, management uses historical trends to estimate future period product returns. To determine the allowance for doubtful accounts, management reviews specific customer risks and the Company’s accounts receivable aging.

Insured Loss Liability Estimates

The Company is primarily responsible for retained liabilities related to workers’ compensation, vehicle, property and general liability and certain employee health benefits. The Company records expense for paid and open claims and an expense for claims incurred but not reported based on historical trends and on certain assumptions about future events. The Company has an annual per-person maximum cap, provided by a third-party insurance company, on certain employee medical benefits. In addition, the Company has both a per-occurrence maximum loss and an annual aggregate maximum cap on workers’ compensation claims.

Leases

The Company leases real estate and personal property under operating leases. Certain operating leases include incentives from landlords, including landlord “build-out” allowances, rent escalation clauses and rent holidays or periods in which rent is not payable for a certain amount of time. The Company accounts for landlord “build-out” allowances as deferred rent at the time of possession and amortizes this deferred rent on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. The Company also recognizes leasehold improvements associated with the “build-out” allowances and amortizes these improvements over the shorter of (1) the term of the lease or (2) the expected life of the respective improvements.

The Company accounts for rent escalation and rent holidays as deferred rent at the time of possession and amortizes this deferred rent on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. As of September 30, 2007, the Company is not a party to any capital leases.

Inventories

Inventory constituting approximately 79% of total inventory at September 30, 2007 and 82% of total inventory at December 31, 2006, has been valued under the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) accounting method. The remaining inventory is valued under the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) accounting method. Inventory valued under the FIFO and LIFO accounting methods is recorded at the lower of cost or market. If the Company had valued its entire inventory under the lower of FIFO cost or market, inventory would have been $58.4 million and $52.2 million higher than reported as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively. The Company also records adjustments to inventory for shrinkage. Inventory that is obsolete, damaged, defective or slow moving is recorded to the lower of cost or market. These adjustments are determined using historical trends and are adjusted, if necessary, as new information becomes available.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

An unfunded check balance (payments in-transit) exists for the Company’s primary disbursement accounts. Under the Company’s cash management system, the Company utilizes available borrowings, on an as-needed basis, to fund the clearing of checks as they are presented for payment. As of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, outstanding checks totaling $74.5 million and $98.1 million, respectively, were included in “Accounts payable” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. All highly liquid investment instruments with an original maturity of three months or less are considered cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates market value.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation and amortization are determined by using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The estimated useful life assigned to fixtures and equipment is from two to 10 years; the estimated useful life assigned to buildings does not exceed 40 years; leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of their useful lives or the term of the applicable lease. As of September 30, 2007, the Company has one facility and associated assets with a total net book value of $5.5 million classified as “held for sale” within “Other long-term assets” on the

 

10



 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. During the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company recognized an impairment loss of $0.6 million on certain Information Technology (IT) hardware “held for sale.”

Software Capitalization

The Company capitalizes internal use software development costs in accordance with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ Statement of Position No. 98-1, Accounting for Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use. Amortization is recorded on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the software, generally not to exceed seven years. Capitalized software is included in “Property, plant and equipment, at cost” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006. The total costs are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

As of
September 30, 2007

 

As of
December 31, 2006

 

Capitalized software development costs

 

$

54,898

 

$

58,210

 

Write-off of capitalized software development costs

 

 

$

(6,501

)

Accumulated amortization

 

(34,319

)

(28,620

)

Net capitalized software development costs

 

$

20,579

 

$

23,089

 

 

During the first quarter of 2006, the Company wrote off $6.5 million of capitalized software development costs related to an internal systems initiative. As of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, net capitalized software development costs included $9.5 million and $11.0 million, respectively, related to the Company’s Reseller Technology Solution (“RTS”) investment.

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for using the liability method, under which deferred income taxes are recognized for the estimated tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities. A provision has not been made for deferred U.S. income taxes on the undistributed earnings of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries as these earnings have historically been permanently invested. The Company accounts for interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as a component of income tax expense.

Foreign Currency Translation

The functional currency for the Company’s foreign operations is the local currency. Assets and liabilities of these operations are translated into U.S. currency at the rates of exchange at the balance sheet date. The resulting translation adjustments are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, a separate component of stockholders’ equity. Income and expense items are translated at average monthly rates of exchange. Realized gains and losses from foreign currency transactions were not material.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an Interpretation of FASB Statement 109 (“FIN No. 48”) , which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in tax positions. This Interpretation provides that the tax effects from an uncertain tax position can be recognized in the financial statements, only if it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, based on the technical merits of the position. The provisions of FIN No. 48 were effective as of the beginning of fiscal 2007, with the cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle recorded as an adjustment to opening retained earnings. For additional information regarding FIN No. 48, see Note 12 “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes”.

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Standards (“SFAS”) No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“SFAS No. 157”) , which clarifies the definition of fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands the disclosures regarding fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company does not expect the adoption of SFAS No. 157 to have a material impact on its financial position and/or results of operations.

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R) (“SFAS No. 158”). SFAS No. 158 requires employers to recognize the funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan as an asset or liability in its

 

11



 

statement of financial position and to recognize changes in that funded status in comprehensive income in the year in which the changes occur. The funded status of a defined benefit pension plan is measured as the difference between plan assets at fair value and the plan’s projected benefit obligation. Under SFAS No. 158, employers are required to measure plan assets and benefit obligations at the date of their fiscal year-end statement of financial position. The Company adopted the required provisions of SFAS No. 158 as of December 31, 2006, while the requirement to measure a plan’s assets and obligations as of the balance sheet date is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2008.

In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (“SFAS No. 159”), which permits all entities to choose to measure eligible financial instruments at fair value at specific election dates. SFAS No. 159 requires companies to report unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected in earnings at each subsequent reporting date and recognize upfront costs and fees related to those items in earnings as incurred and not deferred. SFAS No. 159 applies to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this Statement on its financial position and/or results of operations.

3.               Share-Based Compensation

As of September 30, 2007, the Company had two active equity compensation plans. A description of these plans is as follows:

Amended 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”)

In March 2004, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted the LTIP to, among other things, attract and retain managerial talent, further align the interest of key associates to those of the Company’s shareholders and provide competitive compensation to key associates. Awards include stock options, stock appreciation rights, full value awards, cash incentive awards and performance-based awards. Key associates and non-employee directors of the Company are eligible to become participants in the LTIP, except that non-employee directors may not be granted incentive stock options.

Non-employee Directors’ Deferred Stock Compensation Plan

Pursuant to the United Stationers Inc. Non-employee Directors’ Deferred Stock Compensation Plan, non-employee directors may defer receipt of all or a portion of their retainer and meeting fees. Fees deferred are credited quarterly to each participating director in the form of stock units, based on the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the quarterly deferral date. Each stock unit account generally is distributed and settled in whole shares of the Company’s common stock on a one-for-one basis, with a cash-out of any fractional stock unit interests, after the participant ceases to serve as a Company director.

Accounting For Stock-Based Compensation

Prior to January 1, 2006, the Company accounted for those plans under the recognition and measurement provisions of Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related Interpretations, as permitted by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation (“SFAS No. 123”).

Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment (“SFAS No. 123(R)”), using the modified-prospective-transition method. The Company’s adoption of SFAS No. 123(R) did not result in any cumulative effect of an accounting change. Under this modified-prospective transition method, compensation cost recognized in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007 includes: (a) compensation cost for all share-based payments granted prior to, but not yet vested as of January 1, 2006, based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the original provisions of SFAS No. 123, and (b) compensation cost for all share-based payments granted subsequent to January 1, 2006, based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 123(R). Results for prior periods have not been restated. The Company recorded a pre-tax charge of $2.6 million ($1.6 million after-tax), or $0.06 per diluted share for share-based compensation during the third quarter of 2007. During the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company recorded a pre-tax charge of $6.6 million ($4.0 million after-tax), or $0.14 per diluted share for share-based compensation. During the three months ended September 30, 2006, the Company recorded a pre-tax charge of $1.8 million ($1.1 million after-tax), or $0.04 per diluted share for share-based compensation. During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Company recorded a pre-tax charge of $5.9 million ($3.6 million after-tax), or $0.11 per diluted share for share-based compensation. Total intrinsic value of options exercised for the three and nine months

 

12



 

ended September 30, 2007 totaled $0.6 million and $16.6 million, respectively. During the same comparable three and nine-month periods in 2006, total intrinsic value of options exercised were $3.2 million and $9.9 million, respectively. Total intrinsic value of restricted stock vested for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007 and September 30, 2006 totaled $0.3 million and $1.0 million, respectively.  As of September 30, 2007, there was $20.5 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested share-based compensation arrangements granted. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.4 years.

Prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R), the Company presented all tax benefits of deductions resulting from the exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted stock as operating cash flows in the Company’s Statement of Cash Flows. SFAS No. 123(R) requires that cash flows resulting from the tax benefits from tax deductions in excess of the compensation cost recognized for share-based compensation (excess tax benefits) be classified as financing cash flows. The $5.5 million excess tax benefit classified as a financing cash inflow on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows would have been classified as an operating cash inflow if the Company had not adopted SFAS No. 123(R).

Historically, the majority of awards issued under these plans have been stock options with service-type conditions. In September 2007, the Company utilized both stock options and restricted stock in its annual award grant.

Stock Options

The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option valuation model that uses the assumptions noted in the following table. Stock options generally vest in annual increments over three years and have a term of 10 years. Compensation costs for all stock options are recognized, net of estimated forfeitures, on a straight-line basis as a single award typically over the vesting period. The Company estimates expected volatility based on historical volatility of the price of its common stock. The Company estimates the expected term of share-based awards by using historical data relating to option exercises and employee terminations to estimate the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding. The interest rate for periods during the expected life of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant. The Company granted 449,175 and 450,298 stock options during the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007.  As of September 30, 2007, there was $13.4 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock option awards granted. Fair values for stock options granted during the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 were estimated using the following weighted-average assumptions:

 

 

For the Three Months
Ended September 30,

 

For the Nine Months
Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

 

Fair value of options granted

 

$

14.28

 

$

11.25

 

$

14.28

 

$

10.28

 

Exercise price

 

59.82

 

45.98

 

59.83

 

46.06

 

Expected stock price volatility

 

23.3

%

23.0

%

23.3

%

23.6

%

Risk-free interest rate

 

4.3

%

4.8

%

4.3

%

4.7

%

Expected life of options (years)

 

3.5

 

3.5

 

3.5

 

3.0

 

Expected dividend yield

 

0.0

%

0.0

%

0.0

%

0.0

%

 

13



 

The following table summarizes the transactions, excluding restricted stock, under the Company’s equity compensation plans for the nine months ended September 30, 2007:

Stock Options Only

 

Shares

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

 

Average
Exercise
Contractual Life

 

Aggregate Intrinsic Value
($000)

 

Options outstanding - December 31, 2006

 

3,631,049

 

$

39.19

 

 

 

 

 

Granted

 

450,298

 

59.83

 

 

 

 

 

Exercised

 

(741,162

)

35.71

 

 

 

 

 

Canceled

 

(122,295

)

45.49

 

 

 

 

 

Options outstanding - September 30, 2007

 

3,217,890

 

$

42.64

 

7.3

 

$

137,220

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of options exercisable

 

2,070,927

 

$

37.70

 

6.3

 

$

78,067

 

 

Restricted Stock

The Company granted 112,179 and 119,679 shares of restricted stock for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007.  Included in the third quarter grant were 60,196 shares granted to non-executive officer employees and 6,189 shares granted to non-employee Directors.  These awards generally vest in annual increments over three years.  There were also 45,794 shares granted to executive officers that vest with respect to each officer in annual increments over three years provided that the following conditions are satisfied: (1) the officer is still employed as of the anniversary date of the grant; and (2) the Company’s cumulative diluted earnings per share for the four calendar quarters immediately preceding the vesting date exceed $1.00 per diluted share as defined in the officers’ restricted stock award agreement.  As of September 30, 2007, there was $7.1 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested restricted stock awards granted. A summary of the status of the Company’s restricted stock grants and changes during the nine months ended September 30, 2007 is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted Average

 

 

 

Number of

 

Grant Date

 

Restricted Stock

 

Shares

 

Fair Value

 

Nonvested at December 31, 2006

 

14,350

 

$

47.48

 

Vested

 

 

 

Nonvested at March 31, 2007

 

14,350

 

$

47.48

 

Granted

 

7,500

 

66.06

 

Vested

 

(5,000

)

45.98

 

Nonvested at June 30, 2007

 

16,850

 

$

56.19

 

Granted

 

112,179

 

59.02

 

Vested

 

 

 

Nonvested at September 30, 2007

 

129,029

 

$

58.65

 

 

4. Goodwill and Intangible Assets

As of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet reflects $225.8 million of goodwill and $24.8 million and $26.8 million in net intangible assets for the same respective periods. Net intangible assets as of September 30, 2007 consist primarily of customer relationship and non-compete intangible assets. Amortization of intangible assets totaled $0.6 million and $1.9 million for three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007, respectively. During the same three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2006, amortization of intangible assets totaled $0.6 million and $1.9 million, respectively. Accumulated amortization of intangible assets as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006 totaled $5.9 million and $4.0 million, respectively.  The weighted average useful life of the intangible assets is expected to be approximately 13 years.

Sale of Canadian Division

As part of the sale of the Company’s Canadian Division (see “Canadian Division — Discontinued Operations” above), $15.1 million of goodwill was written-off and included in the $6.7 million pre-tax loss from discontinued operations for the year ended December 31, 2006.

 

14



 

5. Restructuring and Other Charges

2006 Workforce Reduction Program

On October 17, 2006, the Company announced a restructuring plan to eliminate staff positions through both voluntary and involuntary separation plans (the “Workforce Reduction Program”).  The Workforce Reduction Program included workforce reductions of 110 associates and as of December 31, 2006, the measures were substantially complete.  The Company recorded a pre-tax charge of $6.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2006 for severance pay and benefits, prorated bonuses, and outplacement costs to be paid primarily during 2007.  Cash outlays associated with the Workforce Reduction Program during the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007 totaled $1.2 million and $5.8 million, respectively. During the fourth quarter of 2006, cash outlays associated with Workforce Reduction Program totaled $0.4 million.  As of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the Company had accrued liabilities for the Workforce Reduction Program of $1.4 million and $5.6 million, respectively.  The Company recorded an additional charge of $1.6 million related to this action for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007.

2002 Restructuring Plan

The Company’s Board of Directors approved a restructuring plan in the fourth quarter of 2002 (the “2002 Restructuring Plan”) that included additional charges related to revised real estate sub-lease assumptions used in the 2001 Restructuring Plan, further downsizing of The Order People (“TOP”) operations (including severance and anticipated exit costs related to a portion of the Company’s Memphis distribution center), closure of the Milwaukee, Wisconsin distribution center and the write-down of certain e-commerce-related investments. All initiatives under the 2002 Restructuring Plan are complete. However, certain cash payments will continue for accrued exit costs that relate to long-term lease obligations that expire at various times over the next three years. The Company continues to actively pursue opportunities to sublet unused facilities.

During the first quarter of 2006, the Company began using previously unused space in its Memphis distribution center for operations related to the Company’s global sourcing initiative and to expand Lagasse’s distribution capability for janitorial and breakroom supplies including foodservice consumables products.  During the first and fourth quarters of 2006, respectively, the Company reversed $3.5 million and $0.6 million in restructuring and other charges as a result of events impacting estimates for future obligations associated with the 2002 Restructuring Plan.

2001 Restructuring Plan

The Company’s Board of Directors approved a restructuring plan in the third quarter of 2001 (the “2001 Restructuring Plan”) that included an organizational restructuring, a consolidation of certain distribution facilities and USSC’s call center operations, an information technology platform consolidation, divestiture of the call center operations of TOP and certain other assets, and a significant reduction of TOP’s cost structure. All initiatives under the 2001 Restructuring Plan are complete. However, certain cash payments will continue for accrued exit costs that relate to long-term lease obligations that expire at various times over the next three years. The Company continues to actively pursue opportunities to sublet unused facilities.

The Company had accrued restructuring costs on its balance sheet of approximately $1.8 million as of September 30, 2007 and $2.4 million as of December 31, 2006, for the remaining exit costs related to the 2002 and 2001 Restructuring Plans. Net cash payments related to the 2002 and 2001 Restructuring Plans for the three-month period ended September 30, 2007 were minimal.  Payments for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007 totaled approximately $0.2 million, respectively. Net cash payments related to the 2002 and 2001 Restructuring Plans for the three and nine-month period ended September 30, 2006 totaled $0.2 million and $0.9 million, respectively. During the second quarter of 2007, the Company reversed $0.4 million in restructuring and other charges as a result of events impacting estimates for future lease obligations.

 

15



 

6.  Comprehensive Income

 

Other comprehensive income is a component of stockholders’ equity and consists of the following components (in thousands):

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended

 

For the Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

 

Net income

 

$

27,507

 

$

39,218

 

$

78,855

 

$

98,619

 

Unrealized currency translation adjustment

 

(250

)

443

 

(284

)

(11,485

)

Total comprehensive income

 

$

27,257

 

$

39,661

 

$

78,571

 

$

87,134

 

 

7.               Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if dilutive securities were exercised or otherwise converted into common stock. Stock options and deferred stock units are considered dilutive securities. The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands, except per share data):

 

 

For the Three Months Ended

 

For the Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

 

Numerator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

27,507

 

$

39,218

 

$

78,855

 

$

98,619

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denominator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denominator for basic earnings per share - weighted average shares

 

26,894

 

30,659

 

28,157

 

31,234

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of dilutive securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employee share-based awards

 

703

 

403

 

717

 

473

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denominator for diluted earnings per share -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted weighted average shares and the effect of dilutive securities

 

27,597

 

31,062

 

28,874

 

31,707

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per share - basic

 

$

1.02

 

$

1.28

 

$

2.80

 

$

3.16

 

Net income per share - diluted

 

$

1.00

 

$

1.26

 

$

2.73

 

$

3.11

 

 

8.               Long-Term Debt

 

USI is a holding company and, as a result, its primary sources of funds are cash generated from operating activities of its direct operating subsidiary, USSC, and from borrowings by USSC. The 2007 Credit Agreement (as defined below) and the 2007 Note Purchase Agreement (as defined below) contain restrictions on the ability of USSC to transfer cash to USI.

 

Long-term debt consisted of the following amounts (in thousands):

 

 

 

As of September 30, 2007

 

As of December 31, 2006

 

2007 Credit Agreement

 

$

143,900

 

$

110,500

 

Industrial development bond, maturing in 2011

 

6,800

 

6,800

 

Total

 

$

150,700

 

$

117,300

 

 

As of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, 100% of the Company’s outstanding debt was priced at variable interest rates, based primarily on the applicable bank prime rate or the one-month or three-month London InterBank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”).

 

Credit Agreement and Other Debt

On October 15, 2007, the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, United Stationers Supply Co. (“USSC”), entered into a Master Note Purchase Agreement (the “2007 Note Purchase Agreement”) with several purchasers.  The 2007 Note Purchase

 

16



 

Agreement allows USSC to issue up to $1 billion of senior secured notes.  Pursuant to this agreement, USSC issued and sold $135 million of floating rate senior secured notes due October 15, 2014 at par in a private placement (the “Series 2007-A Notes”).  Interest on the Series 2007-A Notes is payable quarterly in arrears at a rate per annum equal to three-month LIBOR plus 1.30%, beginning January 15, 2008.  USSC may issue additional series of senior secured notes from time to time under the Note Purchase Agreement but has no specific plans to do so at this time.  USSC used the proceeds from the sale of these notes to repay borrowings under the 2007 Credit Agreement (defined below).  On November 6, 2007, the Company entered into an interest rate hedge agreement covering $135 million to effectively swap the floating rate component of these notes for a fixed rate.

On November 10, 2006, the Company and USSC entered into Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (the “Amendment”) with certain financial institutions listed therein and J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, National Association, as Agent.   The Amendment modified the Amended and Restated Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement originally entered into on October 12, 2005 (the “2005 Credit Agreement”).  The 2005 Credit Agreement, as amended by the Amendment, is referred to as the “2006 Credit Agreement.”  On July 5, 2007, USI and USSC entered into a Second Amended and Restated Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (the “2007 Credit Agreement”) which amends and restates the 2006 Credit Agreement.

As of September 30, 2007, the Company had $143.9 million outstanding under the 2007 Credit Agreement and as of December 31, 2006, the Company had $110.5 million outstanding under the 2006 Credit Agreement. In addition, as of both September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the Company had an industrial development bond outstanding with a balance of $6.8 million.  This bond is scheduled to mature in 2011 and carries market-based interest rates.

The 2007 Credit Agreement provides for an aggregate committed principal amount of $425 million, an increase of $100 million from the 2006 Credit Agreement, and extends the final maturity to July 5, 2012.  It also reduces the interest rate margin applicable to loans outstanding under the facility, reduces the fee applicable to unutilized commitments and permits greater financial flexibility.

The 2007 Credit Agreement permits the Company to seek additional commitments to increase the aggregate committed principal amount to $625 million, an increase of $200 million.  It also permits the Company to incur up to $200 million of senior indebtedness in addition to borrowings under the agreement; the sale of the Series 2007-A Notes utilized $135 million of the permitted $200 million.  Both the 2007 Credit Agreement and the 2007 Note Purchase Agreement permit the Company to attain a maximum permitted debt to EBITDA ratio, as defined in those agreements, of 3.25 to 1.00.  The 2007 Credit Agreement and the 2007 Note Purchase Agreement also allow the Company to repurchase stock or pay dividends without restriction so long as the EBITDA ratio is less than or equal to 2.75 to 1.00 and the Company is in compliance with the other terms and conditions of those agreements.

The 2007 Credit Agreement also provides for the issuance of letters of credit in an aggregate amount of up to a sublimit of $90 million and provides a sublimit for swingline loans in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to exceed $30 million at any one time. These amounts, as sublimits, do not increase the maximum aggregate principal amount, and any undrawn issued letters of credit and all outstanding swingline loans under the facility reduce the remaining availability under the 2007 Credit Agreement. As of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the Company had outstanding letters of credit under the facility of $16.5 million and $17.3 million, respectively.

At September 30, 2007 funding levels (including amounts sold under the Receivables Securitization Program), a 50 basis point movement in interest rates would result in an annualized increase or decrease of approximately $2.0 million in interest expense and loss on the sale of certain accounts receivable, and ultimately upon cash flows from operations.

9.               Receivables Securitization Program

General

On March 28, 2003, USSC entered into a third-party receivables securitization program with JP Morgan Chase Bank, as trustee (the “Receivables Securitization Program” or the “Program”). On November 10, 2006, the Company entered into an amendment to its Revolving Credit Facility (the “2006 Credit Agreement”) which, among other things, increased the permitted size of the Receivables Securitization Program to $350 million, a $75 million increase from the $275 million limit under the 2005 Credit Agreement.  During the first quarter of 2007, the Company increased its commitments for third party purchases of accounts receivable, and the maximum funding available under the Program is now $250 million.  Under the Program,

 

17



 

USSC sells, on a revolving basis, its eligible trade accounts receivable (except for certain excluded accounts receivable, which initially includes all accounts receivable of Lagasse, Inc. and foreign operations) to USS Receivables Company, Ltd. (the “Receivables Company”). The Receivables Company, in turn, ultimately transfers the eligible trade accounts receivable to a trust. The trust then sells investment certificates, which represent an undivided interest in the pool of accounts receivable owned by the trust, to third-party investors. Affiliates of J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, PNC Bank and (as of March 26, 2004) Fifth Third Bank act as funding agents. The funding agents, or their affiliates, provide standby liquidity funding to support the sale of the accounts receivable by the Receivables Company under 364-day liquidity facilities. The Receivables Securitization Program provides for the possibility of other liquidity facilities that may be provided by other commercial banks rated at least A-1/P-1.

The Company utilizes the Program to fund its cash requirements more cost effectively than under the 2007 Credit Agreement. Standby liquidity funding is committed for 364 days and must be renewed before maturity in order for the Program to continue. The Program liquidity was renewed on March 23, 2007. The Program contains certain covenants and requirements, including criteria relating to the quality of receivables within the pool of receivables. If the covenants or requirements were compromised, funding from the Program could be restricted or suspended, or its costs could increase. In such a circumstance, or if the standby liquidity funding were not renewed, the Company could require replacement liquidity.

As discussed above, the 2007 Credit Agreement is an existing alternate liquidity source. The Company believes that, if so required, it also could access other liquidity sources to replace funding from the program.

Financial Statement Presentation

The Receivables Securitization Program is accounted for as a sale in accordance with FASB Statement No. 140, Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities. Trade accounts receivable sold under this program are excluded from accounts receivable in the Consolidated Financial Statements. As of September 30, 2007, the Company sold $240 million of interests in trade accounts receivable, compared with $225 million as of December 31, 2006. Accordingly, trade accounts receivable of $240 million as of September 30, 2007 and $225 million as of December 31, 2006 are excluded from the Consolidated Financial Statements. As discussed below, the Company retains an interest in the trust based on funding levels determined by the Receivables Company. The Company’s retained interest in the trust is included in the Consolidated Financial Statements under the caption, “Retained interest in accounts receivable sold, net.” For further information on the Company’s retained interest in the trust, see the caption “Retained Interest” below.

The Company recognizes certain costs and/or losses related to the Receivables Securitization Program. Costs related to the Program vary on a daily basis and generally are related to certain short-term interest rates. The annual interest rate on the certificates issued under the Receivables Securitization Program for the first nine months of 2007 ranged between 5.77% and 6.55%.  In addition to the interest on the certificates, the Company pays certain bank fees related to the program. The Company has accrued losses on the sale of accounts receivable, which represent the interest and bank fees that are the financial cost of funding under the Program, totaling $3.7 million and $10.6 million for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007, respectively.  These losses on the sale of accounts receivable were $3.4 million and $9.4 million for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2006, respectively. Proceeds from the collections under the Program for the first nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 totaled $2.8 billion and $2.9 billion, respectively. All costs and/or losses related to the Receivables Securitization Program are included in the Consolidated Financial Statements of Income under the caption “Other Expense, net.”

The Company has maintained responsibility for servicing the sold trade accounts receivable and those transferred to the trust. No servicing asset or liability has been recorded because the fees received for servicing the receivables approximate the related costs.

Retained Interest

The Receivables Company determines the level of funding achieved by the sale of trade accounts receivable, subject to a maximum amount. It retains a residual interest in the eligible receivables transferred to the trust, such that amounts payable in respect of such residual interest will be distributed to the Receivables Company upon payment in full of all amounts owed by the Receivables Company to the trust (and by the trust to its investors). The Company’s net retained interest on $387.6 million and $332.1 million of trade receivables in the trust as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006 was $147.6 million and $107.1 million, respectively. The Company’s retained interest in the trust is included in the Consolidated Financial Statements under the caption, “Retained interest in accounts receivable sold, net.”

The Company measures the fair value of its retained interest throughout the term of the Receivables Securitization Program using a present value model incorporating the following two key economic assumptions: (1) an average collection cycle of approximately 40 days; and (2) an assumed discount rate of 5% per annum. In addition, the Company estimates and records

 

18



 

an allowance for doubtful accounts related to the Company’s retained interest. Considering the above noted economic factors and estimates of doubtful accounts, the book value of the Company’s retained interest approximates fair value. A 10% or 20% adverse change in the assumed discount rate or average collection cycle would not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. Accounts receivable sold to the trust and written off during the third quarter of 2007 were not material.

10.        Retirement Plans

Pension and Postretirement Health Care Benefit Plans

The Company maintains pension plans covering a majority of its employees. In addition, the Company has a postretirement health care benefit plan covering substantially all retired non-union employees and their dependents. For more information on the Company’s retirement plans, see Notes 12 and 13 to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2006. A summary of net periodic benefit cost related to the Company’s pension and postretirement health care benefit plans for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 is as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

Pension Benefits

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

 

Service cost - benefit earned during the period

 

$

1,546

 

$

1,492

 

$

4,638

 

$

4,476

 

Interest cost on projected benefit obligation

 

1,754

 

1,600

 

5,262

 

4,800

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

(1,795

)

(1,437

)

(5,385

)

(4,311

)

Amortization of prior service cost

 

51

 

56

 

153

 

168

 

Amortization of actuarial loss

 

299

 

435

 

897

 

1,305

 

Net periodic pension cost

 

$

1,855

 

$

2,146

 

$

5,565

 

$

6,438

 

 

 

 

Postretirement Healthcare

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

 

Service cost - benefit earned during the period

 

$

66

 

$

(125

)

$

198

 

$

187

 

Interest cost on projected benefit obligation

 

53

 

(57

)

159

 

145

 

Amortization of actuarial gain

 

(79

)

(214

)

(237

)

(260

)

Net periodic postretirement healthcare benefit cost

 

$

40

 

$

(396

)

$

120

 

$

72

 

 

The Company did not make cash contributions to its pension plans during the third quarter of 2007 and 2006. During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007, the Company made cash contributions to its pension plans of $14.1 million. During the same period of 2006, the Company made cash contributions to its pension plans of $7.1 million.

 

Defined Contribution Plan

The Company has a defined contribution plan covering certain salaried employees and non-union hourly paid employees (the “Plan”). The Plan permits employees to defer a portion of their pre-tax and after-tax salary as contributions to the Plan.  The Plan also provides for discretionary Company contributions and Company contributions matching employees’ salary deferral contributions, at the discretion of the Board of Directors. The Company recorded an expense of $1.2 million and $3.4 million for the Company match of employee contributions to the Plan during the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007. During the same periods last year, the Company recorded $0.9 million and $3.2 million for the same match.

 

19



 

11. Other Long-Term Assets and Long-Term Liabilities

Other long-term assets and long-term liabilities as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006 were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

As of

 

As of

 

 

 

September 30, 2007

 

December 31, 2006

 

Other Long-Term Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets held for sale

 

$

5,511

 

$

6,858

 

Investment in deferred compensation

 

4,178

 

3,539

 

Long-Term notes receivable

 

4,291

 

 

Other long-term assets

 

2,215

 

2,088

 

Total other assets

 

$

16,195

 

$

12,485

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Long-Term Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accrued pension obligation

 

$

22,366

 

$

36,475

 

Deferred rent

 

14,922

 

13,838

 

Postretirement benefits

 

3,539

 

3,456

 

Deferred directors compensation

 

4,196

 

3,539

 

Restructuring and exit cost reserves

 

1,890

 

3,319

 

Long-Term income tax liability

 

6,936

 

 

Other

 

1,145

 

2,180

 

Total other long-term liabilities

 

$

54,994

 

$

62,807

 

 

12.   Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes

The Company adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (“FIN No. 48”) , on January 1, 2007.  As a result of the implementation of FIN No. 48, the Company recognized a net decrease of $1.8 million in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits, which was accounted for as an increase to the January 1, 2007 balance of retained earnings.

At January 1, 2007, the Company had $5.8 million in gross unrecognized tax benefits.  At September 30, 2007, the gross unrecognized tax benefits increased to $9.1 million as a result of tax positions taken during the nine months ended September 30, 2007.  At September 30, 2007 and January 1, 2007, $4.4 million and $0.8 million, respectively, of these gross unrecognized tax benefits would, if recognized, decrease the Company’s effective tax rate, with the remainder, if recognized, impacting “Goodwill” and “Other Current Assets”.

The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. At September 30, 2007 and January 1, 2007, the Company had a gross amount of $1.7 million and $1.3 million, respectively, accrued for the potential payment of interest and penalties of which a net $1.0 million and $0.7 million would, if recognized, decrease the Company’s effective tax rate.

The net changes in the gross unrecognized tax benefits, accrued interest and penalties were not significant to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

As of January 1, 2007, the Company’s U.S. Federal income tax returns for 2004 and subsequent years remain subject to examination by tax authorities.  In addition, the Company’s state income tax returns for the tax years 2001 through 2006 remain subject to examinations by state and local income tax authorities.

While it is expected that the amount of unrecognized tax positions will change in the next 12 months, the Company believes that such changes will not have a significant impact on the overall results of operations or financial position.

ITEM 2 .                 MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements often contain words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “will,” “is likely,” “scheduled,” “positioned to,”

 

20



 

“continue,” “forecast,” “predicting,” “projection,” “potential” or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements include references to goals, plans, strategies, objectives, projected costs or savings, anticipated future performance, results or events and other statements that are not strictly historical in nature. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations, forecasts and assumptions. This means they involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied here. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, those set forth in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year-ended December 31, 2006.

Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking information herein is given as of this date only, and the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update it.

Overview and Recent Results

The Company is North America’s largest broad line wholesale distributor of business products, with 2006 net sales of $4.5 billion. The Company sells its products through a national distribution network of 62 distribution centers to approximately 20,000 resellers, who in turn sell directly for end consumers.

Net sales per workday for the fourth quarter through October are trending flat compared with the same period last year.  The Company has chosen not to pursue some low margin technology business which will impact the top line with minimal impact on earnings.

Key Company and Industry Trends

The following is a summary of selected trends, events or uncertainties that the Company believes may have a significant impact on its future performance.

                 The Company believes that during the third quarter of 2007, the economy experienced continued softening which has led to slowing sales growth in the office products industry.  While employment has improved slightly, weak employment trends remain a concern.  However, the Company has a number of initiatives to deliver profitable sales growth in the fourth quarter.

                 Sales for the third quarter of 2007 grew 1.5% to $1.2 billion compared to the same period last year.  Sales for the nine-month period ending September 30, 2007 increased 2.7% to $3.5 billion compared to the same period last year.  Strong growth was achieved on a year-to-date basis in janitorial and breakroom supplies and cut sheet paper with modest growth in traditional office products and office furniture.  The technology category has experienced a decline for the same periods due to the decision not to pursue low margin business.  Sales in the third quarter were positively impacted by sales promotions late in the quarter.  The Company typically experiences fluctuations in sales as a result of the variability of marketing and promotional activity.

                 Gross margin as a percent of sales for the third quarter of 2007 was 14.8%, compared to 16.4% in the third quarter of 2006. Gross margin in 2006 benefited from $21.6 million, or $0.43 per share, of one-time gains related to the Company’s product content syndication program and certain marketing program changes. Excluding these one-time items, gross margin for 2006 was 14.5%.  Year-to-date gross margin for 2007 was 14.9% compared to 16.2% in the prior year.  Year-to-date 2006 gross margin benefited from $49.4 million of these one-time items; the gross margin excluding this benefit was 14.8%.  Gross margin is up only slightly compared to the prior year due to competitive pricing pressures in a softer sales environment, product mix shifts, and lower inflation profits.  This has been offset by continued cost management and supplier allowance enhancements.

                 Total operating expenses, excluding restructuring charges and reversals, as a percent of sales for the third quarter of 2007 were 10.4%, compared to 10.5% for the same quarter of the prior year.  Year-to-date operating expenses were 10.7% compared to 11.0% in the prior year.  The Company is realizing the benefits of its 2006 Workforce Reduction Program in lower payroll and payroll related costs.  In addition, the Company continues to make progress on process improvements and cost containment efforts as part of its War on Waste initiatives.

                 During 2006, the Company invested in improvements to its pricing management capabilities and in July of 2006 introduced a new end-consumer pricing program for the Company’s customers. This effort has proven successful as pricing margin (invoice price less standard cost, including customer rebates) has stabilized.  However, the

 

21



 

                       competitive pricing pressures noted above and the passage of the pricing program anniversary in July 2007 has mitigated the positive impact of these efforts on margin in the quarter.

                 The Sweet Paper acquisition in May 2005 was important to the Company’s strategy for building a national distribution platform for foodservice consumables.  From an operational perspective, the Company has significantly improved its delivery and service proposition.  As a result, third quarter and year-to-date sales have increased from the prior year primarily in foodservice consumables and paper products.

                 Operating cash flow for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 was $243.3 million.  Excluding the effects of accounts receivable sold, operating cash flow for the same period in 2007 was a source of $228.3 million versus a use of $17.0 million in the prior year. The increase is a result of a reduction in working capital particularly as a result of impressive inventory management efforts and SKU rationalization which have led to these very strong cash flows.

                 The Board of Directors approved three share repurchase authorizations in 2007 totaling $400 million.  Through October 25, 2007, 5.7 million shares have been repurchased this year.  Through October 30, 2007, the Company has $102.8 million remaining under the August 2007 $200 million Board authorization and as of this date has 25.0 million shares outstanding.

                    On October 15, 2007, the Company entered into the 2007 Note Purchase Agreement which allows USSC to issue up to $1 billion of senior secured notes.  Pursuant to that agreement, USSC issued and sold $135 million of floating rate senior secured notes due October 15, 2014 at par in a private placement (the “Series 2007-A Notes”).  Interest on the Series 2007-A Notes is payable quarterly in arrears at a rate per annum equal to three-month LIBOR plus 1.30%, beginning January 15, 2008.  USSC may issue additional series of senior secured notes from time to time under the 2007 Note Purchase Agreement but has no specific plans to do so at this time.  USSC used the proceeds from the sale of these notes to repay borrowings under the 2007 Credit Agreement.  On November 6, 2007, the Company entered into an interest rate hedge agreement covering $135 million to effectively swap the floating rate component of these notes for a fixed rate.  The 2007 Credit Agreement provides an aggregate committed principal amount of $425 million, an increase of $100 million; extends the final maturity to July 5, 2012, compared to October 12, 2010 before the amendment and restatement; reduces the interest rate margin applicable to loans outstanding under the facility; reduces the fee applicable to unutilized commitments; and permits greater financial flexibility.  The 2007 Credit Agreement permits the Company to seek additional commitments to increase the aggregate committed principal amount to $625 million, an increase of $200 million.  It also permits the Company to incur up to $200 million of senior indebtedness in addition to borrowings under the 2007 Credit Agreement; the sale of the Series 2007-A Notes utilized $135 million of the permitted $200 million.  Both the 2007 Credit Agreement and the 2007 Note Purchase Agreement establishes a maximum permitted debt to EBITDA ratio that the Company can attain, as defined in those agreements, of 3.25 to 1.00.  The 2007 Credit Agreement and the 2007 Note Purchase Agreement also allow the Company to repurchase stock or pay dividends without restriction so long as the EBITDA ratio is less than or equal to 2.75 to 1.00 and the Company is in compliance with the other terms and conditions of those agreements.  Refer to Note 8 “Long-Term Debt” for further descriptions of the provisions of the 2007 Credit Agreement.

                 Under a joint marketing agreement between the Company and SAP America, SAP is creating a solution aimed at providing independent dealers with an enhanced back office system to effectively run their businesses (the Reseller Technology Solution or “RTS”) and a front-end e-commerce platform that will improve the shopping experience for their customers.  SAP is continuing to work on the functionality and capabilities of the system.  As new functionality is tested with dealers, an updated

 

22



 

                       roll-out schedule is being prepared.  This timing has put the project significantly behind its original plan.  As a result, SAP has increased its resources working on the system.

                  Historically, the majority of the Company’s share-based compensation awards have been stock options with service-type conditions. Stock options generally vest in annual increments over three years and have a term of 10 years.  In September 2007, the Company utilized both stock options and restricted stock in its annual award grant.  Included in this grant were restricted stock for executive officers that vests with respect to each officer in annual increments over three years provided that the following conditions are satisfied: (1) the officer is still employed as of the anniversary date of the grant; and (2) the Company’s cumulative diluted earnings per share for the four calendar quarters immediately preceding the vesting date exceed $1.00 per diluted share as defined in the officers’ restricted stock award agreement.

For a further discussion of selected trends, events or uncertainties the Company believes may have a significant impact on its future performance, readers should refer to “Key Company and Industry Trends” under Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year-ended December 31, 2006.

Stock Repurchase Program

During the third quarter of 2007, the Company repurchased 2,473,085 shares at an aggregate cost of $150.0 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, share repurchases totaled 5,135,970 at an aggregate cost of $301.7 million.  At September 30, 2007, the Company had $150.1 million available under share repurchase authorizations from its Board of Directors.  The May 9, 2007 Board share repurchase authorization for $100 million was completed as of August 27, 2007.

On August 15, 2007, the Company announced that its Board of Directors authorized the purchase of an additional $200 million of the Company’s Common Stock.  Under this program, purchases may be made from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions.  Depending on market and business conditions and other factors, these purchases may be commenced or suspended at any time without notice.

Effective July 5, 2007, the Company entered into the 2007 Credit Agreement which, among other things, provides increased flexibility to the Company to repurchase its common stock.

Critical Accounting Policies, Judgments and Estimates

During the third quarter of 2007, there were no significant changes to the Company’s critical accounting policies, judgments or estimates from those disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

Results of Operations

The following table presents the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income as a percentage of net sales:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

 

Net sales

 

100.00

%

100.00

%

100.00

%

100.00

%

Cost of goods sold

 

85.21

 

83.64

 

85.08

 

83.78

 

Gross margin

 

14.79

 

16.36

 

14.92

 

16.22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Warehousing, marketing and administrative expenses

 

10.39

 

10.48

 

10.61

 

11.13

 

Restructuring charge (reversal)

 

0.00

 

0.00

 

0.04

 

(0.11

)

Total operating expenses

 

10.39

 

10.48

 

10.65

 

11.02

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

4.40

 

5.88

 

4.27

 

5.20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

0.23

 

0.18

 

0.22

 

0.14

 

Other expense, net

 

0.31

 

0.29

 

0.31

 

0.27

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

 

3.86

 

5.41

 

3.74

 

4.79

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense

 

1.55

 

2.07

 

1.50

 

1.83

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

2.31

 

3.34

 

2.24

 

2.96

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from discontinued operations

 

0.00

 

0.00

 

0.00

 

0.09

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

2.31

%

3.34

%

2.24

%

2.87

%

 

23



 

Adjusted Operating Income and Earnings Per Share

The following tables present Adjusted Operating Income and Earnings Per Share for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 (in thousands, except per share data).  The tables show Adjusted Operating Income and Earnings per Share excluding the one-time effects of product content syndication/marketing programs, the gain on the sale of two distribution centers, the write-off of capitalized software, restructuring charges and reversals and the loss on the discontinued operations of the Canadian Division.  Generally Accepted Accounting Principles require that the effects of these items be included in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.  The Company believes that excluding these items is an appropriate comparison of its ongoing operating results to last year and that it is helpful to provide readers of its financial statements with a reconciliation of these items to its Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income reported in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

 

 

For the three months ended September 30,

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 

 

 

% to

 

 

 

% to

 

 

 

Amount

 

Net Sales

 

Amount

 

Net Sales

 

Sales

 

$

1,191,956

 

100.00

%

$

1,173,827

 

100.00

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross profit

 

$

176,286

 

14.79

%

191,992

 

16.36

%

Product content syndication/marketing programs

 

 

 

(21,618

)

-1.84

%

Adjusted gross profit

 

$

176,286

 

14.79

%

$

170,374

 

14.51

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

$

123,860

 

10.39

%

$

122,992

 

10.48

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

$

52,426

 

4.40

%

$

69,000

 

5.88

%

Gross profit item noted above

 

 

0.00

%

(21,618

)

-1.84

%

Adjusted operating income

 

$

52,426

 

4.40

%

$

47,382

 

4.04

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per share - diluted

 

$

1.00

 

 

 

$

1.26

 

 

 

Per share gross profit item noted above

 

 

 

 

(0.43

)

 

 

Adjusted net income per share - diluted

 

$

1.00

 

 

 

$

0.83

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted net income per diluted share growth rate over the prior year period

 

20

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of common shares - diluted

 

27,597

 

 

 

31,062

 

 

 

 

24



 

 

 

For the nine months ended September 30,

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 

 

 

% to

 

 

 

% to

 

 

 

Amount

 

Net Sales

 

Amount

 

Net Sales

 

Sales

 

$

3,526,477

 

100.00

%

$

3,433,150

 

100.00

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross profit

 

$

526,025

 

14.92

%

556,937

 

16.22

%

Product content syndication/marketing programs

 

 

 

(49,422

)

-1.44

%

Adjusted gross profit

 

$

526,025

 

14.92

%

$

507,515

 

14.78

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

$

375,593

 

10.65

%

$

378,510

 

11.02

%

Gain on sale of distribution centers

 

 

 

6,665

 

0.19

%

Write-off of capitalized software

 

 

 

(6,745

)

-0.19

%

Restructuring (Charge) Reversal

 

(1,378

)

-0.04

%

3,522

 

0.11

%

Adjusted operating expenses

 

$

374,215

 

10.61

%

$

381,952

 

11.13

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

$

150,432

 

4.27

%

$

178,427

 

5.20

%

Gross profit item noted above

 

 

 

(49,422

)

-1.44

%

Operating expense items noted above

 

1,378

 

0.04

%

(3,442

)

-0.11

%

Adjusted operating income

 

$

151,810

 

4.31

%

$

125,563

 

3.65

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per share - diluted

 

$

2.73

 

 

 

$

3.11

 

 

 

Per share gross profit item noted above

 

 

 

 

(0.96

)

 

 

Per share operating expense items noted above

 

0.03

 

 

 

(0.07

)

 

 

Add back loss on discontinued operations

 

 

 

 

0.09

 

 

 

Adjusted net income per share - diluted

 

$

2.76

 

 

 

$

2.17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted net income per diluted share growth rate over the prior year period

 

27

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of common shares - diluted

 

28,874

 

 

 

31,707

 

 

 

 

Results of Operations—Three Months Ended September 30, 2007 Compared with the Three Months Ended September 30, 2006

Net Sales. Net sales for the third quarter of 2007 were $1.2 billion, up 1.5% compared to the same three-month period of 2006.  The following table summarizes net sales by product category for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 (in millions):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

Technology products

 

$

434

 

$

445

 

Traditional office products

 

352

 

343

 

Janitorial and breakroom supplies

 

240

 

220

 

Office furniture

 

147

 

146

 

Freight and advertising revenue

 

19

 

20

 

Total net sales

 

$

1,192

 

$

1,174

 

 

 

Sales in the technology products category in the third quarter of 2007 declined approximately 2.5% versus the third quarter of 2006.  This category, which continues to represent the largest percentage of the Company’s consolidated net sales, accounted for approximately 36% of net sales for the third quarter of 2007.  Technology sales were positively impacted by the timing of

 

25



 

sales promotions late in the third quarter.  Competitive pressures combined with the Company’s decision not to pursue some low margin technology business resulted in a decline in this category.

Sales of traditional office supplies in the third quarter of 2007 grew approximately 2.6% versus the third quarter of 2006. Traditional office supplies represented approximately 30% of the Company’s consolidated net sales for the third quarter of 2007. The growth in this category was partially driven by higher cut-sheet paper sales particularly within the independent dealer channel and emerging channels.

Sales growth in the janitorial and breakroom supplies product category remained strong, rising 9.1% in the third quarter of 2007 compared to the third quarter of 2006.  This category accounted for approximately 20% of the Company’s third quarter of 2007 consolidated net sales.  Growth in this category was primarily due to increases in foodservice consumables and paper-based product.  This growth has been strong across all regions as service levels, breadth of line, new catalogs and marketing efforts have helped spur sales.

Office furniture sales in the third quarter of 2007 rose nearly 1% compared to the same three-month period of 2006. Office furniture accounted for approximately 12% of the Company’s third quarter of 2007 consolidated net sales.

Gross Profit and Gross Margin Rate.  Gross profit (gross margin dollars) for the third quarter of 2007 was $176.3 million, compared to $192.0 million in the third quarter of 2006.  The gross margin rate (gross profit as a percentage of net sales) for the third quarter of 2007 was 14.8%, compared to 16.4% in the third quarter of 2006.  Gross margin in 2006 benefited from $21.6 million of one-time gains related to the Company’s product content syndication program and certain marketing program changes.  Excluding these one-time items, gross margin for 2006 was 14.5%.  The gross margin rate for the third quarter of 2007 was positively impacted by: (1) 51 basis points in supplier allowance due to declining inventory levels resulting in allowances from past periods being taken back into margin from inventory, enhanced allowance programs and mix of product purchases; and (2) 26 basis points in net advertising margin resulting from a change in marketing programs and the Company's ongoing focus on advertising cost management.  These improvements totaling 77 basis points were offset by declines in file margin (35 basis points) due to competitive pressures and product mix shifts and in customer discounts and rebates (40 basis points) resulting from renegotiated rebate programs.

Operating Expenses. Operating expenses for the third quarter of 2007 totaled $123.9 million, or 10.4% of net sales, compared with $123.0 million, or 10.5% of net sales in the third quarter of 2006.  The 10 basis point improvement in the operating expense ratio was primarily due to a reduction in payroll and benefits resulting from the 2006 Workforce Reduction Program, accounting for a 26 basis point improvement, and a reduction in professional services costs resulting in a 14 basis point improvement.  These items were offset by higher depreciation and amortization (5 basis points) due to higher capital spending throughout the second half of 2006 and 25 basis points related to declining inventory levels that resulted in operating costs previously reflected in inventory balances in past periods being charged to expense in the third quarter of 2007.

Operating Income.   Operating income for the third quarter of 2007 totaled $52.4 million, or 4.4% of net sales, compared with $69.0 million, or 5.9% of net sales in the third quarter of 2006.  Operating income in 2006 was favorably impacted by the previously mentioned one-time gains of $21.6 million related to product content syndication and marketing program changes.  Adjusting for this item, operating income in the third quarter of 2006 was $47.4 million, or 4.0% of net sales.

Interest Expense, net. Interest expense for the third quarter of 2007 was $2.7 million, compared with $2.0 million for the same period in 2006. The increase in interest expense for the third quarter of 2007 was attributable to higher borrowings due mainly to the share repurchase program previously mentioned.  However, interest expense trended slightly lower from the second quarter as a result of improvements in working capital and the impact of the amended and restated credit agreement previously mentioned. 

Other Expense, net. Other expense for the third quarter of 2007 was $3.7 million, compared with $3.4 million in the third quarter of 2006.  Other expense for both the third quarter of 2007 and 2006 primarily represents costs associated with the sale of certain trade accounts receivable through the Receivables Securitization Program.  The third quarter of 2007 had a higher average balance in the Receivables Securitization Program compared to the prior year.

Income Taxes. Income tax expense was $18.6 million for the third quarter of 2007, compared with $24.3 million for the same period in 2006. The Company’s effective tax rates for the third quarters of 2007 and 2006 were 40.3% and 38.3%, respectively.  This increase in the effective tax rate reflects a $1.0 million increase in income tax contingencies.

 

26



 

Income From Continuing Operations.  Income from continuing operations for the third quarter of 2007 was $27.5 million, compared with $39.2 million for the third quarter of 2006.  

Loss From Discontinued Operations . During the first quarter of 2006, the Company announced its intention to sell its Canadian Division and therefore began reporting it as a discontinued operation for all periods presented.  On June 9, 2006, the Company sold its Canadian Division .  The after-tax loss from discontinued operations was minimal for the third quarter of 2006.

Net Income. Net income for the third quarter of 2007 totaled $27.5 million, or $1.00 per diluted share, compared with net income of $39.2 million, or $1.26 per diluted share for the same three-month period in 2006.  Adjusting for the impact of product content syndication and changes in other marketing programs, earnings per diluted share for the third quarter of 2006 were $0.83.  See the tables included above in the Adjusted Operating Income and Earnings Per Share Section for a reconciliation of these diluted earnings per share amounts.

Results of Operations—Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 Compared with the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006

Net Sales.  Net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 totaled $3.5 billion, up 2.7% compared to the same nine-month period of 2006.  The following table summarizes net sales by product category for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 (in millions):

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

Technology products

 

$

1,320

 

$

1,338

 

Traditional office supplies

 

1,042

 

991

 

Janitorial and breakroom supplies

 

693

 

640

 

Office furniture

 

413

 

407

 

Freight and advertising revenue

 

58

 

57

 

Total net sales

 

$

3,526

 

$

3,433

 

 

 

Sales in the technology products category declined approximately 1.3% in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007 compared to the prior-year period.  This category continues to represent the largest percentage of the Company’s consolidated net sales (approximately 37%).  Competitive pressures and continued focus on margin management have led to declines in this area of the business.

Traditional office supplies represented approximately 30% of the Company’s consolidated net sales in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007.  Sales of traditional office supplies grew 5.1% versus the same nine-month period of 2006.  The highest growth sales area in this category remains cut-sheet paper sales and traditional office product sales in emerging channels.

Sales growth in the janitorial and breakroom supplies product category remained strong, rising 8.3% compared to the prior year nine-month period and this category accounted for nearly 20% of the Company’s nine months ended September 30, 2007 consolidated net sales.

Office furniture sales in the nine-month period of 2007 increased nearly 1.5% compared to the same nine-month period in 2006. Office furniture accounted for approximately 12% of the Company’s consolidated net sales during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007.

See “Net Sales” under “Results of Operations – Three Months Ended September 30, 2007 Compared with the Three Months Ended September 30, 2006” for further discussion of sales trends.

Gross Profit and Gross Margin Rate.    Gross profit (gross margin dollars) for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 was $526.0 million, compared to $556.9 million in the prior year period. The gross margin rate (gross profit as a percentage

 

27



 

of net sales) for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 was 14.9%, compared to 16.2% in the same period last year.  Gross margin in 2006 benefited from $49.4 million of one-time gains related to the Company’s product content syndication program and certain marketing program changes.  Excluding these one-time items, gross margin for 2006 was 14.8%.  See “Gross Profit and Gross Margin Rate” under “Results of Operations — Three Months Ended September 30, 2007 Compared with the Three Months Ended September 30, 2006” for further discussion on gross profit and gross margin rate trends.

Operating Expenses.  Operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 were $375.6 million, or 10.7% of sales, compared with $378.5 million, or 11.0% of sales, in the same nine-month period last year.  In addition to the items noted in “Operating Expenses” under “Results of Operations — Three Months Ended September 30, 2007 Compared with the Three Months Ended September 30, 2006,” operating expenses for the nine-month period ending September 30, 2007 included a $1.4 million restructuring charge related to a workforce reduction recorded in the first nine months of 2007.  Operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 included the following items recognized in the first three quarters of 2006: a $6.7 million charge to write-off capitalized software development costs, including $0.2 million in related charges, associated with the internal financial and order management software upgrade; a $6.7 million gain on the sale of two facilities; and a $3.5 million favorable reversal of an accrual associated with a previous restructuring charge. Adjusting for these expense items, operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 was $374.2 million and $382.0 million or 10.6% and 11.1% of net sales, respectively.  See “Operating Expenses” under “Results of Operations — Three Months Ended September 30, 2007 Compared with the Three Months Ended September 30, 2006” for further discussion on operating expenses.

Operating Income.   Operating income for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007 totaled $150.4 million, or 4.3% of net sales, compared with $178.4 million, or 5.2% of net sales in the nine-month period of 2006.  In addition to the items noted in “Operating Income” under “Results of Operations — Three Months Ended September 30, 2007 Compared with the Three Months Ended September 30, 2006,” operating income for the nine-month period of 2006 included the items mentioned in “Gross Profit” and in “Operating Expenses” in this section.  Adjusting for these items, operating income in the nine-month period of 2007 and 2006 was $151.8 million and $125.6 million, or 4.3% and 3.7% of net sales.

Interest Expense, net.  Net interest expense for the nine months ended September 30 2007 totaled $7.8 million, compared with $4.7 million in the same period last year.  This increase primarily reflects higher borrowings to repurchase common stock.  However, interest expense trended slightly lower from the second quarter as a result of improvements in working capital and the impact of the amended and restated credit agreement previously mentioned. 

Other Expense, net.   Net other expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 totaled $10.8 million compared with $9.4 million for the same nine-month period last year.  Net other expense for the nine months of 2007 and 2006 represents costs associated with the sale of certain trade accounts receivable through the Receivables Securitization Program (described in the section titled “Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements).  Year-to-date, other expense is greater than the same period last year as 2007 has had a higher average balance in the Receivables Securitization Program compared to the prior year and rates are up slightly.

Income Taxes.  Income tax expense totaled $53.0 million in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007, compared with $62.7 million during the same period of 2006. The Company’s effective tax rate for the nine months of 2007 was 40.2%, compared with 38.2% in the same period of 2006.  This increase reflects $3.0 million related to an increase in income tax contingencies.

Income From Continuing Operations.  Income from continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 totaled $78.9 million, compared with $101.6 million for the same nine-month period in 2006. 

Loss From Discontinued Operations . During the first quarter of 2006, the Company announced its intention to sell its Canadian Division and therefore began reporting it as a discontinued operation for all periods presented.  On June 9, 2006, the Company sold its Canadian Division. The after-tax loss from discontinued operations totaled $2.9 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006.

 

28



 

Net Income.  Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 totaled $78.9 million, or $2.73 per diluted share, compared with net income of $98.6 million, or $3.11 per diluted share, for the same period in 2006.  Adjusting for the impact of the items noted above for the nine months of 2007 and 2006 and the loss from discontinued operations, earnings per diluted share were $2.76 and $2.17, respectively.   See the tables included above in the Adjusted Operating Income and Earnings Per Share Section for a reconciliation of these diluted earnings per share amounts.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Debt

The Company’s outstanding debt under GAAP, together with funds generated from the sale of accounts receivable under the Company’s off-balance sheet Receivables Securitization Program (as defined below), consisted of the following amounts (in thousands):

 

 

As of

 

As of

 

 

 

September 30, 2007

 

December 31, 2006

 

2007 Credit Agreement

 

$

143,900

 

$

110,500

 

Industrial development bond, at market-based interest rates, maturing in 2011

 

6,800

 

6,800

 

Debt under GAAP

 

150,700

 

117,300

 

Accounts receivable sold (1)

 

240,000

 

225,000

 

Total outstanding debt under GAAP and accounts receivable sold (adjusted debt)

 

390,700

 

342,300

 

Stockholders' equity

 

606,813

 

800,940

 

Total capitalization

 

$

997,513

 

$

1,143,240

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted debt-to-total capitalization ratio

 

39.2

%

29.9

%

 


(1)              See discussion below under “Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements - Receivables Securitization Program”

The most directly comparable financial measure to adjusted debt that is calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP is total debt (as provided in the above table as “Debt under GAAP”). Under GAAP, accounts receivable sold under the Company’s Receivables Securitization Program are required to be reflected as a reduction in accounts receivable and not reported as debt. Internally, the Company considers accounts receivable sold to be a financing mechanism. The Company therefore believes it is helpful to provide readers of its financial statements with a measure (“adjusted debt”) that adds accounts receivable sold to debt and calculates debt-to-total capitalization on the same basis.  A reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures is provided in the table above.  Adjusted debt is defined as outstanding debt under GAAP combined with the balance of accounts receivable sold under the Receivables Securitization Program.  The ratio of adjusted debt to total capitalization similarly utilizes adjusted debt in place of debt under GAAP. Adjusted debt and the adjusted-debt-to-total-capitalization ratio are provided as additional liquidity measures. 

In accordance with GAAP, total debt outstanding at September 30, 2007 increased by $33.4 million to $150.7 million from the balance at December 31, 2006. This resulted from an increase in borrowings under the 2007 Credit Agreement. Adjusted debt as of September 30, 2007 increased by $48.4 million from the balance at December 31, 2006 as a result of a $15 million increase in the amount sold under the Company’s Receivables Securitization Program and an increase of $33.4 million in the 2007 Credit Agreement.

At September 30, 2007, the Company’s adjusted debt-to-total capitalization ratio was 39.2%, compared to 29.9% at December 31, 2006.

 

29



 

Operating cash requirements and capital expenditures are funded from operating cash flow and available financing. Financing available from debt and the sale of accounts receivable as of September 30, 2007, is summarized below (in millions):

Availability

 

Maximum financing available under:

 

 

 

2007 Credit Agreement

$425.0

 

 

Receivables Securitization Program

250.0

 

 

Industrial Development Bond

6.8

 

 

Maximum financing available (1)

 

$681.8

 

 

 

 

 

Amounts utilized:

 

 

 

2007 Credit Agreement

143.9

 

 

Receivables Securitization Program

240.0

 

 

Outstanding letters of credit

16.5

 

 

Industrial Development Bond

6.8

 

 

Total financing utilized

 

407.2

 

Available financing, before restrictions

 

274.6

 

Restrictive covenant limitation

 

 

Available financing as of September 30, 2007

 

$274.6

 


 

 

 

(1) Effective October 15, 2007, the maximum financing available increased by $135 million when the Company entered into a Master Note Purchase Agreement and sold $135 million of floating rate senior secured notes as described further in Credit Agreement and Other Debt” below.

 

 

 

Restrictive covenants, most notably the leverage ratio covenant under the 2007 Credit Agreement and the 2007 Note Purchase Agreement (both as defined in footnote 8 to the financial statements) may separately limit total available financing at points in time, as further discussed below. As of September 30, 2007, the leverage ratio covenant in the 2007 Credit Agreement did not restrict the Company’s available funding from debt and the sale of accounts receivable (as shown above).

The Company believes that its operating cash flow and financing capacity, as described, provide adequate liquidity for operating the business for the foreseeable future.

Contractual Obligations

During the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007, there were no significant changes to the Company’s contractual obligations from those disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

Credit Agreement and Other Debt

On October 15, 2007, the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, United Stationers Supply Co. (“USSC”), entered into a Master Note Purchase Agreement (the “2007 Note Purchase Agreement”) with several purchasers.  The 2007 Note Purchase Agreement allows USSC to issue up to $1 billion of senior secured notes.  Pursuant to this agreement, USSC issued and sold $135 million of floating rate senior secured notes due October 15, 2014 at par in a private placement (the “Series 2007-A Notes”).  Interest on the Series 2007-A Notes is payable quarterly in arrears at a rate per annum equal to three-month LIBOR plus 1.30%, beginning January 15, 2008.  USSC may issue additional series of senior secured notes from time to time under the Note Purchase Agreement but has no specific plans to do so at this time.  USSC used the proceeds from the sale of these notes to repay borrowings under the 2007 Credit Agreement (defined below).  On November 6, 2007, the Company entered into an interest rate hedge agreement covering $135 million to effectively swap the floating rate component of these notes for a fixed rate.

On November 10, 2006, the Company and USSC entered into Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (the “Amendment”) with certain financial institutions listed therein and J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, National Association, as Agent.   The Amendment modified the Amended and Restated Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement originally entered into on October 12, 2005 (the “2005 Credit Agreement”).  The 2005 Credit Agreement, as amended by the Amendment, is referred to as the “2006 Credit Agreement.”  On July 5, 2007, USI and USSC entered into a Second Amended and Restated Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (the “2007 Credit Agreement”) which

 

30



 

amends and restates the 2006 Credit Agreement.

As of September 30, 2007, the Company had $143.9 million outstanding under the 2007 Credit Agreement and as of December 31, 2006, the Company had $110.5 million outstanding under the 2006 Credit Agreement. In addition, as of both September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the Company had an industrial development bond outstanding with a balance of $6.8 million.  This bond is scheduled to mature in 2011 and carries market-based interest rates.

The 2007 Credit Agreement provides for an aggregate committed principal amount of $425 million, an increase of $100 million from the 2006 Credit Agreement, and extends the final maturity to July 5, 2012.  It also reduces the interest rate margin applicable to loans outstanding under the facility, reduces the fee applicable to unutilized commitments and permits greater financial flexibility.

The 2007 Credit Agreement permits the Company to seek additional commitments to increase the aggregate committed principal amount to $625 million, an increase of $200 million.  It also permits the Company to incur up to $200 million of senior indebtedness in addition to borrowings under the agreement; the sale of the Series 2007-A Notes utilized $135 million of the permitted $200 million.  Both the 2007 Credit Agreement and the 2007 Note Purchase Agreement permit the Company to attain a maximum permitted debt to EBITDA ratio, as defined in those agreements, of 3.25 to 1.00.  The 2007 Credit Agreement and the 2007 Note Purchase Agreement also allow the Company to repurchase stock or pay dividends without restriction so long as the EBITDA ratio is less than or equal to 2.75 to 1.00 and the Company is in compliance with the other terms and conditions of those agreements.

The 2007 Credit Agreement also provides for the issuance of letters of credit in an aggregate amount of up to a sublimit of $90 million and provides a sublimit for swingline loans in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to exceed $30 million at any one time. These amounts, as sublimits, do not increase the maximum aggregate principal amount, and any undrawn issued letters of credit and all outstanding swingline loans under the facility reduce the remaining availability under the 2007 Credit Agreement. As of both September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the Company had outstanding letters of credit under the facility of $16.5 million and $17.3 million, respectively.

At September 30, 2007 funding levels (including amounts sold under the Receivables Securitization Program), a 50 basis point movement in interest rates would result in an annualized increase or decrease of approximately $2.0 million in interest expense and loss on the sale of certain accounts receivable, and ultimately upon cash flows from operations.

Refer to Note 8 “Long-Term Debt” for further descriptions of the provisions of 2007 Credit Agreement.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements—Receivables Securitization Program

USSC maintains a third-party accounts receivable securitization program (the “Receivables Securitization Program” or the “Program”). On November 10, 2006, the Company entered into an amendment to its Revolving Credit Facility which, among other things, increased the permitted size of the Receivables Securitization Program to $350 million, a $75 million increase from the $275 million limit under the 2005 Credit Agreement.  During the first quarter of 2007, the Company increased its commitments to the maximum available of $250 million.  Under the Receivables Securitization Program, USSC sells, on a revolving basis, its eligible trade accounts receivable (except for certain excluded accounts receivable, which initially includes all accounts receivable of Lagasse, Inc. and foreign operations) to USS Receivables Company, Ltd. (the “Receivables Company”). The Receivables Company, in turn, ultimately transfers the eligible trade accounts receivable to a trust. The trust then sells investment certificates, which represent an undivided interest in the pool of accounts receivable owned by the trust, to third-party investors. Certain bank funding agents, or their affiliates, provide standby liquidity funding to support the sale of the accounts receivable by the Receivables Company under 364-day liquidity facilities. As of September 30, 2007, the Company has chosen to sell $240.0 million of interests in trade accounts receivable.

 

31



 

Cash Flows

Cash flows for the Company for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 are summarized below (in thousands):

 

 

For the Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

$

243,283

 

$

(17,033

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(11,560

)

(12,326

)

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

 

(234,790

)

29,088

 

 

 

 

Cash Flow From Operations

Net cash provided by operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 totaled $243.3 million, compared with net cash used by operating activities of $17.0 million in the same nine-month period of 2006.  After excluding the impacts of accounts receivable sold under the Receivables Securitization Program (see table below), the Company’s operating cash flows were $228.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared to use of cash of $17.0 million for the same nine months ended in 2006.  The increase in operating cash flows in 2007 versus 2006 was primarily attributed to cash flow improvements of: (1) $143.8 million due to an increase in accounts payable during the nine months ended September 30, 2007 versus a decrease in accounts payable during the same time period in 2006 due to the timing of inventory purchases and a continued focus on optimizing the Company’s supply chain; (2) $64.7 million due to a larger reduction in inventory during the nine months ended September 30, 2007 versus 2006; and (3) $50.2 million from the change in deferred credits due to the timing of the recognition and collection of fixed supplier funding.  These improvements were partially offset by a decrease in net income of $20.1 million.

Internally, the Company views accounts receivable sold through its Receivables Securitization Program (the “Program”) to be a financing mechanism based on the following considerations and reasons:

                  The Program typically is the Company’s first source of financing, primarily because it carries a lower cost than other traditional borrowings;

                  The Program’s characteristics are similar to those of traditional debt, including being securitized, having an interest component and being viewed as traditional debt by the Program’s financial providers in determining capacity to support and service debt;

                  The terms of the Program are structured to be similar to those in many revolving credit facilities, including provisions addressing maximum commitments, costs of borrowing, financial covenants and events of default;

                  As with debt, the Company elects, in accordance with the terms of the Program, how much is funded through the Program at any given time;

                  Provisions of the 2007 Credit Agreement and the 2007 Note Purchase Agreement aggregate true debt (including borrowings under the Credit Facility) together with the balance of accounts receivable sold under the Program into the concept of “Consolidated Funded Indebtedness.”  This effectively treats the Program as debt for purposes of requirements and covenants under those agreements; and

                  For purposes of managing working capital requirements, the Company evaluates working capital before any sale of accounts receivable sold through the Program to assess accounts receivable requirements and performance, on measures such as days outstanding and working capital efficiency.

 

32



 

Net cash provided by operating activities excluding the effects of accounts receivable sold and net cash used in financing activities including the effects of accounts receivable sold for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 are provided below as an additional liquidity measure (in thousands):

 

 

 

For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

Cash Flows From Operating Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

$

243,283

 

$

(17,033

)

Excluding the change in accounts receivable sold

 

(15,000

)

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities excluding the effects of accounts receivable sold

 

$

228,283

 

$

(17,033

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows Used In Financing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

 

$

(234,790

)

$

29,088

 

Including the change in accounts receivable sold

 

15,000

 

 

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities including the effects of accounts receivable sold

 

$

(219,790

)

$

29,088

 

 

 

 

Cash Flow From Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities for the first nine months of 2007 was $11.6 million, compared to net cash used in investing activities of $12.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. Net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 included $3.1 million in capitalized software development costs compared to $8.3 million for the same period in 2006.  Other capital expenditures declined to $9.8 million from $31.9 million for the same nine-month periods from 2007 to 2006.  Net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 also included $14.7 million in cash proceeds from the sale of two distribution facilities.  In addition, during the nine months ending September 30, 2007 and 2006, there were $1.3 million and $13.2 million, respectively, in cash proceeds from the sale of the Company’s Canadian division (see “Canadian Division — Discontinued Operations” above).  For 2007, the Company expects gross capital expenditures to be in the range of $20 million to $25 million. 

Cash Flow From Financing Activities

Net cash used by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 totaled $234.8 million, compared with a source of cash of $29.1 million in the prior year period.  Net cash used in financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 included $301.7 million in repurchases of the Company’s common stock and $0.6 million in debt issuance costs partially offset by $33.4 million in additional borrowings under the 2007 Credit Agreement, $28.6 million in net proceeds from the issuance of treasury stock upon the exercise of stock options under the Company’s equity compensation plans and $5.5 million in excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation.  Net cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 included $98.4 million in additional borrowings under Revolving Credit Facility, $17.2 million in net proceeds from the issuance of treasury stock upon the exercise of stock options under the Company’s equity compensation plans and $3.5 million in excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation.  These sources of cash were offset by $89.9 million in repurchases of the Company’s common stock.

ITEM 3 .     QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

The Company is subject to market risk associated principally with changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. There were no material changes to the Company’s exposures to market risk during the third quarter of 2007 from those disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

ITEM 4 .     CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

Attached as exhibits to this Quarterly Report are certifications of the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), which are required in accordance with Rule 13a-14 under the Exchange Act. This “Controls and Procedures” section includes information concerning the controls and controls evaluation referred to in such certifications.

 

33



 

Inherent Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls

The Company’s management, including the CEO and CFO, does not expect that the Company’s Disclosure Controls or its internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all error or all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. The design of a control system must reflect the existence of resource constraints. Further, because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the fact that judgments in decision making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Controls can also be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by managerial override. The design of any system of controls is based, in part, on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and no design is likely to succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of controls to future periods are subject to risks, including that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

At the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report, the Company’s management performed an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s CEO and CFO, of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)). Such disclosure controls and procedures (“Disclosure Controls”) are controls and other procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s reports filed under the Exchange Act, such as this Quarterly Report, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure Controls are also designed to reasonably assure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the CEO and CFO, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management’s quarterly evaluation of Disclosure Controls includes an evaluation of some components of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, and internal control over financial reporting is also separately evaluated on an annual basis.

Based on this evaluation, the Company’s management (including its CEO and CFO) concluded that as of September 30, 2007, the Company’s Disclosure Controls were effective at the reasonable assurance level.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no changes to the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the third quarter of 2007 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1A .            RISK FACTORS.

For information regarding risk factors, see “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Part I of the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. There have been no material changes to the risk factors described in such Form 10-K.

 

34



 

 

ITEM 2 .                     UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.

Common Stock Purchase

The following table summarizes purchases of the Company’s common stock during the third quarter of 2007:

Period

 

Total Number of
Shares Purchased

 

Average Price
Paid Per Share

 

Total Number of Shares
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced Plans
or Programs(1)

 

Approximate Dollar Value of
Shares that May Yet Be Purchased
Under the
Plans or Programs

 

7/1/2007 - 7/31/2007

 

506,370

 

$

68.92

 

506,370

 

65,099,966

 

8/1/2007 - 8/31/2007

 

1,216,865

 

58.99

 

1,216,865

 

193,317,484

 

9/1/2007 - 9/30/2007

 

749,850

 

57.75

 

749,850

 

150,014,405

 

Total

 

2,473,085

 

$

60.65

 

2,473,085

 

 

 


(1)              All purchases were executed under share repurchase authorizations given by the Company’s Board of Directors and made under the Company’s 10b5-1 plan.

 

ITEM 6 .                         EXHIBITS

 

(a)                       Exhibits

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes as exhibits certain documents that the Company has previously filed with the SEC. Such previously filed documents are incorporated herein by reference from the respective filings indicated in parentheses at the end of the exhibit descriptions (all made under United’s file number of 0-10653). Each of the management contracts and compensatory plans or arrangements included below as an exhibit is identified as such by a double asterisk at the end of the related exhibit description.

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

3.1

 

Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation of United Stationers Inc., dated as of March 19, 2002 (Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001, filed on April 1, 2002 (the “2001 Form 10-K”)

 

 

 

3.2*

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of United Stationers Inc., dated as of October 10, 2007

 

 

 

4.1

 

Rights Agreement, dated as of July 27, 1999, by and between the Company and BankBoston, N.A., as Rights Agent (Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s 2001 Form 10-K)

 

 

 

4.2

 

Amendment to Rights Agreement, effective as of April 2, 2002, by and among United Stationers Inc., Fleet National Bank (f/k/a BankBoston, N.A. and EquiServe Trust Company, N.A. (Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the Quarter ended March 31, 2002, filed on May 15, 2002)

 

 

 

4.3*

 

Master Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2007, among United Stationers Inc., United Stationers Supply Co. (“USSC” and the note purchasers identified therein (the “2007 Note Purchase Agreement”)

 

 

 

4.4*

 

Parent Guaranty, dated as of October 15, 2007, by United Stationers Inc. in favor of the holders of the promissory notes identified therein

 

 

 

4.5*

 

Subsidiary Guaranty, dated as of October 15, 2007, by Lagasse, Inc., United Stationers Technology Services LLC (“USTS” and United Stationers Financial Services LLC (“USFS” in favor of the holders of the promissory notes identified therein)

 

35



 

10.1

 

Omnibus Amendment, dated as of March 23, 2007, by and among USS Receivables Company, Ltd., United Stationers Financial Services LLC, Falcon Asset Securitization Corporation, PNC Bank, National Association, Market Street Funding LLC, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (successor by merger to Bank One, NA (Main Office Chicago)), Fifth Third Bank, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (formerly known as JPMorgan Chase Bank), as trustee (Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed March 28, 2007)

 

 

 

10.2*

 

Non-Qualified Stock Option Grant Letter, dated as of July 24, 2007 among United Stationers Inc. and Victoria J. Reich **

 

 

 

10.3*

 

Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement for Section 16 Officers under the United Stationers Inc. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan **

 

 

 

10.4*

 

Summary of compensation of non-employee directors of Unted Stationers Inc. as amended July 24, 2007 with an effective date of September 1, 2007 **

 

 

 

10.5*

 

Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2007, among United Stationers Inc., USSC, Lagasse, Inc., USTS and USFS and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Collateral Agent

 

 

 

10.6*

 

Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2007, by and among JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as agent and contractual representative, and the holders of the notes issued pursuant to the 2007 Note Purchase Agreement

 

 

 

10.7

 

Second Amended and Restated Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement, dated July 5, 2007, among United Stationers Supply Co., as borrower, United Stationers Inc., as a credit party, JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, in its capacity as agent, and the financial institutions listed on the signature pages thereof (Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 5, 2007)

 

 

 

10.8

 

Reaffirmation, dated July 5, 2007 among United Stationers Inc., United Stationers Supply Co., Lagasse, Inc., United Stationers Technology Services LLC  and United  Stationers Financial Services LLC (Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 5, 2007)

 

 

 

10.9

 

Amendment No. 1 to Pledge and Security Agreement, dated July 5, 2007, among United Stationers Inc., United Stationers Supply Co., Lagasse, Inc., United  Stationers Technology Services LLC, United Stationers Financial Services LLC and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, in its capacity as agent (Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 5, 2007)

 

 

 

15.1*

 

Letter regarding unaudited interim financial information

 

 

 

31.1*

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer, dated as of November 2, 2007, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

 

31.2*

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer, dated as of November 2, 2007 pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

 

32.1*

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, dated as of November 2, 2007, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002


*                  Filed herewith

**           Management contract and compensatory plans or arrangements

 

36



 

SIGNATURES

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

 

 

UNITED STATIONERS INC.

 

 

(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ VICTORIA J. REICH

Date:  November 2, 2007

 

Victoria J. Reich

 

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Duly authorized signatory and principal financial officer)

 

37


Exhibit 3.2

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

BYLAWS

 

OF

 

UNITED STATIONERS INC.

 

A Delaware Corporation

 

 

As of October 10, 2007

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Article I

OFFICES

1

 

 

 

1.1

Registered Office and Agent

1

 

 

 

1.2

Other Offices

1

 

 

 

Article II

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

1

 

 

 

2.1

Annual Meeting

1

 

 

 

2.2

Special Meeting

2

 

 

 

2.3

Place of Meetings

2

 

 

 

2.4

Notice of Meeting

2

 

 

 

2.5

Business at Annual Meetings

3

 

 

 

2.6

Voting List

3

 

 

 

2.7

Quorum

3

 

 

 

2.8

Required Vote; Withdrawal of Quorum

4

 

 

 

2.9

Method of Voting; Proxies; Meeting by Remote Communication

4

 

 

 

2.10

Record Date

5

 

 

 

2.11

Conduct of Meetings

6

 

 

 

2.12

Inspectors

7

 

 

 

2.13

Adjournments

8

 

 

 

2.14

Action Without a Meeting

8

 

 

 

Article III

DIRECTORS

9

 

 

 

3.1

Management

9

 

 

 

3.2

Number; Qualification; Election; Term

9

 

 

 

3.3

Chairman

9

 

 

 

3.4

Change in Number

10

 

 

 

3.5

Removal; Resignation

10

 

 

 

3.6

Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies

10

 

 

 

3.7

Nomination of Director Candidates

10

 

 

 

3.8

Meetings of Directors, Corporate Officers; Books and Records

10

 

 

 

3.9

First Meeting

10

 

 

 

3.10

Election of Officers

10

 

2



 

3.11

Regular Meetings

10

 

 

 

3.12

Special Meetings

11

 

 

 

3.13

Notice

11

 

 

 

3.14

Quorum; Majority Vote

11

 

 

 

3.15

Procedure

11

 

 

 

3.16

Compensation

11

 

 

 

3.17

Action by Written Consent

12

 

 

 

3.18

Telephonic Meetings Permitted

12

 

 

 

3.19

Reliance upon Records

12

 

 

 

3.20

Interested Directors

13

 

 

 

Article IV

COMMITTEES

13

 

 

 

4.1

Designation

13

 

 

 

4.2

Number; Qualification; Term

13

 

 

 

4.3

Authority

14

 

 

 

4.4

Committee Changes

14

 

 

 

4.5

Alternate Members of Committees

14

 

 

 

4.6

Regular Meetings

14

 

 

 

4.7

Special Meetings

14

 

 

 

4.8

Quorum; Majority Vote

15

 

 

 

4.9

Minutes

15

 

 

 

4.10

Responsibility

15

 

 

 

4.11

Action Telephonically or Without Meeting

15

 

 

 

Article V

NOTICE

15

 

 

 

5.1

Method

15

 

 

 

5.2

Waiver

16

 

 

 

Article VI

OFFICERS

16

 

 

 

6.1

Number; Titles; Term of Office

16

 

 

 

6.2

Removal; Resignation

16

 

 

 

6.3

Vacancies

16

 

 

 

6.4

Authority

17

 

 

 

6.5

Compensation

17

 

3



 

6.6

The President

17

 

 

 

6.7

The Vice Presidents

17

 

 

 

6.8

The Secretary

17

 

 

 

6.9

Assistant Secretaries

18

 

 

 

6.10

The Treasurer

18

 

 

 

6.11

Subordinate Officers; Delegated Authority to Appoint Subordinate Officers

18

 

 

 

6.12

Bond

18

 

 

 

6.13

Assistant Treasurers

19

 

 

 

Article VII

CERTIFICATES AND STOCKHOLDERS

19

 

 

 

7.1

Certificates for Shares

19

 

 

 

7.2

Replacement of Lost or Destroyed Certificates

19

 

 

 

7.3

Transfer of Shares

19

 

 

 

7.4

Registered Stockholders

20

 

 

 

7.5

Regulations

20

 

 

 

7.6

Legends

20

 

 

 

Article VIII

INDEMNIFICATION

20

 

 

 

8.1

Right to Indemnification of Directors and Officers

20

 

 

 

8.2

Advancement of Expenses of Directors and Officers

21

 

 

 

8.3

Claims by Officers or Directors

21

 

 

 

8.4

Indemnification of Employees

21

 

 

 

8.5

Advancement of Expenses of Employees

21

 

 

 

8.6

Non-Exclusivity of Rights

22

 

 

 

8.7

Other Indemnification

22

 

 

 

8.8

Insurance

22

 

 

 

8.9

Amendment or Repeal

22

 

 

 

Article IX

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

22

 

 

 

9.1

Dividends

22

 

 

 

9.2

Reserves

22

 

 

 

9.3

Books and Records

22

 

4



 

9.4

Fiscal Year

23

 

 

 

9.5

Seal

23

 

 

 

9.6

Resignations

23

 

 

 

9.7

Securities of Other Corporations

23

 

 

 

9.8

Invalid Provisions

23

 

 

 

9.9

Mortgages, etc.

23

 

 

 

9.10

Checks

23

 

 

 

9.11

Headings

24

 

 

 

9.12

References

24

 

 

 

9.13

Amendments

24

 

5



 

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

 

OF

 

UNITED STATIONERS INC.

 

A Delaware Corporation

 

PREAMBLE

 

These bylaws have been amended and restated as of October 10, 2007. These bylaws are subject to, and governed by, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ DGCL ”) and the certificate of incorporation, as it may be amended and in effect from time to time (the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”) of United Stationers Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”). In the event of a direct conflict between the provisions of these bylaws and the mandatory provisions of the DGCL or the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, such provisions of the DGCL or the Certificate of Incorporation, as the case may be, will be controlling.

 

Article I

OFFICES

 

1.1            Registered Office and Agent . The registered office of the Corporation shall be in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware or as otherwise designated from time to time by the appropriate filing by the Corporation in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. The name and address of the registered agent of the Corporation is The Corporation Trust Company or as otherwise designated from time to time by the appropriate filing by the Corporation in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

 

1.2            Other Offices . The Corporation may also have offices at such other places, both within and without the State of Delaware, as the board of directors may from time to time determine or as the business of the Corporation may require.

 

Article II

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

2.1            Annual Meeting . An annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation shall be held each calendar year on such date and at such time as shall be designated from time to time by the board of directors and stated in the notice of the meeting. At such meeting, the stockholders shall elect directors and transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting. If the election of directors shall not be held on the day designated herein for any annual meeting, or at any adjournment thereof, the

 

1



 

board of directors shall cause the election to be held at a special meeting of the stockholders as soon thereafter as may be convenient.

 

2.2            Special Meeting . A special meeting of the stockholders shall be held as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation and in Article V hereof.

 

2.3            Place of Meetings . An annual meeting of stockholders may be held at any place within or without the State of Delaware designated by the board of directors. A special meeting of stockholders may be held at any place within or without the State of Delaware designated in the notice of the meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the board of directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that the meeting shall not be held at any place, but shall be held solely by means of remote communication, subject to such guidelines and procedures as the board of directors may adopt, as permitted by applicable law.

 

2.4            Notice of Meeting .

 

(a)            Written or printed notice stating the place, day, and time of an annual meeting of the stockholders and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting shall be delivered not less than ten nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting, either personally or by mail, by or at the direction of the President, the Secretary, or the officer or person(s) calling the meeting, to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting. If such notice is to be sent by mail, it shall be directed to such stockholder at his address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, unless he shall have filed with the Secretary of the Corporation a written request that notices to him be mailed to some other address, in which case it shall be directed to him at such other address. Notice of any annual meeting of stockholders shall not be required to be given to any stockholder who shall attend such meeting in person or by proxy and shall not, at the beginning of such annual meeting, object to the transaction of any business because the annual meeting is not lawfully called or convened, or who shall, either before or after the annual meeting, submit a signed waiver of notice, in person or by proxy.

 

(b)            Notices of special meetings of the stockholders shall be issued as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation and in Article V hereof.

 

(c)            Without limiting the foregoing paragraphs of this Section 2.4, any notice to stockholders of a meeting given by the Corporation pursuant to this Section 2.4 or the Certificate of Incorporation, shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the Corporation and shall also be deemed revoked if (1) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two consecutive notices given by the Corporation in accordance with such consent and (2) such inability becomes known to the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, the transfer agent or other person responsible for the giving of notice;

 

2



 

provided, however, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action. Notice given by a form of electronic transmission in accordance with these bylaws shall be deemed given: (i) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consent to receive notice; (ii) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (iii) if by a posting on an electronic network, together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of such posting and the giving of such separate notice; and (iv) if by another form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder.

 

(d)            For purposes of these bylaws, " electronic transmission " means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.

 

2.5            Business at Annual Meetings . The business to be conducted at annual meetings of the Corporation shall be as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

2.6            Voting List . At least ten days before each meeting of stockholders, the Secretary or other officer of the Corporation who has charge of the Corporation’s stock ledger, either directly or through another officer appointed by him or through a transfer agent appointed by the board of directors, shall prepare a complete list of record holders of each class and series of shares of stock entitled to vote thereat, arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of each record holder and number of shares registered in the name of each record holder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, for a period of at least ten days prior to the meeting: (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting or (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, the list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time thereof on a reasonably accessible electronic network and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. The stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger, the list of record holders or the books of the Corporation, or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

 

2.7            Quorum . The holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of each class and/or series of capital stock entitled to vote on a matter present in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of stockholders, except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these bylaws. If, however, the holders of any two or more classes or series of stock are entitled, or required, pursuant to the terms of the

 

3



 

Certificate of Incorporation, to vote together as a single class on any matter coming before such stockholders, the holders of a majority in the aggregate of the outstanding shares of such classes and/or series (except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation) present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for purposes of voting on any matter that may be put before such stockholders in accordance with law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws. Shares of its own stock belonging to the Corporation shall neither be entitled to vote nor be counted for quorum purposes; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not limit the right of the Corporation to vote stock, including but not limited to its own stock, held by it in a fiduciary capacity. If a quorum shall not be present, in person or by proxy, at any meeting of stockholders, the stockholders entitled to vote thereat who are present, in person or by proxy, or the chairman of the meeting may adjourn the meeting from time to time in accordance with Section 2.13 hereof.

 

2.8            Required Vote; Withdrawal of Quorum . When a quorum is present at any meeting, the vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares having voting power and entitled to vote on a matter who are present, in person or by proxy, shall decide any such matter brought before such meeting, unless such matter is one on which, by express provision of statute, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these bylaws, a different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such matter. The stockholders present at a duly constituted meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.

 

2.9            Method of Voting; Proxies; Meeting by Remote Communication .

 

(a)            Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, each outstanding share of capital stock which has voting power on the subject matter submitted to a vote by stockholders shall be entitled to one vote on each such matter. Elections of directors need not be by written ballot. At any meeting of stockholders, every stockholder having the right to vote may vote either in person or by a proxy.

 

(b)            At all meetings of stockholders, a stockholder may authorize another person to act for such stockholder by proxy (i) executed in writing by the stockholder or such stockholder's duly authorized officer, director or attorney-in-fact or (ii) transmitted by the stockholder or such stockholder's duly authorized officer, director or attorney-in-fact by telegram, cablegram or other means of electronic transmission to the proxy holder or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service or like agent duly authorized by the proxy holder to receive such transmission, provided that any such telegram, cablegram or other means of electronic transmission sets forth or is submitted with information from which it can be determined that the telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission was duly authorized by the stockholder. Such proxy must be filed with the Secretary of the Corporation or the inspectors of election at or before the time of

 

4



 

the meeting. No such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A duly executed proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by filing with the Secretary an instrument in writing revoking the proxy or another duly executed proxy bearing a later date.

 

(c)            If expressly authorized by the board of directors in accordance with these bylaws and applicable law, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the board of directors may adopt, stockholders and proxy holders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication (including, without limitation, by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which persons participating in the meeting can hear each other), (a) participate in a meeting of stockholders and (b) be deemed present in person and vote at a meeting of stockholders, 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.

 

2.10          Record Date .

 

(a)            For the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders, or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion, or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the board of directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the board of directors. Such date in any case shall not be more than 60 days or less than ten days prior to any such meeting nor more than 60 days prior to any other action. If no record date is fixed:

 

(i)             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 next preceding the day on which notice is given or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held.

 

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(ii)            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 thereto.

 

(iii)           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.

 

(b)            In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the board of directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the board of directors, and which date shall not be more than ten days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the board of directors. If no record date has been fixed by the board of directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the board of directors is required by law or these bylaws, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware, principal place of business, or such officer or agent shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If no record date has been fixed by the board of directors and prior action by the board of directors is required by law or these bylaws, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the day on which the board of directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

 

2.11          Conduct of Meetings . The Chairman, if such position has been filled, shall preside at all meetings of stockholders as the chairman of the meeting. In the absence or inability to act of the Chairman at any meeting of the stockholders, a chairman of the meeting shall be appointed to preside at such meeting of the stockholders by a majority of the board of directors present at such meeting. The board of directors of the Corporation may adopt by resolution such rules or regulations for the conduct of meetings of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the board of directors, the chair of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chair, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the board of directors or prescribed by the chair of the meeting, may, but shall not be required to, include, without limitation, the following:  (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on

 

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attendance at or participation in the meeting, to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chair shall permit; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof, and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. Unless, and to the extent determined by the board of directors or the chair of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with rules of parliamentary procedure. The Secretary shall keep the records of each meeting of stockholders. In the absence or inability to act of any such officer, such officer’s duties shall be performed by the officer given the authority to act for such absent or non-acting officer under these bylaws or by some other officer appointed by the board of directors.

 

2.12          Inspectors .

 

(a)            The board of directors may, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at such meeting or any adjournment thereof. If any of the inspectors so appointed shall fail to appear or act, the chairman of the meeting shall, or if inspectors shall not have been appointed, the chairman of the meeting may, appoint one or more inspectors. No director or candidate for the office of director shall act as an inspector of an election of directors. Inspectors need not be stockholders. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector at such meeting with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability.

 

(b)            The inspectors shall (i) ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, (ii) determine the number of shares present in person or by proxy at such meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, (iii) count all votes and ballots, (iv) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors and (v) certify their determination of the number of such shares present in person or by proxy at such meeting and their count of all votes and ballots. In addition, at the time the inspectors make their certification pursuant to this paragraph (b), the inspectors shall specify any information provided in accordance with Section 2.9(b) of these bylaws and any other information permitted by applicable law upon which they relied in determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots. The inspectors may appoint or retain other persons or entities to assist them in the performance of their duties. On request of the chairman of the meeting, the inspectors shall make a report in writing of any challenge, request, or matter determined by them and shall execute a certificate of any fact found by them.

 

(c)            The chairman of the meeting shall announce at the meeting the date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting. No ballots, proxies or votes, nor any revocations thereof or changes thereto, shall be accepted by the inspectors after the closing of the

 

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polls unless the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware upon application by any stockholder shall determine otherwise.

 

2.13          Adjournments . Any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, may adjourn from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other date, time and/or place, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the date, time, place, if any, thereof and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At any adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present, in person or by proxy, any business may be transacted which may have been transacted at the original meeting had a quorum been present; provided that, if the adjournment is for more than 30 days or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting.

 

2.14          Action Without a Meeting .

 

(a)            Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders may be taken without a meeting only as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

(b)            A telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission consenting to an action to be taken and transmitted by a stockholder or proxy holder, or by a person or persons authorized to act for a stockholder or proxy holder, shall be deemed to be written, signed and dated for the purposes of Section 228(d)(1) of the DGCL and the Certificate of Incorporation, provided that any such telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission sets forth or is delivered with information from which the Corporation can determine (A) that the telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission was transmitted by the stockholder or proxy holder or by a person or persons authorized to act for the stockholder or proxy holder and (b) the date on which such stockholder or proxy holder or authorized person or persons transmitted such telegram, cablegram or electronic transmission. The date on which such telegram, cablegram or electronic transmission is transmitted shall be deemed to be the date on which such consent was signed. No consent given by telegram, cablegram or other 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 registered office, its principal place of business or any officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the books in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to a Corporation’s registered office shall be made by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Notwithstanding the forgoing limitations on delivery, consents given by telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission may be otherwise delivered to the principal place of business of the Corporation or to an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the books in which proceedings of meetings of

 

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stockholders are recorded if, to the extent and in the manner provided by resolution of the board of directors or governing body of the Corporation.

 

Article III

DIRECTORS

 

3.1            Management . The business and property of the Corporation shall be managed by the board of directors. Subject to the restrictions imposed by law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these bylaws, the board of directors may exercise all the powers of the Corporation.

 

3.2            Number; Qualification; Election; Term .

 

(a)            The number of directors which shall constitute the entire board of directors shall be nine; provided, that, unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, the number of directors constituting the entire board of directors may be increased or decreased from time to time exclusively by resolution adopted by the board of directors and shall consist of no less than three and no more than fifteen members. The tenure and qualifications of directors on the board of directors of the Corporation shall be as provided herein and in the Certificate of Incorporation. Each director shall hold office until such director’s successor is elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal.

 

(b)            Except as otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these bylaws, the directors shall be elected at an annual meeting of the stockholders at which a quorum is present. Directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the election of directors. None of the directors need be a stockholder of the Corporation or a resident of Delaware. Each director must have attained the age of majority.

 

(c)            Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the holders of any one or more classes or series of Preferred Stock issued by the Corporation shall have the right, voting separately by class or series, to elect directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, the election, term of office, filling of vacancies and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation or the resolution or resolutions adopted by the board of directors pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable thereto, and such directors so elected shall not be divided into classes pursuant to this bylaw unless expressly provided by such terms.

 

3.3            Chairman . The board of directors shall elect one of its members as Chairman. The Chairman, if present, shall preside at all meetings of the board of directors. The Chairman shall have the powers and duties usually and customarily associated with the position of a non-executive Chairman and shall have such other powers and duties as may be assigned to him by the board of directors. In his capacity as

 

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Chairman, he shall not necessarily be an officer of the Corporation, but he shall be eligible to serve, in addition, as an officer pursuant to Article VI of these bylaws; provided , however , that under no circumstances shall the Chairman also serve as the President or chief executive officer of the Corporation.

 

3.4            Change in Number . No decrease in the number of directors constituting the entire board of directors shall have the effect of shortening the term of any incumbent director.

 

3.5            Removal; Resignation . A director may be removed from the board of directors in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation. A director may resign from the board of directors as provided in Section 9.6 hereof.

 

3.6            Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies . Newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors and any vacancies occurring in the board of directors resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, removal or other cause shall be filled as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

3.7            Nomination of Director Candidates . Nominations for election to the board of directors shall be as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

3.8            Meetings of Directors, Corporate Officers; Books and Records . The directors may hold their meetings and may have an office or offices and keep the books of the Corporation, except as otherwise provided by statute, in such place or places within or without the State of Delaware as the board of directors may from time to time determine or as shall be specified in the notice of such meeting.

 

3.9            First Meeting . Each newly elected board of directors may hold its first meeting for the purpose of organization and the transaction of business, if a quorum is present, on the same day and at the same place as the annual meeting of stockholders, and no notice of such meeting shall be necessary. If a newly elected board of directors fails to hold its first meeting on the same day at the same place as the annual meeting of stockholders, the first meeting of the newly elected board of directors after each election of new directors thereto shall be held at such time and place as shall be specified in a notice given as provided in these bylaws for special meetings of the board of directors, or as shall be specified in a written waiver of notice signed by all of the directors.

 

3.10          Election of Officers . At the first meeting of the board of directors held in conjunction with each annual meeting of stockholders as described in Section 3.9 hereof at which a quorum shall be present, the board of directors shall elect the officers of the Corporation.

 

3.11          Regular Meetings . Regular meetings of the board of directors shall be held at such times and places as shall be designated from time to time by the board of directors. Notice of such regular meetings shall not be required.

 

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3.12          Special Meetings . Special meetings of the board of directors shall be held whenever called by the Chairman, the President, or, upon the request in writing of two or more directors, by any other officer of the Corporation.

 

3.13          Notice . The Secretary or, in the absence or inability to act of the Secretary, any person designated by the Chairman or President, shall give notice of each special meeting to each director at least 24 hours before the meeting; provided, however, that if a special meeting of the board of directors is called by the Chairman such meeting may be called upon such notice as the Chairman deems appropriate. Notice of any such meeting need not be given to any director who shall, either before or after the meeting, submit a signed waiver of notice or who shall attend such meeting without protesting, prior to or at its commencement, the lack of notice to him. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the board of directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting. Notice may be given by telephone to the director personally or to any person reasonably believed to be accepting messages for such director, or by electronic transmission, as defined in Section 2.4(d), or otherwise in writing in accordance with Section 5.1 hereof.

 

3.14          Quorum; Majority Vote . At all meetings of the board of directors, a majority of the directors elected or appointed in the manner provided in these bylaws and the Certificate of Incorporation shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If at any meeting of the board of directors there be less than a quorum present, a majority of those present or any director solely present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice. Unless the act of a greater number is required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, the act of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is in attendance shall be the act of the board of directors. At any time that the Certificate of Incorporation provides that directors elected by the holders of a class or series of stock shall have more or less than one vote per director on any matter, every reference in these bylaws to a majority or other proportion of directors shall refer to a majority or other proportion of the votes of such directors.

 

3.15          Procedure . At meetings of the board of directors, business shall be transacted in such order as from time to time the board of directors may determine. The Chairman, if such position has been filled, shall preside at all meetings of the board of directors. In the absence or inability to act of the Chairman at any meeting of the board of directors, a chairman of the meeting shall be chosen by a majority of the board of directors present at such meeting from among the directors present to preside at such meeting of the board of directors. The Secretary of the Corporation shall act as the secretary of each meeting of the board of directors unless the board of directors appoints another person to act as secretary of the meeting. The board of directors shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings which shall be placed in the minute book of the Corporation.

 

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3.16          Compensation . The board of directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation, including any stated retainer, fees and reimbursement of expenses, paid to directors for their services as such, including without limitation for attendance at regular or special meetings of the board of directors; provided, that nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity or receiving compensation therefor. No additional compensation for serving as a director or committee member shall be paid to any employee of the Corporation or any subsidiary thereof, other than the reimbursement of expenses. Otherwise, committee members may, by resolution of the board of directors, be allowed a fixed sum and expenses of attendance, if any, for attending any committee meeting.

 

3.17          Action by Written Consent . Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the board of directors, or of any committee of the board of directors, may be taken without a meeting if all the directors or all the committee members, as the case may be, entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter thereof, consent or consents thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and such writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions shall have the same force and effect as a vote of such directors or committee members, as the case may be, and may be stated as such in any certificate or document filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or in any certificate delivered to any person. Such writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions shall be filed with the minutes of proceedings of the board or committee, as the case may be. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

 

3.18          Telephonic Meetings Permitted . Members of the board of directors, or any committee designated by the board, may participate in a meeting of such board or committee by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this bylaw shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

3.19          Reliance upon Records . Every director, and every member of any committee of the board of directors, shall, in the performance of his duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of its officers or employees, or committees of the board of directors, or by any other person as to matters the director or member reasonably believes are within such other person's professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation, including, but not limited to, such records, information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities and/or net profits of the Corporation, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of surplus or other funds from which dividends might properly be declared and paid, or with which the Corporation's capital stock might properly be purchased or redeemed.

 

 

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3.20          Interested Directors .

 

Subject to any other requirements under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as it may be amended from time to time, the federal securities laws, or any other applicable laws or regulations relating to the subject matter in this Section 3.20 (as used in this Section 3.20, “applicable laws or regulations”), no contract or transaction between the Corporation and one or more of its directors or officers, or between the Corporation and any other corporation, partnership, association, or other organization in which one or more of its directors or officers, are directors or officers, or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of the board of directors or committee which authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because any such director’s or officer’s votes are counted for such purpose, if: (a) the material facts as to such director's or officer’s relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the board of directors or the committee, and the board of directors or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative votes of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors are less than a quorum; (b) the material facts as to such director’s or officer’s relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders having voting power as to such subject matter pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, and entitled to vote as to such subject matter, and the contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by the vote of such stockholders having such voting power and entitled to vote on such subject matter; or (c) the contract or transaction is fair as to the Corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified, by the board of directors, a committee or the stockholders. Except as otherwise provided in applicable law or regulation, common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the board of directors or of a committee which authorizes the contract or transaction.

 

Article IV

COMMITTEES

 

4.1            Designation . The board of directors may, by resolution adopted by a majority of the entire board of directors, designate one or more committees.

 

4.2            Number; Qualification; Term . Each committee shall consist of one or more directors appointed by resolution adopted by a majority of the entire board of directors. The number of committee members may be increased or decreased from time to time by resolution adopted by a majority of the entire board of directors. Each committee member shall serve as such until the earliest of (i) the expiration of his term as director, (ii) his resignation as a committee member or as a director, or (iii) his death or removal as a committee member or as a director. A committee member may resign from such committee as provided in Section 9.6 hereof.

 

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4.3            Authority . Each committee, to the extent expressly provided in the resolution establishing such committee, shall have and may exercise all of the 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 except to the extent expressly restricted by law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these bylaws. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to amending the Certificate of Incorporation, adopting an agreement of merger or consolidation under Sections 251, 252, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 263 or 264 of the DGCL, recommending to the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the Corporation's property and assets, recommending to the stockholders a dissolution of the Corporation or a revocation of a dissolution, or adopting, amending or repealing the bylaws of the Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a committee may, to the extent authorized in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of shares of stock adopted by the board of directors as provided in subsection (a) of Section 151 of the DGCL, fix the designations, preferences, and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations, or restrictions of such shares, including, without limitation, as to dividends, redemption, dissolution, any distribution of assets of the Corporation or the conversion into, or the exchange of such shares for, shares of any other class or classes or any other series of the same or any other class or classes of stock of the Corporation or fix the number of shares of any series of stock or authorize the increase or decrease of the shares of any series. Unless a resolution of the board, the Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of these bylaws expressly so provides, no such committee shall have the power or authority to declare a dividend or to authorize the issuance of stock or to adopt a certificate of ownership and merger pursuant to Section 253 of the DGCL.

 

4.4            Committee Changes . The board of directors shall have the power at any time to fill vacancies in, to change the membership of, and to discharge any committee.

 

4.5            Alternate Members of Committees . The board of directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee. Any such alternate member may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. If no alternate committee members have been so appointed to a committee or each such alternate committee member is absent or disqualified, the member or members of such committee present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or they 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.

 

4.6            Regular Meetings . Regular meetings of any committee may be held without notice at such time and place as may be designated from time to time by the committee and communicated to all members thereof.

 

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4.7            Special Meetings . Special meetings of any committee may be held whenever called by any committee member. The committee member calling any special meeting shall cause notice of such special meeting, including therein the time and place of such special meeting, to be given to each committee member at least 24 hours before such special meeting. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any special meeting of any committee need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of any special meeting.

 

4.8            Quorum; Majority Vote . At meetings of any committee, a majority of the number of members designated by the board of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If a quorum is not present at a meeting of any committee, a majority of the members present may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than an announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present. The act of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is in attendance shall be the act of a committee, unless the act of a greater number is required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these bylaws.

 

4.9            Minutes . Each committee shall cause minutes of its proceedings to be prepared and shall report the same to the board of directors upon the request of the board of directors. The minutes of the proceedings of each committee shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation for placement in the minute books of the Corporation.

 

4.10          Responsibility . The designation of any committee and the delegation of authority to it shall not operate to relieve the board of directors or any director of any responsibility imposed upon it or such director by law.

 

4.11          Action Telephonically or Without Meeting . Committee members may act by telephonic or other communications equipment or by written consent as provided in Sections 3.17 and 3.18 hereof.

 

Article V

NOTICE

 

5.1            Method . Whenever by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these bylaws, notice is required to be given to any committee member, director, or stockholder and no provision is made as to how such notice shall be given, personal notice shall not be required and any such notice may be given (a) in writing, by mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such committee member, director, or stockholder at his address as it appears on the books or (in the case of a stockholder) the stock transfer records of the Corporation, or (b) by any other method permitted by law (including but not limited to electronic transmission (as defined in Section 2.4(d)) or overnight courier service). Any notice required or permitted to be given by mail shall be deemed to be delivered and

 

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given at the time when the same is deposited in the United States mail as aforesaid. Any notice required or permitted to be given by overnight courier service shall be deemed to be delivered and given at the time delivered to such service with all charges prepaid and addressed as aforesaid. Any notice required or permitted to be given by electronic transmission shall be deemed to be delivered and given at the time transmitted with all charges prepaid and addressed as aforesaid.

 

5.2            Waiver . Whenever any notice is required to be given to any stockholder, director, or committee member of the Corporation by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission (as defined in Section 2.4(d)) by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be equivalent to the giving of such notice. Attendance of a stockholder, director, or committee member at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where such person attends for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

 

Article VI

OFFICERS

 

6.1            Number; Titles; Term of Office . The officers of the Corporation shall be a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and such other officers as the board of directors may from time to time elect. Elected officers may include, without limitation, one or more Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents or Executive Vice Presidents. Unless any such officer’s title is expressly set forth below, such officer shall have such descriptive title as the board of directors shall determine. Unless a description of such officer’s services is expressly set forth below, such officer shall perform such services as requested by the board of directors or the President. Each officer shall hold office until his successor shall have been duly elected and shall have qualified, until his death, or until he shall resign or shall have been removed in the manner hereinafter provided. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person. None of the officers need be a stockholder or a director of the Corporation or a resident of the State of Delaware.

 

6.2            Removal; Resignation . Any officer elected or appointed by the board of directors may be removed by the board of directors whenever in its judgment the best interest of the Corporation will be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed. Election or appointment of an officer shall not of itself create contract rights. The chief executive officer, or, in the absence of a chief executive officer, the President, may suspend the powers, authority, responsibilities and compensation of any elected officer or appointed subordinate officer for a period of time sufficient to permit the board or the appropriate committee of the board a reasonable opportunity to consider and act upon a resolution

 

16



 

relating to the reinstatement, further suspension or removal of such person. In addition, an officer may resign from office as provided in Section 9.6 hereof.

 

6.3            Vacancies . Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation (by death, resignation, removal, or otherwise) may be filled by the board of directors, a committee of the board of directors, and/or the chief executive officer (or, in the absence of such officer, the President) in the same manner as provided in the election or appointment of such person.

 

6.4            Authority . Officers shall have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the Corporation as are provided in these bylaws or as may be determined by resolution of the board of directors not inconsistent with these bylaws.

 

6.5            Compensation . The compensation, if any, of officers shall be fixed from time to time by the board of directors; provided, however, that the board of directors may delegate the power to determine the compensation of any officer (other than the officer to whom such power is delegated) to the President and/or chief executive officer.

 

6.6            The President . The President may be the chief executive officer and/or the chief operating officer of the Corporation. If so designated as chief executive officer by the board of directors, he shall have the general direction of the affairs of the Corporation and, if so designated as chief operating officer of the Corporation, he shall have the general direction of the operations of the Corporation. In addition to, or in lieu of, the President acting as chief executive officer and/or chief operating officer, the President shall, unless otherwise directed by the board of directors, have general executive responsibility for the conduct of the business and affairs of the Corporation and shall assume such other duties as the board of directors may assign from time to time. The President may sign certificates for shares of the Corporation, and may sign any policies, deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, or other instruments on behalf of the Corporation, unless the board of directors has expressly reserved authority to approve any such documents or instruments for the Board’s approval, and except in cases where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the board of directors or by these bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Corporation, or shall be required by law to be otherwise signed or executed. The President shall appoint and discharge agents and employees of the Corporation, and in general, shall perform all duties incident to the office of President. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these bylaws, during occasions that the President is absent, has vacated his office, or otherwise is unable or refuses to perform the duties of the President, those duties will be performed by the Vice President (in order of their seniority as determined by the board of directors, or, in the absence of such determination, as determined by the length of time they have held the office of Vice President) until such time as the board of directors either makes a determination that another person should act in that capacity or elects a new President. Under no circumstances shall the President serve as Chairman of the corporation.

 

17



 

6.7            The Vice Presidents . The Vice Presidents, including any Executive Vice President or Senior Vice President, shall perform such duties and have such powers as the board of directors or the President may from time to time prescribe.

 

6.8            The Secretary . Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, the Secretary shall attend all meetings of the board of directors and all meetings of the stockholders and record all the proceedings of the meetings of the Corporation and of the board of directors in a book to be kept for that purpose and shall perform like duties for the standing committees when required; shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the board of directors; shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors or the President; and shall keep in safe custody the corporate seal of the Corporation and when authorized by the board of directors, shall affix the same to any instrument requiring it and when so affixed, it shall be attested by the signature of the Secretary or by the signature of an Assistant Secretary.

 

6.9            Assistant Secretaries . The Assistant Secretaries in the order of their seniority shall, in the event that the Secretary is absent, or has vacated his office, or is unable or unwilling to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary. They shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the board of directors or the President may from time to time prescribe.

 

6.10          The Treasurer . The Treasurer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the board of directors. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the board of directors taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the President and the board of directors, at its regular meetings or when the President or board of directors so requires, an account of all transactions of the Corporation performed under his supervision as Treasurer. The Treasurer shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors or the President.

 

6.11          Subordinate Officers; Delegated Authority to Appoint Subordinate Officers . In addition to officers elected by the board of directors, the board of directors may from time to time appoint one or more vice presidents (including any executive and/or senior vice presidents), assistant vice presidents, assistant secretaries, assistant treasurers, assistant comptrollers, and such other subordinate officers as the board of directors may deem advisable. The board of directors may grant to any committee of the board, the chief executive officer, or, in the absence of a chief executive officer, the President, the power and authority to appoint such subordinate officers and to prescribe their respective terms of office, powers, authority and responsibilities. Each subordinate officer shall hold his position at the pleasure of the board of directors, the committee of

 

18



 

the board appointing him, the chief executive officer, the President and any other officer to whom such subordinate officer reports.

 

6.12          Bond . If required by the board of directors, the Treasurer and any other officer identified by the board of directors shall give the Corporation a bond (which shall be renewed as required from time to time) or such other security as the board may request in such sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the board of directors for the faithful performance of the duties of the office and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of the death, resignation, retirement or removal from office of the Treasurer, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in the possession or under the control of the Treasurer belonging to the Corporation.

 

6.13          Assistant Treasurers . The Assistant Treasurers, in the order of their seniority, unless otherwise determined by the board of directors, shall in the event the Treasurer is absent, or has vacated his office, or is unable or refuses to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Treasurer. They shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the board of directors or the President may from time to time prescribe.

 

Article VII

CERTIFICATES AND STOCKHOLDERS

 

7.1            Certificates for Shares . Certificates for shares of stock of the Corporation may be issued in certificated or non-certificated form and shall be in such form as shall be approved by the board of directors. The certificates shall be signed by any authorized officer of the Corporation. Any and all signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile and may be affixed or imprinted with the seal of the Corporation or a facsimile thereof. If any officer, transfer agent, or registrar who has signed, or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon, a certificate has ceased to be such officer, transfer agent, or registrar before such certificate is issued, such certificate may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent, or registrar at the date of issue. The certificates shall be consecutively numbered and shall be entered in the books of the Corporation (which shall include the books of any transfer agent appointed by the board of directors) as they are issued and shall exhibit the registered owner’s name and the number of shares.

 

7.2            Replacement of Lost or Destroyed Certificates . The Corporation may direct the issuance of a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place of a certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Corporation and alleged to have been lost or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate or certificates representing shares to be lost or destroyed. In addition, the Corporation may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost or destroyed certificate or certificates, or his legal representative, to advertise the same in such manner as it shall require and/or to give the

 

19



 

Corporation a bond with a surety or sureties satisfactory to the Corporation in such sum as it may direct as indemnity against any claim, or expense resulting from a claim, that may be made against the Corporation with respect to the certificate or certificates alleged to have been lost or destroyed.

 

7.3            Transfer of Shares . Shares of stock of the Corporation shall be transferable only on the books of the Corporation by the holders thereof in person or by their duly authorized attorneys or legal representatives. Upon surrender to the Corporation or the transfer agent of the Corporation of a certificate representing shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment, or authority to transfer, the Corporation or its transfer agent shall issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate, and record the transaction upon its books. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no new certificate shall be issued unless and until the surrendering stockholder provides a written opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Corporation or other evidence acceptable to the Corporation of compliance with all applicable federal, state and foreign securities laws.

 

7.4            Registered Stockholders . The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share or shares of stock as the holder in fact thereof and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by law.

 

7.5            Regulations . The board of directors shall have the power and authority to make all such rules and regulations as they may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer, and registration or the replacement of certificates for shares of stock of the Corporation, including compliance with applicable law.

 

7.6            Legends . The Corporation shall have the power and authority to provide that certificates representing shares of stock bear such legends as the Corporation deems appropriate to assure that the Corporation does not become liable for violations of federal or state securities laws or other applicable law.

 

Article VIII

INDEMNIFICATION

 

8.1            Right to Indemnification of Directors and Officers . Subject to the other provisions of this article, the Corporation shall indemnify and advance expenses to every director and officer (and to such person’s heirs, executors, administrators or other legal representatives) in the manner and to the full extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists, or may hereafter be amended, against any and all amounts (including, but not limited to, judgments, fines, payments in settlements, costs of investigation, attorneys’ fees and other expenses) reasonably incurred by or on behalf of such person in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether

 

20



 

civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “ Proceeding ”), in which such director or officer was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved 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, officer, employee, fiduciary or member of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, organization or other enterprise. The Corporation shall not be required to indemnify a person in connection with a Proceeding initiated by such person if the Proceeding was not authorized by the board of directors of the Corporation.

 

8.2            Advancement of Expenses of Directors and Officers . The Corporation shall pay the expenses of directors and officers incurred in defending any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition (“ Advancement of Expenses ”); provided, however, that the payment of expenses incurred by a director or officer in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the director or officer to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under this article or otherwise; provided, that no bond or other security shall be required to secure such undertaking.

 

8.3            Claims by Officers or Directors . If a claim for indemnification or Advancement of Expenses by an officer or director under this article is not paid in full within ninety days after a written claim therefor has been received by the Corporation, the claimant may file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim. In any such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the claimant was not entitled to the requested indemnification or Advancement of Expenses under applicable law.

 

8.4            Indemnification of Employees . Subject to the other provisions of this article, the Corporation may indemnify and advance expenses to every employee who is not a director or officer (and to such person’s heirs, executors, administrators or other legal representatives) in the manner and to the full extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists, or may hereafter be amended, against any and all amounts (including judgments, fines, payments in settlement, costs of investigation, attorneys’ fees and other expenses) reasonably incurred by or on behalf of such person in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or Proceeding in which such employee was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved by reason of the fact that such person is or was an employee of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or member of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, organization or other enterprise. The ultimate determination of entitlement to indemnification of employees who are not officers and directors shall be made in such manner as is provided by applicable law. The Corporation shall not be required to indemnify a person in connection with a Proceeding initiated by such person if the Proceeding was not authorized by the board of directors of the Corporation.

 

21



 

8.5            Advancement of Expenses of Employees . The advancement of expenses of an employee who is not an officer or director shall be made by or in the manner provided by resolution of the board of directors or by a committee of the board of directors of the Corporation.

 

8.6            Non-Exclusivity of Rights . The rights conferred on any person by this Article VIII shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, these bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

8.7            Other Indemnification . The Corporation’s obligation, if any, to indemnify any person who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer or employee of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, organization or other enterprise shall be reduced by any amount such person may collect as indemnification from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, organization or other enterprise.

 

8.8            Insurance . The board of directors may, to the full extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists, or may hereafter be amended from time to time, authorize an appropriate officer or officers to purchase and maintain at the Corporation’s expense insurance:  (i) to indemnify the Corporation for any obligation which it incurs as a result of the indemnification of directors, officers, and employees under the provisions of this Article VIII; and (ii) to indemnify or insure directors, officers and employees against liability in instances in which they may not otherwise be indemnified by the Corporation under the provisions of this Article VIII.

 

8.9            Amendment or Repeal . Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article VIII shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.

 

Article IX

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

9.1            Dividends . Subject to provisions of law and the Certificate of Incorporation, dividends may be declared by the board of directors at any regular or special meeting and may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of stock of the Corporation. Such declaration and payment shall be at the discretion of the board of directors and in compliance with the DGCL.

 

9.2            Reserves . There may be created by the board of directors out of funds of the Corporation legally available therefor such reserve or reserves as the directors from time to time, in their discretion, consider proper to provide for contingencies, to equalize dividends, or to repair or maintain any property of the Corporation, or for such other purpose as the board of directors shall consider beneficial to the Corporation, and the

 

22



 

board of directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.

 

9.3            Books and Records . The Corporation shall keep correct and complete books and records of account, shall keep minutes of the proceedings of its stockholders and board of directors and shall keep at its registered office or principal place of business, or at the office of its transfer agent or registrar, a record of its stockholders, giving the names and addresses of all stockholders and the number and class of the shares held by each.

 

9.4            Fiscal Year . The fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on December 31 of each year, provided that the fiscal year may be changed from time to time by resolution of the board of directors.

 

9.5            Seal . The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation and the words “Corporate Seal Delaware.”  The seal of the Corporation may be changed from time to time by the board of directors. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or otherwise reproduced.

 

9.6            Resignations . Any director or committee member may resign by giving notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the board of directors, the Chairman, the President, or the Secretary. Any officer may resign by giving written notice to the board of directors, the Chairman, the President or the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if no time is specified therein, immediately upon its receipt. Unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

 

9.7            Securities of Other Corporations . The President or any Vice President (including any Executive or Senior Vice President) of the Corporation shall have the power and authority to transfer, endorse for transfer, vote, consent, or take any other action with respect to any securities of another issuer which may be held or owned by the Corporation and to make, execute, and deliver any waiver, proxy, or consent with respect to any such securities.

 

9.8            Invalid Provisions . If any part of these bylaws shall be held invalid or inoperative for any reason, the remaining parts, so far as it is possible and reasonable, shall remain valid and operative.

 

9.9            Mortgages, etc . With respect to any deed, deed of trust, mortgage, or other instrument executed by the Corporation through its duly authorized officer or officers, the attestation to such execution by the Secretary of the Corporation shall not be necessary to constitute such deed, deed of trust, mortgage, or other instrument a valid and binding obligation against the Corporation unless the resolutions, if any, of the board of directors authorizing such execution expressly state that such attestation is necessary.

 

23



 

9.10          Checks . All checks or demands for money and notes of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such other person or persons as the board of directors may from time to time designate.

 

9.11          Headings . The headings used in these bylaws have been inserted for administrative convenience only and do not constitute matter to be construed in interpretation.

 

9.12          References . Whenever herein the singular number is used, the same shall include the plural where appropriate, and words of any gender shall include each other gender where appropriate.

 

9.13         Amendments . Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, these bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed at any regular meeting of the stockholders (or at any special meeting thereof duly called for that purpose) by a majority vote of the shares represented and entitled to vote at such meeting; provided that in the notice of such special meeting notice of such purpose shall be given. Subject to the laws of the State of Delaware, the Certificate of Incorporation and these bylaws, the board of directors may by majority vote of those present at any meeting at which a quorum is present alter, amend or repeal these bylaws, or enact such other bylaws as in their judgment may be advisable for the regulation of the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation.

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

24


Exhibit 4.3

 

CONFORMED COPY

 

 

 

UNITED STATIONERS SUPPLY CO.
UNITED STATIONERS INC.

 

 


 

MASTER NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 


 

 

Dated as of October 15, 2007

 

 

$1,000,000,000 Aggregate Principal Amount

Secured Senior Notes Issuable in Series

 

 

Initial Issuance of

$135,000,000 Floating Rate Secured Senior Notes

Series 2007-A, due October 15, 2014

 

 

PPN: 913008 A*9

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Section

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

1.

AUTHORIZATION OF NOTES

 

1

 

1.1

Description of Notes to be Issued

 

1

 

1.2

Additional Series of Notes

 

1

 

1.3

Security for the Notes

 

2

 

1.4

Floating Interest Rate Provisions for Floating Rate Notes

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

2.

SALE AND PURCHASE OF NOTES

 

4

 

 

 

 

3.

CLOSING

 

4

 

 

 

 

4.

CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

 

4

 

4.1

Representations and Warranties

 

5

 

4.2

Performance; No Default

 

5

 

4.3

Compliance Certificates

 

5

 

4.4

Opinions of Counsel

 

5

 

4.5

Purchase Permitted By Applicable Law, etc.

 

5

 

4.6

Sale of Other Notes

 

6

 

4.7

Payment of Special Counsel Fees

 

6

 

4.8

Private Placement Number

 

6

 

4.9

Changes in Corporate Structure

 

6

 

4.10

Parent Guaranty

 

6

 

4.11

Subsidiary Guaranty

 

6

 

4.12

Collateral Documents

 

6

 

4.13

Intercreditor Agreement

 

7

 

4.14

Funding Instructions

 

7

 

4.15

Proceedings and Documents

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

5.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

 

7

 

5.1

Organization; Power and Authority

 

7

 

5.2

Authorization, etc.

 

8

 

5.3

Disclosure

 

8

 

5.4

Organization and Ownership of Shares of Subsidiaries

 

9

 

5.5

Financial Statements; Material Liabilities

 

9

 

5.6

Compliance with Laws, Other Instruments, etc.

 

10

 

5.7

Governmental Authorizations, etc.

 

11

 

5.8

Litigation; Observance of Statutes and Orders

 

11

 

5.9

Taxes

 

11

 

5.10

Title to Property; Leases

 

12

 

5.11

Licenses, Permits, etc.

 

12

 

5.12

Compliance with ERISA

 

12

 

5.13

Private Offering by the Company

 

13

 

5.14

Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations

 

13

 

i



 

 

5.15

Existing Indebtedness; Future Liens

 

14

 

5.16

Foreign Assets Control Regulations, etc.

 

14

 

5.17

Status under Certain Statutes

 

15

 

5.18

Environmental Matters

 

15

 

 

 

 

 

6.

REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PURCHASERS.

 

15

 

6.1

Purchase for Investment

 

15

 

6.2

Source of Funds

 

16

 

 

 

 

 

7.

INFORMATION AS TO PARENT.

 

17

 

7.1

Financial and Business Information

 

17

 

7.2

Officer’s Certificate

 

20

 

7.3

Electronic Delivery

 

20

 

7.4

Visitation

 

21

 

 

 

 

 

8.

PREPAYMENT OF THE NOTES.

 

21

 

8.1

Required Prepayments

 

21

 

8.2

Optional Prepayments

 

21

 

8.3

Mandatory Offer to Prepay Upon Change of Control

 

22

 

8.4

Allocation of Partial Prepayments

 

24

 

8.5

Maturity; Surrender, etc.

 

24

 

8.6

Purchase of Notes

 

24

 

8.7

Make-Whole Amount

 

25

 

8.8

LIBOR Breakage Amount

 

26

 

 

 

 

 

9.

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.

 

26

 

9.1

Compliance with Law

 

26

 

9.2

Insurance

 

27

 

9.3

Maintenance of Properties

 

27

 

9.4

Payment of Taxes and Claims

 

27

 

9.5

Corporate Existence, etc.

 

27

 

9.6

Books and Records

 

28

 

9.7

Subsidiary Guaranty; Release of Subsidiary Guarantors; Release of Collateral

 

28

 

9.8

Pari Passu Ranking

 

29

 

9.9

Mortgages

 

29

 

 

 

 

 

10.

NEGATIVE COVENANTS.

 

29

 

10.1

Leverage Ratio

 

29

 

10.2

Minimum Consolidated Net Worth

 

30

 

10.3

Priority Debt

 

30

 

10.4

Liens

 

30

 

10.5

Subsidiary Indebtedness

 

32

 

10.6

Mergers, Consolidations, etc.

 

33

 

10.7

Sale of Assets

 

34

 

10.8

Restriction on Dividends and Other Distributions

 

35

 

10.9

Nature of Business

 

36

 

ii



 

 

10.10

Transactions with Affiliates

 

36

 

10.11

Terrorism Sanctions Regulations

 

36

 

 

 

 

 

11.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

 

37

 

 

 

 

12.

REMEDIES ON DEFAULT, ETC.

 

39

 

12.1

Acceleration

 

39

 

12.2

Other Remedies

 

40

 

12.3

Rescission

 

40

 

12.4

No Waivers or Election of Remedies, Expenses, etc.

 

40

 

 

 

 

 

13.

REGISTRATION; EXCHANGE; SUBSTITUTION OF NOTES.

 

41

 

13.1

Registration of Notes

 

41

 

13.2

Transfer and Exchange of Notes

 

41

 

13.3

Replacement of Notes

 

41

 

 

 

 

 

14.

PAYMENTS ON NOTES.

 

42

 

14.1

Place of Payment

 

42

 

14.2

Home Office Payment

 

42

 

 

 

 

 

15.

EXPENSES, ETC.

 

43

 

15.1

Transaction Expenses

 

43

 

15.2

Survival

 

43

 

 

 

 

 

16.

SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; ENTIRE AGREEMENT.

 

43

 

 

 

 

17.

AMENDMENT AND WAIVER.

 

44

 

17.1

Requirements

 

44

 

17.2

Solicitation of Holders of Notes

 

44

 

17.3

Binding Effect, etc.

 

45

 

17.4

Notes Held by Company, etc.

 

45

 

 

 

 

 

18.

NOTICES.

 

45

 

 

 

 

19.

REPRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS.

 

46

 

 

 

 

20.

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

 

46

 

 

 

 

21.

SUBSTITUTION OF PURCHASER.

 

47

 

 

 

 

22.

MISCELLANEOUS.

 

47

 

22.1

Successors and Assigns

 

47

 

22.2

Payments Due on Non-Business Days

 

48

 

22.3

Accounting Terms

 

48

 

22.4

Severability

 

48

 

22.5

Construction

 

48

 

22.6

Counterparts

 

48

 

iii



 

 

22.7

Governing Law

 

49

 

22.8

Jurisdiction and Process; Waiver of Jury Trial

 

49

 

22.9

Holders of Notes to be Bound by Intercreditor Agreement

 

50

 

SCHEDULE A

Information Relating to Purchasers

SCHEDULE B

Defined Terms

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 5.3

Disclosure

SCHEDULE 5.4

Organization and Ownership of Shares of Subsidiaries

SCHEDULE 5.5

Financial Statements

SCHEDULE 5.8

Litigation

SCHEDULE 5.14

Use of Proceeds

SCHEDULE 5.15

Existing Indebtedness

SCHEDULE 10.4

Liens

SCHEDULE 10.5

Subsidiary Indebtedness

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 1.1

Form of Series 2007-A Note

EXHIBIT 1.2

Form of Supplement

EXHIBIT 1.3(a)(i)

Form of Parent Guaranty

EXHIBIT 1.3(a)(ii)

Form of Subsidiary Guaranty

EXHIBIT 1.3(c)

Form of Intercreditor Agreement

EXHIBIT 4.4(a)

Form of Opinion of Special Counsel for the Company

EXHIBIT 4.4(b)

Form of Opinion of Special Counsel to the PurchasersUNITED STATIONERS SUPPLY CO.

 

iv



 

UNITED STATIONERS INC.
One Parkway North Blvd., Suite 100
Deerfield, IL 60015
Phone: 847-627-7000
Fax: 847-627-7001

 

$1,000,000,000 Aggregate Principal Amount

Secured Senior Notes Issuable in Series

 

Initial Issuance of

$135,000,000 Floating Rate Secured Senior Notes

Series 2007-A, due October 15, 2014

 

Dated as of October 15, 2007

 

TO EACH OF THE PURCHASERS LISTED IN
                THE ATTACHED SCHEDULE A:

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

UNITED STATIONERS INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Parent”), and UNITED STATIONERS SUPPLY CO., an Illinois corporation and a Subsidiary of the Parent (the “Company”), agree with you as follows:

 

1.              AUTHORIZATION OF NOTES.

 

1.1           Description of Notes to be Issued.

 

The Company has authorized the issue and sale of $135,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its Floating Rate Secured Senior Notes, Series 2007-A, due October 15, 2014 (the “ Series 2007-A Notes”). The Series 2007-A Notes shall be substantially in the form set out in Exhibit 1.1, with such changes therefrom, if any, as may be approved by the Purchasers and the Company. Certain capitalized terms used in this Agreement are defined in Schedule B; references to a “Schedule” or an “Exhibit” are, unless otherwise specified, to a Schedule or an Exhibit attached to this Agreement.

 

1.2           Additional Series of Notes.

 

In addition to the issuance and sale of the Series 2007-A Notes, the Company may from time to time issue and sell one or more additional series of secured senior notes (the “Additional Notes” and together with the Series 2007-A Notes, the “Notes,” such term to include any such Notes issued in substitution therefor pursuant to Section 13 of this Agreement) pursuant

 

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to this Agreement, provided that the aggregate principal amount of all Notes issued pursuant to this Agreement shall not exceed $1,000,000,000. Each series of Additional Notes will be issued pursuant to a supplement to this Agreement (each, a “Supplement”) in substantially the form of Exhibit 1.2, and will be subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

(a)            the designation of each series of Additional Notes shall distinguish such series from the Notes of all other series;

 

(b)            each series of Additional Notes may consist of different and separate tranches and may differ as to outstanding principal amounts, maturity dates, interest rates and premiums or make-whole amounts, if any, and price and terms of redemption or payment prior to maturity;

 

(c)            all Notes issued under this Agreement, including pursuant to any Supplement, shall rank pari passu with each other and Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Agreement;

 

(d)            each series of Additional Notes shall be dated the date of issue, bear interest at such rate or rates, mature on such date or dates, be subject to such mandatory or optional prepayments, if any, on the dates and with the make-whole amounts, premiums or breakage amounts, if any, as are provided in the Supplement under which such Additional Notes are issued, and shall have such additional or different conditions precedent to closing and such additional or different representations and warranties or other terms and provisions as shall be specified in such Supplement; and

 

(e)            except to the extent provided in foregoing clause (d), all of the provisions of this Agreement shall apply to all Additional Notes.

 

1.3           Security for the Notes.

 

(a)            Guarantees . The payment by the Company of all amounts due with respect to the Notes and the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement will be guaranteed by (i) the Parent pursuant to the Parent Guaranty in substantially the form of the attached Exhibit 1.3(a)(i), as it hereafter may be amended or supplemented from time to time (the “Parent Guaranty”) and (ii) all current Domestic Subsidiaries of the Parent and any Domestic Subsidiary that in the future becomes a borrower or guarantor of Indebtedness in respect of the Credit Agreement (each, a “Subsidiary Guarantor”), other than, in each case, the Company and any existing or future SPV, pursuant to the Subsidiary Guaranty in substantially the form of the attached Exhibit 1.3(a)(ii), as it hereafter may be amended or supplemented from time to time (the “Subsidiary Guaranty”).

 

(b)            Collateral . The Notes and Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement will be ratably secured by a Lien on certain assets of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors pursuant to the Collateral Documents.

 

(c)            Intercreditor Agreement . The rights of the holders of the Notes and the banks party to the Credit Agreement to proceeds of collateral will be governed by the

 

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Intercreditor Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit 1.3(c), as it hereafter may be amended or supplemented from time to time (the “Intercreditor Agreement”).

 

1.4           Floating Interest Rate Provisions for Floating Rate Notes.

 

(a)            Adjusted LIBOR Rate . “Adjusted LIBOR Rate” means, for each Interest Period, the rate per annum equal to LIBOR for such Interest Period plus, in the case of the Series 2007-A Notes, 1.30% and, in the case of the Additional Notes that are floating rate Notes, the percentage applicable to such series or tranche of floating rate Notes as set forth in the Supplement under which such Additional Notes are issued. For purposes of determining Adjusted LIBOR Rate, the following terms have the following meanings:

 

“LIBOR” means, for any Interest Period, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next higher one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point) for deposits in U.S. Dollars for a 3-month period (or such other period as is specified in the applicable Supplement) that appears on the Bloomberg Financial Markets Service Page BBAM-1 (or if such page is not available, the Reuters Screen LIBO Page) as of 11:00 a.m. (London, England time) on the date two Business Days before the commencement of such Interest Period (or three Business Days before the commencement of the first Interest Period).

 

“Reuters Screen LIBO Page” means the display designated as the “LIBO” page on the Reuters Monitory Money Rates Service (or such other page as may replace the LIBO page on that service) or such other service as may be nominated by the British Bankers’ Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying British Bankers’ Association Interest Settlement Rates for U.S. Dollar deposits.

 

(b)            Determination of the Adjusted LIBOR Rate . The Adjusted LIBOR Rate shall be determined by the Company, and notice thereof shall be given to the holders of the applicable series or tranche of floating rate Notes, within two Business Days after the beginning of each Interest Period, together with (i) a copy of the relevant screen used for the determination of LIBOR, (ii) a calculation of the Adjusted LIBOR Rate for such Interest Period, (iii) the number of days in such Interest Period, (iv) the date on which interest for such Interest Period will be paid and (v) the amount of interest to be paid to each holder of Notes of such series or tranche on such date. If the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes of such series or tranche outstanding do not concur with such determination by the Company, as evidenced by a single written notice (such notice to include such holders’ determination of items (ii) through (iv) of the preceding sentence and a copy of the relevant screen used for the determination of LIBOR) delivered to the Company within 10 Business Days after receipt by such holders of the notice delivered by the Company pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, the determination of the Adjusted LIBOR Rate shall be made by such holders of the Notes, and any such determination made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error.

 

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(c)            Interest Period . “Interest Period” means for any series or tranche of floating rate Notes and for any period for which interest is to be calculated or paid, the period commencing on an interest payment date for such series or tranche of floating rate Notes, or on the date of Closing in the case of the first such period, and continuing up to, but not including, the next interest payment date.

 

2.              SALE AND PURCHASE OF NOTES.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company will issue and sell to you and each of the other purchasers named in Schedule A (the “Other Purchasers”), and you and the Other Purchasers will purchase from the Company, at the Closing provided for in Section 3, Notes in the principal amount specified opposite your names in Schedule A at the purchase price of 100% of the principal amount thereof. Your obligation hereunder and the obligations of the Other Purchasers are several and not joint obligations and you shall have no obligation and no liability to any Person for the performance or non-performance by any Other Purchaser hereunder.

 

3.              CLOSING.

 

The sale and purchase of the Series 2007-A Notes to be purchased by you and the Other Purchasers shall occur at the offices of Foley & Lardner LLP, 321 North Clark Street, Suite 2800, Chicago, Illinois 60610-4764, at 9:00 a.m., Chicago time, at a closing (each closing of the initial issuance of Notes hereunder, a “Closing”) on October 15, 2007 or on such other Business Day thereafter as may be agreed upon by the Company and you and the Other Purchasers. The date or time of the Closing may be changed to such other Business Day as may be agreed upon by the Company and the Purchasers. At the Closing, the Company will deliver to you the Series 2007-A Notes to be purchased by you in the form of a single Note (or such greater number of Notes in denominations of at least $500,000 as you may request) dated the date of such Closing and registered in your name (or in the name of your nominee), against delivery by you to the Company or its order of immediately available funds in the amount of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer for the account of the Company to account number 30290298 at Northern Trust Co., 50 S. LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60675, ABA number 071000152. If at the Closing the Company shall fail to tender such Notes to you as provided above in this Section 3, or any of the conditions specified in Section 4 shall not have been fulfilled to your reasonable satisfaction, you shall, at your election, be relieved of all further obligations under this Agreement, without thereby waiving any rights you may have by reason of such failure or such nonfulfillment.

 

4.              CONDITIONS TO CLOSING.

 

Your obligation to purchase and pay for the Notes to be sold to you at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment to your reasonable satisfaction, prior to or at the Closing, of the following conditions:

 

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4.1           Representations and Warranties.

 

The representations and warranties of the Parent and the Company in this Agreement shall be correct in all material respects (expect those representations and warranties that are qualified by materiality, which will be correct in all respects) when made and at the time of the Closing (it being understood that representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date or time need only be correct as of such date or time).

 

4.2           Performance; No Default.

 

The Parent and the Company shall have performed and complied with all agreements and conditions contained in this Agreement required to be performed or complied with by them prior to or at the Closing, and, after giving effect to the issue and sale of the Series 2007-A Notes (and the application of the proceeds thereof as contemplated by Section 5.14), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. Neither the Parent nor any Subsidiary shall have entered into any transaction since the date of the Memorandum that would have been prohibited by Sections 10.6 or 10.10 had such Sections applied since such date.

 

4.3           Compliance Certificates.

 

(a)            Officer’s Certificate . Each of the Parent and the Company shall have delivered to you an Officer’s Certificate, dated the date of Closing, certifying that the conditions specified in Sections 4.1, 4.2 and 4.9 have been fulfilled.

 

(b)            Secretary’s Certificates . Each of the Parent, the Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor shall have delivered to you a certificate of its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, dated the date of Closing, certifying as to the resolutions attached thereto and other corporate proceedings relating to the authorization, execution and delivery of the Notes and this Agreement.

 

4.4           Opinions of Counsel.

 

You shall have received opinions in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to you, dated the date of such Closing (a) from Mayer Brown LLP and Phelps Dunbar, L.L.P., counsel for the Parent and the Company, covering the matters set forth in Exhibit 4.4(a) and covering such other matters incident to the transactions contemplated hereby as you or your counsel may reasonably request (and the Company instructs its counsel to deliver such opinion to you), and (b) from Foley & Lardner LLP, your special counsel in connection with such transactions, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit 4.4(b) and covering such other matters incident to such transactions as you may reasonably request.

 

4.5           Purchase Permitted By Applicable Law, etc.

 

On the date of the Closing, your purchase of Notes shall (i) be permitted by the laws and regulations of each jurisdiction to which you are subject, without recourse to provisions (such as Section 1405(a)(8) of the New York Insurance Law) permitting limited investments by insurance companies without restriction as to the character of the particular investment, (ii) not violate any applicable law or regulation (including, without limitation, Regulation U, T or X of

 

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the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) and (iii) not subject you to any tax, penalty or liability under or pursuant to any applicable law or regulation, which law or regulation was not in effect on the date hereof. If requested by you, you shall have received an Officer’s Certificate certifying as to such matters of fact as you may reasonably specify to enable you to determine whether such purchase is so permitted.

 

4.6           Sale of Other Notes.

 

Contemporaneously with the Closing, the Company shall sell to the Other Purchasers and the Other Purchasers shall purchase the Notes to be purchased by them as specified in Schedule A.

 

4.7           Payment of Special Counsel Fees.

 

Without limiting the provisions of Section 15.1, the Company shall have paid on or before the Closing the reasonable and properly documented fees, charges and disbursements of your special counsel to the extent reflected in a statement of such counsel rendered to the Company at least one Business Day prior to the Closing.

 

4.8           Private Placement Number.

 

Private Placement Number issued by Standard & Poor’s CUSIP Service Bureau (in cooperation with the SVO) shall have been obtained by Foley & Lardner LLP for the Series 2007-A Notes.

 

4.9           Changes in Corporate Structure.

 

Neither the Parent nor the Company shall have changed its jurisdiction of incorporation or been a party to any merger or consolidation or succeeded to all or any substantial part of the liabilities of any other entity, at any time following the date of the most recent financial statements referred to in Schedule 5.5.

 

4.10         Parent Guaranty.

 

The Parent shall have executed and delivered the Parent Guaranty and you shall have received an executed counterpart thereof.

 

4.11         Subsidiary Guaranty.

 

Each Subsidiary Guarantor shall have executed and delivered the Subsidiary Guaranty and you shall have received an executed counterpart thereof.

 

4.12         Collateral Documents.

 

Except for the documents permitted by Section 9.9 to be delivered after the Closing, each of the Parent, the Company, and each Subsidiary Guarantor shall have executed and delivered to the Collateral Agent each Collateral Document to which it is a party and you shall have received copies of the fully executed counterparts thereof.

 

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4.13         Intercreditor Agreement.

 

The agent for the banks party to the Credit Agreement, you and the Other Purchasers shall have entered into the Intercreditor Agreement and you shall have received a fully executed counterpart thereof.

 

4.14         Funding Instructions.

 

At least three Business Days prior to the date of the Closing, you shall have received written instructions signed by a Responsible Officer on letterhead of the Company confirming the information specified in Section 3 including (i) the name and address of the transferee bank, (ii) such transferee bank’s ABA number and (iii) the account name and number into which the purchase price for the Notes is to be deposited.

 

4.15         Proceedings and Documents.

 

All corporate and other proceedings in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and all documents and instruments incident to such transactions shall be satisfactory to you and your special counsel, and you and your special counsel shall have received all such counterpart originals or certified or other copies of such documents as you or they may reasonably request.

 

5.              REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.

 

The Parent and the Company, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to you that:

 

5.1           Organization; Power and Authority.

 

Each of the Parent and the Company is a corporation duly incorporated and validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required by law, other than those jurisdictions as to which the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Parent and the Company has the corporate power and authority to own or hold under lease the properties it purports to own or hold under lease, to transact the business it transacts and proposes to transact, to execute and deliver this Agreement, and the Notes (in the case of the Company) and the Parent Guaranty (in the case of the Parent) and to perform the provisions hereof and thereof.

 

Each Subsidiary Guarantor is duly organized and validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, and is duly qualified as a foreign organization and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required by law, other than those jurisdictions as to which the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each Subsidiary Guarantor has the corporate or limited liability company power and authority to own or hold under lease the properties it purports to own or hold under lease, to

 

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transact the business it transacts and proposes to transact, to execute and deliver the Subsidiary Guaranty and to perform the provisions hereof and thereof.

 

5.2           Authorization, etc.

 

This Agreement, the Collateral Documents to which the Company is a party and the Notes have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company, and this Agreement constitutes, and upon execution and delivery thereof each Note will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

This Agreement and the Parent Guaranty have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Parent, and this Agreement constitutes, and upon execution and delivery thereof the Parent Guaranty will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Parent, enforceable against the Parent in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

The Subsidiary Guaranty has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or limited liability company action on the part of each Subsidiary Guarantor and upon execution and delivery thereof will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of each Subsidiary Guarantor, enforceable against each Subsidiary Guarantor in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

5.3           Disclosure.

 

The Parent and the Company, through their agent, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., have delivered to you and each Other Purchaser a copy of a Private Placement Memorandum, dated September 2007 (the “Memorandum”), relating to the transactions contemplated hereby. The Memorandum fairly describes, in all material respects, the general nature of the business and principal properties of the Parent and its Subsidiaries. This Agreement, the Memorandum (including the Parent’s SEC filings referred to therein), the documents, certificates or other writings identified in Schedule 5.3 by or on behalf of the Parent in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the financial statements listed in Schedule 5.5, in each case, delivered to the Purchasers prior to September 26, 2007 (this Agreement, the Memorandum and such documents, certificates or other writings and such financial statements being referred to, collectively, as the “Disclosure Documents”), taken as a whole, do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements

 

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therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made; provided, that the Parent and the Company make no representation or warranty regarding the financial information for the twelve month period ended June 30, 2007 or the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 set forth in the Private Placement Memorandum. Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Documents, since December 31, 2006, there has been no change in the financial condition, operations, business or properties of the Parent or any Subsidiary except changes that individually or in the aggregate would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no fact known to the Parent or the Company that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect that has not been set forth herein or in the Disclosure Documents.

 

5.4           Organization and Ownership of Shares of Subsidiaries.

 

(a)            Schedule 5.4 contains (except as noted therein) complete and correct lists of (i) the Parent’s Subsidiaries, showing, as to each Subsidiary, the correct name thereof, the jurisdiction of its organization and the percentage of shares of each class of its capital stock or similar equity interests outstanding owned by the Parent and each other Subsidiary and (ii) the Parent’s directors and senior officers.

 

(b)            All of the outstanding shares of capital stock or similar equity interests of each Subsidiary shown in Schedule 5.4 as being owned by the Parent and its Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the Parent or another Subsidiary (except as otherwise disclosed in Schedule 5.4) free and clear of any Lien, except Liens under the Collateral Documents.

 

(c)            Each Subsidiary identified in Schedule 5.4 is a corporation or other legal entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing or equivalent status under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation or other legal entity and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required by law, other than those jurisdictions as to which the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(d)            No Subsidiary, other than an SPV, is a party to, or otherwise subject to any legal, regulatory, contractual or other restriction (other than this Agreement, the Credit Agreement, the agreements listed on Schedule 5.4 and customary limitations imposed by corporate or limited liability law or similar statutes) restricting the ability of such Subsidiary to pay dividends out of profits or make any other similar distributions of profits to the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries that owns outstanding shares of capital stock or similar equity interests of such Subsidiary.

 

5.5           Financial Statements; Material Liabilities.

 

The Parent has delivered to you and each Other Purchaser copies of the financial statements of the Parent and its Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 5.5. All of said financial statements (including in each case the related schedules and notes) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as of the respective

 

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dates specified in such Schedule and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for the respective periods so specified and have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods involved except as set forth in the notes thereto (subject, in the case of any interim financial statements, to normal year-end adjustments). The Parent and its Subsidiaries do not have any Material liabilities that are not disclosed on such financial statements or otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Documents or incurred in the ordinary course of business.

 

5.6           Compliance with Laws, Other Instruments, etc.

 

The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the Collateral Documents to which it is a party and the Notes will not (i) contravene, result in any breach of, or constitute a default under, or, except for the Liens under the Collateral Documents, result in the creation of any Lien in respect of any property of the Company or any Subsidiary under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan, purchase or credit agreement, lease, corporate charter or by-laws, or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Subsidiary is bound or by which the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties may be bound, (ii) conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any order, judgment, decree, or ruling of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary or (iii) violate any provision of any statute or other rule or regulation of any Governmental Authority applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

The execution, delivery and performance by the Parent of this Agreement, the Collateral Documents to which it is a party and the Parent Guaranty will not (i) contravene, result in any breach of, or constitute a default under, or, except for the Liens under the Collateral Documents, result in the creation of any Lien in respect of any property of the Parent or any Subsidiary under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan, purchase or credit agreement, lease, corporate charter or by-laws, or any other agreement or instrument to which the Parent or any Subsidiary is bound or by which the Parent or any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties may be bound, (ii) conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any order, judgment, decree, or ruling of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority applicable to the Parent or any Subsidiary or (iii) violate any provision of any statute or other rule or regulation of any Governmental Authority applicable to the Parent or any Subsidiary.

 

The execution, delivery and performance by each Subsidiary Guarantor of the Subsidiary Guaranty and the Collateral Documents to which it is a party will not (i) contravene, result in any breach of, or constitute a default under, or, except as contemplated hereby, result in the creation of any Lien in respect of any property of such Subsidiary Guarantor under, any agreement, or corporate charter or by-laws, to which such Subsidiary Guarantor is bound or by which such Subsidiary Guarantor or any of its properties may be bound or affected, (ii) conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any order, judgment, decree, or ruling of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority applicable to such Subsidiary Guarantor or (iii) violate any provision of any statute or other rule or regulation of any Governmental Authority applicable to such Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

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5.7           Governmental Authorizations, etc.

 

No consent, approval or authorization of, or registration, filing or declaration with, any Governmental Authority is required in connection with: (i) the execution, delivery or performance by the Company of this Agreement, the Collateral Documents or the Notes, (ii) the execution, delivery or performance by the Parent of this Agreement, the Parent Guaranty or the Collateral Documents to which it is a party, or (iii) the execution, delivery or performance by each Subsidiary Guarantor of the Subsidiary Guaranty or the Collateral Documents to which it is a party, except for the filing of a Form 8-K with the SEC, any state blue sky laws, and, in the case of secured Notes, any filings required in connection with the perfection of security interests.

 

5.8           Litigation; Observance of Statutes and Orders.

 

(a)            Except as disclosed in Schedule 5.8, there are no actions, suits, investigations or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Parent threatened against or affecting the Parent or any Subsidiary or any property of the Parent or any Subsidiary in any court or before any arbitrator of any kind or before or by any Governmental Authority that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)            Neither the Parent nor any Subsidiary is in default under any term of any agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound, or any order, judgment, decree or ruling of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority or is in violation of any applicable law, ordinance, rule or regulation (including Environmental Laws and the USA Patriot Act) of any Governmental Authority, which default or violation, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.9           Taxes.

 

The Parent and its Subsidiaries have filed all Federal and other Material tax returns that are required to have been filed in any jurisdiction, and have paid all taxes shown to be due and payable on such returns and all other taxes and assessments levied upon them or their properties, assets, income or franchises, to the extent such taxes and assessments have become due and payable and before they have become delinquent, except for any taxes and assessments (i) the amount of which is not, individually or in the aggregate, Material or (ii) the amount, applicability or validity of which is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which the Company or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, has established adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP. Neither the Parent nor the Company know of any basis for any other tax or assessment that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Parent and its Subsidiaries in respect of Federal, state or other taxes for all fiscal periods are adequate and determined in accordance with GAAP. The Parent and its Subsidiaries changed the method of computing tax reserves and adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes , on January 1, 2007. The Federal income tax liabilities of the Parent and its Subsidiaries have been finally determined (whether by reason of completed audits

 

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or the statute of limitations having run) for all Fiscal Years up to and including the Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2003.

 

5.10         Title to Property; Leases.

 

The Parent and its Subsidiaries have good and sufficient title to their respective properties that individually or in the aggregate are Material, including all such properties reflected in the most recent audited balance sheet referred to in Section 5.5 or purported to have been acquired by the Parent or any Subsidiary after said date (except as sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business and except for minor defects in title that do not interfere with their ability to conduct their business as currently conducted), in each case free and clear of Liens prohibited by this Agreement. All leases that individually or in the aggregate are Material are valid and subsisting and are in full force and effect in all material respects.

 

5.11         Licenses, Permits, etc.

 

(a)            The Parent and its Subsidiaries own or possess all licenses, permits, franchises, authorizations, patents, copyrights, service marks, trademarks and trade names, or rights thereto, that individually or in the aggregate are Material, without known conflict with the rights of others, except for those conflicts that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)            To the best knowledge of the Parent, no product of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries infringes in any material respect any license, permit, franchise, authorization, patent, copyright, service mark, trademark, trade name or other right owned by any other Person.

 

(c)            To the best knowledge of the Parent, there is no Material violation by any Person of any right of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to any patent, copyright, service mark, trademark, trade name or other right owned or used by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

5.12         Compliance with ERISA.

 

(a)            The Parent and each ERISA Affiliate have operated and administered each Plan in compliance with all applicable laws except for such instances of noncompliance as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA (other than premiums due and not delinquent under section 4007 of ERISA) or the penalty or excise tax provisions of the Code relating to employee benefit plans (as defined in section 3 of ERISA), and no event, transaction or condition has occurred or exists that would reasonably be expected to result in the incurrence of any such liability by the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate, or in the imposition of any Lien on any of the rights, properties or assets of the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate, in either case pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or to such penalty or excise tax provisions or to section 401(a)(29) or 412 of the Code or section 4068 of ERISA, other than, in each case such liabilities or Liens as would not be individually or in the aggregate Material.

 

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(b)            The present value of the aggregate benefit liabilities under each of the Plans (other than Multiemployer Plans), determined as of the end of such Plan’s most recently ended plan year on the basis of the actuarial assumptions specified for funding purposes in such Plan’s most recent actuarial valuation report, did not exceed the aggregate current value of the assets of such Plan allocable to such benefit liabilities by an amount that, individually, or in the aggregate for all Plans, is Material. The term “benefit liabilities” has the meaning specified in section 4001 of ERISA and the terms “current value” and “present value” have the meaning specified in section 3 of ERISA.

 

(c)            The Parent and its ERISA Affiliates have not incurred withdrawal liabilities (and are not subject to contingent withdrawal liabilities) under section 4201 or 4204 of ERISA in respect of Multiemployer Plans that individually or in the aggregate are Material.

 

(d)            The accumulated postretirement benefit obligation (determined as of the last day of the Parent’s most recently ended fiscal year in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 106, without regard to liabilities attributable to continuation coverage mandated by section 4980B of the Code) of the Parent and its Subsidiaries has been disclosed in the most recent audited consolidated financial statements of the Parent and its Subsidiaries.

 

(e)            The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Notes hereunder will not involve any transaction that is subject to the prohibitions of section 406 of ERISA or in connection with which a tax could be imposed pursuant to section 4975(c)(1)(A)-(D) of the Code. The representation by the Parent and the Company in the first sentence of this Section 5.12(e) is made in reliance upon and subject to the accuracy of your representation in Section 6.2 as to the sources of the funds used to pay the purchase price of the Notes to be purchased by you.

 

5.13         Private Offering by the Company.

 

None of the Parent, the Company or anyone acting on their behalf has offered the Notes, the Parent Guaranty, the Subsidiary Guaranty or any similar securities for sale to, or solicited any offer to buy any of the same from, or otherwise approached or negotiated in respect thereof with, any person other than you, the Other Purchasers and not more than 31 other Institutional Investors as defined in clause (c) of the definition of such term, each of which has been offered the Notes, the Parent Guaranty and the Subsidiary Guaranty at a private sale for investment. None of the Parent, the Company or anyone acting on their behalf has taken, or will take, any action that would subject the issuance or sale of the Notes, the Parent Guaranty or the Subsidiary Guaranty to the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act or to the registration requirements of any securities or blue sky laws of any applicable jurisdiction.

 

5.14         Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations.

 

Net proceeds from the sale of the Notes will be used to refinance existing Indebtedness as set forth in Schedule 5.14, and for general corporate purposes. No part of the proceeds from the sale of the Notes will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of buying

 

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or carrying any margin stock within the meaning of Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (12 CFR 221), or for the purpose of buying or carrying or trading in any securities under such circumstances as to involve the Company or the Parent in a violation of Regulation X of said Board (12 CFR 224) or to involve any broker or dealer in a violation of Regulation T of said Board (12 CFR 220). Margin stock does not constitute more than 10% of the value of the consolidated assets of the Parent and its Subsidiaries and the Parent does not have any present intention that margin stock will constitute more than 10% of the value of such assets. As used in this Section, the terms “margin stock” and “purpose of buying or carrying” shall have the meanings assigned to them in said Regulation U.

 

5.15         Existing Indebtedness; Future Liens.

 

(a)            Except as described therein, Schedule 5.15 sets forth a complete and correct list of all outstanding Indebtedness of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as of August 31, 2007, since which date there has been no Material change in the amounts, interest rates, sinking funds, installment payments or maturities of the Indebtedness of the Parent or its Subsidiaries. Neither the Parent nor any Subsidiary is in default and no waiver of default is currently in effect, in the payment of any principal or interest on any Material Indebtedness of the Parent or any Subsidiary and no event or condition exists with respect to any Material Indebtedness of the Parent or any Subsidiary that would permit (or that with notice or the lapse of time, or both, would permit) one or more Persons to cause such Material Indebtedness to become due and payable before its stated maturity or before its regularly scheduled dates of payment.

 

(b)            Except as disclosed in Schedule 5.15, neither the Parent nor any Subsidiary has agreed or consented to cause or permit in the future (upon the happening of a contingency or otherwise) any of its property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, to be subject to a Lien not permitted by Section 10.4.

 

5.16         Foreign Assets Control Regulations, etc.

 

(a)            Neither the sale of the Notes by the Company hereunder nor its use of the proceeds thereof will violate the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto.

 

(b)            Neither the Parent nor any Subsidiary (i) is a Person described or designated in the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List of the Office of Foreign Assets Control or in Section 1 of the Anti-Terrorism Order or (ii) to the Parent’s knowledge, engages in any dealings or transactions with any such Person. The Parent and its Subsidiaries are in compliance, in all material respects, with the USA Patriot Act.

 

(c)            No part of the proceeds from the sale of the Notes hereunder will be used, directly or indirectly, in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, assuming in all cases that such Act applies to the Parent.

 

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5.17         Status under Certain Statutes.

 

Neither the Parent nor any Subsidiary is subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the ICC Termination Act, as amended, or the Federal Power Act, as amended.

 

5.18         Environmental Matters.

 

(a)            Neither the Parent nor any Subsidiary has knowledge of any claim or has received any notice of any claim, and no proceeding has been instituted raising any claim against the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective real properties now owned, leased or operated by any of them or, to Parent’s knowledge, against any real properties formerly owned, leased or operated by any of them, or other assets, alleging any damage to the environment or violation of any Environmental Laws, except, in each case, such as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)            Neither the Parent nor any Subsidiary has knowledge of any facts that would give rise to any claim, public or private, of violation of Environmental Laws or damage to the environment emanating from, occurring on or in any way related to real properties now or formerly owned, leased or operated by any of them or to other assets or their use, except, in each case, such as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)            Neither the Parent nor any Subsidiary has stored any Hazardous Materials on real properties now or formerly owned, leased or operated by any of them and has not disposed of any Hazardous Materials in a manner contrary to any Environmental Laws in each case in any manner that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(d)            All buildings on all real properties now owned, leased or operated by the Parent or any Subsidiary are in compliance with applicable Environmental Laws, except where failure to comply would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.              REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PURCHASERS.

 

6.1           Purchase for Investment.

 

You represent that you are purchasing the Notes for your own account or for one or more separate accounts maintained by you or for the account of one or more pension or trust funds and not with a view to the distribution thereof, provided that the disposition of your or their property shall at all times be within your or their control. You understand that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and may be resold or otherwise transferred only if registered pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Act or if an exemption from registration is available, except under circumstances where neither such registration nor such an exemption is required by law, and that the Company is not required to register the Notes. You represent that you are an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of

 

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Regulation D under the Securities Act acting for your own account (and not for the account of others) or as a fiduciary or agent for others (which others are also “accredited investors”).

 

6.2           Source of Funds.

 

You represent that at least one of the following statements is an accurate representation as to each source of funds (a “Source”) to be used by you to pay the purchase price of the Notes to be purchased by you hereunder:

 

(a)            the Source is an “insurance company general account” (as the term is defined in the United States Department of Labor’s Prohibited Transaction Exemption (“PTE”) 95-60) in respect of which the reserves and liabilities (as defined by the annual statement for life insurance companies approved by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (the “NAIC Annual Statement”)) for the general account contract(s) held by or on behalf of any employee benefit plan together with the amount of the reserves and liabilities for the general account contract(s) held by or on behalf of any other employee benefit plans maintained by the same employer (or affiliate thereof as defined in PTE 95-60) or by the same employee organization in the general account do not exceed 10% of the total reserves and liabilities of the general account (exclusive of separate account liabilities) plus surplus as set forth in the NAIC Annual Statement filed with your state of domicile; or

 

(b)            the Source is a separate account that is maintained solely in connection with your fixed contractual obligations under which the amounts payable, or credited, to any employee benefit plan (or its related trust) that has any interest in such separate account (or to any participant or beneficiary of such plan (including any annuitant)) are not affected in any manner by the investment performance of the separate account; or

 

(c)            the Source is either (i) an insurance company pooled separate account, within the meaning of PTE 90-1 (issued January 29, 1990), or (ii) a bank collective investment fund, within the meaning of PTE 91-38 (issued July 12, 1991) and no employee benefit plan or group of plans maintained by the same employer or employee organization will, throughout your holding of the Notes, beneficially owns more than 10% of all assets allocated to such pooled separate account or collective investment fund; or

 

(d)            the Source constitutes assets of an “investment fund” (within the meaning of Part V of PTE 84-14 (the “QPAM Exemption”)) managed by a “qualified professional asset manager” or “QPAM” (within the meaning of Part V of the QPAM Exemption), no employee benefit plan’s assets that are included in such investment fund, when combined with the assets of all other employee benefit plans established or maintained by the same employer or by an affiliate (within the meaning of Section V(c)(1) of the QPAM Exemption) of such employer or by the same employee organization and managed by such QPAM, will, throughout your holding of the Notes, exceed 20% of the total client assets managed by such QPAM, the conditions of Part I(a), (c) and (g) of the QPAM Exemption are satisfied, the QPAM does not own a 10% or more interest in the Company and any person controlling or controlled by the QPAM (applying the definition of

 

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“control” in Section V(e) of the QPAM Exemption) does not own a 20% or more interest in the Company; or

 

(e)            the Source constitutes assets of a “plan(s)” (within the meaning of Section IV of PTE 96-23 (the “INHAM Exemption”)) managed, throughout your holding of the Notes, by an “in-house asset manager” or “INHAM” (within the meaning of Part IV of the INHAM exemption), the conditions of Part I(a), (g) and (h) of the INHAM Exemption are satisfied, and neither the INHAM nor a person controlling or controlled by the INHAM (applying the definition of “control” in Section IV(h) of the INHAM Exemption) owns, throughout your holding of the Notes, a 5% or more interest in the Company; or

 

(f)             the Source is a governmental plan; or

 

(g)            the Source does not include assets of any employee benefit plan, other than a plan exempt from the coverage of ERISA.

 

As used in this Section 6.2, the terms “employee benefit plan”, “governmental plan” and “separate account” shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in Section 3 of ERISA.

 

7.              INFORMATION AS TO PARENT.

 

7.1           Financial and Business Information.

 

The Parent will deliver to each holder of Notes that is an Institutional Investor:

 

(a)            Quarterly Statements — within 60 days (or such shorter period as is 15 days greater than the period applicable to the filing of the Parent’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (“Form 10-Q”) with the SEC regardless of whether the Parent is subject to the filing requirements thereof) after the end of each quarterly fiscal period in each fiscal year of the Parent (other than the last quarterly fiscal period of each such fiscal year), duplicate copies of,

 

(i)             a consolidated balance sheet, to include the Parent and its Subsidiaries, as at the end of such quarter,

 

(ii)            consolidated statements of income, to include the Parent and its Subsidiaries, for such quarter and (in the case of the second and third quarters) for the portion of the fiscal year ending with such quarter, and

 

(iii)           consolidated statements of cash flows, to include the Parent and its Subsidiaries, for such quarter or (in the case of the second and third quarters) for the portion of the fiscal year ending with such quarter,

 

setting forth, in case of clauses (ii) and (iii), in comparative form the figures for the corresponding periods in the previous fiscal year, and in each case in reasonable detail, prepared in accordance with GAAP applicable to quarterly financial statements generally,

 

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and certified by a Senior Financial Officer as fairly presenting, in all material respects, the financial position of the companies being reported on and their results of operations and cash flows, subject to changes resulting from year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes, provided that delivery within the time period specified above of copies of the Parent’s Form 10-Q prepared in compliance with the requirements therefor and filed with the SEC shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this Section 7.1(a);

 

(b)            Annual Statements — within 120 days (or such shorter period as is 15 days greater than the period applicable to the filing of the Parent’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Form 10-K”) with the SEC regardless of whether the Parent is subject to the filing requirements thereof) after the end of each fiscal year of the Parent, duplicate copies of

 

(i)             a consolidated balance sheet, to include the Parent and its Subsidiaries, as at the end of such year, and

 

(ii)            consolidated statements of income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows, to include the Parent and its Subsidiaries, for such year,

 

setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, prepared in accordance with GAAP, and accompanied by an opinion thereon of independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing, which opinion shall be to the effect that such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the companies being reported upon and their results of operations and cash flows and have been prepared in conformity with GAAP, and that the audit has been conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, and that such audit provides a reasonable basis for such opinion in the circumstances, provided that the delivery within the time period specified above of the Form 10-K for such fiscal year prepared in accordance with the requirements therefor and filed with the SEC shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this Section 7.1(b);

 

(c)            SEC and Other Reports — promptly upon their becoming available, one copy of (i) each financial statement, report, notice or proxy statement sent by the Parent or any Subsidiary to its public securities holders generally and (ii) each regular or periodic report, each registration statement (without exhibits except as expressly requested by such holder), and each prospectus and all amendments thereto filed by the Parent or any Subsidiary with the SEC;

 

(d)            Notice of Default or Event of Default — promptly, and in any event within five Business Days after a Responsible Officer obtains actual knowledge of the existence of any Default or Event of Default or that any Person has given any notice or taken any action with respect to a claimed default hereunder or that any Person has given any notice or taken any action with respect to a claimed default of the type referred to in Section 11(f), a written notice specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and what action the Parent is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto;

 

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(e)            ERISA Matters — promptly, and in any event within five Business Days after a Responsible Officer obtains actual knowledge of any of the following, a written notice setting forth the nature thereof and the action, if any, that the Parent or an ERISA Affiliate proposes to take with respect thereto:

 

(i)             with respect to any Plan, any reportable event, as defined in section 4043(c) of ERISA and the regulations thereunder, for which notice thereof has not been waived pursuant to such regulations as in effect on the date hereof; or

 

(ii)            the taking by the PBGC of steps to institute, or the threatening by the PBGC of the institution of, proceedings under section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan, or the receipt by the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate of a notice from a Multiemployer Plan to which the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate has a contribution obligation that such action has been taken by the PBGC with respect to such Multiemployer Plan; or

 

(iii)           any event, transaction or condition that would result in the incurrence of any liability by the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or the penalty or excise tax provisions of the Code relating to employee benefit plans, or in the imposition of any Lien on any of the rights, properties or assets of the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or such penalty or excise tax provisions, if such liability or Lien, taken together with any other such liabilities or Liens then existing, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(f)             Notices from Governmental Authority — promptly, and in any event within 30 days of receipt thereof, copies of any notice to the Parent or any Subsidiary from any Federal or state Governmental Authority relating to any order, ruling, statute or other law or regulation that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(g)            Supplements — promptly and in any event within 10 Business Days after the execution and delivery of any Supplement, a copy thereof;

 

(h)            Amendments of Credit Agreement — promptly and in any event within 10 Business Days after the execution and delivery of any amendment or other modification of the Credit Agreement (including termination thereof) that affects Section 10.1, 10.2 or 10.8, including any defined term used therein, a copy thereof; and

 

(i)             Requested Information — with reasonable promptness, such other data and information relating to the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets or properties of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (including actual copies of the Parent’s Forms 10-Q and Forms 10-K) or relating to the ability of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder and under the Notes as from time to time may be reasonably requested by any such holder of Notes.

 

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7.2           Officer’s Certificate.

 

Each set of financial statements delivered to a holder of Notes pursuant to Section 7.1(a) or Section 7.1(b) will be accompanied by a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer setting forth:

 

(a)            Covenant Compliance — the information (including supporting calculations) required in order to establish whether the Parent was in compliance with the requirements of Section 10.1 through Section 10.8, inclusive, during the quarterly or annual period covered by the statements then being furnished (including with respect to each such Section, where applicable, the calculations of the maximum or minimum amount, ratio or percentage, as the case may be, permissible under the terms of such Sections, and the calculation of the amount, ratio or percentage then in existence); and

 

(b)            Event of Default — a statement that such Senior Financial Officer has reviewed the relevant terms hereof and has made, or caused to be made, under his or her supervision, a review of the transactions and conditions of the Parent and its Subsidiaries from the beginning of the quarterly or annual period covered by the statements then being furnished to the date of the certificate and that such review shall not have disclosed the existence during such period of any condition or event that constitutes a Default or an Event of Default or, if any such condition or event existed or exists (including any such event or condition resulting from the failure of the Parent or any Subsidiary to comply with any Environmental Law), specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and what action the Parent shall have taken or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

7.3           Electronic Delivery.

 

Financial statements, opinions of independent certified public accountants, other information and officers’ certificates required to be delivered by the Parent pursuant to Sections 7.1(a), (b) or (c) and Section 7.2 shall be deemed to have been delivered if (i) such financial statements satisfying the requirements of Section 7.1(a) or (b) and related certificate satisfying the requirements of Section 7.2 are delivered to you and each other holder of Notes by e-mail, (ii) the Parent shall have timely filed such Form 10-Q or Form 10-K, satisfying the requirements of Section 7.1(a) or (b) as the case may be, with the SEC on “EDGAR” and shall have made such Form and the related certificate satisfying the requirements of Section 7.2 available on its home page on the worldwide web (at the date of this Agreement located at http://www.unitedstationers.com), (iii) such financial statements satisfying the requirements of Section 7.1(a) or (b) and related certificate satisfying the requirements of Section 7.2 are timely posted by or on behalf of the Parent on IntraLinks or on any other similar website to which each holder of Notes has free access or (iv) the Parent shall have filed any of the items referred to in Section 7.1(c) with the SEC on “EDGAR” and shall have made such items available on its home page on the worldwide web or if any of such items are timely posted by or on behalf of the Parent on IntraLinks or on any other similar website to which each holder of Notes has free access; provided however, that in the case of any of clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv), upon request of any holder, the Parent will thereafter deliver written copies of such forms, financial statements and certificates to such holder.

 

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7.4           Visitation.

 

The Parent shall permit the representatives of each holder of Notes that is an Institutional Investor:

 

(a)            No Default — if no Default or Event of Default then exists, at the expense of such holder and upon reasonable prior notice to the Parent, to visit the principal executive office of the Parent and the Company during normal business hours not more than one time per calendar year, to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Parent and its Subsidiaries with the Parent’s officers, and (with the consent of the Parent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld) to visit the other offices and properties of the Parent and each Subsidiary; and

 

(b)            Default — if a Default or Event of Default then exists, at the expense of the Parent or the Company, to visit and inspect any of the offices or properties of the Parent or any Subsidiary during normal business hours, to examine all their respective books of account, records, reports and other papers, to make copies and extracts therefrom, and to discuss their respective affairs, finances and accounts with their respective officers and independent public accountants (and by this provision the Parent authorizes said accountants to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Parent and its Subsidiaries), all at such times and as often as may be requested.

 

8.              PREPAYMENT OF THE NOTES.

 

8.1           Required Prepayments.

 

No regularly scheduled prepayments are due on the Series 2007-A Notes prior to their stated maturity.

 

8.2           Optional Prepayments.

 

(a)            Floating Rate Notes . The Series 2007-A Notes are not subject to prepayment prior to October 15, 2009. On or after October 15, 2009, the Company may, at its option, upon notice as provided below, prepay at any time all, or from time to time any part of, one or more series or tranches of floating rate Notes, including the Series 2007-A Notes, in an amount not less than $2,000,000 in the aggregate in the case of a partial prepayment, at 100% of the principal amount so prepaid, plus, if such prepayment is to occur on any date other than an interest payment date, the LIBOR Breakage Amount determined for the prepayment date with respect to such principal amount. The terms on which floating rate Notes of any other series or tranche may be prepaid at the option of the Company will be set forth in the Supplement pursuant to which such Notes are issued. The Company will give each holder of each series or tranche of fixed rate Notes to be prepaid written notice of each optional prepayment under this Section 8.2(a) not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for such prepayment. Each such notice shall specify such date (which shall be a Business Day), the aggregate principal amount of each series or tranche of floating rate Notes to be prepaid on such date, the principal amount of each floating rate Note held by such holder to be prepaid

 

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(determined in accordance with Section 8.4), the interest to be paid on the prepayment date with respect to such principal amount being prepaid and the amount of any prepayment premium.

 

(b)            Fixed Rate Notes . The Company may, at its option, upon notice as provided below, prepay at any time all, or from time to time any part of, one or more series or tranches of fixed rate Notes in an amount not less than $2,000,000 in the aggregate in the case of a partial prepayment, at 100% of the principal amount so prepaid, plus the Make-Whole Amount determined for the prepayment date with respect to such principal amount. The Company will give each holder of each series or tranche of fixed rate Notes to be prepaid written notice of each optional prepayment under this Section 8.2(b) not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for such prepayment. Each such notice shall specify such date (which shall be a Business Day), the aggregate principal amount of each series or tranche of fixed rate Notes to be prepaid on such date, the principal amount of each Note held by such holder to be prepaid (determined in accordance with Section 8.4), and the interest to be paid on the prepayment date with respect to such principal amount being prepaid, and shall be accompanied by a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer as to the estimated Make-Whole Amount due in connection with such prepayment (calculated as if the date of such notice were the date of the prepayment), setting forth the details of such computation. Two Business Days prior to such prepayment, the Company shall deliver to each holder of the series or tranche of fixed rate Notes being prepaid a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer specifying the calculation of such Make-Whole Amount as of the specified prepayment date.

 

(c)            Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 8.2 or any provision of any Supplement, the Company shall not give notice of optional prepayment at any time a Default has occurred and is continuing unless the principal amount of the Notes to be prepaid shall be allocated among all of the Notes of all series and tranches at the time outstanding in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the respective unpaid principal amounts thereof not theretofore called for prepayment.

 

8.3           Mandatory Offer to Prepay Upon Change of Control.

 

(a)            Notice of Change of Control or Control Event — The Company will, within five Business Days after any Responsible Officer obtains actual knowledge of the occurrence of any Change of Control or Control Event, give notice of such Change of Control or Control Event to each holder of Notes unless notice in respect of such Change of Control (or the Change of Control contemplated by such Control Event) shall have been given pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 8.3. If a Change of Control has occurred, such notice shall contain and constitute an offer to prepay Notes as described in paragraph (c) of this Section 8.3 and shall be accompanied by the certificate described in paragraph (g) of this Section 8.3.

 

(b)            Condition to Company Action — The Company will not take any action that consummates or finalizes a Change of Control unless (i) at least 15 Business Days prior to such action it shall have given to each holder of Notes written notice containing

 

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and constituting an offer to prepay Notes accompanied by the certificate described in paragraph (g) of this Section 8.3, and (ii) subject to the provisions of paragraph (d) below, contemporaneously with such action, it prepays all Notes required to be prepaid in accordance with this Section 8.3.

 

(c)            Offer to Prepay Notes — The offer to prepay Notes contemplated by paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 8.3 shall be an offer to prepay, in accordance with and subject to this Section 8.3, all, but not less than all, of the Notes held by each holder (in this case only, “holder” in respect of any Note registered in the name of a nominee for a disclosed beneficial owner shall mean such beneficial owner) on a date specified in such offer (the “Proposed Prepayment Date”). If such Proposed Prepayment Date is in connection with an offer contemplated by paragraph (a) of this Section 8.3, such date shall be not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days after the date of such offer.

 

(d)            Acceptance; Rejection — A holder of Notes may accept the offer to prepay made pursuant to this Section 8.3 by causing a notice of such acceptance to be delivered to the Company on or before the date specified in the certificate described in paragraph (g) of this Section 8.3. A failure by a holder of Notes to respond to an offer to prepay made pursuant to this Section 8.3, or to accept an offer as to all of the Notes held by the holder, within such time period shall be deemed to constitute rejection of such offer by such holder.

 

(e)            Prepayment — Prepayment of the Notes to be prepaid pursuant to this Section 8.3 shall be at 100% of the principal amount of such Notes, together with interest on such Notes accrued to but excluding the date of prepayment and shall not require the payment of any Make-Whole Amount, prepayment premium or LIBOR Breakage Amount. The prepayment shall be made on the Proposed Prepayment Date except as provided in paragraph (f) of this Section 8.3.

 

(f)             Deferral Pending Change of Control — The obligation of the Company to prepay Notes pursuant to the offers required by paragraphs (a) and (b) and accepted in accordance with paragraph (d) of this Section 8.3 is subject to the occurrence of the Change of Control in respect of which such offers and acceptances shall have been made. In the event that such Change of Control does not occur on or prior to the Proposed Prepayment Date in respect thereof, the prepayment shall be deferred until and shall be made on the date on which such Change of Control occurs. The Company shall keep each holder of Notes reasonably and timely informed of (i) any such deferral of the date of prepayment, (ii) the date on which such Change of Control and the prepayment are expected to occur, and (iii) any determination by the Company that efforts to effect such Change of Control have ceased or been abandoned (in which case the offers and acceptances made pursuant to this Section 8.3 in respect of such Change of Control shall be deemed rescinded). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the prepayment has not been made within 90 days after such Proposed Prepayment Date by virtue of the deferral provided for in this Section 8.3(f), the Company shall make a new offer to prepay in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section 8.3.

 

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(g)            Officer’s Certificate — Each offer to prepay the Notes pursuant to this Section 8.3 shall be accompanied by a certificate, executed by a Senior Financial Officer of the Company and dated the date of such offer, specifying: (i) the Proposed Prepayment Date, (ii) that such offer is made pursuant to this Section 8.3, (iii) the principal amount of each Note offered to be prepaid, (iv) the interest that would be due on each Note offered to be prepaid, accrued to but excluding the Proposed Prepayment Date, (v) that the conditions of this Section 8.3 have been fulfilled, (vi) in reasonable detail, the nature and date or proposed date of the Change of Control and (vii) the date by which any holder of a Note that wishes to accept such offer must deliver notice thereof to the Company, which date shall not be earlier than three Business Days prior to the Proposed Prepayment Date or, in the case of a prepayment pursuant to Section 8.3(b), the date of the action referred to in Section 8.3(b)(i).

 

8.4           Allocation of Partial Prepayments.

 

In the case of each partial prepayment of Notes of a series or tranche pursuant to Section 8.2(a) or (b), the principal amount of the Notes of the series or tranche to be prepaid shall be allocated among all of the Notes of such series or tranche at the time outstanding in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the respective unpaid principal amounts thereof not theretofore called for prepayment.

 

8.5           Maturity; Surrender, etc.

 

In the case of each prepayment of Notes pursuant to this Section 8, the principal amount of each Note to be prepaid shall mature and become due and payable on the date fixed for such prepayment (subject to Section 8.3(f)), together with interest on such principal amount accrued to but excluding such date and, in the case of prepayment pursuant to Section 8.2, the applicable Make-Whole Amount, if any, prepayment premium, if any, and, if the Notes are to be prepaid other than on an interest payment date, LIBOR Breakage Amount, if any. From and after such date, unless the Company shall fail to pay such principal amount when so due and payable, together with the interest and Make-Whole Amount, if any, prepayment premium, if any, or LIBOR Breakage Amount, if any, as aforesaid, interest on such principal amount shall cease to accrue. Any Note paid or prepaid in full, after such payment, shall be surrendered to the Company and canceled and shall not be reissued, and no Note shall be issued in lieu of any prepaid principal amount of any Note.

 

8.6           Purchase of Notes.

 

The Company will not and will not permit any Affiliate to purchase, redeem, prepay or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any of the outstanding Notes except upon the payment or prepayment of the Notes in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Notes. The Company will promptly cancel all Notes acquired by it or any Affiliate pursuant to any payment or prepayment of Notes pursuant to any provision of this Agreement and no Notes may be issued in substitution or exchange for any such Notes.

 

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8.7           Make-Whole Amount.

 

“Make-Whole Amount” means, with respect to any fixed rate Note, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Discounted Value of the Remaining Scheduled Payments with respect to the Called Principal of such Note over the amount of such Called Principal, provided that the Make-Whole Amount may in no event be less than zero. For the purposes of determining the Make-Whole Amount, the following terms have the following meanings:

 

“Called Principal” means, with respect to any fixed rate Note, the principal of such Note that is to be prepaid pursuant to Section 8.2 or has become or is declared to be immediately due and payable pursuant to Section 12.1, as the context requires.

 

“Discounted Value” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any fixed rate Note, the amount obtained by discounting all Remaining Scheduled Payments with respect to such Called Principal from their respective scheduled due dates to the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, in accordance with accepted financial practice and at a discount factor (applied on the same periodic basis as that on which interest on the Notes is payable) equal to the Reinvestment Yield with respect to such Called Principal.

 

“Reinvestment Yield” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any fixed rate Note, .50% (or such other percentage as may be specified in the applicable Supplement) over the yield to maturity implied by (i) the yields reported as of 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the second Business Day preceding the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, on the display designated as “Page PX1”  (or such other display as may replace Page PX1 on Bloomberg Financial Markets (“Bloomberg”) or, if Page PX1 (or its successor screen on Bloomberg) is unavailable, the Telerate Access Service screen which corresponds most closely to Page PX1 for the most recently issued actively traded on-the-run U.S. Treasury securities having a maturity equal to the Remaining Average Life of such Called Principal as of such Settlement Date, or (ii) if such yields are not reported as of such time or the yields reported as of such time are not ascertainable (including by way of interpolation), the Treasury Constant Maturity Series Yields reported, for the latest day for which such yields have been so reported as of the second Business Day preceding the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (or any comparable successor publication) for actively traded U.S. Treasury securities having a constant maturity equal to the Remaining Average Life of such Called Principal as of such Settlement Date. Such implied yield will be determined, if necessary, by (a) converting U.S. Treasury bill quotations to bond equivalent yields in accordance with accepted financial practice and (b) interpolating linearly between (1) the actively traded U.S. Treasury security with the maturity closest to and greater than such Remaining Average Life and (2) the actively traded U.S. Treasury security with the maturity closest to and less than such Remaining Average Life. The Reinvestment Yield shall be rounded to the number of decimal places as appears in the interest rate of the applicable Note.

 

“Remaining Average Life” means, with respect to any Called Principal, the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year) obtained by dividing (i) such Called Principal into (ii) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the principal component of each Remaining Scheduled Payment with respect to such Called Principal by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year) that will elapse between the Settlement Date

 

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with respect to such Called Principal and the scheduled due date of such Remaining Scheduled Payment.

 

“Remaining Scheduled Payments” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any fixed rate Note, all payments of such Called Principal and interest thereon that would be due after the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal if no payment of such Called Principal were made prior to its scheduled due date, provided that if such Settlement Date is not a date on which interest payments are due to be made under the terms of the Notes, then the amount of the next succeeding scheduled interest payment will be reduced by the amount of interest accrued to such Settlement Date and required to be paid on such Settlement Date pursuant to Section 8.2 or 12.1.

 

“Settlement Date” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any fixed rate Note, the date on which such Called Principal is to be prepaid pursuant to Section 8.2 or has become or is declared to be immediately due and payable pursuant to Section 12.1, as the context requires.

 

8.8           LIBOR Breakage Amount.

 

The term “LIBOR Breakage Amount” means any loss, cost or expense (other than lost profits and taxes) reasonably and actually incurred by any holder of a floating rate Note as a result of any payment or prepayment of such Note (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration or otherwise, but excluding mandatory prepayments pursuant to Section 8.3) on a day other than an interest payment date or at scheduled maturity thereof, arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by such holder or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained. Any such loss, cost or expense shall be limited to the time period from the date of such prepayment through the earlier of the next interest payment date or the maturity of such floating rate Note. Each holder of a floating rate Note shall determine the LIBOR Breakage Amount with respect to the principal amount of its floating rate Notes then being paid or prepaid (or required to be paid or prepaid) by written notice to the Company setting forth such determination in reasonable detail not less than two Business Days prior to the date of prepayment. Each such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

9.              AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.

 

The Parent and the Company, jointly and severally, covenant that so long as any of the Notes are outstanding:

 

9.1           Compliance with Law.

 

Without limiting Section 10.11, the Parent and the Company will, and the Parent will cause each Subsidiary to, comply with all laws, ordinances or governmental rules or regulations to which each of them is subject, including ERISA, the USA Patriot Act and Environmental Laws, and will obtain and maintain in effect all licenses, certificates, permits, franchises and other governmental authorizations necessary to the ownership of their respective properties or to the conduct of their respective businesses, in each case to the extent necessary to

 

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ensure that non-compliance with such laws, ordinances or governmental rules or regulations or failures to obtain or maintain in effect such licenses, certificates, permits, franchises and other governmental authorizations would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

9.2           Insurance.

 

The Parent and the Company will, and the Parent will cause each Subsidiary to, maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurers, insurance with respect to their respective properties and businesses against such casualties and contingencies, of such types, on such terms and in such amounts (including deductibles, co-insurance and self-insurance, if appropriate reserves are maintained with respect thereto) as is reasonably prudent in light of the businesses in which the Parent and the Subsidiaries are engaged.

 

9.3           Maintenance of Properties.

 

The Parent and the Company will, and the Parent will cause each Subsidiary to, maintain and keep, or cause to be maintained and kept, their respective properties in good repair, working order and condition (other than ordinary wear and tear), so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly conducted at all times, provided that this Section shall not prevent the Parent or any Subsidiary from discontinuing the operation and the maintenance of any of its properties if such discontinuance is desirable in the conduct of its business and the Parent has concluded that such discontinuance would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

9.4           Payment of Taxes and Claims.

 

The Parent and the Company will, and the Parent will cause each Subsidiary to, file all Federal and other Material tax returns required to be filed in any jurisdiction and to pay and discharge all taxes shown to be due and payable on such returns and all other taxes, assessments, governmental charges, or levies imposed on them or any of their properties, assets, income or franchises, to the extent such taxes and assessments have become due and payable and before they have become delinquent and all claims for which sums have become due and payable that have or might become a Lien on properties or assets of the Parent or any Subsidiary, provided that neither the Parent nor any Subsidiary need pay any such tax or assessment or claims if (i) the amount, applicability or validity thereof is contested by the Parent or such Subsidiary on a timely basis in good faith and in appropriate proceedings, and the Parent or such Subsidiary has established adequate reserves therefor in accordance with GAAP on the books of the Parent or such Subsidiary or (ii) the nonpayment of all such taxes, assessments and claims in the aggregate would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

9.5           Corporate Existence, etc.

 

Subject to Section 10.6, each of the Parent and the Company will at all times preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence. Subject, as to any Subsidiary other than the Company, to Sections 10.6 and 10.7, the Parent will at all times preserve and keep in full force and effect the corporate (or, as applicable, limited liability company) existence of

 

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each Subsidiary (unless merged into the Parent or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary) and all rights and franchises of the Parent and its Subsidiaries unless, in the good faith judgment of the Parent, the termination of or failure to preserve and keep in full force and effect such corporate existence, right or franchise would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

9.6           Books and Records.

 

The Parent and the Company will, and the Parent will cause each Subsidiary to, maintain proper books of record and account in conformity in all material respects with GAAP and all applicable requirements of any Governmental Authority having legal or regulatory jurisdiction over the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be.

 

9.7           Subsidiary Guaranty; Release of Subsidiary Guarantors; Release of Collateral.

 

(a)            Subsidiary Guarantors . The Parent will cause each Domestic Subsidiary other than the Company that, on or after the date of the Closing, is or becomes a borrower or guarantor of Indebtedness in respect of the Credit Agreement, on the date of the Closing or within 10 Business Days of its thereafter becoming a co-obligor, borrower or a guarantor of Indebtedness in respect of the Credit Agreement to execute and deliver or become a party to the Subsidiary Guaranty, and shall deliver to each holder of Notes:

 

(i)             an executed counterpart of the Subsidiary Guaranty, or, if the Subsidiary Guaranty has been previously executed and delivered, an executed counterpart of a Joinder thereto;

 

(ii)            copies of such directors’ or other authorizing resolutions, charter, bylaws and other constitutive documents of such Subsidiary as the Required Holders may reasonably request; and

 

(iii)           an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Required Holders covering the authorization, execution, delivery, compliance with law, no conflict with other documents, no consents and enforceability of the Subsidiary Guaranty against such Subsidiary in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Required Holders.

 

(b)            Release of Subsidiary Guarantor . Each holder of a Note fully releases and discharges from the Subsidiary Guaranty each Subsidiary Guarantor, immediately and without any further act, upon such Subsidiary Guarantor being released and discharged as a co-obligor, borrower or guarantor under and in respect of the Credit Agreement; provided that (i) no Default or Event of Default exists or will exist immediately following such release and discharge; and (ii) at the time of such release and discharge, the Company delivers to each holder of Notes a certificate of a Responsible Officer certifying (x) that such Subsidiary Guarantor has been or is being released and discharged as a co-obligor, borrower or guarantor under and in respect of the Credit Agreement and (y) as to the matters set forth in clause (i). Any outstanding Indebtedness of a Subsidiary

 

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Guarantor shall be deemed to have been incurred by such Subsidiary Guarantor as of the date it is released and discharged from the Subsidiary Guaranty.

 

(c)            Release of Collateral . Each holder of Notes fully releases the interest of the holders in any collateral under the Collateral Documents upon the release of such collateral by the holders of Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement and any other parties to the Intercreditor Agreement; provided that (i) no Default or Event of Default exists or will exist immediately following such release; (ii) if any fee or other consideration is paid or given to any holder of Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement as consideration for such release, other than the repayment of all or a portion of such Indebtedness under such Credit Agreement, together with accrued interest thereon and other amounts with respect to such Indebtedness, each holder of a Note receives equivalent consideration on a pro rata basis; and (iii) at the time of such release and discharge, the Company delivers to each holder of Notes a certificate of a Responsible Officer certifying (x) that such collateral has been or is being released by the holders of Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement and any other parties to the Intercreditor Agreement and (y) as to the matters set forth in clause (i).

 

9.8           Pari Passu Ranking.

 

The Indebtedness evidenced by the Notes will, upon issuance of the Notes, and will continue to, at all times until payment in full of the Notes, rank at least pari passu in right of payment, without preference or priority, with all of the Company’s other outstanding secured and unsubordinated obligations, except for those obligations that are mandatorily afforded priority by operation of law (and not by contract).

 

9.9           Mortgages.

 

The Parent and the Company will, and will cause each Subsidiary Guarantor to, execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent, not later than 30 days after the date of Closing, an amendment to, or a restatement and amendment of, each mortgage on real property constituting part of the Collateral to which it is a party and any ancillary or related documents that they have not provided at the Closing, including either a date down endorsement to each title insurance policy insuring such mortgage or a new title insurance policy insuring such mortgage and as soon as practicable thereafter will deliver a copy of each such executed amendment or amendment and restatement and each such endorsement or policy to each of you and your special counsel.

 

10.           NEGATIVE COVENANTS.

 

The Parent and the Company covenant that so long as any of the Notes are outstanding:

 

10.1         Leverage Ratio.

 

The Parent and the Company will not permit the ratio (the “Leverage Ratio”), determined as of the end of each of its Fiscal Quarters, of Consolidated Funded Indebtedness to Consolidated EBITDA for the then most recently completed four Fiscal Quarters to exceed 3.25

 

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to 1.00; provided, however, that (i) if at any time the maximum leverage ratio under the Credit Agreement is higher than 3.25 to 1.00, the Leverage Ratio under this Agreement shall be the same as the level under the Credit Agreement, up to a maximum of 3.50 to 1.00, and (ii) if the Credit Agreement is terminated, the Leverage Ratio under this Agreement shall be 3.50 to 1.00.

 

10.2         Minimum Consolidated Net Worth.

 

The Parent and the Company will not, at any time, permit Consolidated Net Worth to be less than (i) $550,000,000 (or (A) such lesser amount that is set forth in the corresponding provision of the Credit Agreement (but not less than $500,000,000), or (B) in the event the Credit Agreement is terminated and not replaced by a successor Credit Agreement, $500,000,000) minus (ii) amounts expended by the Parent on or after July 1, 2007 in connection with repurchases or redemptions of its capital stock plus (iii) 50% of Consolidated Net Income (if positive) earned in each Fiscal Quarter beginning with the Fiscal Quarter ended June 30, 2007, plus (iv) 50% of the net cash proceeds resulting from issuances of the Parent’s or any Subsidiary’s Capital Stock from and after the date of the Closing of the issuance of the Series 2007-A Notes.

 

10.3         Priority Debt.

 

The Parent will not at any time permit Priority Debt to exceed 10% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the end of the most recently completed Fiscal Quarter.

 

10.4         Liens.

 

The Parent and Company will not, and the Parent will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur or suffer to exist any Lien on its properties or assets, including capital stock, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except:

 

(a)            Liens under the Collateral Documents;

 

(b)            Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies not then due and delinquent or the nonpayment of which is permitted by Section 9.4;

 

(c)            Liens imposed by law, such as landlords’, wage earners’, carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ liens and other similar liens arising in the ordinary course of business which secure payment of obligations not more than 45 days past due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP shall have been set aside on its books;

 

(d)            Liens arising out of pledges or deposits under worker’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance, old age pensions, or other social security or retirement benefits, or similar legislation;

 

(e)            Liens existing as of the Closing of the sale of the Series 2007-A Notes;

 

(f)             Deposits securing liability to insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements;

 

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(g)            Deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(h)            Easements, reservations, rights-of-way, restrictions, survey exceptions and other similar encumbrances and minor title imperfections as to real property of the Parent, the Company and the Subsidiaries which, in the aggregate, are not Material in amount and that do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Parent, the Company or such Subsidiary conducted at the property subject thereto;

 

(i)             Liens arising by reason of any judgment, decree or order of any court or other governmental authority, but only to the extent and for an amount and for a period not resulting in an Event of Default under Section 11(i);

 

(j)             Liens arising in connection with a Receivables Purchase Facility;

 

(k)            Liens existing on any asset of any Subsidiary of the Company at the time such Subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such event;

 

(l)             Liens on any asset securing Indebtedness incurred or assumed for the purpose of financing or refinancing all or any part of the cost of acquiring or constructing such asset; provided that such Lien attaches to such asset concurrently with or within six (6) months after the acquisition or completion or construction thereof;

 

(m)           Liens existing on any asset of any Subsidiary of the Company at the time such Subsidiary is merged or consolidated with or into the Company or any other Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such event;

 

(n)            Liens existing on any specific fixed asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Company or any Subsidiary and not created in contemplation thereof; provided that such Liens do not encumber any other property or assets, other than improvements thereon and proceeds thereof;

 

(o)            Liens arising out of the refinancing, extension, renewal or refunding of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien permitted under paragraphs (e) and (k) through (n) of this Section 10.4; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is not secured by any additional assets, other than improvements thereon and proceeds thereof, and (ii) the amount of such Indebtedness secured by any such Lien is not increased;

 

(p)            Liens securing Permitted Purchase Money Indebtedness; provided that such Liens shall not apply to any property of the Parent, the Company or any Subsidiary other than that purchased with the proceeds of such Permitted Purchase Money Indebtedness other than improvements thereon and proceeds thereof;

 

(q)            Liens in respect of Capital Lease Obligations and Liens arising under any equipment, furniture or fixtures leases or property consignments to the Parent, the Company or any Subsidiary for which the filing of a precautionary financing statement is permitted under the Collateral Documents;

 

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(r)             Licenses, leases or subleases granted to others in the ordinary course of business that do not materially interfere with the conduct of the business of the Parent, the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

 

(s)            Statutory and contractual landlords’ Liens under leases to which the Parent, the Company or any Subsidiary is a party;

 

(t)             Liens in favor of a banking institution or securities intermediary arising as a matter of applicable law encumbering deposits (including the right of set-off) or financial assets held by such banking institutions or securities intermediaries incurred in the ordinary course of business and which are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry or securities industry;

 

(u)            Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of applicable law to secure the payment of customs’ duties in connection with the importation of goods;

 

(v)            Any interest or title of a lessor, sublessor, licensee or licensor under any lease or license agreement not prohibited by this Agreement;

 

(w)           Liens encumbering cash deposits in an amount not to exceed the greater of (i) $30,000,000 or (ii) 2% of Consolidated Total Assets to secure Permitted Customer Financing Guarantees;

 

(x)             Liens on shares of the Parent’s Capital Stock that have been repurchased by the Parent and held in treasury; and

 

(y)            Liens securing Indebtedness not otherwise permitted by paragraphs (a) through (x) of this Section 10.4, provided that Priority Debt does not when incurred exceed 10% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the end of the most recently completed Fiscal Quarter.

 

10.5         Subsidiary Indebtedness

 

The Parent will not at any time permit any Subsidiary, other than the Company or an SPV, to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume, guarantee, have outstanding, or otherwise become or remain directly or indirectly liable with respect to, any Indebtedness other than:

 

(a)            Indebtedness of a Subsidiary that is a Guarantor of the Notes under the Subsidiary Guaranty;

 

(b)            Indebtedness of a Subsidiary outstanding on the date of Closing that is listed and described in Schedule 10.5 and any extension, refinancing, renewal or refunding thereof; provided that there is no increase in the principal amount of such Indebtedness (plus accrued interest and any applicable premium and associated fees and expenses);

 

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(c)            Indebtedness of a Subsidiary owed to the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary;

 

(d)            Indebtedness of a Person outstanding at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary, provided that (i) such Indebtedness shall not have been incurred in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary and (ii) immediately after such Person becomes a Subsidiary, no Default of Event of Default shall exist, and any extension, refinancing, renewal or refunding thereof; provided that there is no increase in the principal amount of such Indebtedness (plus accrued interest and any applicable premium and associated fees and expenses);

 

(e)            Indebtedness arising under Rate Management Transactions;

 

(f)             Amounts owing under Receivables Purchase Facilities; and

 

(g)            Indebtedness of a Subsidiary not otherwise permitted by paragraphs (a) through (f) of this Section 10.5, provided that immediately before and after giving effect thereto and to the application of the proceeds thereof and the concurrent retirement of any other Indebtedness,

 

(i)             no Default or Event of Default exists, and

 

(ii)            Priority Debt does not exceed 10% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the end of the most recently completed Fiscal Quarter.

 

10.6         Mergers, Consolidations, etc.

 

The Parent and the Company will not consolidate with or merge with any other Person or convey, transfer, sell or lease all or substantially all of its assets in a single transaction or series of transactions to any Person except that:

 

(a)            the Company may consolidate or merge with the Parent or convey, transfer, sell or lease all or substantially all of its assets in a single transaction or series of transactions to the Parent, provided that the Parent is the successor or survivor;

 

(b)            each of the Parent and the Company may consolidate or merge with any other Person or convey, transfer, sell or lease all or substantially all of its assets in a single transaction or series of transactions to any Person, provided that

 

(i)             the successor formed by such consolidation or the survivor of such merger or the Person that acquires by conveyance, transfer, sale or lease all or substantially all of the assets of the Parent or the Company as an entirety, as the case may be, is a solvent corporation or limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any state thereof (including the District of Columbia), and, if the Parent or the Company is not such successor or survivor, such corporation or limited liability company (1) shall have executed and delivered to each holder of any Notes its assumption of the due and punctual performance and observance of each covenant and condition of this Agreement

 

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and, in the case of the Parent, the Parent Guaranty and, in the case of the Company, the Notes, and (2) shall have caused to be delivered to each holder of any Notes an opinion of nationally recognized counsel or other counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Required Holders, to the effect that all agreements or instruments effecting such assumption are enforceable in accordance with their terms and comply with the terms hereof; and

 

(ii)            after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall exist.

 

No such conveyance, transfer, sale or lease of all or substantially all of the assets of the Parent or the Company shall have the effect of releasing the Parent or the Company or any successor corporation or limited liability company that shall theretofore have become such in the manner prescribed in this Section 10.6 from its liability under this Agreement, the Collateral Documents, the Parent Guaranty, in the case of the Parent, or the Notes, in the case of the Company.

 

10.7         Sale of Assets.

 

Except as permitted by Section 10.6, the Parent will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of, including by way of merger (collectively a “Disposition”), any assets, in one or a series of transactions, to any Person, other than:

 

(a)            Dispositions in the ordinary course of business;

 

(b)            Dispositions by a Subsidiary to the Parent or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary or by the Parent to a Wholly Owned Subsidiary;

 

(c)            Dispositions pursuant to the Receivables Purchase Documents in connection with Receivables Purchase Facilities;

 

(d)            Dispositions of cash equivalent investments;

 

(e)            Dispositions not otherwise permitted by paragraphs (a) through (d) of this Section 10.7 provided that:

 

(i)             in the good faith opinion of the Parent, the Disposition is in exchange for consideration having a fair market value at least equal to that of the property exchanged and is in the best interest of the Parent or such Subsidiary;

 

(ii)            immediately after giving effect to the Disposition, no Default or Event of Default shall exist; and

 

(iii)           immediately after giving effect to the Disposition, the aggregate net book value of all assets that were the subject of any Disposition pursuant to this paragraph (e) occurring in the then current Fiscal Year would not exceed 15% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Year of the Parent.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Parent may, or may permit a Subsidiary to, make a Disposition and the assets subject to such Disposition shall not be subject to or included in the foregoing limitation and computation contained in paragraph (e)(iii) of the preceding sentence if, within 365 days of such Disposition, an amount equal to the net proceeds from such Disposition is:

 

(A)           reinvested in assets used or useful in the existing business of the Parent or a Subsidiary; or

 

(B)            the net proceeds from such Disposition are applied to the payment or prepayment of the Notes or any other outstanding Indebtedness of the Parent or any Subsidiary ranking pari passu with or senior to the Notes (other than Indebtedness in respect of any revolving credit or similar credit facility providing the Company or any Subsidiary with the right to obtain loans or other extensions of credit from time to time, except to the extent that in connection with such payment of Indebtedness the availability of credit under such credit facility is reduced by an amount not less than the amount of such proceeds applied to the payment of such Indebtedness).

 

For purposes of foregoing clause (B), if the Company elects to pay or prepay the Notes, the Company shall offer to prepay (on a Business Day not less than 30 or more than 60 days following such offer) the Notes, on a pro rata basis with any such other Indebtedness ranking pari passu with the Notes, at a price of 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be prepaid (without any Make-Whole Amount or LIBOR Breakage Amount) together with interest accrued to but excluding the date of prepayment; provided that if any holder of the Notes declines or rejects such offer, the proceeds that would have been paid to such holder shall be offered pro rata to the other holders of the Notes that have accepted the offer. A failure by a holder of Notes to respond in writing not later than 10 Business Days prior to the proposed prepayment date to an offer to prepay made pursuant to this Section 10.7 shall be deemed to constitute a rejection of such offer by such holder. Solely for the purposes of foregoing clause (B), whether or not such offers are accepted by the holders, the entire principal amount of the Notes subject to such offer to prepay shall be deemed to have been prepaid.

 

10.8         Restriction on Dividends and Other Distributions.

 

The Parent and the Company will not, nor will they permit any Subsidiary to, declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution on its Capital Stock (other than dividends payable in its own Capital Stock) or redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire or retire any of its Capital Stock at any time outstanding, except that (i) any Subsidiary of the Company may declare and pay dividends and make distributions to the Company or to any other Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary of the Company which is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary may pay dividends to its shareholders generally so long as the Company or its respective Subsidiary which owns the equity interest or interests in the Subsidiary paying such dividends receives at least its proportionate share thereof, (iii) the Company may declare and pay dividends and make distributions to the Parent to enable the Parent to, and the Parent may, (a) pay any income, franchise or like taxes, (b) pay its operating expenses (including, without limitation, legal, accounting, reporting, listing and similar expenses) in an aggregate amount not exceeding $5,000,000 in any Fiscal Year (excluding in any event non-cash charges related to employee

 

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compensation or compensation to non-executive members of the Parent’s board of directors) and (c) so long as no Default shall be continuing or result therefrom, repurchase its common stock and warrants and/or redeem or repurchase vested management options, in each case, from directors, officers and employees of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, and (iv) so long as no Default shall be continuing or result therefrom, the Company may make distributions to the Parent and the Parent may redeem, repurchase, acquire or retire an amount of its Capital Stock or warrants or options therefor, or declare and pay any dividend or make any distribution on its Capital Stock (all such actions under this clause (iv) collectively, “Distributions”), (a) if at the time of making such Distribution the Leverage Ratio (calculated on a pro forma basis giving effect to any acquisition since the end of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter, such Distribution and any Indebtedness incurred in connection therewith) is less than or equal to 2.75 to 1.00, on an unlimited basis, and (b) if at the time of making such Distribution the Leverage Ratio (calculated on a pro forma basis giving effect to any acquisition since the end of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter, such Distribution and any Indebtedness incurred in connection therewith) is greater than 2.75 to 1.00, in an amount not greater than the Maximum Payment Amount.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if at any time the restriction on dividends covenant in the Credit Agreement is amended, replaced or removed, this Section 10.8 shall automatically be amended, replaced or removed so that it shall be identical to the Credit Agreement and (ii) if the Credit Agreement is terminated and not replaced by a successor Credit Agreement, this Section 10.8 shall terminate and be of no further force or effect.

 

10.9         Nature of Business.

 

The Parent will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, engage in any business if, as a result, the Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, would cease to be engaged primarily in the Distribution Business.

 

10.10       Transactions with Affiliates.

 

The Parent will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, enter into directly or indirectly any Material transaction or Material group of related transactions (including the purchase, lease, sale or exchange of properties of any kind or the rendering of any service) with any Affiliate (other than the Parent or another Subsidiary), except in the ordinary course and pursuant to the reasonable requirements of the Parent’s or such Subsidiary’s business and upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to the Parent or such Subsidiary than would be obtainable in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate.

 

10.11       Terrorism Sanctions Regulations.

 

The Parent will not and will not permit any Subsidiary to (a) become a Person described or designated in the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List of the Office of Foreign Assets Control or in Section 1 of the Anti Terrorism Order or (b) knowingly engage in any dealings or transactions with any such Person.

 

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11.           EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

 

An “Event of Default” shall exist if any of the following conditions or events shall occur and be continuing:

 

(a)            the Company defaults in the payment of any principal, Make-Whole Amount, if any, prepayment premium, if any, or LIBOR Breakage Amount, if any, on any Note when the same becomes due and payable, whether at maturity or at a date fixed for prepayment or by declaration or otherwise; or

 

(b)            the Company defaults in the payment of any interest on any Note for more than five Business Days after the same becomes due and payable; or

 

(c)            the Parent or the Company defaults in the performance of or compliance with any term contained in Section 7.1(d) or Sections 10.1 through 10.7; or

 

(d)            the Parent or the Company defaults in the performance of or compliance with any term contained herein (other than those referred to in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 11) and such default is not remedied within 30 days after the earlier of (i) a Responsible Officer obtaining actual knowledge of such default and (ii) the Company receiving written notice of such default from any holder of a Note (any such written notice to be identified as a “notice of default” and to refer specifically to this paragraph (d) of Section 11); or

 

(e)            any representation or warranty made in writing by or on behalf of the Parent or the Company or by any officer of the Parent or the Company in this Agreement or in any writing furnished in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby proves to have been false or incorrect in any material respect on the date as of which made; or

 

(f)             (i) the Parent or any Subsidiary is in default (as principal or as guarantor or other surety) in the payment of any principal of or premium or make-whole amount, or interest on any Indebtedness that is outstanding in an aggregate principal amount of at least $25,000,000 beyond any period of grace provided with respect thereto, or (ii) the Parent or any Subsidiary is in default in the performance of or compliance with any term of any evidence of any Indebtedness that is outstanding in an aggregate principal amount of at least $25,000,000 or of any mortgage, indenture or other agreement relating thereto or any other condition exists, and as a consequence of such default or condition such Indebtedness has become, or has been declared (or one or more Persons are entitled to declare such Indebtedness to be), due and payable before its stated maturity or before its regularly scheduled dates of payment, or (iii) as a consequence of the occurrence or continuation of any event or condition (other than the passage of time or the right of the holder of Indebtedness to convert such Indebtedness into equity interests), (x) the Parent or any Subsidiary has become obligated to purchase or repay Indebtedness before its regular maturity or before its regularly scheduled dates of payment in an aggregate outstanding principal amount of at least $25,000,000, or (y) one or more Persons have the

 

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right to require the Parent or any Subsidiary so to purchase or repay such Indebtedness; or

 

(g)            the Parent or any Significant Subsidiary (i) is generally not paying, or admits in writing its inability to pay, its debts as they become due, (ii) files, or consents by answer or otherwise to the filing against it of, a petition for relief or reorganization or arrangement or any other petition in bankruptcy, for liquidation or to take advantage of any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar law of any jurisdiction, (iii) makes an assignment for the benefit of its creditors, (iv) consents to the appointment of a custodian, receiver, trustee or other officer with similar powers with respect to it or with respect to any substantial part of its property, (v) is adjudicated as insolvent or to be liquidated, or (vi) takes corporate action for the purpose of any of the foregoing; or

 

(h)            a court or Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction enters an order appointing, without consent by the Parent or any Significant Subsidiary, a custodian, receiver, trustee or other officer with similar powers with respect to it or with respect to any substantial part of the Company’s property, or constituting an order for relief or approving a petition for relief or reorganization or any other petition in bankruptcy or for liquidation or to take advantage of any bankruptcy or insolvency law of any jurisdiction, or ordering the dissolution, winding-up or liquidation of the Parent or any Significant Subsidiary, or any such petition shall be filed against the Parent or any Significant Subsidiary and such petition shall not be dismissed within 60 days; or

 

(i)             a final judgment or judgments for the payment of money aggregating in excess of $25,000,000 are rendered against one or more of the Parent and a Significant Subsidiary, which judgments are not, within 60 days after entry thereof, bonded, discharged or stayed pending appeal, or are not discharged within 60 days after the expiration of such stay; or

 

(j)             if (i) any Plan shall fail to satisfy the minimum funding standards of ERISA or the Code for any plan year or part thereof or a waiver of such standards or extension of any amortization period is sought or granted under section 412 of the Code, (ii) a notice of intent to terminate any Plan shall have been or is reasonably expected to be filed with the PBGC or the PBGC shall have instituted proceedings under ERISA section 4042 to terminate or appoint a trustee to administer any Plan or the PBGC shall have notified the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate that a Plan may become a subject of any such proceedings, (iii) the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate shall have incurred or is reasonably expected to incur any liability pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or the penalty or excise tax provisions of the Code relating to employee benefit plans, (iv) the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate withdraws from any Multiemployer Plan, or (v) the Parent or any Subsidiary establishes or amends any employee welfare benefit plan that provides post-employment welfare benefits in a manner that would increase the liability of the Parent or any Subsidiary thereunder; and any such event or events described in clauses (i) through (v) above, either individually or together with any other such event or events, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

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(k)            the Parent Guaranty ceases to be in full force and effect or is declared to be null and void in whole or in material part by a court or other governmental or regulatory authority having jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability thereof shall be contested by the Parent or it renounces any of the same or denies that it has any or further liability thereunder; or

 

(l)             the Subsidiary Guaranty ceases to be in full force and effect (except in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.7(b)) or is declared to be null and void in whole or in material part by a court or other governmental or regulatory authority having jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability thereof shall be contested by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any of them renounces any of the same or denies that it has any or further liability thereunder; or

 

(m)           any of the Collateral Documents at any time for any reason ceases to be in full force and effect (except in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.7(c)) or shall be declared null and void in whole or in material part by a court or other governmental or regulatory authority having jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability thereof shall be contested by the Company or any Subsidiary or any of them shall renounce any of the same or deny that it has any or further liability thereunder

 

As used in Section 11(j), the terms “employee benefit plan” and “employee welfare benefit plan” shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in section 3 of ERISA.

 

12.           REMEDIES ON DEFAULT, ETC.

 

12.1         Acceleration.

 

(a)            If an Event of Default with respect to the Parent or the Company described in paragraph (g) or (h) of Section 11 (other than an Event of Default described in clause (i) of paragraph (g) or described in clause (vi) of paragraph (g) by virtue of the fact that such clause encompasses clause (i) of paragraph (g)) has occurred, all the Notes then outstanding shall automatically become immediately due and payable.

 

(b)            If any other Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any holder or holders of at least 51% in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding may at any time at its or their option, by notice or notices to the Company, declare all the Notes then outstanding to be immediately due and payable.

 

(c)            If any Event of Default described in paragraph (a) or (b) of Section 11 has occurred and is continuing, any holder or holders of Notes at the time outstanding affected by such Event of Default may at any time, at its or their option, by notice or notices to the Company, declare all the Notes held by it or them to be immediately due and payable.

 

Upon any Notes becoming due and payable under this Section 12.1, whether automatically or by declaration, such Notes will forthwith mature and the entire unpaid principal amount of such Notes, plus (w) all accrued and unpaid interest thereon (including, but not limited to, interest accrued thereon at the Default Rate, to the extent permitted by applicable

 

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law), (x) any applicable Make-Whole Amount determined in respect of such principal amount (to the full extent permitted by applicable law), (y) any applicable prepayment premium (to the full extent permitted by applicable law), and (z) any LIBOR Breakage Amount determined in respect of such principal amount, shall all be immediately due and payable, in each and every case without presentment, demand, protest or further notice, all of which are hereby waived. The Company acknowledges, and the parties hereto agree, that each holder of a Note has the right to maintain its investment in the Notes free from repayment by the Company (except as herein specifically provided for) and that the provision for payment of a Make-Whole Amount, prepayment premium or LIBOR Breakage Amount by the Company, if any, in the event that the Notes are prepaid or are accelerated as a result of an Event of Default, is intended to provide compensation for the deprivation of such right under such circumstances.

 

12.2         Other Remedies.

 

If any Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and irrespective of whether any Notes have become or have been declared immediately due and payable under Section 12.1, the holder of any Note at the time outstanding may proceed to protect and enforce the rights of such holder by an action at law, suit in equity or other appropriate proceeding, whether for the specific performance of any agreement contained herein or in any Note, or for an injunction against a violation of any of the terms hereof or thereof, or in aid of the exercise of any power granted hereby or thereby or by law or otherwise.

 

12.3         Rescission.

 

At any time after any Notes have been declared due and payable pursuant to clause (b) or (c) of Section 12.1, the holder or holders of at least 51% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, by written notice to the Company, may rescind and annul any such declaration and its consequences if (a) the Company has paid all overdue interest on the Notes, all principal of and any applicable Make-Whole Amount, prepayment premium and LIBOR Breakage Amount on any Notes that are due and payable and are unpaid other than by reason of such declaration, and all interest on such overdue principal and any Make-Whole Amount, prepayment premium and LIBOR Breakage Amount and (to the extent permitted by applicable law) any overdue interest in respect of the Notes, at the Default Rate, (b) neither the Company nor any other Person shall have paid any amounts that have become due solely by reason of such declaration, (c) all Events of Default and Defaults, other than non-payment of amounts that have become due solely by reason of such declaration, have been cured or have been waived pursuant to Section 17, and (d) no judgment or decree has been entered for the payment of any monies due pursuant hereto or to the Notes. No rescission and annulment under this Section 12.3 will extend to or affect any subsequent Event of Default or Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

12.4         No Waivers or Election of Remedies, Expenses, etc.

 

No course of dealing and no delay on the part of any holder of any Note in exercising any right, power or remedy shall operate as a waiver thereof or otherwise prejudice such holder’s rights, powers or remedies. No right, power or remedy conferred by this Agreement or by any Note upon any holder thereof shall be exclusive of any other right, power or remedy referred to herein or therein or now or hereafter available at law, in equity, by statute

 

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or otherwise. Without limiting the obligations of the Company under Section 15, the Company will pay to the holder of each Note on demand such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover all costs and expenses of such holder incurred in any enforcement or collection under this Section 12, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, expenses and disbursements.

 

13.           REGISTRATION; EXCHANGE; SUBSTITUTION OF NOTES.

 

13.1         Registration of Notes.

 

The Company shall keep at its principal executive office a register for the registration and registration of transfers of Notes. The name and address of each holder of one or more Notes, each transfer thereof and the name and address of each transferee of one or more Notes shall be registered in such register. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer, the Person in whose name any Note shall be registered shall be deemed and treated as the owner and holder thereof for all purposes hereof, and the Company shall not be affected by any notice or knowledge to the contrary. The Company shall give to any holder of a Note that is an Institutional Investor, promptly upon request therefor, a complete and correct copy of the names and addresses of all registered holders of Notes.

 

13.2         Transfer and Exchange of Notes.

 

Upon surrender of any Note to the Company at the address and to the attention of the designated officer (all as specified in Section 18(iii)), for registration of transfer or exchange (and in the case of a surrender for registration of transfer accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly executed by the registered holder of such Note or such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing and accompanied by the relevant name, address and other information for notices of each transferee of such Note or part thereof), the Company shall execute and deliver within 10 Business Days, at the Company’s expense (except as provided below), one or more new Notes (as requested by the holder thereof) of the same series or tranche in exchange therefor, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the unpaid principal amount of the surrendered Note. Each such new Note shall be payable to such Person as such holder may request and shall be substantially in the form of the Note specified for the Notes of such series and tranche, if any. Each such new Note shall be dated and bear interest from the date to which interest shall have been paid on the surrendered Note or dated the date of the surrendered Note if no interest shall have been paid thereon. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any stamp tax or governmental charge imposed in respect of any such transfer of Notes. Notes shall not be transferred in denominations of less than $500,000, provided that if necessary to enable the registration of transfer by a holder of its entire holding of Notes, one Note may be in a denomination of less than $500,000. Any transferee, by its acceptance of a Note registered in its name (or the name of its nominee), shall be deemed to have made the representations set forth in Sections 6.1 and 6.2.

 

13.3         Replacement of Notes.

 

Upon receipt by the Company at the address and to the attention of the designated officer (all as specified in Section 18(iii)) of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the ownership of and the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of any Note (which evidence shall be,

 

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in the case of an Institutional Investor, notice from such Institutional Investor of such ownership and such loss, theft, destruction or mutilation), and

 

(a)            in the case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it (provided that if the holder of such Note is, or is a nominee for, an original Purchaser or another holder of a Note with a minimum net worth of at least $50,000,000 or a Qualified Institutional Buyer, such Person’s own unsecured agreement of indemnity shall be deemed to be satisfactory), or

 

(b)            in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation thereof,

 

the Company at its own expense shall execute and deliver within 10 Business Days, in lieu thereof, a new Note of the same series and tranche, dated and bearing interest from the date to which interest shall have been paid on such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Note or dated the date of such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Note if no interest shall have been paid thereon.

 

14.           PAYMENTS ON NOTES.

 

14.1         Place of Payment.

 

Subject to Section 14.2, payments of principal, Make-Whole Amount, if any, prepayment premium, if any, LIBOR Breakage Amount, if any, and interest becoming due and payable on the Notes shall be made in New York, New York at the principal office of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in such jurisdiction. The Company may at any time, by notice to each holder of a Note, change the place of payment of the Notes so long as such place of payment shall be either the principal office of the Company in such jurisdiction or the principal office of a bank or trust company in such jurisdiction.

 

14.2         Home Office Payment.

 

So long as you or your nominee shall be the holder of any Note, and notwithstanding anything contained in Section 14.1 or in such Note to the contrary, the Company will pay all sums becoming due on such Note for principal, Make-Whole Amount, if any, prepayment premium, if any, LIBOR Breakage Amount, if any, and interest by the method and at the address specified for such purpose below your name in Schedule A, or by such other method or at such other address as you shall have from time to time specified to the Company in writing for such purpose, without the presentation or surrender of such Note or the making of any notation thereon, except that upon written request of the Company made concurrently with or reasonably promptly after payment or prepayment in full of any Note, you shall surrender such Note for cancellation, reasonably promptly after any such request, to the Company at its principal executive office or at the place of payment most recently designated by the Company pursuant to Section 14.1. Prior to any sale or other disposition of any Note held by you or your nominee you will, at your election, either endorse thereon the amount of principal paid thereon and the last date to which interest has been paid thereon or surrender such Note to the Company in exchange for a new Note or Notes pursuant to Section 13.2. The Company will afford the benefits of this Section 14.2 to any Institutional Investor that is the direct or indirect transferee of

 

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any Note purchased by you under this Agreement and that has made the same agreement relating to such Note as you have made in this Section 14.2.

 

15.           EXPENSES, ETC.

 

15.1         Transaction Expenses.

 

Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Parent or the Company will pay all reasonable and properly documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including reasonable and properly documented attorneys’ fees of one special counsel and, if reasonably required by the Required Holders, local counsel) incurred by you and each Other Purchaser or holder of a Note in connection with such transactions and in connection with any amendments, waivers or consents under or in respect of this Agreement, the Notes, the Parent Guaranty, the Subsidiary Guaranty, the Intercreditor Agreement or the Collateral Documents (whether or not such amendment, waiver or consent becomes effective), including, without limitation: (a) the costs and expenses incurred in enforcing or defending (or determining whether or how to enforce or defend) any rights under this Agreement, the Notes, the Parent Guaranty, the Subsidiary Guaranty, the Intercreditor Agreement or the Collateral Documents or in responding to any subpoena or other legal process or informal investigative demand issued in connection with this Agreement, the Notes, the Parent Guaranty, the Subsidiary Guaranty, the Intercreditor Agreement or the Collateral Documents, or by reason of being a holder of any Note, (b) the costs and expenses, including financial advisors’ fees, incurred in connection with the insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company or any Subsidiary or in connection with any work-out or restructuring of the transactions contemplated hereby, by the Notes, by the Parent Guaranty, the Subsidiary Guaranty, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Documents and (c) the costs and expenses, not in excess of $3,000, incurred in connection with the initial filing of this Agreement and all related documents and financial information with the SVO. The Company will pay, and will save you and each Other Purchaser or holder of a Note harmless from, all claims in respect of any fees, costs or expenses, if any, of brokers and finders (other than those, if any, retained by a Purchaser or other holder in connection with its purchase of the Notes).

 

15.2         Survival.

 

The obligations of the Company under this Section 15 will survive the payment or transfer of any Note, the enforcement, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the Notes, and the termination of this Agreement .

 

16.           SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; ENTIRE    AGREEMENT.

 

All representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Notes, the purchase or transfer by you of any Note or portion thereof or interest therein and the payment of any Note, and may be relied upon by any subsequent holder of a Note, regardless of any investigation made at any time by or on behalf of you or any other holder of a Note; provided, however that all representations and warranties contained herein shall expire upon the indefeasible payment in full of all amounts due in connection with this Agreement. All statements contained in any certificate or other instrument

 

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delivered by or on behalf of the Parent or the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed representations and warranties of the Parent and the Company under this Agreement. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement (including any Supplements), the Notes, the Parent Guaranty, the Subsidiary Guaranty and the Collateral Documents embody the entire agreement and understanding between you and the Parent and the Company and supersede all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof.

 

17.           AMENDMENT AND WAIVER.

 

17.1         Requirements.

 

This Agreement, the Notes, the Parent Guaranty, the Subsidiary Guaranty and the Collateral Documents may be amended, and the observance of any term hereof or thereof may be waived (either retroactively or prospectively), with (and only with) the written consent of the Company and the Required Holders, except that (a) no amendment or waiver of any of the provisions of Section 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 21 hereof, or any defined term (as it is used therein), will be effective as to you unless consented to by you in writing, and (b) no such amendment or waiver may, without the written consent of the holder of each Note at the time outstanding affected thereby, (i) subject to the provisions of Section 12 relating to acceleration or rescission, change the amount or time of any prepayment or payment of principal of, or reduce the rate or change the time of payment or method of computation of interest or of the Make-Whole Amount or any prepayment premium or LIBOR Breakage Amount on, the Notes, (ii) change the percentage of the principal amount of the Notes the holders of which are required to consent to any such amendment or waiver, or (iii) amend any of Sections 8, 11(a), 11(b), 12, 17 or 20. Notwithstanding the foregoing, but subject to the provisions of Section 12 relating to acceleration or rescission, (x) a specific series of Notes (and the related provisions of this Agreement) may be amended by the Company and the holders of 100% of the aggregate principal amount of such series of Notes if the effect of such amendment is solely to change the amount or time of any prepayment or payment of principal of, or reduce the rate or change the time of payment or method of computation of interest or the Make-Whole Amount or the LIBOR Breakage Amount on the Notes of such series, and (y) if an amendment, waiver or consent affects one or more series or tranches of Notes but not all series or tranches of Notes, such amendment, waiver or consent shall only require approval of the requisite percentage, determined in accordance with this Section 17.1, of the holders of the series or tranches affected thereby (voting together as a single class, if more than one series or tranche is affected thereby).

 

17.2         Solicitation of Holders of Notes.

 

(a)            Solicitation . The Parent and the Company will provide each holder of the Notes (irrespective of the amount of Notes then owned by it) with sufficient information, sufficiently far in advance of the date a decision is required, to enable such holder to make an informed and considered decision with respect to any proposed amendment, waiver or consent in respect of any of the provisions hereof or of the Notes. The Company will deliver executed or true and correct copies of each amendment, waiver or consent effected pursuant to the provisions of this Section 17 to each holder of outstanding Notes promptly following the date on which it is executed and delivered by, or receives the consent or approval of, the requisite holders of Notes.

 

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(b)            Payment . The Parent and the Company will not directly or indirectly pay or cause to be paid any remuneration, whether by way of supplemental or additional interest, fee or otherwise, or grant any security, to any holder of Notes as consideration for or as an inducement to the entering into by any holder of Notes of any waiver or amendment of any of the terms and provisions hereof unless such remuneration is concurrently paid, or security is concurrently granted, on the same terms, ratably to each holder of Notes then outstanding that also enters into any waiver or amendment of any of the terms and provisions hereto. If any such remuneration is paid to any holder of Notes that for any reason does not enter into any waiver or amendment of any of the terms and provisions hereof, such remuneration shall also be paid to all other non-consenting holders.

 

17.3         Binding Effect, etc.

 

Any amendment or waiver consented to as provided in this Section 17 applies equally to all holders of Notes and is binding upon them and upon each future holder of any Note and upon the Parent and the Company without regard to whether such Note has been marked to indicate such amendment or waiver. No such amendment or waiver will extend to or affect any obligation, covenant, agreement, Default or Event of Default not expressly amended or waived or impair any right consequent thereon. No course of dealing between the Parent or the Company and the holder of any Note nor any delay in exercising any rights hereunder or under any Note shall operate as a waiver of any rights of any holder of such Note. As used herein, the term “this Agreement” or “the Agreement” and references thereto shall mean this Note Purchase Agreement as it may from time to time be amended or supplemented.

 

17.4         Notes Held by Company, etc.

 

Solely for the purpose of determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding approved or consented to any amendment, waiver or consent to be given under this Agreement or the Notes, or have directed the taking of any action provided herein or in the Notes to be taken upon the direction of the holders of a specified percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding, Notes directly or indirectly owned by the Company or any of its Affiliates shall be deemed not to be outstanding.

 

18.           NOTICES.

 

All notices and communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing and sent (a) by telecopy if the sender on the same day sends a confirming copy of such notice by a recognized overnight delivery service (charges prepaid), or (b) by registered or certified mail with return receipt requested (postage prepaid), or (c) by a recognized overnight delivery service (with charges prepaid). Any such notice must be sent:

 

(i)             if to you or your nominee, to you or it at the address specified for such communications in Schedule A, or at such other address as you or it shall have specified to the Company in writing,

 

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(ii)            if to any other holder of any Note, to such holder at such address as such other holder shall have specified to the Company in writing, or

 

(iii)           if to the Company, the Parent or any Subsidiary Guarantor, to the Company at its address set forth at the beginning hereof to the attention of the Senior Vice President and Treasurer, with a copy to the General Counsel, or at such other address as the Company shall have specified to the holder of each Note in writing.

 

Notices under this Section 18 will be deemed given only when actually received.

 

19.           REPRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS.

 

This Agreement and all documents relating hereto, including (a) consents, waivers and modifications that may hereafter be executed, (b) documents received by you at a Closing (except the Notes themselves), and (c) financial statements, certificates and other information previously or hereafter furnished to you, may be reproduced by you by any photographic, photostatic, electronic, digital or other similar process and you may destroy any original document so reproduced. The Company agrees and stipulates that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding (whether or not the original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by you in the regular course of business) and any enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in evidence. This Section 19 shall not prohibit the Company or any other holder of Notes from contesting any such reproduction to the same extent that it could contest the original, or from introducing evidence to demonstrate the inaccuracy of any such reproduction.

 

20.           CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

 

For the purposes of this Section 20, “Confidential Information” means information delivered to any Purchaser by or on behalf of the Parent or any Subsidiary in connection with the transactions contemplated by or otherwise pursuant to this Agreement that is proprietary in nature and that was clearly marked or labeled or otherwise adequately identified when received by you as being confidential information of the Parent or such Subsidiary, provided that such term does not include information that (a) was publicly known or otherwise known to you prior to the time of such disclosure, (b) subsequently becomes publicly known through no act or omission by you or any Person acting on your behalf, (c) otherwise becomes known to you other than through disclosure by or on behalf of the Parent or any Subsidiary, or (d) constitutes financial statements delivered to you under Section 7.1 that are otherwise publicly available. You will maintain the confidentiality of such Confidential Information in accordance with procedures adopted by you in good faith to protect confidential information of third parties delivered to you, provided that you may deliver or disclose Confidential Information to (i) your directors, officers, employees, agents, attorneys and affiliates (to the extent such disclosure reasonably relates to the administration of the investment represented by your Notes), (ii) your financial advisors and other professional advisors who agree to hold confidential the Confidential Information substantially in accordance with the terms of this Section 20, (iii) any other holder of any Note, (iv) any Institutional Investor to which you sell or offer to sell such Note or any part

 

46



 

thereof or any participation therein (if such Person has agreed in writing prior to its receipt of such Confidential Information to be bound by the provisions of this Section 20), (v) any Person from which you offer to purchase any security of the Company (if such Person has agreed in writing prior to its receipt of such Confidential Information to be bound by the provisions of this Section 20), (vi) any federal or state regulatory authority having jurisdiction over you, (vii) the NAIC or the SVO or, in each case, any similar organization, or any nationally recognized rating agency that requires access to information about your investment portfolio or (viii) any other Person to which such delivery or disclosure may be necessary or appropriate (w) to effect compliance with any law, rule, regulation or order applicable to you, (x) in response to any subpoena or other legal process, (y) in connection with any litigation to which you are a party or (z) if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to the extent you may reasonably determine such delivery and disclosure to be necessary or appropriate in the enforcement or for the protection of the rights and remedies under your Notes and this Agreement. Each holder of a Note, by its acceptance of a Note, will be deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to be entitled to the benefits of this Section 20 as though it were a party to this Agreement. On reasonable request by the Company in connection with the delivery to any holder of a Note of information required to be delivered to such holder under this Agreement or requested by such holder (other than a holder that is a party to this Agreement or its nominee), such holder will enter into an agreement with the Company embodying the provisions of this Section 20.

 

21.           SUBSTITUTION OF PURCHASER.

 

You shall have the right to substitute any one of your Affiliates as the purchaser of the Notes that you have agreed to purchase hereunder, by written notice to the Company, which notice shall be signed by both you and such Affiliate, shall contain such Affiliate’s agreement to be bound by this Agreement, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement and shall contain a confirmation by such Affiliate of the accuracy with respect to it of the representations set forth in Section 6. Upon receipt of such notice, wherever the word “you” is used in this Agreement (other than in this Section 21), such word shall be deemed to refer to such Affiliate in lieu of you. In the event that such Affiliate is so substituted as a purchaser hereunder and such Affiliate thereafter transfers to you all of the Notes then held by such Affiliate, upon receipt by the Company of notice of such transfer, wherever the word “you” is used in this Agreement (other than in this Section 21), such word shall no longer be deemed to refer to such Affiliate, but shall refer to you, and you shall have all the rights of an original holder of the Notes under this Agreement.

 

22.           MISCELLANEOUS.

 

22.1         Successors and Assigns.

 

All covenants and other agreements contained in this Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns (including any subsequent holder of a Note) whether so expressed or not.

 

47



 

22.2         Payments Due on Non-Business Days.

 

Anything in this Agreement or the Notes to the contrary notwithstanding (but without limiting the requirement in Section 8.2 that the notice of any optional prepayment specify a Business Day as the date fixed for such prepayment), any payment of principal of or Make-Whole Amount, LIBOR Breakage Amount or interest on any Note that is due on a date other than a Business Day shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day without including the additional days elapsed in the computation of the interest payable on such next succeeding Business Day; provided that if the maturity date of any Note is a date other than a Business Day, the payment otherwise due on such maturity date shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and shall include the additional days elapsed in the computation of interest payable on such next succeeding Business Day.

 

22.3         Accounting Terms.

 

All accounting terms used herein that are not expressly defined in this Agreement have the meanings respectively given to them in accordance with GAAP. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, (i) all computations made pursuant to this Agreement shall be made in accordance with GAAP and (ii) all financial statements shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP.

 

22.4         Severability.

 

Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall (to the fullest extent permitted by law) not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

22.5         Construction.

 

Each covenant contained herein shall be construed (absent express provision to the contrary) as being independent of each other covenant contained herein, so that compliance with any one covenant shall not (absent such an express contrary provision) be deemed to excuse compliance with any other covenant. Where any provision herein refers to action to be taken by any Person, or which such Person is prohibited from taking, such provision shall be applicable whether such action is taken directly or indirectly by such Person.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, all Schedules and Exhibits attached to this Agreement shall be deemed to be a part hereof.

 

22.6         Counterparts.

 

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. Each counterpart may consist of a number of copies hereof, each signed by less than all, but together signed by all, of the parties hereto.

 

48



 

22.7         Governing Law.

 

This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the rights of the parties shall be governed by, the law of the state of New York excluding choice of law principles of the law of such state that would require the application of the laws of a jurisdiction other than such state.

 

22.8         Jurisdiction and Process; Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

(a)            Each of the Parent and the Company irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York state or federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Parent Guaranty, the Subsidiary Guaranty or the Notes. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each of the Parent and the Company irrevocably waives and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise, any claim that it is not subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

(b)            Each of the Parent and the Company consents to process being served by or on behalf of any holder of Notes in any suit, action or proceeding of the nature referred to in Section 22.8(a) by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to it at its address specified in Section 18 or at such other address of which such holder shall then have been notified pursuant to said Section. Each of the Parent and the Company agrees that such service upon receipt (i) shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon it in any such suit, action or proceeding and (ii) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be taken and held to be valid personal service upon and personal delivery to it. Notices hereunder shall be conclusively presumed received as evidenced by a delivery receipt furnished by the United States Postal Service or any reputable commercial delivery service.

 

(c)            Nothing in this Section 22.8 shall affect the right of any holder of a Note to serve process in any manner permitted by law, or limit any right that the holders of any of the Notes may have to bring proceedings against the Company in the courts of any appropriate jurisdiction or to enforce in any lawful manner a judgment obtained in one jurisdiction in any other jurisdiction.

 

(d)            THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION BROUGHT ON OR WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTES OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENT EXECUTED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THEREWITH.

 

49



 

22.9         Holders of Notes to be Bound by Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Each holder of a Note, other than holders of the Series 2007-A Notes that are direct parties to the Intercreditor Agreement, by its acceptance of a Note issued pursuant to this Agreement (whether pursuant to Section 1.2, 13.2 or 13.3) agrees to be bound by all of terms and provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and, upon request of the Collateral Agent, agrees to provide written confirmation of its agreement to be so bound.

 

 

INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

 

50



 

If you are in agreement with the foregoing, please sign the form of agreement on a counterpart of this Agreement and return it to the Company, whereupon this Agreement shall become a binding agreement between you, the Company and the Parent.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

UNITED STATIONERS SUPPLY CO.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Brian S. Cooper

 

 

Name: Brian S. Cooper

 

Title:

Senior Vice President, Treasurer and

 

 

Assistant Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

UNITED STATIONERS INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Brian S. Cooper

 

 

Name: Brian S. Cooper

 

Title:

 Senior Vice President, Treasurer and

 

 

 Assistant Secretary

 

S-1



 

This Agreement is accepted and
agreed to as of the date thereof.

 

METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

METLIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF CONNECTICUT,
by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company,
its investment manager

 

 

By:

/s/ Judith A. Gulotta

 

Name: Judith A. Gulotta

Title: Director

 

S-2



 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

 

By:

/s/ Mark A. Ahmed

 

Name: Mark A. Ahmed

Title: Managing Director

 

C.M. LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

 

By:

/s/ Mark A. Ahmed

 

Name: Mark A. Ahmed

Title: Managing Director

 

MML BAY STATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

 

By:

/s/ Mark A. Ahmed

 

Name: Mark A. Ahmed

Title: Managing Director

 

S-3



 

PACIFIC LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

 

By:

/s/ Violet Osterberg

 

Name: Violet Osterberg

Title: Assistant Vice President

 

 

By:

/s/ Cathy Schwartz

 

Name: /s/ Cathy Schwartz

Title: Assistant Secretary

 

S-4



 

SUN LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY OF NEW YORK

 

 

By:

/s/ Ann C. King

 

Name: Ann C. King

Title: Authorized Signer

 

 

By:

/s/ Timothy J. Monahan

 

Name: Timothy J. Monahan

Title: Authorized Signer

 

 

SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)

 

 

By:

/s/ Ann C. King

 

Name: Ann C. King

Title: Assistant Vice President and Senior Counsel

 

 

By:

/s/ Timothy J. Monahan

 

Name: Timothy J. Monahan

Title: Senior Managing Director

 

S-5



 

SCHEDULE A

 

NAME AND ADDRESS OF PURCHASER

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF

 

 

SERIES 2007-A NOTES TO BE

 

 

PURCHASED

 

 

 

METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

$65,000,000

 

(1)           All scheduled payments of principal and interest by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

 

Bank Name:       JPMorgan Chase Bank

ABA Routing #:           021-000-021

Account No.:    002-2-410591

Account Name:            Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

Ref:       United Stationers, Inc. Floating Rate Secured Senior Note, Series 2007-A due 10-15-14

 

with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds, including issuer, PPN#, interest rate, maturity and whether payment is of principal, interest, make whole amount or otherwise.

 

For all payments other than scheduled payments of principal and interest, the Company shall seek instructions from the holder, and in the absence of instructions to the contrary, will make such payments to the account and in the manner set forth above.

 

(2)                                   Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
Investments, Private Placements
P.O. Box 1902
10 Park Avenue
Morristown, New Jersey 07962-1902
Attention:  Director
Facsimile (973) 355-4250

 

With a copy OTHER than with respect to deliveries of financial statements to:

 

Metropol itan Life Insurance Company

P.O. Box 1902

10 Park Avenue

Morristown, New Jersey 07962-1902

Attention: Chief Counsel-Securities Investments (PRIV)

Facsimile (973) 3 55-4338

 

1



 

(3)           E-mail address for Electronic Delivery:

 

jdickson@metlife.com

 

(4)           Address for delivery of Notes:

 

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

Securities Investments, Law Department

P.O. Box 1902

10 Park Avenue

Morristown, New Jersey 07962-1902

Attention: Jane J. Dickson, Esq.

 

(5)           In addition, please send one complete set of closing documents with original signatures; two bound sets of conformed copies of the principal documents; and 1 CD-ROM of the closing documents to:

 

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
Attention: Jane J. Dickson, Esq.
10 Park Avenue/P.O. Box 1902
Morristown, New Jersey 07962

 

AND

 

One CD_ROM to:

 

MetLife
Attention: Mary Phillips
18210 Crane Nest Drive
Tampa, Florida 33647-2748
(813) 983-4564

 

(6)           Tax ID: 13-5581829

 

2



 

NAME AND ADDRESS OF PURCHASER

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF

 

 

SERIES 2007-A NOTES TO BE

 

 

PURCHASED

 

 

 

METLIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF CONNECTICUT

 

$10,000,000

 

(1)           All scheduled payments of principal and interest by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

 

Bank Name:      US Bank Trust

ABA Routing #:           091000022

Account No.:     180121167365

OBI SEI Acct:    123186-010

Account Name:            MetLife - Compass S/A

Ref:                  United Stationers, Inc. Floating Rate Secured Senior Note, Series 2007-A due 10-15-14

 

with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds, including issuer, PPN#, interest rate, maturity and whether payment is of principal, interest, make whole amount or otherwise.

 

For all payments other than scheduled payments of principal and interest, the Company shall seek instructions from the holder, and in the absence of instructions to the contrary, will make such payments to the account and in the manner set forth above.

 

3



 

(2)                                   MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut
c/o Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
Investments, Private Placements
P.O. Box 1902
10 Park Avenue
Morristown, New Jersey 07962-1902
Attention:  Director
Facsimile (973) 355-4250

 

With a copy OTHER than with respect to deliveries of financial statements to:

 

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

P.O. Box 1902

10 Park Avenue

Morristown, New Jersey 07962-1902

Attention: Chief Counsel-Securities Investments (PRIV)

Facsimile (973) 355-4338

 

(3)           E-mail address for Electronic Delivery:

 

jdickson@metlife.com

 

(4)           Address for delivery of Notes:

 

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

c/o Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

Securities Investments, Law Department

P.O. Box 1902

10 Park Avenue

Morristown, New Jersey 07962-1902

Attention: Jane J. Dickson, Esq.

 

(5)           Tax ID: 06-0566090

 

4



 

NAME AND ADDRESS OF PURCHASER

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF

 

 

SERIES 2007-A NOTES TO BE

 

 

PURCHASED

 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

$11,100,000

 

(1)           All payments on account of the Note shall be made by crediting in the form of bank wire transfer of Federal or other immediately available funds, (identifying each payment as [insert name of issuer and description of Note] interest and principal), to:

 

Citibank, N.A.

New York, NY

ABA No. 021000089

For MassMutual Unified Traditional

Acct. Name: MassMutual BA 0033 TRAD Private ELBX

Account No. 30566056

Re: Description of security, cusip, principal and interest split

 

With telephone advice of payment to the Securities Custody and Collection Department of Babson Capital Management LLC at (413) 226-1889 or (413) 226-1803

 

 

(2)           All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

 

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company

c/o Babson Capital Management LLC

1500 Main Street, Suite 800

PO Box 15189

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

Attention: Securities Custody and

Collection Department

 

5



 

(3)           All other communications:

 

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company
c/o Babson Capital Management LLC
1500 Main Street, Suite 800
PO Box 15189
Springfield, MA 01115-5189
Attention: Securities Investment Division

 

(4)           E-mail address for Electronic Delivery:

pmanseau@babsoncapital.com, with a hard copy to follow to:

 

Babson Capital Management LLC
1500 Main Street — Suite 2200
PO Box 15189
Springfield, MA  01115-5189
Attn:  Securities Investment Division

 

(5)           Address for delivery of Notes:

 

Babson Capital Management LLC
1500 Main Street, Suite 800
Springfield, MA 01115-5189
Attention: Christine Peaslee

 

(6)           Tax ID: 04-1590850

 

6



 

NAME AND ADDRESS OF PURCHASER

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF

 

 

SERIES 2007-A NOTES TO BE

 

 

PURCHASED

 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

$3,900,000

 

(1)           All payments on account of the Note shall be made by crediting in the form of bank wire transfer of Federal or other immediately available funds, (identifying each payment as [insert name of issuer and description of Note] interest and principal), to:

 

Citibank, N.A.

New York, NY

ABA No. 021000089

For MassMutual IFM Non-Traditional

Account No. 30510589

Re: Description of security, cusip, principal and interest split

 

With telephone advice of payment to the Securities Custody and Collection

Department of Babson Capital Management LLC at (413) 226-1889 or (413) 226-1803

 

 

(2)           All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

 

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company
c/o Babson Capital Management LLC
1500 Main Street, Suite 800
PO Box 15189
Springfield, MA 01115-5189
Attention: Securities Custody and
Collection Department

 

7



 

(3)           All other communications:

 

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company

c/o Babson Capital Management LLC

1500 Main Street, Suite 800

PO Box 15189

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

Attention: Securities Investment Division

 

(4)           E-mail address for Electronic Delivery:

 

pmanseau@babsoncapital.com, with a hard copy to follow to:

 

Babson Capital Management LLC

1500 Main Street — Suite 2200

PO Box 15189

Springfield, MA  01115-5189
Attn:  Securities Investment Division

 

(5)           Address for delivery of Notes:

 

Babson Capital Management LLC

1500 Main Street, Suite 800

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

Attention: Christine Peaslee

 

(6)           Tax ID: 04-1590850      

 

8



 

NAME AND ADDRESS OF PURCHASER

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF

 

 

SERIES 2007-A NOTES TO BE

 

 

PURCHASED

 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

$3,800,000

 

(1)           All payments on account of the Note shall be made by crediting in the form of bank wire transfer of Federal or other immediately available funds, (identifying each payment as [insert name of issuer and description of Note] interest and principal), to:

 

Citibank, N.A.

New York, NY

ABA No. 021000089

For MassMutual Pension Management

Account No. 30510538

Re: Description of security, cusip, principal and interest split

 

With telephone advice of payment to the Securities Custody and Collection Department of Babson Capital Management LLC at (413) 226-1889 or (413) 226-1803

 

(2)           All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

 

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company

c/o Babson Capital Management LLC

1500 Main Street, Suite 800

PO Box 15189

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

Attention: Securities Custody and

Collection Department

 

9



 

(3)           All other communications:

 

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company

c/o Babson Capital Management LLC

1500 Main Street, Suite 800

PO Box 15189

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

Attention: Securities Investment Division

 

(4)           E-mail address for Electronic Delivery:

pmanseau@babsoncapital.com, with a hard copy to follow to:

 

Babson Capital Management LLC
1500 Main Street — Suite 2200
PO Box 15189
Springfield, MA  01115-5189
Attn:  Securities Investment Division

 

(5)           Address for delivery of Notes:

 

Babson Capital Management LLC

1500 Main Street, Suite 800

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

Attention: Christine Peaslee

 

(6)           Tax ID: 04-1590850

 

10



 

NAME AND ADDRESS OF PURCHASER

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF

 

 

SERIES 2007-A NOTES TO BE

 

 

PURCHASED

 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

$3,500,000

 

(1)           All payments on account of the Note shall be made by crediting in the form of bank wire transfer of Federal or other immediately available funds, (identifying each payment as [insert name of issuer and description of Note] interest and principal), to:

 

Citibank, N.A.

New York, NY

ABA No. 021000089

For MassMutual Spot Priced Contract

Account No. 30510597

Re: Description of security, cusip, principal and interest split

 

With telephone advice of payment to the Securities Custody and Collection Department of Babson Capital Management LLC at (413) 226-1889 or (413) 226-1803

 

(2)           All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

 

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company

c/o Babson Capital Management LLC

1500 Main Street, Suite 800

PO Box 15189

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

Attention: Securities Custody and

Collection Department

 

11



 

(3)           All other communications:

 

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company

c/o Babson Capital Management LLC

1500 Main Street, Suite 800

PO Box 15189

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

Attention: Securities Investment Division

 

(4)           E-mail address for Electronic Delivery:

pmanseau@babsoncapital.com, with a hard copy to follow to:

 

Babson Capital Management LLC

1500 Main Street — Suite 2200

PO Box 15189

Springfield, MA  01115-5189
Attn:  Securities Investment Division

 

(5)           Address for delivery of Notes:

 

Babson Capital Management LLC

1500 Main Street, Suite 800

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

Attention: Christine Peaslee

 

(6)           Tax ID: 04-1590850

 

12



 

NAME AND ADDRESS OF PURCHASER

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF

 

 

SERIES 2007-A NOTES TO BE

 

 

PURCHASED

 

 

 

C.M. LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

$1,900,000

 

(1)           All payments on account of the Note shall be made by crediting in the form of bank wire transfer of Federal or other immediately available funds, (identifying each payment as [insert name of issuer and description of Note] interest and principal), to:

 

Citibank, N.A.

New York, NY

ABA No. 021000089

For CM Life Segment 43 - Universal Life

Account No. 30510546

Re: Description of security, cusip, principal and interest split

 

With telephone advice of payment to the Securities Custody and Collection Department of Babson Capital Management LLC at (413) 226-1889 or (413) 226-1803

 

(2)           All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

 

C.M. Life Insurance Company

c/o Babson Capital Management LLC

1500 Main Street, Suite 800

PO Box 15189

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

Attention: Securities Custody and

Collection Department

 

13



 

(3)           All other communications:

 

C.M. Life Insurance Company

c/o Babson Capital Management LLC

1500 Main Street, Suite 800

PO Box 15189

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

Attention: Securities Investment Division

 

(4)           E-mail address for Electronic Delivery:

pmanseau@babsoncapital.com, with a hard copy to follow to:

 

Babson Capital Management LLC

1500 Main Street — Suite 2200

PO Box 15189

Springfield, MA  01115-5189
Attn:  Securities Investment Division

 

(5)           Address for delivery of Notes:

 

Babson Capital Management LLC

1500 Main Street, Suite 800

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

Attention: Christine Peaslee

 

(6)           Tax ID: 06-1041383

 

14



 

NAME AND ADDRESS OF PURCHASER

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF

 

 

SERIES 2007-A NOTES TO BE

 

 

PURCHASED

 

 

 

MML BAY STATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

$800,000

 

(1)           All payments on account of the Note shall be made by crediting in the form of bank wire transfer of Federal or other immediately available funds, (identifying each payment as [insert name of issuer and description of Note] interest and principal), to:

 

Citibank, N.A.

New York, NY  10043

ABA No. 021000089

For MML Bay State

Account No. 30510677

Re: Description of security, cusip, principal and interest split

 

With telephone advice of payment to the Securities Custody and Collection Department of Babson Capital Management LLC at (413) 226-1889 or (413) 226-1803

 

(2)           All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

 

MML Bay State Life Insurance Company

c/o Babson Capital Management LLC

1500 Main Street, Suite 800

PO Box 15189

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

Attention: Securities Custody and

Collection Department

 

15



 

(3)           All other communications:

 

MML Bay State Life Insurance Company

c/o Babson Capital Management LLC

1500 Main Street, Suite 800

PO Box 15189

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

Attention: Securities Investment Division

 

(4)           E-mail address for Electronic Delivery:

pmanseau@babsoncapital.com, with a hard copy to follow to:

 

Babson Capital Management LLC

1500 Main Street — Suite 2200

PO Box 15189

Springfield, MA  01115-5189
Attn:  Securities Investment Division

 

(5)           Address for delivery of Notes:

 

Babson Capital Management LLC

1500 Main Street, Suite 800

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

Attention: Christine Peaslee

 

(6)           Tax ID: 43-0581430

 

16



 

NAME AND ADDRESS OF PURCHASER

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF

 

 

SERIES 2007-A NOTES TO BE

 

 

PURCHASED

 

 

 

PACIFIC LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

$5,000,000
$5,000,000
$5,000,000
$1,000,000
$1,000,000
$1,000,000
$1,000,000
$1,000,000

 

Register notes in name of: Mac & Co.

 

(1)   All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

 

Mellon Trust of New England

ABA#  0110-0123-4

DDA  125261

Attn:  MBS Income CC:  1253

A/C Name:  Pacific Life General Account/PLCF1810132

Regarding:   Security Description & PPN

 

(2)   All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

 

Mellon Trust

Attn:  Pacific Life Accounting Team

Three Mellon Bank Center

AIM #  153-3610

Pittsburgh, PA  15259

FAX#  412-236-7259

 

And

 

Pacific Life Insurance Company

Attn: Securities Administration — Cash Team

700 Newport Center Drive

Newport Beach, CA  92660-6397

FAX#  949-640-4013

 

17



 

(3)   All other communications:

 

Pacific Life Insurance Company

Attn:  Securities Department

700 Newport Center Drive

Newport Beach, CA  92660-6397

FAX#  949-219-5406

 

(4)   Address for delivery of Notes:

 

Mellon Securities Trust Company

120 Broadway, 13th Floor

New York, NY  10271

Attn:  Robert Ferraro  212.374.1918

A/C Name:  Pacific Life General Acct

A/C #:  PLCF1810132

 

(5)   E-mail address for Electronic Delivery:

 

(6)   Taxpayer I.D. Number:  95-1079000

 

18



 

NAME AND ADDRESS OF PURCHASER

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF

 

 

SERIES 2007-A NOTES TO BE

 

 

PURCHASED

 

 

 

SUN LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY OF NEW YORK

 

$5,000,000

 

(1)   All payments by wire or intrabank transfer of immediately available funds to:

 

Mello n Bank of New England

ABA # 011001234 / BOS SAFE DEP

DDA: 125261

Attention: MBS Income CC 1253

Account Name: Sun Life New York - MVA Account

Account No.: KBLF00050002

RE: [description of security]

Tax identification number: 04-2845273

 

with sufficient information (including issuer, PPN number, interest rate, maturity and whether payment is of principal, premium, or interest) to identify the source and application of such funds.

 

(2)   All notices of payments, written confirmations of such wire transfers and audit confirmations:

 

Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada

Attn: Private Placements

Location code: 302D36

227 King Street South

Waterloo, ON, Canada  N2J4C5

 

(3)   All other communications, including notices of non-routine payments:

 

One Sun Life Executive Park

Wellesley Hills, MA  02481

Attention:  Investment Division/Private Fixed Income, SC 1303

 

19



 

(4)   E-mail address for Electronic Delivery:

michael.berrian@sunlife.com

robert.veno@sunlife.com

 

(5)   Address for delivery of Notes:

 

Sun Capital Advisers LLC

SC 1303

One Sun Life Executive Park

Wellesley Hills, MA  02481

Attention: Linda R. Guillette

 

(6)   Two original sets of closing documents and two conformed copies to:

 

Robert Veno, Associate Director

Sun Capital Advisers LLC

One Sun Life Executive Park, SC 1303

Wellesley Hills, MA  02481

Telephone:  (781) 446-1027

 

Ann C. King, Senior Counsel

Sun Capital Advisers LLC

One Sun Life Executive Park, SC 1335

Wellesley Hills, MA  02481

Telephone:  (781) 446-1996

 

(7)   Tax ID: 04-2845273

 

20



 

NAME AND ADDRESS OF PURCHASER

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF

 

 

SERIES 2007-A NOTES TO BE

 

 

PURCHASED

 

 

 

SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)

 

$10,000,000

 

(1)   All payments by wire or intrabank transfer of immediately available funds to:

 

Mellon Bank of New England

ABA # 0110 01234 / BOS SAFE DEP

DDA: 125261

Attention: MBS Income CC 1253

Account Name: Sun US — MVA Private Placements

Account No.: KEYF00020002

RE: [description of security]

Tax identifi cation number: 04-2845273

 

with sufficient information (including issuer, PPN number, interest rate, maturity and whether payment is of principal, premium, or interest) to identify the source and application of such funds.

 

(2)   All notices of payments, written confirmations of such wire transfers and audit confirmations:

 

Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada

Attn: Private Placements

Location code: 302D36

227 King Street South

Waterloo, ON, Canada  N2J4C5

 

(3)   All other communications, including notices of non-routine payments:

 

O ne Sun Life Executive Park

Wellesley Hills, MA  02481

At tention:  Investment Division/Private Fixed Income, SC 1303

 

21



 

 

(4)   E-mail address for Electronic Delivery:

michael.be rrian@sunlife.com

robert.veno@ sunlife.com

 

(5)   Address for delivery of Notes:

 

Sun C apital Advisers LLC

SC 1303

One Sun Life Executive Park

Wellesley Hills, MA  02481

Attention: Li nda R. Guillette

 

(6)   Tax ID: 04-2845273

 

22



 

SCHEDULE B

 

DEFINED TERMS

 

As used herein, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below or set forth in the Section hereof following such term:

 

“Additional Notes” is defined in Section 1.2.

 

“Adjusted LIBOR Rate” is defined in Section 1.4(a).

 

“Affiliate” means, at any time, and with respect to any Person, any other Person that at such time directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries Controls, or is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such first Person. As used in this definition, “Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, any reference to an “Affiliate” is a reference to an Affiliate of the Parent.

 

“Anti-Terrorism Order” means Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001, Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism (66 Fed. Reg. 49079 (2001)).

 

“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in New York City are required or authorized to be closed; provided that, if the applicable Business Day relates to the determination of LIBOR, it means a day on which dealings are also carried on in U.S. dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

 

“Capital Lease” means, with respect to any Person, any lease of (or other agreement conveying the right to use) any real or personal property by such Person that shall have been or should be recorded as a capitalized lease in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Capital Lease Obligation” means, with respect to any Person, the amount of the obligations of such Person under Capital Leases which would be shown as a liability on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP.

 

Capital Stock ” means (a) in the case of a corporation, capital stock, (b) in the case of a partnership, partnership interests (whether general or limited) (c) in the case of a limited liability company, membership interests and (d) any other interest or participation in a Person that confers on the holder the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, such Person.

 

“Change of Control” means an event or series of events by which any person or “group” (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (such person or persons hereinafter referred to as an “Acquiring Person”) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the voting power of the then outstanding Voting Stock of the Parent; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, a “Change in Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred

 



 

if the Parent (or the Acquiring Person if either (x) the Parent is no longer in existence or (y) the Acquiring Person has acquired all or substantially all of the assets thereof) shall have an Investment Grade Rating immediately following such Acquiring Person becoming the “beneficial owner” or consummating such acquisition.

 

“Closing” is defined in Section 3.

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time.

 

“Collateral Documents” means the mortgages, deeds of trust, security agreements, financing statements and any other agreements or documents entered into by the Parent or a Subsidiary creating Liens securing the Notes and other obligations payable by the Parent or any Subsidiary pursuant to this Agreement, the Subsidiary Guaranty, the Parent Guaranty or the Credit Agreement, including those specifically referenced in the Intercreditor Agreement, as such agreements or documents may hereafter be amended, modified or restated.

 

“Company” means United Stationers Supply Co., an Illinois corporation.

 

“Confidential Information” is defined in Section 20.

 

“Consolidated EBITDA” means, with respect to any period, Consolidated Net Income for such period plus , to the extent deducted from revenues in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period, (i) Consolidated Interest Expense, (ii) expense for taxes paid or accrued, (iii) depreciation, (iv) amortization, (v) losses attributable to equity in Affiliates, (vi) non-cash charges related to employee compensation and (vii) any extraordinary non-cash or nonrecurring non-cash charges or losses, minus , to the extent included in Consolidated Net Income for such period, any extraordinary non-cash or nonrecurring non-cash gains, all calculated for the Parent and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. If, during the period for which Consolidated EBITDA is being calculated, the Parent or any Subsidiary has acquired (i) sufficient Capital Stock of a Person to cause such Person to become a Subsidiary or (ii) all or substantially all of the assets or operations, division or line of business of a person, Consolidated EBITDA shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such acquisition had occurred on the first day of such period.

 

“Consolidated Funded Indebtedness” means, at any time, with respect to any Person, without duplication, the sum of (i) the aggregate dollar amount of Consolidated Indebtedness for borrowed money owing by such Person or for which such Person is liable which has actually been funded and is outstanding at such time, whether or not such amount is due or payable at such time (other than obligations in respect of Rate Management Transactions), plus (ii) the aggregate undrawn amount of all standby Letters of Credit at such time for which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is the account party or is otherwise liable (other than standby Letters of Credit in an amount up to $10,000,000 issued to support worker’s compensation obligations of the Parent, the Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor and other than Letters of Credit supporting any other component of this definition), plus (iii) the aggregate principal component of Capital Lease Obligations owing by such Person and its Subsidiaries on a

 

2



 

consolidated basis or for which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is otherwise liable, plus (iv) all Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities of such Person and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, plus (v) all Disqualified Stock of such Person and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

 

“Consolidated Indebtedness” means, at any time, with respect to any Person, the Indebtedness of such Person and its Subsidiaries, calculated on a consolidated basis as of such time in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, with reference to any period, the interest expense of the Parent and its Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP for such period (net of interest income), including yield or any other financing costs resembling interest that are payable under any Receivables Purchase Facility.

 

“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the net income (or loss) of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP and on a first in first out basis of inventory valuation.

 

“Consolidated Net Worth” means, as of any date, the consolidated stockholders’ equity of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP and on a first in first out basis of inventory valuation.

 

“Consolidated Total Assets” means, as of any date, the assets and properties of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as of such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Contingent Obligation” means, with respect to any Person, any agreement, undertaking or arrangement by which such Person assumes, guarantees, endorses, contingently agrees to purchase or provide funds for the payment of, or otherwise becomes or is contingently liable upon, the obligation or liability of any other Person, or agrees to maintain the net worth or working capital or other financial condition of any other Person, or otherwise assures any creditor of such other Person against loss, including, without limitation, any comfort letter, operating agreement, take-or-pay contract or the obligations of any such Person as general partner of a partnership with respect to the liabilities of the partnership unless the underlying obligation is expressly made non-recourse to such general partner; provided, however, that the term Contingent Obligation shall not include endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any Contingent Obligation shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the lesser of (a) an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such Contingent Obligation is made and (b) the maximum amount for which such guaranteeing person may be liable pursuant to the terms of the instrument embodying such Contingent Obligation, unless such primary obligation and the maximum amount for which such guaranteeing person may be liable are not stated or determinable, in which case the amount of the Contingent Obligation shall be such guaranteeing person’s reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by such Person in good faith.

 

3



 

“Control Event” means the execution of any written agreement that, when fully performed in accordance with the terms thereof by the parties thereto, would result in a Change of Control and shall not include letters of intent or similar arrangements or understandings.

 

“Credit Agreement” means the Second Amended and Restated Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of July 5, 2007 among the Company, as borrower, the Parent, as credit party, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and the other lenders party thereto, as such agreement may be hereafter amended, modified, restated, supplemented, replaced, refinanced, increased or reduced from time to time, and any successor credit agreement or similar facility.

 

“Default” means an event or condition the occurrence or existence of which if it continues uncured would, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both, become an Event of Default.

 

“Default Rate” means, with respect to any Note, that rate of interest that is the greater of (i) 2% per annum above the rate of interest stated in clause (a) of the first paragraph of such Note or (ii) 2% over the rate of interest publicly announced by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as its “base” or “prime” rate.

 

“Disclosure Documents” is defined in Section 5.3.

 

“Disposition” is defined in Section 10.7.

 

“Distribution Business” means (i) the distribution of products, including but not limited to, technology products, office products, janitorial/sanitation products, foodservice consumables, office furniture, and safety products, (ii) any activity necessary, appropriate or incidental to the activities described in the preceding clause (i) of this definition, including but not limited to delivering, installing and servicing the products the Company or any Subsidiary sells; and (iii) any business related, ancillary or complementary to or arising from the foregoing.

 

“Disqualified Stock” means any preferred or other capital stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is ninety-one (91) days after the Notes become due and payable.

 

“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of any Person that is not a Foreign Subsidiary.

 

“Environmental Laws” means any and all Federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including those related to Hazardous Materials.

 

4



 

“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time in effect.

 

“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that is treated as a single employer together with the Parent under section 414 of the Code.

 

“Event of Default” is defined in Section 11.

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

“Fiscal Quarter” means each fiscal quarter of the Parent and its Subsidiaries.

 

“Fiscal Year” means each fiscal year of the Parent and its Subsidiaries.

 

“Foreign Subsidiary” means (i) any Subsidiary of any Person that is not organized under the laws of a jurisdiction located in the United States of America and (ii) any Subsidiary of a Person described in clause (i) hereof that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction located in the United States of America.

 

“Form 10-K” is defined in Section 7.1(b).

 

“Form 10-Q” is defined in Section 7.1(a).

 

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time in the United States of America.

 

“Governmental Authority” means

 

(a)            the government of

 

(i)             the United States of America or any state or other political subdivision thereof, or

 

(ii)            any jurisdiction in which the Parent or any Subsidiary conducts all or any part of its business, or which asserts jurisdiction over any properties of the Parent or any Subsidiary, or

 

(b)            any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of, or pertaining to, any such government.

 

“Guaranty” of a Person means any guaranty, assumption, endorsement, or contingent agreement to purchase or provide funds for the payment of, or otherwise become liable upon, the obligation of any other Person, or any agreement to maintain the net worth or working capital or other financial condition of any other Person or any other assurance to any creditor of any Person against loss, including any comfort letter, operating agreement, take-or-pay contract, or the contingent liability of such Person in connection with any application for a

 

5



 

letter of credit, excepting from the foregoing contingent liabilities the amount of such Person’s obligations with respect to bonds, deposits, standby letters of credit or other evidences of contingent obligations given to governmental entities in compliance with local and state requirements that have not been drawn or called upon.

 

“Hazardous Material” means any and all pollutants, toxic or hazardous wastes or other substances that might pose a hazard to health and safety, the removal of which may be required or the generation, manufacture, refining, production, processing, treatment, storage, handling, transportation, transfer, use, disposal, release, discharge, spillage, seepage or filtration of which is or shall be restricted, prohibited or penalized by any applicable law including, but not limited to, asbestos, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, polychlorinated biphenyls, petroleum, petroleum products, lead based paint, radon gas or similar restricted, prohibited or penalized substances.

 

“holder” means, with respect to any Note, the Person in whose name such Note is registered in the register maintained by the Company pursuant to Section 13.1.

 

“INHAM Exemption” is defined in Section 6.2(e).

 

“Indebtedness with respect to any Person means, at any time, without duplication,

 

(a)            obligations for borrowed money which in accordance with GAAP would be shown as a liability on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person;

 

(b)            obligations representing the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than current accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of such Person’s business payable on terms customary in the trade and accrued expenses in connection with the provision of services incurred in the ordinary course of such Person’s business);

 

(c)            Indebtedness of others, whether or not assumed, secured by Liens or payable out of the proceeds or production from property now or hereafter owned or acquired by such Person (provided that the amount of any such Indebtedness at any time shall be deemed to be the lesser of (i) such Indebtedness at such time and (ii) the fair market value of such property, as determined by such Person in good faith at such time);

 

(d)            financial obligations which are evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures, acceptances, or other instruments;

 

(e)            obligations to purchase securities or other property arising out of or in connection with the sale of the same or substantially similar securities or property;

 

(f)             Capital Lease Obligations;

 

(g)            Contingent Obligations of such Person in respect of any Indebtedness,

 

6



 

(h)            reimbursement obligations under Letters of Credit, bankers’ acceptances, surety bonds and similar instruments;

 

(i)             Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities;

 

(j)             Net Mark-to-Market Exposure under Rate Management Transactions; and

 

(k)            Disqualified Stock.

 

“Institutional Investor” means (a) any original purchaser of a Note, (b) any holder of $5,000,000 or more in aggregate principal amount of the Notes and (c) any bank, trust company, savings and loan association or other financial institution, any pension plan, any investment company, any insurance company, any broker or dealer, or any other similar financial institution or entity, regardless of legal form.

 

“Intercreditor Agreement” is defined in Section 1.3.

 

“Interest Period” is defined in Section 1.4(c).

 

Investment Grade Rating ” in respect of any Person means, at the time of determination, at least one of the following ratings of its senior, unsecured long-term indebtedness for borrowed money: (i) by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, or any successor thereof (“S&P”), “BBB-” or better, (ii) by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., or any successor thereof (“Moody’s”), “Baa3” or better, or (iii) by another rating agency of recognized national standing, an equivalent or better rating.

 

“Letter of Credit” in respect of any Person means, a letter of credit or similar instrument which is issued upon the application of such Person or upon which such Person is an account party or, without duplication, for which such Person has a reimbursement obligation.

 

“Leverage Ratio” is defined in Section 10.1.

 

“LIBOR” is defined in Section 1.4(a).

 

“LIBOR Breakage Amount” is defined in Section 8.8.

 

“Lien” means any lien (statutory or other), mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance or preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale, Capital Lease or other title retention agreement).

 

“Make-Whole Amount” is defined in Section 8.7.

 

“Material” means material in relation to the business, operations, financial condition, assets or properties of the Parent and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

 

7



 

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, operations, financial condition, assets or properties of the Parent and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or the Notes, (c) the ability of the Parent to perform its obligations under this Agreement or the Parent Guaranty, or (d) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement, the Notes, the Parent Guaranty or the Subsidiary Guaranty.

 

“Maximum Payment Amount” means an amount equal to (1) the greater of (a) $50,000,000 and (b) an amount equal to (x) $50,000,000 plus (y) 50% of Consolidated Net Income in each Fiscal Quarter beginning with the Fiscal Quarter ending June 30, 2007 plus (2) the net cash proceeds received by the Parent or the Company since July 5, 2007 from the exercise of stock options issued to directors, officers and employees of the Parent, the Company or the Company’s Subsidiaries, minus (3) the Distributions, or any portion of a Distribution, made since June 30, 2007 pursuant to clause (iv)(b) of Section 10.8, which Distributions (or portions thereof) result in the Leverage Ratio exceeding, or are otherwise made at a time when the Leverage Ratio exceeds (in each case calculated on a pro forma basis giving effect to any acquisitions since the end of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter, such Distributions (or portion thereof) and any Indebtedness incurred in connection therewith), 2.75 to 1.00. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Maximum Payment Amount under this Agreement be less than the corresponding maximum payment amount under the Credit Agreement.

 

“Memorandum” is defined in Section 5.3.

 

“Multiemployer Plan” means any Plan that is a “multiemployer plan” (as such term is defined in section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA).

 

“NAIC” means the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any successor thereto.

 

“NAIC Annual Statement” is defined in Section 6.2(a).

 

“Net Mark-to Market Exposure” means, with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination, the excess (if any) of all unrealized losses over all unrealized profits of such Person arising from Rate Management Transactions. “Unrealized losses” shall mean the fair market value of the cost to such Person of replacing such Rate Management Transaction as of the date of determination (assuming the Rate Management Transaction were to be terminated as of that date), and “unrealized profits” means the fair market value of the gain to such Person of replacing such Rate Management Transaction as of the date of determination (assuming such Rate Management Transaction were to be terminated as of that date).

 

“Notes” is defined in Section 1.2.

 

“Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities” means, with respect to a Person, without duplication, the principal component of (i) any Receivables Purchase Facility or any other repurchase obligation or liability of such Person with respect to accounts or notes receivable sold

 

8



 

by such Person (other than the sale or disposition in the ordinary course of business of accounts or notes receivable in connection with the compromise or collection thereof consistent with customary industry practice (and not as part of any bulk sale or financing of receivables)) or (ii) any liability under any so-called “synthetic lease” or “tax ownership operating lease” transaction entered into by such Person; provided that “Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities” shall not include the principal component of the foregoing if such principal component (a) is otherwise reflected as a liability on such Person’s consolidated balance sheet or (b) is deducted from revenues in determining such Person’s consolidated net income but is not thereafter added back in calculating such Person’s Consolidated EBITDA.

 

“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer or of any other officer of the Parent whose responsibilities extend to the subject matter of such certificate.

 

“Other Purchasers” is defined in Section 2.

 

“Parent” means United Stationers Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

“Parent Guaranty” is defined in Section 1.3(a)(i).

 

“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA or any successor thereto.

 

“Permitted Customer Financing Guarantees” means any guaranty or repurchase or recourse obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary, incurred in the ordinary course of business, in respect of Indebtedness incurred by a customer of the Company or any Subsidiary; provided that the aggregate obligations of the Company and the Subsidiaries in respect of all such guarantees and other recourse obligations shall not exceed the greater of (i) $30,000,000 or (ii) 2% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the most recently completed Fiscal Quarter.

 

“Permitted Purchase Money Indebtedness” means secured or unsecured purchase money Indebtedness (including Capital Leases) incurred by the Parent, the Company or any Subsidiary after the date of the Closing to finance the acquisition of assets used in its business.

 

“Person” means an individual or a corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, joint stock company, limited liability company, government (or an agency or political subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.

 

“Plan” means an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in section 3(3) of ERISA) that is or, within the preceding five years, has been established or maintained, or to which contributions are or, within the preceding five years, have been made or required to be made, by the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate or with respect to which the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate has any liability.

 

9



 

“Priority Debt” means, as of any date, the sum (without duplication) of (a) Indebtedness of the Parent and the Company secured by Liens not otherwise permitted by Sections 10.4(a) through (x) and (b) Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness in respect of receivables securitizations) of Subsidiaries other than the Company not otherwise permitted by Sections 10.5(a) through (e).

 

“property” or “properties” means, unless otherwise specifically limited, real or personal property of any kind, tangible, intangible, or mixed, or other assets owned, leased or operated by such Person.

 

“Proposed Prepayment Date” is defined in Section 8.3(c).

 

“PTE” is defined in Section 6.2(a).

 

“Purchaser” means each purchaser listed in Schedule A.

 

“QPAM Exemption” is defined in Section 6.2(d).

 

“Qualified Institutional Buyer” means any Person that is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of such term as set forth in Rule 144A(a)(1) under the Securities Act.

 

“Rate Management Transaction” means any transaction (including an agreement with respect thereto) now existing or hereafter entered into by the Parent, the Company or a Subsidiary which is a rate swap, basis swap, forward rate transaction, equity or equity index swap, equity or equity index option, bond option, interest rate option, foreign exchange transaction, cap transaction, floor transaction, collar transaction, forward transaction, currency swap transaction, cross-currency rate swap transaction, currency option or any other similar transaction (including any option with respect to any of these transactions) or any combination thereof, whether linked to one or more interest rates, foreign currencies, commodity prices or equity prices.

 

“Receivables Purchase Documents” means any series of receivables purchase or sale agreements, servicing agreements and other related agreements generally consistent with terms contained in comparable structured finance transactions pursuant to which the Parent, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in their respective capacities as sellers or transferors of any receivables, sell or transfer, directly or indirectly, to SPVs all of their respective right, title and interest in and to (but not their obligations under) certain receivables for further sale or transfer (or granting of Liens to other purchasers of or investors in such assets or interests therein (and the other documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith)), as any such agreements may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, or any replacement or substitution therefor.

 

“Receivables Purchase Facility” means any series of receivables purchase or sale agreements, servicing agreements and other related agreements generally consistent with terms contained in comparable structured finance transactions pursuant to which the Parent, the

 

10



 

Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in their respective capacities as sellers or transferors of any receivables, sell or transfer, directly or indirectly, to SPVs all of their respective right, title and interest in and to (but not their obligations under) certain receivables for further sale or transfer (or granting of Liens to other purchasers of or investors in such assets or interests therein (and the other documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith)), as any such agreements may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, or any replacement or substitution therefor.

 

“Required Holders” means, at any time, (i) so long as the Series 2007-A Notes are the only Notes outstanding or with respect to any matter in which the Series 2007-A Notes are the only series of Notes affected, the holders of at least 60% in principal amount of the Series 2007-A Notes at the time outstanding (exclusive of Series 2007-A Notes then owned by the Parent or any of its Affiliates) and (ii) in any other circumstance, the holders of at least 51% in principal amount of the Notes (or, in accordance with Section 17.1, one or more series or tranches of Notes) at the time outstanding (exclusive of Notes then owned by the Parent or any of its Affiliates).

 

“Responsible Officer” means any Senior Financial Officer and any other officer of the Parent with responsibility for the administration of the relevant portion of this Agreement.

 

“SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States, or any successor thereto.

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

 

“Senior Financial Officer” means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or controller of the Parent.

 

“Series 2007-A Notes” is defined in Section 1.1.

 

“Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Parent that is a “significant subsidiary’ as such term is defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“Source” is defined in Section 6.2.

 

“SPV” means any special purpose entity established for the purpose of purchasing receivables in connection with any one or more transactions involving the securitization of such receivables permitted under the terms of this Agreement.

 

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, association or other business entity in which such Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries or such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries owns sufficient equity or voting interests to enable it or them (as a group) ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, to elect a majority of the directors (or Persons performing similar functions) of such entity, and any partnership or joint venture if more than a

 

11



 

50% interest in the profits or capital thereof is owned by such Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries or such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries (unless such partnership can and does ordinarily take major business actions without the prior approval of such Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries). Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, any reference to a “Subsidiary” is a reference to a Subsidiary of the Parent.

 

“Supplement” is defined in Section 1.2.

 

“Subsidiary Guarantor” is defined in Section 1.3(a)(ii).

 

“Subsidiary Guaranty” is defined in Section 1.3(a)(ii).

 

“SVO” means the Securities Valuation Office of the NAIC or any successor to such Office.

 

“this Agreement” or “the Agreement” is defined in Section 17.3.

 

“USA Patriot Act” means United States Public Law 107-56, Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time in effect.

 

“Voting Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any class of shares of stock or other equity interests of such Person having general voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect a majority of the board of directors or other managing entities, as appropriate, of such Person (irrespective of whether or not at the time stock of any other class or classes or other equity interests of such Person shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency).

 

“Wholly Owned Subsidiary” means, at any time, any Subsidiary 100% of all of the Voting Stock (except directors’ qualifying shares and other minority shares held solely to satisfy organization requirements of the applicable jurisdiction) and voting interests of which are owned by any one or more of the Parent and its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries at such time.

 

12



 

EXHIBIT 1.1

 

[FORM OF SERIES 2007-A NOTE]

 

THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SECTION 5 OF THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM.

 

UNITED STATIONERS SUPPLY CO.

 

Floating Rate Secured Senior Note, Series 2007-A, due October 15, 2014

 

No. R-[          ]

 

[Date]

$[              ]

 

PPN: 913008 A*9

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, UNITED STATIONERS SUPPLY CO. (herein called the “Company”), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Illinois and a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Parent (as such term is defined below), promises to pay to [         ], or registered assigns, the principal sum of $[              ] on October 15, 2014, with interest (computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed) (a) on the unpaid principal thereof at a floating rate equal to the Adjusted LIBOR Rate (as defined in the Note Purchase Agreement referred to below) from time to time, payable quarterly on each January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15, commencing with the January 15, April 15, July 15 or October 15 next succeeding the date hereof, until the principal shall have become due and payable, and (b) to the extent permitted by law on any overdue payment (including any overdue prepayment) of principal, any overdue payment of interest and any overdue LIBOR Breakage Amount at the Default Rate until paid.

 

Payments of principal of, interest on and any LIBOR Breakage Amount with respect to this Note are to be made in lawful money of the United States of America at the principal office of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in New York, New York or at such other place as the Company shall have designated by written notice to the holder of this Note as provided in the Note Purchase Agreement.

 

This Note is one of a series of Secured Senior Notes (herein called the “Notes”) issued pursuant to a Master Note Purchase Agreement dated as of October [    ], 2007 (as from time to time amended, the “Note Purchase Agreement”), between the Company, United Stationers Inc. (the “Parent”) and the respective Purchasers named therein and is entitled to the benefits thereof. Each holder of this Note will be deemed, by its acceptance hereof, (i) to have agreed to the confidentiality provisions set forth in Section 20 of the Note Purchase Agreement and (ii) to have made the representation set forth in Sections 6.1 and 6.2 of the Note Purchase

 



 

Agreement. Unless otherwise indicated, capitalized terms used in this Note shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Note Purchase Agreement.

 

This Note is a registered Note and, as provided in the Note Purchase Agreement, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer, duly endorsed, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly executed, by the registered holder hereof or such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, a new Note for the unpaid principal amount will be issued to, and registered in the name of, the transferee. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer, the Company may treat the person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for the purpose of receiving payment and for all other purposes, and the Company will not be affected by any notice to the contrary.

 

This Note may not be prepaid in whole or in part prior to October 15, 2009. Thereafter it is subject to optional prepayment, in whole or from time to time in part, at the times and on the terms specified in the Note Purchase Agreement, but not otherwise.

 

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the principal of this Note may be declared or otherwise become due and payable in the manner, at the price (including any applicable LIBOR Breakage Amount) and with the effect and to the extent provided in the Note Purchase Agreement.

 

Payment of the principal of, and interest and LIBOR Breakage Amount, if any, on this Note, and all other amounts due under the Note Purchase Agreement, is guaranteed pursuant to the terms of Guaranties dated as of October [    ], 2007 of the Parent and of certain Subsidiaries of the Parent. The Notes also are secured by a pledge of collateral under the Collateral Documents. Reference is made to the Collateral Documents for a description of the property pledged and the rights of holders of the Notes in respect of such property.

 

An incorporator, director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company, the Parent or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company, the Parent or a Subsidiary Guarantor under the Notes, the Parent Guaranty or the Subsidiary Guaranty or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Note, each holder waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Notes.

 

This Note shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the rights of the issuer and holder hereof shall be governed by, the law of the State of New York excluding choice-of-law principles of the law of such State that would require the application of the laws of a jurisdiction other than such State.

 

2



 

 

UNITED STATIONERS SUPPLY CO.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

3



 

EXHIBIT 1.2

 

 

 

UNITED STATIONERS SUPPLY CO.
UNITED STATIONERS INC.

 

 

[              ] SUPPLEMENT TO MASTER NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of                        

 

 

Re:           $                         [   %] [Floating Rate] Secured Senior Notes, Series               

                                  due                                           

 

 

 



 

UNITED STATIONERS SUPPLY CO.
UNITED STATIONERS INC.
One Parkway North Blvd., Suite 100
Deerfield, IL 60015
Phone: 847-627-7000
Fax: 847-627-7001

 

[       ] SUPPLEMENT TO MASTER NOTE PURCHASE

AGREEMENT DATED AS OF OCTOBER [    ], 2007

 

Dated as of [             ]

 

TO EACH OF THE PURCHASERS LISTED IN

THE ATTACHED SCHEDULE A:

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

This [Number] Supplement to Master Note Purchase Agreement (the “Supplement”) is among UNITED STATIONERS INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Parent”), UNITED STATIONERS SUPPLY CO., an Illinois corporation and a Subsidiary of the Parent (the “Company”), and the institutional investor[s] named on the attached Schedule A (the “Purchaser[s]”).

 

Reference is hereby made to the Master Note Purchase Agreement dated as of October 15, 2007 (the “Note Purchase Agreement”) between the Company, the Parent and the purchasers listed on Schedule A thereto. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed in the Note Purchase Agreement. Reference is further made to Section 1.2 of the Note Purchase Agreement, which provides that each series of Additional Notes will be issued pursuant to a Supplement.

 

The Company agrees with the Purchaser[s] as follows:

 

1.              Authorization of the New Series of Additional Notes . The Company has authorized the issue and sale of $[          ] aggregate principal amount of Notes to be designated as its [   %] [Floating Rate] Secured Senior Notes, Series [    ], due [    ], [    ] (the “Series [    ] Notes”). The Series [    ] Notes, together with the Series 2007-A Notes [and the Series [    ] Notes] heretofore issued pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement and each series of Additional Notes that may from time to time hereafter be issued pursuant to the provisions of Section 1.2 of the Note Purchase Agreement, are collectively referred to as the “Notes (such term shall also include any such notes issued in substitution therefor pursuant to Section 13 of the Note Purchase Agreement). The Series [    ] Notes shall be substantially in the form set out in Exhibit 1 to this [    ] Supplement, with such changes therefrom, if any, as may be approved by the Purchaser[s] and the Company.

 



 

2.              Sale and Purchase of Series [    ] Notes . Subject to the terms and conditions herein and in the Note Purchase Agreement, the Company will issue and sell each Purchaser and each Purchaser will purchase from the Company, at the Closing provided for in Section 3, Series [   ] Notes in the principal amount specified opposite such Purchaser’s name in the attached Schedule A at the purchase price of 100% of the principal amount thereof. The obligations of the Purchasers are several and not joint obligations and each Purchaser shall have no liability to any Person for the performance or non-performance by any other Purchaser hereunder.

 

3.              Closing . The sale and purchase of the Series [    ] Notes to be purchased by the Purchasers shall occur at the offices of [                                 ] at 9:00 a.m., [    ] time, at a closing (the “Closing”) on [    ], [    ] or on such other Business Day thereafter on or prior to [    ], [    ] as may be agreed upon by the Company and you and the other Purchasers. At the Closing, the Company will deliver to you the Series [    ] Notes to be purchased by you in the form of a single Note (or such greater number of Series [    ] Notes in denominations of at least $500,000 as you may request) dated the date of the Closing and registered in your name (or in the name of your nominee), against delivery by you to the Company or its order of immediately available funds in the amount of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of immediately available funds for the account of the Company to account number 30290298 at Northern Trust Co., 50 S. LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60675, ABA number 071000152. If at the Closing the Company fails to tender such Series [    ] Notes to any Purchaser as provided above in this Section 3, or any of the conditions specified in Section 4 shall not have been fulfilled to such Purchaser’s reasonable satisfaction, such Purchaser shall, at such Purchaser’s election, be relieved of all further obligations under this Agreement, without thereby waiving any rights such Purchaser may have by reason of such failure or such nonfulfillment.

 

4.              Conditions to Closing . Each Purchaser’s obligation to purchase and pay for the Series [    ] Notes to be sold to such Purchaser at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment to such Purchaser’s reasonable satisfaction, prior to or at the Closing, of the conditions set forth in Section 4 of the Note Purchase Agreement (as they may be supplemented, amended or superseded by the conditions set forth in paragraph (c) below) and to the following additional conditions:

 

(a)            Except as supplemented, amended or superseded by the representations and warranties set forth in Schedule 4, each of the representations and warranties of the Parent and the Company set forth in Section 5 of the Note Purchase Agreement shall be correct in all material respects (except those representations and warranties that are qualified by materiality, which will be correct in all respects) as of the date of Closing (except for such representations and warranties that relate to a specific earlier date, which shall be correct in all material respects as of such specific earlier date) and each of the Parent and the Company shall have delivered to each Purchaser an Officer’s Certificate, dated the date of the Closing certifying that such condition has been fulfilled.

 

(b)            Contemporaneously with the Closing, the Company shall sell to each Purchaser, and each Purchaser shall purchase, the Series              Notes to be purchased by such Purchaser at the Closing as specified in Schedule A.

 

2



 

(c)            [Here insert any modifications to conditions or additional conditions to Closing]

 

5.              [Here insert special provisions for Series              Notes including prepayment provisions applicable to Series              Notes (including make-whole amount, premium and breakage amount, if any)].

 

6.              Representations of the Purchasers . Each Purchaser represents and warrants that the representations and warranties set forth in Section 6 of the Note Purchase Agreement will be true and correct as of the date of the Closing with respect to the purchase of the Series              Notes by such Purchaser.

 

7.              Applicability of Note Purchase Agreement . The Company and each Purchaser agree to be bound by and comply with the terms and provisions of the Note Purchase Agreement as fully and completely as if such Purchaser were an original signatory to the Note Purchase Agreement.

 

8.              Additional Provisions . [Here insert any additional provisions].

 

If you are in agreement with the foregoing, please sign the form of agreement on the accompanying counterpart of this Agreement and return it to the Company, whereupon the foregoing shall become a binding agreement between you and the Company. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each executed counterpart constituting an original but all together only one agreement.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

UNITED STATIONERS SUPPLY CO.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

UNITED STATIONERS INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

3



 

The foregoing is agreed

to as of the date thereof.

 

 

[ADD PURCHASER SIGNATURE BLOCKS]

 

4



 

CONFIRMATION

 

Each of the undersigned acknowledges receipt of the foregoing [     ] Supplement to Master Note Purchase Agreement dated as of October 15, 2007 and confirms the continuing validity and enforceability against such undersigned of the Subsidiary Guaranty to which such undersigned is a party.

 

 

[ADD SIGNATURE BLOCKS FOR EACH

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR]

 

5



 

Schedule A to

[    ] Supplement

 

INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS

 

Name and Address of Purchaser

 

Principal Amount of
Series [    ] Notes to be Purchased

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Register Notes in name of:

 

(1)            All scheduled payments of principal and interest

by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

 

 

with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds, including issuer, PPN#, interest rate, maturity and whether payment is of principal, premium, or interest

 

For all payments other than scheduled payments of principal and interest, the Company shall seek instructions from the holder, and in the absence of instructions to the contrary, will make such payments to the account and in the manner set forth above.

 

(2)            All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

 

(3)            Original notes delivered to:

 

(4)            All other communications:

 

(5)            E-mail address for electronic delivery:

 

(6)            Tax ID No.

 

6



 

Schedule 4 to

[   ] Supplement

 

SUPPLEMENTAL REPRESENTATIONS

 

Each of the Parent and the Company represents and warrants to each Purchaser that, except as hereinafter set forth in this Schedule 4, each of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 5 of the Note Purchase Agreement is true and correct in all material respects (except those representations and warranties that are qualified by materiality, which will be correct in all respects) as of the date hereof (except for such representations and warranties that relate to a specific earlier date, which shall be correct in all material respects as of such specific earlier date) with respect to the Series              Notes with the same force and effect as if each reference to “Series 2007-A Notes” set forth therein was modified to refer to the “Series              Notes” and each reference to “this Agreement” therein was modified to refer to the Note Purchase Agreement as supplemented by the                Supplement. The Section references hereinafter set forth correspond to the similar sections of the Note Purchase Agreement that are superseded hereby with respect to the Series            Notes:

 

Section 5.3 .             Disclosure . The Parent and the Company, through their agent, [        ], have delivered to each Purchaser a copy of a Private Placement Memorandum, dated [     ] (the “Memorandum”), relating to the transactions contemplated by the [            ] Supplement. The Memorandum fairly describes, in all material respects, the general nature of the business and principal properties of the Parent and its Subsidiaries. The Note Purchase Agreement, the Memorandum (including the Parent’s SEC filings referred to therein), the documents, certificates or other writings identified in Schedule 5.3 to the              Supplement by or on behalf of the Parent in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Note Purchase Agreement and the                Supplement and the financial statements listed in Schedule 5.5 to the            Supplement (the Note Purchase Agreement, the                Supplement, the Memorandum and such documents, certificates or other writings and such financial statements being referred to, collectively, as the “Disclosure Documents”), taken as a whole, do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made. Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Documents, since                         , there has been no change in the financial condition, operations, business or properties of the Parent or any Subsidiary except changes that individually or in the aggregate would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no fact known to the Parent or the Company that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect that has not been set forth herein or in the Disclosure Documents.

 

Section 5.4 .             Organization and Ownership of Shares of Subsidiaries . (a) Schedule 5.4 to the              Supplement contains (except as noted therein) complete and correct lists of (i) the Parent’s Subsidiaries, showing, as to each Subsidiary, the correct name thereof, the jurisdiction of its organization and the percentage of shares of each class of its capital stock or similar equity

 

7



 

interests outstanding owned by the Parent and each other Subsidiary and (ii) the Parent’s directors and senior officers.

 

Section 5.13 .           Private Offering by the Company . None of the Parent, the Company or anyone acting on their behalf has offered the Series      Notes, the Parent Guaranty or the Subsidiary Guaranty or any similar securities for sale to, or solicited any offer to buy any of the same from, or otherwise approached or negotiated in respect thereof with, any Person other than the Purchasers and not more than [  ] other Institutional Investors as defined in clause (c) of such term, each of which has been offered the Series              Notes, the Parent Guaranty and the Subsidiary Guaranty at a private sale for investment. None of the Parent, the Company or anyone acting on their behalf has taken, or will take, any action that would subject the issuance or sale of the Series        Notes, the Parent Guaranty or the Subsidiary Guaranty to the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act or to the registration requirements of any securities or blue sky laws of any applicable jurisdiction.

 

Section 5.14 .           Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations . Net proceeds from the sale of the Series              Notes will be used for                                and for general corporate purposes. No part of the proceeds from the sale of the Series              Notes pursuant to the            Supplement will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of buying or carrying any margin stock within the meaning of Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (12 CFR 221), or for the purpose of buying or carrying or trading in any securities under such circumstances as to involve the Company in a violation of Regulation X of said Board (12 CFR 224) or to involve any broker or dealer in a violation of Regulation T of said Board (12 CFR 220). Margin stock does not constitute more than [    ]% of the value of the consolidated assets of the Parent and its Subsidiaries and the Parent does not have any present intention that margin stock will constitute more than [    ]% of the value of such assets. As used in this Section, the terms “margin stock” and “purpose of buying or carrying” shall have the meanings assigned to them in said Regulation U.

 

Section 5.15 .           Existing Debt; Future Liens . (a) Except as described therein, Schedule 5.15 to the              Supplement sets forth a complete and correct list of all outstanding Indebtedness of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as of [                  ], since which date there has been no Material change in the amounts, interest rates, sinking funds, installment payments or maturities of the Indebtedness of the Parent or its Subsidiaries. Neither the Parent nor any Subsidiary is in default and no waiver of default is currently in effect, in the payment of any principal or interest on any Material Indebtedness of the Parent or any Subsidiary and no event or condition exists with respect to any Material Indebtedness of the Parent or any Subsidiary that would permit (or that with notice or the lapse of time, or both, would permit) one or more Persons to cause such Material Indebtedness to become due and payable before its stated maturity or before its regularly scheduled dates of payment.

 

[Add any additional Sections as appropriate at the time the Series              Notes are issued and any exceptions to the representations and warranties]

 

8



 

Exhibit 1 to

Supplement

 

FORM OF SERIES [    ] NOTE

 

9



 

EXHIBIT 1.3(a)(i)

 

PARENT GUARANTY

 

THIS GUARANTY (this “Guaranty”) dated as of October 15, 2007 is made by UNITED STATIONERS INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Guarantor”), in favor of the holders from time to time of the Notes hereinafter referred to, including each purchaser named in the Master Note Purchase Agreement hereinafter referred to, and their respective successors and assigns (collectively, the “Holders” and each individually, a “Holder”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H :

 

WHEREAS, UNITED STATIONERS SUPPLY CO., an Illinois corporation (the “Company”), the Guarantor and the initial Holders have entered into a Master Note Purchase Agreement dated as of October 15, 2007 (the Master Note Purchase Agreement as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms and in effect, the “Note Purchase Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, the Note Purchase Agreement contemplates the issuance by the Company of Notes (as defined in the Note Purchase Agreement) in one or more series and tranches;

 

WHEREAS, the Company is a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Guarantor and the Guarantor will derive substantial benefits from the purchase by the Holders of the Notes;

 

WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the obligation of the Holders to purchase the Notes that the Guarantor shall have executed and delivered this Guaranty to the Holders; and

 

WHEREAS, the Guarantor desires to execute and deliver this Guaranty to satisfy the conditions described in the preceding paragraph;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and other benefits to the Guarantor, and of the purchase of the Notes by the Holders, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are acknowledged, the Guarantor makes this Guaranty as follows:

 

SECTION 1. Definitions . Any capitalized terms not otherwise herein defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Note Purchase Agreement.

 

SECTION 2. Guaranty . The Guarantor unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees to the Holders the due, prompt and complete payment by the Company of the principal of, Make-Whole Amount or LIBOR Breakage Amount, if any, and interest on (including interest accruing or becoming owing subsequent to the commencement of any bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding involving the Company), and each other amount due under, the Notes and the Note Purchase Agreement, when and as the same shall become due and payable (whether at stated maturity or by required or optional prepayment or by declaration or otherwise) in accordance with the terms of the Notes and the Note Purchase Agreement (the Notes and the

 



 

Note Purchase Agreement being sometimes hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Note Documents” and the amounts payable by the Company under the Note Documents, and all other monetary obligations of the Company thereunder (including any reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses), being sometimes collectively hereinafter referred to as the “Obligations”). This Guaranty is a guaranty of payment and not just of collectibility and is in no way conditioned or contingent upon any attempt to collect from the Company or upon any other event, contingency or circumstance whatsoever. If for any reason whatsoever the Company shall fail or be unable duly, punctually and fully to pay such amounts as and when the same shall become due and payable, the Guarantor, without demand, presentment, protest or notice of any kind, will forthwith pay or cause to be paid such amounts to the Holders under the terms of such Note Documents, in lawful money of the United States, at the place specified in the Note Purchase Agreement, or perform or comply with the same or cause the same to be performed or complied with, together with interest (to the extent provided for under such Note Documents) on any amount due and owing from the Company. The Guarantor, promptly after demand, will pay to the Holders the reasonable costs and expenses of collecting such amounts or otherwise enforcing this Guaranty, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel.

 

SECTION 3. Guarantor’s Obligations Unconditional . The obligations of the Guarantor under this Guaranty shall be primary, absolute and unconditional obligations of the Guarantor, shall not be subject to any counterclaim, set-off, deduction, diminution, abatement, recoupment, suspension, deferment, reduction or defense based upon any claim the Guarantor or any other person may have against the Company or any other person, and to the full extent permitted by applicable law shall remain in full force and effect without regard to, and shall not be released, discharged or in any way affected by, any circumstance or condition whatsoever other than the indefeasible payment in full of the Obligations (whether or not the Guarantor or the Company shall have any knowledge or notice thereof), including:

 

(a)           any termination, amendment or modification of or deletion from or addition or supplement to or other change in any of the Note Documents or any other instrument or agreement applicable to any of the parties to any of the Note Documents;

 

(b)           any furnishing or acceptance of any security, or any release of any security, for the Obligations, or the failure of any security or the failure of any person to perfect any interest in any collateral;

 

(c)           any failure, omission or delay on the part of the Company to conform or comply with any term of any of the Note Documents or any other instrument or agreement referred to in paragraph (a) above, including, without limitation, failure to give notice to the Guarantor of the occurrence of a “Default” or an “Event of Default” under any Note Document;

 

(d)           any waiver of the payment, performance or observance of any of the obligations, conditions, covenants or agreements contained in any Note Document, or any other waiver, consent, extension, indulgence, compromise, settlement, release or other action or inaction under or in respect of any of the Note Documents or any other

 

2



 

instrument or agreement referred to in paragraph (a) above or any obligation or liability of the Company, or any exercise or non-exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege under or in respect of any such instrument or agreement or any such obligation or liability;

 

(e)           any failure, omission or delay on the part of any of the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, power or remedy conferred on such Holder in this Guaranty, or any such failure, omission or delay on the part of such Holder in connection with any Note Document, or any other action on the part of such Holder;

 

(f)            any voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, readjustment, assignment for the benefit of creditors, composition, receivership, conservatorship, custodianship, liquidation, marshaling of assets and liabilities or similar proceedings with respect to the Company, the Guarantor or to any other person or any of their respective properties or creditors, or any action taken by any trustee or receiver or by any court in any such proceeding;

 

(g)           any discharge, termination, cancellation, frustration, irregularity, invalidity or unenforceability, in whole or in part, of any of the Note Documents or any other agreement or instrument referred to in paragraph (a) above or any term hereof;

 

(h)           any merger or consolidation of the Company or the Guarantor into or with any other corporation, or any sale, lease or transfer of any of the assets of the Company or the Guarantor to any other person;

 

(i)            any change in the ownership of any shares of capital stock of the Company or any change in the corporate relationship between the Company and the Guarantor, or any termination of such relationship;

 

(j)            any release or discharge, by operation of law, of any other guarantor from the performance or observance of any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in any other guarantee of the Note Documents or the Obligations; or

 

(k)           any other occurrence, circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether similar or dissimilar to the foregoing, whether foreseen or unforeseen, and any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable defense or discharge of the liabilities of a guarantor or surety or which might otherwise limit recourse against the Guarantor.

 

SECTION 4. Full Recourse Obligations . The obligations of the Guarantor set forth herein constitute the full recourse obligations of the Guarantor enforceable against it to the full extent of all its assets and properties.

 

SECTION 5. Waiver . The Guarantor unconditionally waives, to the extent permitted by applicable law, (a) notice of any of the matters referred to in Section 3, (b) notice to the

 

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Guarantor of the incurrence of any of the Obligations, notice to the Guarantor or the Company of any breach or default by the Company with respect to any of the Obligations or any other notice that may be required, by statute, rule of law or otherwise, to preserve any rights of the Holders against the Guarantor, (c) presentment to or demand of payment from the Company or the Guarantor with respect to any amount due under any Note Document or protest for nonpayment or dishonor, (d) any right to the enforcement, assertion or exercise by any of the Holders of any right, power, privilege or remedy conferred in the Note Purchase Agreement or any other Note Document or otherwise, (e) any requirement of diligence on the part of any of the Holders, (f) any requirement to exhaust any remedies or to mitigate the damages resulting from any default under any Note Document, (g) any notice of any sale, transfer or other disposition by any of the Holders of any right, title to or interest in the Note Purchase Agreement or in any other Note Document and (h) any other circumstance whatsoever which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge, release or defense of a guarantor or surety or which might otherwise limit recourse against the Guarantor.

 

SECTION 6. Subrogation, Contribution, Reimbursement or Indemnity . Until all Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, the Guarantor agrees not to take any action pursuant to any rights which may have arisen in connection with this Guaranty to be subrogated to any of the rights (whether contractual, under the United States Bankruptcy Code, as amended, including section 509 thereof, under common law or otherwise) of any of the Holders against the Company or against any collateral security or guaranty or right of offset held by the Holders for the payment of the Obligations. Until all Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, the Guarantor agrees not to take any action pursuant to any contractual, common law, statutory or other rights of reimbursement, contribution, exoneration or indemnity (or any similar right) from or against the Company which may have arisen in connection with this Guaranty. So long as the Obligations remain, if any amount shall be paid by or on behalf of the Company to the Guarantor on account of any of the rights waived in this paragraph, such amount shall be held by the Guarantor in trust, segregated from other funds of the Guarantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by the Guarantor, be turned over to the Holders (duly endorsed by the Guarantor to the Holders, if required), to be applied against the Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in such order as the Holders may determine.

 

SECTION 7. Effect of Bankruptcy Proceedings, etc. This Guaranty shall continue to be effective or be automatically reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, in whole or in part, of any of the sums due to any of the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Note Purchase Agreement or any other Note Document is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Holder upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Company or any other person, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a custodian, receiver, trustee or other officer with similar powers with respect to the Company or other person or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made. If an event permitting the acceleration of the maturity of the principal amount of the Notes shall at any time have occurred and be continuing and one or more Holders shall have attempted to accelerate the maturity of the principal amount of the Notes pursuant to and in compliance with Section 12.1 of the Note Purchase Agreement, or an event shall have occurred that pursuant to Section 12.1 of the Note Purchase Agreement purportedly results in the automatic acceleration of

 

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the maturity of the principal amount of the Notes, and in either such case such acceleration shall at such time be prevented by reason of the pendency against the Company or any other Person of a case or proceeding under a bankruptcy or insolvency law, the Guarantor agrees that, for purposes of this Guaranty and its obligations hereunder, the maturity of the principal amount of the Notes and all other Obligations shall be deemed to have been accelerated with the same effect as if any Holder had accelerated the same in accordance with the terms of the Note Purchase Agreement or other applicable Note Document, and the Guarantor shall forthwith pay such principal amount, Make-Whole Amount, if any, LIBOR Breakage Amount, if any, and interest thereon and any other amounts guaranteed hereunder without further notice or demand.

 

SECTION 8. Term of Agreement . This Guaranty and all guaranties, covenants and agreements of the Guarantor contained herein shall continue in full force and effect and shall not be discharged until such time as all of the Obligations shall be paid and performed in full and all of the agreements of the Guarantor hereunder shall be duly paid and performed in full.

 

SECTION 9. Notices . All notices and communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing and sent by telecopy if the sender on the same day sends a confirming copy of such notice by a recognized overnight delivery service (charges prepaid), or by registered or certified mail with return receipt requested (postage prepaid), or by a recognized overnight delivery service (with charges prepaid) (a) if to the Company or any Holder at the address set forth in the Note Purchase Agreement or (b) if to the Guarantor, in care of the Company at the Company’s address set forth in the Note Purchase Agreement, or in each case at such other address as the Company, any Holder or such Guarantor shall from time to time designate in writing to the other parties. Any notice so addressed shall be deemed to be given when actually received.

 

SECTION 10. Survival . All warranties, representations and covenants made by the Guarantor herein or in any certificate or other instrument delivered by it or on its behalf hereunder shall be considered to have been relied upon by the Holders and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Guaranty, regardless of any investigation made by any of the Holders. All statements in any such certificate or other instrument shall constitute warranties and representations by such Guarantor hereunder.

 

SECTION 11. Jurisdiction and Process; Waiver of Jury Trial .

 

(a)           The Guarantor irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York state or federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Parent Guaranty, the Note Purchase Agreement or the Notes. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Guarantor irrevocably waives and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise, any claim that it is not subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

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(b)           The Guarantor consents to process being served by or on behalf of any holder of Notes in any suit, action or proceeding solely of the nature referred to in Section 11(a) by mailing a copy thereof by registered, certified or priority mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or delivering a copy thereof in the manner for delivery of notices specified in Section 9, to it. The Guarantor agrees that such service upon receipt (i) shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon it in any such suit, action or proceeding and (ii) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be taken and held to be valid personal service upon and personal delivery to it. Notices hereunder shall be conclusively presumed received as evidenced by a delivery receipt furnished by the United States Postal Service or any reputable commercial delivery service.

 

(c)           Nothing in this Section 11 shall affect the right of any holder of a Note to serve process in any manner permitted by law, or limit any right that the holders of any of the Notes may have to bring proceedings against the Guarantor in the courts of any appropriate jurisdiction or to enforce in any lawful manner a judgment obtained in one jurisdiction in any other jurisdiction.

 

(d)           THE GUARANTOR WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION BROUGHT ON OR WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTES OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENT EXECUTED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THEREWITH.

 

SECTION 12. Miscellaneous . Any provision of this Guaranty that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Guarantor hereby waives any provision of law that renders any provisions hereof prohibited or unenforceable in any respect. The terms of this Guaranty shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the Guarantor and the Holders and their respective successors and assigns. No term or provision of this Guaranty may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by the Guarantor and the Required Holders. The section and paragraph headings in this Guaranty are for convenience of reference only and shall not modify, define, expand or limit any of the terms or provisions hereof, and all references herein to numbered sections, unless otherwise indicated, are to sections in this Guaranty. This Guaranty shall in all respects be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York excluding choice-of-law principles of the law of such State that would require the application of the laws of a jurisdiction other than such State.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Guarantor has caused this Guaranty to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

UNITED STATIONERS INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

7



 

EXHIBIT 1.3(a)(ii)

 

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY

 

THIS GUARANTY (this “Guaranty”) dated as of October 15, 2007 is made by each of the undersigned (each being a “Guarantor”), in favor of the holders from time to time of the Notes hereinafter referred to and their respective successors and assigns (collectively, the “Holders” and each individually, a “Holder”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H :

 

WHEREAS, UNITED STATIONERS SUPPLY CO., an Illinois corporation (the “Company”), UNITED STATIONERS INC., a Delaware corporation and the owner of all of the issued and outstanding stock of the Company (the “Parent”), and the initial Holders have entered into a Master Note Purchase Agreement dated as of October 15, 2007 (the Master Note Purchase Agreement as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms and in effect, the “Note Purchase Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, the Note Purchase Agreement contemplates the issuance by the Company of Notes (as defined in the Note Purchase Agreement) in one or more series and tranches;

 

WHEREAS, the Parent or Company directly or indirectly owns all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each Guarantor and, by virtue of such ownership and otherwise, such Guarantor has derived or will derive substantial benefits from the purchase by the Holders of the Notes;

 

WHEREAS, it is a requirement of the Note Purchase Agreement that each Guarantor execute and deliver this Guaranty to the Holders; and

 

WHEREAS, each Guarantor desires to execute and deliver this Guaranty to satisfy the requirement described in the preceding paragraph;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and other benefits to each Guarantor, and of the purchase of the Notes by the Holders, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are acknowledged, each Guarantor makes this Guaranty as follows:

 

SECTION 1            Definitions . Any capitalized terms not otherwise herein defined shall have the meanings attributed to them in the Note Purchase Agreement.

 

SECTION 2            Guaranty . Each Guarantor, jointly and severally with each other Guarantor, unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees to the Holders the due, prompt and complete payment by the Company of the principal of, Make-Whole Amount, if any, LIBOR Breakage Amount, if any, and interest on (including interest accruing or becoming owing subsequent to the commencement of any bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding involving the Company), and each other amount due under, the Notes and the Note Purchase

 

1



 

Agreement, when and as the same shall become due and payable (whether at stated maturity or by required or optional prepayment or by declaration or otherwise) in accordance with the terms of the Notes and the Note Purchase Agreement (the Notes and the Note Purchase Agreement being sometimes hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Note Documents” and the amounts payable by the Company under the Note Documents (including any reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses), being sometimes collectively hereinafter referred to as the “Obligations”). This Guaranty is a guaranty of payment and not just of collectibility and is in no way conditioned or contingent upon any attempt to collect from the Company or upon any other event, contingency or circumstance whatsoever. If for any reason whatsoever the Company shall fail or be unable duly, punctually and fully to pay such amounts as and when the same shall become due and payable, each Guarantor, without demand, presentment, notice of acceleration, notice of intent to accelerate, protest or notice of any kind, will forthwith pay or cause to be paid such amounts to the Holders under the terms of such Note Documents, in lawful money of the United States, at the place specified in the Note Purchase Agreement, or perform or comply with the same or cause the same to be performed or complied with, together with interest (to the extent provided for under such Note Documents) on any amount due and owing from the Company. Each Guarantor, promptly after demand, will pay to the Holders the reasonable costs and expenses of collecting such amounts or otherwise enforcing this Guaranty, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the right of recovery against each Guarantor under this Guaranty is limited to the extent it is judicially determined with respect to any Guarantor that entering into this Guaranty would violate Section 548 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or any comparable provisions of any state law, in which case such Guarantor shall be liable under this Guaranty only for amounts aggregating up to the largest amount that would not render such Guarantor’s obligations hereunder subject to avoidance under Section 548 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or any comparable provisions of any state law.

 

SECTION 3.           Guarantor’s Obligations Unconditional . The obligations of each Guarantor under this Guaranty shall be primary, absolute and unconditional obligations of each Guarantor, shall not be subject to any counterclaim, set-off, deduction, diminution, abatement, recoupment, suspension, deferment, reduction or defense based upon any claim each Guarantor or any other Person may have against the Company or any other Person, and to the full extent permitted by applicable law shall remain in full force and effect without regard to, and except as provided in Section 9.7(b) of the Note Purchase Agreement, shall not be released, discharged or in any way affected by, any circumstance or condition whatsoever other than indefeasibly payment in full of the Obligations (whether or not each Guarantor or the Company shall have any knowledge or notice thereof), including:

 

(a)           any termination, amendment or modification of or deletion from or addition or supplement to or other change in any of the Note Documents or any other instrument or agreement applicable to any of the parties to any of the Note Documents;

 

(b)           any furnishing or acceptance of any security, or any release of any security, for the Obligations, or the failure of any security or the failure of any Person to perfect any interest in any collateral;

 

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(c)           any failure, omission or delay on the part of the Company to conform or comply with any term of any of the Note Documents or any other instrument or agreement referred to in paragraph (a) above, including, without limitation, failure to give notice to any Guarantor of the occurrence of a “Default” or an “Event of Default” under any Note Document;

 

(d)           any waiver of the payment, performance or observance of any of the obligations, conditions, covenants or agreements contained in any Note Document, or any other waiver, consent, extension, indulgence, compromise, settlement, release or other action or inaction under or in respect of any of the Note Documents or any other instrument or agreement referred to in paragraph (a) above or any obligation or liability of the Company, or any exercise or non-exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege under or in respect of any such instrument or agreement or any such obligation or liability;

 

(e)           any failure, omission or delay on the part of any of the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, power or remedy conferred on such Holder in this Guaranty, or any such failure, omission or delay on the part of such Holder in connection with any Note Document, or any other action on the part of such Holder;

 

(f)            any voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, readjustment, assignment for the benefit of creditors, composition, receivership, conservatorship, custodianship, liquidation, marshaling of assets and liabilities or similar proceedings with respect to the Company, any Guarantor or to any other Person or any of their respective properties or creditors, or any action taken by any trustee or receiver or by any court in any such proceeding;

 

(g)           any discharge, termination, cancellation, frustration, irregularity, invalidity or unenforceability, in whole or in part, of any of the Note Documents or any other agreement or instrument referred to in paragraph (a) above or any term hereof;

 

(h)           any merger or consolidation of the Company or any Guarantor into or with any other corporation, or any sale, lease or transfer of any of the assets of the Company or any Guarantor to any other Person;

 

(i)            any change in the ownership of any shares of capital stock of the Company or any change in the corporate relationship between the Company and any Guarantor, or any termination of such relationship;

 

(j)            any release or discharge, by operation of law, of any Guarantor from the performance or observance of any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in this Guaranty; or

 

(k)           any other occurrence, circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether similar or dissimilar to the foregoing, whether foreseen or unforeseen, and any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable defense or

 

3



 

discharge of the liabilities of a guarantor or surety or which might otherwise limit recourse against any Guarantor.

 

SECTION 4.           Full Recourse Obligations . The obligations of each Guarantor set forth herein constitute the full recourse obligations of such Guarantor enforceable against it to the full extent of all its assets and properties.

 

SECTION 5.           Waiver . Each Guarantor unconditionally waives, to the extent permitted by applicable law, (a) notice of any of the matters referred to in Section 3, (b) notice to such Guarantor of the incurrence of any of the Obligations, notice to such Guarantor or the Company of any breach or default by such Company with respect to any of the Obligations or any other notice that may be required, by statute, rule of law or otherwise, to preserve any rights of the Holders against such Guarantor, (c) presentment to, notice of acceleration of, notice of intent to accelerate or demand of payment from the Company or the Guarantor with respect to any amount due under any Note Document or protest for nonpayment or dishonor, (d) any right to the enforcement, assertion or exercise by any of the Holders of any right, power, privilege or remedy conferred in the Note Purchase Agreement or any other Note Document or otherwise, (e) any requirement of diligence on the part of any of the Holders, (f) any requirement to exhaust any remedies or to mitigate the damages resulting from any default under any Note Document, (g) any notice of any sale, transfer or other disposition by any of the Holders of any right, title to or interest in the Note Purchase Agreement or in any other Note Document and (h) any other circumstance whatsoever which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge, release or defense of a guarantor or surety or which might otherwise limit recourse against such Guarantor.

 

SECTION 6.           Subrogation, Contribution, Reimbursement or Indemnity . Until all Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, each Guarantor agrees not to take any action pursuant to any rights which may have arisen in connection with this Guaranty to be subrogated to any of the rights (whether contractual, under the United States Bankruptcy Code, as amended, including Section 509 thereof, under common law or otherwise) of any of the Holders against the Company or against any collateral security or guaranty or right of offset held by the Holders for the payment of the Obligations. Until all Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, each Guarantor agrees not to take any action pursuant to any contractual, common law, statutory or other rights of reimbursement, contribution, exoneration or indemnity (or any similar right) from or against the Company which may have arisen in connection with this Guaranty. So long as the Obligations remain, if any amount shall be paid by or on behalf of the Company to any Guarantor on account of any of the rights waived in this paragraph, such amount shall be held by such Guarantor in trust, segregated from other funds of such Guarantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Guarantor, be turned over to the Holders (duly endorsed by such Guarantor to the Holders, if required), to be applied against the Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in such order as the Holders may determine.

 

SECTION 7.           Effect of Bankruptcy Proceedings, etc . This Guaranty shall continue to be effective or be automatically reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, in whole or in part, of any of the sums due to any of the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Note Purchase Agreement or any other Note Document is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned

 

4



 

by such Holder upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Company or any other Person, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a custodian, receiver, trustee or other officer with similar powers with respect to the Company or other person or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made. If an event permitting the acceleration of the maturity of the principal amount of the Notes shall at any time have occurred and be continuing and one or more Holders shall have attempted to accelerate the maturity of the principal amount of the Notes pursuant to and in compliance with Section 12.1 of the Note Purchase Agreement, or an event shall have occurred that pursuant to Section 12.1 of the Note Purchase Agreement purportedly results in the automatic acceleration of the maturity of the principal amount of the Notes, and in either such case such acceleration shall at such time be prevented by reason of the pendency against the Company or any other Person of a case or proceeding under a bankruptcy or insolvency law, each Guarantor agrees that, for purposes of this Guaranty and its obligations hereunder, the maturity of the principal amount of the Notes and all other Obligations shall be deemed to have been accelerated with the same effect as if any Holder had accelerated the same in accordance with the terms of the Note Purchase Agreement or other applicable Note Document, and such Guarantor shall forthwith pay such principal amount, Make-Whole Amount, if any, LIBOR Breakage Amount, if any, and interest thereon and any other amounts guaranteed hereunder without further notice or demand.

 

SECTION 8.           Term of Agreement . Subject to Section 9.7(b) of the Note Purchase Agreement, this Guaranty and all guaranties, covenants and agreements of each Guarantor contained herein shall continue in full force and effect and shall not be discharged until such time as all of the Obligations shall be irrevocably paid and performed in full in cash and all of the agreements of such Guarantor hereunder shall be irrevocably duly paid and performed in full in cash.

 

SECTION 9.           Representations and Warranties . Each Guarantor represents and warrants to each Holder that:

 

(a)           such Guarantor is a corporation or other legal entity validly existing and in good standing or equivalent status under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and has the corporate or other power and authority to own and operate its property, to lease the property it operates as lessee and to conduct the business in which it is currently engaged;

 

(b)           such Guarantor has the corporate or other power and authority and the legal right to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, this Guaranty, and has taken all necessary corporate or other action to authorize its execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty;

 

(c)           this Guaranty constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Guarantor enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law);

 

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(d)           the execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty will not violate any requirement of law applicable to such Guarantor or material contractual obligation of such Guarantor and, except as provided in the Note Purchase Agreement, will not result in or require the creation or imposition of any Lien on any of the properties, revenues or assets of the Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of any material contractual obligation of such Guarantor or any requirement of law;

 

(e)           except as provided in the Note Purchase Agreement, no consent or authorization of, filing with, or other act by or in respect of, any arbitrator or governmental authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of this Guaranty;

 

(f)            except as provided in the Note Purchase Agreement, no litigation, investigation or proceeding of or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority is pending or, to the knowledge of such Guarantor, threatened by or against such Guarantor or any of its properties (i) with respect to this Guaranty or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or (ii) which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(g)           the execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty will not violate any provision of any order, judgment, writ, award or decree of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority, domestic or foreign, or of the charter or by-laws of such Guarantor or of any securities issued by such Guarantor; and

 

(h)           after giving effect to the transactions contemplated herein and after giving due consideration to any rights of contribution, (i) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Guarantor is in excess of the amount that will be required to pay its probable liability on its existing debts as said debts become absolute and matured, (ii)  such Guarantor has received reasonably equivalent value for executing and delivering this Guaranty, (iii) the property remaining in the hands of such Guarantor is not an unreasonably small capital, and (iv) such Guarantor is able to pay its debts as they mature.

 

SECTION 10.         Notices . All notices and communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing and sent by telecopy if the sender on the same day sends a confirming copy of such notice by a recognized overnight delivery service (charges prepaid), or by registered or certified mail with return receipt requested (postage prepaid), or by a recognized overnight delivery service (with charges prepaid) (a) if to the Company or any Holder at the address set forth in,  the Note Purchase Agreement or (b) if to a Guarantor, in care of the Company at the Company’s address set forth in the Note Purchase Agreement, or in each case at such other address as the Company, any Holder or such Guarantor shall from time to time designate in writing to the other parties. Any notice so addressed shall be deemed to be given when actually received.

 

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SECTION 11. Jurisdiction and Process; Waiver of Jury Trial .

 

(a)           Each Guarantor irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York state or federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Guaranty, the Note Purchase Agreement or the Notes. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor irrevocably waives and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise, any claim that it is not subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

(b)           Each Guarantor consents to process being served in any suit, action or proceeding solely of the nature referred to in Section 11(a) by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified or priority mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or delivering a copy thereof in the manner for delivery of notices specified in Section 10, to it. Each Guarantor agrees that such service upon receipt (i) shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon it in any such suit, action or proceeding and (ii) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be taken and held to be valid personal service upon and personal delivery to it. Notices hereunder shall be conclusively presumed received as evidenced by a delivery receipt furnished by the United States Postal Service or any reputable commercial delivery service.

 

(c)           Nothing in this Section 11 shall affect the right of any holder of a Note to serve process in any manner permitted by law, or limit any right that the holders of any of the Notes may have to bring proceedings against the Company in the courts of any appropriate jurisdiction or to enforce in any lawful manner a judgment obtained in one jurisdiction in any other jurisdiction.

 

(d)           EACH GUARANTOR WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION BROUGHT ON OR WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTES OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENT EXECUTED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THEREWITH.

 

SECTION 12.         Miscellaneous . Any provision of this Guaranty which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. To the extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor hereby waives any provision of law that renders any provisions hereof prohibited or unenforceable in any respect. The terms of this Guaranty shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, each Guarantor and the Holders and their respective successors and assigns. It is agreed and understood that any Subsidiary of the Company or of any Guarantor may become a Guarantor hereunder by executing a Joinder substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto and delivering the same to the Holders. Any such Person shall thereafter be a

 

7



 

“Guarantor” for all purposes under this Guaranty. No term or provision of this Guaranty may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by each Guarantor and the Holders; provided, however, that a Guarantor may be fully released and discharged from this Guaranty pursuant to the terms of Section 9.7(b) of the Note Purchase Agreement. The section and paragraph headings in this Guaranty are for convenience of reference only and shall not modify, define, expand or limit any of the terms or provisions hereof, and all references herein to numbered sections, unless otherwise indicated, are to sections in this Guaranty. This Guaranty shall in all respects be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York excluding choice-of-law principles of the law of such State that would require the application of the laws of a jurisdiction other than such State.

 

8



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Guarantor has caused this Guaranty to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

UNITED STATIONERS FINANCIAL
SERVICES LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

UNITED STATIONERS TECHNOLOGY
SERVICES LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAGASSE, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

9



 

FORM OF JOINDER TO SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY

 

The undersigned (the “Guarantor”), joins in the Subsidiary Guaranty dated as of October 15, 2007 from the Guarantors named therein in favor of the Holders, as defined therein, and (i) jointly and severally with the other Guarantors under the Subsidiary Guaranty, guarantees to the Holders from time to time of the Notes the prompt payment in full when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) and the full and prompt performance and observance of all Obligations (as defined in Section 2 of the Subsidiary Guaranty), (ii) accepts and agrees to perform and observe all of the covenants set forth therein, (iii) waives the rights set forth in Section 5 of the Subsidiary Guaranty, (iv) waives the rights, submits to jurisdiction, and waives service of process as described in Section 11 of the Subsidiary Guaranty and (v) agrees to be bound by all of the terms thereof and represents and warrants to the Holders that:

 

(a)           the Guarantor is validly existing and in good standing or equivalent status under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and has the requisite power and authority to own and operate its property, to lease the property it operates as lessee and to conduct the business in which it is currently engaged;

 

(b)           the Guarantor has the requisite power and authority and the legal right to execute and deliver this Joinder to Subsidiary Guaranty (“Joinder”) and to perform its obligations hereunder and under the Subsidiary Guaranty and has taken all necessary action to authorize its execution and delivery of this Joinder and its performance of the Subsidiary Guaranty; and

 

(c)           the Subsidiary Guaranty constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Guarantor enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Joinder to Subsidiary Guaranty to be duly executed as of                           ,         .

 

[Name of Guarantor]

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

1



 

EXHIBIT 4.4(a)

 

FORM OF OPINION OF COUNSEL
FOR THE COMPANY

 

The opinion of Mayer Brown LLP, counsel for the Company, shall be to the effect that:

 

1.             The Company is a corporation validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Illinois, and has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform the Agreement and the Collateral Documents to which it is a party and to issue and sell the Notes.

 

2.             The Parent is a corporation validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Delaware, and has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform the Agreement and to execute, deliver and perform the Parent Guaranty and the Collateral Documents to which it is a party.

 

3.             Each of the Illinois Subsidiary Guarantors is a limited liability company validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Illinois, and has all requisite limited liability company power and authority to execute, deliver and perform the Subsidiary Guaranty and the Collateral Documents to which it is a party.

 

4.             The Agreement, the Covered Collateral Documents to which it is a party and the Notes have been duly authorized by proper corporate action on the part of the Company, have been duly executed and delivered by an authorized officer of the Company, and constitute valid and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer, moratorium or similar laws of general application now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the enforcement of the rights of creditors or other obligees generally or by general equitable principles, regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law.

 

5.             The Agreement, the Covered Collateral Documents to which it is a party and the Parent Guaranty have been duly authorized by proper corporate action on part of the Parent, have been duly executed and delivered by an authorized officer of the Parent, and constitute valid and binding agreements of the Parent, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except to the except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer, moratorium or similar laws of general application now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the enforcement of the rights of creditors or other obligees generally or by general equitable principles, regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law.

 

6.             The Subsidiary Guaranty and the Covered Collateral Documents to which it is a party have been duly authorized by proper limited liability company action on the part of the Illinois Subsidiary Guarantors and have been duly executed and delivered by authorized officers of the Illinois Subsidiary Guarantors.

 



 

7.             The Subsidiary Guaranty and the Covered Collateral Documents to which it is a party and constitute valid and binding agreements of the Subsidiary Guarantors, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer, moratorium or similar laws of general application now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the enforcement of the rights of creditors or other obligees generally or by general equitable principles, regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law.

 

8.             Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of all parties set forth in the Agreement and the representations of J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. set forth in a letter to the Company dated as of the date hereof regarding the offering of the Notes, the offer, sale and delivery of the Notes by the Company, the delivery of the Parent Guaranty by the Parent and the delivery of the Subsidiary Guaranty by the Subsidiary Guarantors do not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the qualification of an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

 

9.             No authorization, approval or consent of, and no registration or qualification with, any U.S. Federal or Illinois state Governmental Authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by (i) the Company or the Parent of the Agreement and each Collateral Document to which it is a party or the offering, issuance and sale by the Company of the Notes, (ii) the Parent of the Parent Guaranty, or (iii) any Subsidiary Guarantor of the Subsidiary Guaranty and each Collateral Document to which it is a party.

 

10.           The issuance and sale of the Notes by the Company, the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Notes, the Agreement and the Covered Collateral Documents to which it is a party and the execution and delivery of the Agreement and the Covered Collateral Documents to which it is a party by the Company does not (i) violate any Applicable Law or any provision of the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the Company, or (ii) conflict with, or result in any breach or default under, or, except as contemplated by the Collateral Documents, result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance on, the property of the Company pursuant to the provisions of any agreement or instrument listed on Schedule I hereto.

 

11.           The execution and delivery of the Agreement, the Parent Guaranty and the
Covered Collateral Documents to which it is a party by the Parent and the performance of its obligations thereunder does not (i) violate any Applicable Law or any provision of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Parent, or (ii) conflict with, or result in any breach or default under, or, except as contemplated by the Collateral Documents, result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance on, the property of the Parent pursuant to the provisions of any agreement or instrument listed on Schedule I hereto.

 

12.           The execution and delivery of the Subsidiary Guaranty and the Covered Collateral Documents to which it is a party by each Subsidiary Guarantor and the performance of their respective obligations thereunder does not violate any Applicable Law.

 

2



 

13.           The execution and delivery of the Subsidiary Guaranty and the Covered Collateral Documents to which it is a party by each Illinois Subsidiary Guarantor and the performance of their respective obligations thereunder does not violate any provision of the organizational documents of such Illinois Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

14.           The execution and delivery of the Subsidiary Guaranty and the Covered Collateral Documents to which it is a party by each Subsidiary Guarantor and the performance of its obligations thereunder does not conflict with, or result in any breach or default under, or, except as contemplated by the Collateral Documents, result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance on, the property of such Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of any agreement or instrument listed on Schedule I hereto.

 

15.           None of the Company, the Parent, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any Subsidiary is an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

16.           Based on the representations and warranties set forth in the Agreement, the issuance of the Notes and the intended use of the proceeds of the sale of the Notes do not violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

 

17.           The provisions of the Security Agreement are effective under the New York UCC to create in favor of the Collateral Agent a security interest in the rights of the Company, the Parent and each Subsidiary Guarantor in that portion of the collateral of the Company, the Parent and each Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, in which a security interest was purported to be granted under the Security Agreement and in which a security interest may be created under Article 9 of the New York UCC (the “Article 9 Collateral”).

 

18.           As evidenced by the time-stamped copies of the Financing Statements naming the Company, the Parent and each Illinois Subsidiary Guarantor as debtors attached as exhibits to such opinion, such financing statements were filed and accordingly the Collateral Agent’s security interest in the Article 9 Collateral of the Company, the Parent and each Illinois Subsidiary Guarantor in which a security interest may be perfected by filing a financing statement under the UCC as in effect in the state of filing has been perfected.

 

19.           Assuming the Collateral Agent takes delivery and retains possession in the State of Illinois of certificates in registered form representing the securities pledged to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Security Agreement (the “Pledged Securities”), and further assuming the Pledged Securities are each duly indorsed to the Collateral Agent or in blank by an effective endorsement or are accompanied by undated stock powers with respect thereto duly indorsed to the Collateral Agent or in blank by an effective endorsement, the Collateral Agent’s security interest in the rights of the Company or the Parent, as applicable, in the Pledged Securities will be perfected.

 

The opinion of Mayer Brown LLP shall cover such other matters relating to the sale of the Notes as the Purchasers may reasonably request. With respect to matters of fact on which such opinion is based, such counsel shall be entitled to rely on appropriate certificates of public officials and officers of the Company. The opinion of Mayer Brown LLP may be limited to matters governed

 

3



 

by the laws of the United States of America, the laws of the state of New York and Illinois, the Delaware General Corporation Law and the Delaware UCC. The opinion shall also state that subsequent permitted transferees and assignees of the Notes may rely thereon.

 

4



 

FORM OF OPINION OF COUNSEL
FOR LAGASSE, INC.

 

The opinion of Phelps Dunbar, L.L.P., counsel for Lagasse, Inc. (the “Company”), shall be to the effect that:

 

1.             The Company is a corporation validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Louisiana, and has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform the Subsidiary Guaranty and the Collateral Documents to which it is a party.

 

2.             The Subsidiary Guaranty and the Covered Collateral Documents to which it is a party have been duly authorized by proper corporate action on the part of the Company and have been duly executed and delivered by authorized officers of the Company.

 

3.             The execution and delivery of the Subsidiary Guaranty and the Covered Collateral Documents to which it is a party by the Company and the performance of its obligations thereunder does not violate any Applicable Law or any provision of the organizational documents of the Company.

 

4.             As evidenced by the time-stamped copy of the Financing Statement naming the Company as debtor attached as an exhibit to such opinion, such financing statement was filed and, assuming that the Security Agreement creates in favor of the Collateral Agent a security interest in the rights of the Company in the collateral of the Company in which a security interest may be created under Article 9 of the New York UCC (the “Article 9 Collateral”), the Collateral Agent’s security interest in the Article 9 Collateral of the Company in which a security interest may be perfected by filing a financing statement under the Louisiana UCC has been perfected.

 

The opinion of Phelps Dunbar, L.L.P. shall cover such other matters relating to the sale of the Notes as the Purchasers may reasonably request. With respect to matters of fact on which such opinion is based, such counsel shall be entitled to rely on appropriate certificates of public officials and officers of the Company. The opinion of Phelps Dunbar, L.L.P. may be limited to matters governed by the laws of the state of Louisiana. The opinion shall also state that subsequent permitted transferees and assignees of the Notes and Foley & Lardner LLP may rely thereon.

 

5



 

EXHIBIT 4.4(b)

 

FORM OF OPINION OF SPECIAL COUNSEL
TO THE PURCHASERS

 

The opinion of Foley & Lardner LLP, special counsel to the Purchasers, shall be to the effect that:

 

1.             The Company is a corporation validly existing in good standing under the laws of the state of Illinois, with requisite corporate power and authority to enter into the Agreement and to issue and sell the Notes. The Parent is a corporation validly existing in good standing under the laws of the state of Delaware, with requisite corporate power and authority to enter into the Parent Guaranty and to issue and sell the Notes.

 

2.             The Agreement and the Notes have been duly authorized by proper corporate action on the part of the Company, have been duly executed and delivered by an authorized officer of the Company, and constitute the legal, valid and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer, moratorium or similar laws of general application relating to or affecting the enforcement of the rights of creditors or by equitable principles, regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law.

 

3.             The Agreement and the Parent Guaranty have been duly authorized by proper corporate action on the part of the Parent, have been duly executed and delivered by an authorized officer of the Parent, and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Parent, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except to the extent the enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws of general application relating to or affecting the enforcement of the rights of creditors or by equitable principles, regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law.

 

4.             The Subsidiary Guaranty constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of each Subsidiary Guarantor, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except to the extent the enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws of general application relating to or affecting the enforcement of the rights of creditors or by equitable principles, regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law.

 

5.             Based upon the representations set forth in the Agreement, the offering, sale and delivery of the Notes and the execution and delivery of the Parent Guaranty and the Subsidiary Guaranty do not require the registration of the Notes, the Parent Guaranty or the Subsidiary Guaranty under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, nor the qualification of an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

 



 

6.             No approval, consent or withholding of objection on the part of, or filing, registration or qualification with, any governmental body, Federal or state, is necessary in connection with the execution and delivery of the Note Agreement or the Notes.

 

Foley & Lardner LLP may rely, as to the due authorization, execution and delivery by each Subsidiary Guarantor of the Subsidiary Guaranty, upon the opinion of Phelps Dunbar, L.L.P. , counsel for the Company. Foley & Lardner LLP shall state that such opinion is satisfactory in form and scope to it, and that, in its opinion, the Purchasers and it are justified in relying thereon and shall cover such other matters relating to the sale of the Notes as the Purchasers may reasonably request.

 

2


Exhibit 4.4

 

CONFORMED COPY

 

PARENT GUARANTY

 

THIS GUARANTY (this “Guaranty”) dated as of October 15, 2007 is made by UNITED STATIONERS INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Guarantor”), in favor of the holders from time to time of the Notes hereinafter referred to, including each purchaser named in the Master Note Purchase Agreement hereinafter referred to, and their respective successors and assigns (collectively, the “Holders” and each individually, a “Holder”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H :

 

WHEREAS, UNITED STATIONERS SUPPLY CO., an Illinois corporation (the “Company”), the Guarantor and the initial Holders have entered into a Master Note Purchase Agreement dated as of October 15, 2007 (the Master Note Purchase Agreement as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms and in effect, the “Note Purchase Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, the Note Purchase Agreement contemplates the issuance by the Company of Notes (as defined in the Note Purchase Agreement) in one or more series and tranches;

 

WHEREAS, the Company is a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Guarantor and the Guarantor will derive substantial benefits from the purchase by the Holders of the Notes;

 

WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the obligation of the Holders to purchase the Notes that the Guarantor shall have executed and delivered this Guaranty to the Holders; and

 

WHEREAS, the Guarantor desires to execute and deliver this Guaranty to satisfy the conditions described in the preceding paragraph;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and other benefits to the Guarantor, and of the purchase of the Notes by the Holders, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are acknowledged, the Guarantor makes this Guaranty as follows:

 

SECTION 1. Definitions . Any capitalized terms not otherwise herein defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Note Purchase Agreement.

 

SECTION 2. Guaranty . The Guarantor unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees to the Holders the due, prompt and complete payment by the Company of the principal of, Make-Whole Amount or LIBOR Breakage Amount, if any, and interest on (including interest accruing or becoming owing subsequent to the commencement of any bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding involving the Company), and each other amount due under, the Notes and the Note Purchase Agreement, when and as the same shall become due and payable (whether at stated maturity or by required or optional prepayment or by declaration or otherwise) in accordance with the terms of the Notes and the Note Purchase Agreement (the Notes and the Note Purchase Agreement being sometimes hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Note Documents” and the amounts payable by the Company under the Note Documents, and all other

 



 

monetary obligations of the Company thereunder (including any reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses), being sometimes collectively hereinafter referred to as the “Obligations”). This Guaranty is a guaranty of payment and not just of collectibility and is in no way conditioned or contingent upon any attempt to collect from the Company or upon any other event, contingency or circumstance whatsoever. If for any reason whatsoever the Company shall fail or be unable duly, punctually and fully to pay such amounts as and when the same shall become due and payable, the Guarantor, without demand, presentment, protest or notice of any kind, will forthwith pay or cause to be paid such amounts to the Holders under the terms of such Note Documents, in lawful money of the United States, at the place specified in the Note Purchase Agreement, or perform or comply with the same or cause the same to be performed or complied with, together with interest (to the extent provided for under such Note Documents) on any amount due and owing from the Company. The Guarantor, promptly after demand, will pay to the Holders the reasonable costs and expenses of collecting such amounts or otherwise enforcing this Guaranty, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel.

 

SECTION 3. Guarantor’s Obligations Unconditional . The obligations of the Guarantor under this Guaranty shall be primary, absolute and unconditional obligations of the Guarantor, shall not be subject to any counterclaim, set-off, deduction, diminution, abatement, recoupment, suspension, deferment, reduction or defense based upon any claim the Guarantor or any other person may have against the Company or any other person, and to the full extent permitted by applicable law shall remain in full force and effect without regard to, and shall not be released, discharged or in any way affected by, any circumstance or condition whatsoever other than the indefeasible payment in full of the Obligations (whether or not the Guarantor or the Company shall have any knowledge or notice thereof), including:

 

(a)           any termination, amendment or modification of or deletion from or addition or supplement to or other change in any of the Note Documents or any other instrument or agreement applicable to any of the parties to any of the Note Documents;

 

(b)           any furnishing or acceptance of any security, or any release of any security, for the Obligations, or the failure of any security or the failure of any person to perfect any interest in any collateral;

 

(c)           any failure, omission or delay on the part of the Company to conform or comply with any term of any of the Note Documents or any other instrument or agreement referred to in paragraph (a) above, including, without limitation, failure to give notice to the Guarantor of the occurrence of a “Default” or an “Event of Default” under any Note Document;

 

(d)           any waiver of the payment, performance or observance of any of the obligations, conditions, covenants or agreements contained in any Note Document, or any other waiver, consent, extension, indulgence, compromise, settlement, release or other action or inaction under or in respect of any of the Note Documents or any other instrument or agreement referred to in paragraph (a) above or any obligation or liability of the Company, or any exercise or non-exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege

 



 

under or in respect of any such instrument or agreement or any such obligation or liability;

 

(e)           any failure, omission or delay on the part of any of the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, power or remedy conferred on such Holder in this Guaranty, or any such failure, omission or delay on the part of such Holder in connection with any Note Document, or any other action on the part of such Holder;

 

(f)            any voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, readjustment, assignment for the benefit of creditors, composition, receivership, conservatorship, custodianship, liquidation, marshaling of assets and liabilities or similar proceedings with respect to the Company, the Guarantor or to any other person or any of their respective properties or creditors, or any action taken by any trustee or receiver or by any court in any such proceeding;

 

(g)           any discharge, termination, cancellation, frustration, irregularity, invalidity or unenforceability, in whole or in part, of any of the Note Documents or any other agreement or instrument referred to in paragraph (a) above or any term hereof;

 

(h)           any merger or consolidation of the Company or the Guarantor into or with any other corporation, or any sale, lease or transfer of any of the assets of the Company or the Guarantor to any other person;

 

(i)            any change in the ownership of any shares of capital stock of the Company or any change in the corporate relationship between the Company and the Guarantor, or any termination of such relationship;

 

(j)            any release or discharge, by operation of law, of any other guarantor from the performance or observance of any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in any other guarantee of the Note Documents or the Obligations; or

 

(k)           any other occurrence, circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether similar or dissimilar to the foregoing, whether foreseen or unforeseen, and any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable defense or discharge of the liabilities of a guarantor or surety or which might otherwise limit recourse against the Guarantor.

 

SECTION 4. Full Recourse Obligations . The obligations of the Guarantor set forth herein constitute the full recourse obligations of the Guarantor enforceable against it to the full extent of all its assets and properties.

 

SECTION 5. Waiver . The Guarantor unconditionally waives, to the extent permitted by applicable law, (a) notice of any of the matters referred to in Section 3, (b) notice to the Guarantor of the incurrence of any of the Obligations, notice to the Guarantor or the Company of any breach or default by the Company with respect to any of the Obligations or any other notice that may be required, by statute, rule of law or otherwise, to preserve any rights of the Holders

 



 

against the Guarantor, (c) presentment to or demand of payment from the Company or the Guarantor with respect to any amount due under any Note Document or protest for nonpayment or dishonor, (d) any right to the enforcement, assertion or exercise by any of the Holders of any right, power, privilege or remedy conferred in the Note Purchase Agreement or any other Note Document or otherwise, (e) any requirement of diligence on the part of any of the Holders, (f) any requirement to exhaust any remedies or to mitigate the damages resulting from any default under any Note Document, (g) any notice of any sale, transfer or other disposition by any of the Holders of any right, title to or interest in the Note Purchase Agreement or in any other Note Document and (h) any other circumstance whatsoever which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge, release or defense of a guarantor or surety or which might otherwise limit recourse against the Guarantor.

 

SECTION 6. Subrogation, Contribution, Reimbursement or Indemnity . Until all Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, the Guarantor agrees not to take any action pursuant to any rights which may have arisen in connection with this Guaranty to be subrogated to any of the rights (whether contractual, under the United States Bankruptcy Code, as amended, including section 509 thereof, under common law or otherwise) of any of the Holders against the Company or against any collateral security or guaranty or right of offset held by the Holders for the payment of the Obligations. Until all Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, the Guarantor agrees not to take any action pursuant to any contractual, common law, statutory or other rights of reimbursement, contribution, exoneration or indemnity (or any similar right) from or against the Company which may have arisen in connection with this Guaranty. So long as the Obligations remain, if any amount shall be paid by or on behalf of the Company to the Guarantor on account of any of the rights waived in this paragraph, such amount shall be held by the Guarantor in trust, segregated from other funds of the Guarantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by the Guarantor, be turned over to the Holders (duly endorsed by the Guarantor to the Holders, if required), to be applied against the Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in such order as the Holders may determine.

 

SECTION 7. Effect of Bankruptcy Proceedings, etc. This Guaranty shall continue to be effective or be automatically reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, in whole or in part, of any of the sums due to any of the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Note Purchase Agreement or any other Note Document is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Holder upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Company or any other person, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a custodian, receiver, trustee or other officer with similar powers with respect to the Company or other person or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made. If an event permitting the acceleration of the maturity of the principal amount of the Notes shall at any time have occurred and be continuing and one or more Holders shall have attempted to accelerate the maturity of the principal amount of the Notes pursuant to and in compliance with Section 12.1 of the Note Purchase Agreement, or an event shall have occurred that pursuant to Section 12.1 of the Note Purchase Agreement purportedly results in the automatic acceleration of the maturity of the principal amount of the Notes, and in either such case such acceleration shall at such time be prevented by reason of the pendency against the Company or any other Person of a case or proceeding under a bankruptcy or insolvency law, the Guarantor agrees that, for purposes of this Guaranty and its obligations hereunder, the maturity of the principal amount of

 



 

the Notes and all other Obligations shall be deemed to have been accelerated with the same effect as if any Holder had accelerated the same in accordance with the terms of the Note Purchase Agreement or other applicable Note Document, and the Guarantor shall forthwith pay such principal amount, Make-Whole Amount, if any, LIBOR Breakage Amount, if any, and interest thereon and any other amounts guaranteed hereunder without further notice or demand.

 

SECTION 8. Term of Agreement . This Guaranty and all guaranties, covenants and agreements of the Guarantor contained herein shall continue in full force and effect and shall not be discharged until such time as all of the Obligations shall be paid and performed in full and all of the agreements of the Guarantor hereunder shall be duly paid and performed in full.

 

SECTION 9. Notices . All notices and communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing and sent by telecopy if the sender on the same day sends a confirming copy of such notice by a recognized overnight delivery service (charges prepaid), or by registered or certified mail with return receipt requested (postage prepaid), or by a recognized overnight delivery service (with charges prepaid) (a) if to the Company or any Holder at the address set forth in the Note Purchase Agreement or (b) if to the Guarantor, in care of the Company at the Company’s address set forth in the Note Purchase Agreement, or in each case at such other address as the Company, any Holder or such Guarantor shall from time to time designate in writing to the other parties. Any notice so addressed shall be deemed to be given when actually received.

 

SECTION 10. Survival . All warranties, representations and covenants made by the Guarantor herein or in any certificate or other instrument delivered by it or on its behalf hereunder shall be considered to have been relied upon by the Holders and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Guaranty, regardless of any investigation made by any of the Holders. All statements in any such certificate or other instrument shall constitute warranties and representations by such Guarantor hereunder.

 

SECTION 11. Jurisdiction and Process; Waiver of Jury Trial .

 

(a)           The Guarantor irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York state or federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Parent Guaranty, the Note Purchase Agreement or the Notes. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Guarantor irrevocably waives and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise, any claim that it is not subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

(b)           The Guarantor consents to process being served by or on behalf of any holder of Notes in any suit, action or proceeding solely of the nature referred to in Section 11(a) by mailing a copy thereof by registered, certified or priority mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or delivering a copy thereof in the manner for delivery of notices specified in Section 9, to it. The Guarantor agrees that such service upon

 



 

receipt (i) shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon it in any such suit, action or proceeding and (ii) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be taken and held to be valid personal service upon and personal delivery to it. Notices hereunder shall be conclusively presumed received as evidenced by a delivery receipt furnished by the United States Postal Service or any reputable commercial delivery service.

 

(c)           Nothing in this Section 11 shall affect the right of any holder of a Note to serve process in any manner permitted by law, or limit any right that the holders of any of the Notes may have to bring proceedings against the Guarantor in the courts of any appropriate jurisdiction or to enforce in any lawful manner a judgment obtained in one jurisdiction in any other jurisdiction.

 

(d)           THE GUARANTOR WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION BROUGHT ON OR WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTES OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENT EXECUTED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THEREWITH.

 

SECTION 12. Miscellaneous . Any provision of this Guaranty that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Guarantor hereby waives any provision of law that renders any provisions hereof prohibited or unenforceable in any respect. The terms of this Guaranty shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the Guarantor and the Holders and their respective successors and assigns. No term or provision of this Guaranty may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by the Guarantor and the Required Holders. The section and paragraph headings in this Guaranty are for convenience of reference only and shall not modify, define, expand or limit any of the terms or provisions hereof, and all references herein to numbered sections, unless otherwise indicated, are to sections in this Guaranty. This Guaranty shall in all respects be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York excluding choice-of-law principles of the law of such State that would require the application of the laws of a jurisdiction other than such State.

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Guarantor has caused this Guaranty to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

 

UNITED STATIONERS INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Brian S. Cooper

 

 

Name: Brian S. Cooper

 

Title: Senior Vice President and Treasurer

 


Exhibit 4.5

 

CONFORMED COPY

 

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY

 

THIS GUARANTY (this “Guaranty”) dated as of October 15, 2007 is made by each of the undersigned (each being a “Guarantor”), in favor of the holders from time to time of the Notes hereinafter referred to and their respective successors and assigns (collectively, the “Holders” and each individually, a “Holder”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H :

 

WHEREAS, UNITED STATIONERS SUPPLY CO., an Illinois corporation (the “Company”), UNITED STATIONERS INC., a Delaware corporation and the owner of all of the issued and outstanding stock of the Company (the “Parent”), and the initial Holders have entered into a Master Note Purchase Agreement dated as of October 15, 2007 (the Master Note Purchase Agreement as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms and in effect, the “Note Purchase Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, the Note Purchase Agreement contemplates the issuance by the Company of Notes (as defined in the Note Purchase Agreement) in one or more series and tranches;

 

WHEREAS, the Parent or Company directly or indirectly owns all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each Guarantor and, by virtue of such ownership and otherwise, such Guarantor has derived or will derive substantial benefits from the purchase by the Holders of the Notes;

 

WHEREAS, it is a requirement of the Note Purchase Agreement that each Guarantor execute and deliver this Guaranty to the Holders; and

 

WHEREAS, each Guarantor desires to execute and deliver this Guaranty to satisfy the requirement described in the preceding paragraph;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and other benefits to each Guarantor, and of the purchase of the Notes by the Holders, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are acknowledged, each Guarantor makes this Guaranty as follows:

 

SECTION 1            Definitions . Any capitalized terms not otherwise herein defined shall have the meanings attributed to them in the Note Purchase Agreement.

 

SECTION 2            Guaranty . Each Guarantor, jointly and severally with each other Guarantor, unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees to the Holders the due, prompt and complete payment by the Company of the principal of, Make-Whole Amount, if any, LIBOR Breakage Amount, if any, and interest on (including interest accruing or becoming owing subsequent to the commencement of any bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding involving the Company), and each other amount due under, the Notes and the Note Purchase Agreement, when and as the same shall become due and payable (whether at stated maturity or by required or optional prepayment or by declaration or otherwise) in accordance with the terms

 



 

of the Notes and the Note Purchase Agreement (the Notes and the Note Purchase Agreement being sometimes hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Note Documents” and the amounts payable by the Company under the Note Documents (including any reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses), being sometimes collectively hereinafter referred to as the “Obligations”). This Guaranty is a guaranty of payment and not just of collectibility and is in no way conditioned or contingent upon any attempt to collect from the Company or upon any other event, contingency or circumstance whatsoever. If for any reason whatsoever the Company shall fail or be unable duly, punctually and fully to pay such amounts as and when the same shall become due and payable, each Guarantor, without demand, presentment, notice of acceleration, notice of intent to accelerate, protest or notice of any kind, will forthwith pay or cause to be paid such amounts to the Holders under the terms of such Note Documents, in lawful money of the United States, at the place specified in the Note Purchase Agreement, or perform or comply with the same or cause the same to be performed or complied with, together with interest (to the extent provided for under such Note Documents) on any amount due and owing from the Company. Each Guarantor, promptly after demand, will pay to the Holders the reasonable costs and expenses of collecting such amounts or otherwise enforcing this Guaranty, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the right of recovery against each Guarantor under this Guaranty is limited to the extent it is judicially determined with respect to any Guarantor that entering into this Guaranty would violate Section 548 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or any comparable provisions of any state law, in which case such Guarantor shall be liable under this Guaranty only for amounts aggregating up to the largest amount that would not render such Guarantor’s obligations hereunder subject to avoidance under Section 548 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or any comparable provisions of any state law.

 

SECTION 3.           Guarantor’s Obligations Unconditional . The obligations of each Guarantor under this Guaranty shall be primary, absolute and unconditional obligations of each Guarantor, shall not be subject to any counterclaim, set-off, deduction, diminution, abatement, recoupment, suspension, deferment, reduction or defense based upon any claim each Guarantor or any other Person may have against the Company or any other Person, and to the full extent permitted by applicable law shall remain in full force and effect without regard to, and except as provided in Section 9.7(b) of the Note Purchase Agreement, shall not be released, discharged or in any way affected by, any circumstance or condition whatsoever other than indefeasibly payment in full of the Obligations (whether or not each Guarantor or the Company shall have any knowledge or notice thereof), including:

 

(a)           any termination, amendment or modification of or deletion from or addition or supplement to or other change in any of the Note Documents or any other instrument or agreement applicable to any of the parties to any of the Note Documents;

 

(b)           any furnishing or acceptance of any security, or any release of any security, for the Obligations, or the failure of any security or the failure of any Person to perfect any interest in any collateral;

 

(c)           any failure, omission or delay on the part of the Company to conform or comply with any term of any of the Note Documents or any other instrument or agreement referred to in paragraph (a) above, including, without limitation, failure to give

 



 

notice to any Guarantor of the occurrence of a “Default” or an “Event of Default” under any Note Document;

 

(d)           any waiver of the payment, performance or observance of any of the obligations, conditions, covenants or agreements contained in any Note Document, or any other waiver, consent, extension, indulgence, compromise, settlement, release or other action or inaction under or in respect of any of the Note Documents or any other instrument or agreement referred to in paragraph (a) above or any obligation or liability of the Company, or any exercise or non-exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege under or in respect of any such instrument or agreement or any such obligation or liability;

 

(e)           any failure, omission or delay on the part of any of the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, power or remedy conferred on such Holder in this Guaranty, or any such failure, omission or delay on the part of such Holder in connection with any Note Document, or any other action on the part of such Holder;

 

(f)            any voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, readjustment, assignment for the benefit of creditors, composition, receivership, conservatorship, custodianship, liquidation, marshaling of assets and liabilities or similar proceedings with respect to the Company, any Guarantor or to any other Person or any of their respective properties or creditors, or any action taken by any trustee or receiver or by any court in any such proceeding;

 

(g)           any discharge, termination, cancellation, frustration, irregularity, invalidity or unenforceability, in whole or in part, of any of the Note Documents or any other agreement or instrument referred to in paragraph (a) above or any term hereof;

 

(h)           any merger or consolidation of the Company or any Guarantor into or with any other corporation, or any sale, lease or transfer of any of the assets of the Company or any Guarantor to any other Person;

 

(i)            any change in the ownership of any shares of capital stock of the Company or any change in the corporate relationship between the Company and any Guarantor, or any termination of such relationship;

 

(j)            any release or discharge, by operation of law, of any Guarantor from the performance or observance of any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in this Guaranty; or

 

(k)           any other occurrence, circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether similar or dissimilar to the foregoing, whether foreseen or unforeseen, and any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable defense or discharge of the liabilities of a guarantor or surety or which might otherwise limit recourse against any Guarantor.

 



 

SECTION 4.           Full Recourse Obligations . The obligations of each Guarantor set forth herein constitute the full recourse obligations of such Guarantor enforceable against it to the full extent of all its assets and properties.

 

SECTION 5.           Waiver . Each Guarantor unconditionally waives, to the extent permitted by applicable law, (a) notice of any of the matters referred to in Section 3, (b) notice to such Guarantor of the incurrence of any of the Obligations, notice to such Guarantor or the Company of any breach or default by such Company with respect to any of the Obligations or any other notice that may be required, by statute, rule of law or otherwise, to preserve any rights of the Holders against such Guarantor, (c) presentment to, notice of acceleration of, notice of intent to accelerate or demand of payment from the Company or the Guarantor with respect to any amount due under any Note Document or protest for nonpayment or dishonor, (d) any right to the enforcement, assertion or exercise by any of the Holders of any right, power, privilege or remedy conferred in the Note Purchase Agreement or any other Note Document or otherwise, (e) any requirement of diligence on the part of any of the Holders, (f) any requirement to exhaust any remedies or to mitigate the damages resulting from any default under any Note Document, (g) any notice of any sale, transfer or other disposition by any of the Holders of any right, title to or interest in the Note Purchase Agreement or in any other Note Document and (h) any other circumstance whatsoever which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge, release or defense of a guarantor or surety or which might otherwise limit recourse against such Guarantor.

 

SECTION 6.           Subrogation, Contribution, Reimbursement or Indemnity . Until all Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, each Guarantor agrees not to take any action pursuant to any rights which may have arisen in connection with this Guaranty to be subrogated to any of the rights (whether contractual, under the United States Bankruptcy Code, as amended, including Section 509 thereof, under common law or otherwise) of any of the Holders against the Company or against any collateral security or guaranty or right of offset held by the Holders for the payment of the Obligations. Until all Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, each Guarantor agrees not to take any action pursuant to any contractual, common law, statutory or other rights of reimbursement, contribution, exoneration or indemnity (or any similar right) from or against the Company which may have arisen in connection with this Guaranty. So long as the Obligations remain, if any amount shall be paid by or on behalf of the Company to any Guarantor on account of any of the rights waived in this paragraph, such amount shall be held by such Guarantor in trust, segregated from other funds of such Guarantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Guarantor, be turned over to the Holders (duly endorsed by such Guarantor to the Holders, if required), to be applied against the Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in such order as the Holders may determine.

 

SECTION 7.           Effect of Bankruptcy Proceedings, etc . This Guaranty shall continue to be effective or be automatically reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, in whole or in part, of any of the sums due to any of the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Note Purchase Agreement or any other Note Document is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by such Holder upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Company or any other Person, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a custodian, receiver, trustee or other officer with similar powers with respect to the Company or other person or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made. If

 



 

an event permitting the acceleration of the maturity of the principal amount of the Notes shall at any time have occurred and be continuing and one or more Holders shall have attempted to accelerate the maturity of the principal amount of the Notes pursuant to and in compliance with Section 12.1 of the Note Purchase Agreement, or an event shall have occurred that pursuant to Section 12.1 of the Note Purchase Agreement purportedly results in the automatic acceleration of the maturity of the principal amount of the Notes, and in either such case such acceleration shall at such time be prevented by reason of the pendency against the Company or any other Person of a case or proceeding under a bankruptcy or insolvency law, each Guarantor agrees that, for purposes of this Guaranty and its obligations hereunder, the maturity of the principal amount of the Notes and all other Obligations shall be deemed to have been accelerated with the same effect as if any Holder had accelerated the same in accordance with the terms of the Note Purchase Agreement or other applicable Note Document, and such Guarantor shall forthwith pay such principal amount, Make-Whole Amount, if any, LIBOR Breakage Amount, if any, and interest thereon and any other amounts guaranteed hereunder without further notice or demand.

 

SECTION 8.           Term of Agreement . Subject to Section 9.7(b) of the Note Purchase Agreement, this Guaranty and all guaranties, covenants and agreements of each Guarantor contained herein shall continue in full force and effect and shall not be discharged until such time as all of the Obligations shall be irrevocably paid and performed in full in cash and all of the agreements of such Guarantor hereunder shall be irrevocably duly paid and performed in full in cash.

 

SECTION 9.           Representations and Warranties . Each Guarantor represents and warrants to each Holder that:

 

(a)           such Guarantor is a corporation or other legal entity validly existing and in good standing or equivalent status under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and has the corporate or other power and authority to own and operate its property, to lease the property it operates as lessee and to conduct the business in which it is currently engaged;

 

(b)           such Guarantor has the corporate or other power and authority and the legal right to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, this Guaranty, and has taken all necessary corporate or other action to authorize its execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty;

 

(c)           this Guaranty constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Guarantor enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law);

 

(d)           the execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty will not violate any requirement of law applicable to such Guarantor or material contractual obligation of such Guarantor and, except as provided in the Note Purchase Agreement, will not result in or require the creation or imposition of any Lien on any of the properties, revenues or

 



 

assets of the Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of any material contractual obligation of such Guarantor or any requirement of law;

 

(e)           except as provided in the Note Purchase Agreement, no consent or authorization of, filing with, or other act by or in respect of, any arbitrator or governmental authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of this Guaranty;

 

(f)            except as provided in the Note Purchase Agreement, no litigation, investigation or proceeding of or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority is pending or, to the knowledge of such Guarantor, threatened by or against such Guarantor or any of its properties (i) with respect to this Guaranty or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or (ii) which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(g)           the execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty will not violate any provision of any order, judgment, writ, award or decree of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority, domestic or foreign, or of the charter or by-laws of such Guarantor or of any securities issued by such Guarantor; and

 

(h)           after giving effect to the transactions contemplated herein and after giving due consideration to any rights of contribution, (i) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Guarantor is in excess of the amount that will be required to pay its probable liability on its existing debts as said debts become absolute and matured, (ii)  such Guarantor has received reasonably equivalent value for executing and delivering this Guaranty, (iii) the property remaining in the hands of such Guarantor is not an unreasonably small capital, and (iv) such Guarantor is able to pay its debts as they mature.

 

SECTION 10.         Notices . All notices and communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing and sent by telecopy if the sender on the same day sends a confirming copy of such notice by a recognized overnight delivery service (charges prepaid), or by registered or certified mail with return receipt requested (postage prepaid), or by a recognized overnight delivery service (with charges prepaid) (a) if to the Company or any Holder at the address set forth in,  the Note Purchase Agreement or (b) if to a Guarantor, in care of the Company at the Company’s address set forth in the Note Purchase Agreement, or in each case at such other address as the Company, any Holder or such Guarantor shall from time to time designate in writing to the other parties. Any notice so addressed shall be deemed to be given when actually received.

 

SECTION 11. Jurisdiction and Process; Waiver of Jury Trial .

 

(a)           Each Guarantor irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York state or federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Guaranty, the Note Purchase Agreement or the Notes. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor irrevocably waives and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise, any claim that it is not subject to the jurisdiction of any such court,

 



 

any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

(b)           Each Guarantor consents to process being served in any suit, action or proceeding solely of the nature referred to in Section 11(a) by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified or priority mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or delivering a copy thereof in the manner for delivery of notices specified in Section 10, to it. Each Guarantor agrees that such service upon receipt (i) shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon it in any such suit, action or proceeding and (ii) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be taken and held to be valid personal service upon and personal delivery to it. Notices hereunder shall be conclusively presumed received as evidenced by a delivery receipt furnished by the United States Postal Service or any reputable commercial delivery service.

 

(c)           Nothing in this Section 11 shall affect the right of any holder of a Note to serve process in any manner permitted by law, or limit any right that the holders of any of the Notes may have to bring proceedings against the Company in the courts of any appropriate jurisdiction or to enforce in any lawful manner a judgment obtained in one jurisdiction in any other jurisdiction.

 

(d)           EACH GUARANTOR WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION BROUGHT ON OR WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTES OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENT EXECUTED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THEREWITH.

 

SECTION 12.         Miscellaneous . Any provision of this Guaranty which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. To the extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor hereby waives any provision of law that renders any provisions hereof prohibited or unenforceable in any respect. The terms of this Guaranty shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, each Guarantor and the Holders and their respective successors and assigns. It is agreed and understood that any Subsidiary of the Company or of any Guarantor may become a Guarantor hereunder by executing a Joinder substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto and delivering the same to the Holders. Any such Person shall thereafter be a “Guarantor” for all purposes under this Guaranty. No term or provision of this Guaranty may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by each Guarantor and the Holders; provided, however, that a Guarantor may be fully released and discharged from this Guaranty pursuant to the terms of Section 9.7(b) of the Note Purchase Agreement. The section and paragraph headings in this Guaranty are for convenience of reference only and shall not modify, define, expand or limit any of the terms or provisions hereof, and all references herein to numbered sections, unless otherwise indicated, are to sections in this Guaranty. This Guaranty shall in all respects be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York excluding choice-of-law principles of the

 



 

law of such State that would require the application of the laws of a jurisdiction other than such State.

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Guarantor has caused this Guaranty to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

UNITED STATIONERS FINANCIAL
SERVICES LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Brian S. Cooper

 

 

Name: Brian S. Cooper

 

Title: Vice President and Treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

UNITED STATIONERS TECHNOLOGY
SERVICES LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Brian S. Cooper

 

 

Name: Brian S. Cooper

 

Title: Vice President and Treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

LAGASSE, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Brian S. Cooper

 

 

Name: Brian S. Cooper

 

Title: Vice President and Treasurer

 



 

FORM OF JOINDER TO SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY

 

The undersigned (the “Guarantor”), joins in the Subsidiary Guaranty dated as of October 15, 2007 from the Guarantors named therein in favor of the Holders, as defined therein, and (i) jointly and severally with the other Guarantors under the Subsidiary Guaranty, guarantees to the Holders from time to time of the Notes the prompt payment in full when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) and the full and prompt performance and observance of all Obligations (as defined in Section 2 of the Subsidiary Guaranty), (ii) accepts and agrees to perform and observe all of the covenants set forth therein, (iii) waives the rights set forth in Section 5 of the Subsidiary Guaranty, (iv) waives the rights, submits to jurisdiction, and waives service of process as described in Section 11 of the Subsidiary Guaranty and (v) agrees to be bound by all of the terms thereof and represents and warrants to the Holders that:

 

(a)           the Guarantor is validly existing and in good standing or equivalent status under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and has the requisite power and authority to own and operate its property, to lease the property it operates as lessee and to conduct the business in which it is currently engaged;

 

(b)           the Guarantor has the requisite power and authority and the legal right to execute and deliver this Joinder to Subsidiary Guaranty (“Joinder”) and to perform its obligations hereunder and under the Subsidiary Guaranty and has taken all necessary action to authorize its execution and delivery of this Joinder and its performance of the Subsidiary Guaranty; and

 

(c)           the Subsidiary Guaranty constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Guarantor enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Joinder to Subsidiary Guaranty to be duly executed as of                       ,         .

 

 

[Name of Guarantor]

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 


Exhibit 10.2

 

UNITED STATIONERS INC.
2004 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION GRANT

 

Dear Victoria:

 

Effective as of Effective Date Indicated in Resolution (the “Grant Date”), you have been granted the stock option (the “Option”) described in this letter (the “Letter”). The Option is granted by United Stationers Inc. (the “Company”) pursuant to the Company’s 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). Unless otherwise specified, capitalized terms in this Letter have the respective meanings specified in the Plan.

 

(1)                                   Grant . Subject to the terms of the Plan and this Letter, the Option permits you to purchase from the Company 50,000 shares of Stock of the Company (the “Covered Shares”) at $66.17 per share. The number of shares and the price per share are subject to adjustment as provided in the Plan. It is intended that the Option shall not be treated as an incentive stock option (as such term is defined in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended).

 

(2)                                   Vesting . Subject to the limitations of this Letter, each installment (the “Installment”) of Covered Shares of the Option shall be vested and exercisable on and after the vesting date (the “Vesting Date”) for such Installment as described in the following schedule (but only if your Date of Termination has not occurred before the Vesting Date except as otherwise provided herein):

 

INSTALLMENT

 

VESTING DATE

One-third of the Covered Shares

 

One-year anniversary of Grant Date

One-third of the Covered Shares

 

Two-year anniversary of Grant Date

One-third of the Covered Shares

 

Three-year anniversary of Grant Date

 

The Option may not be exercised for fractional shares of Stock. If the number of shares of Stock constituting an “Installment” in accordance with the foregoing schedule (without regard to this sentence) is not a whole number of shares, the Installment shall be rounded down to the next lowest whole share, and the number of shares of Stock subject to the next Installment shall equal the sum of the number of shares determined in accordance with the foregoing schedule plus the fractional share carried over from the prior Installment. If this sum is not a whole number of shares of Stock, the Installment shall be rounded down to the next lowest whole share, and any fractional share shall be carried over to the next Installment as described in the preceding sentence. In the event of a Change of Control or an Anticipated Change of Control, the Option shall become vested and exercisable prior to the dates specified in the foregoing provisions of this Paragraph 2 to the extent expressly provided in the Plan. In addition, in the event that your Date of Termination occurs by reason of termination of your employment by the Company or its Subsidiaries without Cause or by you for Good Reason, the Covered Shares that have not otherwise vested under this grant will be fully vested as of your Date of Termination.

 



 

Subject to the two preceding sentences, the Option may be exercised on or after your Date of Termination only as to that portion of the Covered Shares for which it was exercisable immediately prior to your Date of Termination, or became exercisable upon your Date of Termination.

 

(3)                                   Expiration of Option . The Option shall not be exercisable after 5:00 p.m. Central Time on the last business day that occurs on or prior to the Expiration Date. The “Expiration Date” shall be the earliest to occur of:

 

(a)                                   the ten-year anniversary of the Grant Date;

 

(b)                                  if your Date of Termination occurs by reason of death, Retirement, or Permanent and Total Disability, the one-year anniversary of such Date of Termination; or

 

(c)                                   if your Date of Termination occurs for reasons other than death, Retirement, or Permanent and Total Disability, the 90-day anniversary of such Date of Termination.

 

(4)                                   Payment . Unless the Committee otherwise provides, the Option may be exercised by giving written notice to the Treasurer of the Company, stating the number of shares of Stock with respect to which the Option is being exercised and tendering payment therefor. The payment of the Exercise Price of the Option granted under this Paragraph 4 shall be subject to the following:

 

(a)                                   Subject to the following provisions of this Paragraph 4, the full Exercise Price for shares purchased upon the exercise of any Option shall be paid at the time of such exercise (except that, in the case of an exercise arrangement approved by the Committee, and described in Subparagraph 4(c), payment may be made as soon as practicable after the exercise).

 

(b)                                  The Exercise Price shall be payable in cash, or by tendering, by either actual delivery of shares or by attestation, shares of Stock acceptable to the Committee, and valued as of the day of exercise, or in any combination thereof, all as determined by the Committee. The Committee may limit payments made with shares of Stock pursuant to this Subparagraph 4(b) to shares held by you for not less than six months prior to the payment date.

 

(c)                                   Subject to applicable law, the Committee may permit you to elect to pay the Exercise Price upon the exercise of the Option by irrevocably authorizing a third party to sell shares of Stock (or a sufficient portion of the shares) acquired upon exercise of the Option and remit to the Company a sufficient portion of the sale proceeds to pay the entire Exercise Price and any tax withholding resulting from such exercise.

 

(d)                                  The Committee, in its sole discretion, may permit you to elect to pay the Exercise Price by any other method.

 

2



 

(e)                                   It shall be a condition to the performance of the Company’s obligation to issue or transfer shares of Stock upon exercise of the Option that you pay, or make provision satisfactory to the Company for the payment of, any taxes which are required to be collected with respect to the issue or transfer of the shares upon such exercise. At your election, and subject to such rules and limitations as may be established by the Committee from time to time, such withholding obligations may be satisfied: (i) through cash payment by you; (ii) through the surrender of shares of Stock which you already own (provided, however, that to the extent shares described in this clause (ii) are used to satisfy more than the minimum statutory withholding obligation, as described below, then, except as otherwise provided by the Committee, payments made with shares in accordance with this clause (ii) shall be limited to shares of Stock held by you for not less than six months prior to the payment date); or (iii) through the surrender of shares of Stock to which you are otherwise entitled under the Plan; provided, however, that such shares under this clause (iii) may be used to satisfy not more than the Company’s minimum statutory withholding obligation (based on minimum statutory withholding rates for Federal, state and local tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that are applicable to such supplemental taxable income).

 

(5)                                   Transferability . Except as otherwise provided by the Committee or in this Paragraph 5, the Option is not transferable other than as designated by you by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and, during your life, may be exercised only by you. The Committee, in its discretion, may permit you to transfer the Option for no consideration to or for the benefit of your Immediate Family (including, without limitation, to a trust for the benefit of your Immediate Family or to a partnership or limited liability company for one or more members of your Immediate Family), subject to such limits as the Committee may establish, and the transferee shall remain subject to all the terms and conditions applicable to the Option prior to such transfer. In the discretion of the Committee, the foregoing right to transfer the Option may apply to the right to consent to amendments to this Letter and may also apply to the right to transfer ancillary rights associated with the Option. The term “Immediate Family” means your spouse, parents, children, stepchildren, sisters, brothers and grandchildren, by birth or through legal adoption (and, for this purpose, shall also include you).

 

(6)                                   Certificates .

 

(a)                                   Certificates representing shares of Stock issuable upon exercise of the Option may be legended in such fashion as the Company may require and shall be subject to such restrictions on disposition as may be required to comply with federal and state securities laws.

 

(b)                                  To the extent that the Plan provides for the issuance of stock certificates to reflect the issuance of shares of Stock, the issuance may be effected on a non-certificated basis, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law or the applicable rules of any stock exchange.

 

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(7)                                   Miscellaneous .

 

(a)                                   You covenant and agree with the Company that if, at the time of exercise of the Option, there does not exist a Registration Statement on an appropriate form under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), which Registration Statement shall have become effective and shall include a prospectus that is current with respect to the shares of Stock subject to the Option, then you shall execute and deliver a certificate to the Company indicating (i) that you are purchasing the Stock under such Option for your own account and not with a view to the resale or distribution thereof, (ii) that any subsequent offer for sale or sale of any shares of Stock shall be made either pursuant to (x) a Registration Statement on an appropriate form under the Act, which Registration Statement shall have become effective and shall be current with respect to the shares of Stock being offered or sold, or (y) a specific exemption from the registration requirements of the Act and any rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable state securities laws and regulations, but in claiming such exemption, you shall, prior to any offer for sale or sale of such shares of Stock, obtain a favorable written opinion from counsel for or approved by the Company as to the applicability of such exemption, and (iii) that you agree that the certificate or certificates evidencing such shares of Stock shall bear a legend to the effect of the foregoing.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding anything in this Letter to the contrary, the terms of this Letter shall be subject to the terms of the Plan, a copy of which may be obtained by you from the office of the Secretary of the Company; and this Letter is subject to all interpretations, amendments, rules and regulations promulgated by the Committee from time to time pursuant to the Plan.

 

(c)                                   You shall not, by reason of participation in the Plan, acquire any right in or title to any assets, funds or property of the Company or any Subsidiary. You shall have only a contractual right to the shares of Stock, unsecured by any assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, and without a guarantee that the assets of the Company or any Subsidiary shall be sufficient to pay any benefits to any person. Nothing herein confers upon you any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any Subsidiary. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Letter or the Plan, you shall not have any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to the shares of Stock subject to the Option prior to the date on which you fulfill all conditions for receipt of such rights or any rights to receive any additional Options or Awards under the Plan or any other plan or arrangement of the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

(d)                                  You assume all risks incident to any change hereafter in applicable laws or regulations or incident to any changes in the market value of the stock after the exercise of the Option in whole or in part.

 

(e)                                   You acknowledge that certain taxes will be required to be withheld at the time you exercise the Option. The Company makes no representation as to the federal

 

4



 

or state tax treatment of the Option granted under this Letter. You should consult your personal tax advisor as to the reporting of any taxable income and the payment of any tax under federal or state law as a result of your exercise of any portion of the Option granted under this Letter.

 

(f)                                     The Company shall have no obligation to deliver any shares of Stock under the Plan unless such delivery or distribution would comply with all applicable laws (including, without limitation, the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933), and the applicable requirements of any securities exchange or similar entity. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with any applicable federal or state law (which shall expressly not include registration of such share(s) under the Act and any applicable state laws) in order to issue such share(s) as soon as practicable after exercise.

 

(g)                                  The terms of the Option are subject to modification to the extent permitted by the Plan.

 

(h)                                  This Letter and the rights and obligations hereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law of Delaware or any other jurisdiction.

 

(8)                                   Permanent and Total Disability . For purposes of this Letter, the term “Permanent and Total Disability” means your inability, due to illness, accident, injury, physical or mental incapacity or other disability, effectively to carry out your duties and obligations as an employee of the Company or the Subsidiaries or to participate effectively and actively as an employee of the Company or the Subsidiaries for 90 consecutive days or shorter periods aggregating at least 180 days (whether or not consecutive) during any twelve-month period.

 

(9)                                   Retirement . For purposes of this Letter, the term “Retirement” means, with the approval of the Committee, the occurrence of your Date of Termination on or after the earlier of the date that you attain age 65 or the date you attain age 55 and have completed 10 years of service.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

UNITED STATIONERS INC.

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Frederick B. Hegi, Jr.

 

 

Chairman of the Board

 

5


Exhibit 10.3

 

UNITED STATIONERS INC.
2004 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT
SECTION 16 OFFICERS

 

Participant Name

Participant Address

Participant City, State, Zip

 

Dear First Name:

 

This Restricted Stock Award Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as Effective Date Indicated in Resolution (the “Award Date”), is by and between Participant Name (the “Participant”), and United Stationers Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). Any term capitalized but not defined in this Agreement will have the meaning set forth in the Company’s 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).

 

In the exercise of its discretion to issue stock of the Company, the Committee has determined that the Participant should receive a restricted stock award, on the following terms and conditions:

 

1.                                        Grant . The Company hereby grants to the Participant a Restricted Stock Award (the “Award”) of x,xxx shares of Stock (the “Restricted Shares”). This Restricted Stock Award is intended to be “Performance Based Compensation” as defined under plan to meet the requirements for Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Award will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement. The Award constitutes the right, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement, to distribution of the Restricted Shares.

 

2.                                        Stock Certificates . The Company will issue certificates for, or cause its transfer agent to maintain a book entry account reflecting the issuance of, the Restricted Shares in the Participant’s name. The Secretary of the Company, or the Company's transfer agent, will hold the certificates for the Restricted Shares, or cause such Restricted Shares to be maintained as restricted shares in a book entry account, until the Restricted Shares either vest or are forfeited. Any certificates that are issued for Restricted Shares will bear a legend, and any book entry accounts that are maintained therefor will have an appropriate notation, in accordance with Section 6 hereof. The Participant's right to receive the Award hereunder is contingent upon the Participant's execution and delivery to the Secretary of the Company of all stock powers or other instruments of assignment (including a power of attorney), each endorsed in blank with a guarantee of signature if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Company, which would permit transfer to the Company of all or a portion of the Restricted Shares in the event such Restricted Shares are forfeited in whole or in part. The Company, or its transfer agent, will distribute to the Participant (or, if applicable, the Participant's designated beneficiary or other appropriate recipient in accordance with Section 5 hereof) certificates evidencing ownership of vested Restricted Shares as and when provided in Sections 4 and 5 hereof.

 



 

3.                                        Rights as Stockholder . On and after the Award Date, and except to the extent provided in Section 9 hereof, the Participant will be entitled to all of the rights of a stockholder with respect to the Restricted Shares, including the right to vote the Restricted Shares, the right to receive dividends and other distributions payable with respect to the Restricted Shares, and the right to participate in any capital adjustment applicable to all holders of Stock; provided , however , that a distribution with respect to shares of Stock, other than any regular cash dividend which will be paid at the same time as all other shareholders, will be deposited with the Company and will be subject to the same restrictions as the Restricted Shares. If the Participant forfeits any rights he or she may have under this Award in accordance with Section 4 hereof, the Participant shall, on the day following the event of forfeiture, no longer have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any and all Restricted Shares not then vested and so forfeited, or any interest therein, and the Participant shall no longer be entitled to receive dividends on or vote any such Restricted Shares as of any record date occurring thereafter.

 

4.                                        Vesting; Effect of Date of Termination . The Participant's Restricted Shares will vest in three annual increments of one-third of the Restricted Shares on each of the first three anniversaries of the Award Date; provided that the Participant’s Date of Termination has not occurred before the vesting date and provided further that the Company’s cumulative Earnings Per Share(1) for the four calendar quarters immediately proceeding the vesting date exceed $1.00 per share. If the Participant’s Date of Termination occurs for any reason before all of the Participant's Restricted Shares have become vested under this Agreement, the Participant's Restricted Shares that have not theretofore become vested will be forfeited on and after the Participant's Date of Termination, subject to the following:

 

(a)                                   If the Participant's Date of Termination occurs by reason of the Participant's death or Permanent and Total Disability, a Pro Rata Portion of the Restricted Shares that have not otherwise vested under this Agreement will then become vested as of the Participant's Date of Termination. As used herein, the “Pro Rata Portion” of the then unvested Restricted Shares shall be determined by multiplying the total number of Restricted Shares then remaining unvested by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of whole months elapsed from the Award Date to


(1)  ”Earnings Per Share” shall mean United Stationers’ Earnings Per Share as reported in its consolidated financial statements adjusted to eliminate: (1) the cumulative effect of changes in accounting policy (which include changes in generally accepted accounting principles) adopted by United Stationers for the relevant performance year; (2) expenses classified as “Provisions for Restructuring”; (3) expenses related to “Goodwill Amortization”; (4) gains and/or losses classified as “Discontinued Operations”; (5) accelerated amortization of capitalized software; (6) the impacts of “Corporate Transactions”, such as stock splits, dividends and recapitalizations; and (7) gains or losses classified as “Extraordinary Items”, which may include: (A) the net impact of acquisitions and divestitures completed during the period; (B) gains or losses on the extinguishment of debt; (C) losses resulting from a newly enacted law or regulation; and (D) other expenses or losses that are unusual in nature or infrequent in occurrence.

 

In each instance, the above-referenced adjustment to Earnings Per Share must be in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and appear on the face of United Stationers’ Statement of Consolidated Earnings contained in United Stationers’ Consolidated Financial Statements for such performance year.

 

2



 

the Date of Termination, and the denominator of which shall be the number of whole months between the Award Date and the normal vesting date provided in the first sentence of this Section 4.

 

(b)                                  If a Change of Control occurs after the Award Date and prior to the Participant's Date of Termination, then (i) 50% of the Restricted Shares that have not otherwise vested under this Agreement will then become fully vested as of the date of such event; and (ii) the portion of the Restricted Shares that does not vest in accordance with the preceding clause (i) shall be subject to the vesting provisions of this Agreement without regard to the acceleration of vesting under clause (i).

 

(c)                                   If a Change of Control occurs after the Award Date and prior to the Participant's Date of Termination and, during the two-year period following the date of such Change of Control, the Participant's Date of Termination occurs by reason of termination of the Participant’s employment by the Company or its Subsidiaries  without Cause or by the Participant for Good Reason, the Restricted Shares that have not otherwise vested under this Agreement will be fully vested as of the Participant's Date of Termination.

 

(d)                                  If the Participant's Date of Termination occurs during an Anticipated Change of Control by reason of termination of the Participant’s employment by the Company or its Subsidiaries without Cause or by the Participant for Good Reason, and a Change of Control then occurs within two years following the Participant's Date of Termination, the number of shares (subject to paragraph 5.2(f) of the Plan) that were forfeited under this Agreement on the Date of Termination shall be granted to the Participant on a fully vested basis as of the date of the Change of Control.

 

For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Permanent and Total Disability” means the Participant's inability, due to illness, accident, injury, physical or mental incapacity or other disability, effectively to carry out his duties and obligations as an employee of the Company or its Subsidiaries or to participate effectively and actively as an employee of the Company or its Subsidiaries for 90 consecutive days or shorter periods aggregating at least 180 days (whether or not consecutive) during any twelve-month period.

 

Except as otherwise specifically provided, the Company will not have any further obligations to the Participant under this Agreement if the Participant’s Restricted Shares are forfeited as provided herein.

 

5.                                        Terms and Conditions of Distribution . The Company, or its transfer agent, will distribute to the Participant certificates for any portion of the Restricted Shares which becomes vested in accordance with this Agreement within 30 days after the vesting thereof. If the Participant dies before the Company has distributed certificates for any vested portion of the Restricted Shares, the Company will distribute certificates for that vested portion of the Restricted Shares and, to the extent provided under Section 4 hereof, the remaining balance of the Restricted Shares which become vested upon the Participant’s death to the beneficiary designated by the Participant on a form provided by the Company for this

 

3



 

purpose. If the Participant failed to designate a beneficiary, the Company will distribute certificates for such Restricted Shares in accordance with the Participant's will or, if the Participant did not have a will, in accordance with the laws of descent and distribution.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may require the Participant, or the alternate recipient identified in the preceding paragraph, to satisfy any potential federal, state, local or other tax withholding liability. Such liability must be satisfied at the time such Restricted Shares become “substantially vested” (as defined in the regulations issued under Section 83 of the Code). At the election of the Participant, and subject to such rules and limitations as may be established by the Committee from time to time, such withholding obligations may be satisfied: (A) through a cash payment by the Participant, (B) through the surrender of shares of Stock that the Participant already owns (provided, however, to the extent shares described in this clause (B) are used to satisfy more than the minimum statutory withholding obligation, as described below, then payments made with shares of Stock in accordance with this clause (B) shall be limited to shares held by the Participant for not less than six months prior to the payment date), (C) through the surrender of shares of Stock to which the Participant is otherwise entitled in respect of the Award under this Agreement; provided, however, that such shares under this clause (C) may be used to satisfy not more than the minimum statutory withholding obligation of the Company or applicable Subsidiary (based on minimum statutory withholding rates for federal, state and local tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that are applicable to such supplemental taxable income), or (D) any combination of (A), (B) and (C); provided , however , that the Committee shall have sole discretion to disapprove of an election pursuant to any of clauses (B)-(D) and that the Committee may require that the method of satisfying such an obligation be in compliance with Section 16 of the Exchange Act (if the Participant is subject thereto) and any other applicable laws and the respective rules and regulations thereunder. Any fraction of a share of Stock which would be required to satisfy such an obligation will be disregarded and the remaining amount due will be paid in cash by the Participant.

 

The Company will not be required to make any distribution of any portion of the Restricted Shares under this Section 5 (i) before the first date that such portion of the Restricted Shares may be distributed to the Participant without penalty or forfeiture under federal or state laws or regulations governing short swing trading of securities, or (ii) at any other time when the Company or the Committee reasonably determines that such distribution or any subsequent sale of the Restricted Shares would not be in compliance with other applicable securities or other laws or regulations. In determining whether a distribution would result in any such penalty, forfeiture or noncompliance, the Company and the Committee may rely upon information reasonably available to them or upon representations of the Participant or the Participant’s legal or personal representative.

 

6.                                        Legend on Stock Certificates . If one or more certificates for all or any portion of the Restricted Shares are issued in the Participant's name under this Agreement before such Restricted Shares become vested, the certificates shall bear the following legend, or any alternate legend that counsel to the Company believes is necessary or desirable, to facilitate compliance with applicable securities or other laws:

 

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“The securities represented by this Certificate are subject to certain restrictions on transfer specified in the Restricted Stock Award Agreement dated as of [the Award Date] between the issuer (the “Company”) and the holder named on this Certificate, and the Company reserves the right to refuse the transfer of such securities, whether voluntary, involuntary or by operation of law, until such conditions have been fulfilled with respect to such transfer. A copy of such conditions shall be furnished by the Company to the holder hereof upon written request and without charge.”

 

If any such Restricted Shares are not represented by certificate(s) prior to their vesting, but are instead maintained by the Company’s transfer agent in uncertificated form in a book entry account, the account shall bear an appropriate notation to the effect that the Restricted Shares included therein are subject to the restrictions of this Agreement. Whether maintained in certificated or uncertificated book entry form, the Company may instruct its transfer agent to impose stop transfer instructions with respect to any such unvested Restricted Shares.

 

The foregoing legend or notation and stop transfer instructions will be removed from the certificates evidencing or account maintained for all or any portion of the Restricted Shares after the conditions set forth in Sections 4 and 5 hereof have been satisfied as to such Restricted Shares.

 

7.                                        Delivery of Certificates . Despite the provisions of Sections 4 and 5 hereof, the Company is not required to issue or deliver any certificates for Restricted Shares if at any time the Company determines that the listing, registration or qualification of such Restricted Shares upon any securities exchange or under any law, the consent or approval of any governmental body or the taking of any other action is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the delivery of the Restricted Shares hereunder in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent, approval or other action has been effected or obtained, free of any conditions not acceptable to the Company.

 

8.                                        No Right to Employment . Nothing herein confers upon the Participant any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

9.                                        Nontransferability . Except as otherwise provided by the Committee or as provided in Section 5, and except with respect to vested shares, the Participant's interests and rights in and under this Agreement are not assignable or transferable other than as designated by the Participant by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Distribution of Restricted Shares will be made only to the Participant; or, if the Committee has been provided with evidence acceptable to it that the Participant is legally incompetent, the Participant’s personal representative; or, if the Participant is deceased, to the designated beneficiary or other appropriate recipient in accordance with Section 5 hereof. The Committee may require personal receipts or endorsements of a Participant’s personal representative, designated beneficiary or alternate recipient provided for herein, and the Committee shall extend to those individuals the rights otherwise exercisable by the Participant with regard to any withholding tax election in accordance with Section 5 hereof. Any effort to otherwise assign or transfer any Restricted Shares (before they are

 

5



 

distributed) or any rights or interests therein or thereto under this Agreement will be wholly ineffective, and will be grounds for termination by the Committee of all rights and interests of the Participant and his or her beneficiary in and under this Agreement.

 

10.                                  Administration and Interpretation . The Committee has the authority to control and manage the operation and administration of the Plan. Any interpretations of the Plan by the Committee and any decisions made by it under the Plan are final and binding on the Participant and all other persons.

 

11.                                  Governing Law . This Agreement and the rights and obligations hereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflicts of law of Delaware or any other jurisdiction.

 

12.                                  Sole Agreement . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the terms of this Agreement shall be subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Plan (as the same may be amended in accordance with its terms), a copy of which may be obtained by the Participant from the office of the Secretary of the Company. In addition, this Agreement and the Participant’s rights hereunder shall be subject to all interpretations,  determinations, guidelines, rules and regulations adopted or made by the Committee from time to time pursuant to the Plan. This Agreement is the entire agreement between the parties to it with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes any and all prior oral and written discussions, commitments, undertakings, representations or agreements (including, without limitation, any terms of any employment offers, discussions or agreements between the parties).

 

13.                                  Binding Effect . This Agreement will be binding upon and will inure to the benefit of the Company and the Participant and, as and to the extent provided herein and under the Plan, their respective heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns.

 

14.                                  Amendment and Waiver . This Agreement may be amended in accordance with the provisions of the Plan, and may otherwise be amended by written agreement between the Company and the Participant without the consent of any other person. No course of conduct or failure or delay in enforcing the provisions of this Agreement will affect the validity, binding effect or enforceability of this Agreement.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the Company has duly executed this Agreement as of the Award Date.

 

 

 
Very truly yours,
 
 

 

UNITED STATIONERS INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frederick B. Hegi, Jr.

 

Chairman of the Board

 

7


Exhibit 10.4

 

United Stationers Inc.
Executive Summary of Board of Directors Compensation
(approved as of 7/24/07 with an effective date of 9/1/07)

 

During 2007 the Board of Directors of United Stationers Inc., upon recommendation by the Governance Committee, approved certain adjustments to the overall compensation paid to Board members. Following is a summary of the forms and levels of compensation to be provided to Directors from September 1, 2007.

 

Director Compensation Component

 

2006 Amount

 

Comment

 

 

 

 

 

Annual Retainer

 

$60,000 annual rate

 

Unchanged from 2005

 

 

 

 

 

Board Meeting Fees

 

 

 

 

       In person

 

$4,000 per meeting

 

Unchanged from 2005

       Telephonic

 

$1,000 per meeting

 

Unchanged from 2004.

 

 

 

 

 

Committee Meeting Fees

 

 

 

 

       Held in connection with a Board meeting

 

 

 

 

       Held by teleconference

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audit Committee Chairman

 

$2,500 per meeting

 

Unchanged from 2005

Other Committee Chairmen

 

$2,000 per meeting

 

Increased in 2006 from $1,000

Other non-employee members

 

$500 per meeting

 

Unchanged from 2004

 

 

 

 

 

       In-person meeting not held in connection with a Board meeting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audit Committee Chairman

 

$2,500

 

Unchanged from 2005

Other Committee Chairmen

 

$2,000 per meeting

 

Increased in 2006 from $1,500

Other non-employee members

 

$1,000 per meeting

 

Unchanged from 2004

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred Compensation

 

N/A

 

Allows for deferrals of all or a portion (but not less than 50%) of the annual retainer and meeting fees into stock units. Such stock units are paid out after cessation of service as a Director.

 

1



 

Director Compensation Component

 

2006 Amount

 

Comment

 

 

 

 

 

Equity Compensation

 

 

 

 

       Chairman of the Board

 

Approximately $100,000

 

Options to be granted on September 1, 2007 will be for the number of shares having an economic value of $50,000 based upon the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on August 31, 2007. Options vest in substantially equal installments over 3 years.

Restricted stock to be granted on September 1, 2007 will be for the number of shares having an economic value of $50,000 based upon the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on August 31, 2007. The restricted stock will vest in substantially equal installments over 3 years.

 

 

 

 

 

       Other non-employee directors

 

Approximately $90,000

 

Options to be granted on September 1, 2007 will be for the number of shares having an economic value of $45,000 based upon the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on August 31, 2007. Options vest in substantially equal installments over 3 years.

Restricted stock to be granted on September 1, 2007 will be for the number of shares having an economic value of $45,000 based upon the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on August 31, 2007. The restricted stock will vest in substantially equal installments over 3 years.

 

 

 

 

 

Reimbursement

 

Reasonable travel-related expenses

 

Directors are reimbursed for reasonable travel-related expenses incurred in connection with their attendance at Board meetings, Committee meetings, and certain Company events. In addition, the Company encourages their periodic attendance at accredited “Directors’ Colleges” at Company expense.

 

2


Exhibit 10.5

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (this “Security Agreement”) is entered into as of October 15, 2007 by and among United Stationers Supply Co., an Illinois corporation (the “Borrower”),  United Stationers Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Parent”), and the other Subsidiaries of the Parent listed on the signature page hereto (together with the Borrower and the Parent, collectively, the “Initial Grantors,” and together with any additional Domestic Subsidiaries, whether now existing or hereafter formed which become parties to this Security Agreement by executing a Supplement hereto in substantially the form of Annex I, the “Grantors”), and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”) for the Secured Parties.

 

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

 

WHEREAS, the Collateral Agent has entered into that certain Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2007, by and among the Collateral Agent and certain lenders identified and defined therein in connection with certain extensions of credit and financial accommodations to the Borrower (as the same may have been or may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Intercreditor Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, the Bank Credit Agreement and the Note Agreement and the Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents (if in effect), among other things, evidence the Borrower’s outstanding obligations under the Bank Credit Agreement and the Note Agreement and the Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents and provide, subject to the terms and conditions of the Bank Credit Agreement and the Note Agreement and the Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents, for the making of advances, loans and other financial accommodations by certain of the Lenders to or for the benefit of the Borrower;

 

WHEREAS, the Parent owns all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Borrower and the Borrower owns, directly or indirectly, all or a majority of the issued and outstanding capital stock and other equity interests of each Grantor (other than the Parent or the Borrower); and such Grantors shall derive benefits, both direct and indirect, by the continued effectiveness of the Bank Credit Agreement and the Note Agreement and, if in effect, any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents;

 

WHEREAS, certain of the Grantors have entered into certain guarantees (the “Guarantees”) pursuant to which they have guaranteed, without limitation and with full recourse, the payment when due of the Obligations;

 

WHEREAS, each Grantor has granted a security interest in and lien upon its assets pursuant to that certain Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of March 21, 2003, by and among the Borrower, the Parent, the Initial Grantors parties thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (successor by merger to Bank One, NA, a national banking association having its principal office in Chicago, Illinois), as administrative agent (as amended, restated or otherwise modified as of the date hereof, the “Existing Security Agreement”) to secure the Secured Obligations

 



 

under (and as defined in) the Bank Credit Agreement and the parties hereto intend (i) to amend and restate such Existing Security Agreement pursuant to the terms hereof and (ii) that this Security Agreement not constitute a novation thereof;

 

WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the continued effectiveness of the Bank Credit Agreement and the Note Agreement, and, if in effect, any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents, that each Grantor agree to amend and restate the Existing Security Agreement to re-evidence the grant of a security interest in and lien upon its assets to secure the Secured Obligations under the Bank Credit Agreement and to grant a security interest and lien upon its assets to secure the Secured Obligations under the Note Agreement, and, if in effect, any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Document;

 

WHEREAS, the Lenders have required as a condition to the continued effectiveness of the Bank Credit Agreement and Note Agreement, and, if in effect, any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Document, that each Grantor execute and deliver this Security Agreement;

 

ACCORDINGLY, the Grantors and the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

1.1.                               Terms Defined in Intercreditor Agreement . All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Intercreditor Agreement or, to the extent not defined therein, as defined in the Bank Credit Agreement.

 

1.2.                               Terms Defined in New York Uniform Commercial Code . Terms defined in the New York UCC which are not otherwise defined in this Security Agreement are used herein as defined in the New York UCC.

 

1.3.                               Definitions of Certain Terms Used Herein . As used in this Security Agreement, in addition to the terms defined in the Preliminary Statement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

“Accounts” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the New York UCC or in the PPSA, as applicable.

 

“Article” means a numbered article of this Security Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced.

 

“Chattel Paper” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the New York UCC or in the PPSA, as applicable.

 

“Collateral” means all Accounts, Chattel Paper, Commercial Tort Claims, Documents, Equipment, Fixtures, General Intangibles, Instruments, Inventory, Investment Property, Pledged Deposits, Pledged Stock and Other Collateral, wherever located, in which any Grantor now has or hereafter acquires any right or interest, and the proceeds (including Stock Rights), insurance

 

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proceeds and products thereof, together with all books and records, customer lists, credit files, computer files, programs, printouts and other computer materials and records related thereto.

 

“Commercial Tort Claims” means those certain currently existing commercial tort claims of any Grantor, including each commercial tort claim specifically described in Exhibit “E”.

 

“Control” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 8 or, if applicable, in Section 9-104, 9-105, 9-106 or 9-107 of Article 9 of the New York UCC.

 

“Customer Advance Notes” shall mean customer advance notes not prohibited under the Bank Credit Agreement and the Note Agreement, and, if in effect, any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents.

 

“Default” means an event described in Section 5.1.

 

“Deposit Accounts” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the New York UCC.

 

“Documents” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the New York UCC.

 

“Equipment” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the New York UCC or in the PPSA, as applicable.

 

“Exhibit” refers to a specific exhibit to this Security Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced.

 

“Fixtures” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the New York UCC.

 

“General Intangibles” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the New York UCC or the meaning of “intangibles” as set forth in the PPSA, as applicable.

 

“Instruments” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the New York UCC or in the PPSA, as applicable.

 

“Inventory” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the New York UCC or in the PPSA, as applicable.

 

“Investment Property” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the New York UCC.

 

“New York UCC” means the New York Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time .

 

“Other Collateral” means any property of the Grantors, other than real estate, not included within the defined terms Accounts, Chattel Paper, Commercial Tort Claims, Documents, Equipment, Fixtures, General Intangibles, Instruments, Inventory, Investment Property and Pledged Deposits, including, without limitation, all cash on hand, letter-of-credit rights, letters of credit, Stock Rights and Deposit Accounts or other deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) with any bank or other financial institution, it being

 

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intended that the Collateral include all property of the Grantors other than real estate (subject to the limitations set forth in Article II).

 

“Paid in Full” means (i) the payment in full in cash of the Secured Obligations (other than contingent indemnity obligations), (ii) the termination of all Commitments under the Bank Credit Agreement and (iii) the termination and/or cash collateralization of all Facility LCs, in each case, in accordance with the Bank Credit Agreement. The term “Payment in Full” shall have a correlative meaning.

 

“Pledged Deposits” means all time deposits of money (other than Deposit Accounts and Instruments), whether or not evidenced by certificates, which a Grantor may from time to time designate as pledged to the Collateral Agent or to any Secured Parties as security for any Secured Obligation, and all rights to receive interest on said deposits.

 

“Pledged Stock” means, with respect to any Grantor, the shares of common and preferred stock (or other ownership interest) of each issuer identified in Exhibit “C” under the name of such Grantor and all other shares of capital stock (or other ownership interest) of whatever class of each such issuer, now or hereafter owned by such Grantor, and all certificates evidencing the same, and shall include, without limitation, all of the capital stock of the Parent’s Domestic Subsidiaries owned by such Grantor and the requisite percentage of the capital stock of all Material Foreign Subsidiaries required to be pledged pursuant to the Bank Credit Agreement and the Note Agreement, and, if in effect, any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents, and owned by such Grantor.

 

“PPSA” shall mean the Personal Property Security Act in effect from time to time in the Province of Ontario or such similar legislation in effect in any other Province of Canada, as applicable, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

“Receivables” means the Accounts, Chattel Paper, Documents, Investment Property, Instruments or Pledged Deposits, and any other rights or claims to receive money which are General Intangibles or which are otherwise included as Collateral.

 

“Section” means a numbered section of this Security Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced.

 

“Secured Obligations” means the “Obligations” under and as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

“Security” has the meaning set forth in Article 8 of the New York UCC or in the PPSA, as applicable.

 

“Stock Rights” means any securities, dividends or other distributions and any other right or property which any Grantor shall receive or shall become entitled to receive for any reason whatsoever with respect to, in substitution for or in exchange for any securities or other ownership interests in a corporation, partnership, joint venture or limited liability company constituting Collateral and any securities, any right to receive securities and any right to receive earnings, in which any Grantor now has or hereafter acquires any right, issued by an issuer of such securities.

 

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“Supporting Obligation” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the New York UCC.

 

The foregoing definitions shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

 

ARTICLE II

 

GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST

 

Each of the Grantors hereby pledges, assigns and grants to the Collateral Agent, on behalf of and for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in and to the Collateral to secure the prompt and complete payment and performance of the Secured Obligations.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Collateral shall not include (i) (a) any Accounts, General Intangibles, Chattel Paper, Instruments, Documents or Investment Property which constitute Receivables subject to any Receivables Purchase Facility permitted under the Credit Agreement, the Note Agreement, and, if in effect, any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents, and (b) any Deposit Accounts maintained in accordance with the requirements of the applicable Receivables Purchase Facility into which collections and other amounts related to those items described in clause (i)(a) are deposited (collectively, the “Securitization Collateral”), (ii) any Property to the extent that such grant of a security interest is prohibited by any applicable law or governmental authority, requires a consent not obtained of any governmental authority pursuant to any applicable law or is prohibited by, or constitutes a breach or default under or results in the termination of or requires any consent not obtained under, any contract, license, agreement, instrument or other document evidencing or giving rise to such property or, in the case of any investment property, any applicable shareholder or similar agreement, except to the extent that such applicable law or the term in such contract, license, agreement, instrument or other document or shareholder or similar agreement providing for such prohibition, breach, default or termination or requiring such consent is ineffective under applicable law, (iii) with respect to any shares of stock or other ownership interests in any first-tier Foreign Subsidiary, the excess over 65% of all of the voting shares of stock or equity interests in such Foreign Subsidiary, (iv) any stock or other ownership interests of any Subsidiary of any first-tier Foreign Subsidiary and (v) any shares of the Parent’s capital stock that have been repurchased by the Parent and held in treasury. The Collateral Agent’s security interest in any item constituting Securitization Collateral shall be released upon the sale, contribution or transfer thereof under the terms of the applicable Receivables Purchase Facility. Each of the Grantors acknowledges, for the purposes of the PPSA, that (i) value has been given, (ii) it has rights in the Collateral (other than after-acquired Collateral), (iii) it has not agreed to postpone the time of attachment of the security interest in the Collateral and (iv) it has received a duplicate copy of this Security Agreement.

 

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ARTICLE III

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

Each of the Initial Grantors represents and warrants to the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties, and each Grantor that becomes a party to this Security Agreement pursuant to the execution of a Security Agreement Supplement in substantially the form of Annex I represents and warrants (after giving effect to supplements to each of the Exhibits hereto with respect to such subsequent Grantor as attached to such Security Agreement Supplement), that:

 

3.1.                               Title, Authorization, Validity and Enforceability . Such Grantor has good and valid rights in or the power to transfer the Collateral owned by it and title to the Collateral with respect to which it has purported to grant a security interest hereunder, free and clear of all Liens except for Liens permitted under Section 4.1.3, and has full corporate, limited liability company or partnership, as applicable, power and authority to grant to the Collateral Agent the security interest in such Collateral pursuant hereto. The execution and delivery by such Grantor of this Security Agreement has been duly authorized by proper corporate, limited liability company or partnership, as applicable, proceedings, and this Security Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Grantor and creates a security interest which is enforceable against such Grantor in all Collateral it now owns or hereafter acquires, except as enforceability may be limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization or similar laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), and (iii) requirements of reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing. Financing statements have been filed in the appropriate offices against such Grantor in the locations listed on Exhibit “D”, and the Collateral Agent has a fully perfected first priority security interest in the Collateral owned by such Grantor in which a security interest may be perfected by filing under the applicable Uniform Commercial Code or PPSA, as applicable, subject to Liens permitted under the Bank Credit Agreement and the Note Agreement, and, if in effect, any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents, provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to constitute an agreement to subordinate any of the Liens of the Collateral Agent under the Lender Documents to any Liens otherwise permitted under the Bank Credit Agreement and the Note Agreement, and, if in effect, any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents (other than Permitted Priority Liens).

 

3.2.                               Conflicting Laws and Contracts . Neither the execution and delivery by such Grantor of this Security Agreement, the creation and perfection of the security interest in the Collateral granted hereunder, nor compliance with the terms and provisions hereof will violate (i) any applicable law, rule, regulation, order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree or award binding on such Grantor, or (ii) such Grantor’s charter, articles or by-laws (or similar constitutive documents), or (iii) the provisions of any indenture, material instrument or material agreement to which such Grantor is a party or is subject, or by which it, or its Property is bound or affected, or conflict with or constitute a default thereunder, or result in or require the creation or imposition of any Lien in, of or on the property of such Grantor pursuant to the terms of any such indenture, material instrument or material agreement (other than any Lien of the Collateral Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties).

 

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3.3.                               Type and Jurisdiction of Organization . As of the date of the compliance certificate most recently delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 6.1.3 of the Bank Credit Agreement in connection with the most recent annual financial statements of the Parent delivered pursuant to Section 6.1.1 of the Bank Credit Agreement  (such date being the “Reference Date”), the Borrower is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Illinois; each of United Stationers Technology Services LLC and United Stationers Financial Services LLC is a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Illinois; the Parent is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware; and Lagasse, Inc. is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Louisiana, in each case, except to the extent (x) such Person has been merged with or into any other Person in a transaction not prohibited by the Bank Credit Agreement and the Note Agreement, and, if in effect, any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents, or (y) such Person has complied with the requirements of Section 4.1.4 or (z) as to Persons other than the Company or the Parent, such Person has been sold or otherwise disposed of in a transaction permitted by the Lender Documents, and in each case, this representation shall be deemed amended to make reference to the correct Person, type of entity and/or jurisdiction, as applicable.

 

3.4.                               Principal Location . As of the Reference Date, such Grantor’s mailing address and the location of its place of business (if it has only one) or its chief executive office (if it has more than one place of business), is disclosed in Exhibit “A”; such Grantor has no other places of business except those set forth in Exhibit “A”.

 

3.5.                               Property Locations . As of the Reference Date, the Inventory, Equipment and Fixtures of each Grantor are located solely at the locations of such Grantor described in Exhibit “A”, except for such Inventory, Equipment or Fixtures which (i) are out for repair, (ii) have been sold or otherwise disposed of in accordance with the terms of the Bank Credit Agreement and the Note Agreement, and, if in effect, any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents, (iii) are in transit to a place described in Exhibit “A” or (iv) when taken together, have a net book value in the aggregate of $10,000,000 or less. All of said locations are owned by such Grantor except for locations (i) which are leased by such Grantor as lessee and designated in Part B of Exhibit “A” and (ii) at which Inventory or Equipment is held in a public warehouse or is otherwise held by a bailee or on consignment by such Grantor as designated in Part C of Exhibit “A”.

 

3.6.                               No Other Names . Except as set forth on Exhibit “A”, during the three year period prior to the date of this Security Agreement and from the date of this Security Agreement through and including the Reference Date, such Grantor has not conducted business under any name except the name in which it has executed this Security Agreement, which is the exact name as it appears in such Grantor’s organizational documents, as amended, as filed with such Grantor’s jurisdiction of organization as of the date of this Security Agreement.

 

3.7.                               Accounts and Chattel Paper . The names of the obligors, amounts owing, due dates and other information with respect to the Accounts and Chattel Paper owned by such Grantor are correctly stated, in all material respects, in all records of such Grantor relating thereto and in all invoices and reports with respect thereto furnished to the Collateral Agent by such Grantor from time to time. As of the time when each Account or each item of Chattel Paper arises, such Grantor shall be deemed to have represented and warranted that such Account or

 

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Chattel Paper, as the case may be, and all records relating thereto, is genuine and in all material respects what it purports to be.

 

3.8.                               Filing Requirements . As of the Reference Date, none of the Equipment owned by such Grantor is covered by any certificate of title required to be delivered pursuant to Section 4.3.2, except for the vehicles described in Part A of Exhibit “B”. As of the Reference Date, none of the Collateral owned by such Grantor is of a type for which security interests or liens may be perfected by filing under any federal statute except for (i) the vehicles described in Part B of Exhibit “B” and (ii) patents, trademarks and copyrights held by such Grantor and described in Part C of Exhibit “B”.

 

3.9.                               No Financing Statements . No financing statement describing all or any portion of the Collateral which has not lapsed or been terminated naming such Grantor as debtor has been filed in any jurisdiction except financing statements (i) naming the Collateral Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties as the secured party and (ii) in respect of Liens permitted by the Bank Credit Agreement and the Note Agreement, and, if in effect, any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents; provided , that nothing herein shall be deemed to constitute an agreement to subordinate any of the Liens of the Collateral Agent under the Lender Documents to any Liens otherwise permitted under the Bank Credit Agreement and the Note Agreement, and, if in effect, any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Indebtedness (other than Permitted Priority Liens).

 

3.10.                         Federal Employer Identification Number; State Organization Number . Such Grantor’s Federal employer identification number is, and if such Grantor is a registered organization, such Grantor’s State organization number is set forth on Exhibit “A”.

 

3.11.                         Pledged Securities and Other Investment Property . As of the Reference Date, Exhibit “C” sets forth a complete and accurate list of the Pledged Stock, and to the extent the same has a value in excess of $5,000,000 individually or $10,000,000 in the aggregate, Instruments, Securities and other Investment Property (to the extent the same do not constitute Cash Equivalent Investments or Customer Advance Notes) delivered to the Collateral Agent. Each Grantor is the direct and beneficial owner of each Instrument, Security and other type of Investment Property listed on Exhibit “C” as being owned by it, free and clear of any Liens, except for the security interest granted to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties hereunder. Each Grantor further represents and warrants that (i) all Pledged Stock which are shares of stock in a corporation or ownership interests in a partnership or limited liability company have been (to the extent such concepts are relevant with respect to such Pledged Stock) duly and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and constitute, as of the Reference Date, the percentage of the issued and outstanding shares of stock (or other equity interests) of the respective issuers thereof indicated on Exhibit “C” hereto and (ii) with respect to any certificates delivered to the Collateral Agent representing an ownership interest in a partnership or limited liability company, either such certificates are Securities as defined in Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code of the applicable jurisdiction or in the PPSA, as applicable, as a result of actions by the issuer or otherwise, or, if such certificates are not Securities, such Grantor has so informed the Collateral Agent so that the Collateral Agent may take steps to perfect its security interest therein as a General Intangible.

 

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ARTICLE IV

 

COVENANTS

 

From the date of this Security Agreement and thereafter until this Security Agreement is terminated in accordance with Section 8.14, each of the Initial Grantors agrees, and from and after the effective date of any Security Agreement Supplement applicable to any Grantor (and after giving effect to supplements to each of the Exhibits hereto with respect to such subsequent Grantor as attached to such Security Agreement Supplement) and thereafter until this Security Agreement is terminated in accordance with Section 8.14 each such subsequent Grantor agrees:

 

4.1.                               General .

 

4.1.1  Compliance with Bank Credit Agreement and the Note Agreement and any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents . Each of the Grantors covenants that (i) so long as any Lender has any Commitment outstanding under the Bank Credit Agreement or any amount payable to it under the Bank Credit Agreement or any other Secured Obligations under the Bank Credit Agreement (other than contingent indemnity obligations) shall remain unpaid, it will, and, if necessary, will enable the Borrower and the Parent to, fully comply with those covenants and agreements of the Borrower and the Parent applicable to such Grantor set forth in the Bank Credit Agreement and (ii) so long as any Lender has any amount payable to it under the Note Agreement or any other Secured Obligations under the Note Agreement (other than contingent indemnity obligations) shall remain unpaid, it will, and, if necessary, will enable the Borrower and the Parent to, fully comply with those covenants and agreements of the Borrower and the Parent applicable to such Grantor set forth in the Note Agreement and (iii) so long as any Lender has any amount payable to it under any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents or any other Secured Obligations under any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents (other than contingent indemnity obligations) shall remain unpaid, it will, and if necessary, will enable the Borrower and the Parent to, fully comply with those covenants and agreements of the Borrower and the Parent applicable to such Grantor set forth in such Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents.

 

4.1.2  Financing Statements and Other Actions; Defense of Title . Each Grantor hereby authorizes the Collateral Agent to file, and if requested will execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent, all financing statements describing the Collateral owned by such Grantor and other documents and take such other actions as may from time to time reasonably be requested by the Collateral Agent in order to maintain a first perfected security interest in and, if applicable, Control of, the Collateral owned by such Grantor, subject to Liens permitted under the Bank Credit Agreement and the Note Agreement, and, if in effect, any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents, provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to constitute an agreement to subordinate any of the Liens of the Collateral Agent under the Lender Documents to any Liens otherwise permitted under the Bank Credit Agreement and the Note Agreement, and, if in effect, any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Indebtedness (other than Permitted Priority Liens). Such financing statements may describe the Collateral in the same manner as described herein or may contain an indication or description of collateral that describes such property in

 

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any other manner as the Collateral Agent may determine, in its sole discretion, is necessary, advisable or prudent to ensure that the perfection of the security interest in the Collateral granted to the Collateral Agent herein. Each Grantor will take any and all actions necessary to defend title to the Collateral owned by such Grantor against all persons and to defend the security interest of the Collateral Agent in such Collateral and the priority thereof against any Lien not expressly permitted hereunder. During the continuance of a Default the Borrower shall, upon the request of the Collateral Agent, provide a written summary of each property on which any Fixtures are located by any Grantor, including the legal description, county and street address of such property, together with the name and address of the record owner of each such property.

 

4.1.3  Liens . No Grantor will create, incur, or suffer to exist any Lien on the Collateral owned by such Grantor except Liens permitted pursuant to the Bank Credit Agreement and the Note Agreement, and, if in effect, any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents, provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to constitute an agreement to subordinate any of the Liens of the Collateral Agent under the Lender Documents to any Liens otherwise permitted under the Bank Credit Agreement and the Note Agreement, and, if in effect, any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Indebtedness (other than Permitted Priority Liens).

 

4.1.4  Change in Corporate Existence, Type or Jurisdiction of Organization, Location, Name . Each Grantor will, except to the extent permitted under the Bank Credit Agreement and the Note Agreement, and, if in effect, any applicable Eligible Additional Senior Secured Document:

 

(i)                                      preserve its existence and corporate structure as in effect on the date of this Security Agreement;

 

(ii)                                   not change its jurisdiction of organization;

 

(iii)                                not maintain its place of business (if it has only one) or its chief executive office (if it has more than one place of business) at a location other than a location specified on Exhibit “A;” and

 

(iv)                               not (a) have any Inventory, Equipment or Fixtures or proceeds or products thereof at a location other than a location specified in Exhibit “A”, except for such Inventory, Equipment or Fixtures which (W) are out for repair, (X) have been sold or otherwise disposed of in accordance with the terms of the Bank Credit Agreement and the Note Agreement, and, if in effect, any applicable Eligible Additional Senior Secured Document, (Y) are in transit to a place described in Exhibit “A” or (Z) when taken together, have an aggregate net book value of $10,000,000 or less, (b) change its name or taxpayer identification number or (c) change its mailing address,

 

unless, in each such case, such Grantor shall have given the Collateral Agent not less than 15 Business Days’ (or such shorter time as to which the Collateral Agent and the Grantor shall agree) prior written notice of such event or occurrence and the Collateral Agent

 

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shall have either (x) determined that such event or occurrence will not adversely affect the validity, perfection or priority of the Collateral Agent’s security interest in the Collateral, or (y) taken such steps (with the cooperation of such Grantor to the extent necessary or advisable) as are necessary or advisable to properly maintain the validity, perfection and priority of the Collateral Agent’s security interest in the Collateral owned by such Grantor.

 

4.1.5  Other Financing Statements . No Grantor will suffer to exist, or sign or authorize the signing on its behalf or the filing of any financing statement naming it as debtor covering all or any portion of the Collateral owned by such Grantor, except any financing statement (i) authorized under Section 4.1.2 or (ii) filed to perfect a Lien permitted by the Bank Credit Agreement and the Note Agreement, and, if in effect, any applicable Eligible Additional Senior Secured Document; provided , that nothing herein shall be deemed to constitute an agreement to subordinate any of the Liens of the Collateral Agent under the Lender Documents to any Liens otherwise permitted under the Bank Credit Agreement and the Note Agreement, and, if in effect, any applicable Eligible Additional Senior Secured Document (other than Permitted Priority Liens).

 

4.2.                               Receivables .

 

4.2.1  Collection of Receivables . Except as otherwise provided in this Security Agreement, each Grantor will collect and enforce, at such Grantor’s sole expense and in its ordinary course of business, all amounts due or hereafter due to such Grantor under the Receivables owned by such Grantor.

 

4.2.2  Delivery of Invoices . Each Grantor will deliver to the Collateral Agent promptly upon its request after the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default duplicate invoices with respect to each Account owned by such Grantor and otherwise constituting Collateral hereunder bearing such language of assignment as the Collateral Agent shall specify.

 

4.2.3  Disclosure of Receivables . Upon the reasonable request of the Collateral Agent, each Grantor shall deliver to the Collateral Agent copies of any periodic reports prepared with respect to Receivables in connection with any Receivables Purchase Facility.

 

4.3.                               Inventory and Equipment .

 

4.3.1  Bailment Agreements, Etc. With respect to each location (other than properties owned or leased by such Grantor) at which Inventory (other than catalogs) and/or Equipment with a net book value in excess of $10,000,000 is located, each Grantor shall deliver bailment agreements, warehouse receipts, financing statements or other documents reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent to protect the Collateral Agent’s and the Secured Parties’ security interest in such Inventory and/or Equipment.

 

4.3.2  Titled Vehicles . Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default, each Grantor will give the Collateral Agent notice of its acquisition of any vehicle covered by a certificate of title the net book value of which, when taken together

 

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with all other vehicles covered by a certificate of title owned by any Grantor, exceeds $10,000,000 in the aggregate, and deliver to the Collateral Agent, upon request, the original of any vehicle title certificate and do all things necessary to have the Lien of the Collateral Agent noted on any such certificate to eliminate such excess.

 

4.4.                               Instruments, Securities, Chattel Paper, Documents and Pledged Deposits . Each Grantor will (i) deliver to the Collateral Agent immediately upon execution of this Security Agreement the originals of all Pledged Stock, and, to the extent the same has a value in excess of $5,000,000 individually or $10,000,000 in the aggregate, originals of all Chattel Paper, Securities and Instruments constituting Collateral (if any then exist and other than those constituting Cash Equivalent Investments or Customer Advance Notes), (ii) hold in trust for the Collateral Agent upon receipt and immediately thereafter deliver to the Collateral Agent any Pledged Stock, and, to the extent the same has a value in excess of $5,000,000 individually or $10,000,000 in the aggregate, originals of Chattel Paper, Securities and Instruments constituting Collateral (other than those constituting Cash Equivalent Investments or Customer Advance Notes), (iii) upon the designation of any Pledged Deposits (as set forth in the definition thereof), deliver to the Collateral Agent such Pledged Deposits which are evidenced by certificates included in the Collateral endorsed in blank, marked with such legends and assigned as the Collateral Agent shall specify, and (iv) upon the Collateral Agent’s request, after the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default, deliver to the Collateral Agent (and thereafter hold in trust for the Collateral Agent upon receipt and immediately deliver to the Collateral Agent) any Document evidencing or constituting Collateral. No Grantor shall permit any Person other than such Grantor or the Collateral Agent to maintain possession of any Customer Advance Note.

 

4.5.                               Uncertificated Securities and Certain Other Investment Property . Each Grantor will permit the Collateral Agent (i) from time to time to cause each Subsidiary of the Parent that is an issuer (and, if held with a securities intermediary, such securities intermediary) of uncertificated securities or other types of Investment Property not represented by certificates which are Collateral owned by such Grantor, and (ii) after the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default to cause the appropriate other issuers (and, if held with a securities intermediary, such securities intermediary) of any other uncertificated securities or other types of Investment Property not represented by certificates which are Collateral owned by such Grantor, in each case, to mark their books and records with the numbers and face amounts of all such uncertificated securities or other types of Investment Property not represented by certificates and all rollovers and replacements therefor to reflect the Lien of the Collateral Agent granted pursuant to this Security Agreement. Each Grantor will use all commercially reasonable efforts, (i) at all times with respect to each Subsidiary of the Parent that is an issuer of Investment Property constituting Collateral owned by such Grantor held with a financial intermediary, and (ii) after the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default with respect to all other Investment Property constituting Collateral owned by such Grantor held with a financial intermediary, to cause such financial intermediary to enter into a control agreement with the Collateral Agent in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent.

 

4.6.                               Stock and Other Ownership Interests .

 

4.6.1  Changes in Capital Structure of Issuers . No Grantor will (i) permit or suffer any issuer of Pledged Stock owned by such Grantor to dissolve, liquidate, retire any of its

 

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capital stock or other Instruments, Securities or other Investment Property evidencing ownership, reduce its capital or merge or consolidate with any other entity, or (ii) vote any of the Instruments, Securities or other Investment Property in favor of any of the foregoing, except to the extent not prohibited under the Bank Credit Agreement and the Note Agreement, and, if in effect, any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents.

 

4.6.2  Issuance of Additional Securities . No Grantor will permit or suffer (i) any issuer of Pledged Stock that is a Guarantor to issue any such securities or other ownership interests, any right to receive the same or any right to receive earnings, except to such Grantor or (ii) any issuer of Pledged Stock that is not a Guarantor to issue any such securities or other ownership interests, any right to receive the same or any right to receive earnings unless such issuance is made or offered to each holder of such securities based on their proportionate holdings thereof.

 

4.6.3  Registration of Pledged Securities and other Investment Property . Each Grantor will permit any registerable Collateral owned by such Grantor to be registered in the name of the Collateral Agent or its nominee at any time at the option of the Requisite Lenders following the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default and without any further consent of such Grantor.

 

4.6.4  Exercise of Rights in Pledged Securities and other Investment Property . Each Grantor will permit the Collateral Agent or its nominee at any time during the continuance of a Default, without notice, to exercise or refrain from exercising any and all voting and other consensual rights pertaining to the Collateral owned by such Grantor or any part thereof, and to receive all dividends and interest in respect of such Collateral.

 

4.7.                               Deposit Accounts . Each Grantor will upon the Collateral Agent’s request during the continuance of a Default, (i) cause each bank or other financial institution in which it maintains (a) a Deposit Account which is Collateral to enter into a control agreement with the Collateral Agent, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent in order to give the Collateral Agent Control of such Deposit Account or (b) other deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) to be notified of the security interest granted to the Collateral Agent hereunder and cause each such bank or other financial institution to acknowledge such notification in writing and/or (ii) deliver to each such bank or other financial institution a letter, in form and substance acceptable to the Collateral Agent, transferring ownership of such Deposit Account to the Collateral Agent or transferring dominion and control over each such other deposit to the Collateral Agent until such time as no Default exists. In the case of deposits maintained with Banks, the terms of such letter shall be subject to the provisions of the Bank Credit Agreement and the Note Agreement, and, if in effect, any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents, regarding setoffs. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to (x) a deposit account for which the Collateral Agent or any other Bank is the depositary bank and is in automatic control thereof and (y) any deposit accounts specially and exclusively used for payroll, payroll taxes and other employee wage and benefit payments to or for the benefit of any Grantor’s employees or any other trust accounts.

 

4.8.                               Letter-of-Credit Rights . Each Grantor will, upon the Collateral Agent’s request, use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each issuer of a letter of credit that constitutes

 

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Collateral (other than letters of credit that constitute Supporting Obligations in respect of Collateral) having a face value in excess of $5,000,000, to consent to the assignment of proceeds of the letter of credit in order to give the Collateral Agent Control of the letter-of-credit rights to such letter of credit.

 

4.9.                               Intellectual Property . If, after the date of this Security Agreement, any Grantor obtains rights to any  federally registered patent, trademark or copyright, or applies for or seeks federal registration of any new patentable invention, trademark or copyright, in addition to the patents, trademarks and copyrights described in Part C of Exhibit “B”, which are all of such Grantor’s federally registered patents, trademarks and copyrights as of the date of this Security Agreement, then such Grantor shall, on an annual basis or, after the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default, upon the request of the Collateral Agent, give the Collateral Agent notice thereof. Each Grantor agrees promptly upon request by the Collateral Agent to execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent any supplement to this Security Agreement or any other document reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to evidence such security interest in a form appropriate for recording in the applicable federal office. Each Grantor also hereby authorizes the Collateral Agent to modify this Security Agreement unilaterally by amending Part C of Exhibit “B” to include any future patents, trademarks and/or copyrights of which the Collateral Agent receives notification from such Grantor pursuant hereto.

 

4.10.                         Commercial Tort Claims . If, after the date hereof, any Grantor identifies the existence of a commercial tort claim belonging to such Grantor in respect of which such Grantor shall have filed a suit, and having, individually or together with all other such commercial tort claims, in such Grantor’s reasonable business judgment a value in excess of $10,000,000, that has arisen in the course of such Grantor’s business in addition to the commercial tort claims described in Exhibit “E”, which are all of such Grantor’s commercial tort claims as of the date of this Security Agreement, then such Grantor shall give the Collateral Agent prompt notice thereof, but in any event not less frequently than quarterly. Each Grantor agrees promptly upon request by the Collateral Agent to execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent any supplement to this Security Agreement or any other document reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to evidence the grant of a security interest therein in favor of the Collateral Agent.

 

ARTICLE V

 

DEFAULT

 

5.1.                               Default . The occurrence of any “Actionable Default” under, and as defined in, the Intercreditor Agreement shall constitute a Default hereunder.

 

5.2.                               Acceleration and Remedies . In accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Agent may, with the concurrence or at the direction of the Requisite Lenders, exercise any or all of the following rights and remedies:

 

5.2.1  Those rights and remedies provided in this Security Agreement, the Bank Credit Agreement, the Note Agreement, any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents, or any other Lender Document, provided that this Section 5.2.1 shall not be

 

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understood to limit any rights or remedies available to the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties prior to a Default.

 

5.2.2  Those rights and remedies available to a secured party under the New York UCC or the PPSA, as applicable (whether or not the New York UCC or the PPSA applies to the affected Collateral) or under any other applicable law (including, without limitation, any law governing the exercise of a bank’s right of setoff or bankers’ lien) when a debtor is in default under a security agreement.

 

5.2.3  Without notice except as specifically provided in Section 8.1 or elsewhere herein, sell, lease, assign, grant an option or options to purchase or otherwise dispose of the Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at public or private sale, for cash, on credit or for future delivery, and upon such other terms as the Collateral Agent may deem commercially reasonable.

 

5.2.4  Appoint by instrument in writing a receiver (which term as used in this Security Agreement includes a receiver and manager) or agent of all or any part of the Collateral and remove or replace from time to time any such receiver or agent.

 

5.2.5  Institute proceedings in any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a receiver of all or any part of the Collateral.

 

5.2.6  Borrow for the purposes of carrying on the business of the Grantor or for the maintenance, preservation or protection of the Collateral and grant a security interest in the Collateral, whether or not in priority to the security interest granted herein, to secure repayment.

 

The Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, may comply with any applicable state, Canadian provincial or federal law requirements in connection with a disposition of the Collateral, and such compliance will not be considered to adversely affect the commercial reasonableness of any sale of the Collateral.

 

If, after the Bank Credit Agreement and the Note Agreement, and, if in effect, any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents, has terminated by its respective terms and all of the Obligations have been paid in full, there remain Rate Management Obligations outstanding, the Requisite Lenders may exercise the remedies provided in this Section 5.2 upon the occurrence of any event which would allow or require the termination or acceleration of any Rate Management Obligations pursuant to the terms of the agreement governing any Rate Management Transaction.

 

5.3.                               Grantors’ Obligations Upon Default . Upon the request of the Collateral Agent during the continuance of a Default, each Grantor will:

 

5.3.1  Assembly of Collateral . Assemble and make available to the Collateral Agent the Collateral and all records relating thereto at any place or places specified by the Collateral Agent which is reasonably convenient to both parties.

 

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5.3.2  Secured Party Access . Permit the Collateral Agent, to the extent such Grantor has the authority to do so, by the Collateral Agent’s representatives and agents, to enter any premises where all or any part of the Collateral, or the books and records relating thereto, or both, are located, to take possession of all or any part of the Collateral and to remove all or any part of the Collateral.

 

5.4.                               License . The Collateral Agent is hereby granted a license or other right to use, following the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default, without charge, each Grantor’s labels, patents, copyrights, rights of use of any name, trade secrets, trade names, trademarks, service marks, customer lists and advertising matter, or any property of a similar nature, as it pertains to the Collateral, in completing production of, advertising for sale, and selling any Collateral, and, following the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default, such Grantor’s rights under all licenses and all franchise agreements shall inure to the Collateral Agent’s benefit. In addition, each Grantor hereby irrevocably agrees that the Collateral Agent may, following the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default, sell any of such Grantor’s Inventory directly to any person, including without limitation persons who have previously purchased such Grantor’s Inventory from such Grantor and in connection with any such sale or other enforcement of the Collateral Agent’s rights under this Security Agreement, may sell Inventory which bears any trademark owned by or licensed to such Grantor and any Inventory that is covered by any copyright owned by or licensed to such Grantor and the Collateral Agent may finish any work in process and affix any trademark owned by or licensed to such Grantor and sell such Inventory as provided herein.

 

5.5.                               Receiver’s Powers .

 

(a)                                   Any receiver appointed by the Collateral Agent shall be vested with the rights and remedies which could have been exercised by the Collateral Agent in respect of each Grantor or the Collateral and such other powers and discretions as are granted in the instrument of appointment and any supplemental instruments. The identity of the receiver, its replacement and its remuneration shall be within the sole and unfettered discretion of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Parties.

 

(b)                                  Any receiver appointed by the Collateral Agent shall act as agent for the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Parties for the purposes of taking possession of the Collateral, but otherwise and for all other purposes (except as provided below), as agent for each Grantor. The receiver may sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of Collateral as agent for each Grantor or as agent for the Collateral Agent as the Collateral Agent may determine in its discretion. Each Grantor agrees to ratify and confirm all actions of the receiver acting as agent for each Grantor, and to release and indemnify the receiver in respect of all such actions.

 

(c)                                   The Collateral Agent, in appointing or refraining from appointing any receiver, shall not incur liability to the receiver, each Grantor or otherwise and shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence of the receiver.

 

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ARTICLE VI

 

WAIVERS, AMENDMENTS AND REMEDIES

 

Each of the Secured Parties agrees that, except to the extent provided in Section 5.2, this Security Agreement may be enforced only by the actions of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and that no other Secured Party shall have any right individually to seek to enforce or to enforce this Security Agreement or to realize upon the security to be granted hereby (other than the right of setoff provided for in the Lender Documents). No delay or omission of the Collateral Agent to exercise any right or remedy granted under this Security Agreement shall impair such right or remedy or be construed to be a waiver of any Default or an acquiescence therein, and any single or partial exercise of any such right or remedy shall not preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy. No waiver, amendment or other variation of the terms, conditions or provisions of this Security Agreement whatsoever shall be valid unless in writing signed by the Collateral Agent with the concurrence or at the direction of the Requisite Lenders and each Grantor, and then only to the extent in such writing specifically set forth, provided that the addition of any Domestic Subsidiary as a Grantor hereunder by execution of a Security Agreement Supplement in the form of Annex I (with such modifications as shall be acceptable to the Collateral Agent) shall not require receipt of any consent from or execution of any documentation by any other Grantor party hereto. All rights and remedies contained in this Security Agreement or by law afforded shall be cumulative and all shall be available to the Collateral Agent until the non-contingent Secured Obligations have been paid in full.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

PROCEEDS; COLLECTION OF RECEIVABLES

 

7.1.                               Lockboxes . Upon request of the Collateral Agent after the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default, each Grantor shall execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent irrevocable lockbox agreements in the form provided by or otherwise acceptable to the Collateral Agent, which agreements shall be accompanied by an acknowledgment by the bank where the lockbox is located of the Lien of the Collateral Agent granted hereunder and of irrevocable instructions to wire all amounts collected therein to a special collateral account at the Collateral Agent.

 

7.2.                               Collection of Receivables . The Collateral Agent may at any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default, by giving each Grantor written notice, elect to require that the Receivables which are Collateral be paid directly to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties. In such event, each Grantor shall, and shall permit the Collateral Agent to, promptly notify the account debtors or obligors under the Receivables owned by such Grantor of the Collateral Agent’s interest therein and direct such account debtors or obligors to make payment of all amounts then or thereafter due under such Receivables directly to the Collateral Agent. Upon receipt of any such notice from the Collateral Agent, each Grantor shall thereafter hold in trust for the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, all amounts and proceeds received by it with respect to the Receivables which are Collateral and Other Collateral and immediately and at all times thereafter deliver to the Collateral Agent all

 

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such amounts and proceeds in the same form as so received, whether by cash, check, draft or otherwise, with any necessary endorsements. The Collateral Agent shall hold and apply funds so received as provided by the terms of Sections 7.3 and 7.4.

 

7.3.                               Special Collateral Account . The Collateral Agent may require all cash proceeds of the Collateral to be deposited in a special non-interest bearing cash collateral account with the Collateral Agent and held there as security for the Secured Obligations. No Grantor shall have any control whatsoever over said cash collateral account. If no Default is continuing, the Collateral Agent shall from time to time deposit the collected balances in said cash collateral account into the applicable Grantor’s general operating account with the Collateral Agent. If any Default has occurred and is continuing, the Collateral Agent may (and shall, at the direction of the Requisite Lenders), from time to time, apply the collected balances in said cash collateral account to the payment of the Secured Obligations whether or not the Secured Obligations shall then be due.

 

7.4.                               Application of Proceeds . The proceeds of the Collateral shall be applied by the Collateral Agent to payment of the Secured Obligations in accordance with the terms of Section 9 of the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

8.1.                               Notice of Disposition of Collateral; Condition of Collateral . Each Grantor hereby waives notice of the time and place of any public sale or the time after which any private sale or other disposition of all or any part of the Collateral may be made. To the extent such notice may not be waived under applicable law, any notice made shall be deemed reasonable if sent to the Borrower, addressed as set forth in Article IX, at least ten days prior to (i) the date of any such public sale or (ii) the time after which any such private sale or other disposition may be made. The Collateral Agent shall have no obligation to clean-up or otherwise prepare the Collateral for sale. The Collateral Agent agrees to distribute any proceeds of the sale of the Collateral in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Intercreditor Agreement, and each Grantor shall remain liable for any deficiency following the sale of the Collateral.

 

8.2.                               Compromises and Collection of Collateral . Each Grantor and the Collateral Agent recognize that setoffs, counterclaims, defenses and other claims may be asserted by obligors with respect to certain of the Receivables, that certain of the Receivables may be or become uncollectible in whole or in part and that the expense and probability of success in litigating a disputed Receivable may exceed the amount that reasonably may be expected to be recovered with respect to a Receivable. In view of the foregoing, each Grantor agrees that the Collateral Agent may at any time and from time to time, if a Default has occurred and is continuing, compromise with the obligor on any Receivable, accept in full payment of any Receivable such amount as the Collateral Agent in its sole discretion shall determine or abandon any Receivable, and any such action by the Collateral Agent shall be commercially reasonable so long as the Collateral Agent acts in good faith based on information known to it at the time it takes any such action.

 

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8.3.                               Secured Party Performance of Grantor’s Obligations . Without having any obligation to do so, the Collateral Agent may perform or pay any obligation which any Grantor has agreed to perform or pay in this Security Agreement and such Grantor shall reimburse the Collateral Agent for any reasonable amounts paid by the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Section 8.3. Each Grantor’s obligation to reimburse the Collateral Agent pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be a Secured Obligation payable on demand.

 

8.4.                               Authorization for Secured Party to Take Certain Action . Each Grantor irrevocably authorizes the Collateral Agent at any time and from time to time in the sole discretion of the Collateral Agent and appoints the Collateral Agent as its attorney in fact (i) to execute on behalf of such Grantor as debtor and to file financing statements necessary or desirable in the Collateral Agent’s sole discretion to perfect and to maintain the perfection and priority of the Collateral Agent’s security interest in the Collateral, (ii) to indorse and collect any cash proceeds of the Collateral, (iii) to file a carbon, photographic or other reproduction of this Security Agreement or any financing statement with respect to the Collateral as a financing statement and to file any other financing statement or amendment of a financing statement (which does not add new collateral or add a debtor) in such offices as the Collateral Agent in its sole discretion deems necessary or desirable to perfect and to maintain the perfection and priority of the Collateral Agent’s security interest in the Collateral, (iv) to contact and enter into one or more agreements with the issuers of uncertificated securities which are Collateral owned by such Grantor and which are Securities or with financial intermediaries holding other Investment Property as may be necessary or advisable to give the Collateral Agent Control over such Securities or other Investment Property, (v) to enforce payment of the Instruments, Accounts and Receivables which are Collateral in the name of the Collateral Agent or such Grantor, (vi) to apply the proceeds of any Collateral received by the Collateral Agent to the Secured Obligations as provided in Article VII and (vii) to discharge past due taxes, assessments, charges, fees or Liens on the Collateral (except for such Liens as are specifically permitted hereunder or under any other Lender Document), and each Grantor agrees to reimburse the Collateral Agent on demand for any reasonable payment made or any reasonable expense incurred by the Collateral Agent in connection therewith, provided that this authorization shall not relieve any Grantor of any of its obligations under this Security Agreement, under the Bank Credit Agreement or under the Note Agreement, or, if in effect, any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents. Notwithstanding the foregoing, such powers of attorney granted with respect to clause (ii) and clauses (iv) through (vii) above shall be exercisable by the Collateral Agent only after the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default.

 

8.5.                               Specific Performance of Certain Covenants . Each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that a breach of any of the covenants contained in Sections 4.4, 5.3, or 8.7 or in Article VII will cause irreparable injury to the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties, that the Collateral Agent and Secured Parties have no adequate remedy at law in respect of such breaches and therefore agrees, without limiting the right of the Collateral Agent or the Secured Parties to seek and obtain specific performance of other obligations of the Grantors contained in this Security Agreement, that the covenants of the Grantors contained in the Sections referred to in this Section 8.5 shall be specifically enforceable against the Grantors.

 

8.6.                               Use and Possession of Certain Premises . Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default, the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to occupy and use any premises

 

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owned or leased by the Grantors where any of the Collateral or any records relating to the Collateral are located until the non-contingent Secured Obligations are paid or the Collateral is removed therefrom, whichever first occurs, without any obligation to pay any Grantor for such use and occupancy.

 

8.7.                               Dispositions Not Authorized . No Grantor is authorized to sell or otherwise dispose of the Collateral except as set forth in the Bank Credit Agreement and the Note Agreement, and, if in effect, any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents, and notwithstanding any course of dealing between any Grantor and the Collateral Agent or other conduct of the Collateral Agent, no authorization to sell or otherwise dispose of the Collateral (except as set forth in the Bank Credit Agreement and the Note Agreement, and, if in effect, any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents) shall be binding upon the Collateral Agent or the Secured Parties unless such authorization is in writing signed by the Collateral Agent with the consent or at the direction of the Requisite Lenders.

 

8.8.                               Benefit of Agreement . The terms and provisions of this Security Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Grantors, the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns (including all persons who become bound as a debtor to this Security Agreement), except that the Grantors shall not have the right to assign their rights or delegate their obligations under this Security Agreement or any interest herein (other than pursuant to a transaction not prohibited by the Bank Credit Agreement and the Note Agreement, and, if in effect, any applicable Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents), without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent.

 

8.9.                               Survival of Representations . All representations and warranties of the Grantors contained in this Security Agreement shall survive the execution and delivery of this Security Agreement.

 

8.10.                         Taxes and Expenses . The Grantors shall reimburse the Collateral Agent for any and all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, costs and charges (including but not limited to reasonable outside attorneys’, auditors’ and accountants’ fees and receiver’s or agent’s remuneration) paid or incurred by the Collateral Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, collection and enforcement of this Security Agreement and in the audit, analysis, administration, collection, preservation or sale of the Collateral (including, to the extent permitted by the Bank Credit Agreement and the Note Agreement, and, if in effect, any applicable Eligible Additional Senior Secured Document, the expenses and charges associated with any periodic or special audit of the Collateral). Any and all costs and expenses incurred by the Grantors in the performance of actions required pursuant to the terms hereof shall be borne solely by the Grantors.

 

8.11.                         Consent . Each Grantor hereby consents to the holding of any Pledged Stock by the Collateral Agent for and on behalf of each and every one of the Secured Parties. The Collateral Agent hereby acknowledges having received, as of the date hereof, evidence in writing of the security by the Grantor on the Pledged Stock and the share certificates in respect thereof.

 

8.12.                         Currency . All references in this Security Agreement to dollars, unless otherwise specifically indicated, are expressed in currency of the United States of America.

 

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8.13.                         Headings . The title of and section headings in this Security Agreement are for convenience of reference only, and shall not govern the interpretation of any of the terms and provisions of this Security Agreement.

 

8.14.                         Termination . This Security Agreement shall continue in effect (notwithstanding the fact that from time to time there may be no Secured Obligations outstanding) until terminated in accordance with Section 20 of the Intercreditor Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the security interests granted hereunder (and any Grantor’s obligations hereunder) shall be released in accordance with the provisions of Section 19 of the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

8.15.                         Entire Agreement . This Security Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the Grantors and the Collateral Agent relating to the Collateral and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the Grantors and the Collateral Agent relating to the Collateral.

 

8.16.                         CHOICE OF LAW . THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (INCLUDING SECTION 5-1401 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, BUT OTHERWISE WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES) BUT GIVING EFFECT TO FEDERAL LAWS APPLICABLE TO NATIONAL BANKS.

 

8.17.                         Indemnity . Each Grantor hereby agrees, jointly with the other Grantors and severally, to indemnify the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties, and their respective successors, permitted assigns, agents and employees, from and against any and all liabilities, damages, penalties, suits, costs, and expenses of any kind and nature  (including, without limitation, all expenses of litigation or preparation therefor whether or not the Collateral Agent or any Secured Parties is a party thereto) imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Collateral Agent or the Secured Parties, or their respective successors, assigns, agents and employees, in any way relating to or arising out of this Security Agreement, or the manufacture, purchase, acceptance, rejection, ownership, delivery, lease, possession, use, operation, condition, sale, return or other disposition of any Collateral (including, without limitation, latent and other defects, whether or not discoverable by the Collateral Agent or the Secured Parties or any Grantor, and any claim for patent, trademark or copyright infringement), except to the extent the same are caused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Person or solely by reason of the Collateral Agent’s breach of the express terms of this Agreement.

 

8.18.                         Subordination of Intercompany Indebtedness . Each Grantor agrees that any and all claims of such Grantor against any other Grantor (each an “Obligor”) with respect to any “Intercompany Indebtedness” (as hereinafter defined), any endorser, obligor or any other guarantor of all or any part of the Secured Obligations, or against any of its properties shall be subordinate and subject in right of payment to the prior Payment in Full of all Secured Obligations (other than contingent indemnity obligations). Notwithstanding any right of any Grantor to ask, demand, sue for, take or receive any payment from any Obligor, all rights, liens and security interests of such Grantor, whether now or hereafter arising and howsoever existing, in any assets of any other Obligor shall be and are subordinated to the rights of the Secured Parties and the Collateral Agent in those assets. No Grantor shall have any right to possession of

 

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any such asset or to foreclose upon any such asset, whether by judicial action or otherwise, unless and until all of the Secured Obligations (other than contingent indemnity obligations) shall have been Paid in Full. If all or any part of the assets of any Obligor, or the proceeds thereof, are subject to any distribution, division or application to the creditors of such Obligor, whether partial or complete, voluntary or involuntary, and whether by reason of liquidation, bankruptcy, arrangement, receivership, assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other action or proceeding, or if the business of any such Obligor is dissolved or if substantially all of the assets of any such Obligor are sold, then, and in any such event (such events (other than any such events not prohibited by the Bank Credit Agreement and the Note Agreement, and, if in effect, any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents) being herein referred to as an “Insolvency Event”), any payment or distribution of any kind or character, either in cash, securities or other property, which shall be payable or deliverable upon or with respect to any indebtedness of any Obligor to any Grantor (“Intercompany Indebtedness”) shall be paid or delivered directly to the Collateral Agent for application on any of the Secured Obligations, due or to become due, until such Secured Obligations (other than contingent indemnity obligations) shall have first been Paid in Full. Should any payment, distribution, security or instrument or proceeds thereof be received by the applicable Grantor upon or with respect to the Intercompany Indebtedness after any Insolvency Event and prior to the satisfaction of all of the Secured Obligations (other than contingent indemnity obligations) and the termination or expiration of all Commitments of the Banks and Letters of Credit issued pursuant to the Bank Credit Agreement, such Grantor shall receive and hold the same in trust, as trustee, for the benefit of the Secured Parties and shall forthwith deliver the same to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, in precisely the form received (except for the endorsement or assignment of the Grantor where necessary), for application to any of the Secured Obligations, due or not due, and, until so delivered, the same shall be held in trust by the Grantor as the property of the Secured Parties. If any such Grantor fails to make any such endorsement or assignment to the Collateral Agent, the Collateral Agent or any of its officers or employees is irrevocably authorized to make the same. Each Grantor agrees that until the Secured Obligations (other than the contingent indemnity obligations) have been Paid in Full, no Grantor will assign or transfer to any Person (other than the Collateral Agent or the Borrower or another Grantor) any claim any such Grantor has or may have against any Obligor.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

NOTICES

 

9.1.                               Sending Notices . Any notice required or permitted to be given under this Security Agreement shall be sent (and deemed received) in the manner and to the addresses set forth in Section 31 of the Intercreditor Agreement; and any such notice delivered to the Borrower shall be deemed to have been delivered to all of the Grantors.

 

9.2.                               Change in Address for Notices . Each of the Grantors, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders may change the address for service of notice upon it by a notice in writing to the other parties.

 

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ARTICLE X

 

THE COLLATERAL AGENT

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. has been appointed Collateral Agent for the Secured Parties hereunder pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement. It is expressly understood and agreed by the parties to this Security Agreement that any authority conferred upon the Collateral Agent hereunder is subject to the terms of the delegation of authority made by the Secured Parties to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement, and that the Collateral Agent has agreed to act (and any successor Collateral Agent shall act) as such hereunder only on the express conditions contained in such Intercreditor Agreement. Any successor Collateral Agent appointed pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement shall be entitled to all the rights, interests and benefits of the Collateral Agent hereunder.

 

ARTICLE XI

 

EXHIBITS

 

The Grantors may from time to time update the Exhibits to this Security Agreement in writing such that any representations and warranties made hereunder as of a particular Reference Date shall be made in reference to the Exhibits to this Security Agreement as in effect on such Reference Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent any action or inaction resulting in a change to the information contained in  any Exhibit to this Security Agreement independently required compliance with any other provision of the Security Agreement (or the Bank Credit Agreement or the Note Agreement, or, if in effect, any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents), then the updating of the relevant Exhibit shall not relieve, waive or excuse the independent Default arising from such Grantor’s non-compliance with any such provision pertaining to the underlying action or inaction.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Grantors and the Collateral Agent have executed this Security Agreement as of the date first above written.

UNITED STATIONERS INC.

UNITED STATIONERS TECHNOLOGY
SERVICES LLC

 

 

By:

/s/ Brian S. Cooper

 

 

Name: Brian S. Cooper

By:

/s/ Brian S. Cooper

 

Title: Senior Vice President and Treasurer

Name: Brian S. Cooper

 

Title: Vice President and Treasurer

 

 

LAGASSE, INC.

UNITED STATIONERS SUPPLY CO.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Brian S. Cooper

 

By:

/s/ Brian S. Cooper

 

Name: Brian S. Cooper

Name: Brian S. Cooper

Title: Vice President and Treasurer

Title: Senior Vice President, Treasurer and
Assistant Secretary

 

 

 

 

UNITED STATIONERS FINANCIAL
SERVICES LLC

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Brian S. Cooper

 

 

Name: Brian S. Cooper

 

Title: Vice President and Treasurer

 

 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as
Collateral Agent

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Sabir A. Hashmy

 

 

Name:Sabir A. Hashmy

 

Title:Vice President

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

 



 

STATE OF ILLINOIS

 

)

 

 

) SS

COUNTY OF COOK

 

)

 

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this       day of                , 2007.

 

 

 

/s/ Cheryl Cromer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notary Public

 

 

 

 

 

My commission expires:

 

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ANNEX I

 

to

 

SUBSIDIARY

 

SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

Reference is hereby made to the Amended and Restated Pledge and Security Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated as of October 15, 2007, made by each of United Stationers Supply Co., an Illinois corporation (the “Borrower”),  United Stationers Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Parent”), and the other Subsidiaries of the Parent listed on the signature pages thereto (together with the Borrower and the Parent, collectively, the “Grantors”) (each an “Initial Grantor”, and together with any additional Domestic Subsidiaries, including the undersigned, which become parties thereto by executing a Supplement in substantially the form hereof, the “Grantors”), in favor of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”). Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Agreement. By its execution below, the undersigned, [NAME OF NEW GRANTOR], a [                                                   ] [corporation/limited liability company] agrees to become, and does hereby become, a Grantor under the Agreement and agrees to be bound by such Agreement as if originally a party thereto. By its execution below, the undersigned represents and warrants as to itself that all of the representations and warranties contained in the Agreement are true and correct in all respects as of the date hereof. [NAME OF NEW GRANTOR] represents and warrants that the supplements to the Exhibits to the Agreement attached hereto are true and correct in all respects and such supplements set forth all information required to be scheduled under the Agreement. [NAME OF NEW GRANTOR] shall take all steps necessary to perfect, in favor of the Collateral Agent, a first-priority security interest in and lien against [NAME OF NEW GRANTOR]’s Collateral, including, without limitation, delivering all certificated Securities to the Collateral Agent, and taking all steps necessary to properly perfect the Collateral Agent’s interest in any uncertificated equity or membership interests.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, [NAME OF NEW GRANTOR], a [                                    ] [corporation/limited liability company] has executed and delivered this Annex I counterpart to the Agreement as of this                        day of                      ,       .

 

 

 

[NAME OF NEW GRANTOR]

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

2


Exhibit 10.6

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT

 

This INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT, dated as of October 15, 2007 (as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Agreement” ), is entered into by and among JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“ JPMCB ”), in its capacity as agent (the “Agent” ) for the “Lenders” under the Bank Credit Agreement (as defined below) (such Lenders, the “Banks” ), the holders of the Notes (as defined below) listed on Annex II attached hereto and any subsequent holder of Notes (the “Noteholders” ; the Banks, the Noteholders and the Agent, and any other holder of Eligible Additional Senior Secured Indebtedness (as defined below) that enters into a joinder to this Agreement between such holder and the Collateral Agent (the “ Additional Holders ”), together with their respective successors and assigns, are herein sometimes collectively called the “Lenders” and individually called a “Lender” ), and JPMCB, in its capacity as contractual representative for the Lenders hereunder (the “Collateral Agent” ). Capitalized terms used herein but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the “Bank Credit Agreement” and the “Note Agreement” and the “Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents” (each as defined below).

 

RECITALS:

 

WHEREAS, United Stationers Supply Co., an Illinois corporation (herein called the “Company” ), United Stationers Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Parent ”), the Banks, and the Agent entered into that certain Second Amended and Restated Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of July 5, 2007 (as the same have been or may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, replaced or refinanced from time to time, the “Bank Credit Agreement” ), pursuant to which, among other things, the Banks have agreed to make certain advances to the Company (the “Loans” ) and to issue letters of credit for the account of the Company (the “Letters of Credit” );

 

WHEREAS, the Company, the Parent and the Noteholders listed on Annex II entered into a Master Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2007 (as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Note Agreement ”) pursuant to which the Company issued and sold to the Noteholders $135,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s Floating Rate Secured Senior Notes, Series 2007-A, due October 15, 2014 (the “ Series 2007-A Notes ”); and which Note Agreement provides for the issuance by the Company of one or more additional series of secured senior notes (“ Additional Notes ” and, together with the Series 2007-A Notes, the “ Notes ”; the Notes, the Note Agreement, the Bank Credit Agreement and any other document, agreement or instrument pursuant to which Eligible Additional Senior Secured Indebtedness is incurred or issued and which governs any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Indebtedness (the “ Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents ”) being herein referred to as the “Lender Documents” );

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Collateral Documents, each of the Company and the entities set forth on Annex III hereto (together with any other subsidiaries of the Parent or the Company that may hereafter become parties to any Collateral Document, the

 



 

“Credit Parties” ) that have guaranteed the repayment of all amounts due and payable under the Lender Documents, shall, as of the date hereof, have granted a security interest in certain of its assets to the Collateral Agent; and

 

WHEREAS, the Lenders desire to agree to the relative priority of the application of payments received pursuant to the terms of the Collateral Documents with respect to the Obligations (as defined below), and certain other rights and interests;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein contained, the Lenders and the Collateral Agent hereby agree as follows:

 

1.             Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

“Actionable Default” means, under the Lender Documents, (a) a Default or Event of Default (as defined therein) shall have occurred thereunder as a result of (i) the nonpayment of amounts owing thereunder, (ii) noncompliance with any financial covenant set forth therein or (iii) the bankruptcy or insolvency of the Company or any of its affiliates, including, without limitation, the Credit Parties, (b) a notice shall have been delivered to the Company by the Agent under the Bank Credit Agreement or a Noteholder under the Note Agreement or an Additional Holder under the Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents indicating that a Default or Event of Default (as defined therein) has occurred and is continuing and the Obligations due under any such agreement are immediately due and payable, to the extent provided for in the applicable Lender Document, (c) a default shall have occurred under any Collateral Document or Guaranty (defined below) and the Agent, the Collateral Agent, or a Lender, as applicable, shall have caused the amounts owing thereunder to become immediately due and payable, to the extent provided for in the applicable Collateral Document or Guaranty or (d) any Lender shall have exercised a banker’s lien or right of offset against any account of the Company or any Credit Party maintained with such Lender after the occurrence of a Default or Event of Default (as defined therein).

 

“Agent’s Expenses” means all of the fees, costs and expenses of the Collateral Agent (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of its counsel) (i) arising in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, modification, restatement, amendment or termination of this Agreement and each Collateral Document, if not previously reimbursed, or the enforcement (whether in the context of a civil action, adversarial proceeding, workout or otherwise) of any of the provisions hereof or thereof, or (ii) incurred or required to be advanced in connection with the sale or other disposition or the custody, preservation or protection of the Collateral pursuant to any Collateral Document and the exercise or enforcement of the Collateral Agent’s rights under this Agreement and in and to the Collateral.

 

“Collateral” means all property of the Company or any Credit Party in which the Agent or the Collateral Agent shall have been granted a security interest or lien under any of the Collateral Documents.

 

“Collateral Account” means the collateral account established and maintained by the Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 8 .

 

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“Collateral Documents” means any and all security agreements, pledge agreements, financing statements, and other similar instruments executed by the Company or any Credit Party in favor of the Collateral Agent from time to time pursuant hereto, in each case as such agreements, documents and instruments may be amended, modified, supplemented and/or restated, and together in each case with any other agreements, instruments and documents incidental thereto.

 

“Distribution Date” means the second business day in each calendar week, commencing with the first such business day following receipt by the Collateral Agent of a Notice of Actionable Default.

 

“Eligible Additional Senior Secured Indebtedness” means all monetary obligations under the Eligible Additional Senior Secured Agreements and that are permitted under the Bank Credit Agreement, the Note Agreement and any other Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents (if in effect) to be secured by the Liens and security interests under the Collateral Documents on a pari passu basis (on all or part of the Collateral) with the Obligations under the Bank Credit Agreement and the Note Agreement and any other Eligible Additional Senior Secured Indebtedness (if in effect) so long as the property and assets covered by such Liens and security interests also secure the Obligations under the Bank Credit Agreement and the Note Agreement and any other Eligible Additional Senior Secured Indebtedness (if in effect).

 

“Guaranty” means any guaranty entered into by a Credit Party in favor of the Agent, the Collateral Agent, and/or any Lender guaranteeing the repayment of the Obligations due and payable under a Lender Document.

 

“L/C Interests” means, with respect to any Bank, such Bank’s direct or participation interests in all unpaid reimbursement obligations with respect to Letters of Credit and such Bank’s direct obligations or risk participations with respect to undrawn amounts of all outstanding Letters of Credit, provided that the undrawn amounts of outstanding Letters of Credit shall be considered to have been reduced to the extent of any amount on deposit with the Agent at any time as provided in Section 9(b) hereof .

 

“Notice of Actionable Default” means a written notice to the Collateral Agent from any Lender or Lenders stating that it is a “Notice of Actionable Default” hereunder and certifying that an Actionable Default has occurred and is continuing. A Notice of Actionable Default may be included in a written direction to the Collateral Agent from the Requisite Lenders pursuant to Section 5 .

 

Notice of Default ” means a written notice to the Collateral Agent from any Lender or Lenders stating that it is a “Notice of Default” hereunder and certifying that an Event of Default (as defined in the Bank Credit Agreement or the Note Agreement or the Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents to which an Additional Holder is a party) has occurred and is continuing.

 

“Obligations” means all of the monetary obligations owed by the Company and the Credit Parties to the Lenders and the Agent under the Bank Credit Agreement, the Note Agreement, the Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents, the Notes, the Guaranties, the

 

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Collateral Documents, and related agreements, documents, and instruments, including, without limitation,  (1) the outstanding principal amount of, accrued and unpaid interest on, and any unpaid premium or make whole amount (as defined in the Note Agreement or, if applicable, any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents) or other breakage or prepayment indemnification due with respect to, the Loans, the Notes or any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Indebtedness, (2) any unpaid reimbursement obligations with respect to any Letters of Credit, (3) any undrawn amounts of any outstanding Letters of Credit, and (4) any other unpaid amounts (including amounts in respect of fees, expenses, indemnification, hedging obligations permitted under the Bank Credit Agreement and reimbursement) due from the Company and the Credit Parties under any of the Note Agreement, any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents, the Notes, the Bank Credit Agreement, the Guaranties or the Collateral Documents; provided that the undrawn amounts of any outstanding Letters of Credit shall be considered to have been reduced to the extent of any amount on deposit with the Agent at any time as provided in Section 9(b) hereof.

 

“Principal Exposure” means, with respect to any Lender at any time (i) if such Lender is a Bank, (a) prior to the acceleration of the Obligations under the Bank Credit Agreement, the sum of (x) the aggregate amount of such Lender’s unfunded Commitments under the Bank Credit Agreement to the extent such Lender shall be contractually obligated to make Credit Extensions (as defined in the Bank Credit Agreement) pursuant to the terms of the Bank Credit Agreement, (y) the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s Loans and (z) the outstanding face and/or principal amount of such Lender’s L/C Interests at such time, (b) after an acceleration of the Obligations under the Bank Credit Agreement but prior to the date upon which the Bank Credit Agreement has terminated by its terms and all of the Obligations thereunder shall have been paid in full, the sum of (x) the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s Loans, (y) the outstanding face and/or principal amount of such Lender’s L/C Interests at such time and (z) the aggregate net early termination payments and all other amounts due and unpaid from the Borrower to such Bank or such Bank’s Affiliates under Rate Management Transactions, as determined by the Agent in its reasonable discretion and (z) after the Bank Credit Agreement has terminated by its terms and all of the Obligations thereunder have been paid in full (whether or not the Obligations under the Bank Credit Agreement were ever accelerated), the aggregate net early termination payments and all other amounts then due and unpaid from the Borrower to such Bank or such Bank’s Affiliates under Rate Management Transactions, as determined by the Agent in its reasonable discretion, and (ii) if such Lender is a Noteholder, the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s Notes at such time, (iii) if such Lender is an Additional Holder that is party to a secured revolving credit facility or secured term loan credit facility (a) prior to the acceleration of the Obligations under the such Lender’s Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents, the sum of (x) the aggregate amount of such Lender’s unfunded commitments under such Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents to the extent such Lender shall be contractually obligated to make extensions of credit pursuant to the terms of such Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents and (y) the outstanding unpaid principal amount of such Lender’s Eligible Additional Senior Secured Indebtedness, (b) after an acceleration of the Obligations under such Lender’s Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents but prior to the date upon which such Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents have terminated by their terms and all of the Obligations thereunder shall have been paid in full, the outstanding unpaid principal amount of such Lender’s Eligible Additional Senior Secured Indebtedness and (iv) with respect to any other Lender that is an Additional Holder, the

 

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outstanding unpaid principal amount of such Lender’s Eligible Additional Senior Secured Indebtedness.

 

“Pro Rata Share” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, a fraction (expressed as a percentage), the numerator of which is the amount of such Lender’s Principal Exposure at such time, and the denominator of which is the aggregate amount of the Principal Exposure of all of the Lenders at such time.

 

“Requisite Lenders” means, at any time, (i) with respect to the aggregate Pro Rata Shares of the Banks and any Additional Holder that is party to a secured revolving credit facility or secured term loan credit facility, such Banks and Additional Holders whose Pro Rata Shares exceed fifty percent of such aggregate amount plus (ii) with respect to the aggregate Pro Rata Shares of the Noteholders and any Additional Holder not otherwise included under clause (i) above, such Noteholders and Additional Holders whose Pro Rata Shares (a) so long as the Series 2007-A Notes are the only Notes outstanding or with respect to any matter in which the Series 2007-A Notes are the only series of Notes affected, equal or exceed 60% of such aggregate amount and (b) in any other circumstance, exceed fifty percent of such aggregate amount.

 

“Secured Parties” means (i) the “Holders of Secured Obligations” under (and as defined in) the Bank Credit Agreement, (ii) the Noteholders and (iii) the Additional Holders, together with their respective successors and assigns.

 

2.             Appointment; Nature of Relationship . The Agent, on behalf of the Banks, and each Noteholder and each Additional Holder by its acceptance of any Lender Document, hereby designates and appoints JPMCB as its Collateral Agent under this Agreement and the Collateral Documents, and each of them hereby irrevocably authorizes the Collateral Agent to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and the Collateral Documents and to exercise such powers as are set forth herein or therein, together with such other powers as are incidental thereto. The Collateral Agent agrees to act as such on the express terms and conditions contained in this Agreement. Notwithstanding the use of the defined term “Collateral Agent,” it is expressly understood and agreed that the Collateral Agent shall not have any fiduciary responsibilities to any Lender by reason of this Agreement and that the Collateral Agent is merely acting as the representative of the Lenders with only those duties as are expressly set forth in this Agreement and the Collateral Documents. In its capacity as the Lenders’ contractual representative, the Collateral Agent (i) does not assume any fiduciary duties to any of the Lenders and (ii) is acting as an independent contractor, the rights and duties of which are limited to those expressly set forth in this Agreement and the Collateral Documents. The Agent, on behalf of the Banks, each Noteholder and each Additional Holder by its acceptance of any Lender Document agrees to assert no claim against the Collateral Agent on any agency theory or any other theory of liability for breach of fiduciary duty, all of which claims each of them hereby waives.

 

3.             Powers and Duties . The Collateral Agent shall have and may exercise such powers under the Collateral Documents as are specifically delegated to the Collateral Agent by the terms hereof and thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The Collateral Agent shall have no implied duties to the Lenders, or any obligation to the

 

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Lenders to take any action hereunder or under any of the Collateral Documents, except any action specifically required by this Agreement or any of the Collateral Documents to be taken by the Collateral Agent or directed by the Requisite Lenders in accordance with the terms hereof. The Collateral Agent shall not take any action which is in conflict with any provisions of applicable law or of this Agreement or any Collateral Document.

 

4.             Authorization to Execute Collateral Documents . If the Collateral Agent receives written notice from either the Agent or a Noteholder or an Additional Holder at any time or from time to time hereunder that Collateral Documents are required pursuant to the Bank Credit Agreement, the Note Agreement or any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Document in connection with the grant of a security interest in and lien against the assets of the Company and/or a Credit Party, the Collateral Agent is authorized to and shall execute and deliver such Collateral Documents as the Agent or such Noteholder or such Additional Holder shall direct requiring execution and delivery by it and is authorized to and shall accept delivery from the Company of such Collateral Documents as the Agent or the Noteholder or the Additional Holder shall direct which do not require execution by the Collateral Agent.

 

5.             Direction by Requisite Lenders . Except as otherwise provided in this Section 5 , the Collateral Agent shall take any action with respect to the Collateral and the Collateral Documents directed in writing by the Requisite Lenders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Collateral Agent shall not be obligated to take any such action (i) which is in conflict with any provisions of applicable law or of this Agreement or any Collateral Document or (ii) with respect to which the Collateral Agent, in its opinion, shall not have been provided adequate security and indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that may be incurred by it as a result of compliance with such direction. Under no circumstances shall the Collateral Agent be liable for following the written direction of the Requisite Lenders. In each instance in which the Requisite Lenders deliver a written direction to the Collateral Agent pursuant hereto, the Collateral Agent shall promptly send a copy of such written direction to each Lender that is not included in such Requisite Lenders.

 

6.             Notice of Actionable Default . Any Lender or Lenders may give the Collateral Agent a Notice of Default or a Notice of Actionable Default in the manner provided in Section 31 and shall give a copy of such Notice of Default or Notice of Actionable Default to each of the other Lenders. If and only if the Collateral Agent shall have received a Notice of Actionable Default, the Collateral Agent shall, if directed in writing by the Requisite Lenders, exercise the rights and remedies provided in this Agreement and in any of the Collateral Documents.

 

7.             Remedies . Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably agrees that the Collateral Agent shall be authorized, after the occurrence of an Actionable Default and at the direction of the Requisite Lenders or incidental to any such direction, for the purpose of carrying out the terms of this Agreement and any of the Collateral Documents, to take any and all appropriate action and to execute any and all documents and instruments that may be necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes hereof and thereof, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to the extent permitted by applicable law, to do the following:

 

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(i)            to ask for, demand, sue for, collect, receive and give acquittance for any and all moneys due or to become due with respect to the Collateral (except that, without the consent of all Lenders, the Collateral Agent shall not accept any Obligations in whole or partial consideration from the disposition of any Collateral),

 

(ii)           to receive, take, endorse, assign and deliver any and all checks, notes, drafts, acceptances, documents and other negotiable and nonnegotiable instruments, documents and chattel paper taken or received by the Collateral Agent in connection with this Agreement or any of the Collateral Documents,

 

(iii)          to commence, file, prosecute, defend, settle, compromise or adjust any claim, suit, action or proceeding with respect to the Collateral,

 

(iv)  to sell, transfer, assign or otherwise deal in or with the Collateral or any part thereof pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Collateral Documents, and

 

(v)  to do, at its option and at the expense and for the account of the Lenders (to the extent the Collateral Agent shall not be reimbursed by the Company) at any time or from time to time, all acts and things which the Collateral Agent deems reasonably necessary to protect or preserve the Collateral and to realize upon the Collateral.

 

8.             The Collateral Account . Upon receipt by the Collateral Agent of a Notice of Actionable Default, and until such time as the Event of Default described therein is cured or waived, the Collateral Agent shall establish and maintain at its principal office an interest-bearing account that shall be entitled the “United Stationers Collateral Account.”  All moneys received by the Collateral Agent with respect to Collateral after receipt of a Notice of Actionable Default shall be deposited in the Collateral Account and thereafter shall be held, applied and/or disbursed by the Collateral Agent in accordance with Section 9 . In addition, any other payments received, directly or indirectly, by any Lender of or with respect to any of the Obligations (including, without limitation, any payment by any Credit Party under any Guaranty) after giving or receiving a Notice of Actionable Default (excluding any payments distributed to any Lender by the Collateral Agent in accordance with Section 9 ), any payment received by any Lender (whether direct or indirect, by foreclosure, set-off, exercise of banker’s lien or otherwise) from the Company or any Credit Party made during the continuance of an Actionable Default (other than scheduled payments of interest, fees and principal in respect of the Obligations), and any payment received by any Lender with respect to any of the Obligations in an insolvency or reorganization proceeding with respect to the Company or any Credit Party, shall promptly be delivered to the Collateral Agent and thereafter shall be held, applied and/or disbursed by the Collateral Agent in accordance with Section 9 . The Collateral Account at all times shall be subject to the exclusive dominion and control of the Collateral Agent.

 

9.             Application of Moneys . (a) All moneys held by the Collateral Agent in the Collateral Account shall be distributed by the Collateral Agent on each Distribution Date as follows:

 

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FIRST:  To the Collateral Agent in an amount equal to the Agent’s Expenses that are unpaid as of such Distribution Date, and to any Lender that has theretofore advanced or paid any such Agent’s Expenses in an amount equal to the amount thereof so advanced or paid by such Lender prior to such Distribution Date;

 

SECOND:  To the Lenders, pro rata in proportion to their respective Pro Rata Shares as of such Distribution Date; and

 

THIRD:  Any surplus remaining after payment in full in cash of all Agent’s Expenses and all of the Obligations shall be paid to the Company, or to whomever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct, provided that if any Lender shall have notified the Collateral Agent in writing that a claim is pending for which such Lender is entitled to the benefits of an indemnification, reimbursement or similar provision under which amounts are not yet due but with respect to which the Company continues to be contingently liable, and amounts payable by the Company with respect thereto are secured by the Collateral, the Collateral Agent shall continue to hold the amount specified in such notice in the Collateral Account until the Company’s liability with respect thereto is discharged or released to the satisfaction of such Lender.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, except for any surplus under clause THIRD above, the Collateral Agent shall not be required (unless directed by the Requisite Lenders) to make a distribution on any Distribution Date if the balance in the Collateral Account available for distribution on such Distribution Date is less than $10,000. The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for any Lender’s application (or order of application) of payments received by such Lender from the Collateral Agent hereunder to the Obligations owing to such Lender. For the purpose of determining the amounts to be distributed pursuant to clause SECOND above of this subsection (a) with respect to the undrawn amounts of the outstanding Letters of Credit, such undrawn amounts shall be reduced by any amounts held as collateral pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section 9 .

 

(b)  Any distribution pursuant to clause SECOND of subsection (a) above with respect to the undrawn amount of any outstanding Letter of Credit shall be paid to the Agent to be held as collateral for the Banks and disposed of as provided in this subsection (b) . On each date on which a payment is made to a beneficiary pursuant to a draw on a Letter of Credit, the Agent shall distribute to the Banks from the amounts held pursuant to this subsection (b) for application to the payment of the reimbursement obligation due to such Banks with respect to such draw an amount equal to the product of (1) the total amount then held pursuant to this subsection (b) , and (2) a fraction, the numerator of which is the amount of such draw and the denominator of which is the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit immediately prior to such draw. On each date on which a reduction in the undrawn amount of any outstanding Letter of Credit occurs other than on account of a payment made to a beneficiary pursuant to a draw on such Letter of Credit, the Agent shall distribute from the amounts held pursuant to this subsection (b) an amount equal to the product of (1) the total amount then held pursuant to this subsection (b) and (2) a fraction the numerator of which is the amount of such

 

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reduction and the denominator of which is the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit immediately prior to such reduction, which amount shall be distributed as provided in clause SECOND of subsection (a) above. At such time as no Letters of Credit are outstanding, any remaining amount held pursuant to this subsection (b) , after the distribution therefrom as provided above, shall be distributed as provided in clause SECOND of subsection (a) above.

 

10.           Information from Lenders . Each of the Lenders hereby agrees, promptly upon request by the Collateral Agent, to provide to the Collateral Agent in writing such information regarding the Obligations held by such Lender as may be reasonably required by the Collateral Agent at any time to determine such Lender’s Pro Rata Share or to calculate distributions to such Lender from the Collateral Account. Each Lender shall notify the Collateral Agent in writing promptly following the repayment in full of all Obligations owing to such Lender.

 

11.           Limitation on Collateral Agent’s Duties in Respect of Collateral . Other than the Collateral Agent’s duties set forth in this Agreement and the Collateral Documents as to the custody of Collateral and the proceeds thereof received by the Collateral Agent hereunder and thereunder and the accounting to the Company, the Credit Parties, and the Lenders therefor, the Collateral Agent shall have no duty to the Company, the Credit Parties, or the Lenders with respect to any Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or control of its agent or nominee, any income thereon, or the preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto.

 

12.           Lender Credit Decision . Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Collateral Agent or any other Lender and based on the financial information provided by the Company and the Credit Parties and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Collateral Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the Collateral Documents.

 

13.           Exculpation . Neither the Collateral Agent nor any of its directors, officers, affiliates, agents or employees shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, or verify (i) any statement, warranty or representation made by the Company or any Credit Party in connection with any Collateral Document or Guaranty; (ii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants or agreements of the Company, or any Credit Party under any Collateral Document or Guaranty; (iii)  the satisfaction or observance of any condition or covenant specified in any of the Lender Documents; (iv) the existence or possible existence of any default under any of the Lender Documents or any Actionable Default;  (v) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Collateral Document, Guaranty or any other instrument or writing furnished in connection herewith; (vi) the validity, perfection or priority of any security interest or lien created under any Collateral Document; or (vii) the financial condition of the Company or any of the Credit Parties.

 

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14.           Employment of Agents and Counsel . The Collateral Agent may execute any of its duties as the Collateral Agent hereunder and under any Collateral Document by or through employees, agents, and attorneys-in-fact and shall not be answerable to the Lenders, except as to money or securities received by it or its authorized agents, for the default or misconduct of any such agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it with reasonable care. The Collateral Agent shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning the contractual arrangement between the Collateral Agent and the Lenders and all matters pertaining to the Collateral Agent’s duties hereunder and under the Collateral Documents.

 

15.           Reliance on Documents and Counsel . The Collateral Agent shall be entitled to rely upon any notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram, statement, paper or document believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed or sent by the proper person or persons, and, in respect to legal matters, upon the opinion of counsel selected by the Collateral Agent, which may be employees of the Collateral Agent.

 

16.           Collateral Agent’s Reimbursement and Indemnification . The Lenders agree to reimburse and indemnify the Collateral Agent ratably in proportion to their respective Pro Rata Shares as of the date of the occurrence of the event as to which such reimbursement or indemnification is being made (i) for any amounts not reimbursed by the Company, or any Credit Party, under its Collateral Documents or Guaranty, as applicable, (ii) for any other expenses incurred by the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, in connection with the preservation or protection of the Collateral or the validity, perfection or priority of the Collateral Agent’s interest therein or the enforcement of the Collateral Documents and (iii) for any liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind and nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Collateral Agent in any way relating to or arising out of the Collateral Documents or any other document delivered in connection therewith or the transactions contemplated thereby, or the enforcement of any of the terms thereof or of any such other documents, provided that no Lender shall be liable for any of the foregoing to the extent any of the foregoing is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to have arisen from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Collateral Agent. The agreements in this Section 16 shall survive the repayment of the Obligations and the termination of the other provisions of this Agreement.

 

17.           Rights as a Lender . Notwithstanding that JPMCB is acting as the Collateral Agent hereunder, JPMCB in its individual capacity shall have the same rights and powers hereunder as any Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Collateral Agent, and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall include JPMCB in its individual capacity.

 

18.           Successor Collateral Agent . The Collateral Agent may resign at any time by giving not less than thirty days’ prior written notice thereof to the Lenders, the Company, and the Credit Parties, and the Collateral Agent may be removed at any time with or without cause by written notice received by the Collateral Agent from the Requisite Lenders. Upon any such resignation or removal, the Requisite Lenders shall have the right to appoint, on behalf of the Lenders, a successor Collateral Agent. If no successor Collateral Agent shall have been so appointed by the Requisite Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty days after the retiring Collateral Agent’s giving notice of resignation, then the retiring Collateral Agent may appoint, on behalf of the Lenders, a successor Collateral Agent. Upon the acceptance

 

10



 

of any appointment as the Collateral Agent hereunder by a successor Collateral Agent, such successor Collateral Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Collateral Agent, and the retiring Collateral Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the Collateral Documents. No resignation or removal of the Collateral Agent shall become effective until a replacement Collateral Agent shall have been selected as provided herein and shall have assumed in writing the obligations of the Collateral Agent hereunder and under the Collateral Documents. Any replacement Collateral Agent shall be a bank, trust company, or insurance company having capital, surplus, and undivided profits of at least $250,000,000. After any retiring Collateral Agent’s resignation hereunder as Collateral Agent, the provisions of this Agreement shall continue in effect for its benefit in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was acting as the Collateral Agent hereunder and under the Collateral Documents.

 

19.           Partial Release . If the Collateral Agent receives written notice from the Agent and the Company that the lien on any Collateral granted pursuant to any Collateral Document is required to be released pursuant to a transaction permitted by the terms of the Bank Credit Agreement, the Note Agreement and the Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents, the Collateral Agent shall promptly release such Collateral in accordance with the directions of the Agent and the Company.

 

20.           Release and Termination . All of the Collateral shall be released and this Agreement shall be terminated on the earlier of:

 

(a)           the date on which (i) the Collateral Agent shall have received from each of the Lenders written notice that all Obligations owing to such Lender have been paid in full and (ii) all Agent’s Expenses shall have been paid in full; or

 

(b)           the date on which (i) the Collateral Agent shall have received written notice from the Agent directing the Collateral Agent to release the Collateral and stating that the Banks have consented to such release under the terms of the Bank Credit Agreement, and (ii) all Agent’s Expenses shall have been paid in full.

 

21.           Amendments and Waivers of Collateral Documents . The Collateral Agent shall not execute or deliver any amendment or waiver with respect to any Collateral Document except at the direction or with the consent of the Requisite Lenders.

 

22.           Notices With Respect to Lender Documents . Each of the Agent and each Noteholder and each Additional Holder by its acceptance of any Lender Document agrees to use its best efforts to give to the other (a) copies of any notice of the occurrence or existence of any default in payment of the Obligations sent to the Company and/or any Credit Party, simultaneously with the sending of such notice to the Company and/or such Credit Party, and (b) notice of any acceleration of the Loans, the Notes or any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Indebtedness, promptly upon such acceleration, but the failure to give any of the foregoing notices shall not affect the validity of such notice of default or such acceleration or create a cause of action against or cause a forfeiture of any rights of the party failing to give such notice or create any claim or right on behalf of any third party. Each Lender shall use commercially reasonable efforts to deliver notice to the Collateral Agent, for prompt dissemination to all

 

11



 

Lenders, of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default under any Lender Document to which such Lender is a party within five Business days after such Lender shall have actual knowledge thereof; provided that no Lender nor the Collateral Agent shall incur any liability for failure to give such notice.

 

23.           No Other Security . Neither the Agent nor any Lender shall take or receive a security interest in or lien upon any of the property or assets of the Company or any Credit Party as security for the Obligations other than pursuant to this Agreement and the Collateral Documents or as security for any other obligations of the Company or any of the Credit Parties other than the Obligations. Neither the Agent nor any Lender shall take or receive any guaranty for the benefit of any obligations of the Company or its Subsidiaries other than the Guaranties.

 

24.           Accounting; Invalidated Payments . (a) The Agent and each Lender agrees to render an accounting to any of the others of the outstanding amounts of the Obligations, of receipts of payments from the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company and any Credit Party and of other items relevant to the provisions of this Agreement upon the reasonable request from one of the others as soon as reasonably practicable after such request.

 

(b) To the extent that any payment received by any Lender pursuant to a distribution under Section 9(a) hereof is subsequently invalidated, declared fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required to be paid to a trustee, receiver, or any other party under any bankruptcy act, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause, then each other Lender that received a payment pursuant to such distribution shall purchase from the Lender whose payment was invalidated (the “Affected Lender” ), at such time as the Affected Lender is required to return or repay such payment, an undivided participation interest in the Affected Lender’s Obligations in an amount such that after such purchase the amount of such distribution (after deduction of the invalidated payment) shall have been shared ratably among the Lenders as contemplated by Section 9(a) hereof.

 

25.           Continuing Agreement . This Agreement shall in all respects be a continuing, absolute, unconditional and irrevocable agreement, and shall remain in full force and effect until terminated in accordance with Section 20 . Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this Agreement shall survive the commencement of any bankruptcy, reorganization, compromise, arrangement, insolvency, readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation or similar proceeding involving the Company, a Subsidiary of the Company or a Credit Party. The Agent and each Lender agrees that this Agreement shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any payment (in whole or in part) of any of the Obligations pursuant to any distribution hereunder is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by the Agent or any Lender, upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company, a Subsidiary of the Company or a Credit Party or otherwise, as though such payment had not been made.

 

26.           Representations and Warranties . Each of the parties hereto severally represents and warrants to the other parties hereto that it has full corporate power, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Agreement and to fulfill its obligations hereunder, and that no governmental or other authorizations are required in connection herewith, and that this Agreement constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,

 

12



 

moratorium, regulatory and similar laws of general application and by general principles of equity.

 

27.           Binding Effect . This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by, the Collateral Agent, the Lenders and each of their respective successors, transferees and assigns. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, if any Lender assigns or otherwise transfers (in whole or in part) to any other person or entity the Obligations to such Lender under the Bank Credit Agreement, the Note Agreement or any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Document such other person or entity shall thereupon become vested with all rights and benefits, and become subject to all the obligations, in respect thereof granted to or imposed upon such Lender under this Agreement.

 

28.           No Reliance by Company . Except for rights under Sections 19 and 20 , none of the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, or any other Credit Party shall have any rights under this Agreement or be entitled, in any manner whatsoever, to rely upon or enforce, or to raise as a defense, the provisions of this Agreement or the failure of the Collateral Agent, the Agent or any Lender to comply with such provisions.

 

29.           Other Proceedings . Nothing contained herein shall limit or restrict the independent right of the Agent or any Lender to initiate an action or actions in any bankruptcy, reorganization, compromise, arrangement, insolvency, readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation or similar proceeding in its individual capacity and to appear or to be heard on any matter before the bankruptcy or other applicable court in any such proceeding, including, without limitation, with respect to any questions concerning the post-petition usage of collateral and post-petition financing arrangement; provided that neither the Agent nor any Lender shall contest the validity or enforceability of or seek to avoid, have declared fraudulent or have set aside any of the Obligations.

 

30.           Amendments and Waivers . No amendment to or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor consent to any departure by any Lender, the Agent or the Collateral Agent herefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by each Noteholder, each Additional Holder, the Agent, on behalf of the Banks, and the Collateral Agent, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given. No consent of the Company or a Credit Party shall be required for any such amendment, waiver or departure unless it relates to a provision of this Agreement expressly binding upon the Company or such Credit Party.

 

31.           Notices . All notices and other communications provided to any party under this Agreement shall be in writing or by facsimile and addressed, delivered or transmitted to such party at its address or facsimile number set forth (a) in the case of the Agent, the Collateral Agent and each of the Banks, on Annex I hereto, (b) in the case of the Noteholders, on Annex II hereto, (c) in the case of any Additional Holder, as set forth in the Eligible Additional Senior Secured Documents to which it is a party, (d) in the case of the Company or any Credit Party, on Annex III hereto, or (e) in any case, at such other address or facsimile number as may be designated by such party in a notice to the other parties. Any notice, if mailed and properly addressed with postage prepaid or if properly addressed and sent by prepaid courier service, shall be deemed given when received; and notice, if transmitted by facsimile, shall be deemed given

 

13



 

when transmitted if actually received, and the burden of proving receipt shall be on the transmitting party. So long as no default shall have occurred and be continuing under the Bank Credit Agreement, the Note Agreement or any Eligible Additional Senior Secured Document, each of the Agent and each Noteholder and each Additional Holder by its acceptance of any Lender Document agrees to use its best efforts to send to the Company a copy of any notice such party gives to the other under this Agreement, but the failure to send such copy to the Company shall not affect the validity of such notice or create a cause of action against or cause a forfeiture of any rights of the party failing to send such copy or create any claim or right on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any Credit Party.

 

32.           No Waiver . No failure or delay on the part of any Lender, the Agent or the Collateral Agent in exercising any power or right under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power or right preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other power or right. The remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.

 

33.           Severability . Whenever possible each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement shall be prohibited by or invalid under such law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Agreement.

 

34.           No Strict Construction . The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provisions of this Agreement.

 

35.           GOVERNING LAW . THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, 5-1401 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, BUT OTHERWISE WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAWS PROVISIONS) OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THIS AGREEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ENTIRE UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE PARTIES HERETO WITH RESPECT TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF AND SUPERSEDES ANY PRIOR AGREEMENTS, WRITTEN OR ORAL, WITH RESPECT THERETO.

 

36.           Counterparts . This Agreement may be separately executed and delivered in counterparts and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to constitute one and the same Agreement. Facsimile transmission of the signature of any party hereto shall be effective as an original signature.

 

37.           Headings . Section headings used in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of this Agreement.

 

The remainder of this page is intentionally blank.

 

14



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized officers.

 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Agent for
itself and on behalf of the Banks, and as Collateral
Agent

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Sabir A. Hashmy

 

 

Name:

 Sabir A. Hashmy

 

 

Title:

 Vice President

 

 

Signature Page to Intercreditor Agreement

 

S-1



 

 

METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY

 

 

 

METLIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF
CONNECTICUT,

 

by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company,

 

its investment manager

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Judith A. Gulotta

 

 

Name:  Judith A. Gulotta

 

Title:  Director

 

Signature Page to Intercreditor Agreement

 

S-2



 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE
INSURANCE COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Mark A. Ahmed

 

 

Name:  Mark A. Ahmed

 

Title:  Managing Director

 

 

 

C.M. LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Mark A. Ahmed

 

 

Name:  Mark A. Ahmed

 

Title:  Managing Director

 

 

 

MML BAY STATE LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Mark A. Ahmed

 

 

Name:  Mark A. Ahmed

 

Title:  Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Intercreditor Agreement

 

S-3



 

 

PACIFIC LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Violet Osterberg

 

 

Name:  Violet Osterberg

 

Title:  Assistant Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Cathy Schwartz

 

 

Name:  Cathy Schwartz

 

Title:  Assistant Secretary

 

Signature Page to Intercreditor Agreement

 

S-4



 

 

SUN LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY
COMPANY OF NEW YORK

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ann C. King

 

 

Name:  Ann C. King

 

Title:  Authorized Signer

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Timothy J. Monahan

 

 

Name:  Timothy J. Monahan

 

Title:  Authorized Signer

 

 

 

 

 

SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF
CANADA (U.S.)

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/  Ann C. King

 

 

Name:  Ann C. King

 

Title:  Assistant Vice President and Senior Counsel

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Timothy J. Monahan

 

 

Name:  Timothy J. Monahan

 

Title:  Senior Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Intercreditor Agreement

 

S-5



 

Acknowledged by:

 

UNITED STATIONERS SUPPLY CO.

 

 

By:

/s/ Brian S. Cooper

 

Name:

 Brian S. Cooper

 

Title:

  Senior Vice President, Treasurer and
  Assistant Secretary

 

 

 

UNITED STATIONERS INC.

 

 

By:

 /s/ Brian S. Cooper

 

Name:

 Brian S. Cooper

 

Title:

   Senior Vice President and Treasurer

 

 

Signature Page to
Intercreditor Agreement

 



 

ANNEX I

 

NOTICE FOR THE BANKS:

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent

1 Chase Plaza

Chicago, Illinois 60670

Attention: Nathan Bloch

Facsimile: 312-325-3239

Telephone:  312-325-3094

 



 

ANNEX II

 

NOTEHOLDERS:  The following are the “Noteholders”:

 

 

NAME AND ADDRESS OF PURCHASER

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF

 

 

 

SERIES 2007-A NOTES TO BE
PURCHASED

 

 

 

 

 

 

METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

$65,000,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

All scheduled payments of principal and interest by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

 

 

Bank Name:

JPMorgan Chase Bank

ABA Routing #:

 

021-000-021

Account No.:

002-2-410591

Account Name:

 

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

Ref:

United Stationers, Inc. Floating Rate Secured Senior Note, Series 2007-A due 10-15-14

 

 

with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds, including issuer, PPN#, interest rate, maturity and whether payment is of principal, interest, make whole amount or otherwise.

 

 

 

For all payments other than scheduled payments of principal and interest, the Company shall seek instructions from the holder, and in the absence of instructions to the contrary, will make such payments to the account and in the manner set forth above.

 

 

(2)

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

 

Investments, Private Placements

 

P.O. Box 1902

 

10 Park Avenue

 

Morristown, New Jersey 07962-1902

 

Attention: Director

 

Facsimile (973) 355-4250

 

 

 

With a copy OTHER than with respect to deliveries of financial statements to:

 

 

 

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

 

P.O. Box 1902

 



 

 

10 Park Avenue

 

Morristown, New Jersey 07962-1902

 

Attention: Chief Counsel-Securities Investments (PRIV)

 

Facsimile (973) 355-4338

 

 

(3)

E-mail address for Electronic Delivery:

 

 

jdickson@metlife.com

 

 

(5)

Address for delivery of Notes:

 

 

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

 

Securities Investments, Law Department

 

P.O. Box 1902

 

10 Park Avenue

 

Morristown, New Jersey 07962-1902

 

Attention: Jane J. Dickson, Esq.

 

(6)

In addition, please send one complete set of closing documents with original signatures; two bound sets of conformed copies of the principal documents; and 1 CD-ROM of the closing documents to:

 

 

 

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

 

Attention: Jane J. Dickson, Esq.

 

10 Park Avenue/P.O. Box 1902

 

Morristown, New Jersey 07962

 

 

 

AND

 

 

 

One CD_ROM to:

 

 

 

MetLife

 

Attention: Mary Phillips

 

18210 Crane Nest Drive

 

Tampa, Florida 33647-2748

 

(813) 983-4564

 

 

(7)

Tax ID: 13-5581829

 



 

 

NAME AND ADDRESS OF PURCHASER

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF

 

 

 

SERIES 2007-A NOTES TO BE
PURCHASED

 

 

 

 

 

 

METLIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF CONNECTICUT

$10,000,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

All scheduled payments of principal and interest by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

 

Bank Name:

US Bank Trust

ABA Routing #:

 

091000022

Account No.:

180121167365

OBI SEI Acct:

123186-010

Account Name:

 

MetLife - Compass S/A

Ref:

United Stationers, Inc. Floating Rate Secured Senior Note, Series 2007-A due 10-15-14

 

with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds, including issuer, PPN#, interest rate, maturity and whether payment is of principal, interest, make whole amount or otherwise.

 

For all payments other than scheduled payments of principal and interest, the Company shall seek instructions from the holder, and in the absence of instructions to the contrary, will make such payments to the account and in the manner set forth above.

 



 

(2)

 

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

 

 

c/o Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

 

 

Investments, Private Placements

 

 

P.O. Box 1902

 

 

10 Park Avenue

 

 

Morristown, New Jersey 07962-1902

 

 

Attention: Director

 

 

Facsimile (973) 355-4250

 

 

 

 

 

With a copy OTHER than with respect to deliveries of financial statements to:

 

 

 

 

 

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

 

 

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

 

 

P.O. Box 1902

 

 

10 Park Avenue

 

 

Morristown, New Jersey 07962-1902

 

 

Attention: Chief Counsel-Securities Investments (PRIV)

 

 

Facsimile (973) 355-4338

 

 

 

(3)

E-mail address for Electronic Delivery:

 

 

 

 

 

jdickson@metlife.com

 

 

 

(5)

Address for delivery of Notes:

 

 

 

 

 

MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut

 

 

c/o Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

 

 

Securities Investments, Law Department

 

 

P.O. Box 1902

 

 

10 Park Avenue

 

 

Morristown, New Jersey 07962-1902

 

 

Attention: Jane J. Dickson, Esq.

 

 

 

(6)

Tax ID: 06-0566090

 



 

 

NAME AND ADDRESS OF PURCHASER

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF

 

 

 

SERIES 2007-A NOTES TO BE
PURCHASED

 

 

 

 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

$11,100,000

 

 

 

(1)

All payments on account of the Note shall be made by crediting in the form of bank wire transfer of Federal or other immediately

available funds, (identifying each payment as [insert name of issuer and description of Note] interest and principal), to:

 

 

 

Citibank, N.A.

 

New York, NY

 

ABA No. 021000089

 

For MassMutual Unified Traditional

 

Acct. Name: MassMutual BA 0033 TRAD Private ELBX

 

Account No. 30566056

 

Re: Description of security, cusip, principal and interest split

 

 

 

With telephone advice of payment to the Securities Custody and Collection Department of Babson Capital Management LLC at (413) 226-1889 or (413) 226-1803

 

 

(2)

All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company

 

c/o Babson Capital Management LLC

 

1500 Main Street, Suite 800

 

PO Box 15189

 

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

 

Attention: Securities Custody and

 

Collection Department

 



 

(3)

All other communications:

 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company

 

c/o Babson Capital Management LLC

 

1500 Main Street, Suite 800

 

PO Box 15189

 

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

 

Attention: Securities Investment Division

 

 

(4)

E-mail address for Electronic Delivery:

 

 

 

 

(5)

Address for delivery of Notes:

 

 

 

 

(6)

Tax ID: 04-1590850

 



 

 

NAME AND ADDRESS OF PURCHASER

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF

 

 

 

SERIES 2007-A NOTES TO BE
PURCHASED

 

 

 

 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

$3,900,000

 

 

 

(1)

All payments on account of the Note shall be made by crediting in the form of bank wire transfer of Federal or other immediately available funds, (identifying each payment as [insert name of issuer and description of Note] interest and principal), to:

 

 

 

Citibank, N.A.

 

New York, NY

 

ABA No. 021000089

 

For MassMutual IFM Non-Traditional

 

Account No. 30510589

 

Re: Description of security, cusip, principal and interest split

 

 

 

With telephone advice of payment to the Securities Custody and Collection Department of Babson Capital Management LLC at (413) 226-1889 or (413) 226-1803

 

 

(2)

All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company

 

c/o Babson Capital Management LLC

 

1500 Main Street, Suite 800

 

PO Box 15189

 

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

 

Attention: Securities Custody and

 

Collection Department

 



 

(3)

All other communications:

 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company

 

c/o Babson Capital Management LLC

 

1500 Main Street, Suite 800

 

PO Box 15189

 

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

 

Attention: Securities Investment Division

 

 

(4)

E-mail address for Electronic Delivery:

 

pmanseau@babsoncapital.com, with a hard copy to follow to:

 

 

 

Babson Capital Management LLC

 

1500 Main Street — Suite 2200

 

PO Box 15189

 

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

 

Attn: Securities Investment Division

 

 

(5)

Address for delivery of Notes:

 

 

 

Babson Capital Management LLC

 

1500 Main Street, Suite 800

 

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

 

Attention: Christine Peaslee

 

 

(6)

Tax ID: 04-1590850

 



 

 

NAME AND ADDRESS OF PURCHASER

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF

 

 

 

 

SERIES 2007-A NOTES TO BE
PURCHASED

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

$3,800,000

 

 

 

(1)

All payments on account of the Note shall be made by crediting in the form of bank wire transfer of Federal or other immediately available funds, (identifying each payment as [insert name of issuer and description of Note] interest and principal), to:

 

 

 

Citibank, N.A.

 

New York, NY

 

ABA No. 021000089

 

For MassMutual Pension Management

 

Account No. 30510538

 

Re: Description of security, cusip, principal and interest split

 

 

 

With telephone advice of payment to the Securities Custody and Collection Department of Babson Capital Management LLC at (413) 226-1889 or (413) 226-1803

 

 

(2)

All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company

 

c/o Babson Capital Management LLC

 

1500 Main Street, Suite 800

 

PO Box 15189

 

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

 

Attention: Securities Custody and

 

Collection Department

 



 

(3)

All other communications:

 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company

 

c/o Babson Capital Management LLC

 

1500 Main Street, Suite 800

 

PO Box 15189

 

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

 

Attention: Securities Investment Division

 

 

(4)

E-mail address for Electronic Delivery:

 

pmanseau@babsoncapital.com, with a hard copy to follow to:

 

 

 

Babson Capital Management LLC

 

1500 Main Street — Suite 2200

 

PO Box 15189

 

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

 

Attn: Securities Investment Division

 

 

(5)

Address for delivery of Notes:

 

 

 

Babson Capital Management LLC

 

1500 Main Street, Suite 800

 

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

 

Attention: Christine Peaslee

 

 

(6)

Tax ID: 04-1590850

 



 

 

NAME AND ADDRESS OF PURCHASER

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF

 

 

 

 

SERIES 2007-A NOTES TO BE
PURCHASED

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

$3,500,000

 

 

 

(1)

All payments on account of the Note shall be made by crediting in the form of bank wire transfer of Federal or other immediately available funds, (identifying each payment as [insert name of issuer and description of Note] interest and principal), to:

 

 

 

Citibank, N.A.

 

New York, NY

 

ABA No. 021000089

 

For MassMutual Spot Priced Contract

 

Account No. 30510597

 

Re: Description of security, cusip, principal and interest split

 

 

 

With telephone advice of payment to the Securities Custody and Collection Department of Babson Capital Management LLC at (413) 226-1889 or (413) 226-1803

 

 

(2)

All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company

 

c/o Babson Capital Management LLC

 

1500 Main Street, Suite 800

 

PO Box 15189

 

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

 

Attention: Securities Custody and

 

Collection Department

 



 

(3)

All other communications:

 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company

 

c/o Babson Capital Management LLC

 

1500 Main Street, Suite 800

 

PO Box 15189

 

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

 

Attention: Securities Investment Division

 

 

(4)

E-mail address for Electronic Delivery:

 

pmanseau@babsoncapital.com, with a hard copy to follow to:

 

 

 

Babson Capital Management LLC

 

1500 Main Street — Suite 2200

 

PO Box 15189

 

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

 

Attn: Securities Investment Division

 

 

(5)

Address for delivery of Notes:

 

 

 

Babson Capital Management LLC

 

1500 Main Street, Suite 800

 

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

 

Attention: Christine Peaslee

 

 

(6)

Tax ID: 04-1590850

 



 

 

NAME AND ADDRESS OF PURCHASER

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF

 

 

 

 

SERIES 2007-A NOTES TO BE
PURCHASED

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

C.M. LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

$1,900,000

 

 

 

(1)

All payments on account of the Note shall be made by crediting in the form of bank wire transfer of Federal or other immediately available funds, (identifying each payment as [insert name of issuer and description of Note] interest and principal), to:

 

 

 

Citibank, N.A.

 

New York, NY

 

ABA No. 021000089

 

For CM Life Segment 43 - Universal Life

 

Account No. 30510546

 

Re: Description of security, cusip, principal and interest split

 

 

 

With telephone advice of payment to the Securities Custody and Collection Department of Babson Capital Management LLC at (413) 226-1889 or (413) 226-1803

 

 

(2)

All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

 

 

 

C.M. Life Insurance Company

 

c/o Babson Capital Management LLC

 

1500 Main Street, Suite 800

 

PO Box 15189

 

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

 

Attention: Securities Custody and

 

Collection Department

 



 

(3)

All other communications:

 

 

 

C.M. Life Insurance Company

 

c/o Babson Capital Management LLC

 

1500 Main Street, Suite 800

 

PO Box 15189

 

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

 

Attention: Securities Investment Division

 

 

(4)

E-mail address for Electronic Delivery:

 

pmanseau@babsoncapital.com, with a hard copy to follow to:

 

 

 

Babson Capital Management LLC

 

1500 Main Street — Suite 2200

 

PO Box 15189

 

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

 

Attn: Securities Investment Division

 

 

(5)

Address for delivery of Notes:

 

 

 

Babson Capital Management LLC

 

1500 Main Street, Suite 800

 

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

 

Attention: Christine Peaslee

 

 

(6)

Tax ID: 06-1041383

 



 

 

NAME AND ADDRESS OF PURCHASER

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF

 

 

 

 

SERIES 2007-A NOTES TO BE
PURCHASED

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MML BAY STATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

$800,000

 

 

 

(1)

All payments on account of the Note shall be made by crediting in the form of bank wire transfer of Federal or other immediately available funds, (identifying each payment as [insert name of issuer and description of Note] interest and principal), to:

 

 

 

Citibank, N.A.

 

New York, NY 10043

 

ABA No. 021000089

 

For MML Bay State

 

Account No. 30510677

 

Re: Description of security, cusip, principal and interest split

 

 

 

With telephone advice of payment to the Securities Custody and Collection Department of Babson Capital Management LLC at (413) 226-1889 or (413) 226-1803

 

 

(2)

All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

 

 

 

MML Bay State Life Insurance Company

 

c/o Babson Capital Management LLC

 

1500 Main Street, Suite 800

 

PO Box 15189

 

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

 

Attention: Securities Custody and

 

Collection Department

 



 

(3)

All other communications:

 

 

 

MML Bay State Life Insurance Company

 

c/o Babson Capital Management LLC

 

1500 Main Street, Suite 800

 

PO Box 15189

 

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

 

Attention: Securities Investment Division

 

 

(4)

E-mail address for Electronic Delivery:

 

pmanseau@babsoncapital.com, with a hard copy to follow to:

 

 

 

Babson Capital Management LLC

 

1500 Main Street — Suite 2200

 

PO Box 15189

 

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

 

Attn: Securities Investment Division

 

 

(5)

Address for delivery of Notes:

 

 

 

Babson Capital Management LLC

 

1500 Main Street, Suite 800

 

Springfield, MA 01115-5189

 

Attention: Christine Peaslee

 

 

(6)

Tax ID: 43-0581430

 



 

 

NAME AND ADDRESS OF PURCHASER

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF

 

 

 

 

SERIES 2007-A NOTES TO BE
PURCHASED

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PACIFIC LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

$5,000,000

 

 

 

 

$5,000,000

 

 

 

 

$5,000,000

 

 

 

 

$1,000,000

 

 

 

 

$1,000,000

 

 

 

 

$1,000,000

 

 

 

 

$1,000,000

 

 

 

 

$1,000,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Register notes in name of: Mac & Co.

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

 

 

 

Mellon Trust of New England

 

ABA# 0110-0123-4

 

DDA 125261

 

Attn: MBS Income CC: 1253

 

A/C Name: Pacific Life General Account/PLCF1810132

 

Regarding: Security Description & PPN

 

 

(2)

All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

 

 

 

Mellon Trust

 

Attn: Pacific Life Accounting Team

 

Three Mellon Bank Center

 

AIM # 153-3610

 

Pittsburgh, PA 15259

 

FAX# 412-236-7259

 

 

 

And

 

 

 

Pacific Life Insurance Company

 

Attn: Securities Administration — Cash Team

 

700 Newport Center Drive

 

Newport Beach, CA 92660-6397

 

FAX# 949-640-4013

 



 

(3)

All other communications:

 

 

 

Pacific Life Insurance Company

 

Attn: Securities Department

 

700 Newport Center Drive

 

Newport Beach, CA 92660-6397

 

FAX# 949-219-5406

 

 

(4)

Address for delivery of Notes:

 

 

 

Mellon Securities Trust Company

 

120 Broadway, 13th Floor

 

New York, NY 10271

 

Attn: Robert Ferraro 212.374.1918

 

A/C Name: Pacific Life General Acct

 

A/C #: PLCF1810132

 

 

(5)

E-mail address for Electronic Delivery:

 

 

( 6)

Taxpayer I.D. Number: 95-1079000

 



 

 

NAME AND ADDRESS OF PURCHASER

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF

 

 

 

SERIES 2007-A NOTES TO BE
PURCHASED

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUN LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY OF NEW YORK

$5,000,000

 

 

 

(1)

All payments by wire or intrabank transfer of immediately available funds to:

 

 

 

Mellon Bank of New England

 

ABA # 011001234 / BOS SAFE DEP

 

DDA: 125261

 

Attention: MBS Income CC 1253

 

Account Name: Sun Life New York - MVA Account

 

Account No.: KBLF00050002

 

RE: [description of security]

 

Tax identification number: 04-2845273

 

 

 

with sufficient information (including issuer, PPN number, interest rate, maturity and whether payment is of principal, premium, or interest) to identify the source and application of such funds.

 

 

(2)

All notices of payments, written confirmations of such wire transfers and audit confirmations:

 

 

 

Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada

 

Attn: Private Placements

 

Location code: 302D36

 

227 King Street South

 

Waterloo, ON, Canada N2J4C5

 

 

(3)

All other communications, including notices of non-routine payments:

 

 

 

One Sun Life Executive Park

 

Wellesley Hills, MA 02481

 

Attention: Investment Division/Private Fixed Income, SC 1303

 

 

(4)

E-mail address for Electronic Delivery:

 



 

(5)

Address for delivery of Notes:

 

 

 

Sun Capital Advisers LLC

 

SC 1303

 

One Sun Life Executive Park

 

Wellesley Hills, MA 02481

 

Attention: Linda R. Guillette

 

 

(6)

Two original sets of closing documents and two conformed copies to:

 

 

 

Robert Veno, Associate Director

 

Sun Capital Advisers LLC

 

One Sun Life Executive Park, SC 1303

 

Wellesley Hills, MA 02481

 

Telephone: (781) 446-1027

 

 

 

Ann C. King, Senior Counsel

 

Sun Capital Advisers LLC

 

One Sun Life Executive Park, SC 1335

 

Wellesley Hills, MA 02481

 

Telephone: (781) 446-1996

 

 

(7)

Tax ID: 04-2845273

 



 

 

NAME AND ADDRESS OF PURCHASER

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF

 

 

 

 

SERIES 2007-A NOTES TO BE
PURCHASED

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)

 

$10,000,000

 

 

 

(1)

All payments by wire or intrabank transfer of immediately available funds to:

 

 

 

Mellon Bank of New England

 

ABA # 011001234 / BOS SAFE DEP

 

DDA: 125261

 

Attention: MBS Income CC 1253

 

Account Name: Sun US — MVA Private Placements

 

Account No.: KEYF00020002

 

RE: [description of security]

 

Tax identification number: 04-2845273

 

 

 

with sufficient information (including issuer, PPN number, interest rate, maturity and whether payment is of principal, premium, or interest) to identify the source and application of such funds.

 

 

(2)

All notices of payments, written confirmations of such wire transfers and audit confirmations:

 

 

 

Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada

 

Attn: Private Placements

 

Location code: 302D36

 

227 King Street South

 

Waterloo, ON, Canada N2J4C5

 

 

(3)

All other communications, including notices of non-routine payments:

 

 

 

One Sun Life Executive Park

 

Wellesley Hills, MA 02481

 

Attention: Investment Division/Private Fixed Income, SC 1303

 



 

(4)

E-mail address for Electronic Delivery:

 

 

 

 

(5)

Address for delivery of Notes:

 

 

 

Sun Capital Advisers LLC

 

SC 1303

 

One Sun Life Executive Park

 

Wellesley Hills, MA 02481

 

Attention: Linda R. Guillette

 

 

(6)

Tax ID: 04-2845273

 



 

ANNEX III

 

CREDIT PARTIES: The following are “Credit Parties”:

 

UNITED STATIONERS SUPPLY CO.

UNITED STATIONERS INC.

LAGASSE, INC.

UNITED STATIONERS TECHNOLOGY SERVICES LLC

UNITED STATIONERS FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

 

 

NOTICE INFORMATION:  Any notice or other information required to be delivered hereunder to the Company and/or any Credit Party shall be delivered to the following:

 

UNITED STATIONERS INC.

One Parkway N. Blvd., Suite 100

Deerfield, IL 60015

Attention: 

Facsimile: 

Telephone: 

 


Exhibit 15.1

 

Acknowledgement of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

November 1, 2007

 

The Board of Directors
United Stationers Inc.

 

We are aware of the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements (Form S-8 No. 333-134058, No. 333-120563, No. 333-66352, and No. 333-37665) of our report dated November 1, 2007, relating to the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements of United Stationers Inc. that is included in its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2007.

 

Pursuant to Rule 436(c) of the Securities Act of 1933 our report is not part of the registration statement prepared or certified by accountants within the meaning of Section 7 or 11 of the Securities Act of 1933.

 

 

 

/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

 

 

1


Exhibit 31.1

 

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302(a) OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, Richard W. Gochnauer, certify that:

 

1.              I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of United Stationers Inc.;

 

2.              Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.              Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.              The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

(a)            Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b)            Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c)            Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d)            Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.              The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

a)              All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

b)             Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date:  November 2, 2007

 

/s/ RICHARD W. GOCHNAUER

 

 

Richard W. Gochnauer

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

1


Exhibit 31.2

 

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302(a) OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, Victoria J. Reich, certify that:

 

1.              I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of United Stationers Inc.;

 

2.              Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.              Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.              The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

(a)            Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b)            Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c)            Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d)            Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.              The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

a)              All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

b)             Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: November 2, 2007

 

/s/ VICTORIA J. REICH

 

 

Victoria J. Reich

 

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

1


Exhibit 32.1

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

In connection with the Quarterly Report of United Stationers Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2007, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), Richard W. Gochnauer, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Victoria J. Reich, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, each hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

 

(1)            The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

(2)            The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.

 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 

/s/ RICHARD W. GOCHNAUER

 

Richard W. Gochnauer
President and Chief Executive Officer
November 2, 2007

 

 

/s/ VICTORIA J. REICH

 

Victoria J. Reich
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
November 2, 2007

 

1