UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 26, 2008

 

 

CLEARWATER PAPER CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-34146   20-3594554

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

  (Commission File Number)  

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

601 West Riverside Ave., Suite 1000

Spokane, WA 99201

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (509) 344-5900

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 


Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On November 26, 2008, Clearwater Paper Corporation (the “Company”) entered into a Loan and Security Agreement, among Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent for the lenders, and the lenders party thereto (the “Credit Agreement”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement.

Under the Credit Agreement, the lenders have agreed to extend revolving loans to the Borrowers in an initial aggregate principal amount not to exceed $125 million. The amount available to the Company under the Credit Agreement will be based on the lesser of 85% of the Company’s eligible accounts receivable and 65% of the Company’s eligible inventory, or $125 million, in each case less a $10 million borrowing capacity reserve. The Credit Agreement includes a $20 million sub-limit for letters of credit. The Credit Agreement is a four-year revolving facility and is secured by first priority liens on certain future and existing assets of the Company, including accounts receivable, inventory, and deposit accounts.

Pricing is set according to the type of borrowing under the Credit Agreement. Base Rate Loans are issued at the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin. LIBOR Loans are issued as LIBOR plus the Applicable Margin. The Applicable Margin for LIBOR Loans ranges from 2.75% to 3.50% depending on the Company’s Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.

The Credit Agreement contains covenants that, among other things, limit the Company’s ability to create liens, merge or consolidate, incur indebtedness and guarantees, repurchase or redeem capital stock and indebtedness, make certain investments or acquisitions, or enter into certain transactions with affiliates. The Credit Agreement also contains financial covenants, including, in certain conditions, the maintenance of a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of at least 1.00 to 1.00, which is defined as EBITDA divided by Fixed Charges, which is a sum of certain charges, including cash interest, cash taxes, principal payments, dividends and capital expenditures.

Events of Default under the Credit Agreement include, but are not limited to, payment defaults, covenant defaults, breaches of representations and warranties, cross defaults to certain other material agreements and indebtedness, bankruptcy and other insolvency events, material adverse judgments, actual or asserted invalidity of security interests or loan documentation, and certain change of control events.

The monies lent under the Credit Agreement are available to be used by the Company, among other things, for the transfer of $50 million to a subsidiary of Potlatch Corporation in connection with the spin-off of the Company from Potlatch Corporation and to issue standby letters or commercial letters of credit, to fund working capital needs and for other general corporate purposes.

The foregoing description of the Credit Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Credit Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 2.03. Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation.

The information included in Item 1.01 above is incorporated by reference herein.


Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

On December 2, 2008, the Company filed a Certificate of Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware amending its Certificate of Incorporation. Pursuant to the Certificate of Amendment, (i) the Company’s name was changed from Potlatch Forest Products Corporation to Clearwater Paper Corporation, (ii) the par value per share of the Company’s capital stock was adjusted from $1.00 to $0.0001, and (ii) the Company’s authorized share capital was increased to 105 million shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of which 100 million shares have been designated as common stock and five million shares have been designated as preferred stock.

The foregoing description of the Certificate of Amendment is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Certificate of Amendment, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 3.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 8.01 Other Events

On December 1, 2008, Potlatch Corporation, the Company’s current parent corporation, issued a press release announcing that Potlatch Corporation’s board of directors has given final approval to the spin-off of its pulp-based businesses, which will be completed through a dividend of the common stock of the Company. The board of directors of Potlatch Corporation has established the close of business on December 9, 2008 as the record date for the spin-off and set a distribution ratio of one share of the Company’s common stock for every 3.5 shares of Potlatch Corporation common stock. The distribution of the Company’s common stock will occur on December 16, 2008.

In addition, Potlatch Corporation announced the mailing of an Information Statement to Potlatch Corporation stockholders. The Information Statement contains a description of the terms of the spin-off, including the procedures by which Company’s common stock will be distributed.

The foregoing summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Press Release and the Information Statement, copies of which are attached hereto as Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.


Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

 

  3.1   Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as filed on December 2, 2008 with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
10.1   Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of November 26, 2008, by and among the Company and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto.
99.1   Potlatch Corporation Press Release, dated December 1, 2008.
99.2   Clearwater Paper Corporation Information Statement, dated December 2, 2008.


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 hereunto duly authorized.

Date: December 3, 2008

 

CLEARWATER PAPER CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Michael S. Gadd

  Michael S. Gadd, Corporate Secretary


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

 

Description of Exhibit

  3.1   Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as filed on December 2, 2008 with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
10.1   Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of November 26, 2008, by and among the Company and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto.
99.1   Potlatch Corporation Press Release, dated December 1, 2008.
99.2   Clearwater Paper Corporation Information Statement, dated December 2, 2008.

Exhibit 3.1

 

   Delaware                                                 PAGE 1
   The First State   

I, HARRIET SMITH WINDSOR, SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, DO HEREBY CERTIFY THE ATTACHED IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT OF “POTLATCH FOREST PRODUCTS CORPORATION”, CHANGING ITS NAME FROM “POTLATCH FOREST PRODUCTS CORPORATION” TO “CLEARWATER PAPER CORPORATION”, FILED IN THIS OFFICE ON THE SECOND DAY OF DECEMBER, A.D. 2008, AT 9:30 O’CLOCK A.M.

A FILED COPY OF THIS CERTIFICATE HAS BEEN FORWARDED TO THE NEW CASTLE COUNTY RECORDER OF DEEDS.

 

   LOGO  

/s/ Harriet Smith Windsor

     Harriet Smith Windsor, Secretary of State
        4042496    8100     

 

AUTHENTICATION: 6995567

 

081155763

 

You may verify this certificate online at corp.delaware.gov/authver.shtml

    

 

DATE: 12-02-08


 

State of Delaware

Secretary of State

Division of Corporations

Delivered 09:19 AM 12/02/2008

FILED 09:30 AM 12/02/2008

SRV 081155763 – 4042496 FILE

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

TO THE

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

POTLATCH FOREST PRODUCTS CORPORATION

POTLATCH FOREST PRODUCTS CORPORATION, a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

FIRST: The original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on October 7, 2005.

SECOND: This amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation as set forth below has been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 228 and 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware by the sole stockholder of the Corporation and by the directors of the Corporation.

THIRD: Article 1 of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation as presently in effect is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

“The name of this Corporation is Clearwater Paper Corporation.”

FOURTH: Article 5 of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation as presently in effect is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

“A. Classes of Stock . The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 105,000,000, of which 100,000,000 shares, par value $0.0001 per share, shall be common stock (“Common Stock”) and 5,000,000 shares, par value $0.0001 per share, shall be preferred stock (“Preferred Stock”). The number of authorized shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock, without a vote of the holders of Preferred Stock, or of any series thereof, unless a vote of any such Preferred Stock holders is required pursuant to the provisions established by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such Preferred Stock, and if such holders of such Preferred Stock are so entitled to vote thereon, then, except as may otherwise be set forth in this Certificate of Incorporation, the only stockholder approval required shall be the affirmative vote of a majority of the combined voting power of Common Stock and Preferred Stock so entitled to vote.


At the time this Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation shall become effective, every one share of Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, issued and outstanding at such time shall be, and hereby is, changed and reconstituted into one fully paid and non-assessable share of Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Par Value Adjustment”). Each outstanding stock certificate of the Corporation which, immediately prior to the time this Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation shall become effective, represented one or more shares of Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, shall thereafter be deemed to represent the one or more shares of Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, taking into account the Par Value Adjustment, until such old stock certificate is exchanged for a new stock certificate reflecting the adjustment to the par value of the Common Stock resulting from the Par Value Adjustment.

B. Preferred Stock . Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series, as determined by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is expressly authorized to provide for the issue, in one or more series, of all or any of the remaining shares of Preferred Stock and, in the resolution or resolutions providing for such issue, to establish for each such series the number of its shares, the voting powers, full or limited, of the shares of such series, or that such shares shall have no voting powers, and the designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of the shares of such series, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof. The Board of Directors is also expressly authorized (unless forbidden in the resolution or resolutions providing for such issue) to increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding) the number of shares of any series subsequent to the issuance of shares of that series. In case the number of shares of any such series shall be so decreased, the shares constituting such decrease shall resume the status that they had prior to the adoption of the resolution originally fixing the number of shares of such series.”

FIFTH: All other provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation remain in full force and effect.

 

2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate of Amendment to be signed by its President and Chief Executive Officer as of this December 2, 2008.

 

POTLATCH FOREST PRODUCTS CORPORATION,

a Delaware corporation

By:  

/s/ Michael J. Covey

Name:   Michael J. Covey
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 10.1

 

 

 

CLEARWATER PAPER CORPORATION,

as Borrower

LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

Dated as of November 26, 2008

$125,000,000

CERTAIN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS,

as Lenders

and

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A .,

as Agent

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         

Page

Section 1.

  

DEFINITIONS; RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

   1

1.1.

  

Definitions

   1

1.2.

  

Accounting Terms

   24

1.3.

  

Uniform Commercial Code

   24

1.4.

  

Certain Matters of Construction

   24

Section 2.

  

CREDIT FACILITIES

   25

2.1.

  

Revolver Commitment

   25

2.2.

  

Intentionally Omitted

   27

2.3.

  

Letter of Credit Facility

   27

Section 3.

  

INTEREST, FEES AND CHARGES

   29

3.1.

  

Interest

   29

3.2.

  

Fees

   30

3.3.

  

Computation of Interest, Fees, Yield Protection

   30

3.4.

  

Reimbursement Obligations

   31

3.5.

  

Illegality

   31

3.6.

  

Inability to Determine Rates

   31

3.7.

  

Increased Costs; Capital Adequacy

   32

3.8.

  

Mitigation

   33

3.9.

  

Funding Losses

   33

3.10.

  

Maximum Interest

   33

Section 4.

  

LOAN ADMINISTRATION

   33

4.1.

  

Manner of Borrowing and Funding Revolver Loans

   33

4.2.

  

Defaulting Lender

   35

4.3.

  

Number and Amount of LIBOR Loans; Determination of Rate

   35

4.4.

  

Borrower Agent

   35

4.5.

  

One Obligation

   35

4.6.

  

Effect of Termination

   35

Section 5.

  

PAYMENTS

   36

5.1.

  

General Payment Provisions

   36

5.2.

  

Repayment of Revolver Loans

   36

5.3.

  

Intentionally Omitted

   36

5.4.

  

Payment of Other Obligations

   36

5.5.

  

Marshaling; Payments Set Aside

   36

5.6.

  

Post-Default Allocation of Payments

   36

5.7.

  

Application of Payments

   37

5.8.

  

Loan Account; Account Stated

   37

5.9.

  

Taxes

   38

5.10.

  

Lender Tax Information

   38

5.11.

  

Nature and Extent of Each Borrower’s Liability

   39

Section 6.

  

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

   41

6.1.

  

Conditions Precedent to Initial Loans

   41

6.2.

  

Conditions Precedent to All Credit Extensions

   43

6.3.

  

Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness of Certain Sections

   43

Section 7.

  

COLLATERAL

   43

7.1.

  

Grant of Security Interest

   43

7.2.

  

Lien on Deposit Accounts; Cash Collateral

   44

7.3.

  

Intentionally Omitted

   44

7.4.

  

Certain After-Acquired Collateral

   44


7.5.

  

No Assumption of Liability

   45

7.6.

  

Further Assurances

   45

Section 8.

  

COLLATERAL ADMINISTRATION

   45

8.1.

  

Borrowing Base Certificates

   45

8.2.

  

Administration of Accounts

   45

8.3.

  

Administration of Inventory

   46

8.4.

  

Condition of Equipment

   46

8.5.

  

Administration of Deposit Accounts

   47

8.6.

  

General Provisions

   47

8.7.

  

Power of Attorney

   48

Section 9.

  

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

   48

9.1.

  

General Representations and Warranties

   48

9.2.

  

Complete Disclosure

   52

Section 10.

  

COVENANTS AND CONTINUING AGREEMENTS

   53

10.1.

  

Affirmative Covenants

   53

10.2.

  

Negative Covenants

   55

10.3.

  

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio

   60

Section 11.

  

EVENTS OF DEFAULT; REMEDIES ON DEFAULT

   61

11.1.

  

Events of Default

   61

11.2.

  

Remedies upon Default

   62

11.3.

  

License

   63

11.4.

  

Setoff

   63

11.5.

  

Remedies Cumulative; No Waiver

   63

Section 12.

  

AGENT

   64

12.1.

  

Appointment, Authority and Duties of Agent

   64

12.2.

  

Agreements Regarding Collateral and Field Examination Reports

   65

12.3.

  

Reliance By Agent

   65

12.4.

  

Action Upon Default

   65

12.5.

  

Ratable Sharing

   65

12.6.

  

Indemnification of Agent Indemnitees

   66

12.7.

  

Limitation on Responsibilities of Agent

   66

12.8.

  

Successor Agent and Co-Agents

   66

12.9.

  

Due Diligence and Non-Reliance

   67

12.10.

  

Replacement of Certain Lenders

   67

12.11.

  

Remittance of Payments and Collections

   67

12.12.

  

Agent in its Individual Capacity

   68

12.13.

  

Agent Titles

   68

12.14.

  

No Third Party Beneficiaries

   68

Section 13.

  

BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS AND PARTICIPATIONS

   68

13.1.

  

Successors and Assigns

   68

13.2.

  

Participations

   69

13.3.

  

Assignments

   69

Section 14.

  

MISCELLANEOUS

   70

14.1.

  

Consents, Amendments and Waivers

   70

14.2.

  

Indemnity

   70

14.3.

  

Notices and Communications

   71

14.4.

  

Performance of Borrowers’ Obligations

   71

14.5.

  

Credit Inquiries

   71

14.6.

  

Severability

   71

14.7.

  

Cumulative Effect; Conflict of Terms

   71

14.8.

  

Counterparts

   72

14.9.

  

Entire Agreement

   72

 

(ii)


14.10.

  

Relationship with Lenders

   72

14.11.

  

No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

   72

14.12.

  

Confidentiality

   72

14.13.

  

Intentionally Omitted

   73

14.14.

  

GOVERNING LAW

   73

14.15.

  

Consent to Forum; Arbitration

   73

14.16.

  

Waivers by Borrowers

   74

14.17.

  

Patriot Act Notice

   74

LIST OF EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES

 

Exhibit A    Revolver Note
Exhibit B    Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit C    Assignment Notice

 

Schedule P-1    Investments
Schedule 1.1    Commitments of Lenders
Schedule 8.5    Deposit Accounts
Schedule 8.6.1    Business Locations
Schedule 9.1.4    Names and Capital Structure
Schedule 9.1.11    Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights and Licenses
Schedule 9.1.14    Environmental Matters
Schedule 9.1.15    Restrictive Agreements
Schedule 9.1.16    Litigation
Schedule 9.1.18    Pension Plans
Schedule 9.1.20    Labor Contracts
Schedule 10.2.2    Existing Liens
Schedule 10.2.17    Existing Affiliate Transactions

 

(iii)


LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

This LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is dated as of November 26, 2008, among POTLATCH FOREST PRODUCTS CORPORATION , which will change its name prior to the Closing Date to CLEARWATER PAPER CORPORATION , a Delaware corporation (“ Clearwater ” and together with any other Person that at any time after the date hereof becomes a Borrower in accordance with the terms hereof, each individually a “ Borrower ” and collectively, “ Borrowers ”), the financial institutions party to this Agreement from time to time as lenders (each individually a “ Lender ” and collectively, “ Lenders ”), and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. , a national banking association, as agent for the Lenders (“ Agent ”).

R E C I T A L S :

Borrowers have requested that Lenders provide a credit facility to Borrowers to finance their mutual and collective business enterprise. Lenders are willing to provide the credit facility on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE , for valuable consideration hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS; RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

1.1. Definitions . As used herein, the following terms have the meanings set forth below:

Account : as defined in the UCC, and all rights to payment for goods sold or leased, or for services rendered.

Account Debtor : a Person who is obligated under an Account or General Intangible.

Accounts Formula Amount : 85% of the Value of Eligible Accounts.

Acquisition : the purchase or other acquisition by a Borrower of all or substantially all of the assets of any other Person, or the purchase or other acquisition (whether by means of a merger, consolidation, or otherwise) by a Borrower of all or substantially all of the Equity Interests of any other Person.

Affiliate : with respect to any Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified. “ Control ” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “ Controlling ” and “ Controlled ” have correlative meanings.

Agent Fee Letter : the fee letter agreement between Agent and Borrowers.

Agent Indemnitees : Agent and its officers, directors, employees, Affiliates, agents and attorneys.

Agent Professionals : attorneys, accountants, appraisers, auditors, business valuation experts, environmental engineers or consultants, turnaround consultants, and other professionals and experts retained by Agent.

Allocable Amount : as defined in Section 5.11.3 .

Anti-Terrorism Laws : any laws relating to terrorism or money laundering, including the Patriot Act.


Applicable Law : with respect to a Person, all laws, rules, regulations and governmental guidelines applicable to such Person or its conduct, transaction, agreement or matter in question, including all applicable statutory law, common law and equitable principles, and all provisions of constitutions, treaties, statutes, rules, regulations, orders and decrees of Governmental Authorities.

Applicable Margin : with respect to any Type of Loan, the margin set forth below, as determined by the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the last Fiscal Quarter:

 

Level

  

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio

   Base Rate
Revolver Loans
    LIBOR
Revolver Loans
 
I    Greater than or equal to 1.50 to 1.00    1.00 %   2.75 %
II    Less than 1.50 to 1.00 but greater than or equal to 1.25 to 1.00    1.25 %   3.00 %
III    Less than 1.25 to 1.00 but greater than or equal to 1.00 to 1.00    1.50 %   3.25 %
IV    Less than 1.00 to 1.00    1.75 %   3.50 %

Notwithstanding the forgoing, from the date hereof until the first day of the month following receipt by Agent pursuant to Section 10.1.2 of the financial statements and corresponding Compliance Certificate for the Fiscal Quarter ending March 31, 2009, margins shall be determined as if Level II were applicable regardless of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the last Fiscal Quarter. Thereafter, the margins shall be subject to increase or decrease upon receipt by Agent pursuant to Section 10.1.2 of the financial statements and corresponding Compliance Certificate for the last Fiscal Quarter, which change shall be effective on the first day of the calendar month following receipt. If, by the first day of a month, any financial statements and Compliance Certificate due in the preceding month have not been received, then, at the option of Agent or Required Lenders, the margins shall be determined as if Level IV were applicable, from such day until the first day of the calendar month following actual receipt.

Approved Fund : any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in its ordinary course of activities, and is administered or managed by a Lender, an entity that administers or manages a Lender, or an Affiliate of either.

Asset Disposition : a sale, lease, license, consignment, transfer or other disposition of Property of an Obligor, including a disposition of Property in connection with a sale-leaseback transaction or synthetic lease, but excluding any (i) damage to, or loss of or destruction, or loss of title to, physical property of any Borrower or Guarantor, and (ii) taking of any property of any Borrower or Guarantor or any portion thereof, in or by condemnation or other eminent domain proceedings pursuant to any law, general or special, or by reason of the temporary requisition or use of any property of any Borrower or any Guarantor or any portion thereof by an Governmental Authority.

Assignment and Acceptance : an assignment agreement between a Lender and Eligible Assignee, in the form of Exhibit B .

Availability : the Borrowing Base minus the principal balance of all Revolver Loans.

Availability Block : $10,000,000.

 

-2-


Availability Reserve : the sum (without duplication) of (a) the Inventory Reserve; (b) the Rent and Charges Reserve; (c) the LC Reserve; (d) the Bank Product Reserve; (e) all accrued Royalties (if any), whether or not then due and payable by a Borrower, arising under any license or agreement under which a Borrower is authorized to use Intellectual Property in connection with any manufacture, marketing, distribution or disposition of Collateral; (f) the Repurchase Reserve; (g) the Pension Reserve (h) the Availability Block; (i) the aggregate amount of liabilities secured by Liens upon Collateral that are senior to Agent’s Liens (but imposition of any such reserve shall not waive an Event of Default arising therefrom); (j) the Dilution Reserve; and (k) such additional reserves, in such amounts and with respect to such matters, as Agent in its Credit Judgment may elect to impose from time to time.

Bank of America : Bank of America, N.A., a national banking association, and its successors and assigns.

Bank of America-WFF Fee Letter : the fee letter agreement among Bank of America, WFF, and Borrowers.

Bank of America Indemnitees : Bank of America and its officers, directors, employees, Affiliates, agents and attorneys.

Bank Product : any of the following products, services or facilities extended to any Borrower or Subsidiary by Bank of America, WFF, or any of their respective Affiliates: (a) Cash Management Services; (b) products under Hedging Agreements; (c) commercial credit card and merchant card services; and (d) leases and other banking products or services as may be requested by any Borrower or Subsidiary, other than Letters of Credit; provided , however , that for any of the foregoing to be included as an “Obligation” for purposes of a distribution under Section 5.6.1, the applicable Secured Party and Obligor must have previously provided written notice to Agent of (i) the existence of such Bank Product, (ii) the maximum dollar amount of obligations arising thereunder to be included as a Bank Product Reserve (“ Bank Product Amount ”), and (iii) the methodology to be used by such parties in determining the Bank Product Debt owing from time to time. The Bank Product Amount may be changed from time to time upon written notice to Agent by the Secured Party and Obligor. No Bank Product Amount may be established or increased at any time that a Default or Event of Default exists, or if a reserve in such amount would cause an Overadvance.

Bank Product Debt : Debt and other obligations of a Borrower or Guarantor relating to Bank Products.

Bank Product Reserve : the aggregate amount of reserves established by Agent from time to time in its discretion in respect of Bank Product Debt, which shall be at least equal to the sum of all Bank Product Amounts.

Bankruptcy Case : with respect to any Borrower or Guarantor, any bankruptcy case (whether for liquidation or reorganization of such Borrower or Guarantor) under the Bankruptcy Code in which such Borrower or Guarantor is the debtor or any analogous proceeding under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States.

Bankruptcy Code : Title 11 of the United States Code.

Bankruptcy Rejection : the entry of an order in a Bankruptcy Case with respect to the owner of any Intellectual Property authorizing the rejection by such owner (or a trustee for such owner or such owner as debtor in possession) of the IP License or any analogous event in a Bankruptcy Case under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States; provide d, however , that nothing herein shall be deemed to be an acknowledgment or agreement by any party hereto that the IP License may be rejected under the Bankruptcy Code or subject to any analogous event in a Bankruptcy Case under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States.

 

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Base Rate : for any day, a per annum rate equal to the greater of (a) the Prime Rate for such day; (b) the Federal Funds Rate for such day, plus 0.50%; or (c) LIBOR for a 30 day interest period as determined on such day, plus 1.0%.

Base Rate Loan : any Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.

Base Rate Revolver Loan : a Revolver Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.

Board of Governors : the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

Borrowed Money : with respect to any Borrower or Guarantor, without duplication, its (a) Debt that (i) arises from the lending of money by any Person to such Borrower or Guarantor, (ii) is evidenced by notes, drafts, bonds, debentures, credit documents or similar instruments, (iii) accrues interest or is a type upon which interest charges are customarily paid (excluding trade payables owing in the Ordinary Course of Business), or (iv) was issued or assumed as full or partial payment for Property; (b) Capital Leases; (c) reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit; and (d) guaranties of any Debt of the foregoing types owing by another Person.

Borrower Agent : as defined in Section 4.4 .

Borrowing : a group of Loans of one Type that are made on the same day or are converted into Loans of one Type on the same day.

Borrowing Base : on any date of determination, an amount equal to the lesser of (a) the aggregate amount of Revolver Commitments, minus the LC Reserve, minus the Availability Block; or (b) the sum of the Accounts Formula Amount, plus the Inventory Formula Amount, minus the Availability Reserve.

Borrowing Base Certificate : a certificate, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, by which Borrowers certify calculation of the Borrowing Base.

Business Day : any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the laws of, or are in fact closed in, North Carolina and California, and if such day relates to a LIBOR Loan, any such day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted between banks in the London interbank Eurodollar market.

Capital Expenditures : all liabilities incurred, expenditures made or payments due (whether or not made) by a Borrower or Subsidiary for the acquisition of any fixed assets, or any improvements, replacements, substitutions or additions thereto with a useful life of more than one year, including the principal portion of Capital Leases; provided that “Capital Expenditures” shall not include expenditures made or payments due with respect to property to the extent (and only to the extent) such expenditures or payments are made from the proceeds of (i) property insurance used to restore or replace property that has been the subject of a casualty event covered by such insurance, (ii) a disposition of property which is a Permitted Asset Disposition, or (iii) compensation made with respect to any taking of any property in or by condemnation or other eminent domain proceedings pursuant to any law, general or special, or by reason of the temporary requisition or use of any property.

Capital Lease : any lease that is required to be capitalized for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP.

Cash Collateral : cash, and any interest or other income earned thereon, that is delivered to Agent to Cash Collateralize any Obligations.

Cash Collateral Account : a demand deposit, money market or other account established by Agent at such financial institution as Agent may select in its discretion, which account shall be subject to Agent’s Liens for the benefit of Secured Parties.

 

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Cash Collateralize : the delivery of cash to Agent, as security for the payment of Obligations, in an amount equal to (a) with respect to LC Obligations, 105% of the aggregate LC Obligations, and (b) with respect to any inchoate, contingent or other Obligations (including Obligations arising under Bank Products), Agent’s good faith estimate of the amount due or to become due, including all fees and other amounts relating to such Obligations. “ Cash Collateralization ” has a correlative meaning.

Cash Equivalents : (a) marketable obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed by, and backed by the full faith and credit of, the United States government, maturing within 12 months of the date of acquisition; (b) certificates of deposit, time deposits and bankers’ acceptances maturing within 12 months of the date of acquisition, and overnight bank deposits, in each case which are issued by a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States or any state or district thereof, rated A-1 (or better) by S&P or P-1 (or better) by Moody’s at the time of acquisition, and (unless issued by a Lender) not subject to offset rights; (c) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than 30 days for underlying investments of the types described in clauses (a) and (b) entered into with any bank meeting the qualifications specified in clause (b); (d) commercial paper rated A-1 (or better) by S&P or P-1 (or better) by Moody’s, and maturing within nine months of the date of acquisition; and (e) shares of any money market fund that has substantially all of its assets invested continuously in the types of investments referred to above, has net assets of at least $500,000,000 and has the highest rating obtainable from either Moody’s or S&P.

Cash Management Services : any services provided from time to time by Bank of America, WFF, or any of their respective Affiliates to any Borrower or Subsidiary in connection with operating, collections, payroll, trust, or other depository or disbursement accounts, including automated clearinghouse, e-payable, electronic funds transfer, wire transfer, controlled disbursement, overdraft, depository, information reporting, lockbox and stop payment services.

CERCLA : the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. § 9601 et seq .).

Change in Law : the occurrence, after the date hereof, of (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty; (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority; or (c) the making or issuance of any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority.

Change of Control : any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), directly or indirectly, of 35%, or more, of the Equity Interests of Clearwater having the right to vote for the election of members of the board of directors of Clearwater.

Claims : all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, judgments, proceedings, interest, costs and expenses of any kind (including remedial response costs, reasonable attorneys’ fees and Extraordinary Expenses) at any time (including after Full Payment of the Obligations, resignation or replacement of Agent, or replacement of any Lender) incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee in any way relating to (a) any Loans, Letters of Credit, Loan Documents, or the use thereof or transactions relating thereto, (b) any action taken or omitted to be taken by any Indemnitee in connection with any Loan Documents, (c) the existence or perfection of any Liens, or realization upon any Collateral, (d) exercise of any rights or remedies under any Loan Documents or Applicable Law, or (e) failure by any Obligor to perform or observe any terms of any Loan Document, in each case including all costs and expenses relating to any investigation, litigation, arbitration or other proceeding (including an Insolvency Proceeding or appellate proceedings), whether or not the applicable Indemnitee is a party thereto.

 

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Closing Date : as defined in Section 6.1 .

Code : the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Collateral : all Property described in Section 7.1 , all Property described in any Security Documents as security for any Obligations, and all other Property that now or hereafter secures (or is intended to secure) any Obligations.

Collateral Related Intellectual Property : Intellectual Property used in connection with any manufacture, marketing, distribution or disposition of Collateral.

Commitment : for any Lender, the aggregate amount of such Lender’s Revolver Commitment. “ Commitments ” means the aggregate amount of all Revolver Commitments.

Commitment Termination Date : the earliest to occur of (a) the Revolver Termination Date; (b) the date on which Borrowers terminate the Revolver Commitments pursuant to Section 2.1.4 ; or (c) the date on which the Revolver Commitments are terminated pursuant to Section 11.2 .

Compliance Certificate : a certificate, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, by which Borrowers certify compliance with Sections 10.2.3 and 10.3 and calculate the applicable “Level” for the Applicable Margin (as set forth in the definition thereof).

Contingent Obligation : any obligation of a Person arising from a guaranty, indemnity or other assurance of payment or performance of any Debt, lease, dividend or other obligation (“ primary obligations ”) of another obligor (“ primary obligor ”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including any obligation of such Person under any (a) guaranty, endorsement, co-making or sale with recourse of an obligation of a primary obligor; (b) obligation to make take-or-pay or similar payments regardless of nonperformance by any other party to an agreement; and (c) arrangement (i) to purchase any primary obligation or security therefor, (ii) to supply funds for the purchase or payment of any primary obligation, (iii) to maintain or assure working capital, equity capital, net worth or solvency of the primary obligor, (iv) to purchase Property or services for the purpose of assuring the ability of the primary obligor to perform a primary obligation, or (v) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the holder of any primary obligation against loss in respect thereof. The amount of any Contingent Obligation shall be deemed to be the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation (or, if less, the maximum amount for which such Person may be liable under the instrument evidencing the Contingent Obligation) or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability with respect thereto.

Credit Judgment : Agent’s judgment exercised in good faith, based upon its consideration of any factor that it believes (a) could adversely affect the quantity, quality, mix or value of Collateral (including any Applicable Law that may inhibit collection of an Account), the enforceability or priority of Agent’s Liens, or the amount that Agent and Lenders could receive in liquidation of any Collateral; (b) suggests that any collateral report or financial information delivered by any Obligor is incomplete, inaccurate or misleading in any material respect; (c) materially increases the likelihood of any Insolvency Proceeding involving an Obligor; or (d) creates or could result in a Default or Event of Default. In exercising such judgment, Agent may consider any factors that could increase the credit risk of lending to Borrowers on the security of the Collateral.

CWA : the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq .).

Debt : as applied to any Person, without duplication, (a) all items that would be included as liabilities on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP, including Capital Leases, but excluding trade payables incurred and being paid in the Ordinary Course of Business; (b) all Contingent Obligations; (c) all reimbursement obligations in connection with letters of credit issued for the account of such Person; and (d) in the case of a Borrower, the Obligations. The Debt of a Person shall include any recourse Debt of any partnership in which such Person is a general partner or joint venturer.

 

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Default : an event or condition that, with the lapse of time or giving of notice, would constitute an Event of Default.

Default Rate : for any Obligation (including, to the extent permitted by law, interest not paid when due), 2% plus the interest rate otherwise applicable thereto.

Defaulting Lender : any Lender that (a) fails to make any payment or provide funds to Agent or any Borrower as required hereunder or fails otherwise to perform its obligations under any Loan Document, and such failure is not cured within one Business Day, or (b) is the subject of any Insolvency Proceeding.

Deposit Account : as defined in the UCC, excluding the Potlatch Escrow Account.

Deposit Account Control Agreements : the Deposit Account control agreements to be executed by each institution maintaining a Deposit Account for a Borrower, in favor of Agent, for the benefit of Secured Parties, as security for the Obligations.

Dilution Percent : the percent, determined for Borrowers’ most recent trailing twelve month period, equal to (a) bad debt write-downs or write-offs, discounts, returns, promotions, credits, credit memos and other dilutive items with respect to Accounts, divided by (b) gross sales.

Dilution Reserve : as of any date of determination, an amount sufficient to reduce the advance rate against Eligible Accounts by one (1) percentage point for each one-half of one (0.50) percentage point by which the Dilution Percent is in excess of 7.5%.

Distribution : any declaration or payment of a distribution, interest or dividend on any Equity Interest (other than payment-in-kind); any distribution, advance or repayment of Debt to a holder of Equity Interests; or any purchase, redemption, or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interest.

Dollars : lawful money of the United States.

Dominion Account : a special account established by Borrowers at Bank of America or another bank acceptable to Agent, over which Agent has exclusive control for withdrawal purposes during each Trigger Period.

EBITDA : with respect to any period, determined on a consolidated basis for Borrowers and Subsidiaries, net income for such period, calculated before interest expense, provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization expense, any non-cash items relating to stock based employee compensation or equity or stock option plans, gains or losses arising from the sale of capital assets, gains arising from the write-up of assets, and any extraordinary gains (in each case, to the extent included in determining net income for such period).

Eligible Account : an Account owing to a Borrower that arises in the Ordinary Course of Business from the sale of goods or rendition of services, is payable in Dollars and is deemed by Agent, in its Credit Judgment, to be an Eligible Account. Without limiting the foregoing, no Account shall be an Eligible Account if (a) it is unpaid for more than 60 days after the original due date, or more than 90 days after the original invoice date; (b) 50% or more of the Accounts owing by the Account Debtor are not Eligible Accounts under the foregoing clause; (c) when aggregated with other Accounts owing by the Account Debtor, it exceeds 15% of the aggregate Eligible Accounts (or such higher percentage as Required Lenders may establish for the Account Debtor from time to time); (d) it does not conform with a covenant

 

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or representation herein; (e) it is owing by a creditor or supplier, or is otherwise subject to a potential offset, counterclaim, dispute, deduction, discount (other than an early pay discount offered as part of the normal course selling terms), recoupment, reserve, defense, chargeback, credit or allowance (but ineligibility shall be limited to the amount thereof); (f) an Insolvency Proceeding has been commenced by or against the Account Debtor; or the Account Debtor has failed, has suspended or ceased doing business, is liquidating, dissolving or winding up its affairs, or is not Solvent; or the Borrower is not able to bring suit or enforce remedies against the Account Debtor through judicial process; (g) the Account Debtor is organized or has its principal offices or assets outside the United States or Canada unless (i) such Account is supported by an irrevocable letter of credit satisfactory to Agent (as to form, substance, and issuer or domestic confirming bank); and (ii) upon Agent’s request to Borrower Agent after a Default or an Event of Default, such letter of credit has been delivered to Agent and is directly drawable by Agent; provided , however , that up to $3,750,000 of such Accounts shall not be excluded under this clause (g); (h) it is owing by a Government Authority, unless the Account Debtor is the United States or any State, department, agency or instrumentality thereof and the Assignment of Claims Act or any similar State or local law, if applicable, has been complied with in a manner satisfactory to Agent; (i) it is not subject to a duly perfected, first priority Lien in favor of Agent, or is subject to any other Lien; (j) the goods giving rise to it have not been delivered to and accepted by the Account Debtor, the services giving rise to it have not been accepted by the Account Debtor, or it otherwise does not represent a final sale; (k) it is evidenced by Chattel Paper or an Instrument of any kind, or has been reduced to judgment; (l) the Account Debtor has made a partial payment and Agent believes in its Credit Judgment that its collection is doubtful; (m) it arises from a sale on a cash-on-delivery basis; (n) it arises from a sale to an Affiliate, from a sale on a bill-and-hold, guaranteed sale, sale-or-return, sale-on-approval, consignment, or other repurchase or return basis, or from a sale to a Person for personal, family or household purposes; (o) it represents a progress billing or retainage; or (p) it includes a billing for interest, fees or late charges, but ineligibility shall be limited to the extent thereof. In calculating delinquent portions of Accounts under clauses (a) and (b), credit balances more than 90 days old will be excluded.

Eligible Assignee : a Person that is (a) a Lender, U.S.-based Affiliate of a Lender or Approved Fund; (b) any other financial institution approved by Agent and Borrower Agent (which approval by Borrower Agent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, and shall be deemed given if no objection is made within five Business Days after notice of the proposed assignment), that is organized under the laws of the United States or any state or district thereof, has total assets in excess of $5 billion, extends asset-based lending facilities in its ordinary course of business and whose becoming an assignee would not constitute a prohibited transaction under Section 4975 of the Code or any other Applicable Law; and (c) during any Event of Default, any Person acceptable to Agent in its discretion.

Eligible Inventory : Inventory owned by a Borrower that Agent, in its Credit Judgment, deems to be Eligible Inventory. Without limiting the foregoing, no Inventory shall be Eligible Inventory unless it (a) is finished goods or raw materials, and not work-in-process, packaging or shipping materials, labels, samples, display items, bags, replacement parts or manufacturing supplies; (b) is not held on consignment, nor subject to any deposit or downpayment; (c) is in new and saleable condition and is not damaged, defective, shopworn or otherwise unfit for sale; (d) is not slow-moving, obsolete or unmerchantable, and does not constitute returned or repossessed goods; (e) meets all standards imposed by any Governmental Authority, and does not constitute hazardous materials under any Environmental Law; (f) conforms with the covenants and representations herein; (g) is subject to Agent’s duly perfected, first priority Lien, and no other Lien; (h) is within the continental United States or Canada, is not in transit except between locations of Borrowers, and is not consigned to any Person; (i) is not subject to any warehouse receipt or negotiable Document, unless Agent shall have received a Lien Waiver from the Person who has possession of the Inventory subject to such warehouse receipt or negotiable Document; (j) is not subject to any License or other arrangement that restricts such Borrower’s or Agent’s right to dispose of such Inventory, unless Agent has received an appropriate Lien Waiver; (k) is not located on leased premises or in the possession of a warehouseman, processor, repairman, mechanic, shipper, freight forwarder or other Person, unless the lessor or such Person has delivered a Lien Waiver or an appropriate

 

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Rent and Charges Reserve has been established; (l) is located at a location where the Value of all Inventory at such location exceeds $100,000; (m) does not consist of parent rolls or rough lumber; (n) does not consist of chemicals, fuel oil, polyethylene, hog fuel, and other similar Inventory as determined by Agent in its Credit Judgment; (o) is not located at a customer of any Borrower; and (p) is reflected in the details of a current perpetual inventory report.

Eligible Semi-Finished Inventory : Inventory of Borrowers which does not qualify as Eligible Inventory solely because it is excluded under clause (m) of the definition of “Eligible Inventory”.

Enforcement Action : any action to enforce any Obligations or Loan Documents or to realize upon any Collateral (whether by judicial action, self-help, notification of Account Debtors, exercise of setoff or recoupment, or otherwise).

Environmental Laws : all Applicable Laws (including all programs, permits and guidance promulgated by regulatory agencies), relating to public health (but excluding occupational safety and health, to the extent regulated by OSHA) or the protection or pollution of the environment, including CERCLA, RCRA and CWA.

Environmental Notice : a written notice from any Governmental Authority of any possible noncompliance with, investigation of a possible violation of, litigation relating to, or potential fine or liability under any Environmental Law, or with respect to any Environmental Release, environmental pollution or hazardous materials, including any complaint, summons, citation, order, claim, demand or request for correction, remediation or otherwise.

Environmental Release : a release as defined in CERCLA or under any other Environmental Law.

Equity Interest : the interest of any (a) shareholder in a corporation; (b) partner in a partnership (whether general, limited, limited liability or joint venture); (c) member in a limited liability company; or (d) other Person having any other form of equity security or ownership interest.

ERISA : the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

ERISA Affiliate : any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with an Obligor within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).

ERISA Event : (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by any Obligor or ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by any Obligor or ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification to the Multiemployer Plan that such plan is in reorganization; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) any Obligor or ERISA Affiliate fails to meet any minimum funding obligations with respect to any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan, or requests a minimum funding waiver; (f) an event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon any Obligor or ERISA Affiliate.

Event of Default : as defined in Section 11 .

 

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Excluded Tax : with respect to Agent, any Lender, Issuing Bank or any other recipient of a payment to be made by or on account of any Obligation, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income (however denominated), and franchise taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income taxes), by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable Lending Office is located; (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which Borrower Agent is located; (c) any backup withholding tax required by the Code to be withheld from amounts payable to a Lender that has failed to comply with Section 5.10 ; and (d) in the case of a Foreign Lender, any United States withholding tax that is (i) required pursuant to laws in force at the time such Lender becomes a Lender (or designates a new Lending Office) hereunder, or (ii) attributable to such Lender’s failure or inability (other than as a result of a Change in Law) to comply with Section 5.10 , except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from Borrowers with respect to such withholding tax.

Extraordinary Expenses : all costs, expenses or advances that Agent may incur during a Default or Event of Default, or during the pendency of an Insolvency Proceeding of a Borrower or a Guarantor, including those relating to (a) any audit, inspection, repossession, storage, repair, appraisal, insurance, manufacture, preparation or advertising for sale, sale, collection, or other preservation of or realization upon any Collateral; (b) any action, arbitration or other proceeding (whether instituted by or against Agent, any Lender, any Obligor, any representative of creditors of an Obligor or any other Person) in any way relating to any Collateral (including the validity, perfection, priority or avoidability of Agent’s Liens with respect to any Collateral), Loan Documents, Letters of Credit or Obligations, including any lender liability or other Claims; (c) the exercise, protection or enforcement of any rights or remedies of Agent in, or the monitoring of, any Insolvency Proceeding; (d) settlement or satisfaction of any taxes, charges or Liens with respect to any Collateral; (e) any Enforcement Action; (f) negotiation and documentation of any modification, waiver, workout, restructuring or forbearance with respect to any Loan Documents or Obligations; and (g) Protective Advances. Such costs, expenses and advances include transfer fees, Other Taxes, storage fees, insurance costs, permit fees, utility reservation and standby fees, legal fees, appraisal fees, brokers’ fees and commissions, auctioneers’ fees and commissions, accountants’ fees, environmental study fees, wages and salaries paid to employees of any Obligor or independent contractors in liquidating any Collateral, and travel expenses.

Federal Funds Rate : (a) the weighted average of interest rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers on the applicable Business Day (or on the preceding Business Day, if the applicable day is not a Business Day), as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the next Business Day; or (b) if no such rate is published on the next Business Day, the average rate (rounded up, if necessary, to the nearest  1 / 8 of 1%) charged to Bank of America on the applicable day on such transactions, as determined by Agent.

Fee Letters : collectively, the Agent Fee Letter and the Bank of America-WFF Fee Letter.

Fiscal Quarter : each period of three months, commencing on the first day of a Fiscal Year.

Fiscal Year : the fiscal year of Borrowers and Subsidiaries for accounting and tax purposes, ending on December 31 of each year.

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio : with respect to any period, the ratio, determined on a consolidated basis for Borrowers and Subsidiaries, of (a) EBITDA for such period to (b) Fixed Charges for such period.

Fixed Charges : the sum of interest expense (other than payment-in-kind), principal payments made on Borrowed Money (other than: (i) repayments of the Revolver Loans; and (ii) repayments of the Potlatch Indebtedness to the extent permitted under Section 10.2.8(c) ), cash taxes paid, Capital Expenditures (except those financed with Borrowed Money other than Revolver Loans), and Distributions made.

 

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FLSA : the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.

Foreign Lender : any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the laws of the United States, or any state or district thereof.

Foreign Plan : any employee benefit plan or arrangement (a) maintained or contributed to by any Obligor or Subsidiary that is not subject to the laws of the United States; or (b) mandated by a government other than the United States for employees of any Obligor or Subsidiary.

Foreign Subsidiary : a Subsidiary that is a “controlled foreign corporation” under Section 957 of the Code, such that a guaranty by such Subsidiary of the Obligations or a Lien on the assets of such Subsidiary to secure the Obligations would result in material tax liability to Borrowers.

Full Payment : with respect to any Obligations, (a) the full and indefeasible cash payment thereof, including any interest, fees and other charges accruing during an Insolvency Proceeding (whether or not allowed in the proceeding); and (b) if such Obligations are LC Obligations or inchoate or contingent in nature, Cash Collateralization thereof (or delivery of a standby letter of credit acceptable to Agent in its discretion, in the amount of required Cash Collateral). No Loans shall be deemed to have been paid in full until all Commitments related to such Loans have expired or been terminated.

GAAP : generally accepted accounting principles in effect in the United States from time to time.

Governmental Approvals : all authorizations, consents, approvals, licenses and exemptions of, registrations and filings with, and required reports to, all Governmental Authorities.

Governmental Authority : any federal, state, municipal, foreign or other governmental department, agency, commission, board, bureau, court, tribunal, instrumentality, political subdivision, or other entity or officer exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions for or pertaining to any government or court, in each case whether associated with the United States, a state, district or territory thereof, or a foreign entity or government.

Guarantor Payment : as defined in Section 5.11.3 .

Guarantors : Each Person who guarantees payment or performance of any Obligations.

Guaranty : each guaranty agreement executed by a Guarantor in favor of Agent.

Hedging Agreement : an agreement relating to any swap, cap, floor, collar, option, forward, cross right or obligation, or combination thereof or similar transaction, with respect to interest rate, foreign exchange, currency, commodity, credit or equity risk.

Indemnified Taxes : Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

Indemnitees : Agent Indemnitees, Lender Indemnitees, Issuing Bank Indemnitees and Bank of America Indemnitees.

Insolvency Proceeding : any case or proceeding commenced by or against a Person under any state, federal or foreign law for, or any agreement of such Person to, (a) the entry of an order for relief under the Bankruptcy Code, or any other insolvency, debtor relief or debt adjustment law; (b) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, liquidator, administrator, conservator or other custodian for such Person or any part of its Property; or (c) an assignment or trust mortgage for the benefit of creditors.

 

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Intellectual Property : all intellectual and similar Property of a Person, including inventions, designs, patents, copyrights, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trade secrets, confidential or proprietary information, customer lists, know-how, software and databases; all embodiments or fixations thereof and all related documentation, applications, registrations and franchises; all licenses or other rights to use any of the foregoing; and all books and records relating to the foregoing.

Intellectual Property Claim : any claim or assertion (whether in writing, by suit or otherwise) that a Borrower’s or Subsidiary’s ownership, use, marketing, sale or distribution of any Inventory, Equipment, Intellectual Property or other Property violates another Person’s Intellectual Property.

Interest Period : as defined in Section 3.1.3 .

Intercreditor Agreement : the Intercreditor Agreement dated on or about the date hereof, by and between Potlatch and Agent.

Interest Rate Contract : any interest rate swap, collar or cap agreement, or other agreement or arrangement by any Borrower or Subsidiary with Bank of America that is designed to protect against fluctuations in interest rates.

Inventory : as defined in the UCC, including all goods intended for sale, lease, display or demonstration; all work in process; and all raw materials, and other materials and supplies of any kind that are or could be used in connection with the manufacture, printing, packing, shipping, advertising, sale, lease or furnishing of such goods, or otherwise used or consumed in a Borrower’s business (but excluding Equipment).

Inventory Formula Amount : the lesser of:

 

  (a) the sum of:

 

  (i) the lesser of: (A) 50% of the Value of Eligible Inventory consisting of raw materials; or (B) 85% of the NOLV Percentage of the Value of Eligible Inventory consisting of raw materials; plus

 

  (ii) the lesser of: (A) 50% of the Value of Eligible Semi-Finished Inventory; or (B) 85% of the NOLV Percentage of the Value of Eligible Semi-Finished Inventory; plus

 

  (iii) the lesser of: (A) 65% of the Value of Eligible Inventory consisting of finished goods relating to the Borrowers’ pulp and paperboard business; or (B) 85% of the NOLV Percentage of the Value of Eligible Inventory consisting of finished goods relating to the Borrowers’ pulp and paperboard business; plus

 

  (iii) the lesser of: (A) 65% of the Value of Eligible Inventory consisting of finished goods relating to the Borrowers’ wood product business; or (B) 85% of the NOLV Percentage of the Value of Eligible Inventory consisting of finished goods relating to the Borrowers’ wood product business; plus

 

  (iv) the lesser of: (A) 70% of the Value of Eligible Inventory consisting of finished goods relating to the Borrowers’ consumer tissue products business; or (B) 85% of the NOLV Percentage of the Value of Eligible Inventory consisting of finished goods relating to the Borrowers’ consumer tissue products business; or

 

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  (b) an amount equal to 150% of the Accounts Formula Amount.

Inventory Reserve : reserves established by Agent in its Credit Judgment to reflect factors that may negatively impact the Value of Inventory, including change in salability, obsolescence, seasonality, theft, shrinkage, imbalance, change in composition or mix, markdowns and vendor chargebacks.

Investment : any acquisition of all or substantially all assets of a Person; any acquisition of record or beneficial ownership of any Equity Interests of a Person; or any advance or capital contribution to or other investment in a Person.

IP License : as defined in Section 11.3 .

IRS : the United States Internal Revenue Service.

Issuing Bank : Bank of America or an Affiliate of Bank of America.

Issuing Bank Indemnitees : Issuing Bank and its officers, directors, employees, Affiliates, agents and attorneys.

LC Application : an application by Borrower Agent to Issuing Bank for issuance of a Letter of Credit, in the form used by Issuing Bank.

LC Conditions : the following conditions necessary for issuance of a Letter of Credit: (a) each of the conditions set forth in Section 6 ; (b) after giving effect to such issuance, total LC Obligations do not exceed the Letter of Credit Subline, no Overadvance exists and, if no Revolver Loans are outstanding, the LC Obligations do not exceed the Borrowing Base (without giving effect to the LC Reserve for purposes of this calculation); (c) the expiration date of such Letter of Credit is (i) no more than 365 days from issuance, in the case of standby Letters of Credit, (ii) no more than 120 days from issuance, in the case of documentary Letters of Credit, and (iii) at least 20 Business Days prior to the Revolver Termination Date; (d) the Letter of Credit and payments thereunder are denominated in Dollars; and (e) the purpose and form of the proposed Letter of Credit is satisfactory to Agent and Issuing Bank in their discretion.

LC Documents : all documents, instruments and agreements (including LC Requests and LC Applications) delivered by Borrowers or any other Person to Issuing Bank or Agent in connection with issuance, amendment or renewal of, or payment under, any Letter of Credit.

LC Obligations : the sum (without duplication) of (a) all amounts owing by Borrowers for any drawings under Letters of Credit; (b) the stated amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit; and (c) all fees and other amounts owing with respect to Letters of Credit.

LC Request : a request for issuance of a Letter of Credit, to be provided by Borrower Agent to Issuing Bank, in form satisfactory to Agent and Issuing Bank.

LC Reserve : the aggregate of all LC Obligations, other than (a) those that have been Cash Collateralized; and (b) if no Default or Event of Default exists, those constituting fees and other amounts owing to the Issuing Bank.

Lender Indemnitees : Lenders and their officers, directors, employees, Affiliates, agents and attorneys.

Lenders : as defined in the preamble to this Agreement, including Agent in its capacity as a provider of Swingline Loans and any other Person who hereafter becomes a “Lender” pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance.

 

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Lending Office : the office designated as such by the applicable Lender at the time it becomes party to this Agreement or thereafter by notice to Agent and Borrower Agent.

Letter of Credit : any standby or documentary letter of credit issued by Issuing Bank for the account of a Borrower, or any indemnity, guarantee, exposure transmittal memorandum or similar form of credit support issued by Agent or Issuing Bank for the benefit of a Borrower.

Letter of Credit Subline : $20,000,000.

LIBOR : for any Interest Period with respect to a LIBOR Loan, the per annum rate of interest (rounded upward, if necessary, to the nearest  1 / 32 th of 1%), determined by Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to commencement of such Interest Period, for a term comparable to such Interest Period, equal to (a) the British Bankers Association LIBOR Rate (“ BBA LIBOR ”), as published by Reuters (or other commercially available source designated by Agent); or (b) if BBA LIBOR is not available for any reason, the interest rate at which Dollar deposits in the approximate amount of the LIBOR Loan would be offered by Bank of America’s London branch to major banks in the London interbank Eurodollar market. If the Board of Governors imposes a Reserve Percentage with respect to LIBOR deposits, then LIBOR shall be the foregoing rate, divided by 1 minus the Reserve Percentage.

LIBOR Loan : each set of LIBOR Revolver Loans having a common length and commencement of Interest Period.

LIBOR Revolver Loan : a Revolver Loan that bears interest based on LIBOR.

License : any license or agreement under which an Obligor is authorized to use Intellectual Property in connection with any manufacture, marketing, distribution or disposition of Collateral, any use of Property or any other conduct of its business.

License Rejection Liabilities : all damages of Agent or any Lender (a) arising from the diminution of value of the Inventory of any Borrower in connection with any disposition thereof, or (ii) as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, in each case, resulting from any Bankruptcy Rejection of the IP License.

Licensor : any Person from whom an Obligor obtains the right to use any Intellectual Property.

Lien : any Person’s interest in Property securing an obligation owed to, or a claim by, such Person, whether such interest is based on common law, statute or contract, including liens, security interests, pledges, hypothecations, statutory trusts, reservations, exceptions, encroachments, easements, rights-of-way, covenants, conditions, restrictions, leases, and other title exceptions and encumbrances affecting Property.

Lien Waiver : an agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, by which (a) for any Collateral located on leased premises, the lessor waives or subordinates any Lien it may have on the Collateral, and agrees to permit Agent to enter upon the premises and remove the Collateral or to use the premises to store or dispose of the Collateral; (b) for any Collateral held by a warehouseman, processor, shipper, customs broker or freight forwarder, such Person waives or subordinates any Lien it may have on the Collateral, agrees to hold any Documents in its possession relating to the Collateral as agent for Agent, and agrees to deliver the Collateral to Agent upon request; (c) for any Collateral held by a repairman, mechanic or bailee, such Person acknowledges Agent’s Lien, waives or subordinates any Lien it may have on the Collateral, and agrees to deliver the Collateral to Agent upon request; and (d) for any Collateral subject to a Licensor’s Intellectual Property rights, the Licensor grants to Agent the right, vis-à-vis such Licensor, to enforce Agent’s Liens with respect to the Collateral, including the right to dispose of it with the benefit of the Intellectual Property, whether or not a default exists under any applicable License.

 

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Line Usage : for any period, the percent equal to (a) the average daily amount of outstanding Obligations for such period divided by (b) the average amount of Revolver Commitments (minus the Availability Block) during such period.

Loan : a Revolver Loan.

Loan Account : the loan account established by each Lender on its books pursuant to Section 5.8 .

Loan Documents : this Agreement, Other Agreements and Security Documents.

Loan Year : each 12 month period commencing on the Closing Date and on each anniversary of the Closing Date.

Margin Stock : as defined in Regulation U of the Board of Governors.

Material Adverse Effect : the effect of any event or circumstance that (a) has or could be reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, operations, Properties or condition (financial or otherwise) of any Obligor, on the value of any material Collateral, on the enforceability of any Loan Documents, or on the validity or priority of Agent’s Liens on any Collateral; (b) impairs the ability of any Borrower or Guarantor to perform any obligations under the Loan Documents, including repayment of any Obligations; or (c) otherwise impairs the ability of Agent or any Lender to enforce or collect any Obligations or to realize upon any Collateral.

Material Contract : any agreement or arrangement to which a Borrower or Subsidiary is party (other than the Loan Documents) (a) that is deemed to be a material contract under any securities law applicable to such Obligor, including the Securities Act of 1933; (b) for which breach, termination, nonperformance or failure to renew could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or (c) that relates to Subordinated Debt, or Debt in an aggregate amount of $5,000,000 or more.

Modified Availability : on any date of determination, an amount equal to the sum of (a) Availability, plus (b) the lesser of (i) Suppressed Availability; or (ii) $25,000,000.

Moody’s : Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., and its successors.

Multiemployer Plan : any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which any Obligor or ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.

Net Proceeds : with respect to an Asset Disposition, proceeds (including, when received, any deferred or escrowed payments) received by a Borrower or Subsidiary in cash from such disposition, net of (a) reasonable and customary costs and expenses actually incurred in connection therewith, including legal fees and sales commissions; (b) amounts applied to repayment of Debt secured by a Permitted Lien senior to Agent’s Liens on Collateral sold; (c) any Taxes reasonably attributable to such Asset Disposition (including any withholding in respect of such Taxes) and reasonably estimated by Clearwater to be actually payable; and (d) reserves for indemnities, until such reserves are no longer needed.

NOLV Percentage : with respect to any category of Inventory, the net orderly liquidation value of such Inventory, expressed as a percentage, expected to be realized at an orderly, negotiated sale held within a reasonable period of time, net of all liquidation expenses, as determined from the most recent appraisal of Borrowers’ Inventory performed by an appraiser and on terms satisfactory to Agent.

 

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Notes : each Revolver Note or other promissory note executed by a Borrower to evidence any Obligations.

Notice of Borrowing : a Notice of Borrowing to be provided by Borrower Agent to request a Borrowing of Revolver Loans, in form satisfactory to Agent.

Notice of Conversion/Continuation : a Notice of Conversion/Continuation to be provided by Borrower Agent to request a conversion or continuation of any Loans as LIBOR Loans, in form satisfactory to Agent.

Obligations : all (a) principal of and premium, if any, on the Loans, (b) LC Obligations and other obligations of Obligors with respect to Letters of Credit, (c) interest, expenses, fees and other sums payable by Obligors under Loan Documents, (d) obligations of Obligors under any indemnity for Claims, (e) Extraordinary Expenses, (f) Bank Product Debt, and (g) other Debts, obligations and liabilities of any kind owing by Obligors pursuant to the Loan Documents, whether now existing or hereafter arising, whether evidenced by a note or other writing, whether allowed in any Insolvency Proceeding, whether arising from an extension of credit, issuance of a letter of credit, acceptance, loan, guaranty, indemnification or otherwise, and whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, primary or secondary, or joint or several.

Obligor : each Borrower, Guarantor, or other Person that is liable for payment of any Obligations or that has granted a Lien in favor of Agent on its assets to secure any Obligations.

Ordinary Course of Business : the ordinary course of business of any Borrower or Subsidiary, consistent with past practices and undertaken in good faith.

Organic Documents : with respect to any Person, its charter, certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws, articles of organization, limited liability agreement, operating agreement, members agreement, shareholders agreement, partnership agreement, certificate of partnership, certificate of formation, voting trust agreement, or similar agreement or instrument governing the formation or management of such Person.

OSHA : the Occupational Safety and Hazard Act of 1970.

Other Agreement : each Note; LC Document; the Intercreditor Agreement; each Fee Letter; Lien Waiver; Borrowing Base Certificate, Compliance Certificate, financial statement or report delivered hereunder; or other document, instrument or agreement (other than this Agreement or a Security Document) now or hereafter delivered by an Obligor or other Person to Agent or a Lender in connection with any transactions relating hereto.

Other Taxes : all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made under any Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document.

Overadvance : as defined in Section 2.1.5 .

Overadvance Loan : a Base Rate Revolver Loan made when an Overadvance exists or is caused by the funding thereof.

Participant : as defined in Section 13.2 .

Patriot Act : the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Pub. L. No. 107-56, 115 Stat. 272 (2001).

 

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Payment Item : each check, draft or other item of payment payable to a Borrower, including those constituting proceeds of any Collateral.

PBGC : the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

Pension Plan : any employee pension benefit plan (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA and is sponsored or maintained by any Obligor or ERISA Affiliate or to which the Obligor or ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple employer or other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time during the preceding five plan years.

Pension Reserve : a reserve in an initial amount equal to $0, and increased on the first day of any month when Availability is less than $25,000,000 as of such day by an amount equal to  1 / 12 th of the aggregate unpaid required contributions of Borrowers to all Pension Plans and Multiemployer Plans as of such day; provided , however , that the Pension Reserve shall be decreased from time to time such that the Pension Reserve does not exceed the aggregate unpaid required contributions of Borrowers to all Pension Plans and Multiemployer Plans.

Permitted Acquisition : any Acquisition by any Borrower in a transaction that satisfies each of the following requirements: (a) such Acquisition is not a hostile acquisition or contested by the Person to be acquired; (b) the assets being acquired (other than a de minimis amount of assets in relation to Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ total assets), or the Person whose Equity Interests are being acquired, are useful in or engaged in, as applicable, the business of Borrower and its Subsidiaries or a business reasonably related thereto; (c) both before and after giving effect to such Acquisition, each of the representations and warranties in the Loan Documents is true and correct; (d) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result from the consummation of such Acquisition; (e) as soon as available, but not less than 30 days prior to such Acquisition, the Borrowers have provided Agent (i) notice of such Acquisition and (ii) a copy of all available business and financial information reasonably requested by Agent including pro forma financial statements, statements of cash flow, and Availability projections; (f) not later than 15 Business Days prior to the anticipated closing date of such Acquisition, Borrowers shall have provided the Agent with copies of the acquisition agreement and other material documents relative to such Acquisition, which agreement and documents must be reasonably acceptable to Agent; (g) the aggregate purchase consideration payable (including deferred payment obligations, but excluding issuances of Equity Interests of Clearwater) in respect of all Acquisitions made during the term of this Agreement shall not exceed $50,000,000; (h) if such Acquisition is an acquisition of the Equity Interests of a Person, the Acquisition is structured so that the acquired Person shall become a wholly-owned Subsidiary of a Borrower and, in accordance with Section 10.1.9 , an Obligor pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; (i) if such Acquisition is an acquisition of assets, the Acquisition is structured so that an Obligor (or a newly organized Subsidiary that becomes an Obligor) shall acquire such assets; (j) the assets being acquired (other than a de minimis amount of assets in relation to the assets being acquired) are located within the United States, or the Person whose Equity Interests are being acquired is organized in a jurisdiction located within the United States; (k) no Debt will be incurred, assumed, or would exist with respect to Borrower or its Subsidiaries as a result of such Acquisition, other than Debt permitted under Section 10.2.1 and no Liens will be incurred, assumed, or would exist with respect to the assets of Borrower or its Subsidiaries as a result or such Acquisition other than Permitted Liens; and (l) both before and after giving effect to any such Acquisition, Modified Availability is greater than $50,000,000. In no event will assets acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition constitute Eligible Accounts, Eligible Inventory or Eligible Semi-Finished Inventory prior to completion of a field examination and other due diligence acceptable to Agent in its discretion.

Permitted Asset Disposition : as long as: (x) no Default or Event of Default exists (provided that, in the case of clauses (a) and (c) only, such Asset Dispositions will continue to be permitted unless Agent has given Borrower Agent notice otherwise), and (y) in the case of clauses (a) and (c) only, all Net

 

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Proceeds are remitted to a Dominion Account, an Asset Disposition that is: (a) a sale of Inventory in the Ordinary Course of Business; (b) a disposition of Equipment that, in the aggregate during any 12 month period, has a fair market or book value (whichever is more) of $10,000,000 or less; (c) a disposition of Inventory that is obsolete, unmerchantable or otherwise unsalable in the Ordinary Course of Business; (d) termination of a lease of real or personal Property that is not necessary for the Ordinary Course of Business, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and does not result from an Obligor’s default; (e) a disposition of Property (other than any Collateral) that is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property, (f) a transfer of Property by: (i) a Borrower to another Borrower; (ii) a Guarantor to another Guarantor; or (iii) a Guarantor to a Borrower; (g) a sale of Property in one transaction, the proceeds of which will be used to satisfy and discharge or make arrangements for the satisfaction and discharge or prepayment of Clearwater’s obligations under the Retained Obligation Agreement so long as: (i) the aggregate fair market or book value (whichever is more) of all Collateral sold in such transaction does not exceed $10,000,000; (ii) such transaction could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) Borrowers remit to Agent for application to the Obligations an amount equal to the fair market or book value (whichever is more) of all Collateral sold in such transaction; (iv) not later than thirty (30) days prior to the anticipated closing date of such transaction, Borrowers shall have provided the Agent with written notice of such proposed transaction; (v) the proceeds of the proposed transaction which can be allocated to the Collateral being sold in such transaction exceed the amount of the Borrowing Base attributable to such Collateral; and (vi) not later than 15 Business Days prior to the anticipated closing date of such transaction, Borrowers shall have provided the Agent with copies of the sale agreement and other material documents relative to such transaction, which agreement and documents must be reasonably acceptable to Agent; (h) a transfer of Property by Clearwater to Retainco prior to the “Distribution” (as defined in the Separation Agreement) in accordance with the terms of the Spin-Off Documents; (i) a distribution of Retainco to Potlatch in accordance with the terms of the Spin-Off Documents; or (j) approved in writing by Agent and Required Lenders.

Permitted Contingent Obligations : Contingent Obligations (a) arising from endorsements of Payment Items for collection or deposit in the Ordinary Course of Business; (b) arising from Hedging Agreements permitted hereunder; (c) existing on the Closing Date, and any extension or renewal thereof that does not increase the amount of such Contingent Obligation when extended or renewed; (d) incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business with respect to surety, appeal or performance bonds, or other similar obligations; (e) arising from customary indemnification obligations in favor of purchasers in connection with dispositions of Equipment permitted hereunder; (f) arising under the Loan Documents; (g) in an aggregate amount of $3,000,000 or less at any time; (h) consisting of customary indemnification obligations included in contracts entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business, (i) to the extent considered Debt permitted by Section 10.2.1 , (j) pursuant to guaranties by an Obligor of the obligations of anther Obligor with respect to lease, contracts and other commitments entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business; (k) arising under (i) contracts that Clearwater has assigned to Potlatch or an Affiliate of Potlatch in connection with the Spin-Off and as to which Clearwater has not been released and (ii) contracts for the supply of goods or services or for the lease of equipment that were initially entered into by Clearwater, Potlatch or an Affiliate of Potlatch and to which, in the case of the contracts initially entered into by Clearwater, Potlatch or an Affiliate of Potlatch has been added as a party, and in the case of the contracts initially entered into by Potlatch or an Affiliate of Potlatch, Clearwater has been added as a party; and in all cases, (1) such Persons have been added as parties in connection with the Spin-Off to enable their businesses which such Persons have after the Spin-Off to continue to receive goods and services and to lease the equipment such businesses received or leased before the Spin-Off, and (2) Clearwater’s liability under such contracts will not result in a Material Adverse Effect; or (l) consisting of obligations to make take or pay or similar payments pursuant to supply agreements entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business.

Permitted Lien : as defined in Section 10.2.2 .

 

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Permitted Purchase Money Debt : Purchase Money Debt of Borrowers and Subsidiaries that is unsecured or secured only by a Purchase Money Lien, as long as the aggregate amount incurred in any fiscal year of Clearwater does not exceed $30,000,000.

Person : any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, joint stock company, land trust, business trust, unincorporated organization, Governmental Authority or other entity.

Plan : any employee benefit plan (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA), other than a Foreign Plan, established by an Obligor or, with respect to any such plan that is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, an ERISA Affiliate.

Potlatch : Potlatch Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

Potlatch Escrow Account : the “Escrow Account” as defined under, and established pursuant to, the Retained Obligation Agreement.

Potlatch Indebtedness : the obligations of Clearwater under (i) Section 3.1(a) of the Contribution and Assumption Agreement, dated December 30, 2005, between Potlatch and Clearwater and (ii) the Retained Obligation Agreement.

Prime Rate : the rate of interest announced by Bank of America from time to time as its prime rate. Such rate is set by Bank of America on the basis of various factors, including its costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above or below such rate. Any change in such rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.

Pro Rata : with respect to any Lender, a percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) determined (a) while Revolver Commitments are outstanding, by dividing the amount of such Lender’s Revolver Commitment by the aggregate amount of all Revolver Commitments; and (b) at any other time, by dividing the amount of such Lender’s Loans and LC Obligations by the aggregate amount of all outstanding Loans and LC Obligations.

Proceeds : as defined in Section 7.1 .

Properly Contested : with respect to any obligation of an Obligor, (a) the obligation is subject to a bona fide dispute regarding amount or the Obligor’s liability to pay; (b) the obligation is being properly contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently pursued; (c) appropriate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP; (d) non-payment could not have a Material Adverse Effect, nor result in forfeiture or sale of any assets of the Obligor; (e) no Lien is imposed on assets of the Obligor, unless bonded and stayed to the satisfaction of Agent; and (f) if the obligation results from entry of a judgment or other order, such judgment or order is stayed pending appeal or other judicial review.

Property : any interest in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible.

Protective Advances : as defined in Section 2.1.6 .

Purchase Money Debt : (a) Debt (other than the Obligations) for payment of any of the purchase price of fixed assets; (b) Debt (other than the Obligations) incurred within 30 days before or after acquisition of any fixed assets, for the purpose of financing any of the purchase price thereof; and (c) any renewals, extensions or refinancings (but not increases) thereof.

 

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Purchase Money Lien : a Lien that secures Purchase Money Debt, encumbering only the fixed assets acquired with such Debt and constituting a Capital Lease or a purchase money security interest under the UCC.

RCRA : the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 6991-6991i).

Real Estate : all right, title and interest (whether as owner, lessor or lessee) in any real Property or any buildings, structures, parking areas or other improvements thereon.

Refinancing Conditions : the following conditions for Refinancing Debt: (a) it is in an aggregate principal amount that does not exceed the principal amount of the Debt being extended, renewed or refinanced; (b) it has a final maturity no sooner than, a weighted average life no less than, and an interest rate no greater than, the Debt being extended, renewed or refinanced; (c) it is subordinated to the Obligations at least to the same extent as the Debt being extended, renewed or refinanced; (d) the financial covenants and payment defaults applicable to it are no less favorable to Borrowers than those applicable to the Debt being extended, renewed or refinanced; (e) no additional Lien is granted to secure it; (f) no additional Person is obligated on such Debt; and (g) upon giving effect to it, no Default or Event of Default exists.

Refinancing Debt : Borrowed Money that is the result of an extension, renewal or refinancing of Debt permitted under Section 10.2.1(b) or (d) .

Reimbursement Date : as defined in Section 2.3.2 .

Rent and Charges Reserve : the aggregate of (a) all past due rent and other amounts owing by an Obligor to any landlord, warehouseman, processor, repairman, mechanic, shipper, freight forwarder, broker or other Person who possesses any Collateral or could assert a Lien on any Collateral; and (b) a reserve at least equal to three months’ rent and other charges that could be payable to any such Person, unless it has executed a Lien Waiver.

Report : as defined in Section 12.2.3 .

Reportable Event : any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than (i) events for which the 30 day notice period has been waived; and (ii) to the extent disclosed to Agent, the transactions contemplated by the Spin-Off Documents, including but not limited to any transfers of assets and liabilities from any of the Pension Plans to plans sponsored by Potlatch or an Affiliate thereof pursuant to the Spin-Off Documents.

Repurchase Reserve : a reserve in an initial amount equal to $400,000, and increased by $400,000 on the first of each month after the Closing Date until such time as the Repurchase Reserve equals $1,000,000; provided , however , that the Repurchase Reserve shall be decreased by the amount of any repurchases of Equity Interests permitted to be made under Section 10.2.4(a)(iii) .

Required Lenders : Lenders (subject to Section 4.2 ) having (a) Revolver Commitments in excess of 50% of the aggregate Revolver Commitments; and (b) if the Revolver Commitments have terminated, Loans in excess of 50% of all outstanding Loans; provided , however , that at any time there are 2 or more Lenders, “Required Lenders” must include at least 2 Lenders. In addition to the foregoing, Required Lenders must include WFF for as long as WFF holds thirty three and one-third percent (33-1/3%) or more of: (i) the aggregate Revolver Commitments, and (ii) if the Revolver Commitments have terminated, all outstanding Loans.

Reserve Percentage : the reserve percentage (expressed as a decimal, rounded upward to the nearest 1/8th of 1%) applicable to member banks under regulations issued from time to time by the Board of Governors for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including any emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) with respect to Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities”).

 

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Restricted Investment : any Investment by a Borrower or Subsidiary, other than (a) Investments in Subsidiaries to the extent existing on the Closing Date; (b) Cash Equivalents that are subject to Agent’s Lien and control, pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to Agent; (c) loans and advances permitted under Section 10.2.7 ; (d) Permitted Acquisitions; (e) Investments consisting of accounts receivable created, acquired or made by any Obligor in the Ordinary Course of Business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with customary trade terms; (f) Investments consisting of Equity Interests, obligations, securities or other Property received by any Obligor in settlement of accounts receivable from bankrupt obligors; (g) Investments existing on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule P-1; (h) Investments received as the non-cash portion of the consideration received in connection with a Permitted Asset Disposition; (i) Investments resulting from pledges and deposits constituting Permitted Liens; (j) Hedging Agreements to the extent permitted under Section 10.2.15 ; (k) Investments made in the Ordinary Course of Business in connection with obtaining, maintaining or renewing customer contracts; (l) Investments consisting of the establishment, deposit of funds (other than proceeds of any Revolver Loans) into, and investment of funds on deposit in, the Potlatch Escrow Account in accordance with the terms of the Retained Obligation Agreement (it being understood that this clause (l) shall not be deemed to be implied consent to any Asset Disposition or incurrence of Debt otherwise prohibited by the terms and conditions of this Agreement); (m) so long as both before and after giving effect to any such Investment, Modified Availability is greater than $50,000,000, and so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result from the making of such Investment, Investments in joint ventures in which a Borrower or a Guarantor acquires or has an Equity Interest, not to exceed at any time $5,000,000, provided that such limitation shall be increased from time to time as such Borrower or Guarantor receives distributions or redemptions with respect to such an Equity Interest; (n) the transfer by Clearwater of $50,000,000 to Retainco prior to the distribution of Retainco by Clearwater to Potlatch, all in accordance with the Spin-Off Documents; and (o) Investments otherwise permitted by Agent in writing.

Restrictive Agreement : an agreement (other than a Loan Document) that conditions or restricts the right of any Borrower, Subsidiary or other Obligor to incur or repay Borrowed Money, to grant Liens on any Borrower’s or Guarantor’s assets, to declare or make Distributions, to modify, extend or renew any agreement evidencing Borrowed Money, or to repay any intercompany Debt.

RetainCo : Potlatch Land & Lumber LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Retained Obligation Agreement : the Retained Obligation Agreement to be entered into between Clearwater and Potlatch substantially in the form of such agreement which has been filed as Exhibit 10.13 to Clearwater’s From 10 filed on November 19, 2008.

Revolver Commitment : for any Lender, its obligation to make Revolver Loans and to participate in LC Obligations up to the maximum principal amount shown on Schedule 1.1 , or as hereafter determined pursuant to each Assignment and Acceptance to which it is a party, or as increased pursuant to Section 2.1.7 . “ Revolver Commitments ” means the aggregate amount of such commitments of all Lenders.

Revolver Loan : a loan made pursuant to Section 2.1 , and any Swingline Loan, Overadvance Loan or Protective Advance.

Revolver Note : a promissory note to be executed by Borrowers in favor of a Lender in the form of Exhibit A , which shall be in the amount of such Lender’s Revolver Commitment and shall evidence the Revolver Loans made by such Lender.

 

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Revolver Termination Date : the earlier of: (a) four (4) years from the date of this Agreement, or (b) ninety (90) days prior to the maturity date of the Potlatch Indebtedness.

Royalties : all royalties, fees, expense reimbursement and other amounts payable by a Borrower under a License.

S&P : Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and its successors.

Secured Parties : Agent, Issuing Bank, Lenders and providers of Bank Products.

Security Documents : the Guaranties, Deposit Account Control Agreements, and all other documents, instruments and agreements now or hereafter securing (or given with the intent to secure) any Obligations.

Senior Officer : the chairman of the board, president, chief executive officer or chief financial officer of a Borrower or, if the context requires, an Obligor.

Separation Agreement : that certain Separation and Distribution Agreement to be entered into between Potlatch and Clearwater substantially in the form of such agreement which has been filed as Exhibit 2.1 to Clearwater’s Form 10 filed on November 19, 2008.

Settlement Report : a report delivered by Agent to Lenders summarizing the Revolver Loans and participations in LC Obligations outstanding as of a given settlement date, allocated to Lenders on a Pro Rata basis in accordance with their Revolver Commitments.

Solvent : as to any Person, such Person (a) owns Property whose fair salable value is greater than the amount required to pay all of its debts (including contingent, subordinated, unmatured and unliquidated liabilities); (b) owns Property whose present fair salable value (as defined below) is greater than the probable total liabilities (including contingent, subordinated, unmatured and unliquidated liabilities) of such Person as they become absolute and matured; (c) is able to pay all of its debts as they mature; (d) has capital that is not unreasonably small for its business and is sufficient to carry on its business and transactions and all business and transactions in which it is about to engage; (e) is not “insolvent” within the meaning of Section 101(32) of the Bankruptcy Code; and (f) has not incurred (by way of assumption or otherwise) any obligations or liabilities (contingent or otherwise) under any Loan Documents, or made any conveyance in connection therewith, with actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud either present or future creditors of such Person or any of its Affiliates. “ Fair salable value ” means the amount that could be obtained for assets within a reasonable time, either through collection or through sale under ordinary selling conditions by a capable and diligent seller to an interested buyer who is willing (but under no compulsion) to purchase.

Spin-Off : the Separation (as defined in the Separation Agreement) and the Distribution (as defined in the Separation Agreement) pursuant to the Separation Agreement.

Spin-Off Documents : the Separation Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements (as defined in the Separation Agreement).

Subordinated Debt : Debt incurred by a Borrower that is expressly subordinate and junior in right of payment to Full Payment of all Obligations, and is on terms (including maturity, interest, fees, repayment, covenants and subordination) satisfactory to Agent.

Subsidiary : any entity at least 50% of whose voting securities or Equity Interests is owned by a Borrower or any combination of Borrowers (including indirect ownership by a Borrower through other entities in which the Borrower directly or indirectly owns 50% of the voting securities or Equity Interests).

 

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Suppressed Availability : on any date of determination, the difference between (a) the sum of the Accounts Formula Amount, plus the Inventory Formula Amount, minus the Availability Reserve, and (b) the aggregate amount of Revolver Commitments; provided , however , that if such difference is less than zero, Suppressed Availability shall be deemed to be zero.

Swingline Loan : any Borrowing of Base Rate Revolver Loans funded with Agent’s funds, until such Borrowing is settled among Lenders or repaid by Borrowers.

Taxes : all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

Transferee : any actual or potential Eligible Assignee, Participant or other Person acquiring an interest in any Obligations.

Trigger Period : the period (a) commencing on the day that an Event of Default occurs, or Availability is less than, at any time, an amount equal to twenty percent (20%) of the then aggregate Revolver Commitments; and (b) continuing until, during the preceding 60 consecutive days, no Event of Default has existed and Availability has been greater than, at all times, an amount equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of the then aggregate Revolver Commitments.

Type : any type of a Loan (i.e., Base Rate Loan or LIBOR Loan) that has the same interest option and, in the case of LIBOR Loans, the same Interest Period.

UCC : the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of California or, when the laws of any other jurisdiction govern the perfection or enforcement of any Lien, the Uniform Commercial Code of such jurisdiction.

Unfunded Pension Liability : the excess of a Pension Plan’s projected benefit obligation, over the fair current value of that Pension Plan’s assets, in each case determined in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 87 (as modified by SFAS No. 158) as of the most recent financial statement of the applicable Pension Plan Sponsor.

Unused Line Margin : the percentage set forth below, as determined by the Line Usage for the prior month:

 

Level

  

Line Usage

   Unused Line
Margin
 
I    Greater than 67%    0.50 %
II    Less than or equal to 67%, but greater than 25%    0.625 %
III    Less than or equal to 25%    0.75 %

Notwithstanding the forgoing, from the date hereof until the first day of the month immediately following the date which is 90 days after the date hereof, the Unused Line Margin shall be determined as if Level II were applicable regardless of the Line Usage for the last month. Thereafter, the Unused Line Margin shall be subject to increase or decrease based upon the Line Usage for the prior month, as determined by Agent. If by the first day of a month, any Borrowing Base Certificate due in the preceding month has not been received, then, at the option of Agent or Required Lenders, the Unused Line Margin shall be determined as if Level III were applicable, from such day until the first day of the calendar month following actual receipt.

 

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Upstream Payment : a Distribution by a Subsidiary of a Borrower to such Borrower.

Value : (a) for Inventory, its value determined on the basis of the lower of cost or market, calculated on a first-in, first-out basis, and excluding any portion of cost attributable to intercompany profit among Borrowers and their Affiliates; and (b) for an Account, its face amount, net of any returns, rebates, discounts (calculated on the shortest terms), credits, allowances or Taxes (including sales, excise or other taxes) that have been or could be claimed by the Account Debtor or any other Person.

WFF : Wells Fargo Foothill, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

1.2. Accounting Terms . Under the Loan Documents (except as otherwise specified herein), all accounting terms shall be interpreted, all accounting determinations shall be made, and all financial statements shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP applied on a basis consistent with the most recent audited financial statements of Borrowers delivered to Agent before the Closing Date and using the same inventory valuation method as used in such financial statements, except for any change required or permitted by GAAP if Borrowers’ certified public accountants concur in such change, the change is disclosed to Agent, and Section 10.3 is amended in a manner satisfactory to Required Lenders to take into account the effects of the change.

1.3. Uniform Commercial Code. As used herein, the following terms are defined in accordance with the UCC in effect in the State of California from time to time: “Chattel Paper,” “Commercial Tort Claim,” “Document,” “Equipment,” “General Intangibles,” “Goods,” “Instrument,” “Investment Property,” “Letter-of-Credit Right” and “Supporting Obligation.”

1.4. Certain Matters of Construction . The terms “herein,” “hereof,” “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section, paragraph or subdivision. Any pronoun used shall be deemed to cover all genders. In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, “from” means “from and including,” and “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding.” The terms “including” and “include” shall mean “including, without limitation” and, for purposes of each Loan Document, the parties agree that the rule of ejusdem generis shall not be applicable to limit any provision. Section titles appear as a matter of convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation of any Loan Document. All references to (a) laws or statutes include all related rules, regulations, interpretations, amendments and successor provisions; (b) any document, instrument or agreement include any amendments, waivers and other modifications, extensions or renewals (to the extent permitted by the Loan Documents); (c) any section mean, unless the context otherwise requires, a section of this Agreement; (d) any exhibits or schedules mean, unless the context otherwise requires, exhibits and schedules attached hereto, which are hereby incorporated by reference; (e) any Person include successors and assigns; (f) time of day mean time of day at Agent’s notice address under Section 14.3.1 ; or (g) discretion of Agent, Issuing Bank or any Lender mean the sole and absolute discretion of such Person. All calculations of Value, fundings of Loans, issuances of Letters of Credit and payments of Obligations shall be in Dollars and, unless the context otherwise requires, all determinations (including calculations of Borrowing Base and financial covenants) made from time to time under the Loan Documents shall be made in light of the circumstances existing at such time. Borrowing Base calculations shall be consistent with historical methods of valuation and calculation, and otherwise satisfactory to Agent (and not necessarily calculated in accordance with GAAP). Borrowers shall have the burden of establishing any alleged negligence, misconduct or lack of good faith by Agent, Issuing Bank or any Lender under any Loan Documents. No provision of any Loan Documents shall be construed against any party by reason of such party having, or being deemed to have, drafted the provision. Whenever the phrase “to the best of Borrowers’ knowledge” or words of similar import are used in any Loan Documents, it means actual knowledge of a Senior Officer, or knowledge that a Senior

 

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Officer would have obtained if he or she had engaged in good faith and diligent performance of his or her duties, including reasonably specific inquiries of employees or agents and a good faith attempt to ascertain the matter to which such phrase relates.

SECTION 2. CREDIT FACILITIES

2.1. Revolver Commitment .

2.1.1. Revolver Loans . Each Lender agrees, severally on a Pro Rata basis up to its Revolver Commitment, on the terms set forth herein, to make Revolver Loans to Borrowers from time to time through the Commitment Termination Date. The Revolver Loans may be repaid and reborrowed as provided herein. In no event shall Lenders have any obligation to honor a request for a Revolver Loan if the unpaid balance of Revolver Loans outstanding at such time (including the requested Loan) would exceed the Borrowing Base.

2.1.2. Revolver Notes . The Revolver Loans made by each Lender and interest accruing thereon shall be evidenced by the records of Agent and such Lender. At the request of any Lender, Borrowers shall deliver a Revolver Note to such Lender.

2.1.3. Use of Proceeds . The proceeds of Revolver Loans shall be used by Borrowers solely (a) to pay fees and transaction expenses associated with the closing of this credit facility; (b) to pay Obligations in accordance with this Agreement; and (c) for working capital and other lawful corporate purposes of Borrowers, including payments of interest on the Potlatch Indebtedness.

2.1.4. Termination of Revolver Commitments .

(a) The Revolver Commitments shall terminate on the Revolver Termination Date, unless sooner terminated in accordance with this Agreement. Upon at least 30 days’ prior written notice to Agent at any time, Borrowers may, at their option, terminate the Revolver Commitments and this credit facility. Any notice of termination given by Borrowers shall be irrevocable. On the termination date, Borrowers shall make Full Payment of all Obligations.

(b) Concurrently with any termination of the Revolver Commitments, for whatever reason (including an Event of Default), Borrowers shall pay to Agent, for the Pro Rata benefit of Lenders and as liquidated damages for loss of bargain (and not as a penalty), an amount equal to 0.50% of the Revolver Commitments being terminated if the termination occurs during the first Loan Year. No termination charge shall be payable if termination occurs in connection with a refinancing of this credit facility by Bank of America or any of its Affiliates.

2.1.5. Overadvances . If the aggregate Revolver Loans exceed the Borrowing Base (“Overadvance”) or the aggregate Revolver Commitments at any time, the excess amount shall be payable by Borrowers on demand by Agent, but all such Revolver Loans shall nevertheless constitute Obligations secured by the Collateral and entitled to all benefits of the Loan Documents. Unless its authority has been revoked in writing by Required Lenders, Agent may require Lenders to honor requests for Overadvance Loans and to forbear from requiring Borrowers to cure an Overadvance, (a) when no other Event of Default is known to Agent, as long as (i) the Overadvance does not continue for more than 30 consecutive days (and no Overadvance may exist for at least five consecutive days thereafter before further Overadvance Loans are required), and (ii) the Overadvance is not known by Agent to exceed 10% of the Borrowing Base; and (b) regardless of whether an Event of Default exists, if Agent discovers an Overadvance not previously known by it to exist, as long as from the date of such discovery the Overadvance (i) is not increased by more than $5,000,000, and (ii) does not continue for more than 30 consecutive days. In no event shall Overadvance Loans be required that would cause the outstanding Revolver Loans (including the Overadvances and any Protective Advances) and LC Obligations to exceed

 

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the aggregate Revolver Commitments, or that would cause the sum of the outstanding Overadvances known by Agent to exist plus any outstanding Protective Advances to exceed $15,000,000. Any funding of an Overadvance Loan or sufferance of an Overadvance shall not constitute a waiver by Agent or Lenders of the Event of Default caused thereby. In no event shall any Borrower or other Obligor be deemed a beneficiary of this Section nor authorized to enforce any of its terms.

2.1.6. Protective Advances . Agent shall be authorized, in its discretion, at any time that any condition in Section 6 is not satisfied, to make Base Rate Revolver Loans (“Protective Advances”) (a) up to an aggregate amount of $12,500,000 outstanding at any time, if Agent deems such Loans necessary or desirable to preserve or protect Collateral, or to enhance the collectibility or repayment of Obligations; or (b) to pay any other amounts chargeable to Obligors under any Loan Documents, including costs, fees and expenses. Each Lender shall participate in each Protective Advance on a Pro Rata basis. Required Lenders may at any time revoke Agent’s authority to make further Protective Advances by written notice to Agent. Absent such revocation, Agent’s determination that funding of a Protective Advance is appropriate shall be conclusive. In no event shall Protective Advances be required that would cause the outstanding Revolver Loans (including the Protective Advances and any Overadvances) and LC Obligations to exceed the aggregate Revolver Commitments, or that would cause the sum of the outstanding Protective Advances plus any Overadvances known by Agent to exist, to exceed $15,000,000.

2.1.7. Increases in Revolver Commitments . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement:

(a) Provided there exists no Default or Event of Default, and subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 2.1.7, on no more than 2 occasions, upon notice to Agent and Lenders, Borrowers may request an increase in the Revolver Commitments to an amount not more than $150,000,000 in the aggregate. Each Lender shall notify Agent within 10 Business Days from the date of delivery of such notice whether or not it agrees to increase its Revolver Commitment and, if so, whether by an amount equal to, greater than, or less than its Pro Rata share of such requested increase. Any Lender not responding within such time period shall be deemed to have declined to increase such Revolver Commitment. Agent shall notify Borrowers and each Lender of the Lenders’ responses to each request made hereunder. If the existing Lenders shall have declined to provide the full amount of the requested increase, to achieve the full amount of the requested increase, Agent may (in consultation with Borrowers), invite additional lending institutions that constitute Eligible Assignees to become Lenders pursuant to a joinder agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Agent and its counsel. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to obligate any Lender to increase its Revolver Commitment.

(b) If the Revolver Commitments are increased in accordance with this Section 2.1.7 , Agent and Borrowers shall determine the effective date (the “ Increase Effective Date ”), and Agent shall determine the final allocation of such increase. Agent shall promptly notify Borrowers and the Lenders of the final allocation of such increase and the Increase Effective Date. As a condition precedent to such increase, (i) the Agent shall have received amendments to this Agreement and the Loan Documents, joinder agreements, and all other promissory notes, agreements, documents and instruments requested by Agent in its discretion; and (ii) Borrowers shall (A) pay to Agent (1) for the account of the Lenders that are increasing their Revolver Commitments, a closing fee, which closing fee shall be computed on the increase in aggregate Revolver Commitments as agreed by Borrowers and such Lenders, and (2) for Agent’s own account the fees and reasonable expenses of Agent incurred in connection with such increase; and (B) deliver to Agent a certificate of each Obligor dated as of the Increase Effective Date signed by a Senior Officer or otherwise acceptable officer of such Obligor (1) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Obligor approving or consenting to such increase, and (2) in the case of Borrowers, certifying that, before and after giving effect to such increase, (x) the representations and warranties contained in Section 9 and the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Increase Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date, and (y) no Default or Event of Default exists.

 

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2.2. Intentionally Omitted .

2.3. Letter of Credit Facility .

2.3.1. Issuance of Letters of Credit . Issuing Bank agrees to issue Letters of Credit from time to time until 30 days prior to the Revolver Termination Date (or until the Commitment Termination Date, if earlier), on the terms set forth herein, including the following:

(a) Each Borrower acknowledges that Issuing Bank’s willingness to issue any Letter of Credit is conditioned upon Issuing Bank’s receipt of a LC Application with respect to the requested Letter of Credit, as well as such other instruments and agreements as Issuing Bank may customarily require for issuance of a letter of credit of similar type and amount. Issuing Bank shall have no obligation to issue any Letter of Credit unless (i) Issuing Bank receives a LC Request and LC Application at least three Business Days prior to the requested date of issuance; (ii) each LC Condition is satisfied; and (iii) if a Defaulting Lender exists, such Lender or Borrowers have entered into arrangements satisfactory to Agent and Issuing Bank to eliminate any funding risk associated with the Defaulting Lender. If Issuing Bank receives written notice from a Lender at least five Business Days before issuance of a Letter of Credit that any LC Condition has not been satisfied, Issuing Bank shall have no obligation to issue the requested Letter of Credit (or any other) until such notice is withdrawn in writing by that Lender or until Required Lenders have waived such condition in accordance with this Agreement. Prior to receipt of any such notice, Issuing Bank shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any failure of LC Conditions.

(b) Letters of Credit may be requested by a Borrower only (i) to support obligations of such Borrower incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business; or (ii) for other purposes as Agent and Lenders may approve from time to time in writing. The renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit shall be treated as the issuance of a new Letter of Credit, except that delivery of a new LC Application shall be required at the discretion of Issuing Bank.

(c) Borrowers assume all risks of the acts, omissions or misuses of any Letter of Credit by the beneficiary. In connection with issuance of any Letter of Credit, none of Agent, Issuing Bank or any Lender shall be responsible for the existence, character, quality, quantity, condition, packing, value or delivery of any goods purported to be represented by any Documents; any differences or variation in the character, quality, quantity, condition, packing, value or delivery of any goods from that expressed in any Documents; the form, validity, sufficiency, accuracy, genuineness or legal effect of any Documents or of any endorsements thereon; the time, place, manner or order in which shipment of goods is made; partial or incomplete shipment of, or failure to ship, any goods referred to in a Letter of Credit or Documents; any deviation from instructions, delay, default or fraud by any shipper or other Person in connection with any goods, shipment or delivery; any breach of contract between a shipper or vendor and a Borrower; errors, omissions, interruptions or delays in transmission or delivery of any messages, by mail, cable, telegraph, telex, telecopy, e-mail, telephone or otherwise; errors in interpretation of technical terms; the misapplication by a beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or the proceeds thereof; or any consequences arising from causes beyond the control of Issuing Bank, Agent or any Lender, including any act or omission of a Governmental Authority. The rights and remedies of Issuing Bank under the Loan Documents shall be cumulative. Issuing Bank shall be fully subrogated to the rights and remedies of each beneficiary whose claims against Borrowers are discharged with proceeds of any Letter of Credit.

(d) In connection with its administration of and enforcement of rights or remedies under any Letters of Credit or LC Documents, Issuing Bank shall be entitled to act, and shall be fully protected in acting, upon any certification, documentation or communication in whatever form believed by Issuing Bank, in good faith, to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by a

 

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proper Person, except to the extent Issuing Bank shall be grossly negligent in so doing. Issuing Bank may consult with and employ legal counsel, accountants and other experts to advise it concerning its obligations, rights and remedies, and shall be entitled to act upon, and shall be fully protected in any action taken in good faith reliance upon, any advice given by such experts, except to the extent Issuing Bank shall be grossly negligent in so doing. Issuing Bank may employ agents and attorneys-in-fact in connection with any matter relating to Letters of Credit or LC Documents, and shall not be liable for the negligence or misconduct of agents and attorneys-in-fact selected with reasonable care.

2.3.2. Reimbursement; Participations .

(a) If Issuing Bank honors any request for payment under a Letter of Credit, Borrowers shall pay to Issuing Bank, on the same day (“ Reimbursement Date ”), the amount paid by Issuing Bank under such Letter of Credit and if Borrowers fail to pay such amount on such day, Borrowers shall also pay interest in such amount at the interest rate for Base Rate Revolver Loans from the Reimbursement Date until payment by Borrowers. The obligation of Borrowers to reimburse Issuing Bank for any payment made under a Letter of Credit shall be absolute, unconditional, irrevocable, and joint and several, and shall be paid without regard to any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or the existence of any claim, setoff, defense or other right that Borrowers may have at any time against the beneficiary. Whether or not Borrower Agent submits a Notice of Borrowing, if Borrowers do not, on the Reimbursement Date, pay Issuing Bank the amount paid under the Letter of Credit, Borrowers shall be deemed to have requested a Borrowing of Base Rate Revolver Loans in an amount necessary to pay all amounts due Issuing Bank on any Reimbursement Date and each Lender agrees to fund its Pro Rata share of such Borrowing whether or not the Commitments have terminated, an Overadvance exists or is created thereby, or the conditions in Section 6 are satisfied.

(b) Upon issuance of a Letter of Credit, each Lender shall be deemed to have irrevocably and unconditionally purchased from Issuing Bank, without recourse or warranty, an undivided Pro Rata interest and participation in all LC Obligations relating to the Letter of Credit. If Issuing Bank makes any payment under a Letter of Credit and Borrowers do not reimburse such payment on the Reimbursement Date, Agent shall promptly notify Lenders and each Lender shall promptly (within one Business Day) and unconditionally pay to Agent, for the benefit of Issuing Bank, the Lender’s Pro Rata share of such payment. Upon request by a Lender, Issuing Bank shall furnish copies of any Letters of Credit and LC Documents in its possession at such time.

(c) The obligation of each Lender to make payments to Agent for the account of Issuing Bank in connection with Issuing Bank’s payment under a Letter of Credit shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, not subject to any counterclaim, setoff, qualification or exception whatsoever, and shall be made in accordance with this Agreement under all circumstances, irrespective of any lack of validity or unenforceability of any Loan Documents; any draft, certificate or other document presented under a Letter of Credit having been determined to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or the existence of any setoff or defense that any Obligor may have with respect to any Obligations. Issuing Bank does not assume any responsibility for any failure or delay in performance or any breach by any Borrower or other Person of any obligations under any LC Documents. Issuing Bank does not make to Lenders any express or implied warranty, representation or guaranty with respect to the Collateral, LC Documents or any Obligor. Issuing Bank shall not be responsible to any Lender for any recitals, statements, information, representations or warranties contained in, or for the execution, validity, genuineness, effectiveness or enforceability of any LC Documents; the validity, genuineness, enforceability, collectibility, value or sufficiency of any Collateral or the perfection of any Lien therein; or the assets, liabilities, financial condition, results of operations, business, creditworthiness or legal status of any Obligor.

(d) No Issuing Bank Indemnitee shall be liable to any Lender or other Person for any action taken or omitted to be taken in connection with any LC Documents except as a result of its actual

 

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gross negligence or willful misconduct. Issuing Bank shall not have any liability to any Lender if Issuing Bank refrains from any action under any Letter of Credit or LC Documents until it receives written instructions from Required Lenders.

2.3.3. Cash Collateral . If any LC Obligations, whether or not then due or payable, shall for any reason be outstanding at any time (a) that an Event of Default exists, (b) that Availability is less than zero, (c) after the Commitment Termination Date, or (d) within 5 Business Days prior to the Revolver Termination Date, then Borrowers shall, at Issuing Bank’s or Agent’s request, Cash Collateralize the stated amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit and all other LC Obligations. Borrowers shall, on demand by Issuing Bank or Agent from time to time, Cash Collateralize the LC Obligations of any Defaulting Lender. If Borrowers fail to provide any Cash Collateral as required hereunder, Lenders may (and shall upon direction of Agent) advance, as Revolver Loans, the amount of the Cash Collateral required (whether or not the Commitments have terminated, an Overadvance exists or the conditions in Section 6 are satisfied).

SECTION 3. INTEREST, FEES AND CHARGES

3.1. Interest .

3.1.1. Rates and Payment of Interest .

(a) The Obligations shall bear interest (i) if a Base Rate Loan, at the Base Rate in effect from time to time, plus the Applicable Margin; (ii) if a LIBOR Loan, at LIBOR for the applicable Interest Period, plus the Applicable Margin; and (iii) if any other Obligation (including, to the extent permitted by law, interest not paid when due), at the Base Rate in effect from time to time, plus the Applicable Margin for Base Rate Revolver Loans. Interest shall accrue from the date the Loan is advanced or the Obligation is incurred or payable, until paid by Borrowers. If a Loan is repaid on the same day made, one day’s interest shall accrue.

(b) During an Insolvency Proceeding with respect to any Borrower, or during any other Event of Default if Agent or Required Lenders in their discretion so elect, Obligations shall bear interest at the Default Rate (whether before or after any judgment). Each Borrower acknowledges that the cost and expense to Agent and Lenders due to an Event of Default are difficult to ascertain and that the Default Rate is a fair and reasonable estimate to compensate Agent and Lenders for this.

(c) Interest accrued on the Loans shall be due and payable in arrears, (i) on the first day of each month; (ii) on any date of prepayment, with respect to the principal amount of Loans being prepaid; and (iii) on the Commitment Termination Date. Interest accrued on any other Obligations shall be due and payable as provided in the Loan Documents and, if no payment date is specified, shall be due and payable on demand . Notwithstanding the foregoing, interest accrued at the Default Rate shall be due and payable on demand .

3.1.2. Application of LIBOR to Outstanding Loans .

(a) Borrowers may on any Business Day, subject to delivery of a Notice of Conversion/Continuation, elect to convert any portion of the Base Rate Loans to, or to continue any LIBOR Loan at the end of its Interest Period as, a LIBOR Loan. During any Default or Event of Default, Agent may (and shall at the direction of Required Lenders) declare that no Loan may be made, converted or continued as a LIBOR Loan.

(b) Whenever Borrowers desire to convert or continue Loans as LIBOR Loans, Borrower Agent shall give Agent a Notice of Conversion/Continuation, no later than 11:00 a.m. at least three Business Days before the requested conversion or continuation date. Promptly after receiving any

 

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such notice, Agent shall notify each Lender thereof. Each Notice of Conversion/Continuation shall be irrevocable, and shall specify the amount of Loans to be converted or continued, the conversion or continuation date (which shall be a Business Day), and the duration of the Interest Period (which shall be deemed to be 30 days if not specified). If, upon the expiration of any Interest Period in respect of any LIBOR Loans, Borrowers shall have failed to deliver a Notice of Conversion/Continuation, they shall be deemed to have elected to convert such Loans into Base Rate Loans.

3.1.3. Interest Periods . In connection with the making, conversion or continuation of any LIBOR Loans, Borrowers shall select an interest period (“ Interest Period ”) to apply, which interest period shall be 30, 60, or 90 days; provided , however , that:

(a) the Interest Period shall commence on the date the Loan is made or continued as, or converted into, a LIBOR Loan, and shall expire on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at its end;

(b) if any Interest Period commences on a day for which there is no corresponding day in the calendar month at its end or if such corresponding day falls after the last Business Day of such month, then the Interest Period shall expire on the last Business Day of such month; and if any Interest Period would expire on a day that is not a Business Day, the period shall expire on the next Business Day; and

(c) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Revolver Termination Date.

3.2. Fees .

3.2.1. Unused Line Fee . Borrowers shall pay to Agent, for the Pro Rata benefit of Lenders, a fee equal to the Unused Line Margin per annum times the amount by which the Revolver Commitments (minus the Availability Block) exceed the average daily balance of Revolver Loans and stated amount of Letters of Credit during any month. Such fee shall be payable in arrears, on the first day of each month and on the Commitment Termination Date.

3.2.2. LC Facility Fees . Borrowers shall pay (a) to Agent, for the Pro Rata benefit of Lenders, a fee equal to the Applicable Margin in effect for LIBOR Revolver Loans times the average daily stated amount of Letters of Credit, which fee shall be payable monthly in arrears, on the first day of each month; (b) to Agent, for its own account, a fronting fee equal to 0.125% per annum on the stated amount of each Letter of Credit, which fee shall be payable monthly in arrears, on the first day of each month; and (c) to Issuing Bank, for its own account, all customary charges associated with the issuance, amending, negotiating, payment, processing, transfer and administration of Letters of Credit, which charges shall be paid as and when incurred. During an Event of Default, the fee payable under clause (a) shall be increased by 2% per annum.

3.2.3. Agent Fees . In consideration of Agent’s syndication of the Commitments and service as Agent hereunder, Borrowers shall pay to Agent, for its own account, the fees described in the Agent Fee Letter.

3.2.4. Other Fees . In consideration of Bank of America’s and WFF’s execution of this Agreement, Borrowers shall pay to Agent, for the account of Bank of America and WFF, the fees described in the Bank of America-WFF Fee Letter.

3.3. Computation of Interest, Fees, Yield Protection . All interest, as well as fees and other charges calculated on a per annum basis, shall be computed for the actual days elapsed, based on a year of 360 days. Each determination by Agent of any interest, fees or interest rate hereunder shall be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error. All fees shall be fully earned when due

 

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and shall not be subject to rebate, refund or proration. All fees payable under Section 3.2 are compensation for services and are not, and shall not be deemed to be, interest or any other charge for the use, forbearance or detention of money. A certificate as to amounts payable by Borrowers under Section   3.4, 3.6, 3.7, 3.9 or 5.9 , submitted to Borrower Agent by Agent or the affected Lender, as applicable, shall be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error, and Borrowers shall pay such amounts to the appropriate party within 10 days following receipt of the certificate.

3.4. Reimbursement Obligations . Borrowers shall reimburse Agent for all Extraordinary Expenses. Borrowers shall also reimburse Agent for all legal, accounting, appraisal, consulting, and other fees, costs and expenses incurred by it in connection with (a) negotiation and preparation of any Loan Documents, including any amendment or other modification thereof; (b) administration of and actions relating to any Collateral, Loan Documents and transactions contemplated thereby, including any actions taken to perfect or maintain priority of Agent’s Liens on any Collateral, to maintain any insurance required hereunder or to verify Collateral; and (c) subject to the limits of Section 10.1.1(b) , each inspection, audit or appraisal with respect to any Obligor or Collateral, whether prepared by Agent’s personnel or a third party. All legal, accounting and consulting fees shall be charged to Borrowers by Agent’s professionals at their full hourly rates, regardless of any reduced or alternative fee billing arrangements that Agent, any Lender or any of their Affiliates may have with such professionals with respect to this or any other transaction. If, for any reason (including inaccurate reporting on financial statements, a Borrowing Base Certificate, or a Compliance Certificate), it is determined that a higher Applicable Margin or Unused Line Margin should have applied to a period than was actually applied, then the proper margin shall be applied retroactively and Borrowers shall immediately pay to Agent, for the Pro Rata benefit of Lenders, an amount equal to the difference between the amount of interest and fees that would have accrued using the proper margin and the amount actually paid. All amounts payable by Borrowers under this Section shall be due on demand . If within thirty (30) days after the end of any month it is determined that a lower Applicable Margin or Unused Line Margin should have applied to the prior month than was actually applied, and Borrower Agent sends notice to Agent within such thirty (30) days, the Borrowers shall receive a credit from Agent in an amount equal to the difference between the amount actually paid for such month and the amount of interest and fees that would have accrued using the proper margin.

3.5. Illegality . If any Lender determines that any Applicable Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund LIBOR Loans, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon LIBOR, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to Agent, any obligation of such Lender to make or continue LIBOR Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to LIBOR Loans shall be suspended until such Lender notifies Agent that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon delivery of such notice, Borrowers shall prepay or, if applicable, convert all LIBOR Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such LIBOR Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such LIBOR Loans. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, Borrowers shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

3.6. Inability to Determine Rates . If Agent determines, or if Required Lenders notify Agent, for any reason in connection with a request for a Borrowing of, or conversion to or continuation of, a LIBOR Loan that (a) Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank Eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Loan, (b) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining LIBOR for the requested Interest Period, or (c) LIBOR for the requested Interest Period does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, then Agent will promptly so notify Borrower Agent and each Lender. Thereafter, the obligation of Lenders to make or maintain LIBOR Loans shall be suspended until Agent revokes such

 

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notice. Upon receipt of such notice, Borrower Agent may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of a LIBOR Loan or, failing that, will be deemed to have submitted a request for a Base Rate Loan.

3.7. Increased Costs; Capital Adequacy .

3.7.1. Change in Law . If any Change in Law (other than any Change of Law by way of imposition or increase of Reserve Percentage included in determining LIBOR) shall:

(a) impose modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement reflected in LIBOR) or Issuing Bank;

(b) subject any Lender or Issuing Bank to any Tax with respect to any Loan, Loan Document, Letter of Credit or participation in LC Obligations, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Lender or Issuing Bank in respect thereof (except for Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes covered by Section 5.9 and the imposition of, or any change in the rate of, any Excluded Tax payable by such Lender or Issuing Bank); or

(c) impose on any Lender or Issuing Bank or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting any Loan, Loan Document, Letter of Credit or participation in LC Obligations;

and the result thereof shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any LIBOR Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender or Issuing Bank of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or Issuing Bank hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender or Issuing Bank, Borrowers will pay to such Lender or Issuing Bank, as applicable, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or Issuing Bank, as applicable, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

3.7.2. Capital Adequacy . If any Lender or Issuing Bank determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or Issuing Bank or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any, regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s, Issuing Bank’s or holding company’s capital as a consequence of this Agreement, or such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s Commitments, Loans, Letters of Credit or participations in LC Obligations, to a level below that which such Lender, Issuing Bank or holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s, Issuing Bank’s and holding company’s policies with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time Borrowers will pay to such Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate it or its holding company for any such reduction suffered.

3.7.3. Compensation . Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of its right to demand such compensation, but Borrowers shall not be required to compensate a Lender or Issuing Bank for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine months prior to the date that the Lender or Issuing Bank notifies Borrower Agent of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the nine-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

 

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3.8. Mitigation . If any Lender gives a notice under Section 3.5 or requests compensation under Section 3.7 , or if Borrowers are required to pay additional amounts with respect to a Lender under Section 5.9 , then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or Affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (a) would eliminate the need for such notice or reduce amounts payable or to be withheld in the future, as applicable; and (b) would not subject the Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to it. Borrowers shall pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

3.9. Funding Losses . If for any reason (other than default by a Lender) (a) any Borrowing of, or conversion to or continuation of, a LIBOR Loan does not occur on the date specified therefor in a Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation (whether or not withdrawn), (b) any repayment or conversion of a LIBOR Loan occurs on a day other than the end of its Interest Period, or (c) Borrowers fail to repay a LIBOR Loan when required hereunder, then Borrowers shall pay to Agent its customary administrative charge and to each Lender all losses and expenses that it sustains as a consequence thereof, including loss of anticipated profits and any loss or expense arising from liquidation or redeployment of funds or from fees payable to terminate deposits of matching funds. Lenders shall not be required to purchase Dollar deposits in the London interbank market or any other offshore Dollar market to fund any LIBOR Loan, but the provisions hereof shall be deemed to apply as if each Lender had purchased such deposits to fund its LIBOR Loans.

3.10. Maximum Interest . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by Applicable Law (“maximum rate”). If Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the maximum rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Obligations or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to Borrowers. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged or received by Agent or a Lender exceeds the maximum rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee or premium rather than interest; (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof; and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

SECTION 4. LOAN ADMINISTRATION

4.1. Manner of Borrowing and Funding Revolver Loans .

4.1.1. Notice of Borrowing .

(a) Whenever Borrowers desire funding of a Borrowing of Revolver Loans, Borrower Agent shall give Agent a Notice of Borrowing. Such notice must be received by Agent no later than 11:00 a.m. (i) on the Business Day of the requested funding date, in the case of Base Rate Loans, and (ii) at least three Business Days prior to the requested funding date, in the case of LIBOR Loans. Notices received after 11:00 a.m. shall be deemed received on the next Business Day. Each Notice of Borrowing shall be irrevocable and shall specify (A) the amount of the Borrowing, (B) the requested funding date (which must be a Business Day), (C) whether the Borrowing is to be made as Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Loans, and (D) in the case of LIBOR Loans, the duration of the applicable Interest Period (which shall be deemed to be 30 days if not specified).

(b) Unless payment is otherwise timely made by Borrowers, the becoming due of any Obligations (whether principal, interest, fees or other charges, including Extraordinary Expenses, LC Obligations, Cash Collateral and Bank Product Debt) shall be deemed to be a request for Base Rate Revolver Loans on the due date, in the amount of such Obligations. The proceeds of such Revolver

 

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Loans shall be disbursed as direct payment of the relevant Obligation. In addition, Agent may, at its option, charge such Obligations against any operating, investment or other account of a Borrower maintained with Agent or any of its Affiliates.

(c) If Borrowers establish a controlled disbursement account with Agent or any Affiliate of Agent, then the presentation for payment of any check or other item of payment drawn on such account at a time when there are insufficient funds to cover it shall be deemed to be a request for Base Rate Revolver Loans on the date of such presentation, in the amount of the check and items presented for payment. The proceeds of such Revolver Loans may be disbursed directly to the controlled disbursement account or other appropriate account.

4.1.2. Fundings by Lenders . Each Lender shall timely honor its Revolver Commitment by funding its Pro Rata share of each Borrowing of Revolver Loans that is properly requested hereunder. Except for Borrowings to be made as Swingline Loans, Agent shall endeavor to notify Lenders of each Notice of Borrowing (or deemed request for a Borrowing) by 12:00 noon on the proposed funding date for Base Rate Loans or by 3:00 p.m. at least two Business Days before any proposed funding of LIBOR Loans. Each Lender shall fund to Agent such Lender’s Pro Rata share of the Borrowing to the account specified by Agent in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the requested funding date, unless Agent’s notice is received after the times provided above, in which event Lender shall fund its Pro Rata share by 11:00 a.m. on the next Business Day. Subject to its receipt of such amounts from Lenders, Agent shall disburse the proceeds of the Revolver Loans as directed by Borrower Agent. Unless Agent shall have received (in sufficient time to act) written notice from a Lender that it does not intend to fund its Pro Rata share of a Borrowing, Agent may assume that such Lender has deposited or promptly will deposit its share with Agent, and Agent may disburse a corresponding amount to Borrowers. If a Lender’s share of any Borrowing or of any settlement pursuant to Section 4.1.3(b) is not received by Agent, then Borrowers agree to repay to Agent on demand the amount of such share, together with interest thereon from the date disbursed until repaid, at the rate applicable to the Borrowing.

4.1.3. Swingline Loans; Settlement .

(a) Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, advance Swingline Loans to Borrowers, up to an aggregate outstanding amount of $15,000,000, unless the funding is specifically required to be made by all Lenders hereunder. Each Swingline Loan shall constitute a Revolver Loan for all purposes, except that payments thereon shall be made to Agent for its own account. The obligation of Borrowers to repay Swingline Loans shall be evidenced by the records of Agent and need not be evidenced by any promissory note.

(b) To facilitate administration of the Revolver Loans, Lenders and Agent agree (which agreement is solely among them, and not for the benefit of or enforceable by any Borrower) that settlement among them with respect to Swingline Loans and other Revolver Loans may take place on a date determined from time to time by Agent, which shall occur at least once each week. On each settlement date, settlement shall be made with each Lender in accordance with the Settlement Report delivered by Agent to Lenders. Between settlement dates, Agent may in its discretion apply payments on Revolver Loans to Swingline Loans, regardless of any designation by Borrower or any provision herein to the contrary. Each Lender’s obligation to make settlements with Agent is absolute and unconditional, without offset, counterclaim or other defense, and whether or not the Commitments have terminated, an Overadvance exists or the conditions in Section 6 are satisfied. If, due to an Insolvency Proceeding with respect to a Borrower or otherwise, any Swingline Loan may not be settled among Lenders hereunder, then each Lender shall be deemed to have purchased from Agent a Pro Rata participation in each unpaid Swingline Loan and shall transfer the amount of such participation to Agent, in immediately available funds, within one Business Day after Agent’s request therefor.

 

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4.1.4. Notices . Each Borrower authorizes Agent and Lenders to extend, convert or continue Loans, effect selections of interest rates, and transfer funds to or on behalf of Borrowers based on telephonic or e-mailed instructions. Borrowers shall confirm each such request by prompt delivery to Agent of a Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation, if applicable, but if it differs in any material respect from the action taken by Agent or Lenders, the records of Agent and Lenders shall govern. Neither Agent nor any Lender shall have any liability for any loss suffered by a Borrower as a result of Agent or any Lender acting upon its understanding of telephonic or e-mailed instructions from a person believed in good faith by Agent or any Lender to be a person authorized to give such instructions on a Borrower’s behalf.

4.2. Defaulting Lender . Agent may (but shall not be required to), in its discretion, retain any payments or other funds received by Agent that are to be provided to a Defaulting Lender hereunder, and may apply such funds to such Lender’s defaulted obligations or readvance the funds to Borrowers in accordance with this Agreement. The failure of any Lender to fund a Loan, to make any payment in respect of LC Obligations or to otherwise perform its obligations hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations, and no Lender shall be responsible for default by another Lender. Lenders and Agent agree (which agreement is solely among them, and not for the benefit of or enforceable by any Borrower) that, solely for purposes of determining a Defaulting Lender’s right to vote on matters relating to the Loan Documents and to share in payments, fees and Collateral proceeds thereunder, a Defaulting Lender shall not be deemed to be a “Lender” until all its defaulted obligations have been cured.

4.3. Number and Amount of LIBOR Loans; Determination of Rate . Each Borrowing of LIBOR Loans when made shall be in a minimum amount of $1,000,000, plus any increment of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. No more than 10 Borrowings of LIBOR Loans may be outstanding at any time, and all LIBOR Loans having the same length and beginning date of their Interest Periods shall be aggregated together and considered one Borrowing for this purpose. Upon determining LIBOR for any Interest Period requested by Borrowers, Agent shall promptly notify Borrowers thereof by telephone or electronically and, if requested by Borrowers, shall confirm any telephonic notice in writing.

4.4. Borrower Agent . Each Borrower hereby designates Clearwater (“ Borrower Agent ”) as its representative and agent for all purposes under the Loan Documents, including requests for Loans and Letters of Credit, designation of interest rates, delivery or receipt of communications, preparation and delivery of Borrowing Base and financial reports, receipt and payment of Obligations, requests for waivers, amendments or other accommodations, actions under the Loan Documents (including in respect of compliance with covenants), and all other dealings with Agent, Issuing Bank or any Lender. Borrower Agent hereby accepts such appointment. Agent and Lenders shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, any notice or communication (including any notice of borrowing) delivered by Borrower Agent on behalf of any Borrower. Agent and Lenders may give any notice or communication with a Borrower hereunder to Borrower Agent on behalf of such Borrower. Each of Agent, Issuing Bank and Lenders shall have the right, in its discretion, to deal exclusively with Borrower Agent for any or all purposes under the Loan Documents. Each Borrower agrees that any notice, election, communication, representation, agreement or undertaking made on its behalf by Borrower Agent shall be binding upon and enforceable against it.

4.5. One Obligation . The Loans, LC Obligations and other Obligations shall constitute one general obligation of Borrowers and (unless otherwise expressly provided in any Loan Document) shall be secured by Agent’s Lien upon all Collateral; provided , however , that Agent and each Lender shall be deemed to be a creditor of, and the holder of a separate claim against, each Borrower to the extent of any Obligations jointly or severally owed by such Borrower.

4.6. Effect of Termination . On the effective date of any termination of the Commitments, all Obligations shall be immediately due and payable, and any Borrower or any Lender may terminate its and its Affiliates’ Bank Products (including, only with the consent of Agent, any Cash Management Services). All undertakings of Borrowers contained in the Loan Documents shall survive any termination, and Agent

 

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shall retain its Liens in the Collateral and all of its rights and remedies under the Loan Documents until Full Payment of the Obligations. Notwithstanding Full Payment of the Obligations, Agent shall not be required to terminate its Liens in any Collateral unless, with respect to any damages Agent may incur as a result of the dishonor or return of Payment Items applied to Obligations, Agent receives (a) a written agreement, executed by Borrowers and any Person whose advances are used in whole or in part to satisfy the Obligations, indemnifying Agent and Lenders from any such damages; or (b) such Cash Collateral as Agent, in its discretion, deems necessary to protect against any such damages. Sections 2.3, 3.4, 3.6, 3.7, 3.9, 5.5, 5.9, 5.10 , 12, 14.2 and this Section, and the obligation of each Obligor and Lender with respect to each indemnity given by it in any Loan Document, shall survive Full Payment of the Obligations and any release relating to this credit facility.

SECTION 5. PAYMENTS

5.1. General Payment Provisions . All payments of Obligations shall be made in Dollars, without offset, counterclaim or defense of any kind, free of (and without deduction for) any Taxes, and in immediately available funds, not later than 12:00 noon on the due date. Any payment after such time shall be deemed made on the next Business Day. Any payment of a LIBOR Loan prior to the end of its Interest Period shall be accompanied by all amounts due under Section 3.9 . Any prepayment of Loans shall be applied first to Base Rate Loans and then to LIBOR Loans.

5.2. Repayment of Revolver Loans . Revolver Loans shall be due and payable in full on the Revolver Termination Date, unless payment is sooner required hereunder. Revolver Loans may be prepaid from time to time, without penalty or premium. If any Asset Disposition during any Trigger Period includes the disposition of Accounts or Inventory, then Net Proceeds equal to the greater of (a) the net book value of such Accounts and Inventory, or (b) the reduction in the Borrowing Base upon giving effect to such disposition, shall be applied to the Revolver Loans. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if an Overadvance exists, Borrowers shall, on the sooner of Agent’s demand or the first Business Day after any Borrower has knowledge thereof, repay the outstanding Revolver Loans in an amount sufficient to reduce the principal balance of Revolver Loans to the Borrowing Base.

5.3. Intentionally Omitted .

5.4. Payment of Other Obligations . Obligations other than Loans, including LC Obligations and Extraordinary Expenses, shall be paid by Borrowers as provided in the Loan Documents or, if no payment date is specified, on demand .

5.5. Marshaling; Payments Set Aside . None of Agent or Lenders shall be under any obligation to marshal any assets in favor of any Obligor or against any Obligations. If any payment by or on behalf of Borrowers is made to Agent, Issuing Bank or any Lender, or Agent, Issuing Bank or any Lender exercises a right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by Agent, Issuing Bank or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other Person, then to the extent of such recovery, the Obligation originally intended to be satisfied, and all Liens, rights and remedies relating thereto, shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred.

5.6. Post-Default Allocation of Payments .

5.6.1. Allocation . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, during an Event of Default, monies to be applied to the Obligations, whether arising from payments by Obligors, realization on Collateral, setoff or otherwise, shall be allocated as follows:

(a) first , to all costs and expenses, including Extraordinary Expenses, owing to Agent;

 

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(b) second , to all amounts owing to Agent on Swingline Loans;

(c) third , to all amounts owing to Issuing Bank on LC Obligations;

(d) fourth , to all Obligations constituting fees (excluding amounts relating to Bank Products);

(e) fifth , to all Obligations constituting interest (excluding amounts relating to Bank Products);

(f) sixth , to provide Cash Collateral for outstanding Letters of Credit;

(g) seventh , to all other Obligations, other than Bank Product Debt; and

(h) last , to Bank Product Debt.

Amounts shall be applied to each category of Obligations set forth above until Full Payment thereof and then to the next category. If amounts are insufficient to satisfy a category, they shall be applied on a pro rata basis among the Obligations in the category. Amounts distributed with respect to any Bank Product Debt shall be the lesser of the applicable Bank Product Amount last reported to Agent or the actual Bank Product Debt as calculated by the methodology reported to Agent for determining the amount due. Agent shall have no obligation to calculate the amount to be distributed with respect to any Bank Product Debt, but may rely upon written notice of the amount (setting forth a reasonably detailed calculation) from the Secured Party. In the absence of such notice, Agent may assume the amount to be distributed is the Bank Product Amount last reported to it. The allocations set forth in this Section are solely to determine the rights and priorities of Agent and Lenders as among themselves, and may be changed by agreement among them without the consent of any Obligor. This Section is not for the benefit of or enforceable by any Borrower.

5.6.2. Erroneous Application . Agent shall not be liable for any application of amounts made by it in good faith and, if any such application is subsequently determined to have been made in error, the sole recourse of any Lender or other Person to which such amount should have been made shall be to recover the amount from the Person that actually received it (and, if such amount was received by any Lender, such Lender hereby agrees to return it).

5.7. Application of Payments . The ledger balance in the main Dominion Account as of the end of a Business Day shall be applied to the Obligations at the beginning of the next Business Day, during any Trigger Period. If, as a result of such application, a credit balance exists, the balance shall not accrue interest in favor of Borrowers and, as long as no Default or Event of Default exists, such credit balance shall be remitted by Agent as soon as practicable to the Deposit Account directed by Borrower Agent in writing from time to time. Each Borrower irrevocably waives the right to direct the application of any payments or Collateral proceeds, and agrees that Agent shall have the continuing, exclusive right to apply and reapply same against the Obligations, in such manner as Agent deems advisable.

5.8. Loan Account; Account Stated .

5.8.1. Loan Account . Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual and customary practices an account or accounts (“ Loan Account ”) evidencing the Debt of Borrowers resulting from each Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit from time to time. Any failure of Agent to record anything in the Loan Account, or any error in doing so, shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligation of Borrowers to pay any amount owing hereunder. Agent may maintain a single Loan Account in the name of Borrower Agent, and each Borrower confirms that such arrangement shall have no effect on the joint and several character of its liability for the Obligations.

 

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5.8.2. Entries Binding . Entries made in the Loan Account shall constitute presumptive evidence of the information contained therein. If any information contained in the Loan Account is provided to or inspected by any Person, then such information shall be conclusive and binding on such Person for all purposes absent manifest error, except to the extent such Person notifies Agent in writing within 30 days after receipt or inspection that specific information is subject to dispute.

5.9. Taxes .

5.9.1. Payments Free of Taxes . All payments by Obligors of Obligations shall be free and clear of and without reduction for any Taxes. If Applicable Law requires any Obligor or Agent to withhold or deduct any Tax (including backup withholding or withholding Tax), the withholding or deduction shall be based on information provided pursuant to Section 5.10 and Agent shall pay the amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority. If the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, the sum payable by Borrowers shall be increased so that Agent, Lender or Issuing Bank, as applicable, receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received if no such withholding or deduction (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) had been made. Without limiting the foregoing, Borrowers shall timely pay all Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authorities.

5.9.2. Payment . Borrowers shall indemnify, hold harmless and reimburse (within 10 days after demand therefor) Agent, Lenders and Issuing Bank for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including those attributable to amounts payable under this Section) withheld or deducted by any Obligor or Agent, or paid by Agent, any Lender or Issuing Bank, with respect to any Obligations, Letters of Credit or Loan Documents, whether or not such Taxes were properly asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority, and including all penalties, interest and reasonable expenses relating thereto, as well as any amount that a Lender or Issuing Bank fails to pay indefeasibly to Agent under Section 5.10 . A certificate as to the amount of any such payment or liability delivered to Borrower Agent by Agent, or by a Lender or Issuing Bank (with a copy to Agent), shall be conclusive, absent manifest error. As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by a Borrower, Borrower Agent shall deliver to Agent a receipt from the Governmental Authority or other evidence of payment satisfactory to Agent.

5.10. Lender Tax Information .

5.10.1. Status of Lenders . Each Lender shall deliver documentation and information to Agent and Borrower Agent, at the times and in form required by Applicable Law or reasonably requested by Agent or Borrower Agent, sufficient to permit Agent or Borrowers to determine (a) whether or not payments made with respect to Obligations are subject to Taxes, (b) if applicable, the required rate of withholding or deduction, and (c) such Lender’s entitlement to any available exemption from, or reduction of, applicable Taxes for such payments or otherwise to establish such Lender’s status for withholding tax purposes in the applicable jurisdiction.

5.10.2. Documentation . If a Borrower is resident for tax purposes in the United States, any Lender that is a “United States person” within the meaning of section 7701(a)(30) of the Code shall deliver to Agent and Borrower Agent IRS Form W-9 or such other documentation or information prescribed by Applicable Law or reasonably requested by Agent or Borrower Agent to determine whether such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. If any Foreign Lender is entitled to any exemption from or reduction of withholding tax for payments with respect to the Obligations, it shall deliver to Agent and Borrower Agent, on or prior to the date on which it becomes a Lender hereunder (and from time to time thereafter upon request by Agent or Borrower Agent, but only if such Foreign Lender is legally entitled to do so), (a) IRS Form W-8BEN claiming eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party; (b) IRS Form W-8ECI; (c) IRS Form W-8IMY

 

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and all required supporting documentation; (d) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under section 881(c) of the Code, IRS Form W-8BEN and a certificate showing such Foreign Lender is not (i) a “bank” within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (ii) a “10 percent shareholder” of any Obligor within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (iii) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code; or (e) any other form prescribed by Applicable Law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in withholding tax, together with such supplementary documentation necessary to allow Agent and Borrowers to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.

5.10.3. Lender Obligations . Each Lender and Issuing Bank shall promptly notify Borrowers and Agent of any change in circumstances that would change any claimed Tax exemption or reduction. Each Lender and Issuing Bank shall indemnify, hold harmless and reimburse (within 10 days after demand therefor) Borrowers and Agent for any Taxes, losses, claims, liabilities, penalties, interest and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by or asserted against a Borrower or Agent by any Governmental Authority due to such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s failure to deliver, or inaccuracy or deficiency in, any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to this Section. Each Lender and Issuing Bank authorizes Agent to set off any amounts due to Agent under this Section against any amounts payable to such Lender or Issuing Bank under any Loan Document.

5.11. Nature and Extent of Each Borrower’s Liability .

5.11.1. Joint and Several Liability . Each Borrower agrees that it is jointly and severally liable for, and absolutely and unconditionally guarantees to Agent and Lenders the prompt payment and performance of, all Obligations and all agreements under the Loan Documents. Each Borrower agrees that its guaranty obligations hereunder constitute a continuing guaranty of payment and not of collection, that such obligations shall not be discharged until Full Payment of the Obligations, and that such obligations are absolute and unconditional, irrespective of (a) the genuineness, validity, regularity, enforceability, subordination or any future modification of, or change in, any Obligations or Loan Document, or any other document, instrument or agreement to which any Obligor is or may become a party or be bound; (b) the absence of any action to enforce this Agreement (including this Section) or any other Loan Document, or any waiver, consent or indulgence of any kind by Agent or any Lender with respect thereto; (c) the existence, value or condition of, or failure to perfect a Lien or to preserve rights against, any security or guaranty for the Obligations or any action, or the absence of any action, by Agent or any Lender in respect thereof (including the release of any security or guaranty); (d) the insolvency of any Obligor; (e) any election by Agent or any Lender in an Insolvency Proceeding for the application of Section 1111(b)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code; (f) any borrowing or grant of a Lien by any other Borrower, as debtor-in-possession under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise; (g) the disallowance of any claims of Agent or any Lender against any Obligor for the repayment of any Obligations under Section 502 of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise; or (h) any other action or circumstances that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor, except Full Payment of all Obligations.

5.11.2. Waivers .

(a) Each Borrower expressly waives all rights that it may have now or in the future under any statute, at common law, in equity or otherwise, to compel Agent or Lenders to marshal assets or to proceed against any Obligor, other Person or security for the payment or performance of any Obligations before, or as a condition to, proceeding against such Borrower. Each Borrower waives all defenses available to a surety, guarantor or accommodation co-obligor other than Full Payment of all Obligations. It is agreed among each Borrower, Agent and Lenders that the provisions of this Section 5.11 are of the essence of the transaction contemplated by the Loan Documents and that, but for such provisions, Agent and Lenders would decline to make Loans and issue Letters of Credit. Each Borrower acknowledges that its guaranty pursuant to this Section is necessary to the conduct and promotion of its business, and can be expected to benefit such business.

 

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(b) Agent and Lenders may, in their discretion, pursue such rights and remedies as they deem appropriate, including realization upon Collateral by judicial foreclosure or non-judicial sale or enforcement, without affecting any rights and remedies under this Section 5.11 . If, in taking any action in connection with the exercise of any rights or remedies, Agent or any Lender shall forfeit any other rights or remedies, including the right to enter a deficiency judgment against any Borrower or other Person, whether because of any Applicable Laws pertaining to “election of remedies” or otherwise, each Borrower consents to such action and waives any claim based upon it, even if the action may result in loss of any rights of subrogation that any Borrower might otherwise have had. Any election of remedies that results in denial or impairment of the right of Agent or any Lender to seek a deficiency judgment against any Borrower shall not impair any other Borrower’s obligation to pay the full amount of the Obligations. Each Borrower waives all rights and defenses arising out of an election of remedies, such as nonjudicial foreclosure with respect to any security for the Obligations, even though that election of remedies destroys such Borrower’s rights of subrogation against any other Person. Agent may bid all or a portion of the Obligations at any foreclosure or trustee’s sale or at any private sale, and the amount of such bid need not be paid by Agent but shall be credited against the Obligations. The amount of the successful bid at any such sale, whether Agent or any other Person is the successful bidder, shall be conclusively deemed to be the fair market value of the Collateral, and the difference between such bid amount and the remaining balance of the Obligations shall be conclusively deemed to be the amount of the Obligations guaranteed under this Section 5.11 , notwithstanding that any present or future law or court decision may have the effect of reducing the amount of any deficiency claim to which Agent or any Lender might otherwise be entitled but for such bidding at any such sale.

5.11.3. Extent of Liability; Contribution .

(a) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each Borrower’s liability under this Section 5.11 shall be limited to the greater of (i) all amounts for which such Borrower is primarily liable, as described below, and (ii) such Borrower’s Allocable Amount.

(b) If any Borrower makes a payment under this Section 5.11 of any Obligations (other than amounts for which such Borrower is primarily liable) (a “ Guarantor Payment ”) that, taking into account all other Guarantor Payments previously or concurrently made by any other Borrower, exceeds the amount that such Borrower would otherwise have paid if each Borrower had paid the aggregate Obligations satisfied by such Guarantor Payments in the same proportion that such Borrower’s Allocable Amount bore to the total Allocable Amounts of all Borrowers, then such Borrower shall be entitled to receive contribution and indemnification payments from, and to be reimbursed by, each other Borrower for the amount of such excess, pro rata based upon their respective Allocable Amounts in effect immediately prior to such Guarantor Payment. The “ Allocable Amount ” for any Borrower shall be the maximum amount that could then be recovered from such Borrower under this Section 5.11 without rendering such payment voidable under Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code or under any applicable state fraudulent transfer or conveyance act, or similar statute or common law.

(c) Nothing contained in this Section 5.11 shall limit the liability of any Borrower to pay Loans made directly or indirectly to that Borrower (including Loans advanced to any other Borrower and then re-loaned or otherwise transferred to, or for the benefit of, such Borrower), LC Obligations relating to Letters of Credit issued to support such Borrower’s business, and all accrued interest, fees, expenses and other related Obligations with respect thereto, for which such Borrower shall be primarily liable for all purposes hereunder. Agent and Lenders shall have the right, at any time in their discretion, to condition Loans and Letters of Credit upon a separate calculation of borrowing availability for each Borrower and to restrict the disbursement and use of such Loans and Letters of Credit to such Borrower.

 

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5.11.4. Joint Enterprise . Each Borrower has requested that Agent and Lenders make this credit facility available to Borrowers on a combined basis, in order to finance Borrowers’ business most efficiently and economically. Borrowers’ business is a mutual and collective enterprise, and Borrowers believe that consolidation of their credit facility will enhance the borrowing power of each Borrower and ease the administration of their relationship with Lenders, all to the mutual advantage of Borrowers. Borrowers acknowledge and agree that Agent’s and Lenders’ willingness to extend credit to Borrowers and to administer the Collateral on a combined basis, as set forth herein, is done solely as an accommodation to Borrowers and at Borrowers’ request.

5.11.5. Subordination . Each Borrower hereby subordinates any claims, including any rights at law or in equity to payment, subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution, indemnification or set off, that it may have at any time against any other Obligor, howsoever arising, to the Full Payment of all Obligations.

SECTION 6. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

6.1. Conditions Precedent to Initial Loans . In addition to the conditions set forth in Section 6.2 , Lenders shall not be required to fund any requested Loan, issue any Letter of Credit, or otherwise extend credit to Borrowers hereunder, until the date (“ Closing Date ”) that each of the following conditions has been satisfied:

(a) Notes shall have been executed by Borrowers and delivered to each Lender that requests issuance of a Note. Each other Loan Document shall have been duly executed and delivered to Agent by each of the signatories thereto, and each Obligor shall be in compliance with all terms thereof.

(b) Agent shall have received acknowledgments of all filings or recordations necessary to perfect its Liens in the Collateral, as well as UCC and Lien searches and other evidence satisfactory to Agent that such Liens are the only Liens upon the Collateral, except Permitted Liens.

(c) Agent shall have received duly executed agreements establishing each Dominion Account and related lockbox, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent.

(d) Agent shall have received certificates, in form and substance satisfactory to it, from a knowledgeable Senior Officer of each Borrower certifying that, after giving effect to the initial Loans and transactions hereunder, (i) such Borrower is Solvent; (ii) no Default or Event of Default exists; (iii) the representations and warranties set forth in Section 9 are true and correct; and (iv) such Borrower has complied with all agreements and conditions to be satisfied by it under the Loan Documents.

(e) Agent shall have received a certificate of a duly authorized officer of each Obligor, certifying (i) that attached copies of such Obligor’s Organic Documents are true and complete, and in full force and effect, without amendment except as shown; (ii) that an attached copy of resolutions authorizing execution and delivery of the Loan Documents is true and complete, and that such resolutions are in full force and effect, were duly adopted, have not been amended, modified or revoked, and constitute all resolutions adopted with respect to this credit facility; and (iii) to the title, name and signature of each Person authorized to sign the Loan Documents. Agent may conclusively rely on this certificate until it is otherwise notified by the applicable Obligor in writing.

(f) Agent shall have received a written opinion of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent.

(g) Agent shall have received copies of the charter documents of each Obligor, certified by the Secretary of State or other appropriate official of such Obligor’s jurisdiction of organization. Agent shall have received good standing certificates for each Obligor, issued by the Secretary of State or other appropriate official of such Obligor’s jurisdiction of organization and each jurisdiction where such Obligor’s conduct of business or ownership of Property necessitates qualification.

 

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(h) Agent shall have received copies of policies or certificates of insurance for the insurance policies carried by Borrowers, all in compliance with the Loan Documents, together with endorsements naming Agent as lender loss payee or additional insured, as appropriate, each in form and substance satisfactory to Agent.

(i) Agent shall have completed its business, financial and legal due diligence of Obligors, including a roll-forward of its previous field examination, with results satisfactory to Agent. No material adverse change in the business, operations, Properties, prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of any Obligor or in the quality, quantity or value of any Collateral shall have occurred since December 31, 2007.

(j) Borrowers shall have paid all fees and expenses to be paid to Agent and Lenders on the Closing Date.

(k) Agent shall have received, each in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, (i) a pro forma balance sheet of Borrowers dated as of the Closing Date and giving effect to the consummation of the Spin-Off and the retention of the Potlatch Indebtedness, (ii) financial projections of the Borrowers, evidencing each Borrower’s ability to comply with the financial covenants set forth herein, and (c) interim financial statements for the Borrowers as of a date not more than 30 days prior to the Closing Date.

(l) Agent shall have received duly executed copies of the Spin-Off Documents, the terms and conditions of which shall be satisfactory to Agent.

(m) Agent shall have received all documents, instruments and other agreements related to or executed in connection with the Potlatch Indebtedness, the terms and conditions of which shall be satisfactory to Agent.

(n) Agent shall have received evidence, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, that (i) the “Separation” (as defined in the Separation Agreement) shall have occurred, (ii) Clearwater and its Subsidiaries have taken all actions and proceedings required by the Separation Agreement, applicable law and regulation for the “Distribution” (as defined in the Separation Agreement) to occur, and (iii) no further action on the part of any Person or Governmental Authority shall be necessary for the consummation of Spin-Off, other than the transfer by Clearwater of $50,000,000 to Retainco prior to the “Distribution” (as defined in the Separation Agreement).

(o) There shall exist no action, suit, investigation, litigation or proceeding pending or threatened in any court or before any arbitrator or governmental instrumentality that in Agent’s good faith judgment (i) could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on any Borrower’s business, assets, properties, liabilities, operations, condition or prospects, or could impair any Borrower’s ability to perform satisfactorily under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; or (ii) could reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect this Agreement, the Spin-Off Documents, or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

(p) No terms of Sections 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11 have been violated between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date.

(q) The Intercreditor Agreement shall have been duly executed and delivered to Agent by each of the signatories thereto, and be in form and substance satisfactory to each Lender in their sole discretion.

(r) Agent shall have received a Borrowing Base Certificate prepared as of the

 

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Closing Date. Upon giving effect to the initial funding of Loans and issuance of Letters of Credit, and the payment by Borrowers of all fees and expenses incurred in connection herewith as well as any payables stretched beyond their customary payment practices, Availability shall be at least $50,000,000.

(s) The initial Loans hereunder shall have been funded on or before February 28, 2009.

6.2. Conditions Precedent to All Credit Extensions . Agent, Issuing Bank and Lenders shall not be required to fund any Loans, arrange for issuance of any Letters of Credit or grant any other accommodation to or for the benefit of Borrowers, unless the following conditions are satisfied:

(a) No Default or Event of Default shall exist at the time of, or result from, such funding, issuance or grant;

(b) The representations and warranties of each Obligor in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct on the date of, and upon giving effect to, such funding, issuance or grant (except for representations and warranties that expressly relate to an earlier date);

(c) All conditions precedent in any other Loan Document shall be satisfied;

(d) No event shall have occurred or circumstance exist that has or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

(e) With respect to issuance of a Letter of Credit, the LC Conditions shall be satisfied.

Each request (or deemed request) by Borrowers for funding of a Loan, issuance of a Letter of Credit or grant of an accommodation shall constitute a representation by Borrowers that the foregoing conditions are satisfied on the date of such request and on the date of such funding, issuance or grant. As an additional condition to any funding, issuance or grant, Agent shall have received such other information, documents, instruments and agreements as it deems appropriate in connection therewith.

6.3. Conditions Precedent Effectiveness of Certain Sections . Sections 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 shall not be effective until the conditions precedent in Sections 6.1 and 6.2 have been satisfied or waived, and the Lenders are prepared to fund the initial Loans (for the avoidance of doubt, at any rate such Sections shall become effective no later than the funding of the initial Loans hereunder).

SECTION 7. COLLATERAL

7.1. Grant of Security Interest .

7.1.1. To secure the prompt payment and performance of all Obligations, each Borrower hereby grants to Agent, for the benefit of Secured Parties, a continuing security interest in and Lien upon all of the following Property of such Borrower, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and wherever located:

(a) all Accounts;

(b) all Deposit Accounts;

(c) all Inventory;

(d) all supporting obligations in respect of Accounts, including letters of credit and guaranties issued in support of Accounts or Proceeds of Collateral;

 

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(e) all securities accounts to the extent of the Cash Equivalents contained therein that were derived from Accounts, Inventory or Deposit Accounts;

(f) all certificates of title, documents or instruments evidencing ownership or title to any of the Property described in Section 7.1.1(c) and (h) ;

(g) all monies, whether or not in the possession or under the control of Agent, a Lender, or a bailee or Affiliate of Agent or a Lender that were derived from or consist of any of the Property described in this Section 7.1 , and any Cash Collateral;

(h) all accessions to, substitutions for, and all replacements, products, and cash and non-cash proceeds of the foregoing, including proceeds of and unearned premiums with respect to insurance policies, and claims against any Person for loss, damage or destruction of any of the Property described in this Section 7.1 (the “ Proceeds ”); and

(i) all books and records (including customer lists, files, correspondence, tapes, computer programs, print-outs and computer records) pertaining to any of the Property described in this Section 7.1 .

7.1.2. As security for the payment of all License Rejection Liabilities, each Borrower hereby assigns to Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and grants to Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a continuing security interest in all of such Borrower’s Collateral Related Intellectual Property, whether now or hereafter owned, existing, acquired or arising and wherever now or hereafter located.

7.1.3. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 7.1 to the contrary, Agent shall not have any security interest in the $50,000,000 transferred by Clearwater to Retainco on the Closing Date in accordance with the Separation Agreement.

7.2. Lien on Deposit Accounts; Cash Collateral .

7.2.1. Deposit Accounts . To further secure the prompt payment and performance of all Obligations, each Borrower hereby grants to Agent, for the benefit of Secured Parties, a continuing security interest in and Lien upon all amounts credited to any Deposit Account of such Borrower, including any sums in any blocked or lockbox accounts or in any accounts into which such sums are swept. Each Borrower hereby authorizes and directs each bank or other depository to deliver to Agent, upon request, all balances in any Deposit Account maintained by such Borrower, without inquiry into the authority or right of Agent to make such request.

7.2.2. Cash Collateral . Any Cash Collateral may be invested, at Agent’s discretion, in Cash Equivalents, but Agent shall have no duty to do so, regardless of any agreement or course of dealing with any Borrower, and shall have no responsibility for any investment or loss. Each Borrower hereby grants to Agent, for the benefit of Secured Parties, a security interest in all Cash Collateral held from time to time and all proceeds thereof, as security for the Obligations, whether such Cash Collateral is held in a Cash Collateral Account or elsewhere. Agent may apply Cash Collateral to the payment of any Obligations, in such order as Agent may elect, as they become due and payable. Each Cash Collateral Account and all Cash Collateral shall be under the sole dominion and control of Agent. No Borrower or other Person claiming through or on behalf of any Borrower shall have any right to any Cash Collateral, until Full Payment of all Obligations.

7.3. Intentionally Omitted .

7.4. Certain After-Acquired Collateral . Borrowers shall promptly notify Agent in writing if, after the Closing Date, any Borrower obtains any interest in any Collateral consisting of Deposit

 

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Accounts, Chattel Paper, Documents, Instruments, Investment Property or Letter-of-Credit Rights and, upon Agent’s request, shall promptly take such actions as Agent deems appropriate to effect Agent’s duly perfected, first priority Lien upon such Collateral, including obtaining any appropriate possession, control agreement or Lien Waiver. If any Collateral is in the possession of a third party, at Agent’s request, Borrowers shall obtain an acknowledgment that such third party holds the Collateral for the benefit of Agent.

7.5. No Assumption of Liability . The Lien on Collateral granted hereunder is given as security only and shall not subject Agent or any Lender to, or in any way modify, any obligation or liability of Borrowers relating to any Collateral.

7.6. Further Assurances . Promptly upon request, Borrowers shall deliver such instruments, assignments, title certificates, or other documents or agreements, and shall take such actions, as Agent reasonably deems appropriate under Applicable Law to evidence or perfect its Lien on any Collateral, or otherwise to give effect to the intent of this Agreement. Each Borrower authorizes Agent to file any financing statement that Agent deems reasonably desirable to preserve and perfect Agent’s security interest in the Collateral of such Borrower, and ratifies any action taken by Agent before the Closing Date to effect or perfect its Lien on any Collateral.

SECTION 8. COLLATERAL ADMINISTRATION

8.1. Borrowing Base Certificates . By the 20th day of each month, Borrowers shall deliver to Agent (and Agent shall promptly deliver same to Lenders) a Borrowing Base Certificate prepared as of the close of business of the previous month, and at such other times as Agent may request; provided that during any Trigger Period, Borrowers shall be required to deliver to Agent weekly Borrowing Base Certificates by the second Business Day of each week which begins during such Trigger Period. All calculations of Availability in any Borrowing Base Certificate shall originally be made by Borrowers and certified by a Senior Officer, provided that Agent may from time to time review and adjust any such calculation (a) to reflect its reasonable estimate of declines in value of any Collateral, due to collections received in the Dominion Account or otherwise; (b) to adjust advance rates to reflect changes in dilution, quality, mix and other factors affecting Collateral; and (c) to the extent the calculation is not made in accordance with this Agreement or does not accurately reflect the Availability Reserve.

8.2. Administration of Accounts .

8.2.1. Records and Schedules of Accounts . Each Borrower shall keep accurate and complete records of its Accounts, including all payments and collections thereon, and shall submit to Agent sales, collection, reconciliation and other reports in form satisfactory to Agent, on such periodic basis as Agent may request. Each Borrower shall also provide to Agent, on or before the 20th day of each month, a detailed aged trial balance of all Accounts as of the end of the preceding month, specifying each Account’s Account Debtor name, amount, invoice date and due date, showing any credit, authorized return or dispute, and upon request by Agent, including such proof of delivery, copies of invoices and invoice registers, copies of related documents, repayment histories, status reports and other information as Agent may reasonably request. If Accounts in an aggregate face amount of $5,000,000 or more cease to be Eligible Accounts other than as a result of payment thereof, Borrowers shall notify Agent of such occurrence promptly (and in any event within one Business Day) after any Borrower has knowledge thereof. Upon request by Agent, each Borrower shall provide to Agent a listing of each Account Debtor’s address.

8.2.2. Taxes . If an Account of any Borrower includes a charge for any Taxes and an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, Agent is authorized, in its discretion, to pay the amount thereof to the proper taxing authority for the account of such Borrower and to charge Borrowers therefor; provided , however , that neither Agent nor Lenders shall be liable for any Taxes that may be due from Borrowers or with respect to any Collateral.

 

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8.2.3. Account Verification . Whether or not a Default or Event of Default exists, Agent shall have the right at any time, in the name of Agent, any designee of Agent or any Borrower, to verify the validity, amount or any other matter relating to any Accounts of Borrowers by mail, telephone or otherwise. Borrowers shall cooperate fully with Agent in an effort to facilitate and promptly conclude any such verification process. Agent shall give Borrower Agent notice after any such verification; provided , however , that the failure by Agent to provide Borrower Agent such notice shall not give rise to any liability on its part or adversely affect any of the relative rights or obligations of Agent or any Obligor as provided herein.

8.2.4. Maintenance of Dominion Account . Borrowers shall maintain Dominion Accounts with Bank of America pursuant to lockbox or other arrangements acceptable to Agent. Borrowers shall obtain an agreement (in form and substance satisfactory to Agent) from each lockbox servicer and Dominion Account bank, establishing Agent’s control over and Lien in the lockbox or Dominion Account, which may be exercised by Agent during any Trigger Period, requiring immediate deposit of all remittances received in the lockbox to a Dominion Account, and waiving offset rights of such servicer or bank, except for customary administrative charges. Agent and Lenders assume no responsibility to Borrowers for any lockbox arrangement or Dominion Account, including any claim of accord and satisfaction or release with respect to any Payment Items accepted by any bank.

8.2.5. Proceeds of Collateral . Borrowers shall request in writing and otherwise take all necessary steps to ensure that all payments on Accounts or otherwise relating to Collateral are made directly to a Dominion Account (or a lockbox relating to a Dominion Account). If any Borrower or Subsidiary receives cash or Payment Items with respect to any Collateral, it shall hold same in trust for Agent and promptly (not later than the next Business Day) deposit same into a Dominion Account.

8.3. Administration of Inventory .

8.3.1. Records and Reports of Inventory . Each Borrower shall keep accurate and complete records of its Inventory, including costs and daily withdrawals and additions, and shall submit to Agent inventory and reconciliation reports in form satisfactory to Agent, on such periodic basis as Agent may request. Each Borrower shall conduct a physical inventory at least once per calendar year (and on a more frequent basis if requested by Agent when an Event of Default exists) and periodic cycle counts consistent with historical practices, and shall provide to Agent a report based on each such inventory and count promptly upon completion thereof, together with such supporting information as Agent may request. Agent may participate in and observe each physical count.

8.3.2. Returns of Inventory . No Borrower shall return any Inventory to a supplier, vendor or other Person, whether for cash, credit or otherwise, unless (a) such return is in the Ordinary Course of Business; (b) no Default, Event of Default or Overadvance exists or would result therefrom; (c) Agent is promptly notified if the aggregate Value of all Inventory returned in any month exceeds $3,000,000; and (d) any payment received by a Borrower for a return during any Trigger Period is promptly remitted to Agent for application to the Obligations.

8.3.3. Maintenance . Each Borrower shall take all steps to assure that all Inventory it produces is produced in accordance with Applicable Law, including the FLSA. Borrowers shall use, store and maintain all Inventory with reasonable care and caution, in accordance with applicable standards of any insurance and in conformity with all Applicable Law, and shall make current rent payments (within applicable grace periods provided for in leases) at all locations where any Collateral is located.

8.4. Condition of Equipment . The Equipment necessary for the continued operation of Borrowers’ business is in good operating condition and repair, and all necessary replacements and repairs have been made so that Borrowers can continue the operation of their business.

 

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8.5. Administration of Deposit Accounts . Schedule 8.5 sets forth all Deposit Accounts maintained by Borrowers, including all Dominion Accounts. Each Borrower shall take all actions necessary to establish Agent’s control of each such Deposit Account (other than an account exclusively used for payroll, payroll taxes or employee benefits). A Borrower shall be the sole account holder of each Deposit Account and shall not allow any other Person (other than Agent) to have control over a Deposit Account or any Property deposited therein. Each Borrower shall promptly notify Agent of any opening or closing of a Deposit Account and, with the consent of Agent, will amend Schedule 8.5 to reflect same.

8.6. General Provisions .

8.6.1. Location of Collateral . All tangible items of Collateral, other than Inventory in transit or located with customers, shall at all times be kept by Borrowers at the business locations set forth in Schedule 8.6.1 , except that Borrowers may (a) make sales or other dispositions of Collateral in accordance with Section 10.2.6 ; and (b) move Collateral to another location in the United States, upon 30 Business Days’ prior written notice to Agent.

8.6.2. Insurance of Collateral; Condemnation Proceeds .

(a) Each Borrower shall maintain insurance with respect to the Collateral, covering casualty, hazard, theft, malicious mischief, flood and other risks, in amounts, with endorsements and with insurers (with a Best Rating of at least A7, unless otherwise approved by Agent) satisfactory to Agent. All proceeds under each policy shall be payable to Agent with respect to the Collateral. From time to time upon request, Borrowers shall deliver to Agent the originals or certified copies of its insurance policies and updated flood plain searches. Unless Agent shall agree otherwise, each policy shall include satisfactory endorsements (i) showing Agent as lender loss payee; (ii) requiring 30 days’ prior written notice to Agent in the event of cancellation of the policy for any reason whatsoever; and (iii) specifying that the interest of Agent shall not be impaired or invalidated by any act or neglect of any Borrower or the owner of the Property, nor by the occupation of the premises for purposes more hazardous than are permitted by the policy. If any Borrower fails to provide and pay for any insurance, Agent may, at its option, but shall not be required to, procure the insurance and charge Borrowers therefor. While no Event of Default exists, Borrowers may settle, adjust or compromise any insurance claim, as long as the proceeds are delivered to Agent in accordance with Section 8.6.2(b) . If an Event of Default exists, only Agent shall be authorized to settle, adjust and compromise any claims involving any Collateral.

(b) Any proceeds of insurance relating to the Collateral and any awards arising from condemnation of any Collateral shall be paid to Agent. Any such proceeds or awards that relate to Inventory shall be applied to payment of the Revolver Loans, and then to any other Obligations outstanding.

8.6.3. Protection of Collateral . All expenses of protecting, storing, warehousing, insuring, handling, maintaining and shipping any Collateral, all Taxes payable with respect to any Collateral (including any sale thereof), and all other payments required to be made by Agent to any Person to realize upon any Collateral following the occurrence of an Event of Default or to prevent any Default or Event of Default, shall be borne and paid by Borrowers. Agent shall not be liable or responsible in any way for the safekeeping of any Collateral, for any loss or damage thereto (except for reasonable care in its custody while Collateral is in Agent’s actual possession), for any diminution in the value thereof, or for any act or default of any warehouseman, carrier, forwarding agency or other Person whatsoever, but the same shall be at Borrowers’ sole risk.

8.6.4. Defense of Title to Collateral . Each Borrower shall at all times defend its title to Collateral and Agent’s Liens therein against all Persons, claims and demands whatsoever, except Permitted Liens.

 

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8.7. Power of Attorney . Each Borrower hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints Agent (and all Persons designated by Agent) as such Borrower’s true and lawful attorney (and agent-in-fact) for the purposes provided in this Section. Agent, or Agent’s designee, may, without notice and in either its or a Borrower’s name, but at the cost and expense of Borrowers:

(a) Endorse a Borrower’s name on any Payment Item or other proceeds of Collateral (including proceeds of insurance) that come into Agent’s possession or control; and

(b) During an Event of Default, (i) notify any Account Debtors of the assignment of their Accounts, demand and enforce payment of Accounts by legal proceedings or otherwise, and generally exercise any rights and remedies with respect to Accounts; (ii) settle, adjust, modify, compromise, discharge or release any Accounts or other Collateral, or any legal proceedings brought to collect Accounts or Collateral; (iii) sell or assign any Accounts and other Collateral upon such terms, for such amounts and at such times as Agent deems advisable; (iv) collect, liquidate and receive balances in Deposit Accounts or investment accounts, and take control, in any manner, of proceeds of Collateral; (v) prepare, file and sign a Borrower’s name to a proof of claim or other document in a bankruptcy of an Account Debtor, or to any notice, assignment or satisfaction of Lien or similar document; (vi) receive, open and dispose of mail addressed to a Borrower, and notify postal authorities to deliver any such mail to an address designated by Agent; (vii) endorse any Chattel Paper, Document, Instrument, bill of lading, or other document or agreement relating to any Accounts, Inventory or other Collateral; (viii) use a Borrower’s stationery and sign its name to verifications of Accounts and notices to Account Debtors; (ix) use information contained in any data processing, electronic or information systems relating to Collateral; (x) make and adjust claims under insurance policies; (xi) take any action as may be necessary or appropriate to obtain payment under any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance or other instrument for which a Borrower is a beneficiary; and (xii) take all other actions as Agent deems appropriate to fulfill any Borrower’s obligations under the Loan Documents.

SECTION 9. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

9.1. General Representations and Warranties . To induce Agent and Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to make available the Commitments, Loans and Letters of Credit, each Borrower represents and warrants that:

9.1.1. Organization and Qualification . Each Borrower and Subsidiary is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization. Each Borrower and Subsidiary is duly qualified, authorized to do business and in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction where failure to be so qualified could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

9.1.2. Power and Authority . Each Obligor is duly authorized to execute, deliver and perform its Loan Documents. The execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents have been duly authorized by all necessary action, and do not (a) require any consent or approval of any holders of Equity Interests of any Obligor, other than those already obtained; (b) contravene the Organic Documents of any Obligor; (c) violate or cause a default under any Applicable Law or Material Contract; or (d) result in or require the imposition of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) on any Property of any Obligor.

9.1.3. Enforceability . Each Loan Document is a legal, valid and binding obligation of each Obligor party thereto, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally.

 

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9.1.4. Capital Structure . As of the Closing Date, Schedule 9.1.4 shows, for each Borrower and Subsidiary, its name, its jurisdiction of organization, its authorized and issued Equity Interests and, for Borrowers and Subsidiaries other than Clearwater, the holders of its Equity Interests, and all agreements binding on such holders with respect to their Equity Interests ); provided that upon request by Agent on dates after the Closing Date, Borrowers shall provide updated information with respect to the items required on Schedule 9.1.4 . Except as disclosed on Schedule 9.1.4 , in the five years preceding the Closing Date, no Borrower or Subsidiary has acquired any substantial assets from any other Person nor been the surviving entity in a merger or combination.

9.1.5. Title to Properties; Priority of Liens . Each Borrower and Subsidiary has good and marketable title to (or valid leasehold interests in) all of its Real Estate, and good title to all of its personal Property, including all Property reflected in any financial statements delivered to Agent or Lenders, in each case free of Liens except Permitted Liens. Each Borrower and Subsidiary has paid and discharged all lawful claims that, if unpaid, could become a Lien on its Properties, other than Permitted Liens. All Liens of Agent in the Collateral are duly perfected, first priority Liens, subject only to Permitted Liens that are expressly allowed to have priority over Agent’s Liens.

9.1.6. Accounts . Agent may rely, in determining which Accounts are Eligible Accounts, on all statements and representations made by Borrowers with respect thereto. Borrowers warrant, with respect to each Account at the time it is shown as an Eligible Account in a Borrowing Base Certificate, that:

(a) it is genuine and in all respects what it purports to be, and is not evidenced by a judgment;

(b) it arises out of a completed, bona fide sale and delivery of goods or rendition of services in the Ordinary Course of Business, and substantially in accordance with any purchase order, contract or other document relating thereto;

(c) it is for a sum certain, maturing as stated in the invoice covering such sale or rendition of services, a copy of which has been furnished or is available to Agent on request;

(d) it is not subject to any offset, Lien (other than Agent’s Lien), deduction, defense, dispute, counterclaim or other adverse condition except as arising in the Ordinary Course of Business and disclosed to Agent; and it is absolutely owing by the Account Debtor, without contingency in any respect;

(e) no purchase order, agreement, document or Applicable Law restricts assignment of the Account to Agent (regardless of whether, under the UCC, the restriction is ineffective), and the applicable Borrower is the sole payee or remittance party shown on the invoice;

(f) no extension, compromise, settlement, modification, credit, deduction or return has been authorized with respect to the Account, except discounts or allowances granted in the Ordinary Course of Business for prompt payment that are reflected on the face of the invoice related thereto and in the reports submitted to Agent hereunder; and

(g) to the best of Borrowers’ knowledge, (i) there are no facts or circumstances that are reasonably likely to impair the enforceability or collectibility of such Account; (ii) the Account Debtor had the capacity to contract when the Account arose, continues to meet the applicable Borrower’s customary credit standards, is Solvent, is not contemplating or subject to an Insolvency Proceeding, and has not failed, or suspended or ceased doing business; and (iii) there are no proceedings or actions threatened or pending against any Account Debtor that could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Account Debtor’s financial condition.

 

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9.1.7. Financial Statements . The consolidated and consolidating balance sheets, and related statements of income, cash flow and shareholder’s equity, of Borrowers and Subsidiaries that have been and are hereafter delivered to Agent and Lenders, are prepared in accordance with GAAP, and fairly present the financial positions and results of operations of Borrowers and Subsidiaries at the dates and for the periods indicated, subject to, in the case of unaudited financial statements, changes resulting from audit, normal year end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes. All projections delivered from time to time to Agent and Lenders have been prepared in good faith, based on reasonable assumptions in light of the circumstances at such time, it being understood that forecasts and projections are subject to uncertainties and contingencies and no assurance can be given that any forecast or projection will be realized. Since December 31, 2007, there has been no change in the condition, financial or otherwise, of any Borrower or Subsidiary that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No financial statement delivered to Agent or Lenders at any time contains any untrue statement of a material fact, nor fails to disclose any material fact necessary to make such statement not materially misleading. Each Borrower and Subsidiary is Solvent.

9.1.8. Surety Obligations . No Borrower or Subsidiary is obligated as surety or indemnitor under any bond or other contract that assures payment or performance of any obligation of any Person, except as permitted hereunder.

9.1.9. Taxes . Each Borrower and Subsidiary has filed all federal, state and local tax returns and other reports that it is required by law to file, and has paid, or made provision for the payment of, all Taxes upon it, its income and its Properties that are due and payable, except to the extent being Properly Contested. The provision for Taxes on the books of each Borrower and Subsidiary is adequate for all years not closed by applicable statutes, and for its current Fiscal Year.

9.1.10. Brokers . There are no brokerage commissions, finder’s fees or investment banking fees payable in connection with any transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents.

9.1.11. Intellectual Property . Each Borrower and Subsidiary owns or has the lawful right to use all Intellectual Property necessary for the conduct of its business, without conflict with any rights of others. There is no pending or, to any Borrower’s knowledge, threatened Intellectual Property Claim with respect to any Borrower, any Subsidiary or any of their Property (including any Intellectual Property). Except as disclosed on Schedule 9.1.11 (as the same may be updated in writing by Borrowers from time to time after the Closing Date), no Borrower or Subsidiary pays or owes any Royalty or other compensation to any Person with respect to any Collateral Related Intellectual Property. All Collateral Related Intellectual Property and other Intellectual Property, the loss of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, owned, used or licensed by, or otherwise subject to any interests of, any Borrower or Subsidiary is shown on Schedule 9.1.11 (as the same shall be updated in writing by Borrowers after the Closing Date once each 120 days).

9.1.12. Governmental Approvals . Each Borrower and Subsidiary has, is in compliance with, and is in good standing with respect to, all Governmental Approvals necessary to conduct its business and to own, lease and operate its Properties, except where noncompliance could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All necessary import, export or other licenses, permits or certificates for the import or handling of any goods or other Collateral have been procured and are in effect, and Borrowers and Subsidiaries have complied with all foreign and domestic laws with respect to the shipment and importation of any goods or Collateral, except where noncompliance could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

9.1.13. Compliance with Laws . Each Borrower and Subsidiary has duly complied, and its Properties and business operations are in compliance, in all material respects with all Applicable Law, except where noncompliance could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There have been no citations, notices or orders of material noncompliance issued to any Borrower or Subsidiary under any Applicable Law which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Inventory has been produced by any Borrower or Guarantor in violation of the FLSA.

 

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9.1.14. Compliance with Environmental Laws . Except as disclosed on Schedule 9.1.14 , no Borrower’s or Subsidiary’s past or present operations, Real Estate or other Properties are subject to any federal, state or local investigation to determine whether any remedial action is needed to address any environmental pollution, hazardous material or environmental clean-up and any such remedial action, if determined to be required, would have a Material Adverse Effect. No Borrower or Subsidiary has received any Environmental Notice which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Borrower or Subsidiary has any contingent liability with respect to any Environmental Release, environmental pollution or hazardous material on any Real Estate now or previously owned, leased or operated by it which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

9.1.15. Burdensome Contracts . No Borrower or Subsidiary is a party or subject to any contract, agreement or charter restriction that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Borrower or Subsidiary is party or subject to any Restrictive Agreement, except as shown on Schedule 9.1.15 . No such Restrictive Agreement prohibits the execution, delivery or performance of any Loan Document by an Obligor.

9.1.16. Litigation . Except as shown on Schedule 9.1.16 , there are no proceedings or investigations pending or, to any Borrower’s knowledge, threatened against any Borrower or Subsidiary, or any of their businesses, operations, Properties, prospects or conditions, that (a) relate to any Loan Documents or transactions contemplated thereby; or (b) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect if determined adversely to any Borrower or Subsidiary. No Borrower or Subsidiary is in default with respect to any order, injunction or judgment of any Governmental Authority.

9.1.17. No Defaults . No event or circumstance has occurred or exists that constitutes a Default or Event of Default. No Borrower or Subsidiary is in default, and no event or circumstance has occurred or exists that with the passage of time or giving of notice would constitute a default, under any Material Contract or in the payment of any Borrowed Money. There is no basis upon which any party (other than a Borrower or Subsidiary) could terminate a Material Contract prior to its scheduled termination date.

9.1.18. ERISA . Except as disclosed on Schedule 9.1.18 :

(a) Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code, and other federal and state laws. Each Plan that is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the IRS with respect thereto and, to the knowledge of Borrowers, nothing has occurred which would prevent, or cause the loss of, such qualification. Each Obligor and ERISA Affiliate has made all required contributions to each Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with respect to any Plan.

(b) There are no pending or, to the knowledge of Borrowers, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan or Foreign Plan that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There has been no prohibited transaction or a breach of fiduciary duties under ERISA or applicable state or foreign law with respect to any Plan or Foreign Plan that has resulted in or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) Except as could not reasonably be expected to result in a liability of the Obligors in excess of $1,000,000, (i) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (ii) no

 

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Pension Plan has any Unfunded Pension Liability; (iii) no Obligor or ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA); (iv) no Obligor or ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Section 4201 or 4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan; and (v) no Obligor or ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.

(d) Except as could not reasonably be expected to result in a liability of the Obligors in excess of $1,000,000, with respect to any Foreign Plan, (i) all employer and employee contributions required by law or by the terms of the Foreign Plan have been made, or, if applicable, accrued, in accordance with normal accounting practices; (ii) the fair market value of the assets of each funded Foreign Plan sponsored or maintained by an Obligor or Subsidiary (a “Sponsored Foreign Plan”), the liability of each insurer for any Sponsored Foreign Plan funded through insurance, or the book reserve established for any Sponsored Foreign Plan, together with any accrued contributions, is sufficient to procure or provide for the accrued benefit obligations with respect to all current and former participants in such Sponsored Foreign Plan according to the actuarial assumptions and valuations most recently used to account for such obligations in accordance with applicable generally accepted accounting principles; and (iii) each Sponsored Foreign Plan has been registered as required, has been maintained in good standing with applicable regulatory authorities, and satisfies all requirements of Applicable Law.

9.1.19. Trade Relations . There exists no actual or threatened termination, limitation or modification of any business relationship between any Borrower or Subsidiary and any customer or supplier, or any group of customers or suppliers, who individually or in the aggregate are material to the business of such Borrower or Subsidiary. There exists no condition or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to impair the ability of any Borrower or Subsidiary to conduct its business at any time hereafter in substantially the same manner as conducted on the Closing Date.

9.1.20. Labor Relations . Except as described on Schedule 9.1.20 , no Borrower or Subsidiary is party to or bound by any collective bargaining agreement, management agreement or consulting agreement. There are no material grievances, disputes or controversies with any union or other organization of any Borrower’s or Subsidiary’s employees. To any Borrower’s knowledge, there are no asserted or threatened strikes, work stoppages or demands for collective bargaining which if occurred would have a Material Adverse Effect.

9.1.21. Payable Practices . No Borrower or Subsidiary has made any material change in its historical accounts payable practices from those in effect on the Closing Date.

9.1.22. Not a Regulated Entity . No Obligor is (a) an “investment company” or a “person directly or indirectly controlled by or acting on behalf of an investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940; or (b) subject to regulation under the Federal Power Act, the Interstate Commerce Act, any public utilities code or any other Applicable Law regarding its authority to incur Debt.

9.1.23. Margin Stock . No Borrower or Subsidiary is engaged, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock. No Loan proceeds or Letters of Credit will be used by Borrowers to purchase or carry, or to reduce or refinance any Debt incurred to purchase or carry, any Margin Stock or for any related purpose governed by Regulations T, U or X of the Board of Governors.

9.2. Complete Disclosure . No Loan Document contains any untrue statement of a material fact, nor fails to disclose any material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not materially misleading (it being understood that forecasts and projections are subject to uncertainties and

 

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contingencies and no assurance can be given that any forecast or projection will be realized). There is no fact or circumstance that any Obligor has failed to disclose to Agent in writing that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 10. COVENANTS AND CONTINUING AGREEMENTS

10.1. Affirmative Covenants . As long as any Commitments or Obligations are outstanding, each Borrower shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary to:

10.1.1. Inspections; Appraisals .

(a) Permit Agent from time to time, subject (except when a Default or Event of Default exists) to reasonable notice and normal business hours, to visit and inspect the Properties of any Borrower or Subsidiary, inspect, audit and make extracts from any Borrower’s or Subsidiary’s books and records, and discuss with its officers, employees, agents, advisors and independent accountants such Borrower’s or Subsidiary’s business, financial condition, assets, prospects and results of operations. Lenders may participate in any such visit or inspection, at their own expense. Neither Agent nor any Lender shall have any duty to any Borrower to make any inspection, nor to share any results of any inspection, appraisal or report with any Borrower. Borrowers acknowledge that all inspections, appraisals and reports are prepared by Agent and Lenders for their purposes, and Borrowers shall not be entitled to rely upon them.

(b) Reimburse Agent for all charges, costs and expenses of Agent in connection with (i) examinations of any Obligor’s books and records or any other financial or Collateral matters as Agent deems appropriate, up to four times per Loan Year; and (ii) appraisals of Inventory up to one time per Loan Year; provided , however , that if an examination or appraisal is initiated during a Default or Event of Default or while Availability is less than an amount equal to twenty percent (20%) of the then aggregate Revolver Commitments, all charges, costs and expenses therefor shall be reimbursed by Borrowers without regard to such limits. Subject to and without limiting the foregoing, Borrowers specifically agree to pay Agent’s then standard charges for each day that an employee of Agent or its Affiliates is engaged in any examination activities, and shall pay the standard charges of Agent’s internal appraisal group. This Section shall not be construed to limit Agent’s right to conduct examinations or to obtain appraisals at any time in its discretion, nor to use third parties for such purposes.

10.1.2. Financial and Other Information . Keep adequate records and books of account with respect to its business activities, in which proper entries are made in accordance with GAAP reflecting all financial transactions; and furnish to Agent and Lenders:

(a) as soon as available, and in any event within 90 days after the close of each Fiscal Year, balance sheets as of the end of such Fiscal Year and the related statements of income, cash flow and shareholders’ equity for such Fiscal Year, on consolidated and consolidating bases for Borrowers and Subsidiaries, which consolidated statements shall be audited and certified (without qualification) by a firm of independent certified public accountants of recognized standing selected by Borrowers and acceptable to Agent, and shall set forth in comparative form corresponding figures for the preceding Fiscal Year and other information acceptable to Agent;

(b) as soon as available, and in any event within 30 days after the end of each month, unaudited balance sheets as of the end of such month and the related statements of income and cash flow for such month and for the portion of the Fiscal Year then elapsed, on consolidated and consolidating bases for Borrowers and Subsidiaries, setting forth in comparative form corresponding figures for the preceding Fiscal Year and certified by the chief financial officer of Borrower Agent as prepared in accordance with GAAP and fairly presenting the financial position and results of operations for such month and period, subject to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

 

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(c) concurrently with delivery of financial statements under clauses (a) and (b) above, or more frequently if requested by Agent while a Default or Event of Default exists, a Compliance Certificate executed by the chief financial officer of Borrower Agent;

(d) concurrently with delivery of financial statements under clause (a) above, copies of all management letters and other material reports submitted to Borrowers by their accountants in connection with such financial statements;

(e) not later than 30 days prior to the end of each Fiscal Year, projections of Borrowers’ consolidated balance sheets, results of operations, cash flow and Availability for the next Fiscal Year, month by month;

(f) at Agent’s request, a listing of each Borrower’s trade payables, specifying the trade creditor and balance due, and a detailed trade payable aging, all in form satisfactory to Agent;

(g) promptly after the sending or filing thereof, copies of any proxy statements, financial statements or reports that any Borrower has made generally available to its shareholders; copies of any regular, periodic and special reports or registration statements or prospectuses that any Borrower files with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other Governmental Authority, or any securities exchange; and copies of any press releases or other statements made available by a Borrower to the public concerning material changes to or developments in the business of such Borrower;

(h) promptly after the sending or filing thereof, copies of any annual report to be filed in connection with each Plan or Foreign Plan;

(i) such other reports and information (financial or otherwise) as Agent may request from time to time in connection with any Collateral or any Borrower’s or Subsidiary’s financial condition or business; and

(j) as soon as available, and in any event within 120 days after the close of each Fiscal Year, financial statements for each Guarantor, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Sections 10.1.2(a) or (b)  shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which Borrower Agent provides Agent and each Lender with notice that such documents are posted on Clearwater’s behalf with the Securities Exchange Commission so long as: (i) Borrower Agent provides Agent and each Lender with a link to such documents; and (ii) such documents are easily accessible and printable and in a format acceptable to Agent.

10.1.3. Notices . Notify Agent and Lenders in writing, promptly after a Borrower’s obtaining knowledge thereof, of any of the following that affects an Obligor: (a) the threat or commencement of any proceeding or investigation, whether or not covered by insurance, if an adverse determination is reasonably possible and could have a Material Adverse Effect; (b) any pending or threatened labor dispute, strike or walkout, or the expiration of any material labor contract; (c) any default under or termination of a Material Contract; (d) the existence of any Default or Event of Default; (e) any judgment in an amount exceeding $1,000,000; (f) the assertion of any Intellectual Property Claim, if an adverse resolution could have a Material Adverse Effect; (g) the institution of any proceeding against a Borrower or Guarantor with respect to, or the receipt of notice by a Borrower or Guarantor of potential liability or responsibility for, any violation or asserted violation of any Applicable Law (including ERISA, OSHA, FLSA, or any Environmental Laws), if an adverse resolution could have a Material Adverse Effect; (h) any Environmental Release by a Borrower or Guarantor or on any Property owned, leased or occupied by a Borrower or Guarantor if such Environmental Release could have a Material Adverse Effect; or receipt of any Environmental Notice if an adverse resolution could have a Material Adverse Effect; (i) the occurrence of any ERISA Event; (j) the discharge of or any withdrawal or resignation by Borrowers’ independent accountants; or (k) any opening of a new office or place of business, at least 30 days prior to such opening.

 

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10.1.4. Landlord and Storage Agreements . Upon request, provide Agent with copies of all existing agreements, and promptly after execution thereof provide Agent with copies of all future agreements, between an Obligor and any landlord, warehouseman, processor, shipper, bailee or other Person that owns any premises at which any Collateral may be kept or that otherwise may possess or handle any Collateral.

10.1.5. Compliance with Laws . Comply with all Applicable Laws, including ERISA, Environmental Laws, FLSA, OSHA, Anti-Terrorism Laws, and laws regarding collection and payment of Taxes, and maintain all Governmental Approvals necessary to the ownership of its Properties or conduct of its business, unless failure to comply (other than failure to comply with Anti-Terrorism Laws) or maintain could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if any Environmental Release occurs which could have a Material Adverse Effect at or on any Properties of any Borrower or Subsidiary, it shall act promptly and diligently to investigate and report to Agent and, to the extent required by Applicable Law, all appropriate Governmental Authorities the extent of, and to make appropriate remedial action to eliminate, such Environmental Release, whether or not directed to do so by any Governmental Authority.

10.1.6. Taxes . Pay and discharge all Taxes prior to the date on which they become delinquent or penalties attach, unless such Taxes are being Properly Contested.

10.1.7. Insurance . In addition to the insurance required hereunder with respect to Collateral, maintain insurance with insurers (with a Best Rating of at least A7, unless otherwise approved by Agent) satisfactory to Agent, (a) with respect to the Properties and business of Borrowers and Subsidiaries of such type (including product liability, workers’ compensation, larceny, embezzlement, or other criminal misappropriation insurance), in such amounts, and with such coverages and deductibles as are customary for companies similarly situated; and (b) business interruption insurance in an amount not less than $20,000,000, with deductibles satisfactory to Agent.

10.1.8. Licenses . Keep each License affecting any Inventory (including the manufacture, distribution or disposition of Inventory) or any other material Property of Borrowers and Subsidiaries in full force and effect; once every 120 days, notify Agent of any modifications to any such Licenses, or entry into any new Licenses affecting any Inventory; pay all Royalties under such Licenses when due; and notify Agent of any default or breach asserted by any Person to have occurred under any such License.

10.1.9. Future Subsidiaries . Promptly notify Agent upon any Person becoming a Subsidiary and, if such Person is not a Foreign Subsidiary and Agent so requests, cause it to guaranty the Obligations in a manner satisfactory to Agent, and to execute and deliver such documents, instruments and agreements and to take such other actions as Agent shall require to evidence and perfect a Lien in favor of Agent (for the benefit of Secured Parties) on all assets of such Person which are of the same type as the Collateral, including delivery of such legal opinions, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, as it shall deem appropriate.

10.1.10. Spin-Off . Within one (1) Business Day of the Closing Date, provide Agent with evidence, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, that the “Distribution” (as defined in the Separation Agreement) has occurred.

10.2. Negative Covenants . As long as any Commitments or Obligations are outstanding, each Borrower shall not, and shall cause each Subsidiary not to:

 

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10.2.1. Permitted Debt . Create, incur, guarantee or suffer to exist any Debt, except:

(a) the Obligations;

(b) Subordinated Debt;

(c) Permitted Purchase Money Debt;

(d) Borrowed Money (other than the Obligations, Subordinated Debt and Permitted Purchase Money Debt), but only to the extent outstanding on the Closing Date and not satisfied with proceeds of the initial Loans;

(e) Bank Product Debt;

(f) subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, the Potlatch Indebtedness;

(g) Borrowed Money, the principal purpose of which is to satisfy and discharge Clearwater’s obligations under the Retained Obligations Agreement; provided that: (i) it is in an aggregate principal amount that does not exceed $175,000,000, (ii) it has a final maturity date no sooner than ninety (90) days following the Revolver Termination Date, (iii) if it is secured, it is subject to an intercreditor agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Required Lenders, (iv) no Liens are granted on any Collateral to secure it, (v) upon giving effect to it, no Default or Event of Default exists, and (vi) the proceeds are first, used to satisfy the Potlatch Indebtedness in its entirety, and second, remitted to Agent for application to the Obligations; provided , however , that no more than $50,000,000 of proceeds shall be required to be remitted to Agent under this clause (vi);

(h) Permitted Contingent Obligations;

(i) So long as upon fair and reasonable terms and no less favorable than would be obtained in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a non-Affiliate: (i) Borrowed Money of any Borrower owing to another Borrower or Guarantor, and (ii) Borrowed Money of any Guarantor owing to another Guarantor;

(j) Debt and cash management obligations in respect of netting services, automatic clearinghouse arrangements, overdraft protectors, employee credit card programs and other cash management an similar arrangements, in the Ordinary Course of Business;

(k) Debt arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the Ordinary Course of Business or other cash management services in the Ordinary Course of Business;

(l) Debt with respect to deferred compensation to employees of Borrowers and Subsidiaries in the Ordinary Course of Business;

(m) subject to the aggregate cap on Permitted Acquisitions, as set forth in clause (g) of the definition thereof, earn-out obligations, working capital adjustments, purchase price and similar adjustments and indemnification obligations under the agreements entered into in connection with any Permitted Acquisition;

(n) Refinancing Debt as long as each Refinancing Condition is satisfied; and

(o) Debt (other than Borrowed Money) consisting of retirement liabilities incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business; and

 

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(p) Debt that is not included in any of the preceding clauses of this Section, is not secured by a Lien and does not exceed $10,000,000 in the aggregate at any time.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 10.2.1, in the event that an item of Debt meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Debt described in clause (a) through (o) above, Borrowers may, in their sole discretion, classify and reclassify or later divide, classify or reclassify such item of Debt (or any portion thereof) and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Debt in one or more of the above clauses.

10.2.2. Permitted Liens . Create or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its Property, except the following (collectively, “ Permitted Liens ”):

(a) Liens in favor of Agent;

(b) Purchase Money Liens securing Permitted Purchase Money Debt;

(c) Liens for Taxes not yet due or being Properly Contested;

(d) statutory Liens (including statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics and materialmen and other Liens imposed by law, but excluding Liens for Taxes or imposed under ERISA) arising in the Ordinary Course of Business, but only if (i) payment of the obligations secured thereby is not yet due or is being Properly Contested, and (ii) such Liens do not materially impair the value or use of the Property or materially impair operation of the business of any Borrower or Subsidiary;

(e) statutory Liens of suppliers imposed by law or pursuant to customary reservations or retentions of title provided that: (i) such Liens do not attach to Collateral with a value of more than $250,000 at any time, (ii) such Liens arise in the Ordinary Course of Business, and (iii) any such Liens are not perfected and are subordinated under law to the Liens in favor of Agent;

(f) Liens incurred or deposits made in the Ordinary Course of Business to secure the performance of tenders, bids, leases, contracts (except those relating to Borrowed Money), statutory obligations and other similar obligations, or arising as a result of progress payments under government contracts, as long as such Liens are at all times junior to Agent’s Liens;

(g) Liens arising in the Ordinary Course of Business that are subject to Lien Waivers;

(h) Liens arising by virtue of a judgment or judicial order against any Borrower or Subsidiary, or any Property of a Borrower or Subsidiary, as long as such Liens are (i) in existence for less than 20 consecutive days or being Properly Contested, and (ii) at all times junior to Agent’s Liens;

(i) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, covenants or other agreements of record, and other similar charges or encumbrances on Real Estate, that do not secure any monetary obligation and do not interfere with the Ordinary Course of Business;

(j) normal and customary rights of setoff upon deposits in favor of depository institutions, and Liens of a collecting bank on Payment Items in the course of collection;

(k) subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, Liens securing the Potlatch Indebtedness;

(l) existing Liens shown on Schedule 10.2.2 ;

 

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(m) leases or subleases of Real Estate granted to others not interfering in any material respect with the business of any Borrower or Subsidiary;

(n) any interest of title of a lessor under, and Liens arising from UCC financing statements (or equivalent filings, registrations or agreements in foreign jurisdictions) relating to, leases permitted by this Agreement;

(o) Liens arising in the Ordinary Course of Business in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods (it being understood that any Inventory subject to such Liens shall not constitute Eligible Inventory);

(p) Liens of a collection bank arising under Section 4208 of the UCC on items in the course of collection;

(q) Liens imposed on the Potlatch Escrow Account to secure the obligations of Clearwater to Potlatch under the Retained Obligation Agreement and to the financial institution at which such account is established; and

(r) any extension, renewal or replacement, in whole or in part, of any Lien described in the foregoing clauses (a) through (q); provided that any such extension, renewal or replacement shall be no more restrictive in any material respect than the Lien extended, renewed or replaced and shall not extend to any other Property of Borrowers or Subsidiaries other than such item of Property originally covered by such Lien or by improvement thereof or additions or accessions thereto.

10.2.3. Capital Expenditures . Make Capital Expenditures in excess of the greater of, for a Fiscal Year: (a) (i) $25,000,000 in the aggregate during the 2008 Fiscal Year, (ii) $35,000,000 in the aggregate during the 2009 Fiscal Year, (iii) $35,000,000 in the aggregate during the 2010 Fiscal Year, (iv) $40,000,000 in the aggregate during the 2011 Fiscal Year or (v) $40,000,000 in the aggregate during the 2012 Fiscal Year, or (b) the depreciation Borrowers record on their books and records for such Fiscal Year; provided , however , that if the amount of Capital Expenditures permitted to be made in any Fiscal Year exceeds the amount actually made, up to $5,000,000 of such excess may be carried forward to the next Fiscal Year.

10.2.4. Distributions; Upstream Payments . (a) Declare or make any Distributions, except: (i) the distribution by Clearwater of Retainco to Potlatch in accordance with the terms of the Separation Agreement; (ii) Upstream Payments; (iii) repurchases of Equity Interests of Borrowers owned by former, present of future employees, officers and directors of Borrowers or Subsidiaries or their assigns, estates and heirs, so long as: (A) the agreements setting forth such repurchase obligations were entered into by the applicable Borrower prior to the Spin-Off; (B) the Revolver Commitments have not been terminated; (C) to the extent a Default or Event of Default exists before or after giving effect to any such repurchase, the amount of such repurchase does not exceed the amount of the Repurchase Reserve then in effect; and (D) the aggregate amount of all such repurchases does not exceed $1,000,000; and (iv) Clearwater may pay dividends to its shareholders or repurchase Equity Interests from its shareholders, in each case if (A) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, and (B) Modified Availability after giving effect to any such dividend or repurchase is not less than $45,000,000; or (b) create or suffer to exist any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of a Subsidiary to make any Upstream Payment, except for restrictions under the Loan Documents, under Applicable Law or in effect on the Closing Date as shown on Schedule 9.1.15 .

10.2.5. Restricted Investments . Make any Restricted Investment.

10.2.6. Disposition of Assets . Make any Asset Disposition, except a Permitted Asset Disposition.

 

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10.2.7. Loans . Make any loans or other advances of money to any Person, except (a) advances to an officer or employee for salary, travel, relocation and other expenses, commissions and similar items in the Ordinary Course of Business; (b) prepaid expenses and extensions of trade credit made in the Ordinary Course of Business; (c) deposits with financial institutions permitted hereunder; and (d) as long as no Default or Event of Default exists, intercompany loans by a Borrower to another Borrower.

10.2.8. Restrictions on Payment of Certain Debt . Make any payments (whether voluntary or mandatory, or a prepayment, redemption, retirement, defeasance or acquisition) with respect to (a) any Subordinated Debt, except regularly scheduled payments of principal, interest and fees, but only to the extent permitted under any subordination agreement relating to such Debt (and a Senior Officer of Borrower Agent shall certify to Agent, not less than five Business Days prior to the date of payment, that all conditions under such agreement have been satisfied); (b) any Borrowed Money (other than the Obligations and the Potlatch Indebtedness) prior to its due date under the agreements evidencing such Debt as in effect on the Closing Date (or as amended thereafter with the consent of Agent) unless permitted under Section 10.2.1(n) ; or (c) the Potlatch Indebtedness unless such repayment is made with the proceeds of (i) Debt permitted under Section 10.2.1(g) ; (ii) an Asset Disposition permitted under clause (g) of the definition of Permitted Asset Disposition; or (iii) an issuance of Equity Interests by Clearwater not otherwise prohibited under the terms of this Agreement.

10.2.9. Fundamental Changes . (a) Merge, combine or consolidate with any Person, or liquidate, wind up its affairs or dissolve itself, in each case whether in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, except for: (i) mergers or consolidations of a wholly-owned Subsidiary with another wholly-owned Subsidiary or into a Borrower; (ii) transactions otherwise permitted pursuant to Section 10.2.5 ; (iii) liquidation or dissolution of any Borrower (other than Clearwater) and any Subsidiary that Clearwater thereof determines in good faith that such action is in the best interest of it, the Borrowers and the Subsidiaries and is not materially disadvantageous to Agent or the Lenders so long as (A) the assets (other than any Collateral) of such Borrower or Subsidiary that are distributed as part of such liquidation or dissolution are distributed to the direct holders of the Equity Interests of such Borrower or Subsidiary on a pro rata basis; (B) any assets consisting of Collateral of such Borrower or Subsidiary are distributed to a Borrower; (C) both before and after giving effect to any such liquidation or dissolution, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and (D) Borrower Agent provides Agent with no less than thirty (30) days prior written notice of such liquidation or dissolution; and (iv) any Permitted Asset Disposition that is effected through the merger of a Subsidiary or Borrower (other than Clearwater) with a third party; or (b) change its name or conduct business under any fictitious name; change its tax, charter or other organizational identification number; or change its form or state of organization.

10.2.10. Subsidiaries . Form or acquire any Subsidiary after the Closing Date, except in accordance with Sections 10.1.9 and 10.2.5 ; or permit any existing Subsidiary to issue any additional Equity Interests except director’s qualifying shares.

10.2.11. Organic Documents . Amend, modify or otherwise change any of its Organic Documents as in effect on the Closing Date where such amendment, modification or other change would materially adversely affect the interests of Agent or the Lenders.

10.2.12. Tax Consolidation . File or consent to the filing of any consolidated income tax return with any Person other than Borrowers and Subsidiaries.

10.2.13. Accounting Changes . Make any material change in accounting treatment or reporting practices, except as required by GAAP and in accordance with Section 1.2 ; or change its Fiscal Year.

 

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10.2.14. Restrictive Agreements . Become a party to any Restrictive Agreement, except a Restrictive Agreement (a) in effect on the Closing Date; (b) relating to secured Debt permitted hereunder, as long as the restrictions apply only to collateral for such Debt; (c) constituting customary restrictions on assignment in leases and other contracts; or (d) any restrictions imposed on any Property pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into in connection with a Permitted Disposition of such Property.

10.2.15. Hedging Agreements . Enter into any Hedging Agreement, except to hedge risks arising in the Ordinary Course of Business and not for speculative purposes.

10.2.16. Conduct of Business . Engage in any business, other than its business as conducted on the Closing Date and any activities incidental thereto.

10.2.17. Affiliate Transactions . Enter into or be party to any transaction with an Affiliate, except (a) transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents; (b) payment of reasonable compensation and provisions of other reasonable benefits to officers and employees, and loans and advances permitted by Section 10.2.7 ; (c) payment of customary directors’ fees and indemnities; (d) transactions: (i) solely among Borrowers; (ii) solely among Guarantors; and (iii) solely among Subsidiaries that are not Borrowers or Guarantors; (e) transactions with Affiliates that were consummated prior to the Closing Date, as shown on Schedule 10.2.17 ; (f) transactions permitted under Section 10.2.7 ; (g) agreements and arrangements entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business with officers and employees of Borrowers in connection with termination of their employment therewith; (h) transactions contemplated in the Spin-Off Documents, (i) indemnity and reimbursement provided on behalf of directors, officers and employees of any Borrower or Subsidiary in the Ordinary Course of Business; and (j) transactions with Affiliates in the Ordinary Course of Business, upon fair and reasonable terms fully disclosed to Agent and no less favorable than would be obtained in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a non-Affiliate.

10.2.18. Plans . Become party to any Multiemployer Plan or Foreign Plan, other than any in existence on the Closing Date and other than as disclosed to Agent upon thirty (30) days’ prior written notice.

10.2.19. Amendments to Subordinated Debt; Potlatch Indebtedness . (a) Amend, supplement or otherwise modify any document, instrument or agreement relating to any Subordinated Debt, if such modification (i) increases the principal balance of such Debt, or increases any required payment of principal or interest; (ii) accelerates the date on which any installment of principal or any interest is due, or adds any additional redemption, put or prepayment provisions; (iii) shortens the final maturity date or otherwise accelerates amortization; (iv) increases the interest rate; (v) increases or adds any fees or charges; (vi) modifies any covenant in a manner or adds any representation, covenant or default that is more onerous or restrictive in any material respect for any Borrower or Subsidiary, or that is otherwise materially adverse to any Borrower, any Subsidiary or Lenders; or (vii) results in the Obligations not being fully benefited by the subordination provisions thereof, except that any acceleration or prepayment that would be prohibited under clause (ii) or (iii) and any fees or charges prohibited under clause (v) shall not be prohibited under this Section 10.2.18 where such acceleration or prepayment is made, or such fees or charges are incurred, in connection with a refinancing of such Subordinated Debt permitted under Section 10.2.1(n) ; or (b) amend, supplement or otherwise modify any document, instrument or agreement relating to the Potlatch Indebtedness without the consent of Agent.

10.3. Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio . As long as any Commitments or Obligations are outstanding, for each month ending during or immediately before any Trigger Period (each such month, a “ Subject Month ”), Borrowers shall maintain a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, when measured on a trailing twelve (12) month basis (or, in the case of any Subject Month ending prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date, when measured for the period from the Closing Date through the end of such Subject Month), of at least 1.0 to 1.0.

 

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SECTION 11. EVENTS OF DEFAULT; REMEDIES ON DEFAULT

11.1. Events of Default . Each of the following shall be an “ Event of Default ” hereunder, if the same shall occur for any reason whatsoever, whether voluntary or involuntary, by operation of law or otherwise:

(a) A Borrower fails to pay any Obligations when due (whether at stated maturity, on demand, upon acceleration or otherwise);

(b) Any representation, warranty or other written statement of a Borrower or Guarantor made in connection with any Loan Documents or transactions contemplated thereby is incorrect or misleading in any material respect when given;

(c) A Borrower breaches or fail to perform any covenant contained in Section 7.2, 8.1, 8.2.4, 8.2.5, 8.6.2 (to the extent insurance has not been maintained as required) , 10.1.1, 10.1.2, 10.2 or 10.3 ;

(d) A Borrower or Guarantor breaches or fails to perform any other covenant contained in any Loan Documents, and such breach or failure is not cured within 15 Business Days after a Senior Officer of such Borrower or Guarantor has knowledge thereof or receives notice thereof from Agent, whichever is sooner; provided , however , that such notice and opportunity to cure shall not apply if the breach or failure to perform is not capable of being cured within such period or is a willful breach by a Borrower or Guarantor;

(e) A Guarantor repudiates, revokes or attempts to revoke its Guaranty; an Obligor denies or contests the validity or enforceability of any Loan Documents or Obligations, or the perfection or priority of any Lien granted to Agent; or any Loan Document ceases to be in full force or effect for any reason (other than a waiver or release by Agent and Lenders);

(f) Any breach or default of a Borrower or Guarantor occurs under any document, instrument or agreement to which it is a party or by which it or any of its Properties is bound, relating to any Debt (other than the Obligations) in excess of $15,000,000 (including, without limitation, the Potlatch Indebtedness), if the maturity of or any payment with respect to such Debt may be accelerated or demanded due to such breach;

(g) Any judgment or order for the payment of money is entered against a Borrower or Guarantor in an amount that exceeds, individually or cumulatively with all unsatisfied judgments or orders against all Borrowers and Guarantors, $5,000,000 (net of any insurance coverage therefor acknowledged in writing by the insurer), unless: (i) a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order is in effect, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, or (ii) such judgment or order is satisfied within two (2) Business Days of it being entered;

(h) A loss, theft, damage or destruction occurs with respect to any Collateral if the amount not covered by insurance exceeds $5,000,000;

(i) A Borrower or Guarantor is enjoined, restrained or in any way prevented by any Governmental Authority from conducting any material part of its business; a Borrower or Guarantor suffers the loss, revocation or termination of any material license, permit, lease or agreement necessary to its business; there is a cessation of any material part of a Borrower or Guarantor’s business for a material period of time; any material Collateral or Property of a Borrower or Guarantor is taken or impaired through condemnation; a Borrower or Guarantor agrees to or commences any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of its affairs except as permitted in Section 10.2.9; or a Borrower or Guarantor is not Solvent;

 

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(j) An Insolvency Proceeding is commenced by a Borrower or Guarantor; a Borrower or Guarantor makes an offer of settlement, extension or composition to its unsecured creditors generally; a trustee is appointed to take possession of any substantial Property of or to operate any of the business of a Borrower or Guarantor; or an Insolvency Proceeding is commenced against a Borrower or Guarantor and such Borrower or Guarantor consents to institution of the proceeding, the petition commencing the proceeding is not timely contested by such Borrower or Guarantor, the petition is not dismissed within 30 days after filing, or an order for relief is entered in the proceeding;

(k) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of a Borrower or Guarantor to a Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or PBGC, or that constitutes grounds for appointment of a trustee for or termination by the PBGC of any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; a Borrower, Guarantor or ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan; or any event similar to the foregoing occurs or exists with respect to a Foreign Plan; except that no event or condition described in this Section 11.1(k) shall constitute an Event of Default if it, together with all other such events or conditions at the time existing, has not resulted in, and could not reasonably be expected to result in, liability to Borrowers and Guarantors in excess of $1,000,000;

(l) A Borrower or Guarantor or any of its Senior Officers is criminally indicted or convicted for (i) a felony committed in the conduct of such Borrower’s or Guarantor’s business, or (ii) violating any state or federal law (including the Controlled Substances Act, Money Laundering Control Act of 1986 and Illegal Exportation of War Materials Act) that could lead to forfeiture of any material Property or any Collateral; or

(m) A Change of Control occurs; or any event occurs or condition exists that has a Material Adverse Effect.

11.2. Remedies upon Default . If an Event of Default described in Section 11.1(j) occurs with respect to any Borrower, then to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, all Obligations shall become automatically due and payable and all Commitments shall terminate, without any action by Agent or notice of any kind. In addition, or if any other Event of Default exists, Agent may in its discretion (and shall upon written direction of Required Lenders) do any one or more of the following from time to time:

(a) declare any Obligations immediately due and payable, whereupon they shall be due and payable without diligence, presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by Borrowers to the fullest extent permitted by law;

(b) terminate, reduce or condition any Commitment, or make any adjustment to the Borrowing Base;

(c) require Obligors to Cash Collateralize LC Obligations, Bank Product Debt and other Obligations that are contingent or not yet due and payable, and, if Obligors fail promptly to deposit such Cash Collateral, Agent may (and shall upon the direction of Required Lenders) advance the required Cash Collateral as Revolver Loans (whether or not an Overadvance exists or is created thereby, or the conditions in Section 6 are satisfied); and

(d) exercise any other rights or remedies afforded under any agreement, by law, at equity or otherwise, including the rights and remedies of a secured party under the UCC. Such rights and remedies include the rights to (i) take possession of any Collateral; (ii) require Borrowers to assemble Collateral, at Borrowers’ expense, and make it available to Agent at a place designated by Agent; (iii) enter any premises where Collateral is located and store Collateral on such premises until sold (and if the premises are owned or leased by a Borrower, Borrowers agree not to charge for such storage); and (iv)

 

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sell or otherwise dispose of any Collateral in its then condition, or after any further manufacturing or processing thereof, at public or private sale, with such notice as may be required by Applicable Law, in lots or in bulk, at such locations, all as Agent, in its discretion, deems advisable. Each Borrower agrees that 10 days’ notice of any proposed sale or other disposition of Collateral by Agent shall be reasonable. Agent shall have the right to conduct such sales on any Obligor’s premises, without charge, and such sales may be adjourned from time to time in accordance with Applicable Law. Agent shall have the right to sell, lease or otherwise dispose of any Collateral for cash, credit or any combination thereof, and Agent may purchase any Collateral at public or, if permitted by law, private sale and, in lieu of actual payment of the purchase price, may set off the amount of such price against the Obligations.

11.3. License . Agent is hereby granted an irrevocable, non-exclusive and royalty-free license or other right to use, license or sub-license (without payment of royalty or other compensation to any Person) (collectively, the “ IP License ”) any or all Intellectual Property of Borrowers, computer hardware and software, trade secrets, brochures, customer lists, promotional and advertising materials, labels, packaging materials and other Property, in advertising for sale, marketing, selling, collecting, completing manufacture of, or otherwise exercising any rights or remedies with respect to, any Collateral. Each Borrower’s rights and interests under Intellectual Property shall inure to Agent’s benefit.

11.4. Setoff . At any time during an Event of Default, Agent, Issuing Bank, Lenders, and any of their Affiliates are authorized, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by Agent, Issuing Bank, such Lender or such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of a Borrower or Guarantor against any Obligations, irrespective of whether or not Agent, Issuing Bank, such Lender or such Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such Obligations may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of Agent, Issuing Bank, such Lender or such Affiliate different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness. The rights of Agent, Issuing Bank, each Lender and each such Affiliate under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Person may have.

11.5. Remedies Cumulative; No Waiver .

11.5.1. Cumulative Rights . All agreements, warranties, guaranties, indemnities and other undertakings of Borrowers under the Loan Documents are cumulative and not in derogation of each other. The rights and remedies of Agent and Lenders are cumulative, may be exercised at any time and from time to time, concurrently or in any order, and are not exclusive of any other rights or remedies available by agreement, by law, at equity or otherwise. All such rights and remedies shall continue in full force and effect until Full Payment of all Obligations.

11.5.2. Waivers . No waiver or course of dealing shall be established by (a) the failure or delay of Agent or any Lender to require strict performance by Borrowers with any terms of the Loan Documents, or to exercise any rights or remedies with respect to Collateral or otherwise; (b) the making of any Loan or issuance of any Letter of Credit during a Default, Event of Default or other failure to satisfy any conditions precedent; or (c) acceptance by Agent or any Lender of any payment or performance by an Obligor under any Loan Documents in a manner other than that specified therein. It is expressly acknowledged by Borrowers that any failure to satisfy a financial covenant on a measurement date shall not be cured or remedied by satisfaction of such covenant on a subsequent date.

 

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SECTION 12. AGENT

12.1. Appointment, Authority and Duties of Agent .

12.1.1. Appointment and Authority . Each Lender appoints and designates Bank of America as Agent hereunder. Agent may, and each Lender authorizes Agent to, enter into all Loan Documents to which Agent is intended to be a party and accept all Security Documents, for Agent’s benefit and the Pro Rata benefit of Lenders. Each Lender agrees that any action taken by Agent or Required Lenders in accordance with the provisions of the Loan Documents, and the exercise by Agent or Required Lenders of any rights or remedies set forth therein, together with all other powers reasonably incidental thereto, shall be authorized by and binding upon all Lenders. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Agent shall have the sole and exclusive authority to (a) act as the disbursing and collecting agent for Lenders with respect to all payments and collections arising in connection with the Loan Documents; (b) execute and deliver as Agent each Loan Document, including any intercreditor or subordination agreement, and accept delivery of each Loan Document from any Obligor or other Person; (c) act as collateral agent for Secured Parties for purposes of perfecting and administering Liens under the Loan Documents, and for all other purposes stated therein; (d) manage, supervise or otherwise deal with Collateral; and (e) take any Enforcement Action or otherwise exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral under the Loan Documents, Applicable Law or otherwise. The duties of Agent shall be ministerial and administrative in nature, and Agent shall not have a fiduciary relationship with any Lender, Secured Party, Participant or other Person, by reason of any Loan Document or any transaction relating thereto. Agent alone shall be authorized to determine whether any Accounts or Inventory constitute Eligible Accounts, Eligible Semi-Finished Inventory or Eligible Inventory, or whether to impose or release any reserve, and to exercise its Credit Judgment in connection therewith, which determinations and judgments, if exercised in good faith, shall exonerate Agent from liability to any Lender or other Person for any error in judgment.

12.1.2. Duties . Agent shall not have any duties except those expressly set forth in the Loan Documents. The conferral upon Agent of any right shall not imply a duty on Agent’s part to exercise such right, unless instructed to do so by Required Lenders in accordance with this Agreement.

12.1.3. Agent Professionals . Agent may perform its duties through agents and employees. Agent may consult with and employ Agent Professionals, and shall be entitled to act upon, and shall be fully protected in any action taken in good faith reliance upon, any advice given by an Agent Professional. Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agents, employees or Agent Professionals selected by it with reasonable care.

12.1.4. Instructions of Required Lenders . The rights and remedies conferred upon Agent under the Loan Documents may be exercised without the necessity of joinder of any other party, unless required by Applicable Law. Agent may request instructions from Required Lenders with respect to any act (including the failure to act) in connection with any Loan Documents, and may seek assurances to its satisfaction from Lenders of their indemnification obligations under Section 12.6 against all Claims that could be incurred by Agent in connection with any act. Agent shall be entitled to refrain from any act until it has received such instructions or assurances, and Agent shall not incur liability to any Person by reason of so refraining. Instructions of Required Lenders shall be binding upon all Lenders, and no Lender shall have any right of action whatsoever against Agent as a result of Agent acting or refraining from acting in accordance with the instructions of Required Lenders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, instructions by and consent of all Lenders shall be required in the circumstances described in Section 14.1.1 , and in no event shall Required Lenders, without the prior written consent of each Lender, direct Agent to accelerate and demand payment of Loans held by one Lender without accelerating and demanding payment of all other Loans, nor to terminate the Commitments of one Lender without terminating the Commitments of all Lenders. In no event shall Agent be required to take any action that, in its opinion, is contrary to Applicable Law or any Loan Documents or could subject any Agent Indemnitee to personal liability.

 

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12.2. Agreements Regarding Collateral and Field Examination Reports .

12.2.1. Lien Releases; Care of Collateral . Lenders authorize Agent to release any Lien with respect to any Collateral (a) upon Full Payment of the Obligations; (b) that is the subject of an Asset Disposition which Borrowers certify in writing to Agent is a Permitted Asset Disposition or a Lien which Borrowers certify is a Permitted Lien entitled to priority over Agent’s Liens (and Agent may rely conclusively on any such certificate without further inquiry); (c) that does not constitute a material part of the Collateral; or (d) with the written consent of all Lenders. Agent shall have no obligation whatsoever to any Lenders to assure that any Collateral exists or is owned by a Borrower, or is cared for, protected, insured or encumbered, nor to assure that Agent’s Liens have been properly created, perfected or enforced, or are entitled to any particular priority, nor to exercise any duty of care with respect to any Collateral.

12.2.2. Possession of Collateral . Agent and Lenders appoint each Lender as agent (for the benefit of Secured Parties) for the purpose of perfecting Liens in any Collateral held or controlled by such Lender, to the extent such Liens are perfected by possession or control. If any Lender obtains possession or control of any Collateral, it shall notify Agent thereof and, promptly upon Agent’s request, deliver such Collateral to Agent or otherwise deal with it in accordance with Agent’s instructions.

12.2.3. Reports . Agent shall promptly forward to each Lender, when complete, copies of any field audit, examination or appraisal report prepared by or for Agent with respect to any Obligor or Collateral (“ Report ”). Each Lender agrees (a) that neither Bank of America nor Agent makes any representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any Report, and shall not be liable for any information contained in or omitted from any Report; (b) that the Reports are not intended to be comprehensive audits or examinations, and that Agent or any other Person performing any audit or examination will inspect only specific information regarding Obligations or the Collateral and will rely significantly upon Borrowers’ books and records as well as upon representations of Borrowers’ officers and employees; and (c) to keep all Reports confidential and strictly for such Lender’s internal use, and not to distribute any Report (or the contents thereof) to any Person (except to such Lender’s Participants, attorneys and accountants) or use any Report in any manner other than administration of the Loans and other Obligations. Each Lender agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Agent and any other Person preparing a Report from any action such Lender may take as a result of or any conclusion it may draw from any Report, as well as from any Claims arising as a direct or indirect result of Agent furnishing a Report to such Lender.

12.3. Reliance By Agent . Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any certification, notice or other communication (including those by telephone, telex, telegram, telecopy or e-mail) believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person, and upon the advice and statements of Agent Professionals.

12.4. Action Upon Default . Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless it has received written notice from a Lender or Borrower specifying the occurrence and nature thereof. If any Lender acquires knowledge of a Default or Event of Default, it shall promptly notify Agent and the other Lenders thereof in writing. Each Lender agrees that, except as otherwise provided in any Loan Documents or with the written consent of Agent and Required Lenders, it will not take any Enforcement Action, accelerate Obligations under any Loan Documents, or exercise any right that it might otherwise have under Applicable Law to credit bid at foreclosure sales, UCC sales or other similar dispositions of Collateral. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, a Lender may take action to preserve or enforce its rights against an Obligor where a deadline or limitation period is applicable that would, absent such action, bar enforcement of Obligations held by such Lender, including the filing of proofs of claim in an Insolvency Proceeding.

12.5. Ratable Sharing . If any Lender shall obtain any payment or reduction of any Obligation, whether through set-off or otherwise, in excess of its share of such Obligation, determined on a Pro Rata basis or in accordance with Section 5.6.1 , as applicable, such Lender shall forthwith purchase from Agent, Issuing Bank and the other Lenders such participations in the affected Obligation as are necessary to cause the purchasing Lender to share the excess payment or reduction on a Pro Rata basis or

 

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in accordance with Section 5.6.1 , as applicable. If any of such payment or reduction is thereafter recovered from the purchasing Lender, the purchase shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, but without interest. No Lender shall set off against any Dominion Account without the prior consent of Agent.

12.6. Indemnification of Agent Indemnitees . EACH LENDER SHALL INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS AGENT INDEMNITEES, TO THE EXTENT NOT REIMBURSED BY OBLIGORS (BUT WITHOUT LIMITING THE INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS OF OBLIGORS UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENTS), ON A PRO RATA BASIS, AGAINST ALL CLAIMS THAT MAY BE INCURRED BY OR ASSERTED AGAINST ANY AGENT INDEMNITEE, PROVIDED THE CLAIM RELATES TO OR ARISES FROM AN AGENT INDEMNITEE ACTING AS OR FOR AGENT (IN ITS CAPACITY AS AGENT). In Agent’s discretion, it may reserve for any such Claims made against an Agent Indemnitee, and may satisfy any judgment, order or settlement relating thereto, from proceeds of Collateral prior to making any distribution of Collateral proceeds to Lenders. If Agent is sued by any receiver, bankruptcy trustee, debtor-in-possession or other Person for any alleged preference or fraudulent transfer, then any monies paid by Agent in settlement or satisfaction of such proceeding, together with all interest, costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in the defense of same, shall be promptly reimbursed to Agent by each Lender to the extent of its Pro Rata share.

12.7. Limitation on Responsibilities of Agent . Agent shall not be liable to Lenders for any action taken or omitted to be taken under the Loan Documents, except for losses directly and solely caused by Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. Agent does not assume any responsibility for any failure or delay in performance or any breach by any Obligor or Lender of any obligations under the Loan Documents. Agent does not make to Lenders any express or implied warranty, representation or guarantee with respect to any Obligations, Collateral, Loan Documents or Obligor. No Agent Indemnitee shall be responsible to Lenders for any recitals, statements, information, representations or warranties contained in any Loan Documents; the execution, validity, genuineness, effectiveness or enforceability of any Loan Documents; the genuineness, enforceability, collectibility, value, sufficiency, location or existence of any Collateral, or the validity, extent, perfection or priority of any Lien therein; the validity, enforceability or collectibility of any Obligations; or the assets, liabilities, financial condition, results of operations, business, creditworthiness or legal status of any Obligor or Account Debtor. No Agent Indemnitee shall have any obligation to any Lender to ascertain or inquire into the existence of any Default or Event of Default, the observance or performance by any Obligor of any terms of the Loan Documents, or the satisfaction of any conditions precedent contained in any Loan Documents.

12.8. Successor Agent and Co-Agents .

12.8.1. Resignation; Successor Agent . Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Agent as provided below, Agent may resign at any time by giving at least 30 days’ written notice thereof to Lenders and Borrowers. Upon receipt of such notice, Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Agent which shall be (a) a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender; or (b) a commercial bank that is organized under the laws of the United States or any state or district thereof, has a combined capital surplus of at least $200,000,000 and (provided no Default or Event of Default exists) is reasonably acceptable to Borrowers. If no successor agent is appointed prior to the effective date of the resignation of Agent, then Agent may appoint a successor agent from among Lenders. Upon acceptance by a successor Agent of an appointment to serve as Agent hereunder, such successor Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the powers and duties of the retiring Agent without further act, and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder but shall continue to have the benefits of the indemnification set forth in Sections 12.6 and 14.2 . Notwithstanding any Agent’s resignation, the provisions of this Section 12 shall continue in effect for its benefit with respect to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while Agent. Any successor to Bank of America by merger or acquisition of stock or this loan shall continue to be Agent hereunder without further act on the part of the parties hereto, unless such successor resigns as provided above.

 

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12.8.2. Separate Collateral Agent . It is the intent of the parties that there shall be no violation of any Applicable Law denying or restricting the right of financial institutions to transact business in any jurisdiction. If Agent believes that it may be limited in the exercise of any rights or remedies under the Loan Documents due to any Applicable Law, Agent may appoint an additional Person who is not so limited, as a separate collateral agent or co-collateral agent. If Agent so appoints a collateral agent or co-collateral agent, each right and remedy intended to be available to Agent under the Loan Documents shall also be vested in such separate agent. Every covenant and obligation necessary to the exercise thereof by such agent shall run to and be enforceable by it as well as Agent. Lenders shall execute and deliver such documents as Agent deems appropriate to vest any rights or remedies in such agent. If any collateral agent or co-collateral agent shall die or dissolve, become incapable of acting, resign or be removed, then all the rights and remedies of such agent, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, shall vest in and be exercised by Agent until appointment of a new agent.

12.9. Due Diligence and Non-Reliance . Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that it has, independently and without reliance upon Agent or any other Lenders, and based upon such documents, information and analyses as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis of each Obligor and its own decision to enter into this Agreement and to fund Loans and participate in LC Obligations hereunder. Each Lender has made such inquiries concerning the Loan Documents, the Collateral and each Obligor as such Lender feels necessary. Each Lender further acknowledges and agrees that the other Lenders and Agent have made no representations or warranties concerning any Obligor, any Collateral or the legality, validity, sufficiency or enforceability of any Loan Documents or Obligations. Each Lender will, independently and without reliance upon the other Lenders or Agent, and based upon such financial statements, documents and information as it deems appropriate at the time, continue to make and rely upon its own credit decisions in making Loans and participating in LC Obligations, and in taking or refraining from any action under any Loan Documents. Except for notices, reports and other information expressly requested by a Lender, Agent shall have no duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any notices, reports or certificates furnished to Agent by any Obligor or any credit or other information concerning the affairs, financial condition, business or Properties of any Obligor (or any of its Affiliates) which may come into possession of Agent or any of Agent’s Affiliates.

12.10. Replacement of Certain Lenders . If a Lender (a) is a Defaulting Lender, or (b) fails to give its consent to any amendment, waiver or action for which consent of all Lenders was required and Required Lenders consented, then, in addition to any other rights and remedies that any Person may have, Agent may, by notice to such Lender within 120 days after such event, require such Lender to assign all of its rights and obligations under the Loan Documents to Eligible Assignee(s) specified by Agent, pursuant to appropriate Assignment and Acceptance(s) and within 20 days after Agent’s notice. Agent is irrevocably appointed as attorney-in-fact to execute any such Assignment and Acceptance if the Lender fails to execute same. Such Lender shall be entitled to receive, in cash, concurrently with such assignment, all amounts owed to it under the Loan Documents, including all principal, interest and fees through the date of assignment (but excluding any prepayment charge).

12.11. Remittance of Payments and Collections .

12.11.1. Remittances Generally . All payments by any Lender to Agent shall be made by the time and on the day set forth in this Agreement, in immediately available funds. If no time for payment is specified or if payment is due on demand by Agent and request for payment is made by Agent by 11:00 a.m. on a Business Day, payment shall be made by Lender not later than 2:00 p.m. on such day, and if request is made after 11:00 a.m., then payment shall be made by 11:00 a.m. on the next Business Day. Payment by Agent to any Lender shall be made by wire transfer, in the type of funds received by Agent. Any such payment shall be subject to Agent’s right of offset for any amounts due from such Lender under the Loan Documents.

 

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12.11.2. Failure to Pay . If any Lender fails to pay any amount when due by it to Agent pursuant to the terms hereof, such amount shall bear interest from the due date until paid at the rate determined by Agent as customary in the banking industry for interbank compensation. In no event shall Borrowers be entitled to receive credit for any interest paid by a Lender to Agent, nor shall any Defaulting Lender be entitled to interest on any amounts held by Agent pursuant to Section 4.2 .

12.11.3. Recovery of Payments . If Agent pays any amount to a Lender in the expectation that a related payment will be received by Agent from an Obligor and such related payment is not received, then Agent may recover such amount from each Lender that received it. If Agent determines at any time that an amount received under any Loan Document must be returned to an Obligor or paid to any other Person pursuant to Applicable Law or otherwise, then, notwithstanding any other term of any Loan Document, Agent shall not be required to distribute such amount to any Lender. If any amounts received and applied by Agent to any Obligations are later required to be returned by Agent pursuant to Applicable Law, each Lender shall pay to Agent, on demand , such Lender’s Pro Rata share of the amounts required to be returned.

12.12. Agent in its Individual Capacity . As a Lender, Bank of America shall have the same rights and remedies under the other Loan Documents as any other Lender, and the terms “Lenders,” “Required Lenders” or any similar term shall include Bank of America in its capacity as a Lender. Each of Bank of America and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, maintain deposits or credit balances for, invest in, lend money to, provide Bank Products to, act as trustee under indentures of, serve as financial or other advisor to, and generally engage in any kind of business with, Obligors and their Affiliates, as if Bank of America were any other bank, without any duty to account therefor (including any fees or other consideration received in connection therewith) to the other Lenders. In their individual capacity, Bank of America and its Affiliates may receive information regarding Obligors, their Affiliates and their Account Debtors (including information subject to confidentiality obligations), and each Lender agrees that Bank of America and its Affiliates shall be under no obligation to provide such information to Lenders, if acquired in such individual capacity and not as Agent hereunder.

12.13. Agent Titles . Each Lender, other than Bank of America, that is designated (on the cover page of this Agreement or otherwise) by Bank of America as an “Agent” or “Arranger” of any type shall not have any right, power, responsibility or duty under any Loan Documents other than those applicable to all Lenders, and shall in no event be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any other Lender.

12.14. No Third Party Beneficiaries . This Section 12 is an agreement solely among Lenders and Agent, and shall survive Full Payment of the Obligations. This Section 12 does not confer any rights or benefits upon Borrowers or any other Person. As between Borrowers and Agent, any action that Agent may take under any Loan Documents or with respect to any Obligations shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized and directed by Lenders.

SECTION 13. BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS AND PARTICIPATIONS

13.1. Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of Borrowers, Agent, Lenders, and their respective successors and assigns, except that (a) no Borrower shall have the right to assign its rights or delegate its obligations under any Loan Documents; and (b) any assignment by a Lender must be made in compliance with Section 13.3 . Agent may treat the Person which made any Loan as the owner thereof for all purposes until such Person makes an assignment in accordance with Section 13.3 . Any authorization or consent of a Lender shall be conclusive and binding on any subsequent transferee or assignee of such Lender.

 

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13.2. Participations .

13.2.1. Permitted Participants; Effect . Any Lender may, in the ordinary course of its business and in accordance with Applicable Law, at any time sell to a financial institution (“Participant”) a participating interest in the rights and obligations of such Lender under any Loan Documents. Despite any sale by a Lender of participating interests to a Participant, such Lender’s obligations under the Loan Documents shall remain unchanged, such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for performance of such obligations, such Lender shall remain the holder of its Loans and Commitments for all purposes, all amounts payable by Borrowers shall be determined as if such Lender had not sold such participating interests, and Borrowers and Agent shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with the Loan Documents. Each Lender shall be solely responsible for notifying its Participants of any matters under the Loan Documents, and Agent and the other Lenders shall not have any obligation or liability to any such Participant. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 5.9 unless Borrowers agree otherwise in writing.

13.2.2. Voting Rights . Each Lender shall retain the sole right to approve, without the consent of any Participant, any amendment, waiver or other modification of any Loan Documents other than that which forgives principal, interest or fees, reduces the stated interest rate or fees payable with respect to any Loan or Commitment in which such Participant has an interest, postpones the Commitment Termination Date or any date fixed for any regularly scheduled payment of principal, interest or fees on such Loan or Commitment, or releases any Borrower, Guarantor or substantial portion of the Collateral.

13.2.3. Benefit of Set-Off . Borrowers agree that each Participant shall have a right of set-off in respect of its participating interest to the same extent as if such interest were owing directly to a Lender, and each Lender shall also retain the right of set-off with respect to any participating interests sold by it. By exercising any right of set-off, a Participant agrees to share with Lenders all amounts received through its set-off, in accordance with Section 12.5 as if such Participant were a Lender.

13.3. Assignments .

13.3.1. Permitted Assignments . A Lender may assign to an Eligible Assignee any of its rights and obligations under the Loan Documents, as long as (a) each assignment is of a constant, and not a varying, percentage of the transferor Lender’s rights and obligations under the Loan Documents and, in the case of a partial assignment, is in a minimum principal amount of $12,500,000 (unless otherwise agreed by Agent in its discretion) and integral multiples of $2,500,000 in excess of that amount; (b) except in the case of an assignment in whole of a Lender’s rights and obligations, the aggregate amount of the Commitments retained by the transferor Lender is at least $12,500,000 (unless otherwise agreed by Agent in its discretion); and (c) the parties to each such assignment shall execute and deliver to Agent, for its acceptance and recording, an Assignment and Acceptance. Nothing herein shall limit the right of a Lender to pledge or assign any rights under the Loan Documents to (i) any Federal Reserve Bank or the United States Treasury as collateral security pursuant to Regulation A of the Board of Governors and any Operating Circular issued by such Federal Reserve Bank, or (ii) counterparties to swap agreements relating to any Loans; provided , however , that any payment by Borrowers to the assigning Lender in respect of any Obligations assigned as described in this sentence shall satisfy Borrowers’ obligations hereunder to the extent of such payment, and no such assignment shall release the assigning Lender from its obligations hereunder.

13.3.2. Effect; Effective Date . Upon delivery to Agent of an assignment notice in the form of Exhibit C and a processing fee of $3,500 (unless otherwise agreed by Agent in its discretion), the assignment shall become effective as specified in the notice, if it complies with this Section 13.3 . From such effective date, the Eligible Assignee shall for all purposes be a Lender under the Loan Documents, and shall have all rights and obligations of a Lender thereunder. Upon consummation of an assignment, the transferor Lender, Agent and Borrowers shall make appropriate arrangements for issuance of replacement and/or new Notes, as applicable. The transferee Lender shall comply with Section 5.10 and deliver, upon request, an administrative questionnaire satisfactory to Agent.

 

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SECTION 14. MISCELLANEOUS

14.1. Consents, Amendments and Waivers .

14.1.1. Amendment . No modification of any Loan Document, including any extension or amendment of a Loan Document or any waiver of a Default or Event of Default, shall be effective without the prior written agreement of Agent (with the consent of Required Lenders) and each Obligor party to such Loan Document; provided , however , that

(a) without the prior written consent of Agent, no modification shall be effective with respect to any provision in a Loan Document that relates to any rights, duties or discretion of Agent;

(b) without the prior written consent of Issuing Bank, no modification shall be effective with respect to any LC Obligations or Section 2.3 ;

(c) without the prior written consent of each affected Lender, no modification shall be effective that would (i) increase the Commitment of such Lender; or (ii) reduce the amount of, or waive or delay payment of, any principal, interest or fees payable to such Lender; and

(d) without the prior written consent of all Lenders (except a Defaulting Lender as provided in Section 4.2 ), no modification shall be effective that would (i) extend the Revolver Termination Date; (ii) alter Section 5.6, 7.1 (except to add Collateral) or 14.1.1 ; (iii) amend the definitions of Borrowing Base (and the defined terms used in such definition), Pro Rata or Required Lenders; (iv) increase any advance rate, decrease the Availability Block or increase total Commitments (other than as otherwise provided herein); (vi) release Collateral with a book value greater than $10,000,000 during any calendar year, except as currently contemplated by the Loan Documents; or (vii) release any Obligor from liability for any Obligations, if such Obligor is Solvent at the time of the release other than in connection with a Permitted Disposition.

14.1.2. Limitations . The agreement of Borrowers shall not be necessary to the effectiveness of any modification of a Loan Document that deals solely with the rights and duties of Lenders, Agent and/or Issuing Bank as among themselves and does not modify any right, obligation or liability of any Obligor. Only the consent of the parties to the Fee Letters or any agreement relating to a Bank Product shall be required for any modification of such agreement, and any non-Lender that is party to a Bank Product agreement shall have no right to participate in any manner in modification of any other Loan Document. Any waiver or consent granted by Agent or Lenders hereunder shall be effective only if in writing and only for the matter specified.

14.1.3. Payment for Consents . No Borrower will, directly or indirectly, pay any remuneration or other thing of value, whether by way of additional interest, fee or otherwise, to any Lender (in its capacity as a Lender hereunder) as consideration for agreement by such Lender with any modification of any Loan Documents, unless such remuneration or value is concurrently paid, on the same terms, on a Pro Rata basis to all Lenders providing their consent.

14.2. Indemnity . EACH BORROWER SHALL INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS THE INDEMNITEES AGAINST ANY CLAIMS THAT MAY BE INCURRED BY OR ASSERTED AGAINST ANY INDEMNITEE, INCLUDING CLAIMS ARISING FROM THE NEGLIGENCE OF AN INDEMNITEE. In no event shall any party to a Loan Document have any obligation thereunder to indemnify or hold harmless an Indemnitee with respect to a Claim that is determined in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to result from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee.

 

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14.3. Notices and Communications .

14.3.1. Notice Address . Subject to Section 4.1.4 , all notices and other communications by or to a party hereto shall be in writing and shall be given to any Borrower, at Borrower Agent’s address shown on the signature pages hereof, and to any other Person at its address shown on the signature pages hereof (or, in the case of a Person who becomes a Lender after the Closing Date, at the address shown on its Assignment and Acceptance), or at such other address as a party may hereafter specify by notice in accordance with this Section 14.3 . Each such notice or other communication shall be effective only (a) if given by facsimile transmission, when transmitted to the applicable facsimile number, if confirmation of receipt is received; (b) if given by mail, three Business Days after deposit in the U.S. mail, with first-class postage pre-paid, addressed to the applicable address; or (c) if given by personal delivery, when duly delivered to the notice address with receipt acknowledged. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no notice to Agent pursuant to Section 2.1.4, 2.3, 3.1.2, 4.1.1 or 5.3.3 shall be effective until actually received by the individual to whose attention at Agent such notice is required to be sent. Any written notice or other communication that is not sent in conformity with the foregoing provisions shall nevertheless be effective on the date actually received by the noticed party. Any notice received by Borrower Agent shall be deemed received by all Borrowers.

14.3.2. Electronic Communications; Voice Mail . Electronic mail and internet websites may be used only for routine communications, such as financial statements, Borrowing Base Certificates and other information required by Section 10.1.2 , administrative matters, distribution of Loan Documents for execution, and matters permitted under Section 4.1.4 . Agent and Lenders make no assurances as to the privacy and security of electronic communications. Electronic and voice mail may not be used as effective notice under the Loan Documents.

14.3.3. Non-Conforming Communications . Agent and Lenders may rely upon any notices purportedly given by or on behalf of any Borrower even if such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not confirmed, or if the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from a later confirmation. Each Borrower shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from any liabilities, losses, costs and expenses arising from any telephonic communication purportedly given by or on behalf of a Borrower.

14.4. Performance of Borrowers’ Obligations . Agent may, in its discretion at any time and from time to time, at Borrowers’ expense, pay any amount or do any act required of a Borrower under any Loan Documents or otherwise lawfully requested by Agent to (a) enforce any Loan Documents or collect any Obligations; (b) protect, insure, maintain or realize upon any Collateral; or (c) defend or maintain the validity or priority of Agent’s Liens in any Collateral, including any payment of a judgment, insurance premium, warehouse charge, finishing or processing charge, or landlord claim, or any discharge of a Lien. All payments, costs and expenses (including Extraordinary Expenses) of Agent under this Section shall be reimbursed to Agent by Borrowers, on demand , with interest from the date incurred to the date of payment thereof at the Default Rate applicable to Base Rate Revolver Loans. Any payment made or action taken by Agent under this Section shall be without prejudice to any right to assert an Event of Default or to exercise any other rights or remedies under the Loan Documents.

14.5. Credit Inquiries . Each Borrower hereby authorizes Agent and Lenders (but they shall have no obligation) to respond to usual and customary credit inquiries from third parties concerning any Borrower or Subsidiary.

14.6. Severability . Wherever possible, each provision of the Loan Documents shall be interpreted in such manner as to be valid under Applicable Law. If any provision is found to be invalid under Applicable Law, it shall be ineffective only to the extent of such invalidity and the remaining provisions of the Loan Documents shall remain in full force and effect.

14.7. Cumulative Effect; Conflict of Terms . The provisions of the Loan Documents are cumulative. The parties acknowledge that the Loan Documents may use several limitations, tests or

 

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measurements to regulate similar matters, and they agree that these are cumulative and that each must be performed as provided. Except as otherwise provided in another Loan Document (by specific reference to the applicable provision of this Agreement), if any provision contained herein is in direct conflict with any provision in another Loan Document, the provision herein shall govern and control.

14.8. Counterparts . Any Loan Document may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement shall become effective when Agent has received counterparts bearing the signatures of all parties hereto. Delivery of a signature page of any Loan Document by telecopy or other electronic means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of such agreement.

14.9. Entire Agreement . Time is of the essence of the Loan Documents. The Loan Documents constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof, and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.

14.10. Relationship with Lenders . The obligations of each Lender hereunder are several, and no Lender shall be responsible for the obligations or Commitments of any other Lender. Amounts payable hereunder to each Lender shall be a separate and independent debt. It shall not be necessary for Agent or any other Lender to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purposes. Nothing in this Agreement and no action of Agent or Lenders pursuant to the Loan Documents shall be deemed to constitute Agent and Lenders to be a partnership, association, joint venture or any other kind of entity, nor to constitute control of any Borrower.

14.11. No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility . In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated by any Loan Document, Borrowers acknowledge and agree that (a)(i) this credit facility and any related arranging or other services by Agent, any Lender, any of their Affiliates or any arranger are arm’s-length commercial transactions between Borrowers and such Person; (ii) Borrowers have consulted their own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent they have deemed appropriate; and (iii) Borrowers are capable of evaluating and understanding, and do understand and accept, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents; (b) each of Agent, Lenders, their Affiliates and any arranger is and has been acting solely as a principal in connection with this credit facility, is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary for Borrowers, any of their Affiliates or any other Person, and has no obligation with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents except as expressly set forth therein; and (c) Agent, Lenders, their Affiliates and any arranger may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from Borrowers and their Affiliates, and have no obligation to disclose any of such interests to Borrowers or their Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, each Borrower hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against Agent, Lenders, their Affiliates and any arranger with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated by a Loan Document.

14.12. Confidentiality . Each of Agent, Lenders and Issuing Bank agrees to maintain the confidentiality of all Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors and representatives (provided such Persons are informed of the confidential nature of the Information and instructed to keep the Information confidential); (b) to the extent requested by any governmental, regulatory or self-regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it or its Affiliates; (c) to the extent required by Applicable Law or by any subpoena or similar legal process; (d) to any other party hereto; (e) in connection with any action or proceeding, or other exercise of rights or remedies, relating to any Loan Documents or Obligations; (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as this Section, to any Transferee or any actual or prospective party (or its advisors) to any Bank Product; (g) with the consent of Borrower Agent; or (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes

 

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publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) is available to Agent, any Lender, Issuing Bank or any of their Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than Borrowers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Agent and Lenders may publish or disseminate general information describing this credit facility, including the names and addresses of Borrowers and a general description of Borrowers’ businesses, and may use Borrowers’ logos, trademarks or product photographs in advertising materials. As used herein, “ Information ” means all information received from an Obligor or Subsidiary relating to it or its business that is identified as confidential when delivered. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information pursuant to this Section shall be deemed to have complied if it exercises the same degree of care that it accords its own confidential information. Each of Agent, Lenders and Issuing Bank acknowledges that (i) Information may include material non-public information concerning an Obligor or Subsidiary; (ii) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information; and (iii) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with Applicable Law, including federal and state securities laws.

14.13. Intentionally Omitted .

14.14. GOVERNING LAW . THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES (BUT GIVING EFFECT TO FEDERAL LAWS RELATING TO NATIONAL BANKS).

14.15. Consent to Forum; Arbitration .

14.15.1. Forum . EACH BORROWER HEREBY CONSENTS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY FEDERAL OR STATE COURT SITTING IN OR WITH JURISDICTION OVER LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, IN ANY PROCEEDING OR DISPUTE RELATING IN ANY WAY TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENTS, AND AGREES THAT ANY SUCH PROCEEDING SHALL BE BROUGHT BY IT SOLELY IN ANY SUCH COURT. EACH BORROWER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL CLAIMS, OBJECTIONS AND DEFENSES THAT IT MAY HAVE REGARDING SUCH COURT’S PERSONAL OR SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION, VENUE OR INCONVENIENT FORUM. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 14.3.1. Nothing herein shall limit the right of Agent or any Lender to bring proceedings against any Obligor in any other court, nor limit the right of any party to serve process in any other manner permitted by Applicable Law. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to preclude enforcement by Agent of any judgment or order obtained in any forum or jurisdiction.

14.15.2. Arbitration . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any controversy or claim among the parties relating in any way to any Obligations or Loan Documents, including any alleged tort, shall at the request of any party hereto be determined by binding arbitration conducted in accordance with the United States Arbitration Act (Title 9 U.S. Code). Arbitration proceedings will be determined in accordance with the Act, the then-current rules and procedures for the arbitration of financial services disputes of the American Arbitration Association (“ AAA ”), and the terms of this Section. In the event of any inconsistency, the terms of this Section shall control. If AAA is unwilling or unable to serve as the provider of arbitration or to enforce any provision of this Section, Agent may designate another arbitration organization with similar procedures to serve as the provider of arbitration. The arbitration proceedings shall be conducted in Los Angeles or Pasadena, California. The arbitration hearing shall commence within 90 days of the arbitration demand and close within 90 days thereafter. The arbitration award must be issued within 30 days after close of the hearing (subject to extension by the arbitrator for up to 60 days upon a showing of good cause), and shall include a concise written statement of reasons for the award. The arbitrator shall give effect to applicable statutes of limitation in determining any controversy or claim, and for these purposes, service on AAA under

 

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applicable AAA rules of a notice of claim is the equivalent of the filing of a lawsuit. Any dispute concerning this Section or whether a controversy or claim is arbitrable shall be determined by the arbitrator. The arbitrator shall have the power to award legal fees to the extent provided by this Agreement. Judgment upon an arbitration award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. The arbitrator shall not have the power to commit errors of law or legal reasoning, and any award may be reviewed and vacated or corrected on appeal to a court of competent jurisdiction for any such error. The institution and maintenance of an action for judicial relief or pursuant to a provisional or ancillary remedy shall not constitute a waiver of the right of any party, including the plaintiff, to submit the controversy or claim to arbitration if any other party contests such action for judicial relief. No controversy or claim shall be submitted to arbitration without the consent of all parties if, at the time of the proposed submission, such controversy or claim relates to an obligation secured by Real Estate, but if all parties do not consent to submission of such a controversy or claim to arbitration, it shall be determined as provided in the next sentence. At the request of any party, a controversy or claim that is not submitted to arbitration as provided above shall be determined by judicial reference; and if such an election is made, the parties shall designate to the court a referee or referees selected under the auspices of the AAA in the same manner as arbitrators are selected in AAA sponsored proceedings and the presiding referee of the panel (or the referee if there is a single referee) shall be an active attorney or retired judge; and judgment upon the award rendered by such referee or referees shall be entered in the court in which proceeding was commenced. None of the foregoing provisions of this Section shall limit the right of Agent or Lenders to exercise self-help remedies, such as setoff, foreclosure or sale of any Collateral or to obtain provisional or ancillary remedies from a court of competent jurisdiction before, after or during any arbitration proceeding. The exercise of a remedy does not waive the right of any party to resort to arbitration or reference. At Agent’s option, foreclosure under a mortgage or deed of trust, if any, may be accomplished either by exercise of power of sale thereunder or by judicial foreclosure.

14.16. Waivers by Borrowers . To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, each Borrower waives (a) the right to trial by jury (which Agent and each Lender hereby also waives) in any proceeding or dispute of any kind relating in any way to any Loan Documents, Obligations or Collateral; (b) presentment, demand, protest, notice of presentment, default, non-payment, maturity, release, compromise, settlement, extension or renewal of any commercial paper, accounts, documents, instruments, chattel paper and guaranties at any time held by Agent on which a Borrower may in any way be liable, and hereby ratifies anything Agent may do in this regard; (c) notice prior to taking possession or control of any Collateral; (d) any bond or security that might be required by a court prior to allowing Agent to exercise any rights or remedies; (e) the benefit of all valuation, appraisement and exemption laws; (f) any claim against Agent or any Lender, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential, exemplary or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) in any way relating to any Enforcement Action, Obligations, Loan Documents or transactions relating thereto; and (g) notice of acceptance hereof. Each Borrower acknowledges that the foregoing waivers are a material inducement to Agent and Lenders entering into this Agreement and that Agent and Lenders are relying upon the foregoing in their dealings with Borrowers. Each Borrower has reviewed the foregoing waivers with its legal counsel and has knowingly and voluntarily waived its jury trial and other rights following consultation with legal counsel. In the event of litigation, this Agreement may be filed as a written consent to a trial by the court.

14.17. Patriot Act Notice . Agent and Lenders hereby notify Borrowers that pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act, Agent and Lenders are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Borrower, including its legal name, address, tax ID number and other information that will allow Agent and Lenders to identify it in accordance with the Patriot Act. Agent and Lenders will also require information regarding each personal guarantor, if any, and may require information regarding Borrowers’ management and owners, such as legal name, address, social security number and date of birth.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signatures begin on following page]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed and delivered as of the date set forth above.

 

BORROWERS:

POTLATCH FOREST PRODUCTS CORPORATION, which will change its name prior to the Closing Date to

CLEARWATER PAPER CORPORATION,

a Delaware corporation

By:  

/s/ LINDA MASSMAN

Name:   LINDA MASSMAN
Title:   VICE-PRESIDENT
Address:  
 

601 West First Ave., Suite 1600

Spokane, WA 99201

Attn: Michael S. Gadd

Telecopy: (509) 835-1561

 

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AGENT AND LENDERS :

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as Agent and Lender

By:  

/s/ Ron Bornstein

Name:   Ron Bornstein
Title:   Vice President

 

Address:  
 

55 S. Lake Avenue, Suite 900

Pasadena, CA 91101

Attn: Ron Bornstein or Account Executive

Telecopy: (626) 584-4600

 

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WELLS FARGO FOOTHILL, LLC,

as Lender

By:  

/s/ Santi Amladi

Name:   Santi Amladi
Title:   Vice President
Address:  
 

Wells Fargo Foothill

2450 Colorado Ave

Suite 3000 West

Santa Monica, CA 90404

  Attn: Tim Guilanians
  Telecopy: 866-350-1924

 

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Exhibit 99.1

 

      LOGO
     

Potlatch Corporation

601 West First Ave., Suite 1600

Spokane, WA 99201

509.835.1500

www.potlatchcorp.com

News Release

 

Contact:    (Media)    (Investors)   
   Mark Benson    Douglas D. Spedden   
   509-835-1513    509-835-1549   

POTLATCH BOARD GIVES FINAL APPROVAL TO COMPLETION

OF CLEARWATER PAPER SPIN-OFF

Declares Record Date of December 9, 2008 and Share Distribution Date of December 16, 2008

Spokane, Wash.–December 1, 2008–Potlatch Corporation (NYSE:PCH) announced today that its Board of Directors has given final approval to the spin-off of its pulp-based businesses, which will be completed through a special tax-free dividend of the common stock of Clearwater Paper Corporation.

The Potlatch Board has established the close of business on December 9, 2008 as the record date and set a distribution ratio of one share of Clearwater Paper stock for every 3.5 shares of Potlatch Corporation stock. The distribution of Clearwater Paper common stock will occur on December 16, 2008. No fractional Clearwater Paper shares will be distributed and cash will be paid in lieu of fractional shares. Following the distribution, and based on approximately 39.5 million shares of Potlatch stock currently outstanding, approximately 11.3 million shares of Clearwater Paper (CLW) will be outstanding.

Potlatch has received a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service providing that the spin-off will qualify as a tax-free distribution to Potlatch and its shareholders for federal income tax purposes, except for cash received in lieu of any fractional share interests.

Clearwater Paper common stock is expected to begin regular way trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker “CLW” on December 17, 2008. Potlatch will continue to


trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker “PCH.” On the first day of trading following the distribution date, all shares of Potlatch common stock will trade on an “ex dividend” basis without the benefit of the Clearwater Paper common stock distribution.

Michael J. Covey, chairman, president and CEO of Potlatch, said, “From the beginning of this process, our objective was to enhance long-term value for shareholders by providing them with ownership in two focused companies – an essentially pure-play timber-REIT and a solidly-positioned pulp-based manufacturing company – and we are very pleased to be near the culmination of those efforts. We believe that separating these businesses will present both companies with more opportunities to maximize their potential as independent entities, while affording each business the flexibility to be more responsive to changing industry and economic dynamics.”

Mr. Covey continued, “We believe this action will offer the investment community greater insight into each business so that it can better evaluate the merits and future prospects of Potlatch and Clearwater Paper. The spin-off will also enable the management teams and Boards of both companies to provide more efficient, focused leadership and oversight of their respective core businesses, and to take advantage of value-creation opportunities for both companies over the long-term.

Potlatch’s dividend policy has been driven primarily by the performance of its timber and land-based businesses since the company converted to a real estate investment trust in 2006. No change in policy is expected following the spin-off. The fourth quarter 2008 dividend will be declared by the Potlatch board of directors on December 5.

Gordon L. Jones, who will assume the role of president and CEO of Clearwater Paper upon the spin-off, said, “There are many benefits to operating Clearwater Paper as a stand-alone company and we expect the spin-off to provide increased opportunities for investors, employees and customers over the long-term. The experienced Clearwater Paper management team is in place and excited about working to realize the full value of this pulp and paper based business.”

In connection with the spin-off, Clearwater Paper will be retaining the obligation to pay the interest and principal on $100 million principal amount of debentures previously issued by an affiliate of Potlatch Corporation that will become due and payable in full in December 2009. In addition, Clearwater Paper intends to immediately draw $50 million from its anticipated $125 million revolving credit facility and transfer that amount to a subsidiary of Potlatch Corporation. As a result, Clearwater Paper will have $150 million principal amount of debt outstanding.

Clearwater Paper expects to pay cash dividends on its common stock. The declaration and amount of any dividends will be determined by its Board of Directors.

 

2


No action is required by Potlatch shareholders to receive their Clearwater Paper common stock and Potlatch shareholders will not be required to surrender or exchange their shares.

Completion of the distribution is subject to customary conditions set forth in a separation and distribution agreement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as an exhibit to Clearwater’s information statement on Form 10.

Potlatch will mail an information statement regarding the spin-off to all holders of Potlatch common stock, which will include information regarding the procedures by which the distribution will be effected, the business and management of Clearwater Paper following the distribution, and other information of interest to Potlatch and Clearwater Paper shareholders. The information statement will also be available through the SEC’s Web site at http://www.sec.gov.

As a result of the spin-off, two stand-alone, publicly-traded entities will be created: Potlatch Corporation, a timber REIT, which is a verified forest practices leader with approximately 1.7 million acres of forestland in Arkansas, Idaho, Minnesota and Wisconsin; and a pulp-based manufacturing company named Clearwater Paper Corporation that will include Consumer Products facilities at Lewiston, Idaho, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Elwood, Illinois, and Pulp & Paperboard facilities at Lewiston, Idaho, and Cypress Bend, Arkansas, and Wood Products facilities at Lewiston, Idaho.

Goldman, Sachs & Co. acted as financial advisor to Potlatch in the spin-off process. Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, San Francisco, California, acted as legal advisor to Potlatch and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Chicago, Illinois, acted as special tax counsel to Potlatch during the spin-off.

A BOUT P OTLATCH

Potlatch is a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) with approximately 1.7 million acres of forestland in Arkansas, Idaho, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Through its taxable REIT subsidiary, the company also operates six manufacturing facilities that produce lumber and panel products. Potlatch, a verified forest practices leader, is committed to providing superior returns to stockholders through long-term stewardship of its resources.

A BOUT C LEARWATER P APER

Clearwater Paper manufactures quality bleached paperboard, consumer tissue and wood products at five facilities across the country. The company is a premier supplier of private label tissue to major retail grocery chains, and also produces bleached paperboard used by quality-conscious printers and packaging converters. The company’s 2,400 employees build shareholder value by developing strong customer partnerships through quality and service.

 

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F ORWARD -L OOKING S TATEMENTS This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995 as amended, including without limitation, statements about the spin-off of Potlatch’s pulp-based businesses and the effect of the spin-off on Potlatch and Clearwater Paper, future trading in Potlatch stock and Clearwater Paper stock, Potlatch’s dividend policy and future payment of dividends, and Clearwater Paper’s dividend policy and payment of dividends by Clearwater Paper. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections that are subject to change, and actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, changes in timberland values; changes in timber harvest levels on the Potlatch’s lands; changes in timber prices; changes in policy regarding governmental timber sales; changes in the United States and international economies; changes in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and other currencies; changes in the level of construction activity; changes in tariffs, quotas and trade agreements involving wood products; changes in worldwide demand for Potlatch’s and Clearwater Paper’s products; changes in worldwide production and production capacity in the forest products industry; competitive pricing pressures for Potlatch’s and Clearwater Paper’s products; unanticipated manufacturing disruptions; changes in general and industry-specific environmental laws and regulations; unforeseen environmental liabilities or expenditures; weather conditions; changes in raw material, energy, and other costs; the ability to satisfy complex rules in order for Potlatch to remain qualified as a REIT; changes in tax laws that could reduce the benefits associated with REIT status; and other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in Potlatch’s and Clearwater’s public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Neither Potlatch nor Clearwater undertakes to update any forward-looking statements.

####

 

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Table of Contents

Exhibit 99.1

LOGO

Common Stock

We are providing this information statement to you as a stockholder of Potlatch Corporation in connection with Potlatch Corporation’s distribution to its stockholders of all of the outstanding shares of our common stock in a spin-off transaction.

Following the spin-off, we will operate two primary businesses: our pulp and paperboard business and our consumer tissue products, or consumer products, business. We will also produce lumber products at our Idaho lumber mill.

We expect that the distribution will be made on December 16, 2008 to the holders of record of Potlatch Corporation common stock on December 9, 2008. If you are a holder of record of Potlatch Corporation common stock at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the record date, you will receive one share of our common stock for every 3.5 shares of Potlatch Corporation common stock you hold at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on that date. In lieu of fractional shares, stockholders of Potlatch Corporation will receive cash, which generally will be taxable. A book-entry account statement reflecting your ownership of whole shares of our common stock will be mailed to you, or your brokerage account will be credited for the shares, on or about December 17, 2008.

Potlatch Corporation has received a ruling from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service that the distribution of our common stock will qualify for tax-free treatment by stockholders, except for cash received in lieu of any fractional share interests.

You will not be required to make any payment for the shares of our common stock that you will receive, nor will you be required to surrender or exchange your shares of Potlatch Corporation common stock or take any other action in order to receive our common stock.

Our common stock has been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CLW.” We anticipate that a limited market, commonly known as a “when-issued” trading market, for our common stock will develop two trading days before the record date for the distribution and will continue up to and through the distribution date. We anticipate that “regular-way” trading of our common stock will begin on the first trading day following the distribution date.

In reviewing this information statement, you should carefully consider the information under the caption entitled “ Risk Factors ” beginning on page 10 of this information statement.

No stockholder approval of the distribution of our common stock is required or sought. We are not asking you for a proxy and you are requested not to send us a proxy.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this information statement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

This information statement is not an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities.

The date of this information statement is December 2, 2008.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page

Summary

   1

Risk Factors

   10

Forward-Looking Statements

   21

The Spin-off

   22

Our Relationship with Potlatch Corporation after the Spin-off

   30

Dividend Policy

   36

Capitalization

   37

Selected Historical Combined Financial Data

   38

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements

   39

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   43

Business

   61

Management

   76

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

   81

Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions

   109

Principal Stockholders

   110

Description of Capital Stock

   112

2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

   116

Where You Can Find More Information

   117

Index to Financial Statements

   F-1


Table of Contents

SUMMARY

The following is a summary of material information discussed in this information statement. This summary may not contain all the details concerning the spin-off, our business, our common stock or other information that may be important to you. You should carefully review this entire information statement, including the risk factors, to better understand the spin-off and our business and financial position.

Except as otherwise indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, the information included in this information statement assumes the completion of the spin-off and all of the other related transactions referred to in this information statement. References in this information statement to “Potlatch Corporation” include where the context requires both Potlatch Corporation and its predecessor, together with their respective subsidiaries. Unless the context otherwise requires or unless otherwise indicated, references in this information statement to “Clearwater Paper Corporation,” “we,” “our,” “our company” and “us” refer:

 

   

for all periods prior to the spin-off, to the pulp and paperboard, consumer products and lumber products business that will be separated from Potlatch Corporation in the spin-off under the name Clearwater Paper Corporation; and

 

   

for all periods following the spin-off, to Clearwater Paper Corporation and its subsidiaries.

OUR COMPANY

We operate two primary businesses: our pulp and paperboard business and our consumer products business. We also manufacture and sell lumber products, including dimensional framing lumber and appearance grade cedar lumber products. In 2007, our total net sales were $1.17 billion and we had net earnings of $25.6 million.

Pulp and Paperboard. Our pulp and paperboard business manufactures and markets bleached paperboard for the high-end segment of the packaging industry and is a leading producer of solid bleached sulfate paperboard, or SBS, in the United States. Our bleached paperboard is converted by our customers into a variety of end products, including packaging for liquids, food products, pharmaceuticals, toiletries, paper cups and plates, blister packaging and other consumable goods. Our pulp and paperboard business also produces bleached softwood market pulp in Idaho, which is used as the basis for many paper products, and slush pulp, which it supplies to our consumer products business. Our pulp and paperboard business operates two facilities, one in Idaho and one in Arkansas. In 2007, our pulp and paperboard business had net sales of $670.6 million, of which $567.8 million was derived from sales of our paperboard products, approximately $46.0 million was derived from sales of market pulp to third parties, and approximately $55.8 million was derived from internal pulp sales to our consumer products business.

Consumer Products . Our consumer products business is a leading producer of private label tissue products sold in grocery stores in the United States. In 2007, we produced approximately 55% of the total private label tissue products sold in grocery stores in the United States. We manufacture our tissue with three paper machines at our facility in Idaho, as well as one machine at our facility in Nevada. The tissue is then converted into packaged tissue products at our three converting facilities in Idaho, Nevada, and Illinois. In 2007, our consumer products business had net sales of $444.7 million.

Lumber Products . Our lumber products business produces dimensional framing lumber and appearance grade cedar products. Our lumber products business also supplies wood chips to our pulp and paperboard business. In 2007, our lumber products business had net sales of $121.7 million.

 

 

1


Table of Contents

Company Strengths

Our competitive strengths include:

High-quality, premium products. Over the last several years, we have focused on high-quality paperboard and tissue products. Our pulp and paperboard business produces paperboard with smooth printing surfaces, superior brightness and cleanliness, excellent strength and forming ability, and diverse ranges of thickness. Our consumer products business is committed to maintaining a high product quality level that matches the quality of the leading national brands.

Long-standing customer relationships with focus on premium quality and service . Our top 10 paperboard customers account for over 50% of our total paperboard shipments from each mill in each of the last four years, and our relationships with these customers extend over many years. Our consumer products business supplies private label tissue products to three national grocery chains. The average tenure of our top 10 tissue customers in 2007 was over 20 years.

Significant investments into our facilities over the last several years. Our pulp and paperboard business spent approximately $123.0 million on capital expenditures between 2000 and 2007. These investments increased paperboard production by approximately 22% during this period at each mill. Between 2000 and 2007, our consumer products business spent approximately $125.0 million on capital expenditures. One of its most significant projects was the installation of through air dried, or TAD, equipment in our Nevada facility in 2004.

Attractive geographic positioning of our pulp and paperboard business. Our pulp and paperboard mill in Idaho is one of only two SBS mills, and the only coated SBS mill, in the Western United States, which allows us to minimize transportation costs to Asia and compete on a cost-advantaged basis relative to East Coast competitors. Our Arkansas mill is centrally located, complementing the Idaho mill in shipping to customers nationwide, particularly to customers in the Midwestern and Eastern United States.

Largely integrated pulp and tissue operations. Our consumer products business sources the majority of its pulp supply internally from our pulp and paperboard operations in Idaho. This relationship provides our consumer products business with a secure pulp supply as well as significant freight and drying cost savings, and provides our pulp and paperboard division with a steady demand source.

High value-added cedar product capability. Our lumber mill is capable of producing a variety of value-added specialty cedar products. Our strengths also include up-to-date technology and experienced mill management.

Company Strategies

Our competitive strategies include:

Pulp and paperboard

Leverage our leading market position . As a leading supplier to the high-end segment of the North American packaging industry, we are able to utilize our industry insight and expertise to provide value-added services to our customers. We intend to further strengthen our position by increasing our sales to both existing and new customers.

Increase annual production of commercial print paperboard. Through our experienced sales force and in recognition that packaging and print market segments are merging, we have enhanced our position within the commercial print paperboard segment. We intend to increase our annual production of paperboard manufactured for the higher margin commercial print paperboard market segment.

 

 

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Table of Contents

Increase productivity and cost competitiveness of our pulp and paperboard business. Our pulp and paperboard business is focused on long-term cash generation by carefully managing costs and investing strategically to improve operating performance. We intend to pursue additional cost reductions and productivity improvements for our pulp and paperboard business.

Consumer products

Penetrate new grocery accounts in the Midwest . We are leveraging the location of our Illinois converting facility and our position as a leading supplier of private label tissue in the United States to expand our customer relationships in the Midwestern United States.

Increase manufacturing capacity by adding a napkin line in our Illinois facility . We are currently experiencing strong sales of our napkin products and expect these sales levels to grow. To address this demand, we are adding a new napkin line to our Illinois facility. We believe this additional line will eliminate our need to outsource production of these products, as well as reduce freight costs and increase sales.

Establish facilities on the East Coast . We are exploring options to open a manufacturing facility or multiple facilities on the East Coast, which we believe would allow us to service more retail outlets of our current customers and expand our customer base to include East Coast retailers.

 

 

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Table of Contents

SUMMARY RISK FACTORS

An investment in our common stock involves risks associated with our business, the spin-off and ownership of our common stock. The following list of risk factors is not exhaustive. Please read carefully the risks relating to these and other matters described under the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 10.

Risks Related to Our Business

 

   

Changes in the cost and availability of wood fiber used in production of our products may adversely affect our results of operations and cash flow.

 

   

The cost of energy and chemicals needed for our manufacturing processes significantly affects our business.

 

   

Cyclical industry conditions have in the past affected and may continue to adversely affect the operating results and cash flow of our pulp and paperboard business.

 

   

Our consumer products business receives a substantial portion of its net sales from three customers, and the loss of, or a significant reduction in, orders from any of these customers would adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.

 

   

Intense competition could prevent us from increasing or sustaining our net sales and profitability.

 

   

Increases in our freight costs could have a material adverse effect on the gross margins of our business.

 

   

We depend on third parties for certain transportation services and any disruption in these services may have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

   

We are subject to significant environmental regulation and environmental compliance expenditures, which could increase our costs and subject us to liabilities.

 

   

Our business and financial performance may be harmed by future labor disruptions.

 

   

We regularly incur significant expenses to maintain our manufacturing equipment and any interruption in the operations of our facilities may affect our operating performance.

 

   

Our obligations under the retained obligation agreement could have a negative impact on our financing options and liquidity position.

 

   

Our business will suffer if we are unable to effectively respond to changes in demand for some of our products or implement our strategies.

 

   

We will have significant indebtedness and future federal and state deferred tax liabilities, which will require a significant amount of cash to service and pay. Our ability to generate cash depends on a number of factors beyond our control. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash to pay our obligations or fund our liquidity needs, our business may be materially adversely affected.

Risks Relating to the Spin-off

 

   

Our financial information may not be fully representative of our results as a stand-alone public company.

 

   

We have not previously operated as an independent, public company.

 

   

The requirements of being a stand-alone public company will increase our costs and require significant management focus.

 

 

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The transition services Potlatch Corporation will provide to us following the spin-off may not be sufficient to meet our needs, and we may have difficulty finding replacement services or be required to pay increased costs to replace these services after our agreements with Potlatch Corporation expire.

 

   

The terms of agreements that we will enter into with Potlatch Corporation in connection with the spin-off will be established at a time when we are a wholly owned subsidiary of Potlatch Corporation and, accordingly, the terms of these agreements may not be as favorable to us as they might have been had they been negotiated by persons fully independent of Potlatch Corporation.

 

   

If the spin-off is determined to be taxable for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we, our stockholders, and Potlatch Corporation could incur significant U.S. federal income tax liabilities.

 

   

We must abide by certain restrictions to preserve the tax-free treatment of the spin-off and may not be able to engage in desirable acquisitions and other strategic transactions following the spin-off.

Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock

 

   

There has been no prior market for our common stock, and we cannot guarantee that our stock price will not decline after the spin-off.

 

   

A trading market may not develop for shares of our common stock, which could adversely affect the market price of those shares.

 

   

Certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and of Delaware law, and our anticipated rights plan, may make it difficult for stockholders to change the composition of our board of directors and may discourage hostile takeover attempts that some of our stockholders may consider to be beneficial.

Other Information

We were incorporated under the name Potlatch Forest Products Corporation in Delaware in October 2005 in connection with Potlatch Corporation’s conversion into a real estate investment trust, or REIT. Prior to the spin-off, we will change our name to Clearwater Paper Corporation. Our principal executive offices will be located at 601 W. Riverside Avenue, Suite 1100, Spokane, Washington 99201. Our telephone number at that location will be 509-344-5900. Our website address will be www.clearwaterpaper.com . The reference to our website is a textual reference only. We do not incorporate the information on our website into this information statement, and you should not consider any information on, or that can be accessed through, our website as part of this information statement.

Clearwater Paper , Ancora ® and Candesce ® are or will be our trademarks or registered trademarks. This information statement also refers to the products or services of other companies by the trademarks and trade names used and owned by those companies.

 

 

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE SPIN-OFF

 

Q: Why am I receiving this document?

 

A: Potlatch Corporation is delivering this document to you because you were a holder of Potlatch Corporation common stock at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the record date for the distribution of shares of our common stock. Accordingly, you are entitled to receive one share of our common stock for every 3.5 shares of Potlatch Corporation common stock that you held at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the record date. No action is required for you to participate in the distribution. The distribution will take place on or about December 16, 2008.

 

Q: Why is Potlatch Corporation separating our business and distributing our stock?

 

A: The separation of our business from Potlatch Corporation will provide each company with certain opportunities and benefits. For example, the spin-off will allow us to focus our attention and resources on our core pulp and paperboard and consumer products businesses and will allow Potlatch Corporation to concentrate its management and resources on its timber, harvest and log sale, real estate and wood products businesses. The spin-off will also allow the investment community to better evaluate the merits and future prospects of each company and will allow each company to realign its management structure to better focus on its product markets and business opportunities. Moreover, as a result of the spin-off, we will be able to invest any available excess cash flow from our business into growing that business without competing for capital with Potlatch Corporation’s businesses and we will have direct access to the public capital markets. The spin-off will allow us to develop incentive programs to better attract and retain key employees through the use of stock-based and performance-based incentive plans that more directly link their compensation with our financial performance. For more information on the background and reasons for the spin-off, see “The Spin-off—Background and Reasons for the Spin-off” beginning on page 22.

 

Q: How will the spin-off work?

 

A: In connection with the spin-off, we will transfer our wood products operations, other than the lumber products operations located in Lewiston, Idaho, our real estate sales and development business and our harvest and log sale business, subject to certain of our liabilities, to a newly formed subsidiary, and distribute the equity of that subsidiary to Potlatch Corporation. We are retaining the lumber products operations in Lewiston, Idaho because they are integrated with our pulp and paperboard and tissue operations located at the same facility and it would therefore not be practical to divide ownership of this facility. After these transfers are completed, all of the shares of our common stock will be distributed to the stockholders of Potlatch Corporation on a pro rata basis. For more information, see the section entitled “The Spin-off—Transactions prior to the Spin-off” beginning on page 23 and “—Manner of Effecting the Spin-off” beginning on page 24.

 

Q: What businesses will we operate after the spin-off?

 

A: We will operate two primary businesses after the spin-off: our pulp and paperboard business and our consumer products business. Our pulp and paperboard business manufactures and markets bleached paperboard for the high-end segment of the packaging industry. Our pulp and paperboard business also produces bleached softwood market pulp, which is used as the basis for many paper products, and slush pulp, which it supplies to our consumer products business. Our consumer products business manufactures paper towels, bathroom and facial tissue, and napkins. We also produce lumber products at our lumber mill in Idaho, which also supplies wood chips to our pulp and paperboard business. For more information on our businesses, see the section entitled “Business” beginning on page 61.

 

 

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Q: What will our relationship be with Potlatch Corporation after the spin-off?

 

A: Potlatch Corporation and our company will be separate, publicly owned companies. We will, however, enter into certain agreements with Potlatch Corporation to define our ongoing relationship after the spin-off. The agreements will define responsibility for obligations arising before and after the spin-off date, including an obligation to pay the principal and interest on $100 million of debentures previously issued by an affiliate of Potlatch Corporation. Additionally, we will enter into log and fiber supply contracts with Potlatch Corporation for our Idaho facility and a transition services agreement under which we and Potlatch Corporation will provide transitional services to one another for a period after the spin-off. For additional information on our relationship with Potlatch Corporation after the spin-off, see “Our Relationship with Potlatch Corporation after the Spin-off” beginning on page 30.

 

Q: When will the spin-off occur?

 

A: We expect that Potlatch Corporation will distribute our shares of common stock on December 16, 2008 to holders of record of Potlatch Corporation common stock at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the record date.

 

Q: What is the record date for the spin-off?

 

A: December 9, 2008.

 

Q: What do I have to do to participate in the spin-off?

 

A: Nothing. You are not required to take any action to receive our common stock in the spin-off. No vote will be taken for the spin-off. If you own shares of Potlatch Corporation common stock as of 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the record date, a book-entry account statement reflecting your ownership of our shares of common stock will be mailed to you, or your brokerage account will be credited for the shares, on or about December 17, 2008.

 

Q: How many shares of your common stock will I receive?

 

A: Potlatch Corporation will distribute one share of our common stock for every 3.5 shares of Potlatch Corporation common stock you own as of the close of business on the record date. For example, if you own 105 shares of Potlatch Corporation common stock as of the close of business on the record date, you will receive 30 shares of our common stock in the spin-off. Based on approximately 39.5 million shares of Potlatch Corporation common stock that we expect to be outstanding on the record date, and the spin-off distribution ratio, Potlatch Corporation will distribute a total of approximately 11.3 million shares of our common stock.

 

Q: Will Potlatch Corporation distribute fractional shares?

 

A: No. In lieu of fractional shares of our common stock, stockholders of Potlatch Corporation will receive cash. Fractional shares you would otherwise be entitled to receive will be aggregated and sold in the public market by the distribution agent. The aggregate net cash proceeds of these sales will be distributed ratably to those stockholders who would otherwise have received fractional shares of our common stock. If you own less than 3.5 shares of Potlatch Corporation common stock on the record date, you will not receive any shares of our common stock in the spin-off, but you will receive cash in lieu of fractional shares.

 

Q: What is book-entry?

 

A: The book-entry system allows registered owners to hold their shares without the need for physical stock certificates. Holding shares in book-entry form eliminates the problems associated with paper certificates, such as storage and safety of certificates, and the requirement for physical movement of stock certificates at the time of sale or transfer of ownership. You will not receive a stock certificate representing your shares distributed pursuant to the spin-off. All distributed shares will be held in book-entry form.

 

 

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Q: Is the spin-off taxable for U.S. federal income tax purposes?

 

A: Potlatch Corporation has received a ruling from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service to the effect that the spin-off will be tax-free to Potlatch Corporation and to its U.S. common stockholders, except with respect to cash paid in lieu of fractional shares. See “The Spin-off—Important Federal Income Tax Consequences” beginning on page 24 for a more complete discussion of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the spin-off to Potlatch Corporation stockholders.

 

Q: How will the spin-off affect my tax basis in Potlatch Corporation common stock?

 

A: Your tax basis in the Potlatch Corporation common stock will be allocated between the Potlatch Corporation common stock and our common stock received in the spin-off in proportion to their relative fair market values on the date of the spin-off. Within a reasonable time after the spin-off is completed, Potlatch Corporation will provide information to U.S. taxpayers to enable them to compute their tax bases in both Potlatch Corporation and our common stock and other information they will need to report their receipt of our common stock on their 2008 U.S. federal income tax return as a tax-free transaction. See “The Spin-off—Important Federal Income Tax Consequences” beginning on page 24 for a more complete description of the effects on your tax basis.

 

Q: Where will I be able to trade your shares of common stock?

 

A: Currently there is no public market for our common stock. Our common stock has been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CLW.” We anticipate that trading in shares of our common stock will begin on a “when-issued” basis two trading days before the record date and before the spin-off date, and that “regular-way” trading will begin on the first trading day after the distribution date. If trading does begin on a “when-issued” basis, you may purchase or sell our common stock after that time, but your transaction will not settle until after the spin-off date. Shares of our common stock will generally be freely tradable after the spin-off date.

 

Q: Will the number of Potlatch Corporation shares I own change as a result of the spin-off?

 

A: No. The number of shares of Potlatch Corporation common stock you own will not change as a result of the spin-off.

 

Q: What will happen to the listing of Potlatch Corporation common stock?

 

A: Nothing. Potlatch Corporation common stock will continue to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PCH.”

 

Q: Will we have any debt after the spin-off?

 

A: Yes. We expect to have an obligation to pay the principal and interest on $100 million principal amount of debentures that mature on December 1, 2009 and we will immediately borrow $50 million under a new $125 million revolving credit facility and transfer such amount to a subsidiary of Potlatch Corporation. For more information on our obligation relating to the debentures and our new revolving credit facility, see the sections entitled “Our Relationship with Potlatch Corporation After the Spin-Off—Retained Obligation Agreement,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Capitalization,” and “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements.”

 

Q. Will I be paid any dividends on your common stock?

 

A: We expect that following the spin-off, we will pay cash dividends on our common stock. The declaration and amount of any dividends, however, will be determined by our board of directors and will depend on our earnings after the spin-off, the restrictions contained in our debt agreements regarding the payment of dividends and any other factors that our board believes are relevant.

 

 

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Q: Whom do I contact for information regarding you and the spin-off?

 

A: Before the spin-off, you should direct inquiries relating to the spin-off to:

Potlatch Corporation

Investor Relations

601 West First Avenue, Suite 1600

Spokane, WA 99201

Phone:    (509) 835-1500

Email:     investorinfo@potlatchcorp.com

After the spin-off, you should direct inquiries relating to an investment in our common stock to:

Clearwater Paper Corporation

601 W. Riverside Avenue, Suite 1100

Spokane, WA 99201

Phone:     (509) 344-5900

Email:     investorinfo@clearwaterpaper.com

After the spin-off, the transfer agent and registrar for our common stock will be:

BNY Mellon Shareowner Services

480 Washington Blvd

Jersey City, NJ 07310

Phone:    (866) 593-2351

 

 

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RISK FACTORS

You should carefully consider each of the following risks and all of the other information contained in this information statement. Some of the risks described below relate principally to our business and the industry in which we operate, while others relate principally to the spin-off. The remaining risks relate principally to the securities markets generally and ownership of our common stock.

Our business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks, and, as a result, the trading price of our common stock could decline.

Risks Related to Our Business

Changes in the cost and availability of wood fiber used in production of our products may adversely affect our results of operations and cash flow.

Wood fiber, primarily wood chips and sawdust, is the principal raw material for our pulp and paperboard products and, in 2007, accounted for 35% of our total costs of production. Wood chip and sawdust prices are at historically high levels. For example, our average cost per ton of wood chips and sawdust increased by 3%, from approximately $132 per ton in 2005 to approximately $136 per ton in 2006, and by 20% to approximately $163 per ton in 2007. In the first nine months of 2008, we experienced even higher costs, averaging approximately $204 per ton. In the event we are not able to pass increases in wood fiber costs along to our customers, our operating results would be significantly harmed.

Much of the wood fiber we use in our pulp manufacturing process is the by-product of lumber mill operations, particularly in Idaho. As a result, the price of these residual wood fibers is affected by operating levels in the lumber industry. Prices for these residual fibers are currently very high, largely because of limited supplies due to the slowdown or shutdown of lumber mill operations in the United States as a result of the home construction market downturn. The price of wood fiber is expected to remain high until the housing market recovers and lumber mill operations increase. In addition, we have had to locate new suppliers as some of the suppliers located near our Idaho facility have ceased operations, which has resulted in increased costs to us for transporting wood fiber to our Idaho facility. If we are not able to obtain wood fiber at favorable prices or at all, our financial results and operations would be materially adversely affected.

The cost of energy and chemicals needed for our manufacturing processes significantly affects our business.

Energy costs, including costs for natural gas and purchased electricity, accounted for approximately 9% of our total production costs in 2007 and 10% in the nine months ended September 30, 2008. While we produce internally a significant portion of the steam and electricity we consume at our Idaho facility, our energy costs have been rising. Our expenses for energy used in our manufacturing processes were $89.8 million in 2007, 5% higher than the $85.8 million we spent in 2006. In the first nine months of 2008, our energy costs were $84.7 million. In periods of high energy prices, market conditions may prevent us from passing higher energy costs on to our customers through price increases, and therefore increased costs could adversely affect our operating results. We purchase on the open market a substantial portion of the natural gas necessary to produce our products, and, as a result, the price and other terms of those purchases are subject to change based on factors such as worldwide supply and demand and government regulation. To help mitigate the exposure to market risk for changes in natural gas commodity pricing, we occasionally use firm-price contracts to supply a portion of our natural gas requirements. As of September 30, 2008, these contracts covered approximately 65% of the expected monthly natural gas requirements for our Pulp and Paperboard and Consumer Products segments for the remainder of 2008, plus lesser amounts for 2009 and 2010. Our energy costs in future periods will depend principally on our ability to produce a substantial portion of our electricity needs internally, on changes in market prices for natural gas and on reducing energy usage.

The supply of energy may be adversely affected by, among other things, hurricanes and other natural disasters or an outbreak or escalation of hostilities between the United States and any foreign power and, in particular, events in the Middle East. Any significant shortage or significant increase in our energy costs in

 

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circumstances where we cannot raise the price of our products could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Any disruption in the supply of energy could also affect our ability to meet customer demand in a timely manner and could harm our reputation. Furthermore, we may be required to post letters of credit or other financial assurance obligations with our natural gas suppliers, which could limit our financial flexibility.

We also use a variety of chemicals in our manufacturing processes, including latex and polyethylene, many of which are petroleum-based chemicals. Prices for these chemicals have been and are expected to remain volatile. In 2008, a supplier announced two separate price increases of the chemicals that we purchase from it, for an aggregate price increase of 50%. In addition, chemical suppliers that use petroleum-based products in the manufacture of their chemicals may, due to supply shortages and cost increases, ration the amount of chemicals available to us, and therefore we may not be able to obtain at favorable prices the chemicals we need to operate our business, if we are able to obtain them at all. Finally, certain specialty chemicals that we purchase are available only from a small number of suppliers. If any of these suppliers were to cease operations or cease doing business with us, we may be unable to obtain such chemicals at favorable prices, if at all.

Cyclical industry conditions have in the past affected and may continue to adversely affect the operating results and cash flow of our pulp and paperboard business.

The pulp and paperboard industries are highly cyclical. Historically, economic and market shifts, fluctuations in manufacturing capacity and changes in foreign currency exchange rates have created cyclical changes in prices, sales volumes and margins for our pulp and paperboard products. The length and magnitude of industry cycles have varied over time, but generally reflect changes in macroeconomic conditions and levels of industry manufacturing capacity. Pulp and most of our paperboard products are commodities that are widely available from other producers. Because commodity products have few distinguishing qualities from producer to producer, competition for these products is based primarily on price, which is determined by supply relative to demand.

Industry supply of pulp and paperboard products is primarily influenced by fluctuations in available manufacturing capacity. When manufacturing capacity is increased, there may be an oversupply of products in our industry which results in a weak pricing environment. During periods of oversupply, some producers may choose to idle or permanently close individual machines or entire mills. Alternatively, some producers may choose to continue to operate at a loss, sometimes even a cash loss, which could prolong weak pricing environments. Oversupply can also result from producers introducing new capacity in response to favorable short-term pricing trends.

Industry supply of pulp and paperboard products is also influenced by overseas production capacity, which has grown in recent years and is expected to continue to grow. While the weakness of the U.S. dollar has mitigated the levels of imports in recent years, strengthening of the U.S. dollar in the future could result in an increase in imports of pulp and paperboard products, putting downward pressure on prices. Variations in the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and other currencies may significantly affect our competitive position by making it more attractive for foreign producers to restart closed mills or increase production capacity.

The overall levels of demand for pulp and paperboard products reflect fluctuations in levels of end-user demand, which depend in part on general macroeconomic conditions in North America and worldwide. The market prices for pulp have increased recently, driven, in part, by increased demand for pulp from China. If demand for pulp and paperboard products decreases, the market price for these products will likely decrease.

Prices for our pulp and paperboard products are driven by many factors outside of our control, and we have little influence over the timing and extent of price changes. As a result, the price for any one or more of these products may fall below our production costs, requiring us to either incur losses on product sales or cease production at one or more of our manufacturing facilities. Our profitability with respect to these products depends on our ability to manage our cost structure, particularly wood fiber, chemical and energy costs, which represent the largest components of our operating costs and can fluctuate based upon factors beyond our control.

 

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If the prices of, or demand for, our pulp and paperboard products decline, or if our wood fiber, chemical, energy or other key production costs increase, or both, our sales and operating results could be materially and adversely affected.

Our consumer products business receives a substantial portion of its net sales from three customers, and the loss of, or a significant reduction in, orders from any of these customers would adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.

Our consumer products segment derived 59% of its net sales in 2007, and we derived 23% of our total net sales in 2007, from three customers. Sales to these three customers have represented more than 58% of segment net sales in each of the last three fiscal years. We do not have long-term contracts with any of these customers that ensure a continuing level of business from them. Our agreements with these customers are not exclusive and do not contain minimum volume commitments.

Our relationships with these three customers will depend on our ability to continue to meet their needs for quality products at competitive prices. If we lose one of these customers or if we experience a significant decline in the level of purchases by any of them, we would not be able to quickly replace the lost business volume and our operating results and business would be harmed. In addition, our focus on these large accounts could affect our ability to serve our smaller accounts, particularly when product supply is tight and we are not able to fully satisfy orders for these smaller accounts.

Intense competition could prevent us from increasing or sustaining our net sales and profitability.

The markets for our products are highly competitive, and companies that have substantially greater financial resources than we do compete with us in each market. Some of our competitors have advantages over us, including lower raw material and labor costs.

Our ability to successfully compete in the pulp and paperboard industry is influenced by a number of factors, including manufacturing capacity, general economic conditions and the availability and demand for paperboard substitutes. Our pulp and paperboard business competes with International Paper, MeadWestvaco, Georgia Pacific, Rock-Tenn and international producers, most of whom are much larger than us. Any increase in manufacturing capacity by any of these producers could result in overcapacity in the pulp and paperboard industry, which could cause downward pressure on pricing. In addition, customers could choose to use types of paperboard that we do not produce or could rely on alternative materials, such as plastic, for their products. An increased supply of any of these products could cause us to lower our prices or lose sales to competitors, either of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our consumer products business faces competition from companies that produce the same type of products that we produce or that produce alternative products that customers may use instead of our products. Our consumer products business competes with the branded tissue products producers, such as Procter & Gamble, and branded label producers who manufacture branded and private label products, such as Georgia-Pacific and Kimberly-Clark. These companies are far larger than us, have much greater sales, marketing and research and development resources than we do, and enjoy significant cost advantages due to economies of scale. Because of their size and resources, these companies may foresee market trends more accurately than we do and develop new technologies that render our products less attractive or obsolete. Further, none of these companies has aggressively pursued the grocery channel of the at-home private label tissue segment into which we sell most of our tissue products. If any of them elected to do so, our results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

Increases in our freight costs could have a material adverse effect on the gross margins of our business.

Our business, primarily our consumer products business, is substantially dependent on freight services to transport our products to our customers and deliver raw materials to us. In the nine months ended September 30,

 

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2008, freight costs for our business were 12% of our total production costs. The costs of these freight services are affected by increasing fuel prices. In recent months, we have incurred increased fuel surcharges, which are over and above the standard price quoted for these services. We have not been in the past and may not in the future be able to pass along part or all of these fuel surcharges to our customers. If we are unable to increase our prices to respond to increased fuel costs charged to us by our transportation providers, our gross margins may be materially adversely affected.

We depend on third parties for certain transportation services and any disruption in these services may have a material adverse effect on our business.

We rely primarily on third parties for transportation of our products to our customers and transportation of our raw materials to us. If any of our transportation providers fail to deliver raw materials to us in a timely manner, we may be unable to manufacture our products on a timely basis. Shipments of products and raw materials may be delayed due to weather conditions, strikes or other events. Any failure of a third-party transportation provider to deliver raw materials or products in a timely manner could harm our reputation, negatively impact our customer relationships and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are subject to significant environmental regulation and environmental compliance expenditures, which could increase our costs and subject us to liabilities.

We are subject to a wide range of general and industry-specific environmental laws and regulations, particularly with respect to air emissions, wastewater discharges, solid and hazardous waste management and chemicals contained in our products. Compliance with these laws and regulations is a significant factor in our business. We expect to continue to incur capital and operating expenditures to maintain compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations. Capital expenditures specifically designated for environmental compliance totaled approximately $2.0 million during 2007 and are expected to be approximately $1.2 million in 2008.

Our failure to comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations and permit requirements could result in civil or criminal fines or penalties or enforcement actions, including regulatory or judicial orders enjoining or curtailing operations or requiring corrective measures, installation of pollution control equipment, remedial actions or product recalls or labeling. We may be liable under environmental laws for cleanup and other costs and damages, including tort liability, resulting from past or present spills or releases of hazardous or toxic substances on or from our mills. Liability under these laws may be imposed without regard to whether we knew of, or were responsible for, the presence of such substances on our property, and, in some cases, may not be limited to the value of the property.

We believe that our facilities and operations are currently in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations. We cannot assure you, however, that situations that may give rise to material environmental liabilities will not be discovered or that the enactment of new environmental laws or regulations or changes in existing laws or regulations will not require significant expenditures by us. There can be no assurance that internally generated funds or other sources of liquidity and capital will be sufficient to fund unforeseen environmental liabilities or expenditures.

Our business and financial performance may be harmed by future labor disruptions.

As of September 30, 2008, approximately 66% of our workforce was unionized. During 2009, one collective bargaining agreement will expire covering approximately 245 employees. As a result, there is a risk of work stoppage due to strikes or walkouts. Any significant work stoppage as a result of failure to successfully negotiate new collective bargaining agreements could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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We regularly incur significant expenses to maintain our manufacturing equipment and any interruption in the operations of our facilities may affect our operating performance.

We regularly incur significant expenses to maintain our manufacturing equipment. The machines and equipment that we use to produce our products are complex, have many parts and some are run on a continuous basis. We must perform routine maintenance on our machines and have to periodically replace a variety of parts such as motors, pumps, pipes and electrical parts. In 2007, equipment maintenance and repair expenses were $44.0 million in our pulp and paperboard segment and $13.6 million in our consumer products segment. If our business does not generate sufficient cash flows from operations to fund our ongoing maintenance requirements, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially harmed.

In addition, our pulp and paperboard mills require periodic shutdowns to perform major maintenance. We generally schedule shutdowns of our Idaho pulp and paperboard mill for up to a week each year. Scheduled shutdowns of our Arkansas pulp and paperboard mill occur every 18 months and typically last up to a week. These scheduled shutdowns of our pulp and paperboard mills result in decreased sales and increased costs in the quarter in which the shutdown occurs.

Unexpected production disruptions could also cause us to shut down any of our mills. Those disruptions could occur due to any number of circumstances, including shortages of raw materials, disruptions in the availability of transportation, labor disputes and mechanical or process failures. In addition, the geographic areas where our production is located and where we conduct our business may be affected by natural disasters, including snow and ice storms, forest fires and flooding. Any mill shutdowns may be followed by prolonged startup periods, regardless of the reason for the shutdown. Those startup periods could range from several days to several weeks, depending on the reason for the shutdown and other factors. Furthermore, during periods of weak demand for our products, we have in the past and may in the future experience market-related downtime. The shutdown of any of our mills for a substantial period of time for any reason could harm our results of operations.

Our obligations under the retained obligation agreement could have a negative impact on our financing options and liquidity position.

In connection with the spin-off, we will be retaining the obligation, which we assumed in 2005, to pay the interest and principal on $100 million principal amount of debentures previously issued by an affiliate of Potlatch Corporation that will become due and payable in full in December 2009. In addition, we intend to immediately draw $50 million from our new $125 million revolving credit facility and transfer such amount to a subsidiary of Potlatch Corporation. As a result, following the spin-off, we will have approximately $150 million principal amount of debt outstanding.

The interest rate that we will be required to pay on the debentures, currently 13%, is based on Potlatch Corporation’s credit ratings applicable to the debentures. If Potlatch Corporation’s credit ratings decline, we could be required to pay interest on the debentures at an interest rate as high as 14.0%. We have no control over whether the interest rate on the debentures will increase.

We are required to use commercially reasonable efforts to issue, as soon as reasonably practical, debt or equity securities, or to borrow money from one or more financial institutions or other lenders, on terms reasonably acceptable to us, in an aggregate amount sufficient to pay all amounts owing under the debentures. We may not be able to obtain such financing on commercially reasonable terms or at all, in which case we would be required to use cash from our operations to pay the obligations or incur indebtedness to Potlatch Corporation that would bear an increased interest rate and be secured by certain of our assets. In addition, we will have to apply the proceeds from future debt or equity issuance, or asset sales in excess of $50 million to satisfy our obligations under the retained obligation agreement. Our obligation to pay the amounts due on the debentures or any indebtedness to Potlatch Corporation arising by virtue of our inability to make payments due on the debentures may:

 

   

limit our ability to obtain additional financing in the future for working capital, capital expenditures and acquisitions;

 

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require us to dedicate a significant portion of our cash flow from operations to paying the principal of and interest on our indebtedness, thereby limiting the availability of our cash flow to fund future capital expenditures, working capital and other corporate purposes;

 

   

limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business;

 

   

place us at a competitive disadvantage compared with competitors that have less debt;

 

   

make it more difficult or infeasible for us to pay our anticipated cash dividends;

 

   

limit, along with the financial and other restrictive covenants in our revolving credit agreement, among other things, our ability to borrow additional funds; and

 

   

make us more vulnerable to economic downturns and limit our ability to withstand competitive pressures.

Our business will suffer if we are unable to effectively respond to changes in demand for some of our products or implement our strategies.

We have in the past and may in the future experience changes in demand for our products. Our ability to compete successfully depends on our ability to adjust to increases and decreases in demand. For example, our consumer products business is currently experiencing a high demand for napkins and we have had to outsource part of our napkin production to a third party, which increases our costs. If we are unable to implement our business strategies to respond to changes in demand, we may need to limit deliveries of some orders for existing customers, which would harm our reputation and our long-term relationships with these customers. Alternatively, if we experience a decrease in demand for certain products, we may incur significant costs in revising our manufacturing plan and restructuring our manufacturing equipment. If we are not able to respond to changes in demand for our products in a timely manner, our financial position and results of operations will be adversely affected.

In addition, our success depends in part upon our ability to implement our strategies, including the possibility of opening a tissue facility or facilities on the East Coast. The costs associated with establishing a facility or facilities on the East Coast would be significant. Should we choose to pursue this option, there is no assurance that the new facilities will successfully achieve our goal of expanding our customer base to include East Coast retailers or that the new facilities would generate a positive internal rate of return. Additionally, the costs associated with establishing the facilities could negatively impact our cash flows and earnings in the short-term. Further, adding new facilities on the East Coast would increase our exposure to other risks, including labor disputes, environmental risks and interruptions in the operations of our facilities to the extent that the new facilities would be subject to such risks.

We will have significant indebtedness and future federal and state deferred tax liabilities after the spin-off, which will require a significant amount of cash to service and pay. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash to pay our obligations or fund our liquidity needs, our business may be materially adversely affected.

We expect that immediately after the spin-off, our indebtedness will be approximately $150 million. Our ability to make payments on, to refinance our indebtedness and to fund capital expenditures, acquisitions and development efforts, will depend on our ability to generate cash. A number of factors that affect our ability to generate cash are beyond our control, including economic, financial, competitive and other factors.

As of December 31, 2007, we had a deferred tax liability of approximately $111.6 million with respect to the difference between the book and tax basis of our fixed assets. It is anticipated that this liability will become a current tax liability beginning in 2009 at the rate of approximately $10 million per year. In addition, we have other less significant deferred tax balances relating to temporary differences that will impact current taxes payable in future periods.

We cannot assure you that our business will generate sufficient cash flows from operations or that future borrowings will be available to us under our new revolving credit facility in amounts sufficient to enable us to

 

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service our indebtedness, including our obligations under the retained obligation agreement, our additional tax liabilities or other liquidity needs or that there will not be material adverse developments in our business, liquidity or capital requirements. If our future cash flows from operating activities and other capital resources are insufficient to pay our obligations as they mature or to fund our liquidity needs, we may be forced to reduce or delay business activities, sell assets, obtain additional debt or equity capital, restructure or refinance all or a portion of our debt. We cannot assure you that we would be able to implement any of these alternatives on a timely basis or on satisfactory terms, if at all. In addition, the terms of future debt financings could involve restrictive covenants that limit our ability to pursue these alternatives.

Risks Relating to the Spin-off

Our financial information may not be fully representative of our results as a stand-alone public company.

Potlatch Corporation did not account for us, and we were not operated, as a stand-alone public company for the periods presented in our combined financial statements included in this information statement. Our combined financial statements have been carved out from Potlatch Corporation’s consolidated financial statements and reflect assumptions and allocations made by Potlatch Corporation and prescribed by generally accepted accounting principles. Our combined financial statements do not fully represent what our financial position, results of operations and cash flow would have been had we operated as a stand-alone public company during the periods presented. We have not made adjustments to reflect the many significant changes that will occur in our capital structure, cost structure, funding and operations as a result of our separation from Potlatch Corporation, including the debt and interest expense we will have associated with our new revolving credit facility, increased costs associated with reduced economies of scale and other costs associated with being a stand-alone public company. As a result, the historical and pro forma information included in this information statement is not necessarily indicative of what our financial position, results of operations and cash flow may be following the separation. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements” and our combined financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this information statement.

We have not previously operated as an independent, public company.

We have not previously operated as an independent, public company and our management has no experience, as a group, in operating our business as a stand-alone entity. Following the spin-off, we will be fully responsible for arranging our own funding, managing all of our own administrative and employee arrangements and supervising all of our legal and financial affairs, including publicly reported financial statements. We will adopt separate stock-based and performance-based incentive plans for our employees and will develop our own compliance and administrative procedures necessary for a publicly held company. We anticipate that our success in these endeavors will depend substantially upon the ability of our senior management and other key employees to work together. In addition, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer are new to us and do not have a history of operating our businesses. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that as an independent company our aggregate results of operations will continue at the same level. Additionally, we depend on our senior management. The loss of services of members of our senior management team could adversely affect our business until suitable replacements can be found. There may be a limited number of persons with the requisite skills to serve in these positions and we may be unable to locate or employ qualified personnel on acceptable terms. In addition, our future success requires us to continue to attract and retain competent personnel.

The requirements of being a stand-alone public company will increase certain of our costs and require significant management focus.

As a stand-alone public company, we will incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses associated with compliance-related and other activities. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, related SEC rules and the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, regulate corporate governance practices of public companies. We have had no

 

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experience as, and our management has limited experience managing, a public company, and our separation from Potlatch Corporation will result in loss of access to Potlatch Corporation’s resources and experience in this area. Compliance with these requirements will also result in other costs and obligations and make some activities more time-consuming. For example, in connection with the spin-off, we will create new board committees and will adopt internal controls and disclosure controls and procedures. In addition, we will incur additional expenses associated with our SEC reporting requirements and other securities law compliance measures. Under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, for our annual report on Form 10-K for the first full fiscal year after the spin-off, we will need to document and test our internal control procedures and our management will need to assess and report on our internal control over financial reporting. Furthermore, if we identify any issues in complying with those requirements, we could incur additional costs rectifying those issues, and the existence of those issues could adversely affect us, our reputation or investor perceptions. Our prospects must be considered in light of the risks, difficulties and expenses encountered by newly public companies. Costs to obtain director and officer liability insurance will contribute to our increased costs. As a result of the associated liability, it may be more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified persons to serve on our board of directors or as executive officers. Advocacy efforts by stockholders and third parties may also prompt even more changes in governance and reporting requirements.

The transition services Potlatch Corporation will provide to us following the spin-off may not be sufficient to meet our needs, and we may have difficulty finding replacement services or be required to pay increased costs to replace these services after our agreements with Potlatch Corporation expire.

For a limited period of time following the spin-off, Potlatch Corporation has agreed to provide certain transition services to us, including employee benefits administration and payroll, management information systems services, and treasury and accounting services.

After the expiration of the transition services agreement, we may not be able to replace the transition services or enter into appropriate third-party agreements on terms and conditions, including cost, comparable to those we will receive from Potlatch Corporation under this agreement. While transition services are being provided by Potlatch Corporation to us, our operational flexibility to modify or implement changes with respect to the services covered will be limited.

Potlatch Corporation historically has provided us, directly or through its own vendor relationships, with insurance coverage, banking services, health and other insurance benefits for our employees and employee benefit plans, as well as with its expertise in certain areas of our operations. After the spin-off, we will be responsible for securing all of our own management, financing, legal and other similar resources.

Although we have made arrangements to replace portions of the services currently provided by Potlatch Corporation, we may encounter difficulties replacing other services or be unable to negotiate pricing or other terms as favorable as those we currently have in effect. See “Our Relationship with Potlatch Corporation after the Spin-off ” beginning on page 30.

The terms of agreements that we will enter into with Potlatch Corporation in connection with the spin-off will be established at a time when we are a wholly owned subsidiary of Potlatch Corporation and, accordingly, the terms of these agreements may not be as favorable to us as they might have been had they been negotiated by persons fully independent of Potlatch Corporation.

In connection with the spin-off, we will enter into various agreements with Potlatch Corporation regarding our relationship with Potlatch Corporation following the spin-off, including a separation and distribution agreement, retained obligation agreement, transition services agreement, employee matters agreement, tax sharing agreement, lease and option agreement and supply agreements. These agreements address important matters, such as allocation of assets, liabilities, rights, indemnifications and other obligations between Potlatch Corporation and us. The terms of these agreements were negotiated while we were a wholly owned subsidiary of Potlatch Corporation, although these agreements are intended to reflect arms-length terms and the pricing

 

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provisions of our supply agreements are based on market pricing. These agreements may not be as favorable to us as they might have been had they been negotiated by persons with no relationship to Potlatch Corporation.

If the spin-off is determined to be taxable for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we, our stockholders, and Potlatch Corporation could incur significant U.S. federal income tax liabilities.

Potlatch Corporation has received a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, that the spin-off will qualify for tax-free treatment under applicable sections of the Code. In addition, Potlatch Corporation expects to receive an opinion from tax counsel that the spin-off so qualifies. The opinion from tax counsel will rely on the private letter ruling obtained from the IRS. As a result, the tax opinion is not expected to be issued until after the date of this information statement. In addition, the IRS ruling relies and the opinion will rely on certain representations, assumptions, and undertakings, including those relating to the past and future conduct of our business, and neither the IRS ruling nor the opinion would be valid if such representations, assumptions, and undertakings were incorrect. Moreover, the IRS private letter ruling does not address all the issues that are relevant to determining whether the spin-off will qualify for tax-free treatment. Notwithstanding the IRS private letter ruling and opinion, the IRS could determine that the spin-off should be treated as a taxable transaction if it determines that any of the representations, assumptions, or undertakings that were included in the request for the private letter ruling are false or have been violated or if it disagrees with the conclusions in the opinion that are not covered by the IRS ruling.

If the spin-off fails to qualify for tax-free treatment, Potlatch Corporation would be subject to tax as if it had sold our common stock in a taxable sale for its fair market value, and our initial public stockholders would be subject to tax as if they had received a taxable distribution equal to the fair market value of our common stock that was distributed to them. Under the tax sharing agreement between Potlatch Corporation and us, we will generally be required to indemnify Potlatch Corporation against (1) any tax resulting from the spin-off (including any tax that would result if Potlatch Corporation were to fail to qualify as a REIT, as a result of income recognized by Potlatch Corporation if the spin-off were determined to be taxable) to the extent that such tax resulted from an issuance of our equity securities, a redemption of our equity securities, or our involvement in other acquisitions of our equity securities, (2) other actions or failures to act by us, or (3) any of our representations or undertakings being incorrect or violated. For a more detailed discussion, see the section entitled “Our Relationship with Potlatch Corporation after the Spin-off—Tax Sharing Agreement” on page 35. Our indemnification obligations to Potlatch Corporation and its subsidiaries, officers, and directors are not limited by any maximum amount. If we are required to indemnify Potlatch Corporation or such other persons under the circumstances set forth in the tax sharing agreement, we may be subject to substantial liabilities.

We must abide by certain restrictions to preserve the tax-free treatment of the spin-off and may not be able to engage in desirable acquisitions and other strategic transactions following the spin-off.

To preserve the tax-free treatment of the spin-off to Potlatch Corporation and its stockholders, under a tax sharing agreement that we will enter into with Potlatch Corporation, for the two-year period following the distribution, we may be prohibited, except with the consent of Potlatch Corporation or in connection with the issuance of equity securities to our employees for compensatory purposes, from:

 

   

issuing equity securities to satisfy financing needs if such issuance would represent a 50% or greater interest in us;

 

   

acquiring businesses or assets with equity securities if such issuance would represent a 50% or greater interest in us; or

 

   

engaging in mergers or asset transfers that could jeopardize the tax-free status of the distribution.

 

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These restrictions may limit our ability to pursue strategic transactions or engage in new business or other transactions that may maximize the value of our business. For more information, see the sections entitled “The Spin-off—Important Federal Income Tax Consequences” beginning on page 24.

Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock

There has been no prior market for our common stock, and we cannot guarantee that our stock price will not decline after the spin-off.

There has been no prior trading market for our common stock, and we cannot predict the price at which our common stock will trade after the spin-off date. The price at which our common stock trades is likely to fluctuate significantly, particularly until an orderly market develops. Prices for our common stock will be determined in the trading markets and may be influenced by many factors, including:

 

   

our financial results;

 

   

developments generally affecting the pulp, paperboard and tissue industries;

 

   

the performance of each of our three business segments;

 

   

our capital structure, including the amount of our indebtedness;

 

   

general economic, industry and market conditions;

 

   

the depth and liquidity of the market for our common stock;

 

   

fluctuations in currency exchange rates;

 

   

our dividend policy;

 

   

investor perception of our business and us; and

 

   

the impact of the factors referred to elsewhere in “Risk Factors.”

In addition, the stock market regularly experiences significant price and volume fluctuations. This volatility has had a significant impact on the market price of securities issued by many companies, including companies in our industry. The changes frequently appear to occur without regard to the operating performance of the affected companies. Hence, the price of our common stock could fluctuate based upon factors that have little or nothing to do with us, and these fluctuations could materially reduce our share price.

A trading market may not develop for shares of our common stock, which could adversely affect the market price of those shares.

There is currently no trading market for shares of our common stock. Our common stock has been approved for listing on the NYSE under the symbol “CLW.” However, there can be no assurance that a trading market for our shares will develop or be sustained after the completion of the spin-off.

Certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and of Delaware law, and our anticipated rights plan, may make it difficult for stockholders to change the composition of our board of directors and may discourage hostile takeover attempts that some of our stockholders may consider to be beneficial.

Certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and of Delaware law, and our anticipated rights plan, may have the effect of delaying or preventing changes in control if our board of directors determines that such changes in control are not in the best interests of us and our stockholders. The provisions in our certificate or incorporation and bylaws include, among other things, the following:

 

   

a classified board of directors with three-year staggered terms;

 

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the ability of our board of directors to issue shares of preferred stock and to determine the price and other terms, including preferences and voting rights, of those shares without stockholder approval;

 

   

stockholder action can only be taken at a special or regular meeting and not by written consent;

 

   

advance notice procedures for nominating candidates to our board of directors or presenting matters at stockholder meetings;

 

   

removal of directors only for cause;

 

   

allowing only our board of directors to fill vacancies on our board of directors; and

 

   

supermajority voting requirements to amend our bylaws and certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation.

In addition, our anticipated rights plan would cause substantial dilution to any person or group who attempts to acquire a significant interest in us without advance approval from our board of directors.

While these provisions and our anticipated rights plan have the effect of encouraging persons seeking to acquire control of our company to negotiate with our board of directors, they could enable the board of directors to hinder or frustrate a transaction that some, or a majority, of the stockholders might believe to be in their best interests and, in that case, may prevent or discourage attempts to remove and replace incumbent directors. We are also subject to Delaware laws that could have similar effects. One of these laws prohibits us from engaging in a business combination with a significant stockholder unless specific conditions are met. For more information, see “Description of Capital Stock” beginning on page 112.

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This information statement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements are contained principally in the sections entitled “Summary,” “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Business.” These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about:

 

   

the impact of the spin-off;

 

   

the terms of our agreements with Potlatch Corporation;

 

   

raw material, energy and other costs;

 

   

our product mix of our sales and sources of our net sales;

 

   

our company strategies;

 

   

our costs and expenses;

 

   

general economic conditions in the United States and internationally;

 

   

changes in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and other currencies;

 

   

the competitive environment;

 

   

changes in laws, regulations or industry standards affecting our business;

 

   

our tax ruling received from the IRS;

 

   

fluctuations in the market for our equity; and

 

   

the elements of our executive compensation program.

In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “objective,” “intend,” “should,” “could,” “can,” “would,” “expect,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “project,” “plan,” or the negative of these terms, and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We discuss many of these risks in this information statement in greater detail under the heading “Risk Factors.” Also, these forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this information statement. Unless required by U.S. federal securities laws, we do not intend to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the statement is made.

You should read this information statement and our registration statement on Form 10 and the documents that we reference therein and have filed as exhibits to the registration statement, of which this information statement is a part, completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.

Industry Data

This information statement contains statistical data that we obtained from industry publications and Information Resources, Inc., as well as three reports dated March 2008, April 2008 and June 2008 generated by RISI, Inc. These industry publications and reports generally indicate that they have obtained their information from sources believed to be reliable, but do not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of their information. Although we believe that the publications and reports are reliable, we have not independently verified their data.

 

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THE SPIN-OFF

Background and Reasons for the Spin-off

The board of directors of Potlatch Corporation regularly reviews the various businesses conducted by Potlatch Corporation to ensure that resources are deployed and activities are pursued in the best interests of its stockholders. On April 17, 2008, Potlatch Corporation announced that its board of directors authorized management to evaluate a potential tax-free spin-off of our businesses and on December 1, 2008, Potlatch Corporation announced that its board of directors approved the distribution of our common stock to Potlatch Corporation’s stockholders in a tax-free spin-off. In making the determination to spin off our business, the board of directors of Potlatch Corporation acknowledged that the principal focus of Potlatch Corporation is on enhancing its position as a REIT. Potlatch Corporation owns approximately 1.7 million acres of forestland in Arkansas, Idaho, Minnesota and Wisconsin and expects to derive most of its income from, and devote most of its available capital to, its investments in forestland. The board of directors of Potlatch Corporation recognized that the spin-off would permit us to focus our attention and financial resources on our pulp and paperboard and consumer products businesses.

Our business and the businesses of Potlatch Corporation have distinct operational and financial characteristics. We are focused on manufacturing and selling premium bleached paperboard for the high-end segment of the packaging industry, softwood market pulp and slush pulp, which is used as a basis for our paper and tissue products. We are also focused on our consumer products business which manufactures at-home tissue products, such as facial and bath tissue, paper towels and napkins, which are sold on a private label basis. Potlatch Corporation is focused on enhancing its position as a REIT and using its investments in approximately 1.7 million acres of forestland to generate its income.

In the future, we and Potlatch Corporation expect significantly different business challenges. In order to be successful as a REIT, Potlatch Corporation must concentrate on the management of its forestland. In order for our business to be successful as a pulp, paperboard and consumer tissue manufacturing company, we must find ways to maximize efficiencies in operating our manufacturing facilities and expanding our business.

Our business represented approximately 71% of Potlatch Corporation’s consolidated net sales in the year ending December 31, 2007, and has required substantial attention from Potlatch Corporation’s senior management, who must understand the markets, customer bases and manufacturing challenges for each of its businesses in order to make decisions with respect to those businesses. Within Potlatch Corporation, our business has competed with the other more traditional timber REIT businesses for management attention and capital.

We and Potlatch Corporation believe that our separation will provide both companies with certain opportunities and benefits, including the following:

 

   

Business and Management Focus. Each company will be better able to focus its attention and resources on its own distinct core businesses and challenges so that it can pursue the most appropriate long-term growth opportunities and business strategies. Each company will be able to realign its management structure to better focus on its product markets and business opportunities.

 

   

Capital Flexibility. In the future, each company will be able to invest its available cash flow into the growth of its business, and we will not have to compete with the Potlatch Corporation businesses for available capital. In addition, both we and Potlatch Corporation will be able to allocate capital and tailor our respective capital structures in a manner that is more closely connected to the cycles, volatility and needs of our particular business. Subject to the limitations contained in the tax sharing agreement, we will also have direct access to the public capital markets to allow us to seek financing for our operations and growth.

 

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Employee Incentives. Both companies will be able to develop more focused incentive programs to better attract and retain key employees through the use of stock and performance-based incentive plans. These plans will be designed to reward employees based on each company’s performance against a more comparable peer group.

 

   

Market Recognition. The investment community, including analysts, stockholders and prospective investors in each company, will be better able to evaluate the merits and future prospects of each company, thereby enhancing the likelihood that each company will receive appropriate market recognition of its performance and potential. This should improve the equity valuation of each company, thereby allowing each company to pursue acquisitions more aggressively and issue equity-based compensation more efficiently.

Transactions Prior to the Spin-off

We were formed in 2005 under the name Potlatch Forest Products Corporation in connection with Potlatch Corporation’s REIT conversion on January 1, 2006. In connection with the REIT conversion, the following transactions occurred:

 

   

Potlatch Corporation transferred to Potlatch Forest Products Corporation all of its manufacturing facilities that produce bleached pulp products, including paperboard and tissue products, and wood products, as well as Potlatch Corporation’s harvest and log sales and real estate sales and development businesses; and

 

   

Potlatch Forest Products Corporation assumed the obligation to pay approximately $335 million of Potlatch Corporation’s indebtedness to third parties, which we refer to as the REIT Conversion Indebtedness. The REIT Conversion Indebtedness, issued by an affiliate of Potlatch Corporation, was comprised of $100 million of principal amount debentures, approximately $77 million principal amount of notes and $158 million principal amount of industrial revenue bonds. As of September 30, 2008, the outstanding principal balance of the REIT Conversion Indebtedness was approximately $321 million.

Although Potlatch Forest Products Corporation was not the issuer of the REIT Conversion Indebtedness, the agreement for it to assume the obligation to pay the REIT Conversion Indebtedness was made after Potlatch Corporation evaluated its overall capital structure and capitalization. This evaluation took into consideration the extent to which the proceeds of the REIT Conversion Indebtedness were used in connection with the manufacturing assets transferred to Potlatch Forest Products Corporation in 2005 and the ability of Potlatch Forest Products Corporation to make payments on the REIT Conversion Indebtedness.

Prior to or concurrently with the spin-off, the following transactions will occur:

 

   

we will transfer the real estate sales and development business, the harvest and log sales business and the wood products operations, other than the lumber products operations located in Lewiston, Idaho, to a newly formed subsidiary, or NewCo. We will retain the pulp and paperboard and consumer tissue operations and the lumber mill in Lewiston, Idaho. We are retaining this single lumber mill because its operations are integrated with our pulp and paperboard and tissue operations located at the same manufacturing site;

 

   

NewCo will assume the obligation to pay the REIT Conversion Indebtedness that is outstanding at the time of the spin-off, except that we will retain the obligation to pay principal and interest on the $100 million of debentures that mature on December 1, 2009. We will have no obligations with respect to the notes or industrial revenue bonds that comprise the remaining balance of the REIT Conversion Indebtedness;

 

   

we will draw $50 million in cash on our revolving credit facility and transfer that amount to NewCo; and

 

   

we will distribute all outstanding equity of NewCo to Potlatch Corporation.

 

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Our combined financial statements included in this information statement have been carved out from Potlatch Corporation’s consolidated financial statements under generally accepted accounting principles and reflect only the assets, liabilities and operating results of the businesses that we will hold following the spin-off. Accordingly, our combined financial statements do not reflect assets and liabilities referred to above that will not be part of our business at the time of the spin-off or the operating results of businesses that will be transferred to Potlatch Corporation prior to the spin-off.

Manner of Effecting the Spin-off

The general terms and conditions relating to the spin-off are set forth in the separation and distribution agreement between Potlatch Corporation and us. For a description of that agreement, see “Our Relationship with Potlatch Corporation after the Spin-off—Separation and Distribution Agreement” beginning on page 30.

On the distribution date, Potlatch Corporation will effect the spin-off by delivering all of the outstanding shares of our common stock to BNY Mellon, as spin-off agent, for distribution to the holders of record of Potlatch Corporation common stock at the close of business on the record date. The distribution will be made in book-entry form on the basis of one share of our common stock for every 3.5 shares of Potlatch Corporation common stock held on the record date of December 9, 2008.

A book-entry account statement reflecting your ownership of whole shares of our common stock will be mailed to you, or your brokerage account will be credited for the shares, on or about December 17, 2008. You will receive a check, or a credit to your brokerage account, for the cash equivalent of any fractional shares you otherwise would have received in the spin-off. The distribution agent will, on or after the distribution date, aggregate and sell all of those fractional interests on the open market at then applicable market prices and distribute the aggregate proceeds ratably to Potlatch Corporation stockholders otherwise entitled to those fractional interests. Potlatch Corporation will pay all brokers’ fees and commissions in connection with the sale of fractional interests. If you own less than 3.5 shares of common stock of Potlatch Corporation on the record date, you will not receive any shares of our stock in the spin-off, but you will receive cash in lieu of fractional shares. See “The Spin-off—Important Federal Income Tax Consequences” below for a discussion of the U.S. federal income tax treatment of proceeds from fractional shares.

Results of the Separation and Spin-off

After the spin-off, we will be an independent public company owning and operating our pulp and paperboard and consumer products businesses and our lumber operations in Lewiston, Idaho. Immediately after the spin-off, we expect to have approximately 1,300 holders of shares of our common stock and approximately 11.3 million shares of our common stock issued and outstanding based on the spin-off ratio described above and the anticipated number of beneficial stockholders and outstanding Potlatch Corporation shares on October 31, 2008. The actual number of shares to be distributed will be determined based on the number of Potlatch Corporation shares outstanding on the record date.

The spin-off will not affect the number of outstanding Potlatch Corporation shares or any rights of Potlatch Corporation stockholders, although it may affect the market value of the outstanding Potlatch Corporation common shares.

Important Federal Income Tax Consequences

The following summary discusses material U.S. federal income tax consequences to certain Potlatch Corporation stockholders who receive our stock in the spin-off. This discussion is based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury regulations, published positions of the IRS, judicial decisions and other applicable authorities, all as currently in effect, and all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations, possibly with retroactive effect. Any such change could affect the accuracy of this discussion. The discussion does not address the effects of the spin-off under any state, local, or foreign tax laws.

 

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The discussion assumes that Potlatch Corporation stockholders hold their Potlatch Corporation common stock, and will hold our stock, as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code. Further, the discussion does not constitute tax advice and does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to a particular stockholder in light of his, her, or its personal investment circumstances or to stockholders subject to special treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws such as:

 

   

insurance companies;

 

   

tax-exempt organizations;

 

   

dealers in securities or foreign currency;

 

   

banks or trusts;

 

   

cooperatives;

 

   

foreign individuals

 

   

foreign entities and their owners, stockholders, partners, or beneficiaries;

 

   

persons that hold Potlatch Corporation common stock as part of a straddle, a hedge against currency risk, a constructive sale or conversion transaction;

 

   

persons that have a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar;

 

   

investors in pass-through entities;

 

   

holders who acquired their Potlatch Corporation common stock through the exercise of options or otherwise as compensation or through a tax-qualified retirement plan; or

 

   

holders of options or restricted shares granted under any Potlatch Corporation benefit plan.

YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR OWN TAX ADVISOR REGARDING THE SPECIFIC TAX CONSEQUENCES TO YOU OF THE SPIN-OFF, INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND FOREIGN INCOME AND OTHER TAX LAWS, IN LIGHT OF YOUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE EFFECT OF POSSIBLE CHANGES IN LAW THAT MIGHT AFFECT THE TAX CONSEQUENCES DESCRIBED IN THIS INFORMATION STATEMENT.

Potlatch Corporation has received a ruling from the IRS that the pre-spin-off separation transactions and the spin-off of our common stock to Potlatch Corporation’s stockholders will qualify as tax-free transactions under Sections 368(a)(1)(D) and 355 of the Code. This ruling provides that for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

   

Potlatch Corporation will not recognize any gain or loss upon the separation transactions or the spin-off;

 

   

except as discussed below with respect to cash received in lieu of fractional shares of our stock, no gain or loss will be recognized by, or be included in the income of, a holder of Potlatch Corporation common stock solely as the result of the receipt of our common stock in the spin-off;

 

   

the aggregate tax basis of the Potlatch Corporation common stock and our common stock in the hands of Potlatch Corporation stockholders immediately after the spin-off will be the same as the tax basis of the Potlatch Corporation common stock immediately before the spin-off, allocated between the Potlatch Corporation common stock and our common stock in proportion to their relative fair market values on the date of the spin-off;

 

   

the holding period of our common stock received by Potlatch Corporation stockholders will include the holding period of their Potlatch Corporation common stock, provided that such Potlatch Corporation common stock is held as a capital asset on the date of the spin-off; and

 

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stockholders of Potlatch Corporation who receive cash from the spin-off agent in lieu of fractional shares will recognize gain or loss on the sale of the fractional share interest in an amount equal to the difference between the cash received and the stockholder’s tax basis in the fractional share interest. The gain or loss will be capital gain or loss to the stockholder provided the fractional share interest is a capital asset in the hands of the stockholder.

Although a ruling relating to the qualification of the separation of our business from Potlatch Corporation and spin-off of our common stock to Potlatch Corporation stockholders as a tax-free transaction is generally binding on the IRS, the continuing validity of the ruling is subject to factual representations and assumptions. Under its current policy, the IRS will not issue a ruling that three key requirements for a tax-free Section 355 spin-off are met. Specifically, the IRS will not rule that a spin-off was effected for a valid business purpose, that the spin-off does not constitute a device for the distribution of earnings and profits, or that the spin-off is not part of a plan described in Section 355(e) of the Code, which is described below. Instead, Potlatch Corporation represented to the IRS that there is a valid business purpose for the spin-off, the spin-off is not being used as a device for the distribution of earnings and profits and that the spin-off is not part of a plan described in Section 355(e) of the Code. If the factual representations and assumptions are incorrect or inaccurate in any material respect, the ruling could be retroactively revoked or modified by the IRS. Neither we nor Potlatch Corporation are aware of any facts or circumstances that would cause any of such representations and assumptions to be untrue or incomplete in any material respect.

In connection with obtaining the ruling, Potlatch Corporation expects to obtain an opinion from tax counsel regarding legal conclusions supporting certain representations made to the IRS. The opinion will be expressed as of the date issued and will not cover subsequent periods. The opinion from tax counsel will rely on the private letter ruling obtained from the IRS. As a result, the tax opinion is not expected to be issued until after the date of this information statement. Further, the opinion of counsel will be based on, among other things, current law and certain assumptions and representations as to factual matters made by Potlatch Corporation, which if incorrect in certain material respects would jeopardize the conclusions reached by counsel in its opinion. Potlatch Corporation and we are not currently aware of any facts or circumstances that would cause such assumptions and representations to be untrue or incorrect in any material respect or that would jeopardize the conclusions reached by counsel in its opinion. Counsel will have no obligation to advise us or our stockholders of any subsequent change in the matters stated, represented, or assumed, or of any subsequent change in applicable law. The opinion of counsel will not bind the courts or the IRS, nor will they preclude the IRS from asserting a position contrary to those expressed in the opinion.

If the spin-off does not qualify as a tax-free transaction, Potlatch Corporation would recognize taxable gain equal to the excess of the fair market value of our common stock distributed to Potlatch Corporation stockholders over Potlatch Corporation’s tax basis in our common stock. Such gain could cause Potlatch Corporation to fail to qualify as a REIT, in which case: (i) Potlatch Corporation would be subject to corporate-level tax, including any applicable alternative minimum tax on its taxable income at regular corporate tax rates (currently up to 35 percent); and (ii) Potlatch Corporation would be disqualified from reelecting to be taxed as a REIT during the four years following the year in which it failed to qualify as a REIT. As a result, Potlatch Corporation could be subject to substantial tax liability if the failure of the spin-off to qualify for tax-free treatment causes Potlatch Corporation to fail to qualify as a REIT. In addition, each stockholder who receives our common stock in the spin-off would generally be treated as receiving a taxable distribution in an amount equal to the fair market value of our common stock received, including any fractional share sold on behalf of the stockholder. Such stockholder would be taxed on the full value of our shares that he or she received (without reduction for any portion of his, her or its tax basis in Potlatch Corporation shares) as a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes and possibly for purposes of state and local tax law to the extent of his or her pro rata share of Potlatch Corporation’s current and accumulated earnings and profits (including Potlatch Corporation’s taxable gain on the spin-off).

Under current law, assuming certain holding period requirements are met, non-corporate United States taxpayers are subject to U.S. federal income tax on dividends at a maximum rate of 15 percent. Under current

 

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law, individual citizens or residents of the United States are subject to U.S. federal income tax on long-term capital gains, that is, capital gains on assets held for more than one year, at a maximum rate of 15 percent.

Even if the spin-off otherwise qualifies for tax-free treatment under Sections 355 and 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code, it may be disqualified as tax-free to Potlatch Corporation under Section 355(e) of the Code if 50 percent or more of Potlatch Corporation’s stock or our stock is acquired or issued as part of a plan or series of related transactions that includes the spin-off. For this purpose, any acquisitions or issuances of Potlatch Corporation’s stock within two years before the spin-off, and any acquisitions or issuances of Potlatch Corporation’s stock or of our common stock within two years after the spin-off, are presumed to be part of such a plan, although we or Potlatch Corporation may be able to rebut that presumption. We are not aware of any acquisitions or issuances of Potlatch Corporation’s stock within the two years before the spin-off that must be taken into account for purposes of Section 355(e) of the Code. If an acquisition or issuance of our stock or Potlatch Corporation’s stock would cause Section 355(e) of the Code to apply, Potlatch Corporation would recognize taxable gain as described above, but the spin-off would generally remain tax-free to each Potlatch Corporation stockholder. Under the tax sharing agreement between Potlatch Corporation and us, we would be required to indemnify Potlatch Corporation against that taxable gain if it were triggered by an acquisition or issuance of our stock. See “Our Relationship with Potlatch Corporation after the Spin-off—Tax Sharing Agreement” for a more detailed discussion of the tax sharing agreement between Potlatch Corporation and us. If we were to be required to indemnify Potlatch Corporation for taxes incurred as a result of the spin-off being taxable (including any tax that would result if Potlatch Corporation were to fail to qualify as a REIT as a result of income recognized by Potlatch Corporation if the spin-off were determined to be taxable), it would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

In addition, the failure of the pre-spin-off separation transactions to qualify as a tax-free spin-off under Sections 355 and 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code, or the disqualification of such separation transactions under section 355(e) as the result of the acquisition or issuance of our stock or the stock of the subsidiary that we distributed to Potlatch Corporation, could cause us to recognize taxable gain equal to the excess of the fair market value of the stock of the subsidiary that we distributed to Potlatch Corporation over our tax basis in such stock. In addition, if the pre-spin-off separation transactions fail to qualify as a tax-free spin-off under Sections 355 and 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code, we could be required under the tax sharing agreement to indemnify Potlatch Corporation for taxes resulting from such failure (including any tax that would result if Potlatch Corporation were to fail to qualify as a REIT as a result of income recognized by Potlatch Corporation if the spin-off were determined to be taxable).

Current U.S. Treasury regulations require each Potlatch Corporation stockholder who receives shares of our common stock in the spin-off to attach to his, her or its U.S. federal income tax return for the year in which the spin-off occurs a detailed statement setting forth such data as may be appropriate to show the applicability of Section 355 of the Code to the spin-off. Within a reasonable period of time after the spin-off, Potlatch Corporation will provide its stockholders who receive our common stock pursuant to the spin-off with the information necessary to comply with such requirement.

Market for Our Common Stock

There is no existing market for our common stock. Our common stock has been approved for listing on the NYSE under the symbol “CLW.” We expect that a “when-issued” trading market for our common stock will begin two trading days before the record date. The term “when-issued” means that shares can be traded prior to the time shares are actually available or issued. On the first trading day following the spin-off date, “when-issued” trading in our common stock will end and “regular-way” trading will begin. “Regular-way” trading refers to trading after a security has been issued and typically involves a transaction that settles on the third full business day following the date of a trade.

We cannot predict the trading prices for our common stock before or after the spin-off date. The trading price of our common stock is likely to fluctuate significantly, particularly until an orderly market develops.

 

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Prices for our common stock will be determined in the trading markets and may be influenced by many factors, including:

 

   

our financial results;

 

   

developments generally affecting the pulp and paper industry;

 

   

the performance of each of our three business segments;

 

   

our capital structure, including the amount of our indebtedness;

 

   

general economic, industry and market conditions;

 

   

the depth and liquidity of the market for our common stock;

 

   

our dividend policy;

 

   

investor perceptions of our business and us;

 

   

fluctuations in currency exchange rates; and

 

   

the impact of the factors referred to in “Risk Factors.”

We have appointed BNY Mellon to serve as transfer agent and registrar for our common stock.

Shares of our common stock distributed to Potlatch Corporation stockholders in the spin-off will be freely transferable under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except for shares received by persons who may be deemed to be our affiliates. Persons who may be deemed to be our affiliates after the spin-off generally include individuals or entities that control, are controlled by or are under common control with us and may include certain of our officers, directors or principal stockholders. After we become a publicly traded company, securities held by our affiliates will be subject to the resale restrictions under the Securities Act. Our affiliates will be permitted to sell shares of our common stock only pursuant to an effective registration statement or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, such as the exemption afforded by Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

Spin-off Conditions and Termination

We expect that the spin-off will be effective on the spin-off date, December 16, 2008, provided that, among other things, the following have occurred or will occur concurrently with the closing of the spin-off:

 

   

the SEC has declared effective our registration statement on Form 10, of which this information statement is a part, under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and no stop order relating to our registration statement is in effect;

 

   

we and Potlatch Corporation have received all permits, registrations and consents required under the securities or blue sky laws of states or other political subdivisions of the United States or of foreign jurisdictions in connection with the spin-off;

 

   

the closing of our $125 million revolving credit facility and the transfer of $50 million to NewCo from a draw from such facility;

 

   

the tax ruling received from the IRS has not been revoked or modified in any material respect and Potlatch Corporation has received a favorable opinion from its tax advisor as to the tax-free nature of the spin-off;

 

   

the NYSE has approved our common stock for listing, subject to official notice of issuance;

 

   

we have completed the transfer of our wood products operations, other than the lumber products operations located in Lewiston, Idaho, our real estate sales and development business, our harvest and log sale business and the permits, licenses and registrations relating to these businesses, to NewCo and

 

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distributed all the equity of NewCo to Potlatch Corporation, all as described in this information statement;

 

   

the parties have entered into the separation and distribution agreement, the retained obligation agreement, the transition services agreement, the supply agreements, the employee matters agreement, the tax sharing agreement and the lease and option agreement; and

 

   

no order, injunction or decree issued by any court of competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing consummation of the spin-off or any of the transactions related thereto, including the transfers of assets and liabilities contemplated by the separation and distribution agreement, is in effect.

The fulfillment of the foregoing conditions will not create any obligation on Potlatch Corporation’s part to effect the spin-off, and Potlatch Corporation’s board of directors has reserved the right to amend, modify or abandon the spin-off and the related transactions at any time prior to the spin-off date. Potlatch Corporation may, in its sole discretion, also waive any of these conditions. Potlatch Corporation does not currently intend to waive or modify any condition to the consummation of the spin-off. In the event Potlatch Corporation waives or modifies any condition to the consummation of the spin-off in a manner that would have a material effect on the recipients of common stock in the spin-off, we will amend and redistribute this information statement to disclose such modification or waiver and any material effect on the recipients of common stock in the spin-off.

Reason for Furnishing this Information Statement

This information statement is being furnished solely to provide information to stockholders of Potlatch Corporation who will receive shares of our common stock in the spin-off. It is not and is not to be construed as an inducement or encouragement to buy or sell any of our securities. We believe that the information contained in this information statement is accurate as of the date set forth on its cover. Changes may occur after that date, and unless required by U.S. securities law, we will not update the information except in the normal course of our public disclosure obligations and practices.

Accounting Treatment

The spin-off will be accounted for by Potlatch Corporation on a historical cost basis, and no gain or loss will be recorded.

 

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OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH POTLATCH CORPORATION AFTER THE SPIN-OFF

General

Immediately prior to the spin-off, we will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Potlatch Corporation. After the spin-off, Potlatch Corporation will not have any ownership interest in our common stock. We will be an independent, publicly traded company.

We will enter into certain agreements with Potlatch Corporation prior to the spin-off to define our ongoing relationship after the spin-off and to define responsibility for tax, employee benefits and certain other liabilities and obligations arising from periods prior to the spin-off date. We will enter into these agreements with Potlatch Corporation while we are still a wholly owned subsidiary of Potlatch Corporation and, although we believe these agreements reflect market terms and our supply agreements are based on market pricing, certain terms of these agreements may not necessarily be the same as could have been obtained from an independent third party.

The following descriptions are only summaries and we encourage you to read, in their entirety, each of the agreements that are included as exhibits to the registration statement of which this information statement forms a part.

Separation and Distribution Agreement

The separation and distribution agreement will provide for the principal corporate transactions required to effect the separation of our business from Potlatch Corporation, the distribution of our common stock to the holders of record of Potlatch Corporation common stock and certain other agreements governing our relationship with Potlatch Corporation after the distribution date.

The Transfer. Pursuant to the separation and distribution agreement, we will transfer to Potlatch Corporation assets such that, immediately prior to the distribution, we will only hold assets related to the pulp and paperboard business, the consumer products business and the portion of the wood products business located at our Lewiston, Idaho facility. The transfers will occur prior to the distribution of our common stock to Potlatch Corporation’s stockholders and will be made on an “as is, where is” basis without any representations or warranties, and Potlatch Corporation will bear the economic and legal risks of the transfer. Potlatch Corporation will also generally assume and agree to perform and fulfill all of the liabilities of the transferred businesses, which include the harvest and log sales business, the real estate business and the wood products business other than the lumber products business in Lewiston, Idaho.

The Distribution. Potlatch Corporation has reserved sole and absolute discretion to determine whether to proceed with the distribution of our common stock to Potlatch Corporation’s stockholders, the timing of the spin-off and to alter any and all terms of the spin-off at any time prior to the spin-off date. The spin-off is also subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions including those described in the section titled “The Spin-off—Spin-off Conditions and Termination.”

Even if all of the conditions to the spin-off are satisfied, Potlatch Corporation has the right to amend or terminate the separation and distribution agreement and the related transactions at any time prior to the spin-off date. Although Potlatch Corporation can waive any condition to the spin-off, Potlatch Corporation’s board of directors currently has no intention to proceed with the spin-off unless each condition is satisfied.

Releases, Indemnification and Insurance Matters. The separation and distribution agreement provides for a full and complete release and discharge of all liabilities existing or arising from or based on facts existing before the spin-off date, between or among us or any of our affiliates, on the one hand, and Potlatch Corporation or any of its affiliates (other than us), on the other hand, except as set forth in the separation and distribution agreement.

 

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In addition, the separation and distribution agreement will provide for cross-indemnities principally designed to place financial responsibility for the liabilities of our business with us and financial responsibility for the obligations and liabilities of Potlatch Corporation’s retained businesses with Potlatch Corporation, except as may otherwise be set forth in the separation and distribution agreement.

The separation and distribution agreement also establishes procedures with respect to claims subject to indemnification and related matters.

The separation and distribution agreement will provide for the allocation of benefits between Potlatch Corporation and us under existing insurance policies after the spin-off date for claims made or occurrences prior to the spin-off date and sets forth procedures for the administration of insured claims.

Termination. The separation and distribution agreement may be terminated and the spin-off may be modified or abandoned at any time prior to the spin-off date in the sole discretion of Potlatch Corporation without our approval or the approval of Potlatch Corporation’s stockholders. In the event of a termination of the separation and distribution agreement, no party shall have any liability of any kind to any other party or any other person. After the spin-off date, the agreement may not be terminated except by an agreement in writing signed by both Potlatch Corporation and us.

Dispute Resolution . The separation and distribution agreement contains provisions that govern, except as otherwise provided in any related agreement, the resolution of disputes, controversies and claims that may arise between us and Potlatch Corporation. These provisions contemplate that efforts will be made to resolve disputes, controversies and claims by escalation of the matter to senior management or other mutually agreed representatives of us and Potlatch Corporation. If such efforts are not successful, either we or Potlatch Corporation may submit the dispute, controversy or claim to a court for resolution.

Retained Obligation Agreement

Of the approximately $321 million of REIT Conversion Indebtedness outstanding as of September 30, 2008, $100 million of principal amount debentures previously issued by Potlatch Forest Holdings, Inc., an affiliate of Potlatch Corporation, will become due and payable in full in December 2009. As described in the section above entitled “Transactions Prior to the Spin-off,” in 2005, by agreement with Potlatch Corporation, we assumed the obligation to pay all principal and interest on these debentures and we will be retaining that obligation pursuant to the retained obligation agreement that we will enter into with Potlatch Corporation prior to the spin-off. Potlatch Forest Holdings, Inc., however, will remain as the primary legal obligor to holders of the debentures.

Under the retained obligation agreement, we will continue to be obligated to make all payments of principal and interest on the debentures in accordance with their terms to the holders of the debentures. The amount of interest due on the debentures is based upon the lower of Potlatch Corporation’s credit ratings applicable to the debentures as established by S&P or Moody’s. The following table denotes the interest rate applicable based on various credit ratings:

 

Ratings

    

Moody’s

  

S&P

   Applicable Rate(%)

Aaa

   AAA    8.825

Aa1 – Aa3

   AA+ – AA-    8.925

A1 – Baa2

   A+ – BBB    9.125

Baa3

   BBB-    9.425

Ba1

   BB+    12.500

Ba2

   BB    13.000

Ba3

   BB-    13.500

B1 or lower

   B+ or lower    14.000

 

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Potlatch Corporation’s current credit ratings are BB from S&P and Ba1 from Moody’s and, accordingly, the interest rate currently applicable to the debentures is 13.0% per year. In the event Potlatch Corporation’s credit rating declines and the interest rate applicable to the debentures increases, we will be required to pay interest on the debentures at the then applicable rate, which could be as high as 14.0% per year.

Under the retained obligation agreement, we will be obligated to use commercially reasonable efforts to issue, as soon as reasonably practical, debt or equity securities or to borrow money from one or more financial institutions or other lenders, on terms reasonably acceptable to us, in an aggregate amount sufficient to pay all amounts owing under the debentures. Concurrently with our receipt of cash proceeds from any disposition of assets equal to or in excess of $50 million, or any equity issuance or debt incurrence, other than cash proceeds from our $125 million revolving credit facility, we will be obligated to apply the proceeds to the remaining payment obligations on the debentures. If the cash proceeds from any equity issuance, debt incurrence or disposition are insufficient to satisfy all of the payment obligations on the debentures, we will be obligated to transfer the cash proceeds into an escrow account in which Potlatch Corporation will have a first priority security interest. However, we will not be required to draw from our revolving credit facility to satisfy our obligations under the retained obligation agreement.

In the event we are unable to timely pay, and Potlatch Corporation thereafter pays, any principal or interest due under the debentures, we will be deemed to have received a loan from Potlatch Corporation in the amount of such shortfall and we will be obligated to issue a promissory note to Potlatch Corporation equal to such amount. All amounts owing under any promissory note issued by us to Potlatch Corporation will be due and payable on December 1, 2011. Any such promissory note, to the extent issued in connection with our failure to timely make an interest payment on the debentures, will initially accrue interest at a rate per annum equal to the rate of interest applicable to the debentures at the time the note is issued or at maturity of the debentures, plus one percent and after December 1, 2010 until paid in full, the rate of interest applicable to the debentures immediately prior to their maturity plus two percent. In the event we issue a promissory note to Potlatch Corporation, we will be obligated to use commercially reasonable efforts prior to the maturity date to issue, as soon as reasonably practical, debt or equity securities or to borrow money, on terms reasonably acceptable to us, in an aggregate amount sufficient to prepay all amounts owing under the promissory note. As security for any such promissory note issued by us to Potlatch Corporation, we will grant Potlatch Corporation a security interest in our real property, fixtures and equipment at our Arkansas pulp and paperboard facility.

The retained obligation agreement will contain covenants that limit or restrict our ability to:

 

   

create, assume or incur liens on our assets;

 

   

enter into sale-leaseback arrangements;

 

   

sell or transfer any assets with an aggregate value in excess of $10,000,000 that may be collateral for our obligations under any promissory note, without the prior written consent of Potlatch Corporation;

 

   

consolidate with or merge with another entity; and

 

   

transfer our properties and assets to another entity.

Supply Agreements

The terms of our sales to Potlatch Corporation and our purchases from Potlatch Corporation under the supply agreements described below after the spin-off will be substantially similar to the terms under which these items were transferred between us and Potlatch Corporation prior to the spin-off. We believe the terms reflected in the supply agreements are comparable to those that we and Potlatch Corporation currently could obtain from an unaffiliated third party.

Log Supply Agreement . We will enter into a log supply agreement with Potlatch Corporation with an initial term of three years pursuant to which we will agree to purchase and Potlatch will agree to supply logs harvested from Potlatch Corporation properties in Northern Idaho to our Lewiston facility. Potlatch Corporation will sell to us and we will agree to purchase specified quantities of logs.

 

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The price of logs shall be adjusted quarterly to reflect the then current fair market value of logs in the Northern Idaho and Eastern Washington markets, taking into account any market premium for Forest Stewardship Council, or FSC, certified logs. The parties shall enter into good faith negotiations to determine and agree upon the adjusted log price. If an agreement cannot be reached, the price will be the fair market value as determined by arbitration.

The agreement can be renewed at the option of either party for an additional three-year period provided that the other party does not object. The agreement may be terminated by either party for cause, if a bankruptcy proceeding is commenced against the other party, or if assignment of the other party’s property is made for the benefit of creditors.

We believe the log supply agreement represents a mutually beneficial arrangement for Potlatch Corporation and for us, providing us with a contracted log supply and providing Potlatch Corporation a committed customer during the term of the agreement. We believe that we are one of the largest log consumers in North Idaho. As a result, even if we did not enter into the log supply agreement, we believe Potlatch Corporation would still be economically motivated to sell logs to us rather than incur the costs to transport a large volume of logs to more distant customers. In the event Potlatch Corporation did not sell logs to us, we believe that we could find alternative suppliers. However, this would require us to go outside our normal Idaho log procurement area for a significant portion of our log supply needs. In addition, we would incur additional freight costs to move the logs to our Lewiston, Idaho facility.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, Potlatch Corporation supplied $30.3 million of saw logs pursuant to intercompany sales, representing 75% of the saw logs purchased by us during this period for our Lewiston mill.

Lewiston Shavings Sales Agreement . We will enter into a shavings sales agreement with Potlatch Corporation with an initial term of five years pursuant to which we will agree to supply and Potlatch Corporation will agree to buy wood shavings produced at our lumber mill. For the term of the agreement, we must supply and Potlatch Corporation must purchase 100% of the wood shavings output produced at the Lewiston lumber mill. The agreement does not require us to produce any amount of wood shavings, but all wood shavings produced must be sold to Potlatch Corporation.

The price for wood shavings will be set annually to reflect the then current fair market value of wood shavings in Central Idaho taking into account any market premium for FSC certified residuals. The parties will endeavor to agree in good faith on such fair market values, however, either party may request that the initial annual price for the wood shavings be determined by arbitration. After establishment of the initial annual price, the price will be adjusted every three months based on the percentage change in an applicable index set forth in the agreement.

The agreement can be renewed at the option of either party for an additional five-year period provided that the other party does not object. The agreement may be terminated by either party for cause, if a bankruptcy proceeding is commenced against the other party, or if assignment of the other party’s property is made for the benefit of creditors.

St. Maries Residuals Sales Agreement . We will enter into a residuals sales agreement with Potlatch Corporation with an initial term of five years pursuant to which we will agree to purchase and Potlatch Corporation will agree to supply wood chips, sawdust and hog fuel produced at Potlatch Corporation’s St. Maries, Idaho mill complex. For the term of the agreement, we must purchase and Potlatch Corporation must supply 100% of the output of sawdust and 100% of the output of wood chips produced at the St. Maries Mill. We must also purchase and Potlatch Corporation must supply 100% of the hog fuel produced but not used in the St. Maries Mill boilers. The agreement does not require Potlatch Corporation to produce any amount of residuals.

Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, the price for each of the wood chips, sawdust and hog fuel will be set annually to reflect the then current fair market value of such items in Central Idaho taking into account any

 

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market premium for FSC certified residuals. Either party may request that the initial annual price for the residuals as to which the parties have not reached an agreement shall be determined by arbitration. After establishment of the initial annual price, the price will be adjusted every three months based on the percentage change in an applicable index set forth in the agreement.

The agreement can be renewed at the option of either party for an additional five-year period provided that the other party does not object. The agreement may be terminated by either party for cause, if a bankruptcy proceeding is commenced against the other party, or if assignment of the other party’s property is made for the benefit of creditors.

In the event Potlatch Corporation did not sell these residuals to us, we believe that we could find alternative suppliers outside our normal procurement area. This would require us to incur additional costs, however, including freight costs to move the residuals to our Lewiston, Idaho facility and additional costs for chipping whole logs.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, Potlatch Corporation supplied $8.8 million of residuals, representing 10% of our residuals purchased during this period.

Hog Fuel Supply Agreement. We will enter into a hog fuel supply agreement with Potlatch Corporation with an initial term of two years pursuant to which we will agree to buy and Potlatch Corporation will agree to supply 45,000 tons of hog fuel produced on certain Potlatch Corporation and third-party land in Idaho.

The price for hog fuel will be set annually to reflect the then current fair market value of hog fuel in Central Idaho. The parties will endeavor to agree in good faith on such fair market values, however, either party may request that the initial annual price for the hog fuel be determined by arbitration. The agreement can be renewed at the option of either party for an additional one-year period provided that the other party does not object. The agreement may be terminated by either party for cause, if a bankruptcy proceeding is commenced against the other party, or if assignment of the other party’s property is made for the benefit of creditors.

In the event Potlatch Corporation did not sell hog fuel to us, we believe that we could find alternative suppliers outside our normal procurement area. This would require us to incur additional freight costs to move the hog fuel to our Lewiston, Idaho facility.

Transition Services Agreement

We will enter into a transition services agreement with Potlatch Corporation pursuant to which Potlatch Corporation will provide us and we will provide Potlatch Corporation a variety of administrative services for a period of time following the spin-off. These services include employee benefits administration and payroll, management information system services, contracting, treasury, accounting, and other services. Each service will be made available to the recipient on an as-needed basis for eighteen months following the spin-off, or such shorter or longer periods as may be provided in the transition services agreement. The fees charged for the services will generally be based upon the costs of providing the services.

The service recipient may terminate the provision of a particular service upon 30 days’ notice to the service provider. In addition, either we or Potlatch Corporation may terminate the transition services agreement if the other party materially breaches any of its terms and does not cure the breach within 30 days after notice from the other party.

Employee Matters Agreement

We will enter into an employee matters agreement with Potlatch Corporation that will address our respective obligations to employees and former employees who are or were associated with our business and for other employment and employee benefit matters. Pursuant to the employee matters agreement, we will agree to continue to employ those employees who have employment duties principally related to our business initially on terms and conditions substantially similar to the current terms and conditions of their employment with Potlatch Corporation. We will agree that, subject to applicable laws, labor agreements will be maintained on substantially the same terms and conditions as provided in the existing union contracts.

 

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We also will agree to assume and retain, and indemnify Potlatch Corporation against, certain liabilities related to current and former employees of our business. We will continue our existing retirement and health and welfare programs in which employees of our business participate. Subject to any adjustments required by applicable law, we will transfer to Potlatch Corporation the assets and liabilities of our existing retirement plans attributable to Potlatch Corporation employees.

We will offer other postretirement benefits for employees and certain former employees of our business who are currently eligible for these benefits. We will also continue to offer health and welfare benefits for eligible employees and certain former employees of our business after the distribution date.

Tax Sharing Agreement

The tax sharing agreement with Potlatch Corporation generally will govern Potlatch Corporation’s and our respective rights, responsibilities and obligations after the spin-off with respect to taxes, including ordinary course of business taxes and taxes, if any, incurred as a result of any failure of the spin-off, together with certain related transactions, to qualify as a tax-free distribution for U.S. federal income tax purposes within the meaning of Sections 355 and 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code (including as a result of Section 355(e) of the Code). Under the tax sharing agreement, we expect that, with certain exceptions, we will be responsible for the payment of all income and non-income taxes attributable to our operations, and the operations of our direct and indirect subsidiaries.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, we expect that, under the tax sharing agreement, we will also generally be responsible for any taxes imposed on Potlatch Corporation that arise from the failure of the spin-off, together with certain related transactions, to qualify as a tax-free distribution for U.S. federal income tax purposes within the meaning of Sections 355 and 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code (including any tax that would result if Potlatch Corporation were to fail to qualify as a REIT as a result of income recognized by Potlatch Corporation if the spin-off were determined to be taxable), to the extent such failure to qualify is attributable to actions, events or transactions relating to our stock, assets or business, or a breach of the relevant representations or covenants made by us in the tax sharing agreement. In addition, we generally will be responsible for 20% of any taxes that arise from the failure of the spin-off, together with certain related transactions, to qualify as a tax-free distribution for U.S. federal income tax purposes within the meaning of Sections 355 and 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code, if such failure is for any reason for which neither we nor Potlatch Corporation is responsible. The tax sharing agreement also is expected to impose restrictions on our and Potlatch Corporation’s ability to engage in certain actions following our separation from Potlatch Corporation and to set forth the respective obligations among us and Potlatch Corporation with respect to the filing of tax returns, the administration of tax contests, assistance and cooperation and other matters.

Lumber Sales and Marketing Agreement

We will enter into a lumber sales and marketing agreement with Potlatch Corporation with a term of three years pursuant to which we will agree to appoint Potlatch Corporation as our exclusive representative for the marketing and sale of our dimensional lumber and cedar lumber products produced by our Lewiston lumber mill, and Potlatch Corporation will grant to us a non-exclusive, limited license to use the “Potlatch” name and certain other logos and trademarks in connection with the sale and marketing of our lumber products. We will also pay Potlatch Corporation as compensation a fixed rate of $65,000 per month for each month which the agreement is in effect. The agreement may be terminated by either party immediately for cause and after the first anniversary, upon 90-days’ written notice without cause.

Lease and Option Agreement

We will enter into a lease agreement with Potlatch Corporation, pursuant to which we will lease from Potlatch Corporation property that is adjacent to our facility in Arkansas. The lease agreement will have an initial term of 20 years with an initial rental payment of $17,550 per year, and thereafter increasing an additional 2.75% each year. During the term, we will also have the option to purchase the property from Potlatch Corporation.

 

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DIVIDEND POLICY

We expect that, following the spin-off, we will pay cash dividends on our common stock. The declaration and amount of any dividends, however, will be determined by our board of directors and will depend on our earnings after the spin-off, our compliance with the terms of our revolving credit facility that limit our ability to pay dividends, and any other factors that our board of directors believes are relevant.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table shows the capitalization of our business as of September 30, 2008 on both a historical basis and pro forma basis giving effect to our anticipated post-spin-off capital structure. You should read this table together with our “Selected Historical Combined Financial Data,” “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and our historical and pro forma combined financial statements and notes to those statements included elsewhere in this information statement. For an explanation of the pro forma adjustments made to our historical financial statements, see “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements.”

The pro-forma capitalization is not necessarily indicative of our capitalization had the spin-off and our anticipated post-spin-off capital structure been completed on the date assumed. The pro-forma capitalization below may not reflect the capitalization or financial condition that would have resulted had we been operating as an independent, publicly traded company at that date and is not necessarily indicative of our future capitalization or financial condition.

 

     As of September 30, 2008  
     Historical    Pro Forma*  
     (dollars in thousands)  

Note payable to Parent

   $ 100,000    $ 100,000 (a)

Parent’s/Stockholders’ Equity:

     

Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 pro forma; none authorized or issued historical; 5,000,000 authorized and none issued pro forma

     —        —    

Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share historical and $0.0001 pro forma; 1,000 authorized and issued historical; 100,000,000 authorized and 11,291,799 issued pro forma

     —        1 (b)

Additional paid-in capital

    
—  
     305,415 (b)

Parent’s Equity

     305,416      —   (b)
               

Total Capitalization

   $ 405,416    $ 405,416  
               

 

(a) In connection with the spin-off, we will be retaining the obligation, which we initially assumed in 2005, to pay the interest and principal due to holders of approximately $100 million of debentures previously issued by an affiliate of Potlatch Corporation that will become due and payable in full in December 2009. Under generally accepted accounting principles, this obligation is reflected as the “Note payable to Parent” above.
(b) Eliminates Potlatch Corporation’s net investment in the business and reflects the issuance of approximately 11.3 million shares of our common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, based on the distribution ratio of one share of our common stock for every 3.5 shares of Potlatch Corporation common stock outstanding as of September 30, 2008.
* Does not include the anticipated draw of $50 million from our $125 million revolving credit facility and the transfer of that amount to NewCo.

 

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SELECTED HISTORICAL COMBINED FINANCIAL DATA

The following tables set forth our summary historical financial and other data prepared on a combined basis. These tables present our business as it has historically been operated by Potlatch Corporation. You should read the information set forth below in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our historical combined financial statements and notes to those statements included elsewhere in this information statement. The statement of operations data for each of the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 and the statement of financial position data as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 set forth below are derived from our audited combined financial statements included elsewhere in this information statement. The statement of operations data for each of the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 and the statement of financial position data as of September 30, 2008 set forth below are derived from our unaudited condensed combined financial statements included elsewhere in this information statement. See “Index to Financial Statements.” The statement of operations data for each of the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 and the statement of financial position data as of December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 and September 30, 2007 are derived from our unaudited condensed combined financial statements not included in this information statement. Also, as discussed in the notes to the historical combined financial statements, except for our obligations relating to the $100,000,000 principal amount of debentures previously issued by an affiliate of Potlatch Corporation and associated interest expense, debt and related interest expense has not been allocated from Potlatch Corporation.

The historical financial and other data have been prepared on a combined basis from Potlatch Corporation’s consolidated financial statements using the historical results of operations and bases of the assets and liabilities of Potlatch Corporation’s pulp and paperboard and consumer product business and its lumber products operations at Lewiston, Idaho, and give effect to allocations of expenses from Potlatch Corporation. Our historical financial and other data is not necessarily indicative of our future performance nor do they necessarily reflect what our financial position and results of operations would have been had we operated as a separate, stand-alone entity during the periods shown.

 

    Year Ended     Nine Months Ended
    December 31,
2007
  December 31,
2006
  December 31,
2005
    December 31,
2004
    December 31,
2003
    September 30,
2008
  September 30,
2007
    (dollars in thousands)

Net sales

  $ 1,173,326   $ 1,106,681   $ 983,034     $ 900,486     $ 819,511     $ 943,969   $ 868,987

Depreciation

    51,325     54,290     54,854       55,169       53,740       35,318     39,174

Earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes

    52,775     46,686     (1,828 )     4,072       (12,749 )     24,807     40,156

Net earnings (loss)

    25,566     21,125     (8,453 )     (4,696 )     (15,252 )     9,824     19,545
    As of     As of
    December 31,
2007
  December 31,
2006
  December 31,
2005
    December 31,
2004
    December 31,
2003
    September 30,
2008
  September 30,
2007
    (dollars in thousands)

Working capital

    128,706     167,153     186,795       183,370       144,345       121,487     136,196

Capital expenditures

    20,531     27,505     43,412       28,067       54,287       15,703     14,623

Land, plant and equipment, net

    413,170     441,763     469,872       480,423       504,418       395,293     418,220

Total assets

    696,094     741,418     822,346       822,575       759,013       695,054     712,082

Note payable to Parent

    100,000     100,000     100,000       100,000       100,000       100,000     100,000

Total Parent’s equity

    272,820     333,927     429,351       432,111       388,924       257,397     290,696

 

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UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements reported below should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the combined financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this information statement. The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements have been prepared giving effect to the spin-off and related transactions as of September 30, 2008 for the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet and as of January 1, 2007, for the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations, and include adjustments for our expected borrowings under our revolving credit facility at the time of the spin-off and the distribution of our common stock.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheets and statements of operations included in this information statement have been derived from the combined financial statements included elsewhere in this information statement and do not purport to represent what our financial position and results of operations would have been had the distribution and related transactions occurred on the dates indicated or to project our financial performance for any future period. We were not operated as, and Potlatch Corporation did not account for us as, a separate stand-alone entity for the periods presented.

In accordance with regulations governing the preparation of pro forma financial statements, our pro forma condensed combined financial statements do not reflect certain on-going annual incremental expenses associated with being a separate, independent company for the periods presented, as such incremental expenses are not yet factually supportable. For further discussion, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

 

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Clearwater Paper Corporation

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet

As of September 30, 2008

 

     Historical     Adjustments*     Pro Forma  
     (dollars in thousands)  
Assets       

Current assets:

  

Cash

   $ 9     $ —       $ 9  

Receivables, net

     101,438       —         101,438  

Inventories

     144,891       —         144,891  

Prepaid expenses

     3,914       —         3,914  

Deferred taxes

     8,646       —         8,646  
                        

Total current assets

     258,898       —         258,898  

Land

     4,729       —         4,729  

Plant and equipment, at cost, net of accumulated depreciation

     390,564       —         390,564  

Pension assets

     40,540       —         40,540  

Other assets

     323       —         323  
                        
   $ 695,054     $ —       $ 695,054  
                        
Liabilities and Parent’s/Stockholders’ Equity       

Current liabilities:

      

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

   $ 129,440     $ —       $ 129,440  

Other postretirement employee benefits

     7,971       —         7,971  
                        

Total current liabilities

     137,411       —         137,411  

Note payable to Parent

     100,000       —         100,000  

Other postretirement employee benefits

     129,613       —         129,613  

Other long-term obligations

     1,907       —         1,907  

Deferred taxes

     68,726       —         68,726  

Parent’s/Stockholders’ equity:

      

Preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 5,000,000 authorized shares, none issued historical and pro forma

     —         —         —    

Common stock $0.0001 par value, 100,000,000 authorized, 1,000 issued historical, 11,291,799 issued pro forma

     —         1  (a)     1  

Additional paid-in capital

     —         305,415  (a)     305,415  

Parent’s equity

     305,416       (305,416 )(a)     —    

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (48,019 )     —         (48,019 )
                        

Total Parent’s/Stockholders’ equity

     257,397         257,397  
                        
   $ 695,054     $ —       $ 695,054  
                        

 

(a) Eliminates Potlatch Corporation’s net investment in the business and reflects the issuance of approximately 11.3 million shares of our common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, based on the distribution ratio of one share of our common stock for every 3.5 shares of Potlatch Corporation common stock outstanding as of September 30, 2008.
* Not included in the above Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2008, is the anticipated draw of $50 million from our $125 million revolving credit facility and the transfer of such amount to NewCo.

 

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Clearwater Paper Corporation

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations

Nine Months ended September 30, 2008

 

     Historical    Adjustments *     Pro Forma
     (dollars in thousands)

Net sales

   $ 943,969    $ —       $ 943,969
                     

Costs and expenses:

       

Depreciation

     35,318      —         35,318

Materials, labor and other operating expenses

     857,720      —         857,720

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     26,124      692 (a)     26,816
                     
     919,162      692       919,854
                     

Earnings before interest and income taxes

     24,807      (692 )     24,115

Interest expense

     9,750      —         9,750
                     

Earnings before income taxes

     15,057      (692 )     14,365

Income tax provision (benefit)

     5,233      (241 )(a)     4,992
                     

Net earnings (loss)

   $ 9,824    $ (451 )   $ 9,373
                     

Weighted average pro forma common shares outstanding (b)

       

Basic

          11,266,251

Diluted

          11,346,711

Pro forma earnings per share (b)

       

Basic

        $ 0.83

Diluted

        $ 0.83

 

(a) These entries adjust for the difference between the salaries and benefits of Potlatch Corporation’s executives allocated to us in the historical financial statements and the salaries and benefits of our new executive officers, and rent expense for our corporate offices. The additional expenses are tax-effected based on the period’s effective tax rate of 34.8%.

 

(b) Pro forma basic and diluted earnings per share were computed by dividing pro forma net earnings by the weighted average of shares outstanding using a distribution ratio of one share of our stock for every 3.5 shares of Potlatch Corporation stock. The dilutive effect of 80,460 shares represents the dilutive effect of Potlatch Corporation’s stock options, performance shares, and restricted stock units adjusted using the distribution ratio. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, 571 restricted stock units and options to purchase 21,541 shares of common stock, as adjusted using the distribution ratio, were excluded from the computation of pro forma diluted earnings per common share because their effect was anti-dilutive.

 

  * Not included in the above Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 are costs and interest expense associated with our $125 million revolving credit facility, because the interest rate and amount of borrowings cannot be estimated as of September 30, 2008.

 

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Clearwater Paper Corporation

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations

Year ended December 31, 2007

 

     Historical    Adjustments *     Pro Forma
     (dollars in thousands)

Net sales

   $ 1,173,326    $ —       $ 1,173,326
                     

Costs and expenses:

       

Depreciation

     51,325      —         51,325

Materials, labor and other operating expenses

     1,033,099      —         1,033,099

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     36,127      1,523 (a)     37,650
                     
     1,120,551      1,523       1,122,074
                     

Earnings before interest and income taxes

     52,775      (1,523 )     51,252

Interest expense

     13,000      —         13,000
                     

Earnings before income taxes

     39,775      (1,523 )     38,252

Income tax provision (benefit)

     14,209      (544 )     13,665
                     

Net earnings (loss)

   $ 25,566    $ (979 )   $ 24,587
                     

Weighted average pro forma common shares outstanding (b)

       

Basic

          11,169,592

Diluted

          11,252,622

Pro forma earnings per share (b)

       

Basic

        $ 2.20

Diluted

        $ 2.19

 

(a) These entries adjust for the difference between the salaries and benefits of Potlatch Corporation’s executives allocated to us in the historical financial statements and the salaries and benefits of our new executive officers, and rent expense for our corporate offices. The additional expenses are tax-effected based on the period’s effective tax rate of 35.7%.

 

(b) Pro forma basic and diluted earnings per share were computed by dividing pro forma net earnings by the weighted average of shares outstanding using a distribution ratio of one share of our stock for every 3.5 shares of Potlatch Corporation stock. The dilutive effect of 83,030 shares represents the dilutive effect of Potlatch Corporation’s stock options, performance shares, and restricted stock units adjusted using the distribution ratio. For the year ended December 31, 2007, 429 restricted stock units and 2,114 performance shares, and options to purchase 32,390 shares of common stock, as adjusted using the distribution ratio, were excluded from the computation of pro forma diluted earnings per common share because their effect was anti-dilutive.

 

  * Not included in the above Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2008 are costs and interest expense associated with our $125 million revolving credit facility, because the interest rate and amount of borrowings cannot be estimated as of September 30, 2008.

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

You should read this discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with our historical combined financial statements, the notes to those combined financial statements, the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements and the notes to those pro forma combined financial statements included elsewhere in this information statement.

This discussion and analysis covers periods prior to the spin-off and related transactions. As a result, the discussion and analysis of historical periods does not reflect the impact that the spin-off and related transactions will have on us, including incurrence of $50 million of debt under our revolving credit facility, debt service requirements, and differences between administrative costs allocated to us by Potlatch Corporation and actual administrative costs that we will incur as a separate public company. Our historical results may not be indicative of our future performance and do not necessarily reflect what our financial condition and results of operations would have been had we operated as an independent, stand-alone entity during the periods presented, particularly because changes will occur in our operations and capitalization as a result of the spin-off and related transactions. Please read “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements.”

Overview

We are a pulp-based products manufacturing company. We manufacture and market bleached paperboard for the high-end segment of the packaging industry and are a leading producer of private label tissue products sold in grocery stores in the United States. We also manufacture and market bleached pulp and lumber products, including dimensional framing lumber and appearance grade cedar products.

Our business is organized into three reporting segments:

 

   

The pulp and paperboard segment manufactures bleached paperboard and bleached softwood pulp and operates two pulp and paperboard mills, one located in Arkansas and one located in Idaho. Most of our pulp production is used in the manufacture of our paperboard products or transferred to our consumer products segment for use in the production of tissue products. The pulp and paperboard segment’s net sales were $670.6 million in 2007, representing approximately 54% of our total net sales, before elimination of intersegment net sales. Intersegment net sales were $55.8 million in 2007.

 

   

The consumer products segment manufactures tissue products sold on a private label basis primarily to major grocery store chains. The segment operates two tissue mills with related converting facilities in Idaho and Nevada, and an additional converting facility located in Illinois. The consumer products segment’s net sales were $444.7 million in 2007, representing approximately 36% of our total net sales before elimination of intersegment net sales. Intersegment net sales were $0.1 million in 2007.

 

   

The lumber segment produces dimensional framing lumber and appearance grade cedar products for the building products market. The lumber segment’s net sales were $121.7 million in 2007, representing approximately 10% of our total net sales before elimination of intersegment net sales. Intersegment net sales were $7.7 million in 2007.

Most of our sales are within the United States. Sales outside of the United States, consisting primarily of paperboard products sold to customers in Asia, represented approximately 12%, 10% and 13% of our net sales in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. All of our non-U.S. sales are denominated in U.S. dollars and accordingly we are not subject to currency exchange risks associated with the receipt of payments in foreign currencies.

Factors Influencing Our Results of Operations

Our operating results have been and will continue to be influenced by a variety of factors, including the cyclical nature of the pulp and paperboard industry, competition, the efficiency and level of capacity utilization

 

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of our manufacturing operations, changes in our principal expenses such as for wood fiber and energy, capacity utilization of our manufacturing plants and other factors.

Net Sales

Our pulp and paperboard business experiences cyclical market conditions and, as a result, historical prices for our products and sales volumes have been volatile. Product pricing is significantly affected by the relationship between supply and demand for our products. Product supply in the industries in which we operate is influenced primarily by fluctuations in available manufacturing capacity. Capacity in these industries tends to increase during periods when prices remain strong. In addition, currency exchange rates affect U.S. supplies of paperboard, as non-U.S. manufacturers are attracted to the U.S. market when the dollar is relatively strong. Our paperboard business, through exports, has benefited significantly from weakness in the U.S. dollar over the past few years.

Demand for our products is closely correlated to the state of the North American economy in general, as well as, in the case of our paperboard products, the economies of East Asia. The demand for our lumber products is affected by the level of new residential construction activity and, to a lesser extent, home repair and remodeling activity, which are subject to fluctuations due to changes in economic conditions, interest rates, population growth and other factors.

The markets for our products are highly competitive and companies that have substantially greater financial resources than we do compete with us in each of our markets. In addition, our industry is capital intensive, which leads to high fixed costs and generally results in continued production as long as prices are sufficient to cover variable costs. These conditions have contributed to substantial price competition, particularly during periods of reduced demand. Some of our competitors are currently lower-cost producers in some of the businesses in which we operate, and, as a result, these competitors may be less adversely affected than we are by price decreases.

Operating Expenses

Other than labor, our principal operating expense items are wood fiber, energy, chemicals and transportation. Prices for these items are volatile and directly affect our results of operations. Competitive market conditions can limit our ability to pass cost increases through to our customers.

Wood fiber. Our most significant operating expense is the cost of wood fiber needed to supply our manufacturing facilities. Both wood chips and sawdust are used in the process of making pulp. We rely on residual wood fibers, such as wood chips and sawdust generated by lumber mill operations and wood chips specifically produced for us by contract wood chipping operations. Prices for this wood fiber can fluctuate greatly. For example, our average cost of wood fiber increased 3% from approximately $132 per ton in 2005 to approximately $136 per ton in 2006, and 20% to approximately $163 per ton in 2007. In the first nine months of 2008, we experienced even higher costs, averaging approximately $204 per ton of wood fiber. The current high price of wood fiber is largely the result of limited supplies due to the slowdown or shutdown of operations of many lumber mills as a result of the home construction market downturn. In 2007, we acquired approximately 31% of our wood fiber requirements from Potlatch Corporation, with the remainder purchased from third parties pursuant to short-term contracts and in the spot market. In connection with the spin-off, we will enter into fiber supply agreements with Potlatch Corporation for our Idaho pulp facility, which will likely cover volumes of wood fiber similar to what we acquired from Potlatch Corporation in 2007. These agreements will employ a substantially similar market pricing methodology as reflected in our historical financial statements. For a description of these fiber supply agreements with Potlatch Corporation, please see “Our Relationship with Potlatch after the Spin-off—Supply Agreements,” beginning on page 32 of this information statement.

Energy. Energy is another significant manufacturing expense. We use energy in the form of electricity, steam and natural gas. Our expenses for energy used in our manufacturing processes were $89.8 million in 2007, 5% higher than the $85.8 million we spent in 2006. Energy prices have fluctuated widely over the past decade and we have recently experienced a period of high energy prices. We have taken steps to reduce our exposure to

 

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volatile energy prices through conservation and increasing our internal electrical production at our cogeneration facility that produces steam and electricity in Idaho. In addition, to help mitigate our exposure to changes in natural gas prices, we occasionally use firm-price contracts to supply a portion of our natural gas requirements. As of September 30, 2008, these contracts covered approximately 65% of our expected monthly natural gas requirements for the pulp and paperboard and consumer products segments for the remainder of 2008, plus lesser amounts for 2009 and 2010. Our energy costs in future periods will depend principally on our ability to continue to produce internally a substantial portion of our electricity needs and on changes in market prices for natural gas.

Petroleum. Petroleum prices also impact our operating results. High fuel prices result in increased freight costs related to delivery of raw materials to our manufacturing facilities and for the delivery of our finished products to customers. Increasing fuel prices particularly affect our consumer products margins because we supply customers throughout the United States from our tissue mills in Idaho and Nevada, as well as transport bulk, unconverted jumbo tissue rolls, or parent rolls, from our tissue mills to our Illinois tissue converting facility. Freight costs for our consumer products segment were approximately $56.6 million in the first nine months of 2008, compared to approximately $45.7 million in the same period of 2007. Our total freight costs were $110.4 million and $91.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. In addition, many of the chemicals used in our manufacturing processes, particularly in the pulp-making process, are petroleum-based or are indirectly impacted by petroleum prices.

Maintenance and repairs. We regularly incur significant expenses to maintain our manufacturing equipment. The machines and equipment that we use to produce our products are complex, have many parts and some are run on a continuous basis. We perform routine maintenance on our machines and periodically replace a variety of parts such as motors, pumps, pipes and electrical parts. In 2007, equipment maintenance and repair expenses were $44.0 million in our pulp and paperboard segment and $13.6 million in our consumer products segment. Major equipment maintenance and repair in our pulp and paperboard segment also requires maintenance shutdowns generally lasting up to one week per year at our Idaho facility and up to one week every 18 months at our Arkansas facility, which reduce net sales and increase costs in the quarters in which the maintenance shutdowns occur. Periodically, major equipment shutdowns extend beyond one week in duration for large scale maintenance, such as extensive boiler repairs. In addition, we make capital expenditures to increase our operating efficiency and to comply with environmental laws. Our estimated capital expenditures for 2008 are approximately $23.0 million.

Corporate Allocations

Historically, we have shared corporate functions with Potlatch Corporation for a variety of services, including treasury, accounting, tax, legal, internal audit, human resources, information systems and public and investor relations. Upon completion of the spin-off, we will become a stand-alone company and our expenses will include payment for services to be provided by Potlatch Corporation under a transition services agreement. These services will include employee benefits administration and payroll, management information, contracting, treasury, accounting and other services for a period of eighteen months following the spin-off. Charges for these services have been set based on actual cost. During the period of the transition services agreement, we will be in the process of setting up stand-alone functions and may incur some duplicative expenses in this process.

Our historical combined financial statements contain allocations of direct and indirect corporate overhead expenses, including costs for services of the type covered by the transition services agreement, as well as allocations for administrative and selling expenses based on the relative revenues of our Lewiston lumber segment in relation to Potlatch Corporation’s wood products segment. We were allocated corporate overhead and lumber products administrative and selling expenses of $8.0 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2008, $7.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, $9.7 million in 2007, $10.0 million in 2006 and $9.7 million in 2005. We believe that the methodology applied to the allocation of these expenses was reasonable. However, we expect to incur approximately $10 million in additional costs in 2009 associated with being an independent, publicly traded company.

 

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Critical Accounting Policies

Our accompanying combined financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, which require management to make estimates that affect the amounts of net sales, expenses, assets and liabilities reported. The following are critical accounting matters which are both very important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations and require some of management’s most difficult, subjective and complex judgments. The accounting for these matters involves forming estimates based on current facts, circumstances and assumptions which, in management’s judgment, could change in a manner that would materially affect management’s future estimates with respect to such matters and, accordingly, could cause our future reported financial condition and results of operations to differ materially from financial results reported based on management’s current estimates. Changes in these estimates are recorded periodically based on updated information.

Long-lived assets . A significant portion of our total assets are invested in our manufacturing facilities. Also, the cyclical patterns of our businesses cause cash flows to fluctuate by varying degrees from period to period. As a result, long-lived assets are a material component of our financial position with the potential for material change in valuation if assets are determined to be impaired. We account for impairment of long-lived assets in accordance with SFAS No.144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” which requires that long-lived assets be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable, as measured by its undiscounted estimated future cash flows. We use our operational budgets to estimate future cash flows. Budgets are inherently uncertain estimates of future performance due to the fact that all inputs, including net sales, costs and capital spending, are subject to frequent change for many different reasons, including the reasons previously described above under “Factors Influencing our Results of Operations.” Because of the number of variables involved, the interrelationship between the variables and the long-term nature of the impairment measurement, sensitivity analysis of individual variables is not practical. Budget estimates are adjusted periodically to reflect changing business conditions, and operations are reviewed, as appropriate, for impairment using the most current data available. To date, this process has not resulted in an impairment charge for any of our assets associated with our operations.

Environmental liabilities . We record accruals for estimated environmental liabilities that are not within the scope of SFAS No.143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations,” and FASB Interpretation No. 47, “Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations,” in accordance with SFAS No. 5, “Accounting for Commitments and Contingencies.” These estimates reflect assumptions and judgments as to the probable nature, magnitude and timing of required investigation, remediation and monitoring activities. In making these estimates, we consider, among other things, the activities we have conducted at any particular site, information obtained through consultation with applicable regulatory authorities and third parties, and our historical experience at other sites that are judged to be comparable. We must also consider the likelihood of changes in governmental regulations, advancements in environmental technologies, and changing legal standards regarding liability. Due to the numerous uncertainties and variables associated with these assumptions and judgments, and changes in governmental regulations and environmental technologies, our accruals are subject to substantial uncertainties, and our actual costs could be materially more or less than the estimated amounts.

Pension and postretirement employee benefits . The determination of pension plan expense and the requirements for funding our pension plans are based on a number of actuarial assumptions. Two critical assumptions are the discount rate applied to pension plan obligations and the rate of return on plan assets. For other postretirement employee benefit, or OPEB, plans, which provide certain health care and life insurance benefits to qualified retired employees, critical assumptions in determining OPEB expense are the discount rate applied to benefit obligations and the assumed health care cost trend rates used in the calculation of benefit obligations.

Note 7 to our combined financial statements includes information for the three years ended December 31, 2007, on the components of pension and OPEB expense and the underlying actuarial assumptions used to calculate periodic expense, as well as the funded status for our pension and OPEB plans as of December 31, 2007 and 2006.

 

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The discount rate used in the determination of pension benefit obligations and pension expense is a weighted average benchmark rate based on high-quality fixed income investment interest rates. At December 31, 2007 and 2006, we calculated obligations using discount rates of 6.40% and 5.85%, respectively. To determine the expected long-term rate of return on pension assets, we employ a process that analyzes historical long-term returns for various investment categories, as measured by appropriate indices. These indices are weighted based upon the extent to which plan assets are invested in the particular categories in arriving at our determination of a composite expected return. The assumed long-term rates of return on pension plan assets used for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 were 9.0% and 9.5%, respectively. Over the past 30 years, the period Potlatch Corporation has actively managed pension assets, its actual average annual return on pension plan assets has been approximately 11%, through December 31, 2007.

Total periodic pension plan income in 2007 was $1.6 million. An increase in the discount rate or the rate of expected return on plan assets, all other assumptions remaining the same, would increase pension plan income, and conversely, a decrease in either of these measures would decrease plan income. As an indication of the sensitivity that pension income has to the discount rate assumption, a 25 basis point change in the discount rate would affect annual plan income by approximately $0.5 million. A 25 basis point change in the assumption for expected return on plan assets would affect annual plan income by approximately $0.7 million. The actual rates of return on plan assets may vary significantly from the assumptions used because of unanticipated changes in financial markets.

No minimum contributions to our qualified pension plans are estimated for 2008 due to the funded status of those plans at December 31, 2007. We do not anticipate funding our OPEB plans in 2008 except to pay benefit costs as incurred during the year by plan participants.

For our OPEB plans, expense for 2007 was $8.7 million. The discount rate used to calculate OPEB obligations, which was determined using the same methodology we used for our pension plans, was 6.40% and 5.85% at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The assumed health care cost trend rate used to calculate OPEB obligations and expense for 2007 was a 10% increase over the previous year, with the rate of increase scheduled to decline one percent annually to a long-term ultimate rate increase assumption of 6% for 2011 and thereafter.

As an indication of the sensitivity that OPEB expense has to the discount rate assumption, a 25 basis point change in the discount rate would affect annual plan expense by approximately $0.2 million. A 1% change in the assumption for health care cost trend rates would have affected 2007 plan expense by approximately $0.8 to $1.0 million and the total post-retirement employee obligation by approximately $11.2 to $13.1 million. The actual rates of health care cost increases may vary significantly from the assumption used because of unanticipated changes in health care costs.

Periodic pension and OPEB expense are included in “Materials, labor and other operating expenses” and “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in the combined financial statements. The expense is allocated to all business segments. At both September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, long-term assets are recorded for overfunded plans and liabilities are recorded for underfunded plans. The funded status of a benefit plan is measured as the difference between plan assets at fair value and the benefit obligation. For underfunded plans, the estimated liability to be payable in the next twelve months is recorded as a current liability, with the remaining portion recorded as long-term. See Note 7 to our combined financial statements for further discussion.

Corporate Allocations . Our accompanying combined statements of operations include allocations of certain costs from Potlatch Corporation directly related to our operations including: medical costs for hourly and salaried active and retired employees, hourly employees’ pension, worker’s compensation, general liability and property insurance, salaried payroll costs (payroll taxes, pension, and other payroll-related costs), equity-based compensation, management performance award plan, interest expense pursuant to our retained obligation agreement and a pro rata share of direct corporate administration expense for accounting, information systems, accounts payable and accounts receivable. The direct costs were charged to us based on the weighted average of the underlying employee base performing the function and payroll or invoices processed, depending on the

 

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nature of the cost. In addition to the direct costs discussed above, indirect corporate overhead costs were allocated to us based on an apportionment factor using relative revenues and assets. Selling and administration costs for Potlatch Corporation’s wood products segment were allocated to us based on the relative revenues of our Lewiston lumber segment in relation to Potlatch Corporation’s wood products segment. Management believes the methodologies applied for the allocation of costs were reasonable in relation to the historical reporting of Potlatch Corporation, but may not be indicative of costs had we been a stand-alone entity, nor what they may be in the future. Except for interest expense associated with our retained obligation agreement, no interest expense or interest income is allocated from Potlatch Corporation to us.

Certain of our assets and liabilities are common assets and liabilities shared with Potlatch Corporation. The primary shared assets allocated to us were the pension assets. Other assets specifically identified and allocated to us include the Jaype, Idaho log yard, the main office building complex and related assets in Lewiston, Idaho, and certain information technology equipment. The majority of shared liabilities that relate to us include active employee medical insurance, general liability and property insurance, other postretirement employee benefits (OPEB) liability for hourly and salaried employees, other employee compensation benefits, salaried employee vacation accruals and payroll tax accruals. The pension assets and liabilities, as well as the OPEB liability, were estimated using the same actuarial liability assumptions as those used in Potlatch Corporation’s consolidated financial statements for the applicable periods for our active and retired hourly and salaried employees. The other shared assets and liabilities were allocated to us either by specific identification or by relative allocation factors, such as employee headcounts or payroll costs, among others.

Except for the debt and interest expense associated with our retained obligation agreement, long-term or current debt and related interest costs have not been allocated to us from Potlatch Corporation because of the inherent difficulty in distinguishing the elements of our capital structure while we operated as a part of Potlatch Corporation. Significant changes could have occurred in our funding and operations if we had operated as an independent stand-alone entity, including a possible change in capital structure including other debt, which could have had a significant impact on our financial position and results of operations.

Components of Net Sales and Expenses

Net sales . Net sales consist of sales of pulp and paperboard, consumer products and lumber products, net of discounts, returns and allowances and any sales taxes collected. Sales taxes, when collected, are recorded as a current liability until remitted to the appropriate governmental entities.

Depreciation . Depreciation primarily consists of depreciation of our plant and equipment.

Materials, labor and other operating expenses. Materials, labor and other operating expenses consist primarily of personnel costs and the cost of raw materials, including wood fiber, energy and chemicals, repair and maintenance expenses related to our facilities and freight associated with customer shipments.

Interest expense. Interest expense is the interest paid on the $100 million note payable to Parent in connection with our retained obligation agreement.

Selling, general and administrative expense . Selling, general and administrative expense primarily consists of compensation and associated costs for sales and administrative personnel.

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax . Beginning in 2007, due to our adoption of SFAS No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans—an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132(R), we are required to record comprehensive income or loss related to our defined benefit pension and other postretirement employee benefit plans for each reporting period when net gains or losses, or prior service costs or credits existing at the date of initial application of the Statement, are amortized as components of net periodic pension cost. In addition, we are required to record increases or decreases in other comprehensive income that result from the recognition of additional net gains or losses, or prior service costs or credits that arise during the year.

 

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Results of Operations

As noted above, our business is organized into three reporting segments: pulp and paperboard, consumer products, and lumber. Sales or transfers between segments are recorded as intersegment net sales based on prevailing market prices.

In the period-to-period discussion of our results of operations below, when we discuss our consolidated net sales, contributions by each of the segments to our net sales are reported after elimination of intersegment net sales. In the “Discussion of Business Segments” section below, each segment’s net sales are presented before elimination of intersegment net sales.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007

The following table sets forth year-to-year changes in items included in our combined statements of operations and comprehensive income for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007.

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
    Increase/
(Decrease)
 
     2008    2007    
     (in thousands)  

Net sales

   $ 943,969    $ 868,987     $ 74,982  
                       

Costs and expenses:

       

Depreciation

     35,318      39,174       (3,856 )

Materials, labor and other operating expenses

     857,720      761,703       96,017  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     26,124      27,954       (1,830 )
                       
     919,162      828,831       90,331  
                       

Earnings before interest and income taxes

     24,807      40,156       (15,349 )

Interest expense

     9,750      9,750       —    
                       

Earnings before income taxes

     15,057      30,406       (15,349 )

Income tax provision

     5,233      10,861       (5,628 )
                       

Net earnings

   $ 9,824    $ 19,545     $ (9,721 )
                       

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

     809      (1,030 )     1,839  
                       

Comprehensive income

   $ 10,633    $ 18,515     $ (7,882 )
                       

Net Sales— Total net sales increased $75.0 million, or 9%, in the first nine months of 2008 over the same period of 2007, primarily due to a 13% increase in both pulp and paperboard net sales and consumer products net sales, partially offset by a decrease of 27% in lumber net sales. As discussed in detail below in “Discussion of Business Segments,” the increase in net sales in these segments was driven by higher selling prices and increased shipment volumes.

Depreciation —For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, depreciation decreased $3.9 million, or 10%, from the same period of 2007, primarily due to decreased depreciation expense for the pulp and paperboard segment as a result of certain assets becoming fully depreciated.

Materials, labor and other operating expenses —Materials, labor and other operating expenses totaled 91% of net sales during the nine months ended September 30, 2008, compared to 88% in the same period of 2007. The increase of $96.0 million, or 13%, in the first nine months of 2008 over the same period in 2007 was primarily due to a 16% increase in pulp and paperboard segment expenses and an 11% increase in consumer products segment expenses. As discussed below, the increase in pulp and paperboard segment expenses was primarily driven by increased wood fiber, chemical and energy costs and the increase in consumer products segment expenses was primarily due to increased freight expenses, shipment volumes and pulp costs.

 

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Selling, general and administrative expenses —Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $1.8 million, or 7%, in the first nine months of 2008 from the same period of 2007, primarily due to pulp and paperboard segment income of $2.0 million from legal settlements, partially offset by a $0.7 million increase in corporate administration costs allocated from Potlatch Corporation.

Interest expense —Interest expense on the note payable to Parent was unchanged in the 2008 period compared to the same period in 2007.

Income tax provision —Our income tax provision decreased $5.6 million, or 52%, in the first nine months of 2008 from the same period of 2007 due to lower operating income in the first nine months of 2008. The effective tax rate was 34.8% for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 35.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2007.

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax —We recorded other comprehensive income, net of tax, of $0.8 million for the first nine months of 2008, compared to other comprehensive loss of $1.0 million for the first nine months of 2007 related to the company’s pension and OPEB plans.

Discussion of Business Segments

 

     Nine months ended
September 30,
     2008     2007
     (in thousands)

Segment net sales:

    

Pulp and paperboard:

    

Paperboard

   $ 483,725     $ 423,292

Pulp

     72,742       70,479

Other

     604       821
              
     557,071       494,592

Consumer products

     370,476       328,614

Lumber

     73,746       94,618
              

Total segment net sales, before eliminations

   $ 1,001,293     $ 917,824
              

Segment operating income (loss):

  

Pulp and paperboard

   $ 17,779     $ 28,535

Consumer products

     21,224       14,006

Lumber

     (8,688 )     3,518
              

Total segment operating income, before corporate and eliminations

   $ 30,315     $ 46,059
              

Operating income for our pulp and paperboard segment decreased $10.8 million, or 38%, for the first nine months of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007. Net sales for the segment increased $62.5 million, or 13%, in the first nine months of 2008 over the same period of 2007. Paperboard net sales increased $60.4 million, or 14%, in the first nine months of 2008 over the same period of 2007. Higher paperboard selling prices accounted for approximately $36.0 million of the net sales increase, while higher paperboard shipment volumes accounted for approximately $25.0 million of the increase. Pulp net sales increased $2.3 million, or 3%, in the first nine months of 2008 over the same period of 2007, primarily due to slightly higher selling prices, partially offset by decreased shipment volumes. Expenses for the segment increased $67.5 million, or 16%, in the first nine months of 2008 over the same period in 2007, primarily due to increased wood fiber costs of approximately $29.8 million, increased chemical costs of approximately $14.7 million, increased energy costs of approximately $14.6 million and increased freight costs of approximately $8.1 million. The segment recorded income of $2.0 million from legal settlements in 2008.

 

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Operating income for our consumer products segment increased $7.2 million, or 52%, in the first nine months of 2008 over the same period of 2007. Net sales for the segment increased $41.9 million, or 13%, in the first nine months of 2008 over the same period of 2007. Higher selling prices accounted for approximately $25.0 million of the net sales increase, while higher shipment volumes accounted for approximately $17.0 million of the increase. Segment expenses increased $34.7 million, or 11%, in the first nine months of 2008 over the same period of 2007. Freight costs increased approximately $9.1 million, while increased tissue shipment volumes accounted for approximately $5.6 million of the increased expense, pulp costs increased approximately $7.1 million, energy costs increased approximately $4.1 million and packaging costs increased $3.6 million.

The lumber segment reported an operating loss of $8.7 million for the first nine months of 2008, compared to operating income of $3.5 million recorded in the same period of 2007. Net sales for the segment decreased $20.9 million, or 22%, in the first nine months of 2008 from the same period of 2007, primarily due to the effect of decreased shipment volumes and lower selling prices of approximately $13.0 million and $9.0 million, respectively, resulting from the downturn in the housing market. Segment expenses decreased $11.5 million, or 13%, in the first nine months of 2008 from the same period of 2007, primarily due to lower costs associated with the decreased shipments.

Year Ended December 31, 2007 Compared To Year Ended December 31, 2006

The following table sets forth year-to-year changes in items included in our combined statements of operations and comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006.

 

     Years Ended    Increase/
(Decrease)
 
     December 31,
2007
    December 31,
2006
  
     (in thousands)  

Net sales

   $ 1,173,326     $ 1,106,681    $ 66,645  
                       

Costs and expenses:

       

Depreciation

     51,325       54,290      (2,965 )

Materials, labor and other operating expenses

     1,033,099       977,901      55,198  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     36,127       36,280      (153 )
                       
     1,120,551       1,068,471      52,080  
                       

Income from Canadian lumber settlement

     —         8,476      (8,476 )
                       

Earnings before interest and income taxes

     52,775       46,686      6,089  

Interest expense

     13,000       13,000      —    
                       

Earnings before income taxes

     39,775       33,686      6,089  

Income tax provision

     14,209       12,561      1,648  
                       

Net earnings

   $ 25,566     $ 21,125    $ 4,441  
                       

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax

     (1,374 )     —        (1,374 )
                       

Comprehensive income

   $ 24,192     $ 21,125    $ 3,067  
                       

Net sales —Total net sales increased $66.6 million, or 6%, in 2007 over 2006, primarily due to a 9% increase in pulp and paperboard net sales, a 2% increase in consumer products net sales and a 6% increase in lumber net sales. As discussed in detail below under “Discussion of Business Segments,” the increase in net sales was driven by higher selling prices of our pulp and paperboard and consumer products, increased pulp and paperboard shipment volumes and stronger sales of cedar lumber products.

Depreciation —Depreciation expense decreased $3.0 million, or 5%, in 2007 from 2006, primarily due to decreased depreciation expense for the pulp and paperboard segment as a result of certain assets becoming fully depreciated.

 

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Materials, labor and other operating expenses —Materials, labor and other operating expenses were 88% of net sales for both years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006. The increase of $55.2 million, or 6%, in 2007 over 2006 was primarily due to increased pulp and paperboard and consumer products segment expenses of 6% and 4%, respectively. As discussed below, the increase in pulp and paperboard expenses was primarily driven by increased wood fiber costs and the increased consumer products expenses were largely due to increased pulp costs.

Selling, general and administrative expenses —Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $0.2 million in 2007 from 2006.

Income from Canadian lumber settlement —We received $8.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2006 in connection with the negotiated settlement of the softwood lumber trade dispute between the United States and Canada. The $8.5 million represented our portion of the $39.3 million settlement Potlatch Corporation received, which represented Potlatch’s total pro rata share of $500 million that was distributed to members of the Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports, of which Potlatch is a member.

Interest expense —Interest expense on the note payable to Parent was $13.0 million in both 2007 and 2006.

Income tax provision —Our income tax provision increased $1.6 million, or 13%, in 2007 over 2006, primarily due to increased earnings. The effective tax rate was 35.7% for 2007 and 37.3% for 2006.

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax —We recorded other comprehensive loss, net of tax, of $1.4 million for 2007. See discussion above in the section entitled, “Components of Net Sales and Expenses—Other comprehensive income, net of tax.”

Discussion of Business Segments

 

     Years ended December 31,
     2007    2006
     (dollars in thousands)

Segment net sales:

     

Pulp and paperboard:

     

Paperboard

   $ 567,798    $ 535,796

Pulp

     101,754      77,291

Other

     1,070      1,113
             
     670,622      614,200

Consumer products

     444,721      436,911

Lumber

     121,652      114,106
             

Total segment net sales, before eliminations

   $ 1,236,995    $ 1,165,217
             

Operating income:

     

Pulp and paperboard

   $ 45,282    $ 26,331

Consumer products

     17,554      25,616

Lumber

     1,691      6,331
             

Total segment operating income, before corporate and eliminations

   $ 64,527    $ 58,278
             

Operating income for our pulp and paperboard segment increased $19.0 million, or 72%, in 2007 over 2006. Net sales for the segment increased $56.4 million, or 9%, in 2007 over 2006. Paperboard net sales increased $32.0 million, or 6%, in 2007 over 2006. Higher paperboard selling prices accounted for approximately $30.0 million of the net sales increase, while higher shipment volumes accounted for approximately $2.0 million of the increase. Pulp net sales increased $24.5 million, or 32%, in 2007 over 2006. Higher selling prices accounted for approximately $19.0 million of the net sales increase, while higher shipment volumes accounted

 

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for approximately $5.0 million of the increase. Expenses for the segment increased $37.5 million, or 6%, in 2007 over 2006. This increase was primarily due to approximately $38.0 million in higher wood fiber costs largely attributable to higher chip and sawdust prices for our Idaho pulp and paperboard operation in 2007 as compared to 2006. The high chip and sawdust prices were primarily the result of reduced supply due to the closure of a number of sawmills located in the Western United States.

Operating income for our consumer products segment decreased $8.1 million, or 31%, in 2007 from 2006. Net sales for the segment increased $7.8 million, or 2%, in 2007 over 2006, primarily due to approximately $23.0 million in higher selling prices, partially offset by a decrease of approximately $15.0 million related to decreased shipments. The higher net sales for 2007 were due to increased sales of premium and ultra quality tissue products, partially offset by significantly reduced sales of parent rolls. Segment expenses increased $15.9 million, or 4%, in 2007 over 2006. The increase was primarily the result of increases in pulp costs of approximately $20.0 million, employee wages and benefits of approximately $3.0 million, energy costs of approximately $2.0 million and packaging costs of approximately $2.0 million. The increase was partially offset by lower shipment volumes that decreased expenses by approximately $16.0 million.

The lumber segment reported a decrease in operating income of $4.6 million, or 73%, in 2007 from 2006, which included $8.5 million of income associated with the negotiated settlement of the Canadian softwood lumber agreement. Net sales for the segment increased $7.5 million, or 7%, in 2007 over 2006, primarily due to stronger sales of our cedar lumber products in 2007. Expenses for the segment increased $12.2 million, or 11%, in 2007 over 2006, largely due to higher log costs and costs associated with increased sales volumes.

Year Ended December 31, 2006 Compared To Year Ended December 31, 2005

The following table sets forth year-to-year changes in items included in our combined statements of operations and comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005.

 

     Years Ended     Increase/
(Decrease)
 
     December 31,
2006
   December 31,
2005
   
     (in thousands)  

Net sales

   $ 1,106,681    $ 983,034     $ 123,647  
                       

Costs and expenses:

       

Depreciation

     54,290      54,854       (564 )

Materials, labor and other operating expenses

     977,901      894,852       83,049  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     36,280      35,156       1,124  
                       
     1,068,471      984,862       83,609  
                       

Income from Canadian lumber settlement

     8,476      —         8,476  
                       

Earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes

     46,686      (1,828 )     48,514  

Interest expense

     13,000      12,590       410  
                       

Earnings (loss) before income taxes

     33,686      (14,418 )     48,104  

Income tax provision (benefit)

     12,561      (5,965 )     18,526  
                       

Net earnings (loss)

   $ 21,125    $ (8,453 )   $ 29,578  
                       

Net sales —Total net sales increased $123.6 million, or 13%, in 2006 over 2005, primarily due to an 8% increase in pulp and paperboard net sales and a 19% increase in consumer products net sales. As discussed in detail below under “Discussion of Business Segments,” the increase in net sales was driven primarily by higher selling prices of our pulp and paperboard and consumer products and an increase in pulp and paperboard shipment volumes.

Depreciation —Depreciation decreased $0.6 million, or 1%, in 2006 from 2005.

 

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Materials, labor and other operating expenses —Materials, labor and other operating expenses were 88% and 91% of net sales for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. These expenses increased $83.0 million, or 9%, in 2006 over 2005 primarily due to a 14% increase in consumer products segment expenses and higher pulp and paperboard expenses. As discussed below, the increase in expenses was related to higher sales volumes for all products and increased wood fiber and pulp costs.

Selling, general and administrative expenses —Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $1.1 million, or 3%, in 2006 over 2005, primarily due to higher compensation and consulting expenses, as well as bad debt expense associated with a bankrupt pulp and paperboard customer in 2006.

Income from Canadian lumber settlement —As previously discussed, we received $8.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2006 in connection with the negotiated settlement of the softwood lumber trade dispute between the United States and Canada.

Interest expense— Interest expense on the note payable to Parent increased to $13.0 million in 2006 compared to $12.6 million in 2005. The interest rate on the note payable increased slightly during October 2006.

Income tax provision (benefit) for taxes —We recorded an income tax provision of $12.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2006 compared to an income tax benefit of $6.0 million for the same period in 2005. The effective tax rate was 37.3% for 2006 compared to 41.4% in 2005. This change was driven primarily by the change from a loss before income taxes in 2005 to income before income taxes in 2006 and recognition of state tax credits in 2005.

Discussion of Business Segments

 

     Years ended December 31,  
     2006    2005  
     (dollars in thousands)  

Segment net sales:

     

Pulp and paperboard:

     

Paperboard

   $ 535,796    $ 500,624  

Pulp

     77,291      64,569  

Other

     1,113      922  
               
     614,200      566,115  

Consumer products

     436,911      368,432  

Lumber

     114,106      97,597  
               

Total segment net sales, before eliminations

   $ 1,165,217    $ 1,032,144  
               

Operating income (loss):

     

Pulp and paperboard

   $ 26,331    $ (274 )

Consumer products

     25,616      7,455  

Lumber

     6,331      (31 )
               

Total segment operating income, before corporate and eliminations

   $ 58,278    $ 7,150  
               

Operating income for the pulp and paperboard segment increased $26.6 million in 2006 over 2005. Segment net sales increased $48.1 million, or 8%, over 2005. Paperboard net sales increased $35.2 million, or 7%, in 2006 over 2005. Higher selling prices and increased sales volumes of approximately $23 million and $12 million, respectively, were responsible for the increased net sales. Pulp net sales increased $12.7 million, or 20%, in 2006 over 2005, primarily due to higher selling prices. Segment expenses increased $21.5 million, or 4%, in 2006 over 2005, primarily due to an increase of approximately $8.0 million in expenses related to higher sales volumes of

 

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paperboard, increased wood fiber costs of approximately $7.0 million and increased maintenance costs of approximately $6.0 million.

Operating income for the consumer products segment increased $18.2 million in 2006 over 2005. Segment net sales increased $68.5 million, or 19%, over 2005. Increased shipments accounted for approximately $42.0 million of the increased net sales, and higher net selling prices accounted for approximately $26.0 million of the increase. The increased sales volumes were primarily the result of our planned reduction in inventories in 2006, and higher selling prices in 2006 were attributable to a combination of price increases and sheet count reductions. Segment expenses increased $50.3 million, or 14%, in 2006 over 2005, primarily due to increased expenses related to increased sales volume of approximately $27.0 million, an increase of approximately $11.0 million in pulp costs and increases in both freight and packaging costs of approximately $4.0 million each.

Operating income for the lumber segment increased $6.4 million in 2006 over 2005, primarily due to the $8.5 million received in 2006 in connection with the Canadian softwood lumber agreement. Net sales for the segment increased $16.5 million, or 17%, in 2006 over 2005, primarily due to increased lumber sales volumes and strong sales of cedar lumber in 2006. Segment expenses increased $10.1 million, or 10%, in 2006 over 2005, primarily due to higher log costs and costs associated with increased sales volumes.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our financial resources have historically been provided by Potlatch Corporation, which has managed cash and debt on a centralized basis. Cash receipts associated with our business have been transferred to Potlatch Corporation on a daily basis and Potlatch Corporation has funded our cash disbursements. These net transfers are reflected in parent’s equity in our combined financial statements.

Three years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

The following table presents information regarding our cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005.

 

Cash Flows Summary    Years ended December 31,  
     2007     2006     2005  
     (dollars in thousands)  

Net cash provided by operations

   $ 108,668     $ 96,171     $ 38,281  

Net cash used for investing

     (20,499 )     (27,447 )     (43,356 )

Net cash (used for) provided by financing

     (88,330 )     (68,687 )     5,119  
                        

Change in cash

     (161 )     37       44  

Balance at beginning of period

     170       133       89  
                        

Balance at end of period

   $ 9     $ 170     $ 133  
                        

Net cash provided by operating activities in 2007 totaled $108.7 million, compared with $96.2 million in 2006 and $38.3 million in 2005. The favorable 2007 to 2006 comparison was primarily due to a larger amount of cash provided from working capital changes in 2007 and increased earnings in 2007. The increase in net cash provided by operating activities in 2006 over 2005 was primarily due to increased earnings in 2006, combined with a larger amount of cash provided by working capital changes in 2006 compared to 2005.

Working capital totaled $128.7 million at December 31, 2007, compared to $167.2 million at December 31, 2006. The significant changes in the components of working capital were as follows:

 

   

Receivables decreased $18.8 million due primarily to decreases in trade receivables associated with the pulp and paperboard segment.

 

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Accounts payable and accrued liabilities increased $25.2 million due largely to increases in income taxes payable, trade accounts payable, and other payables related to wages and benefits, utilities, freight, and discounts and allowances in all of our business segments.

Working capital totaled $167.2 million at December 31, 2006, compared to $186.8 million at December 31, 2005. The significant changes in the components of working capital were as follows:

 

   

Inventories decreased $32.7 million primarily due to decreases in tissue and paperboard inventories. Tissue inventories decreased largely as a result of our planned reduction in inventories for the consumer products segment in 2006. The lower paperboard inventories were primarily due to a reduction in inventories at our Idaho paperboard facility.

 

   

Receivables increased $20.9 million due primarily to increases in trade receivables associated with the planned reductions in inventories at both the pulp and paperboard and consumer products segments.

 

   

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities increased $11.6 million due largely to increases in accrued taxes payable and the current portion of our OPEB obligation due to the adoption of FASB Statement No. 158 discussed further in note 6 in the accompanying combined annual financial statements.

Net cash used for investing activities was $20.5 million in 2007, $27.4 million in 2006 and $43.4 million in 2005. Capital expenditures decreased $7.0 million in 2007 from 2006, and $15.9 million in 2006 from 2005. Capital expenditures were higher in 2005 primarily due to $6.9 million in additional equipment and installation costs associated with our tissue converting facility in Illinois and $6.1 million for the replacement of dry kilns at our lumber facility.

Net cash used for financing activities was $88.3 million in 2007 and $68.7 million in 2006, and net cash provided by financing activities was $5.1 million in 2005. Cash used for and provided by financing activities in all periods primarily consisted of net payments to and from Potlatch Corporation in accordance with Potlatch Corporation’s centralized approach to cash management.

Nine Months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007

The following table presents information regarding our cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007:

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2008     2007  
     (dollar in thousands)  

Net cash provided by operations

   $ 42,924     $ 79,282  

Net cash used for investing

     (15,698 )     (14,629 )

Net cash used for financing

     (27,226 )     (64,813 )
                

Change in cash

     —         (160 )

Balance at beginning of period

     9       170  
                

Balance at end of period

   $ 9     $ 10  
                

Net cash provided by operating activities for the first nine months of 2008 totaled $42.9 million, compared to $79.3 million for the same period in 2007. The decrease was largely due to a lower amount of cash provided from working capital changes in the first nine months of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007 and lower earnings in 2008.

Working capital totaled $121.5 million at September 30, 2008, compared to $136.2 million at September 30, 2007. This change was primarily the result of increased payables for the pulp and paperboard segment related to major maintenance work performed in September 2008.

 

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For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, net cash used for investing activities was $15.7 million, compared to $14.6 million for the same period in 2007, due to capital expenditures in both periods.

Net cash used for financing activities totaled $27.2 million for the first nine months of 2008, compared to $64.8 million in the first nine months of 2007. These amounts are primarily related to net payments to Potlatch Corporation in accordance with Potlatch Corporation’s centralized approach to cash management.

Capital expenditures for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 were $15.7 million. We expect to spend the remainder of our estimated 2008 capital spending of $20.0 million primarily on various discretionary projects for our pulp and paperboard and consumer products segments, as well as various routine general replacement projects for each of our segments.

Deferred Tax Liability

As of December 31, 2007, we had a deferred tax liability of approximately $111.6 million with respect to the difference between the book and tax basis of our fixed assets. It is anticipated that this liability will become a current tax liability beginning in 2009 at the rate of approximately $10 million per year. In addition, we have other less significant deferred tax balances relating to temporary differences that will impact current taxes payable in future periods.

Debt Arrangements

Our retained obligation agreement with Potlatch Corporation will reflect our agreement with Potlatch Corporation to pay the principal and interest due on the $100,000,000 principal amount credit sensitive debentures previously issued by an affiliate of Potlatch Corporation, which comprise a portion of the REIT Conversion Indebtedness. We will be obligated to make an interest payment to the holders of the debentures on June 1, 2009 and to pay $100 million of principal plus accrued interest on December 1, 2009 to the holders of the debentures.

The amount of interest due on the debentures is based upon the lower of Potlatch Corporation’s credit ratings applicable to the debentures as established by S&P or Moody’s. The following table denotes the interest rate applicable based on various credit ratings:

 

Ratings

    

Moody’s

  

S&P

   Applicable Rate(%)

Aaa

   AAA    8.825

Aa1 – Aa3

   AA+ – AA-    8.925

A1 – Baa2

   A+ – BBB    9.125

Baa3

   BBB-    9.425

Ba1

   BB+    12.500

Ba2

   BB    13.000

Ba3

   BB-    13.500

B1 or lower

   B+ or lower    14.000

Potlatch Corporation’s current credit ratings are BB from S&P and Ba1 from Moody’s and accordingly the interest rate currently applicable to the debentures is 13.0% per year. In the event Potlatch Corporation’s credit rating declines and the interest rate applicable to the debentures increases, we will be required to pay interest on the debentures at the then applicable rate, which could be as high as 14.0% per year.

Under the retained obligation agreement, we will be obligated to use commercially reasonable efforts to issue, as soon as reasonably practical, debt or equity securities, or to borrow money from one or more financial institutions or other lenders, on terms reasonably acceptable to us, in an aggregate amount sufficient to pay all amounts owing under the debentures. Concurrently with our receipt of cash proceeds from any disposition of

 

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assets equal to or in excess of $50 million, or any equity issuance or debt incurrence other than cash proceeds from our $125 million revolving credit facility, we will be obligated to apply the proceeds to the remaining payment obligations on the debentures. If the cash proceeds from any equity issuance, debt incurrence or disposition are insufficient to satisfy all of the payment obligations on the debentures, we will be obligated to transfer the cash proceeds into an escrow account in which Potlatch Corporation will have a first priority security interest. However, we will not be required to draw from our revolving credit facility to satisfy our obligations under the retained obligation agreement.

In the event we are unable to timely pay, and Potlatch Corporation thereafter pays any principal or interest due under the debentures, we will be deemed to have received a loan from Potlatch Corporation in the amount of the shortfall and we will be obligated to issue a promissory note to Potlatch Corporation equal to that amount. All amounts owing under any promissory note issued by us to Potlatch Corporation will be due and payable on December 1, 2011. Any promissory note, to the extent issued in connection with our failure to timely make an interest payment on the debentures, will initially accrue interest at a rate per annum equal to the rate of interest applicable to the debentures at the time the note is issued or at maturity of the debentures, plus one percent and after December 1, 2010 until December 1, 2011, the rate of interest applicable to the debentures immediately prior to their maturity plus two percent. In the event we issue a promissory note to Potlatch Corporation, we will be obligated to use commercially reasonable efforts prior to the maturity date to issue, as soon as reasonably practical, debt or equity securities or to borrow money, on terms reasonably acceptable to us, in an aggregate amount sufficient to prepay all amounts owing under the promissory note. As security for any promissory note issued by us to Potlatch Corporation, we will grant Potlatch Corporation a security interest in our real property, fixtures and equipment at our Arkansas pulp and paperboard facility.

The retained obligation agreement will contain covenants that limit or restrict our ability to:

 

   

create, assume or incur liens on our assets;

 

   

enter into sale-leaseback arrangements;

 

   

sell or transfer any assets with an aggregate value in excess of $10,000,000 that may be collateral for our obligations under any promissory note, without the prior written consent of Potlatch Corporation;

 

   

consolidate with or merge with another entity; and

 

   

transfer our properties and assets to another entity.

Credit Arrangements

We have entered into a $125 million revolving credit facility with certain financial institutions upon which we will draw $50 million to be transferred to NewCo and the remainder of which will be used as necessary to finance our working capital requirements and for general corporate purposes. The amount available to us under the revolving credit facility will be based on the lesser of 85% of our eligible accounts receivable and 65% of our eligible inventory, or $125 million, in each case less a $10 million borrowing capacity reserve. As of September 30, 2008, we would have been permitted to draw on approximately $115 million under the revolving credit facility.

We expect that our primary liquidity requirements will be for debt service under the retained obligation agreement and the credit facility, capital expenditures, payments of dividends, if any, our deferred tax liability and working capital.

Our obligations under the revolving credit facility will be secured by our accounts receivable and inventory. The credit facility agreement contains various provisions that limit our discretion in the operation of our business by restricting our ability to, among other things:

 

   

pay dividends or repurchase equity interests from our stockholders.

 

   

create, incur or guarantee certain debt;

 

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incur liens on certain properties;

 

   

make capital expenditures in amounts in excess of those permitted under the revolving credit agreement;

 

   

enter into certain affiliate transactions;

 

   

modify the retained obligation agreement without the consent of our lenders;

 

   

enter into certain hedging arrangements; and

 

   

consolidate with or merge with another entity.

Upon consummation of the borrowing transactions described above, we will be significantly leveraged and will be required to apply a significant amount of cash to service our debt obligations. On a pro forma basis, as of September 30, 2008, we would have had approximately $150 million of aggregate indebtedness and up to $65 million of additional borrowing capacity depending on the amount of our eligible accounts receivable and inventory. We expect to periodically draw upon our revolving credit facility to meet cash requirements depending on cash flows from operations.

Following the spin-off, we expect our credit ratings to be lower than the current ratings of Potlatch Corporation. This difference will affect the interest rates at which we may borrow funds, as well as the amounts of indebtedness that will be available to us.

Our ability to make payments on and to refinance our indebtedness and to fund planned capital expenditures will depend on our ability to generate cash in the future, which will be subject to the successful operation of our business, as well as general economic, competitive and other factors outside of our control. Based on our current level of operations, we believe that our cash flow from operations and available borrowings under the revolving credit facility will be sufficient to meet our future cash needs for the next 12 months.

We cannot assure you, however, that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations or that future borrowings will be available to us under the revolving credit facility in an amount sufficient to enable us to pay our indebtedness or to fund our other liquidity needs. If we make substantial capital expenditures or consummate an acquisition, our debt service requirements could increase. We may be required to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness on or before maturity. We cannot assure you that we will be able to refinance any of our indebtedness on commercially reasonable terms or at all.

Contractual Obligations

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2007. Portions of the amounts shown are reflected in the combined financial statements and accompanying notes, as required by generally accepted accounting principles. See the footnotes following the table for information regarding the amounts presented and for references to relevant combined financial statement notes that include a detailed discussion of the item. The following table does not include contractual obligations to which we will be subject following the spin-off, such as under our supply and transition services agreements and any borrowings from our $125 million revolving credit facility. We have included below under the heading “Pro Forma Contractual Obligations” a table including those obligations on a pro forma basis as of December 31, 2007.

 

     PAYMENTS DUE BY PERIOD
     TOTAL    Within
1 YEAR
   1-3 YEARS    3-5 YEARS    More than
5 YEARS
     (in thousands)

Note payable to Parent (1)

   $ 100,000    $ —      $ 100,000    $ —      $ —  

Interest on note payable to Parent (1)

     26,000      13,000      13,000      —        —  

Operating leases (2)

     49,239      10,244      12,124      8,904      17,967

Purchase obligations (3)

     61,015      51,225      6,601      2,948      241

Other obligations (4)

     217,346      86,010      19,708      20,875      90,753
                                  

Total

   $ 453,600    $ 160,479    $ 151,433    $ 32,727    $ 108,961
                                  

 

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(1) See Note 10, “Note Payable to Parent,” in the notes to combined financial statements.
(2) See Note 8, “Commitments and Contingencies,” in the notes to combined financial statements.
(3) Purchase obligations consist primarily of accounts payable, the purchase of raw materials (primarily pulp), contracts for outside chipping, and contracts with natural gas and electricity providers.
(4) Included in other obligations are payments on postretirement employee benefit plans. Payments are based on expected future benefit payments as disclosed in Note 7, “Savings, Pension and Other Postretirement Employee Benefit Plans.”

Pro Forma Contractual Obligations

The following table presents our contractual obligations on a pro forma basis as of December 31, 2007 after giving effect to the spin-off and related transactions.

 

     PRO FORMA PAYMENTS DUE BY PERIOD*
     TOTAL    Within
1 YEAR
   1-3 YEARS    3-5 YEARS    More than
5 YEARS
     (in thousands)

Notes payable (1)

   $ 100,000    $ —      $ 100,000    $ —      $ —  

Interest on note payable to Parent (1)

     26,000      13,000      13,000      —        —  

Supply and Transition Services agreements (2)

     180,317      58,151      107,948      13,851      367

Operating leases

     50,055      10,448      12,328      9,312      17,967

Purchase obligations

     61,015      51,225      6,601      2,948      241

Other obligations

     217,346      86,010      19,708      20,875      90,753
                                  

Total

   $ 634,733    $ 218,834    $ 259,585    $ 46,986    $ 109,328
                                  

 

(1) See Note 10, “Note Payable to Parent,” in the notes to combined financial statements.
(2) Amounts are included for the Lumber Sales and Marketing, Lease and Option, Log Supply, Hog Fuel Supply, St. Maries Residuals Sales and Transition Services agreements. Amounts shown in the table for these agreements use applicable market prices from September 2008 where fixed prices are not contained in the agreements. For purposes of the amounts shown in the table, we have assumed that each of these agreements will expire at the end of their initial term and will not be renewed by the parties.
* Does not include the anticipated draw of $50 million from our $125 million revolving credit facility and the transfer of such amount to NewCo. Also, interest on the revolving credit facility is not included in the table because the interest rates are variable.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

To the extent we have borrowings outstanding under our $125 million revolving credit facility, we will be subject to interest rate fluctuation risk.

All of our non-U.S. sales are denominated in U.S. dollars and accordingly we are not subject to currency exchange risks associated with the receipt of payments in foreign currencies.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We currently are not a party to off-balance sheet arrangements that would require disclosure under this section.

Environmental

We are subject to rigorous federal and state environmental regulations. For a discussion of these regulations and their impact on our business, see “Business—Environmental.”

 

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BUSINESS

Industry Overview

We participate in the paperboard, consumer products, market pulp and lumber products industries.

Pulp and Paperboard

Our pulp and paperboard business competes in the solid bleached sulfate, or SBS, segment of the paperboard industry. SBS is a premium paperboard grade that is most frequently used to produce folding cartons, liquid packaging, cups and plates, and commercial printing items. SBS is used to make these products because it is manufactured using virgin fiber produced in a kraft bleaching process, which results in superior stiffness and cleanliness. SBS is often coated with a clay surface, which in many cases provides superior surface printing qualities. SBS can also be coated with a plastic film to provide a moisture barrier for some uses.

According to RISI, Inc., or RISI, a research firm and information provider for the paper and forest products industry, approximately six million tons of SBS were manufactured in 2007 in the United States. The following chart shows, on a percentage basis, the end products produced from this six million tons of SBS that were converted in 2007:

LOGO

Folding cartons segment. Folding carton end uses consumed nearly 42% of domestic SBS production, making it the largest portion of the SBS segment of the paperboard industry. Within the folding carton segment there are varying qualities of SBS. The high end of the folding carton category in general requires a premium print surface and includes uses such as packaging for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, DVDs and CDs, and other premium retail goods. On the lower end of the quality spectrum, SBS is used in the packaging of commodity frozen foods, beverages, and baked goods.

Demand for SBS in the folding carton segment in the United States is primarily driven by industrial production of processed foods, particularly wet and frozen foods, as containers for these products account for the biggest source of consumption. Additionally, due to its extensive use in packaging pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and media goods, demand is also linked to growth in those segments and in the global economy. According to RISI, folding carton segment demand is expected to grow by 1.3% annually in the United States through 2012.

Liquid Packaging and Cup Segment. The liquid packaging segment accounted for approximately 19% of SBS production in the United States in 2007, or approximately 1.2 million tons. SBS liquid packaging is primarily used in the United States for the packaging of juices. In Japan and other Asian countries, SBS liquid packaging is primarily used for the packaging of milk, juice and other liquid items.

 

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The cup segment of the market consists primarily of cold and hot drink cups and is largely characterized by highly commoditized, lower margin uses that place less emphasis on printability or brightness. Since this segment is mostly commoditized, it tends to attract producers employing a high-volume, low-margin strategy. While we serve demand in this commodity cup segment, we are particularly focused on the high-end portion of the segment that demands good printability.

Commercial Printing Segment. Approximately 750,000 tons of SBS were used for commercial printing applications in the United States in 2007, or approximately 12% of SBS production. Commercial printing applications use light-weight bleached bristols, which are used to produce postcards, signage, sales literature, and cover stock for publications such as annual reports, among other things. The customers in this segment are accustomed to high-quality paper grades, which possess superior printability and brightness compared to most paperboard grades. Consequently, the commercial printing segment is characterized by the most demanding specifications for customized paperboard surface quality and printability. As a result of the heightened emphasis on superior quality and performance, the pricing opportunities generally are more attractive than those found in other paperboard grades.

Market Pulp. Nearly 70% of the pulp manufactured worldwide is integrated with paper and paperboard production, usually at the same mill, according to RISI. In those cases where a paper mill does not produce its own pulp, it must purchase it on the open market. Market pulp is defined as pulp produced for sale to these customers and it excludes tonnage consumed by the producing mill or shipped to any of its affiliated mills within the same country. Demand for bleached chemical market pulp, or BCP, totaled 45.9 million tons in 2007, an increase of 1.4 million tons or 3.1% over 2006. BCP demand has grown by an average of 3.5% each year during the period from 1986 to 2006, according to RISI’s estimates of the top 19 pulp producing countries.

Market pulp is divided into two basic groups: paper grade pulps and dissolving or special alpha pulps. Chemical processes, mainly the sulfate, or kraft, process, produce most of the paper grade market pulps. Chemical paper-grade pulp can be further divided according to pulping process, basic wood type, producing region, brightness level and various types of bleaching. Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft pulp is one of the most important and widely used grades of chemical paper-grade pulp produced in North America, and producers in recent years have emphasized the grade’s premium traits, which are ideal for thin coated paper. Softwood pulp demand grew by 0.9% during 2007, equivalent to 193,000 tons of demand growth.

Consumer Products

Our consumer products business competes in the consumer segment of the U.S. tissue market, in which 7.4 million tons of tissue were produced in 2007, according to RISI. The U.S. tissue market is generally divided into two segments:

 

   

the at-home or consumer segment, representing 68% of the U.S. tissue market, and

 

   

the away-from-home segment, representing 32% of the U.S. tissue market.

In 2007, the United States at-home tissue segment consisted of the following products:

LOGO

 

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Each category of products is further distinguished according to quality classifications: ultra, premium, value and economy. As a result of process improvements and consumer demand, the majority of at-home tissue sold in the United States has shifted from value and economy quality to premium or ultra quality.

At-home tissue producers are comprised of companies that manufacture branded and private label tissue products. Branded tissue suppliers manufacture, market and sell tissue products under their own nationally branded labels. Private label tissue producers sell tissue products to retailers who in turn sell the tissue to consumers as the retailers’ private label brand. Some manufacturers sell both branded and private label tissue products.

In the United States, at-home tissue is primarily sold through grocery stores, mass merchants, warehouse clubs, drug stores and dollar stores. The following chart shows the percentage of consumer tissue sold in the United States through mid-year 2007 through retail distribution channels, according to Information Resources, Inc.:

LOGO

Tissue is one of the strongest segments of the paper and forest products industry due to its steady demand growth and the absence of severe supply imbalances that occur in a number of other paper segments. In addition to economic and demographic drivers, tissue demand is affected by product innovations and shifts in distribution channels.

Lumber Products

Our lumber products business competes in the U.S. softwood lumber market, which includes cedar and dimensional framing lumber products. Dimensional framing lumber is a commodity product produced for the construction market. One of the primary end uses for cedar products are homes in resort areas or second home markets. The current downturn in the North American housing market has significantly reduced demand for lumber products.

Business Overview

Our business is comprised of two primary businesses, our pulp and paperboard business and our consumer products business. We also manufacture and market lumber products, including dimensional framing lumber and appearance grade cedar lumber products.

Pulp and Paperboard

Our pulp and paperboard business manufactures and markets bleached paperboard for the high-end segment of the packaging industry and is a leading producer of SBS in the United States. Our pulp and paperboard business

 

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operates two facilities, one in Idaho and one in Arkansas. Our pulp and paperboard business also produces bleached softwood market pulp, which is used as the basis for many paper products, and slush pulp, which it supplies to our consumer products business. In 2007, our pulp and paperboard segment had net sales of $670.6 million, of which $567.8 million, or 85%, was derived from sales of our paperboard products, approximately $46.0 million, or 7%, was derived from the sale to third parties of pulp produced at our facilities, and approximately $55.8 million, or 8%, was derived from internal pulp sales to our consumer products segment. In 2007, approximately 20% of segment net sales were generated from sales to international customers, mainly located in Japan, China, Taiwan and the Netherlands.

Over the past five years, the most significant change in our pulp and paperboard business has been the growth in our commercial print sales. Customer demand for commercial print applications such as signage, folders, direct mail marketing pieces and postcards has increased significantly during this period. We made improvements to our manufacturing equipment at our Arkansas and Idaho mills to improve sheet surface quality and have focused our marketing and selling efforts on this market segment.

Our bleached paperboard is converted by our customers into a variety of end products, including packaging for liquids, food products, pharmaceuticals, toiletries, paper cups and plates, blister packaging and other consumable goods. We also manufacture lightweight bleached bristols. The chart below illustrates the percentage of products produced by our pulp and paperboard business in 2007:

LOGO

Folding cartons used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and blister and skin packaging, as well as those that incorporate foil and holographic lamination, accounted for approximately 30% of our total paperboard sales in 2007, or approximately 279,000 tons. We focus on high-end folding carton applications where the heightened focus on product quality provides for differentiation among suppliers, resulting in margins that are more attractive than in lower grade packaging.

Our liquid carton paperboard is known for its cleanliness and printability, and is engineered for long-lived performance due to its three-ply, 100% softwood construction, and optional polyethylene coating. Our reputation for producing liquid packaging meeting the most demanding standards for paperboard quality and cleanliness has resulted in a meaningful presence in Japan, where consumer tendencies to associate blemish-free, vibrant packaging with the cleanliness, quality, and freshness of the liquids contained inside are pronounced.

We also sell paperboard for use in cup and plate products. A majority of our sales in this area are to the standard cup and plate segment of the market, but we also provide paperboard to high-end food manufacturers, such as those who make premium ice cream. We also sell limited quantities of plate quality SBS.

In 2007, approximately 14% of net sales in our pulp and paperboard segment was for commercial printing applications. The commercial print market requires a premium print surface consistent with the demands of high

 

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end folding carton converters. Further, a supplier must be able to deliver small volumes, often within 24 hours. We have achieved growth in this market through investing in improvements in print surface quality at both our paperboard mills and by focusing sales and marketing efforts on printers and regional paper merchants. In addition, in 2006 we also expanded our product lines to the lighter weights desired by the commercial print segments and added a coated two-side offering, branded as Ancora.

At our Lewiston, Idaho facility we produce and sell bleached softwood market pulp, both for internal use as well to external customers. In 2007, 57% of our pulp sales were comprised of internal sales to our consumer products business and the remaining 43% represented pulp sales to external customers, with the majority of these external sales shipped to customers in Asia.

The seven percent figure reflected in the chart for “other” sales reflects down-grade and off-grade pulp and paperboard products sold to brokers.

Consumer Products

Our consumer products business is a leading producer of private label tissue products sold in grocery stores in the United States. In 2007, we produced approximately 55% of the total private label tissue products sold in grocery stores in the United States.

We manufacture our tissue with three paper machines at our facility in Idaho, as well as one machine at our facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. The tissue is then converted into packaged tissue products at our three converting facilities in Idaho, Nevada, and Illinois. In 2007, our consumer products division had net sales of $444.7 million.

In 2007, we produced and sold the following product mix:

LOGO

Our conventional paper machines located at our facility in Idaho produce ultra and premium products. However, these paper machines cannot produce a high-end ultra household towel. In 2004, to meet this demand we invested in a new through-air-dried, or TAD, paper machine at our Las Vegas facility. Since TAD machine production commenced, our ultra household towel sales have steadily grown, from approximately 1,000,000 cases in 2004 to over 4,000,000 cases of two-ply TAD products in 2007.

Lumber Products

We produce dimensional framing lumber and specialty appearance grade cedar products. Our lumber products business also supplies wood chips, sawdust and bark, or hog fuel, biomass to our pulp and paperboard segment. In 2007, our lumber products business had net sales of $121.7 million with production of approximately 200 million board feet.

 

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We sell lumber through a variety of channels. Dimensional framing lumber sales are made through a diverse set of distribution channels, including distributors, professional dealers, and office wholesalers. Substantially all of our cedar lumber sales are through distributors.

Company Strengths

High-quality, premium products . Over the last several years, we have focused on high-quality paperboard and consumer tissue products.

 

   

Pulp and Paperboard: We produce paperboard with smooth printing surfaces, superior brightness and cleanliness, excellent strength and forming ability, and diverse ranges of thickness.

 

   

In recent years, we have enhanced our sheet quality for our folding carton, commercial print, cupstock and liquid packaging grades. We have also introduced blister packaging and coated two-side grades to expand our high-quality product offerings.

 

   

Our liquid carton packaging board is known for its cleanliness and printability, and is engineered for long-lived performance due to its three-ply, 100% softwood construction, and optional polyethylene coating.

 

   

Our pulp and paperboard business shipped over 48,000 tons of liquid packaging paperboard to the highly demanding Japanese market in 2007. In Japan, blemish-free paperboard devoid of any contaminants or residue is a fundamental requirement in the liquid packaging segment. This is due to the consumer’s tendency to associate blemish-free, vibrant packaging with the cleanliness and freshness of the liquids contained inside.

 

   

Consumer Products: We produce high-quality private label consumer tissue products.

 

   

We are committed to maintaining a high-quality level for our products that matches the quality of the leading national brands. We utilize independent companies to routinely test our product quality. Tests including bi-weekly tracking, central location testing, in-home consumer testing and qualitative focus groups.

 

   

We believe that we are the only U.S. consumer tissue manufacturer that produces solely private label tissue products. Most U.S. tissue producers manufacture both private label and branded products. Branded producers generally manufacture their private label products a quality grade or two below their branded products so as not to impair sales of the branded products. Because we do not produce branded tissue products, we are able to offer products that match the quality of the branded products at lower prices.

Long-standing customer relationships with focus on premium quality and service.

 

   

Pulp and Paperboard:

 

   

We have long-standing customer relationships with our paperboard customers. Our top 10 customers accounted for approximately 50% of our total paperboard shipments from each mill in each of the last four years, and although most of our contracts are annual agreements that can be terminated without penalty, our relationships extend over many years with our top 10 customers.

 

   

We do not produce paperboard end products, so we are not simultaneously a supplier of, and a competitor to, our customers. For example, of the five largest SBS producers in the United States, we are the only producer that does not also convert SBS into end products. We believe our position as a non-integrated supplier has resulted in a diverse group of loyal customers as they do not have to worry that in the event of decreased market availability of SBS, we will re-direct production to meet internal conversion requirements.

 

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Our Converting Solutions Team, comprised of seven full time experts with experience in the converting business, provides valuable consulting services to our customers. These services would be prohibitively expensive for most of our customers to develop and provide in-house. We also have a national network of 12 experienced and dedicated sales representatives who are geographically distributed to increase responsiveness to our customers. Our sales force is augmented by a toll-free help line staffed by ten customer service representatives capable of quoting price and delivery terms, thereby reducing turnaround times and increasing customer certainty.

 

   

We have lengthy, established relationships with our Japanese customers, which greatly enhances our position in that segment. Since the Japanese market segment for liquid packaging is small relative to the overall global market segment, many of the large manufacturers who focus on large volume market segments and high-intensity manufacturing choose not to target this demanding market segment.

 

   

Consumer Products:

 

   

In 2007, we produced approximately 55% of the total private label tissue products sold in grocery stores in the United States. We supply three national grocery chains’ private label tissue products. We have strong long-term relationships with our grocery chain customers and believe we have successfully integrated ourselves within their strategic decision making processes. The average tenure of our top 10 consumer product customers in 2007 was over 20 years.

 

   

We deliver customer-focused business solutions by assisting in managing product assortment, category management, and pricing and promotion optimization. We also offer continuous replenishment and vendor managed inventory programs to many of our customers. In 2007, we maintained operational goals of 97% on-time shipments for our largest customers, and a 98% fill rate on all orders. In addition, our promotional programs focus on supporting the customer’s brand and volume expectations.

Well-maintained facilities with significant investments over the last several years.

 

   

Pulp and Paperboard:

 

   

Between 2000 and 2007, we spent approximately $123.0 million in capital expenditures at our pulp and paperboard business. Our Arkansas mill is the most recently-built SBS mill in North America, and from 2000 to 2007 it was updated and improved with a new headbox, a complete rebuild and expansion of its recovery boiler, a new coater, and additional drying capacity for the paper machine. At our Idaho mill, investments were made on the folding carton/commercial print paperboard machine, including installation of a new headbox, pocket vent system, profiling drying equipment, and a new coater between 2000 and 2007. In addition, a chip screening system was installed in 2007 in the wood handling area. These investments have increased paperboard production by approximately 22% between 2000 and 2007 at each mill.

 

   

Consumer Products:

 

   

Between 2000 and 2007, we spent approximately $125.0 million in capital expenditures in our consumer products business. One of our most significant projects was the investment in the TAD equipment in our Nevada facility, which was completed in 2004. Our newest facility in Illinois began converting operations in 2004 and serves as point of access to customers in the Midwestern and Eastern United States.

 

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Attractive geographic positioning of our pulp and paperboard business.

 

   

Our pulp and paperboard mill in Idaho is one of only two SBS mills in the Western United States and the only Western U.S. SBS mill that produces a coated grade of SBS, which allows us to minimize transportation costs to Asia and compete on a cost-advantaged basis relative to our East Coast competitors. This advantage is particularly important in sales of liquid packaging SBS to Japan, and in sales of folding carton and commercial print to customers located on the West Coast of the United States.

 

   

Our Arkansas mill is centrally located, complementing the Idaho mill in shipping to customers nationwide. The Arkansas mill supplies customers in the Midwest and East, which reduces the freight costs incurred in connection with shipments to those customers.

Largely integrated pulp and tissue operations .

Our consumer products business generally sources a significant amount of its pulp supply internally from our pulp and paperboard operations in Idaho. For example, in 2007 our tissue facilities sourced approximately 50%, or an estimated 120,000 tons, per year of their pulp supply internally. This relationship provides our consumer products business with a secure pulp supply and significant freight and drying cost savings. Our pulp and paperboard business benefits from this relationship with a steady demand source. Any excess pulp produced by our Idaho mill is sold in the open market.

Strong lumber products capabilities

Our lumber mill is capable of producing a variety of value-added specialty cedar products. Our strengths also include up-to-date technology and experienced mill management. We have a strong and focused customer base, where our top five dimension lumber customers accounted for 45% of dimensional framing lumber sales, and our top five cedar customers accounted for 49% of cedar sales in 2007.

Company Strategies

Pulp and Paperboard

Leverage our leading market position . As a leading supplier to the high-end segment of the North American packaging industry, we have strong industry insight and expertise, which we utilize to provide value- added services to our customers. We intend to further strengthen our position by increasing our sales to both existing and new customers of our pulp and paperboard businesses by using the depth of our customer relationships and the quality of our products.

Increase annual production of commercial print paperboard. Through our experienced sales force and in recognition that packaging and print market segments are merging, we have enhanced our position within the commercial print paperboard segment by providing paperboard to prospective customers for trial use on challenging printing jobs. Through these trials, we have established a meaningful foothold among a small but significant segment of this market where the emphasis is on product quality and customer service. By using existing capacity and additional capacity through productivity improvements, we intend to increase our annual production of paperboard manufactured for the higher margin commercial print paperboard market segment.

Increase productivity and cost competitiveness of our pulp and paperboard business. Our pulp and paperboard business is focused on long-term cash generation by carefully managing costs and investing strategically to improve operating performance. From 1999 to 2007, our pulp and paperboard business reduced labor costs by cutting headcount by approximately 20% while increasing production by approximately 22% during the period. In addition, as natural gas costs have increased over the past few years, our pulp and paperboard business has been able to cut energy costs by reducing natural gas use by 55% per ton of production. We intend to pursue additional cost reductions and productivity improvements for our pulp and paperboard business.

 

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Consumer Products

Penetrate new grocery accounts in the Midwest . We are leveraging the location of our Illinois converting facility and our position as a leading supplier of private label tissue in the Western United States to expand our customer relationships in the Midwestern United States.

Increase manufacturing capacity by adding a napkin line in our Illinois facility . We are currently experiencing strong sales of our napkin products and expect these sales levels to grow. To address this demand, we are adding a new napkin line to our Illinois facility, which we are funding through our annual capital expenditure budget. We believe this additional line will eliminate our need to outsource production of these products, as well as reduce freight costs and increase sales.

Establish Facilities on the East Coast . Due to freight costs, it is typically uneconomical for us to service East Coast customers, or East Coast retail locations of our national customers, given the current geographical location of our tissue facilities. We are exploring options to open a manufacturing facility or multiple facilities on the East Coast, which we believe would allow us to service more retail outlets of our current customers and expand our customer base to include East Coast retailers and East Coast locations of our national customers. We expect that any new facility would be financed by our cash on hand, draws from our revolving credit facility, or a combination of the two.

Products

Paperboard

We market our bleached paperboard products under our Ancora and Candesce brands. Ancora is a coated two-sided product that features printer-specified shade and brightness balance without the use of optical brightening agents in a smooth sheet designed for excellent color reproduction. Ancora is ideal for high-profile brochures and mailers, point-of-purchase displays, presentation folders, luxury packaging and promotional materials requiring a consistent, premium print surface on both sides of the sheet. Candesce is the umbrella brand for our premium lines of folding carton and commercial print paperboard, carded packaging, cupstock, and liquid packaging board.

 

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Candesce Products

 

Typical Use

 

Features

Aseptic & Non-aseptic Packaging Board   Juices, milk and other beverages  

•     Designed for extended shelf life products and non-refrigerated aseptic applications

 

•     3-ply construction and fiber base that delivers excellent bending and folding characteristics

Carded Packaging Grades   Display rack packaging, single sales of small items such as cosmetics  

•     Premium print surface

 

•     100% fiber tear (sealing characteristic)

Coated One-Side Paperboard   Cosmetics packaging and commercial printing, foil and holographic lamination, cover stock and direct mail, pharmaceuticals, dry and frozen foods, candy and bakery boxes  

•     High end surface for pure color and crisp detail

 

•     Engineered with strength and surface properties that support many converting processes, including folding, scoring, embossing, foil stamping, laminating, perforating, and die cutting

Coated Back Side   Trading and gaming cards, flash cards and postcards, retail store display signs, presentation folders, and book, notebook and tablet covers  

•     Dense sheet characteristics enabling rich primary print surface for complex graphics as well as solid print surface on the back side

Cupstock   Cold and hot cups, ice cream cups, yogurt and soup containers  

•     100% softwood furnish enabling strength, forming and sealing characteristics

Gable Liquid Packaging Board   Milk, juice, sake, wine, tea, health drinks, specialty creams, salads, dry foods, candy, and plant food  

•     3-ply, 100% softwood furnish

 

•     Efficient sizing and sheet construction

 

•     Wick resistant

Ancora Product

       
Ancora Coated Two Side   High profile brochures, presentation folders, direct mail, report covers, point-of-purchase displays, high-end advertising  

•     Balanced coated sheet surfaces

 

•     Consistent color reproduction and excellent ink holdout

Pulp

We manufacture bleached softwood market pulp, which is used as the basis for many paper products, and slush pulp, which we supply to our consumer products business.

 

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Consumer Products

Our consumer products business produces and markets household private label consumer tissue products—household paper towels, napkins, and facial and bathroom tissue—that match the quality of branded products. We manufacture and sell a complete line of products in each category, focusing primarily on the ultra and premium quality products in each category. In household paper towels, we produce and sell high end TAD towels as well as premium and value towels. In napkins, we manufacture ultra two- and three-ply dinner napkins and also premium and value one-ply luncheon napkins. In bathroom tissue, the majority of our sales are high quality two-ply ultra and premium products. In the facial category, we sell an ultra lotion facial tissue as well as a complete line of premium products. In 2007, our consumer products business produced approximately 10.4 million cases of paper towels, 11.4 million cases of bath tissue, 2.3 million cases of napkins, and 1.7 million cases of facial tissue.

Lumber Products

Our lumber products business produces dimensional framing lumber and appearance grade cedar products, including glued and profile lumber for building products end-users. Specifically, our cedar products include appearance grade boards, siding and trim. Our glued cedar process utilizes low grade cedar to produce finger jointed and edge glued boards and siding. Our dimensional lumber business includes two inch dimensional framing lumber, industrial timbers and railroad ties.

Sales and Marketing

We utilize various methods for the sale and distribution of our paperboard and softwood pulp. The majority of our paperboard is sold to packaging converters domestically through sales offices located throughout the United States, while a growing percentage is channeled through distribution to commercial printers. The majority of our international paperboard sales are made in Japan, China, Taiwan, Australia and other Southeast Asian countries through sales agents. The majority of our softwood market pulp sales are made through agents. The recent decline in the U.S. dollar has opened up European markets.

We sell private label tissue products directly to retail distribution centers through our own sales force to grocery stores. We also utilize the services of market brokers.

Our lumber products are sold through a diverse set of distribution channels. Our dimensional framing lumber sales are made to distributors, professional dealers and wholesalers, as well as to a number of smaller buyers. The majority of dimensional framing sales are made to purchasers in the Western United States. Cedar sales are more concentrated, with nearly 89% of all sales made to distributors in 2007.

Competition

Our pulp and paperboard business mainly competes based on product quality, customer service and price. We are a significant producer of bleached paperboard in the United States, where we compete with at least five other domestic pulp and paperboard producers. In 2007, we had approximately 13% of the available domestic bleached paperboard capacity. Our pulp and paperboard business primarily competes with International Paper, MeadWestvaco, Georgia Pacific and Rock-Tenn.

Our consumer products business primarily competes on the basis of product quality, service and price. Our consumer products business competes directly with several mid-sized companies and a group of smaller producers in the private label tissue market segment. Our consumer products business also competes with the large branded tissue products producers, such as Procter & Gamble, and producers who manufacture both branded and private-label products, such as Georgia-Pacific and Kimberly-Clark. We believe our consumer products business competes favorably as to quality and price with both private label and branded tissue product producers. In 2007, we produced approximately 55% of the total private label consumer products sold in grocery stores in the United States.

 

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The Processes Associated with Producing our Products

Paperboard . In general, the process of making paperboard begins by chemically cooking wood chips and sawdust to make pulp. The pulp is bleached to provide a white, bright pulp used to produce paperboard grades, which are formed using our three paperboard machines. The various grades of paperboard may be coated with starch and clay, and are wound into rolls for shipment to customers for converting to final end uses. For liquid paperboard packaging, a polyethylene or plastic coating is applied by a separate operation to create a barrier that is water resistant and durable. In order to produce the steam necessary to cook the chips, dry the materials and produce electricity that we use at our facilities, we burn biomass residuals from the pulping process in a recovery boiler, as well as hog fuel biomass and natural gas in our power boilers. We recover and recycle cooking chemicals in recovery boilers and recausticizing plants.

Pulp . Bleached pulp that we sell as market pulp is dried and baled on a pulp drying machine, bypassing the paperboard machines.

Tissue. The process of making tissue starts with pulp made from wood chips. The pulp is mixed in a giant blending chest until it reaches a consistency of 96% water and 4% pulp. This mixture is sprayed onto a large rotating porous screen on the paper machine, where the sheet is formed. From this point the sheet travels through numerous pressure rolls to remove excess water and finally over a large heated drum to dry. The dry sheet is wound into parent rolls weighing several tons, which are placed into storage until the paper is converted. During the converting process, the parent rolls are placed on a converting line where the paper is rewound onto a smaller core for bathroom tissue or household towels, or folded for facial tissue or napkins. Once the product is rewound or folded it goes through a packaging or wrapping process and is placed in a shipping case. This case is placed in storage until it is shipped to the customer.

Facilities

Idaho. Our pulp and paperboard, consumer products and lumber products segments share an 880 acre site in Lewiston, Idaho owned by us.

Our pulp and paperboard business built a mill at the Idaho site in 1950, which underwent pulp and utilities rebuilds throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. The Idaho pulp and paperboard mill is currently capable of producing 545,000 tons of pulp and 430,000 tons of bleached paperboard. The mill has an extruder capable of processing 180,000 tons per year. An extruder coats paperboard with polyethylene, which provides the paperboard with liquid resistant qualities. Excess pulp produced at this mill is either transferred to our consumer products business in the form of slush pulp for use in the production of tissue products or is dried and sold as baled pulp on the open market.

Our consumer products business operates in Idaho with three dedicated conventional tissue machines capable of producing approximately 180,000 tons per year, and 17 converting lines and three slitters/printers producing 1.1 million cases per month. These machines operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Idaho consumer products facility has warehousing space for 475,000 cases of raw materials and parent rolls.

Our lumber segment built its Lewiston, Idaho mill in 1927, but the mill has undergone a series of rebuilds and other capital investment improvements in recent years, including a sawmill rebuild in 1987, a rebuild of the log merchandising area in 1993, stacker modifications in 1999 in-feed upgrades on the sharp chain in 2003 and a kiln replacement in 2005. Currently, the mill runs 75% dimensional framing and 25% cedar lumber. In 2007, this mill produced approximately 200 million board feet of lumber.

Arkansas. Our pulp and paperboard business constructed its mill in Arkansas in 1977, making it the newest SBS mill in North America. The mill, which is owned by us, includes one pulp line capable of producing 300,000 tons of slush pulp annually, one paperboard machine with annual capacity of 325,000 tons, and an extruder capable of processing 80,000 tons per year. Currently, only 30,000 of the 80,000 tons per year of extrusion capacity is being utilized. The facility was designed with a simple layout which requires limited capital

 

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expenditures to optimize production. In 2007, folding carton production amounted to 91% of all quality paperboard shipments from our Arkansas facility.

Nevada . Our consumer products business set up its Las Vegas, Nevada facility, which is owned by us, to service the Southwestern United States. The first phase of the Nevada facility was completed in 1994. The initial construction included the current converting facility and 100,000 square feet of finished goods storage. In 2004, the TAD paper machine began operation in Nevada. The machine is located in a separate building and is connected to the existing converting facility. The Nevada facility is a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week operation. In 2007, our Nevada facility acquired 25% of its pulp requirements for its TAD machine from our Idaho pulp mill and the remainder from third parties. Pulp is transferred from our pulp and paperboard business at market price less avoided costs.

The Nevada operation also has two warehouses with over 500,000 square feet of space for finished goods, raw materials and parent rolls. One of the warehouses, located directly south of the Nevada facility, is leased and provides rail access to the operation. The rail access is used for inbound pulp, corestock, parent rolls and cased product from our Idaho mill.

Illinois. Our consumer products business facility in Elwood, Illinois is leased, and it manufactures and distributes products primarily for customers in the Midwestern and Eastern United States. The facility was originally built in 2002 as a distribution center and became a converting facility in 2004 to meet market needs in the Midwest and to reduce freight costs. This facility has access to all forms of transportation. Like the other consumer product business facilities, the Illinois facility is a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week operation. Our Illinois facility also has a leased warehouse with 400,000 square feet of space for finished goods, raw materials and parent rolls.

Texas and California. Our consumer products business operates two other distribution centers, one in Fort Worth, Texas and one in Tracy, California. The Texas warehouse is a five-day, two shift distribution operation with one salaried and four hourly employees. It is a 125,000 square foot, leased space that holds finished goods for distribution to the South Central United States, predominately Texas. The warehouse in California is a public warehouse for one of our major customers in support of the customer’s drop ship and promotional programs.

Our principal manufacturing facilities at December 31, 2007, together with their respective 2007 annual capacities and production, are as follows:

 

    

CAPACITY

   PRODUCTION

Pulp and Paperboard

     

Pulp Mills:

     

Arkansas

   300,000 tons    296,000 tons

Idaho

   545,000 tons    508,000 tons

Bleached Paperboard Mills:

     

Arkansas

   325,000 tons    321,000 tons

Idaho

   430,000 tons    424,000 tons

Consumer products

     

Tissue Mills:

     

Idaho

   180,000 tons    179,000 tons

Nevada

   35,000 tons    34,000 tons

Tissue Converting Facilities:

     

Idaho

   100,000 tons    95,000 tons

Illinois

   47,000 tons    43,000 tons

Nevada

   50,000 tons    48,000 tons

Lumber products

     

Sawmill:

     

Idaho

   205 million board feet    199 million board feet

 

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Employees

As of September 30, 2008, we had approximately 2,490 full-time employees, of which 1,100 were employed by our pulp and paperboard business, 1,070 were employed by our consumer products business and 320 were employed by our lumber products business. This workforce consisted of approximately 625 salaried, 1,865 hourly and 80 temporary or part-time employees. As of September 30, 2008, approximately 66% of the workforce was covered under collective bargaining agreements.

Unions represent hourly employees at our Idaho and Arkansas facilities. The table below illustrates which employees are represented at these facilities, by whom and the contract expiration date.

 

Union Description

   Location   

Represented Group

   Number of
Employees
  

Contract
Expiration

Date

United Steel Workers    Arkansas    Hourly employees at Arkansas    245    July 31, 2009
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers    Idaho    Hourly employees (electricians) at pulp and paperboard & consumer products    52    August 31, 2010
United Steel Workers    Idaho    Hourly employees at pulp and paperboard & consumer products    1,006    August 31, 2010
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers    Idaho    Hourly employees at Lumber Products    295    May 31, 2012
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers    Idaho    Hourly employees at Number 4 Power Boiler    43    May 31, 2012

The Arkansas facility has a union contract with the United Steelworkers Union, which will remain in effect through July 2009. We negotiated two major contracts in 2007 covering the hourly workers in Idaho represented by the United Steel Workers and with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which will expire on August 31, 2010.

Legal Proceedings

We are currently not a party to any material legal proceedings. We may from time to time become involved in litigation relating to claims arising from our ordinary course of business. These claims, even if not meritorious, could result in the expenditure of significant financial and managerial resources.

Environmental

Our operating facilities are subject to rigorous federal and state environmental regulation governing air emissions, wastewater discharges, and solid and hazardous waste management. We endeavor to comply with all environmental regulations and regularly monitor our activities to ensure compliance. Compliance with environmental regulations is a significant factor in our business and requires capital expenditures as well as additional operating costs. Capital expenditures specifically designated for environmental compliance totaled approximately $2.0 million during 2007 and are expected to be approximately $1.2 million in 2008. There are currently no pending unresolved enforcement-related actions at any of the facilities.

 

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Our pulp mill in Idaho discharges treated mill effluent into the nearby Snake River. Federal law requires that we comply with provisions of a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System, or NPDES, permit. In March 2005, the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, issued the current NPDES permit for the Idaho pulp mill. The NPDES permit requires, among other matters, a significant reduction in biochemical oxygen demand over the five-year period of the permit and also requires a reduction in the temperature of the effluent during the months of July, August and September each year. We have completed physical modifications to the effluent system to meet the requirements of this permit. Our Idaho facility uses an off-site landfill for disposing of ash and solid waste. Primary clarifier sludge is burned as a fuel in a boiler on-site.

Our Arkansas facility has an on-site industrial landfill for disposal of sludge, lime, and recausticizing process solids. This landfill has an estimated remaining life of approximately 20 years. The mill complies with an NPDES permit that was renewed in 2007.

Our Idaho and Arkansas facilities are both Environmental Protection Agency Cluster Rule compliant. The EPA has developed Maximum Achievable Control Technology, or MACT, standards for air emissions from pulp and paper facilities. We have complied with the applicable MACT standards.

Our consumer products segment’s manufacturing operations routinely produce air emissions, water discharges and solid waste, all of which are managed in accordance with federal and state environmental laws and regulations.

Our facilities are currently in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations. We cannot assure, however, that situations that may give rise to material environmental liabilities will not be discovered or that the enactment of new environmental laws or regulations or changes in existing laws or regulations will not require significant expenditures by us.

 

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MANAGEMENT

Executive Officers and Directors

Set forth below is information concerning those persons that we expect will become our directors and executive officers following the spin-off.

 

Name

   Age   

Position

Gordon L. Jones

   59    President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Linda K. Massman

   42    Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer

Thomas H. Carter

   60    Vice President of Human Resources

Robert P. DeVleming

   56    Vice President of Consumer Products

Michael S. Gadd

   44    Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Harry D. Seamans

   55    Vice President of Pulp and Paperboard

Boh A. Dickey (1)

   63    Director

Jack A. Hockema

   62    Director

William D. Larsson

   63    Director

Michael T. Riordan (3)

   58    Director

William T. Weyerhaeuser (2)

   64    Director

 

(1) Chair of the Audit Committee.
(2) Chair of the Compensation Committee.
(3) Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee.

Gordon L. Jones will be our President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of our board of directors. From January 2001 to June 2008, Mr. Jones served as the President and Managing Member of Jones Investment Group LLC, an investment company. Prior to that, Mr. Jones served from May 1999 to November 2000 as President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director for Blue Ridge Paper Products, Inc.

Linda K. Massman will be our Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer. From May 2002 to August 2008, Ms. Massman served as the Group Vice President, Finance and Corporate Planning of SUPERVALU Inc., a grocery retail company. Prior to that, Ms. Massman served from 1999 to 2001 as Vice President, Business Planning and Operations for Viquity Corporation, an enterprise software company.

Thomas H. Carter will be our Vice President of Human Resources. From February 2005 to August 2008, Mr. Carter was retired. From February 2003 to February 2005, Mr. Carter served as Vice President, Human Resources of Sara Lee Coffee & Tea, North America, a division of Sara Lee Corporation. Prior to that, Mr. Carter served from 2002 to 2003 as Senior Director, Employee Relations for Sara Lee Bakery Group, a division of Sara Lee Corporation. Prior to that, Mr. Carter served from 1999 to 2001 as Vice President, Human Resources and Corporate Secretary for Blue Ridge Paper Products, Inc.

Robert P. DeVleming will be our Vice President of Consumer Products and has been with Potlatch Corporation for 30 years. Mr. DeVleming has served as Vice President, Consumer Products at Potlatch Corporation since October 2004. From May 2003 through October 2004, he was Vice President, Sales, Consumer Products at Potlatch Corporation.

Michael S. Gadd will be our Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. He has been with Potlatch Corporation since March 2006, and has served as Corporate Secretary since July 2007 and Associate General Counsel since March 2006. Prior to joining Potlatch Corporation he was an attorney with Perkins Coie, LLP in Portland, Oregon, from 2001 to January 2006.

Harry D. Seamans will be our Vice President of Pulp and Paperboard and has been with Potlatch Corporation for 31 years. Mr. Seamans has served as Vice President, Pulp and Paperboard at Potlatch Corporation since January 2003.

 

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Boh A. Dickey is expected to join our board upon the effectiveness of the registration statement for which this information statement is a part. Mr. Dickey has been a director of Potlatch Corporation since July 2000 and serves as the Chairman of Potlatch Corporation’s Audit Committee. Until his retirement in 2001, Mr. Dickey was the President, Chief Operating Officer and a member of the board of directors of SAFECO Corporation, an insurance and financial services company.

Jack A. Hockema is expected to join our board upon completion of the spin-off. Mr. Hockema has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer and a director of Kaiser Aluminum Corporation, an aluminum products manufacturing company, since October 2001, and as Chairman of the Board since July 2006.

William D. Larsson is expected to join our board upon completion of the spin-off. Mr. Larsson has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Precision Castparts Corp., an industrial manufacturing company, since August 2000 and recently announced his retirement effective December 31, 2008. Mr. Larsson is a member of the board of directors of Schnitzer Steel Industries, a manufacturer of recycled metal products.

Michael T. Riordan is expected to join our board upon effectiveness of the registration statement for which this information statement is a part. Mr. Riordan has been a director of Potlatch Corporation since December 2002. From May 2000 until his retirement in 2002, Mr. Riordan was the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Paragon Trade Brands, a manufacturer of private label disposable diapers and related products. Mr. Riordan also serves as a member of the board of directors of R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company, a publication, catalog and commercial printing company.

William T. Weyerhaeuser is expected to join our board upon effectiveness of the registration statement for which this information statement is a part. Mr. Weyerhaeuser has been a director of Potlatch Corporation since February 1990 and has served as Vice Chairman of Potlatch Corporation’s board since January 2004. Currently, Mr. Weyerhaeuser is Chairman of the Board of Columbia Banking System, Inc., a position he has held since January 2001. He served as its Interim Chief Executive Officer from June 2002 until February 2003. In addition, Mr. Weyerhaeuser has been Chairman of the Board of Eden Bioscience Corp. since November 2001.

Board of Directors

Following the spin-off date, we expect that our board of directors will consist of at least six members. We have been working with a nationally recognized search firm to identify an additional qualified candidate to serve on our board of directors following the spin-off. Our directors will serve until their successors are duly elected and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal. The authorized number of directors may be changed by resolution of the board. Vacancies on the board can be filled by resolution of the board of directors.

Director Independence

Under the rules of the NYSE, a director will only qualify as “independent” if our board of directors affirmatively determines that he or she has no material relationship with us, either directly or as a partner, stockholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with us. Following the spin-off, we anticipate that our board or directors will have established guidelines to assist it in determining whether a director has a material relationship with us consistent with applicable NYSE standards set forth in Section 303A.02(b) of the NYSE Listed Company Manual. Following the spin-off, we anticipate that our director independence guidelines will require that a majority of our board of directors be comprised of independent directors, and no director will qualify as independent until our board of directors affirmatively determines that the director has no material relationship with us that would compromise his or her ability to exercise judgment independent of management. Following the spin-off, we anticipate that our board of directors will have reviewed the relationships between each board member, and each such director’s immediate family members, and us or one of our subsidiaries or affiliates. Following the spin-off, we anticipate that our board will have affirmatively determined that, based on its review, the majority of the individuals who serve on our board of directors are independent directors.

 

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Corporate Governance

We expect that our board will fully implement our corporate governance initiatives at or prior to the time of the spin-off. We believe these initiatives will comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations of the SEC adopted thereunder. In addition, we believe our corporate governance initiatives will comply with the listing standards of the NYSE. After the spin-off, our board will continue to evaluate, and improve upon as appropriate, our corporate governance principles and policies.

Our board also intends to adopt a code of ethics and business conduct that applies to each of our directors, officers and employees. The code will addresses various topics, including:

 

   

compliance with laws, rules and regulations;

 

   

conflicts of interest;

 

   

insider trading;

 

   

corporate opportunities;

 

   

competition and fair dealing; and

 

   

payments to government personnel.

Upon completion of the spin-off, the code of ethics and business conduct will be posted on our website. Our audit committee also intends to implement whistleblower procedures by establishing formal procedures for receiving and handling complaints from employees that will require that any concerns regarding accounting or auditing matters reported under these procedures be communicated promptly to the audit committee.

Board Committees

Pursuant to our bylaws, our board of directors is permitted to establish committees from time to time as it deems appropriate. Initially, to facilitate independent director review and to make the most effective use of the directors’ time and capabilities, our board of directors will establish the following committees: audit committee, nominating and governance committee and compensation committee. The intended membership and functions of each committee are described below:

Audit Committee.  The audit committee will provide assistance to the board of directors in fulfilling its legal and fiduciary obligations in matters involving our accounting, auditing, financial reporting, internal controls over financial reporting and legal compliance functions by approving the services performed by our independent accountants and reviewing their reports regarding our accounting practices and systems of internal accounting controls. The audit committee will also oversee the audit efforts of our independent accountants and take those actions it deems necessary to satisfy itself that the accountants are independent of management. We will determine the members of the audit committee, each of whom will be a non-management member of our board of directors, promptly after the spin-off. Boh A. Dickey will be our audit committee chair and financial expert as currently defined under SEC rules. We believe that the composition of our audit committee will meet the criteria for independence under, and the functioning of our audit committee will comply with the applicable requirements of, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the current rules of the NYSE and SEC rules and regulations. We intend to comply with future audit committee requirements as they become applicable to us.

Compensation Committee.  The compensation committee will assist the board of directors in meeting its responsibilities with regard to oversight and determination of executive compensation. The compensation committee will review and as appropriate, approve or make recommendations to the board of directors with respect to our major compensation plans, policies and programs. In addition, the compensation committee will review and approve the compensation for our executive officers, establish and modify the terms and conditions of employment of our executive officers, and administer our equity incentive plans. We will determine the members of the compensation committee, each of whom will be a non-management member of our board of directors, promptly after the spin-off. William T. Weyerhaeuser will be our compensation committee chair. We

 

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believe that the composition of our compensation committee will meet the criteria for independence under, and the functioning of our compensation committee will comply with the applicable requirements of, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and NYSE and SEC rules and regulations. We intend to comply with future compensation committee requirements as they become applicable to us.

Nominating and Governance Committee.  The nominating and governance committee, or nominating committee, will be responsible for making recommendations to the board of directors regarding candidates for directorships and the size and composition of the board. In addition, the nominating committee will be responsible for overseeing our corporate governance guidelines and reporting and making recommendations to the board concerning corporate governance matters. We will determine the members of the nominating committee, each of whom will be a non-management member of our board of directors, promptly after the spin-off. Michael T. Riordan will be our nominating committee chair. We believe that the composition of our nominating committee will meet the criteria for independence under, and the functioning of our nominating committee will comply with the applicable requirements of, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, NYSE and SEC rules and regulations. We intend to comply with future nominating committee requirements as they become applicable to us.

Director Compensation

We have prepared this discussion of non-employee director compensation in connection with our separation from Potlatch Corporation. As a result, our director compensation program is under development and will ultimately be decided upon and approved by our board of directors. We anticipate that our nominating and governance committee will review and make recommendations to our board of directors concerning director compensation.

Similar to the development of our executive compensation program, working with Potlatch Corporation we established our objective for our initial director compensation, which is intended to provide our directors a fair compensation package that is tied to the services they will perform as well as to our performance. Our goal is to recruit and retain the best directors that we can.

We expect that our initial director compensation program will consist of an annual retainer, meeting fees and a long-term equity incentive compensation component, which may consist of either stock options or common stock units.

Retainer and Fees.  We expect the cash portion of our non-employee director compensation to initially be at the following rates:

 

Annual retainer fee

   $ 40,000

Annual retainer fee for Chair

   $ 20,000

Annual retainer fee for Chair of the audit committee

   $ 15,000

Annual retainer fee for Chair of each other committee

   $ 5,000

Attendance fee for each board meeting

   $ 1,500

Attendance fee for each committee meeting

   $ 1,500

We intend to implement a Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors, or Directors Plan, pursuant to which directors may elect to defer all or any portion of their fees. We expect that when a director elects to defer fees, he or she would have the option to have those fees converted into common stock units or, if not converted, then credited with annual interest at a rate set forth in the Directors Plan. The common stock units would be credited with amounts in common stock units equal in value to any dividends that are paid on the same amount of common stock.

Other Payments or Benefits.  We expect to grant our initial non-employee directors an equity award valued at $140,000 that will vest ratably over a three year period. In the future, we expect our non-employee directors will receive an annual equity award valued at $70,000. We expect that we will provide coverage for directors under a director and officer liability insurance policy. We will also reimburse directors for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for attending board and committee meetings and educational seminars and conferences in accordance with our director education program.

 

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Stock Ownership Guidelines.  We anticipate that our board will adopt stock ownership guidelines that require each outside director to own beneficially a minimum number of shares of our stock, including common stock units, to promote and increase such ownership and to further align their interests with those of our stockholders.

 

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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

We have prepared this discussion and analysis in connection with our separation from Potlatch Corporation. As a result, our executive compensation program is in its infancy, and this discussion and analysis reflects the executive compensation program and philosophies that we expect to implement as a stand-alone public company. We are in the process of developing initial compensation policies and procedures in order to attract and retain talented executives and other key employees to lead us as a stand-alone public company. We expect our compensation will be comprised of the following components:

 

   

base salary;

 

   

annual cash incentives; and

 

   

long-term equity incentives.

We have entered into an employment agreement with our Chief Executive Officer and have signed offer letters with our Chief Financial Officer and our Vice President of Human Resources. The employment agreement and the offer letters are summarized below under the heading “Compensatory Arrangements with Our Named Executive Officers.” We do not expect to enter into employment agreements or offer letters with our other named executive officers. We also expect to implement a severance plan that will be applicable to our named executive officers and certain other employees and would provide for the payment of severance benefits upon termination of employment in connection with a change of control and under certain other circumstances occurring after the spin-off.

Background

In connection with the spin-off, Potlatch Corporation developed a process for identifying and recruiting individuals who would become our named executive officers. Through this process, Gordon L. Jones will be named our President and Chief Executive Officer and Linda K. Massman will be named our Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer. In addition to our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, we expect that Robert P. DeVleming, Harry D. Seamans and Thomas H. Carter will be the three other most highly compensated executive officers, and thus our initial named executive officers upon the spin-off.

Until our board of directors appoints a compensation committee, we are working with Potlatch Corporation to make our initial compensation decisions. Once our compensation committee is appointed, our compensation committee will administer all compensation related programs for our named executive officers.

Compensation Philosophy and Objectives

We have established with Potlatch Corporation the following objectives to guide our initial executive compensation decisions:

 

   

pay competitive compensation, both in dollar amount and in form, to attract and retain executive officers;

 

   

benchmark executive officers’ total compensation at the median level paid to employees serving in similar roles in a peer group to be identified after the spin-off and other comparable companies; and

 

   

provide incentives that motivate our executive officers to successfully implement our business strategies and maximize stockholder value.

We expect that our compensation committee will develop a more formal philosophy and objectives for our executive compensation program following the spin-off, and that the compensation committee will review these objectives and make modifications as the committee deems appropriate.

 

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Compensation Committee

We expect that our compensation committee will review and, as appropriate, approve or make recommendations to our board of directors with respect to our major compensation plans, policies and programs. In addition, the compensation committee will review and approve the compensation for our executive officers, establish and modify the terms and conditions of employment of our executive officers, and administer our stock incentive plans. We also expect that the compensation committee will be comprised entirely of independent directors on or prior to the date required by NYSE transition rules for newly public companies. In addition, under the compensation committee’s charter, the compensation committee will have the authority to engage outside advisors to help it fulfill its duties.

Obligations under the Employee Matters Agreement

We will enter into an employee matters agreement with Potlatch Corporation that will address our obligations with respect to the individuals who will be our employees upon the spin-off. These obligations include an obligation to adopt new compensation plans, maintain existing compensation plans and continue to provide benefits under the new and existing plans for a period of 12 months following the spin-off. Specifically, under the employee matters agreement, we will be required to:

 

   

adopt a new annual cash incentive pay plan;

 

   

adopt a new equity incentive plan;

 

   

adopt a new management deferred compensation plan; and

 

   

maintain our existing executive severance plan, pension plans, 401(k) savings plans and health and welfare plans.

After the initial 12-month period described above and subject to any existing obligations to participants under the plans, we will be entitled to amend, modify, terminate, reduce or otherwise alter any of the compensation plans covered by the employee matters agreement. The following discussion under the heading “Primary Elements of Compensation” describes the material features of the plans that we expect to adopt and maintain.

Primary Elements of Compensation

In addition to the primary elements of our initial executive compensation program, consisting of base salary, short-term incentive awards and long-term incentive awards, we also expect to offer targeted hiring incentives and severance benefits.

Base Salary

Base salary will be the primary element of our executive compensation program for our named executive officers. Competitive base salary levels will allow us to attract and retain top executive talent as we transition to a stand-alone public company while meeting our named executive officers’ needs for fixed compensation. After the spin-off, we expect that our compensation committee will benchmark base salaries against those offered by a peer group to be identified after the spin-off and other comparable companies at specific levels or ranges approved by the compensation committee. We do not expect, however, that base salaries will be set at levels less than the named executive officer’s base salary at his prior position with Potlatch Corporation, if applicable.

Annual Cash Incentive Awards

Our executive officers also are expected to be eligible to participate in an annual cash incentive program that we will be required to adopt under the employee matters agreement. The purpose of our annual cash incentive awards would be to help us motivate and reward our named executive officers and other participating

 

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employees to achieve our short-term performance goals. We expect that under this program, our named executive officers will receive annual cash incentive opportunities based on the achievement of pre-established annual corporate, business unit and individual performance goals that support our overall business strategy. Following the spin-off, the compensation committee is expected to establish the specific features of this program, including performance metrics and targets and the method of calculating award payouts.

We expect that key employees, including our named executive officers, will be provided annual cash incentive opportunities. The award opportunities for our named executive officers will be established at levels comparable to those short-term incentive compensation opportunities set for executive officers serving in similar positions at comparable companies. We do not expect, however, that cash incentive award opportunities will be set at levels less than the named executive officer’s short-term incentive compensation opportunity at his or her prior position at Potlatch Corporation, if applicable. As with base salary, this allows our named executive officers to accept employment with us without any loss of short-term incentive compensation opportunity.

We will establish initial performance metrics and targets for our named executive officers. When formed, the compensation committee will review these performance metrics and targets. All payouts for annual cash incentive awards will be subject to the approval of the compensation committee.

Long-Term Equity Incentive Awards

We anticipate having our named executive officers participate in a long-term equity incentive compensation program that we will be required to adopt under the employee matters agreement, which may consist of stock options, performance shares, restricted stock units or a combination of these or other equity awards. We are still evaluating and determining the design of our long-term equity incentive plans. Stock options and restricted stock units vest over time and aid in the recruitment and retention of key employees. Performance shares, which are tied to performance measures such as total shareholder return over a period of time such as three years, reward employees for high performance and encourage them to focus on enhancing long-term stockholder value.

Severance Program for Executive Employees

Under the employee matters agreement, we will be required to maintain our existing executive severance plan, which will provide severance benefits to our named executive officers and other employees designated by the compensation committee. Benefits are expected to be payable under the executive severance plan both in connection with a termination of the executive officer’s employment with us and in connection with a change in control.

Termination of Employment

Under the executive severance plan, benefits are expected to be payable to each of our executive officers, including our named executive officers, when his or her employment terminates in the following circumstances:

 

   

involuntary termination of the employee’s employment for any reason other than death, disability or misconduct;

 

   

election by the employee to terminate employment upon being required to relocate his or her principal place of business to a place that is 50 miles or more further from the employee’s primary residence than the prior principal place of business; or

 

 

   

separation from service by the employee within 24 months of

 

   

a material reduction in his or her authority or responsibility,

 

   

any reduction in his or her base salary, standard bonus opportunity, or long-term incentive opportunity, or

 

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a 15% or greater reduction in his or her aggregate benefits as compared to all other similarly situated employees unless the reduction applies to all similarly situated employees.

No severance benefits are expected to be payable in connection with an employee’s termination generally if the employee separates from service on or after his or her normal retirement date and during the two-year period immediately before retirement if the employee is an eligible employee under the executive severance plan.

Upon the occurrence of any of the events described above, the following severance benefits are expected to be payable to the applicable executive officer:

 

   

Cash Severance Payment . A cash payment equal to three weeks of the employee’s base compensation for each full year of service. The minimum cash benefit is expected to be six months of base compensation and the maximum is expected to be one year.

 

   

Unused and Accrued Vacation . The employee’s unused and accrued vacation.

 

   

Benefits Continuation . Continued medical, dental and basic life insurance coverage for a period equal to three weeks for each full year of service. The minimum period for continued insurance coverage is expected to be six months and the maximum is expected to be one year.

Change of Control

Under the executive severance plan, benefits are expected to be payable to each of our executive officers upon a change of control. Upon a change of control, the performance period for any outstanding performance share awards is expected to be deemed concluded on the effective date of the change of control.

In addition, other benefits are expected to be payable to our executive officers if, within two years following a change of control, one of the following events occurs:

 

   

involuntary termination of the employee’s employment for any reason other than death, disability or misconduct;

 

   

election by the employee to terminate employment upon being required to relocate his or her principal place of business to a place that is 50 miles or more further from the employee’s primary residence than the prior principal place of business; or

 

   

separation from service by the employee within 24 months of

 

   

a material reduction in his or her authority or responsibility,

 

   

any reduction in his or her base salary, standard bonus opportunity, or long-term incentive opportunity, or

 

   

a 15% or greater reduction in his or her aggregate benefits as compared to all other similarly situated employees unless the reduction applies to all similarly situated employees.

Upon the occurrence of any of the events described above within two years following a change of control, the following severance benefits are expected to be payable to our executive officers:

 

   

Cash Severance Payment . A cash benefit equal to the employee’s base compensation plus his or her base compensation multiplied by his or her standard bonus percentage, determined as of the date of the change of control or the effective date the employee separates from service, whichever produces the larger amount, multiplied by a number expected to be between 2.5 and 3. The cash benefit is expected to be subject to a downward adjustment if the employee separates from service within thirty months of his or her normal retirement date and additional service credit for the severance period is added to the pension benefit calculation;

 

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Pro-Rata Bonus . Eligibility for a pro rata award under our annual incentive plan;

 

   

Benefits Continuation . COBRA premium payments for continued medical, dental and basic life insurance coverage for a period of time between 2.5 to 3 years;

 

   

Enhancement of Retirement Benefits . Payment of certain unvested portions in the employee’s 401(k) plan account and payment of certain amounts under either our retirement or supplemental benefit plans;

 

   

Vacation Pay Enhancement . The employee’s unused and accrued vacation; and

 

   

Gross-Up Payment . A tax gross-up payment if the employee is subject to an excise tax on his or her change of control benefits. If payments are less than an amount to be determined, expected to be between $50,000 and $100,000, then his or her payments would be reduced to the safe harbor limit to avoid the imposition of the excise tax.

Management Deferred Compensation Plan

Under the employee matters agreement, we will be required to adopt a management deferred compensation plan. Participants in our annual cash incentive plan are expected to be entitled to elect to defer awards under that plan. In addition, all employees who would be eligible to participate in our long term equity incentive program are expected to be eligible to participate in the deferred compensation plan to defer base salary after deferring the maximum amount under their 401(k) plan. Participants are expected to be entitled to defer between 50% to 100% of any incentive award under the annual cash incentive plan, and those participants eligible to defer base salary are expected to be entitled to elect to defer up to 50% of their base salary. Each participant is expected to be entitled to elect a lump-sum payout or installment payments over five, ten, or fifteen years after separation from service. The deferred compensation plan would be a nonqualified arrangement for tax purposes and all amounts deferred would be retained by us and credited as bookkeeping entries to the participant’s deferral account. Each participant would always be 100% vested in his or her investment accounts.

A participant is expected to be entitled to elect to allocate the deferred amounts into an investment account and select among various investment options upon which the rate of return on amounts that the participant defers will be based. The participant’s investment account will be adjusted periodically to reflect the deemed gains and losses attributable to the deferred amount. Alternatively, each participant will be entitled to elect to allocate some or all of the deferred amount to a phantom stock unit deferral account, the value of which will be based on our common stock. All payments of deferrals under the phantom stock unit deferral account will be made in cash.

Pension Plans

Under the employee matters agreement, we will be obligated to maintain our existing pension plans for a period of 12 months following the spin-off. All of our salaried employees, including our named executive officers, will be entitled to pension benefits under our salaried employees’ retirement plan. In addition, certain management employees, including our named executive officers, will be entitled to participate in our supplemental benefit plan which provides benefits that would have been payable under the salaried employees’ plan if (1) certain tax code limitations on the salaried employees’ plan were disregarded, (2) deferred bonus awards were treated as paid in the year deferred, and (3) any additional years of service provided under the salaried employees’ plan were not included.

401(k) Plan

Under the employee matters agreement, we will be obligated to maintain our existing 401(k) plan for a period of 12 months following the spin-off, which will permit substantially all of our employees, including our named executive officers, to make voluntary pre-tax and after-tax contributions to the plan, subject to applicable

 

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tax limitations. We are expected to make matching contributions equal to 70% of a salaried employee’s contributions that do not exceed 6% of his or her annual compensation, subject to applicable tax limitations. Eligible employees who elect to participate in the plan would be 100% vested in the matching contributions upon completion of two years of service.

Health and Welfare Benefits

Under the employee matters agreement, we will be obligated to maintain our existing health and welfare plans for a period of 12 months following the spin-off. All full-time employees, including our named executive officers, will participate in our health and welfare benefit programs, including medical, dental and vision care coverage, disability insurance and life insurance.

General Tax Deductibility of Executive Compensation

We intend to consider accounting and tax treatment matters when designing and implementing the various elements of our compensation program. However, this treatment will not be the primary consideration. Once we are a stand-alone public company after the spin-off, Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code will generally limit our ability to deduct compensation over $1,000,000 to our chief executive officer or the other named executive officers unless the compensation is “performance-based,” as defined in Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. We expect to take appropriate action, to the extent we believe feasible, to preserve the deductibility of annual incentive and long-term performance awards. However, we also believe there may be circumstances in which our interests are best served by maintaining flexibility in the manner in which compensation is provided, whether or not compensation is fully deductible for federal tax purposes.

Compensation Actions Taken by Potlatch Corporation prior to the Spin-off

Under Potlatch Corporation’s long-term incentive program, which is intended to link compensation to long-term performance, Potlatch Corporation grants two types of equity awards:

 

   

performance shares, which are tied to total stockholder return over a three-year period and reward employees for high performance, encourage them to focus on enhancing long-term stockholder value and align management’s and stockholders’ interests; and

 

   

restricted stock units, or RSUs, which vest over time and aid in the recruitment and retention of key employees.

Potlatch Corporation previously granted stock options as well, but stopped doing so prior to its conversion to a REIT in January 2006.

Three of the five individuals expected to become our named executive officers upon the spin-off, Gordon L. Jones, Linda K. Massman and Thomas H. Carter, have not received from Potlatch Corporation any long-term equity incentives. Two of the five individuals who are expected to become our named executive officers, Robert P. DeVleming and Harry D. Seamans, have each worked for Potlatch Corporation for at least 30 years and were previously awarded performance shares, restricted stock units and stock options by Potlatch Corporation. All stock options previously issued by Potlatch Corporation are fully vested.

On August 20, 2008, the compensation committee of the board of directors of Potlatch Corporation held a meeting to discuss and determine the treatment of outstanding equity awards in connection with the spin-off. At this meeting, the compensation committee made the following decisions regarding equity awards held by individuals who will become our employees upon the spin-off, including Mr. DeVleming and Mr. Seamans:

 

   

performance shares tied to Potlatch Corporation’s total stockholder return over the three-year period beginning January 1, 2006 and ending December 31, 2008 will be settled in Potlatch Corporation

 

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common stock prior to the record date of the spin-off using a compressed performance period. In particular, the compensation committee determined that it would be appropriate to shorten the original three-year performance period to a 33-month performance period given the proximity of the original three-year end date to the expected spin-off date;

 

   

all performance shares tied to Potlatch Corporation’s total stockholder return over the three-year period beginning January 1, 2007 and ending December 31, 2009 and the three year period beginning January 1, 2008 and ending December 31, 2010 will be allowed to terminate upon the spin-off. In connection with this decision, we have agreed in the employee matters agreement to issue new equity awards of equivalent value to replace the cancelled performance share grants. We have flexibility in terms of the type and features of the equity awards issued in replacement for the cancelled grants, and our compensation committee is expected to make the determinations regarding the replacement grants after the spin-off;

 

   

all restricted stock units will be allowed to terminate upon the spin-off. In connection with this decision, we have agreed in the employee matters agreement to issue new equity awards of equivalent value to replace the cancelled restricted stock unit grants. We have flexibility in terms of the type and features of the equity awards issued in replacement for the cancelled grants, and our compensation committee is expected to make the determinations regarding the replacement grants after the spin-off; and

 

   

all stock options to purchase Potlatch Corporation common stock will remain outstanding following the spin-off and in particular will remain an option to purchase Potlatch Corporation common stock, as opposed to being converted into a right to acquire our common stock. The holder will be entitled to exercise the option according to its terms as long as the holder continues to remain employed by us.

Compensatory Arrangements with Our Named Executive Officers

Mr. Jones’ Employment Agreement—President and Chief Executive Officer. Pursuant to the terms of our employment agreement with Mr. Jones, his starting salary will be $625,000 per year and his target annual bonus will be 70% of his base salary. Mr. Jones’ actual bonus will be calculated based on corporate performance, which can range from zero to two times his target bonus opportunity. The bonus may be adjusted based on the individual performance of Mr. Jones to range between zero to two times the value of the award as calculated based solely on corporate performance criteria. Following the spin-off, Mr. Jones will be granted $500,000 worth of restricted stock units, which will vest in three equal annual installments, each consisting of one-third of the number of shares originally awarded. The vesting period for the restricted stock units will commence on the first anniversary of the original grant date and conclude on the third anniversary. Beginning in 2009, Mr. Jones will participate in our long-term incentive program and the 2009 target for Mr. Jones under the program will be 100% of his base salary. The actual payout of the long-term incentive award may range from zero shares to a maximum of two times the target number of shares.

Mr. Jones will receive other benefits such as employee health, benefit and retirement plans and programs, including retirement and supplemental retirement plans and programs generally available to our other senior executives.

Termination Without Cause or Resignation of Mr. Jones for Good Reason Prior to a Change in Control. If Mr. Jones’ employment is terminated by us without cause or by resignation of Mr. Jones for good reason, each as defined in his employment agreement, prior to a change in control, he will receive:

 

   

a prorated bonus under the applicable annual bonus plan for the year in which the separation occurs;

 

   

24 months of pay continuation (base salary and target bonus);

 

   

continued medical coverage for the lesser of two years or until Mr. Jones is eligible for subsequent employer-provided coverage; and

 

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immediate vesting of all restricted stock units.

All vested but unexercised options, if any, to acquire our common stock would remain exercisable through the earlier of the original expiration date of the option or the date which is three months following the separation.

Termination Without Cause or Resignation of Mr. Jones for Good Reason Following a Change in Control. If, in connection with and within 24 months of a change in control, Mr. Jones is involuntarily terminated by us without cause or Mr. Jones resigns for good reason, each as defined in his employment agreement, he will receive:

 

   

a prorated bonus under the applicable annual bonus plan for the year in which the separation occurs;

 

   

a lump sum payment in the amount equal, before applicable taxes and deductions, to three times the sum of his base salary and target annual bonus in effect at the time of separation;

 

   

continued medical coverage for the lesser of three years or until Mr. Jones is eligible for subsequent employer-provided coverage;

 

   

immediate vesting of all options acquired at least six months prior to the effective date of the change of control, if any;

 

   

immediate vesting of all restricted stock units; and

 

   

a prorated portion of performance share awards, based on the number of full months of employment completed in the performance cycle as of the date of separation.

His options to acquire company common stock, if any, would remain exercisable through the earlier of the original expiration date of the option or the date which is one year following the separation.

Gross-Up Payment. If any payment or distribution by us to Mr. Jones or for his benefit, made upon a termination or separation described above, would be subject to an excise tax, then Mr. Jones will be entitled to receive a gross-up payment equal to the excise tax. If payments are less than $100,000 over his safe harbor limit, then his payments will be reduced to the safe harbor limit to avoid imposition of the excise tax.

Ms. Massman’s Offer Letter—Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer. Pursuant to the terms of her offer letter, Ms. Massman’s starting salary will be $350,040 per year and her 2008 target bonus will be 50% of her base salary, prorated for the portion of the 2008 calendar year she provided services to us. Beginning in 2009, Ms. Massman will participate in our long-term incentive program and the 2009 target for Ms. Massman under the program will be 75% of the salary range midpoint for her salary grade, with a value of $303,000. The form of long-term incentives will be comprised of 75% performance shares and 25% restricted stock units. Following the spin-off, Ms. Massman will be granted $280,000 worth of restricted stock units, which will vest 20% on the first anniversary of the grant date, 20% on the second anniversary of the grant date and 60% on the third anniversary of the grant date.

Mr. Carter’s Offer Letter—Vice President, Human Resources. Pursuant to the terms of his offer letter, Mr. Carter’s starting salary will be $230,040 per year and his 2008 target bonus will be 45% of his base salary, prorated for the portion of the 2008 calendar year he provided services to us. Beginning in 2009, Mr. Carter will participate in our long-term incentive program and the 2009 target for Mr. Carter under the program will be 75% of the salary range midpoint for his salary grade, with a value of $198,000. Following the spin-off, Mr. Carter will be granted $184,000 worth of restricted stock units, which will vest 20% on the first anniversary of the grant date, 20% on the second anniversary of the grant date and 60% on the third anniversary of the grant date.

Mr. DeVleming and Mr. Seamans . We do not expect to enter into employment agreements or offer letters with Mr. DeVleming or Mr. Seamans. Under the employee matters agreement with Potlatch Corporation, we have agreed to adopt new compensation plans, maintain existing compensation plans and continue to provide

 

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benefits under the new and existing plans for a period of 12 months following the spin-off. In connection with these obligations under the employee matters agreement, we expect that our compensation committee will benchmark base salaries against those offered by a peer group to be identified after the spin-off and other comparable companies at specific levels or ranges approved by the compensation committee. We do not expect, however, that base salaries will be set at levels less than Mr. DeVleming’s or Mr. Seamans’ base salary at his prior position with Potlatch Corporation. Mr. DeVleming’s current annual base salary with Potlatch Corporation is $262,560 and Mr. Seamans’ current annual base salary with Potlatch Corporation is $295,380. Mr. DeVleming and Mr. Seamans also are expected to be eligible to participate in an annual cash incentive program that we will be required to adopt under the employee matters agreement. We anticipate having Mr. DeVleming and Mr. Seamans participate in a long-term equity incentive compensation program that we will be required to adopt under the employee matters agreement, which may consist of stock options, performance shares, restricted stock units or a combination of these or other equity awards. Following the spin-off, Messrs. Seamans and DeVleming will be granted $236,000 and $210,000, respectively, worth of restricted stock units, which will vest 20% on the first anniversary of the grant date, 20% on the second anniversary of the grant date and 60% on the third anniversary of the grant date.

Compensation Discussion & Analysis of Potlatch Corporation

The information presented below reflects the compensation discussion and analysis of Potlatch Corporation for 2007 and is not necessarily indicative of the compensation philosophy or decisions of our Compensation Committee or Board of Directors. This disclosure is being presented in accordance with the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission and should be read in connection with the historical compensation information for Messrs. DeVleming and Seamans provided below.

Evolution of Potlatch Corporation and Potlatch Corporation’s Compensation Program

As a specialized REIT with significant manufacturing operations, Potlatch Corporation considered its peer companies to consist of both “pure play” timber REITs and wood and paper product manufacturers. To provide a better “apples-to-apples” comparison of Potlatch Corporation to these manufacturers, which are generally “C” corporations subject to corporate taxation, and timber REITs, which are generally not subject to corporate taxation, Potlatch Corporation began using pre-tax financial measurements as opposed to after-tax measurements in 2006 for purposes of assessing relative performance under Potlatch Corporation’s compensation program. Also as a result of Potlatch Corporation’s conversion to a REIT, in 2006 Potlatch Corporation stopped using stock options, which only reward stock price appreciation, as the long-term incentive portion of the compensation package provided to Potlatch Corporation’s senior employees and instead began using performance shares, which recognize total stockholder return, or TSR.

Potlatch Corporation’s Compensation Philosophy and Objectives

Potlatch Corporation’s compensation philosophy is to provide all of its executives a fair and competitive incentive-based compensation package that is tied to the performance of both the individual and the company. Potlatch Corporation targets its compensation levels to be at or near the median of compensation paid by other comparable companies. Potlatch Corporation also believes that a significant portion of total compensation should be at risk and dependent on achievement of target levels of performance. In addition, Potlatch Corporation believes that in order to maintain fiscal discipline, incentive compensation should include caps. Potlatch Corporation’s key compensation objectives are to recruit, motivate and retain talented and experienced executives, ensure its compensation incentives are aligned with short-term and long-term company performance, and align its employees’ interests with those of its stockholders.

Potlatch Corporation’s Compensation Oversight

Potlatch Corporation’s Executive Compensation and Personnel Policies Committee, which we refer to as the Potlatch Committee, periodically reviews the components of Potlatch Corporation’s executive compensation

 

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program to ensure the program continually meets Potlatch Corporation’s objectives as well as improves or evolves as necessary.

Management Input. Before compensation is established by the Potlatch Committee, Potlatch Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer, or CEO, and Potlatch Corporation’s Vice President, Human Resources, or VP-HR, recommend to the Potlatch Committee changes to base salaries, target amounts for annual cash bonuses and equity awards for Potlatch Corporation’s executive officers, including Messrs. DeVleming and Seamans. These recommendations are based on the principal duties and responsibilities of each position, competitor pay levels within Potlatch Corporation’s industry and regional and national markets, and internal pay equity, as well as on individual performance considerations. In addition, each year Potlatch Corporation’s VP-HR and Potlatch Corporation’s Controller provide the Potlatch Committee with a detailed review of the actual results for each of the corporate and operating units’ performance goals compared to the performance measures set at the beginning of the year under Potlatch Corporation’s annual incentive plan and the resulting proposed payments or awards to be made to Potlatch Corporation’s executive officers, including Messrs. DeVleming and Seamans. The Potlatch Committee looks to Potlatch Corporation’s CEO for the establishment of Potlatch Corporation’s performance targets and his evaluation of the performance of the executives who report to him.

Compensation Consultants.  The Potlatch Committee engages Deloitte Consulting LLP, or Deloitte, to advise the Potlatch Committee on executive compensation matters. Deloitte does not advise any of Potlatch Corporation’s executive officers as to their individual compensation, and does not perform other services for Potlatch Corporation. Based in part upon an assessment prepared by Deloitte, the Potlatch Committee analyzes each component of each of Potlatch Corporation’s officers’ compensation package at least every two years to assess the proper balance and competitiveness of the components and the compensation tools used to accomplish the objective of each component. Additionally, Deloitte assists the Potlatch Committee on an annual basis in reviewing the compensation packages of each of Potlatch Corporation’s executive officers, including Messrs. DeVleming and Seamans.

In 2007, Potlatch Corporation hired Mercer (US) Inc., or Mercer, to assist in redesigning Potlatch Corporation’s salaried employee compensation structure to, among other things, more closely align its incentive plans for salaried employees with the interests of Potlatch Corporation’s shareholders in light of Potlatch Corporation’s status as a REIT. The Mercer consultant who performs these services reports directly to Potlatch Corporation’s VP-HR.

Mercer’s activities consisted primarily of the following:

 

   

Assisted in market analysis to ensure compensation design changes reflected best practices in the market and were appropriate for a specialized REIT; and

 

   

Provided design parameters to guide Potlatch Corporation’s management on what changes were necessary to improve alignment between Potlatch Corporation’s compensation program and company objectives.

Potlatch Corporation’s VP-HR worked closely with Mercer on the redesign of the program, and Potlatch Corporation’s CEO met with Mercer periodically to review Mercer’s analysis and proposals. The new program was presented to the Potlatch Committee for review and approval in the fall of 2007. Deloitte assisted the Potlatch Committee in its review of the redesigned program. The Potlatch Committee took into consideration the recommendations of management and the advice of Deloitte in connection with the Potlatch Committee’s approval of the modification of the compensation program. The changes in Potlatch Corporation’s compensation program resulting from the work and consultation of Mercer and Deloitte are discussed below. See “2008 Potlatch Corporation Compensation Program Changes” beginning on page 97 .

All of the decisions with respect to determining the amount or form of executive compensation under Potlatch Corporation’s compensation program are made by the Potlatch Committee alone and may reflect factors and considerations other than the information and advice provided by Deloitte and Mercer.

 

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Potlatch Corporation’s Establishment of Compensation

Each year, the Potlatch Committee reviews and approves the following:

 

   

base salary increases for Potlatch Corporation’s named executive officers and certain other executive officers, including Messrs. DeVleming and Seamans;

 

   

awards under Potlatch Corporation’s short-term and long-term incentive plans for Potlatch Corporation’s executive officers and certain senior employees, including Messrs. DeVleming and Seamans;

 

   

performance measures under Potlatch Corporation’s short-term and long-term incentive plans;

 

   

performance measures and aggregate grants made under the long-term incentive plans for other key employees; and

 

   

the peer group of companies used for purposes of measuring relative performance.

Use of Tally Sheets.  In connection with this review and approval, the Potlatch Committee analyzes tally sheets prepared by Deloitte that affix dollar amounts to all components of certain executive officers’ compensation, including that of Messrs. DeVleming and Seamans, consisting of base salary and bonuses, outstanding equity awards, benefits, and potential termination of employment and change-in-control severance payments under several different scenarios.

Competitive Market Assessments.  In connection with the review of certain of Potlatch Corporation’s executive officer’s compensation, including Messrs. DeVleming and Seamans, the Potlatch Committee analyzes competitive data provided by Deloitte. Deloitte’s market assessment utilizes blended market data from the most relevant survey sources available, including the Forest Products Industry Compensation Association Survey for industry-specific market data, and surveys from Mercer and Watson Wyatt for market data on non-durable goods manufacturing and general industry companies of similar size. This sample includes a majority of the companies within Potlatch Corporation’s peer group and other companies outside of Potlatch Corporation’s peer group to which Potlatch Corporation compares its compensation but not corporate performance. Potlatch Corporation uses a broader sampling of companies to establish median compensation ranges because many of Potlatch Corporation’s peer group companies are much larger than Potlatch Corporation or are otherwise not suitable for compensation comparison purposes.

Wealth Accumulation Analysis.  The Potlatch Committee periodically reviews a wealth accumulation analysis prepared by Deloitte in establishing Potlatch Corporation’s executive officers’ compensation. The Potlatch Committee reviewed such an analysis in February 2008. The wealth accumulation analysis is comprised of an assessment of the potential value of equity holdings for each of Potlatch Corporation’s executive officers, including Messrs. DeVleming and Seamans, based on multiple company stock price scenarios over a five-year period. The purpose of the analysis is to identify the potential wealth that may be created as a result of Potlatch Corporation’s compensation program and assist the Committee in determining if that wealth creation is appropriate given Potlatch Corporation’s performance.

Individual Performance.  Potlatch Corporation adjusts compensation against the median level for individual executives, as appropriate, to recognize variables such as job performance, long-term potential and tenure for purposes of recruitment and retention. Total cash and total direct compensation (defined as base salary plus short- and long- term incentives) earned by Potlatch Corporation’s executives may vary from the market median (above or below) based on actual performance relative to its plan.

 

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2007 Peer Group.  Potlatch Corporation measures its relative corporate performance against a peer group of companies. For 2007, Potlatch Corporation’s peer group for purposes of setting corporate performance measures consisted of the following companies:

 

     

Abitibi Bowater, Inc.

Canfor Corporation

Caraustar Industries, Inc.

Cascades, Inc.

Catalyst Paper Company

Chesapeake Corporation

Deltic Timber Corporation

Glatfelter International Forest Products, Ltd.

 

International Paper Company

Kimberly-Clark Corporation

Louisiana-Pacific Corporation

MeadWestvaco Corporation

Norbord, Inc.

Packaging Corporation of America

Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc.

Pope & Talbot, Inc.

 

Rayonier, Inc.

Rock-Tenn Company

Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation

Sonoco Products Company

Taiga Building Products, Ltd.

Tembec, Inc.

Temple-Inland, Inc.

Universal Forest Products, Inc.

West Fraser Timber Company

Western Forest Products

Weyerhaeuser Company

Potlatch Corporation’s Compensation Components

Potlatch Corporation balances its executives’ compensation packages among three components:

 

   

Base salary;

 

   

Short-term, or annual, cash incentives; and

 

   

Long-term equity incentives.

Compensation Component Objectives.  The Potlatch Committee’s goal in determining compensation for Potlatch Corporation’s executive officers is to award compensation that is reasonable in relation to Potlatch Corporation’s compensation philosophy. Salaries are provided to employees as compensation for basic services to the company and to meet the objective of attracting and retaining the talent needed to run Potlatch Corporation’s business. Potlatch Corporation’s short-term incentives reward employees for helping Potlatch Corporation achieve annual financial targets and outperform Potlatch Corporation’s peers, and Potlatch Corporation’s long-term incentives reward employees for helping Potlatch Corporation pay higher returns to its stockholders and outperform Potlatch Corporation’s peers. Potlatch Corporation also compensates executives with higher levels of responsibility with a higher proportion of at-risk compensation and a larger proportion of equity compensation, so their interests are more closely aligned with those of Potlatch Corporation’s stockholders.

To ensure fiscal discipline, Potlatch Corporation sets threshold performance levels below which no incentive payments are to be made and sets caps on the aggregate amount of short-term incentive compensation that Potlatch Corporation can pay.

Base Salary.  The Potlatch Committee targets executive base salaries at the median of competitive practice, with such adjustments as management and the Potlatch Committee deem necessary based upon the individual executive’s job performance, long-term potential and tenure. Potlatch Corporation has base salary ranges for each level, or pay grade, for all of Potlatch Corporation’s salaried employees. The placement of an executive’s rate of pay within the salary range for a given position corresponds to the executive’s level of experience and performance relative to his or her individual written performance plan. The performance plan contains operational, financial and customer-oriented objectives determined by the executive together with his or her supervisor.

Short-Term Incentives.  Potlatch Corporation’s short-term incentive program links compensation to annual company performance by awarding cash bonuses for achieving pre-defined performance goals.

Target Opportunities . Target annual bonuses for Potlatch Corporation’s executive officers are defined as a set percentage of base salary, based on the pay grade of each officer’s position. The Potlatch Committee

 

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periodically reviews these target percentages for Potlatch Corporation’s executive officers and approves modifications to the target percentages when appropriate, based in part on the recommendations and input of management and Deloitte after a review of competitive practice.

Earned Awards . Target awards are subject to adjustment based on corporate and operating division financial performance modifiers. At the end of the year, actual financial performance is calculated and the results are compared to the Potlatch Committee’s pre-approved scales (which are established at the beginning of the year) to determine the modifiers to apply to the target awards. Awards are further adjusted based on individual performance modifiers that are determined based on the individual employee’s annual performance review.

Once set by the Potlatch Committee, target performance measures are not generally changed. However, upon the completion of the calculations for all eligible corporate and operating division employees, the Potlatch Committee is provided discretion under Potlatch Corporation’s short-term incentive plan to modify individual short-term incentive awards, or awards to all eligible employees as a group, after considering an individual’s performance, operating division’s performance, Potlatch Corporation’s overall performance or unusual, extraordinary or infrequently occurring items. The Potlatch Committee also considers safety performance, environmental performance, and other factors when considering awards to be approved.

Earned awards are paid in cash, except for an executive officer who does not meet his or her stock ownership requirement, in which case awards are paid 50% in cash and 50% in stock, or if the award is deferred. Under the terms of Potlatch Corporation’s short-term incentive plan, the Potlatch Committee has discretionary authority to limit the amount and alter the time and form of payment of annual bonus awards if the aggregate amount of awards to be paid exceeds 6% of Potlatch Corporation’s pre-tax income or if no cash dividend was declared for the year. The Potlatch Committee did not exercise this authority in 2007.

Long-Term Incentives.  Under Potlatch Corporation’s long-term incentive program, which is intended to link compensation to long-term company performance, Potlatch Corporation grants two types of equity awards:

 

   

performance shares, which are tied to total stockholder return over a three-year period and reward employees for high performance, encourage them to focus on enhancing long-term stockholder value and align management’s and stockholders’ interests; and

 

   

restricted stock units, or RSUs, which vest over time and aid in the recruitment and retention of key employees.

Performance Shares.  Upon Potlatch Corporation’s conversion to a REIT in January 2006, the Potlatch Committee stopped granting stock options and began granting performance shares as the sole form of long-term incentive provided to Potlatch Corporation’s senior level employees as part of their annual compensation package. Potlatch Corporation believes performance shares are less dilutive to stockholders because fewer performance shares need be granted compared to options to achieve a similar monetary target value for the award granted. Potlatch Corporation also believes they provide a superior incentive for Potlatch Corporation’s employees compared to stock options due to Potlatch Corporation’s high dividend yield as a REIT.

Performance shares are granted at the target performance level, and are earned based on Potlatch Corporation’s total stockholder return, or TSR, performance over a three-year period relative to Potlatch Corporation’s peer group. TSR is stock price appreciation plus cash distributions.

Restricted Stock Units.  Potlatch Corporation uses RSUs to help recruit or retain key employees and to align the interests of newly hired executives with those of its stockholders. For example, Potlatch Corporation has granted RSUs to newly hired executives to replace the value of equity awards that were forfeited when they left their prior employer.

Long-Term Incentive Opportunities . Based on an assessment of competitive long-term incentive opportunities by Deloitte, and an evaluation of those levels by the Potlatch Committee, “guideline” long-term

 

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incentive values are developed for each pay grade for which awards are granted. The guideline long-term incentive values, which are based upon the median of competitive practice, are then converted to a guideline number of performance shares based on the average closing price for Potlatch Corporation’s common stock over a fixed period of time as of the beginning of the performance period. The actual number of performance shares granted to eligible employees aside from the CEO is further subject to an increase or decrease at the Potlatch Committee’s discretion, based upon management’s assessment of an individual employee’s past contributions and potential future contributions to the company.

Timing of Long-Term Incentive Awards . The effective grant date for equity awards is the day of the Potlatch Committee meeting at which the awards are approved. These meetings are scheduled well in advance of the actual meeting date and are not coordinated with the release of any material, non-public information.

Limitations on and Adjustments to Long-Term Awards.  The Potlatch Committee reserves the right to reduce or eliminate any award to an employee, or to all senior employees as a group, if it determines that TSR has been insufficient, or if Potlatch Corporation’s financial or operational performance has been inadequate. The Potlatch Committee did not exercise this authority in 2007.

Performance Measures and Target Setting

Annual Incentive Awards. Because of Potlatch Corporation’s relatively recent transition to a REIT and the fact that it has manufacturing operations, it continued in 2007 to use the following performance measures as part of its short-term incentive program:

 

   

Relative pre-tax return on equity, or ROE, measured at the corporate level against the performance of Potlatch Corporation’s peer group; and

 

   

Absolute pre-tax return on invested capital, or ROIC, measured at the operating division level against pre-defined targets based upon each division’s operating budget for the year relative to its invested capital (total division assets minus current liabilities) at the beginning of the year.

The Potlatch Committee believed ROE provided an appropriate measure of performance against peers during up and down cycles and the ROIC measure helped reinforce the need for Potlatch Corporation’s operating divisions to attain an acceptable return on the assets that they were responsible for managing.

Short-term incentive bonuses for 2007 performance paid to Messrs. DeVleming and Seamans were based 50% on Potlatch’s corporate pre-tax ROE performance and 50% on their respective operating division’s pre-tax ROIC performance.

Performance scales for corporate ROE and division ROIC were established by the Potlatch Committee at the beginning of 2007. The 2007 ROE performance scale and the corresponding award modifiers as a multiple of target were as follows:

 

Performance Level

  

Pre-Tax ROE

Percentile Rank

(Versus Peer Group)

  

Award Modifier
(Multiple of Target)

Threshold

   33 rd  Percentile    0.25x Target

Target

   57 th  Percentile    1.00x Target

Maximum

   97 th  Percentile    2.00x Target

The award modifier for ROE performance proportionately increases or decreases between threshold and target levels and between target and maximum levels.

 

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The 2007 ROIC performance scale for the consumer products and pulp and paperboard operating divisions of Potlatch Corporation and the corresponding award modifiers as a multiple of target were as follows:

 

Performance Level

  

Pre-Tax ROIC

Consumer

Products

  

Pre-Tax ROIC

Pulp and

Paperboard

  

Award Modifier

(Multiple of

Target)

Threshold

   8.0%    8.0%    0.10x Target

Target

   12.57%    11.0%    1.00x Target

Maximum

   17.65%    14.35%    2.00x Target

The award modifiers for ROIC performance also proportionately increase between threshold and target levels and between target and maximum levels. Potlatch Corporation has historically used a threshold ROIC of 8.0%, except in special circumstances approved by the Potlatch Committee, as such a return has been considered the minimum necessary to provide an acceptable return to Potlatch Corporation’s stockholders before beginning to pay annual incentive bonuses.

Long-Term Incentive Awards . For the 2007-2009 performance period, the relative TSR performance scale and the corresponding number of shares earned as a percentage of target were set by the Potlatch Committee as follows:

 

Performance Level

  

Total Stockholder Return
Percentile Rank
(Versus 2007 Peer Group)

  

Number of Shares Earned
(Percentage of Target)

Threshold

   33 rd Percentile    25% of Target

Target

   57 th Percentile    100% of Target

Maximum

   97 th Percentile    200% of Target

The number of performance shares earned for relative TSR performance proportionately increases or decreases between threshold and target levels and between target and maximum levels.

Threshold, Target and Maximum.  The Potlatch Committee believed that for purposes of measuring relative corporate performance for awarding annual or long-term incentives:

 

 

 

the 33 rd Percentile was an appropriate “floor” for purposes of setting a minimum standard of performance necessary to earn an award because it is consistent with Potlatch’s philosophy of placing the officer’s compensation at risk if minimal performance is not achieved;

 

 

 

the 57 th Percentile was an appropriate measure for purposes of paying 100% of the target amount because it is in line with Potlatch Corporation’s philosophy of targeting compensation at median levels; and

 

 

 

the 97 th Percentile was an appropriate measure for purposes of paying 200% of the target amount because it is in line with Potlatch Corporation’s philosophy of maintaining fiscal discipline by capping total compensation while also rewarding executives for achieving superior performance.

Comparison and Adjustments

As part of its services to the Potlatch Committee, Deloitte reviewed the components of each of Potlatch Corporation’s officers’ compensation prior to the start of 2007. The review revealed the following aggregate information:

 

   

for base salary and short-term incentives—the target was, on average, six percentage points below market median; and

 

   

for long-term incentives—the target was, on average, three percentage points below the market median.

As a result of Deloitte’s analysis, the recommendations of Potlatch Corporation’s CEO as to his direct reports and the Potlatch Committee’s decisions based upon that analysis and those recommendations, the

 

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Potlatch Committee decided to implement the following changes in target compensation to Messrs. DeVleming and Seamans:

 

Name

  

Base Salary Increase

(% increase)

  

Target Short-Term Bonus
Increase 2007 v. 2006

(% of base salary)

  

Long-Term Equity Award
Guideline 2007 v. 2006

(% of salary grade mid-point)

Robert DeVleming

   3.0% merit, 2.0% equity    Changed from 40% to 45%    Left unchanged at 75%

Harry D. Seamans

   3.5%    Left unchanged at 45%    Left unchanged at 75%

To align the goals of Potlatch Corporation’s executives with higher levels of responsibility with its short- and long-term business goals, Potlatch Corporation compensates executives with a higher proportion of at-risk compensation. The following table shows the target and the actual amounts for salary and annual and long-term incentive awards for Messrs. DeVleming and Seamans, along with the 2007 percentage of total direct compensation represented by the amount of each component (i.e., the mix of pay).

 

       TARGET 2007 TOTAL DIRECT
COMPENSATION (1)
   ACTUAL 2007 TOTAL DIRECT
COMPENSATION

Name

   Salary
(% of Total)
   Target
short-term
incentive
award
(cash)
(% of Total)
   Guideline
long-term
incentive
grant value
(equity) (2)
(% of Total)
   Salary (3)
(% of Total)
   Actual
short-term
incentive
award (cash)
(% of Total)
   Actual
long-term
incentive
grant value
(equity) (2)
(% of Total)

Robert DeVleming

   $

 

252,480

(46.5%)

   $

 

112,700

(20.7%)

   $

 

178,920

(32.8%)

   $

 

250,450

(49.2%)

   $

 

109,900

(21.6%)

   $

 

148,575

(29.2%)

Harry D. Seamans

   $

 

288,180

(46.7%)

   $

 

129,000

(20.9%)

   $

 

200,081

(32.4%)

   $

 

286,560

(39.6%)

   $

 

238,300

(33%)

   $

 

198,100

(27.4%)

 

(1) Total direct compensation is the sum of base salary, short-term incentives, and long-term incentives.

 

(2) These amounts represent the dollar value of the long-term equity incentive guideline and actual award granted in December 2006 for the Potlatch Corporation performance period 2007-2009, valued using a 10-day average closing stock price prior to the December 1, 2006 grant date of $39.62. If Messrs. DeVleming and Seamans were to remain under the Potlatch Corporation compensation program, such amounts may or may not be paid out depending on Potlatch Corporation’s performance over the three year period. The table on page 98 lists the performance measures and the achievement attained relative to threshold, target, and maximum goals for those awards. The performance shares granted by Potlatch Corporation to Messrs. DeVleming and Seamans will be terminated at the spin-off, and we have agreed in the employee matters agreement to issue new equity awards of equivalent value to replace those cancelled performance share grants.

 

(3) Salary increases for 2007 did not go into effect until March 1, 2007, which explains discrepancies between target and actual salaries.

The actual 2007 short-term incentive awards differ from targeted 2007 amounts as a result of

 

   

each officer’s individual performance;

 

   

Potlatch Corporation’s actual 2007 corporate pre-tax ROE performance relative to its peer group, which resulted in a multiplier of 1.56; and

 

   

actual 2007 pre-tax ROIC performance for each operating division (for operating division vice presidents only), which resulted in the following multipliers:

 

Operating Division

   Actual 2007
ROIC
   Approved Award
Modifier
(Multiple of Target)

Consumer Products

   7.8%    0

Pulp and Paperboard

   12.7%    1.52 x Target

 

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Individual performance modifiers could range from 0.0 to 1.4 times the target award. The threshold individual modifier is 0.5, below which no bonus was awarded.

For 2007, Potlatch Corporation’s reported earnings from continuing operations before taxes were $87.2 million, which excluded a pre-tax loss from discontinued operations of $39.6 million resulting from the sale of its Boardman, Oregon hybrid poplar tree farm. Because it was the right strategic decision to divest the Boardman assets, the Potlatch Committee chose to exercise its discretion and exclude recognition of that loss for purposes of calculating pre-tax ROE. Additionally, in order to provide an equal comparison with Potlatch Corporation’s peer group, any discontinued operations reported by individual companies in the peer group were excluded in calculating their respective pre-tax ROE from continuing operations. Accordingly, Potlatch Corporation excluded the $39.6 million loss reported from discontinued operations in connection with the Boardman sale, which resulted in a pre-tax ROE of 15.1% from continuing operations to compare with the similarly adjusted peer group pre-tax ROEs from continuing operations. This resulted in a multiplier of 1.56 being approved by the Potlatch Committee and applied to the portion of cash bonuses to be paid for corporate performance. Had the pre-tax ROE included the results of discontinued operations for Potlatch Corporation and the other members of the peer group, Potlatch Corporation would have had a pre-tax ROE of 8.2%, which would have resulted in a multiplier of 1.12.

2008 Potlatch Corporation Compensation Program Changes

Based on a total compensation study undertaken by management in 2007 the Potlatch Committee approved several changes to Potlatch Corporation’s incentive plans and peer group beginning in 2008.

Short-Term Incentives

Performance Measures.  In order to reflect both Potlatch Corporation’s REIT structure and Potlatch Corporation’s manufacturing operations, in 2008 Potlatch Corporation will use the following performance measures for the purposes of the annual incentive awards:

 

   

Funds from Operations, or FFO, measured at the corporate level against pre-defined targets; and

 

   

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization, or EBITDDA, measured at the operating division level against pre-defined targets.

Potlatch Corporation defines FFO as net earnings, less the benefit from taxes resulting from the reversal of timber-related deferred tax liabilities that are no longer necessary as a result of Potlatch Corporation’s REIT conversion, plus depreciation, depletion and amortization. The use of this measure is intended to focus participants on generating profits by both increasing revenues and controlling costs. In addition, FFO is the primary measure used by the investment community to measure REIT performance. Potlatch Corporation believes that the use of this measure would further improve the alignment of Potlatch Corporation’s employees’ and stockholders’ interests. Furthermore, the Potlatch Committee believes that at the division level, measuring earnings rather than returns is a simpler approach and provided more line-of-sight to employees, as the divisions do not make capital allocation decisions.

Plan Mechanics . Each year, a target incentive pool value will be calculated based on the sum of the target short-term incentive amounts for each participant in the plan. At the end of each year, the Potlatch Committee will approve the funding for the incentive pool based on Potlatch Corporation’s performance against the pre-determined FFO targets. The incentive pool can fund from 0% to 200% of the target pool. The funded pool is then allocated by the Potlatch Corporation CEO to the corporate and operating divisions based on the following:

 

   

Corporate: corporate FFO performance, modified based on the achievement of measurable strategic objectives; and

 

   

Operating Divisions: operating division EBITDDA performance (weighted 75%) and corporate FFO performance (weighted 25%).

 

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The Potlatch Committee believes that a corporate link in the operating division allocation is necessary to keep a division motivated to maximize its contribution to overall FFO in the event that the division enters a down-cycle and the division-specific goals cannot be reached. The Potlatch Corporation CEO has discretion to adjust the corporate and operating division incentive pools, subject to the maximum aggregate funded pool approved by the Potlatch Committee. The Potlatch Committee has discretion to adjust the earnings used in the FFO and EBITDDA calculations for extraordinary items, as appropriate.

The operating division vice presidents, including Messrs. DeVleming and Seamans, allocate their available incentive pool among individual participants based on respective annual performance reviews. Individual awards range from zero to 2.0 times target. Potlatch Corporation increased the maximum individual performance modifier from 1.4 to 2.0 because it allowed for greater differentiation among employees and allowed for greater incentives for superior performance.

Performance Target Setting.  The 2008 FFO performance scale and the corresponding incentive pool modifiers as a multiple of target are as follows for Potlatch Corporation:

 

Performance Level

  

FFO Performance

(Versus Budget)

  

Incentive Pool Modifier

(Multiple of Target)

Threshold

   80% of Budget    0.25 x Target Pool

Target

   100% of Budget    1.00 x Target Pool

Maximum

   126.7 % of Budget    2.00 x Target Pool

The incentive pool modifier for FFO performance proportionately increases or decreases between threshold and target levels and between target and maximum levels. The incentive pool is not funded for FFO performance below the threshold. The funding scale is designed to contribute a fixed percentage of every dollar of FFO above threshold to the incentive pool. The Potlatch Corporation budget, which includes an FFO target, is approved by Potlatch Corporation’s Board of Directors annually, and the FFO performance scale is established by the Potlatch Committee based on the approved budget and on the input and recommendations of management.

Operating division EBITDDA budgets are established by the Potlatch Corporation CEO and reflected in the annual budget approved by Potlatch Corporation’s Board of Directors. EBITDDA performance scales are established by the Potlatch Committee based on the approved budget and on the input and recommendations of management.

Long-Term Incentives

Prior to 2007, long-term incentive awards were granted in December and short-term performance measures were set in February. As part of the redesign of Potlatch Corporation’s compensation program, the Potlatch Committee made grants of long-term incentive awards in February so that it could simultaneously review and set the performance goals for short-term and long-term incentives.

Beginning in 2008, long-term incentive awards include both a performance share component and an RSU component as a portion of the total award. The total award for all eligible employees, including Messrs. DeVleming and Seamans, consists of the two components: 75% in the form of performance shares that may pay out based on Potlatch Corporation’s TSR compared to that of Potlatch Corporation’s new peer group at the end of a three-year performance period, and 25% in the form of time-vested RSUs with a 3-year cliff vesting (100% vesting on third anniversary of date of grant). Potlatch Corporation believes that RSUs enhance retention of officers and other key personnel because the RSUs to be granted will only vest after three years. Additionally, such awards encourage the recipients to increase the value of the award over the three-year period since they would not be paid out until the end of the vesting period. The use of RSUs as part of Potlatch Corporation’s long-term incentives is also consistent with the practices of Potlatch Corporation’s peer group. Long-term incentives would continue to be based on TSR for performance measurement purposes. For the 2008-2010 performance

 

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period, the relative TSR performance scale and the corresponding number of shares earned as a percentage of target were set by the Potlatch Committee as follows:

 

Performance Level

  

Total Stockholder Return

Percentile Rank

(Versus 2008 Peer Group)

  

Number of Shares Earned

(Percentage of Target)

Threshold

   33 rd Percentile    25% Target

Target

   50 th Percentile    100% Target

Maximum

   85 th Percentile    200% Target

The number of performance shares earned for relative TSR performance increases or decreases proportionately between threshold and target levels and between target and maximum levels. The Potlatch Committee continues to believe that no performance shares should be earned for performance below the bottom third of Potlatch Corporation’s peers. The maximum award of two times target will require that Potlatch Corporation outperform 13, or 85%, of Potlatch Corporation’s 16 peers. Based on actual market performance over the past ten years encompassing eight three-year performance cycles, had Potlatch Corporation granted performance shares on this basis, Potlatch Corporation would have failed to meet the threshold 38% of the time (i.e., three out of eight times) and the maximum would have been met only once.

Potlatch Corporation’s 2008 Peer Group

For 2008, based upon the analysis of, and in consultation with, both Mercer and Deloitte, Potlatch Corporation revised its peer group to include a more focused set of companies with stronger comparability to Potlatch Corporation’s various lines of business and to include a greater representation of companies that reflect the REIT/real estate aspect of its business. Potlatch Corporation also excluded Canadian companies from the peer group due to the potential impact of Canadian government subsidies that could place US-based companies at a disadvantage when making relative performance comparisons. The new peer group to be used beginning in 2008 by Potlatch Corporation consists of the following 16 companies:

 

Company

   Previous
Peer
   Annual
Revenue(1)
   Market
Cap (2)
  

GICS Sub-Industry

Kimberly-Clark

   ü      $ 17,815    $ 29,379    Household Products

Weyerhaeuser

   ü      $ 17,170    $ 15,567    Forest Products

Smurfit-Stone Container

   ü      $ 7,398    $ 2,705    Paper Packaging

MeadWestvaco

   ü      $ 6,829    $ 5,781    Paper Products

Sonoco Products

   ü      $ 3,969    $ 3,249    Paper Packaging

Universal Forest Products

   ü      $ 2,500    $ 560    Building Products

Rock-Tenn

   ü      $ 2,316    $ 965    Paper Packaging

Packaging Corp of America

   ü      $ 2,289    $ 2,971    Paper Packaging

Plum Creek Timber

   ü      $ 1,550    $ 7,933    Specialized REITs

Rayonier

   ü      $ 1,263    $ 3,685    Specialized REITs

Wausau Paper

      $ 1,236    $ 452    Paper Products

Chesapeake

   ü      $ 1,047    $ 103    Paper Packaging

Caraustar Industries

   ü      $ 865    $ 91    Paper Packaging

St. Joe

      $ 500    $ 2,640    Real Estate Mgmt. & Dev.

Deltic Timber

   ü      $ 131    $ 643    Forest Products

Pope Resources

      $ 51    $ 200    Forest Products

Median

      $ 1,919    $ 2,673    Various

Potlatch

          $ 1,627    $ 1,742    Specialized REITs

 

(1) In millions, as of September 30, 2007.

 

(2) In millions, as of December 31, 2007.

 

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Executive Compensation Tables

The following historical compensation information reflects the compensation paid by Potlatch Corporation to Messrs. DeVleming and Seamans for their service to Potlatch Corporation. The overall historical compensation package described below, and the components thereof, may not necessarily be indicative of the compensation they will receive from us following the spin-off. Our other named executive officers were not employed by Potlatch Corporation or us before 2008, and are therefore not listed in the following tables.

2007 Compensation

 

2007 Summary Compensation Table

Name and Principal Position with
Potlatch Corporation

  Year   Salary
($)
  Bonus
($)
  Stock
Awards
($) (1)
  Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compen-
sation ($)
(2)
  Change in
Pension
Value and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compen-
sation
Earnings ($)
(3)
  All Other
Compen-
sation
($)
    Total
($)

Robert P. DeVleming

  2007   $ 250,450     $ 156,960   $ 109,900   $ 148,552   $ 9,783     $ 675,645

Vice President, Consumer Products Division

  2006   $ 238,950     $ 107,871   $ 150,400   $ 114,334   $ 9,474     $ 621,029

Harry D. Seamans

  2007   $ 286,560     $ 204,504   $ 238,300   $ 198,760   $ 12,210 (4)   $ 940,334

Vice President, Pulp and Paperboard Division

  2006   $ 276,890     $ 144,576   $ 189,900   $ 161,352   $ 38,134     $ 810,852

 

(1) For 2007 this column shows the values for performance shares granted in prior years for three-year performance periods beginning in 2005, 2006 and 2007, respectively, pursuant to Potlatch Corporation’s long-term incentive plan. The amounts shown reflect the compensation expense taken by Potlatch Corporation in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 123 (Revised 2004) —Share Based Payment , or FAS 123R, for the applicable fiscal year. For additional information regarding the assumptions made in calculating the FAS 123R values, please refer to Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of Potlatch Corporation included in Potlatch Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 20, 2008.

 

(2) This column shows cash bonuses earned under Potlatch Corporation’s annual incentive plan. Annual bonuses relating to performance in 2007 were actually paid in 2008.

 

(3) Represents the aggregate annual change in the actuarial present value of accumulated pension benefits under all of Potlatch Corporation’s defined benefit and actuarial plans. No portion of the amounts shown in this column is attributable to above market or preferential earnings on deferred compensation.

 

(4) Includes 401(k) match by Potlatch Corporation and premiums paid by Potlatch Corporation for life and accidental death & dismemberment insurance.

 

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Grants of Plan-Based Awards for 2007

 

Name

  Grant
Date
(1)
  Estimated Possible Payouts
Under Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Awards (1)
  Estimated Future Payouts
Under Equity Incentive Plan
Awards
  All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number of
Shares of
Stock or
Units
(#)
  Grant Date
Fair Value
of Stock
and Option
Awards
($)
    Threshold
($)
  Target
($)
  Maximum
($)
  Threshold
(#)
  Target
(#)
  Maximum
(#)
   

Robert P. DeVleming

    $ 9,850   $ 112,700   $ 315,560            

Harry D. Seamans

      $ 11,300   $ 129,000   $ 361,200          

 

(1) Actual amounts paid under Potlatch Corporation’s annual incentive plan for performance in 2007 were paid on February 21, 2008, and are reflected in the 2007 Summary Compensation Table above in the column titled “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation.” Awards granted to Messrs. Seamans and DeVleming under Potlatch Corporation’s annual incentive plan were subject to an individual performance modifier, which ranged from zero to 1.4, based on their individual performance measures established by Potlatch Corporation for the year. The threshold personal modifier was 0.5, below which no bonus would have been paid. A modifier of 0.5 would have resulted in only one half of the bonus amount otherwise payable under Potlatch Corporation’s annual incentive plan, and a modifier of 1.4 would have resulted in 140% of such bonus amount. The amounts shown for Target assume a modifier of 1.0. To show the lowest and highest awards available, the amounts shown for Threshold assume a performance modifier of 0.5 and those for Maximum assume a modifier of 1.4.

Current Equity Holdings

For a discussion of the treatment of equity awards listed below in connection with the spin-off, please see the discussion above under the heading “Compensation Actions Taken by Potlatch Corporation prior to the Spin-off.”

2007 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End

 

      Option Awards   Stock Awards

Name

  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options (#)
Exercisable
  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
(1)
  Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options
(#)
  Option
Exercise
Price
  Option
Expiration
Date
  Number
of Shares
or Units
of Stock
That
Have
Not
Vested
(#)
  Market
Value of
Shares of
Stock
That
Have
Not
Yet
Vested
($)
  Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number
of
Unearned
Shares,
Units, or
Other
Rights
That
Have Not
Vested
(#) (2)
  Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Market or
Payout
Value
of Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested
($) (3)

Robert P. DeVleming

                   

Stock Option Grant (1998)

  451   —     —     25.1112   12/3/2008   —     —     —       —  

Stock Option Grant (1999)

  5,713   —     —     27.5226   12/2/2009   —     —     —       —  

Stock Option Grant (2002)

  6,314   —     —     16.5501   12/5/2012   —     —     —       —  

Stock Option Grant (2003)

  2,173   —     —     22.0713   12/4/2013   —     —     —       —  

Stock Option Grant (2004)

  5,156   —     —     35.4393   12/2/2014   —     —     —       —  

Performance Share Grant (2006-08)

                10,402   $ 462,265

Performance Share Grant (2007-09)

                7,842   $ 348,498

Harry D. Seamans

                   

Stock Option Grant (2002)

  4,961   —     —     16.5501   12/5/2012   —     —     —       —  

Stock Option Grant (2003)

  6,014   —     —     22.0713   12/4/2013   —     —     —       —  

Stock Option Grant (2004)

  6,459   —     —     35.4393   12/2/2014   —     —     —       —  

Performance Share Grant (2006-08)

  —     —     —     —     —     —     —     13,518   $ 600,740

Performance Share Grant (2007-09)

  —     —     —     —     —     —     —     10,456   $ 464,665

 

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(1) In December 2005, Potlatch Corporation approved an amendment to outstanding employee stock option agreements granted on December 2, 2004 to accelerate vesting, effective December 31, 2005, by approximately eleven months. All of these options were otherwise scheduled to vest on December 2, 2006. The purpose of the accelerated vesting was to enable Potlatch Corporation to avoid recognizing in its statement of operations non-cash compensation expense associated with these options in future periods, upon the implementation of FAS 123R in January 2006. As a result of the action taken by Potlatch Corporation, all outstanding options to purchase shares of Potlatch Corporation’s common stock held by Messrs. Seamans and DeVleming were fully vested as of December 31, 2005.

 

(2) This column shows performance shares granted by Potlatch Corporation, plus dividend equivalents accrued through December 31, 2007. Potlatch Corporation amended its performance share award agreement form so that dividend equivalents for awards granted beginning in August of 2006 were calculated using the closing price of Potlatch Corporation’s common stock on the day a cash distribution was paid. Dividend equivalents for awards granted before that time were calculated using the average closing price for November and December of 2007. The award grants for the 2006-2008 and 2007-2009 performance periods are shown at 200% of the target grant based on actual performance in 2007. Since the awards are for three-year performance periods that end on December 31, 2008 and 2009 respectively, the actual number of shares that could have been issued upon settlement of these awards may vary from the amounts shown in this table. Prior to 2007, long-term incentive awards were determined by Potlatch Corporation in December.

 

(3) Value calculated using the $44.44 per share closing price of Potlatch Corporation’s common stock on December 31, 2007.

2007 Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table

 

       Stock Awards

Name

   Number of Shares
Acquired on Vesting
(#) (1)
   Value Realized
on Vesting
($) (2)

Robert P. DeVleming

   5,324    $ 236,599

Harry D. Seamans

   6,693    $ 297,437

 

(1)

This column shows the gross number of performance shares granted for the performance period 2005-2007, plus distributions accrued during the three-year performance period. Potlatch Corporation’s total stockholder return at the end of the three-year performance period placed it in the 84 th percentile of Potlatch Corporation’s peer group, which resulted in a multiplier of 171% being applied to the target grant of performance shares. Potlatch Corporation approved settlement of these performance shares in February 2008 and actual settlement occurred in the same month, which included withholding for tax purposes and thus receipt of fewer shares by Messrs. Seamans and DeVleming than shown in the table.

 

(2) Although the performance shares were settled in February 2008, the value of the performance shares was calculated using the $44.44 per share closing price of Potlatch Corporation’s common stock on December 31, 2007. The dividend equivalents were calculated using the average closing price of Potlatch Corporation’s common stock for November and December of 2007, which was $45.04.

Post-Employment Compensation

Pension Benefits Table

The table below shows the actuarial present value of Messrs. Seamans’ and DeVleming’s accumulated benefit payable on retirement under Potlatch Corporation’s tax-qualified Salaried Employees’ Retirement Plan, or Retirement Plan, and Potlatch Corporation’s non-qualified Salaried Employees’ Supplemental Benefit Plan, or

 

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Supplemental Plan I, and Potlatch Corporation’s Supplemental Benefit Plan II, or Supplemental Plan II. The Supplemental Plan I and Supplemental Plan II are referred to collectively as the Supplemental Plans.

 

Name

  

Plan name

   Number of years
credited service
(#)
    Present value of
accumulated benefit
($)
   Payments during
last fiscal year
($)

Robert P. DeVleming

  

Supplemental Plan I

   26.82     $ 149,964    $ 0

Robert P. DeVleming

  

Supplemental Plan II

   29.82     $ 137,018    $ 0

Robert P. DeVleming

  

Retirement Plan

   29.82     $ 602,705    $ 0

Harry D. Seamans

  

Supplemental Plan I

   27.53     $ 214,889    $ 0

Harry D. Seamans

  

Supplemental Plan II

   30.53     $ 303,194    $ 0

Harry D. Seamans

  

Retirement Plan

   30.78 (1)   $ 619,609    $ 0

 

(1) Mr. Seamans had credited service under the Retirement Plan exceeding his actual service by .25 years as of December 31, 2007. The additional credited service serves to increase the benefit amount paid under the Retirement Plan and reduce the benefit paid from the Supplemental Plans, under which no credit is given for additional years of service. No augmentation of the total formula benefit occurs as a result of the additional service, but more of the total benefit is payable from the Retirement Plan.

The following assumptions were made in calculating the present value of accumulated benefits:

 

   

discount rate of 6.40%;

 

   

zero percent future salary growth;

 

   

normal retirement age of 62;

 

   

service as of the fiscal year-end;

 

   

mortality expectations based on RP2000 Combined Mortality for 2006, and RP2000 Mortality (which are commonly used sources for estimating mortality dates) with 15 years projection for 2007; and

 

   

IRS limitations and Social Security covered compensation are as of the measurement date.

 

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Summary of Potlatch Corporation Plan Benefits:

Regular, full-time salaried employees are eligible to receive retirement benefits under Potlatch Corporation’s Retirement Plan. For purposes of calculating the Retirement Plan benefit, earnings include base salary and annual bonus awards. Benefits paid under the Retirement Plan are calculated as follows:

 

Benefit

  

Benefit Available If:

  

Benefit Amount

Normal Retirement    Eligible employee is age 65 when pension starts   

Normal monthly benefit calculation

•     Final average monthly earnings (highest consecutive 60 months of final 120 months earnings)

•     Multiplied by 1%

•     Multiplied by years of credited service

Plus

•     Portion of final average monthly earnings that exceeds the Social Security Benefit Base

•     Multiplied by 1/2%

•     Multiplied by years of credited service up to 35

   
Early Retirement    Employment with company terminates after eligible employee turns 55 and has ten or more years of vesting service    Calculate the monthly normal retirement benefit (as described above), then reduce that amount by 5/12 of 1% (5% per year) for each month the retirement age is less than age 62

ERISA mandated survivor benefits are paid under Potlatch Corporation’s Retirement Plan. Pension benefits may be paid in the form of a life annuity. Alternate annuity forms of payment are available subject to the actuarial reduction factors used for all salaried employees in the Retirement Plan. Benefits with total actuarial present value less than $5,000 are paid in a lump sum.

The retirement benefit payable under Potlatch Corporation’s Retirement Plan is supplemented by benefits paid under Potlatch Corporation’s Supplemental Plans. Benefits paid under the Supplemental Plans are calculated in accordance with the normal retirement benefit formula or early retirement formula described in the table above with respect to the Retirement Plan taking into account the retirement benefit that would have been paid under the Retirement Plan if:

 

   

the limitations imposed by the Internal Revenue Code on maximum eligible annual earnings ($225,000 in 2007) and maximum annual retirement benefits ($180,000 in 2007) did not apply;

 

   

any deferred bonus awards were paid to the eligible employee in the year deferred; and

 

   

any additional years of credited service provided under the Retirement Plan were not included.

From this sum, the benefit paid under the Retirement Plan is subtracted to determine the benefit paid under the Supplemental Plans.

For example, in 2004, the maximum compensation allowed under the qualified plan was $205,000. For an executive earning $250,000 in 2004, Potlatch Corporation’s Retirement Plan uses compensation of $205,000 in the benefit formula, while the Supplemental Plan I uses the full $250,000, producing a higher total benefit value.

 

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The Potlatch Corporation’s Supplemental Plan I benefit is offset by the benefit amount payable from Potlatch Corporation’s Retirement Plan. The benefit payable under the Supplemental Plan I was frozen as of December 31, 2004. Potlatch Corporation’s Supplemental Plan II is the successor plan to the Supplemental Plan I. The benefits paid under the Supplemental Plan II are calculated in a similar manner as benefits under the Supplemental Plan I, but include compensation and service after December 31, 2004. The Supplemental Plan I benefit is an offset to the benefit under the Supplemental Plan II formula.

Full-time salaried employees who are eligible to participate in Potlatch Corporation’s Retirement Plan and whose annual earnings or annual benefit under the Retirement Plan exceed the Internal Revenue Code maximum or who elect to defer receipt of bonus awards paid under Potlatch Corporation’s annual incentive plan are eligible to participate in the Supplemental Plan I and Supplemental Plan II. Benefits paid under the Supplemental Plan I are paid at the same time and in the same manner as benefits paid under the Retirement Plan. Benefits paid under the Supplemental Plan II are paid beginning in the year after the year the eligible employee turns 55 or terminates employment, whichever is later and, at the eligible employee’s election, in one of the forms available under the Retirement Plan except benefits with total actuarial present value of $50,000 or less are paid in a lump sum.

2007 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table

The table below shows the fiscal year contributions that were made by and on behalf of Messrs. Seamans and DeVleming, along with their account balances under the nonqualified Supplemental Plans as well as amounts deferred under Potlatch Corporation’s annual incentive plan.

 

Name

   Executive
Contributions
in the Last FY
($)
   Registrant
Contributions
in Last FY
($)
   Aggregate
Earnings
in Last FY
($)
   Aggregate
Withdrawals/
Distributions
($)
   Aggregate
Balance
at Last FYE
($)

Robert P. DeVleming (1)

   —        —      $ 90    —      $ 1,682

Robert P. DeVleming (2)

   —      $ 7,386    $ 501    —      $ 13,925

Harry D. Seamans (1)

   —        —      $ 567    —      $ 10,575

Harry D. Seamans (2)

   —      $ 10,561    $ 1,181    —      $ 27,672

 

(1) Supplemental Plan I.

 

(2) Supplemental Plan II.

In addition to the retirement benefits described above, Potlatch Corporation’s Supplemental Plans also provide supplemental benefits under Potlatch Corporation’s Salaried Employees’ Savings Plan, or 401(k) Plan, to the extent that an eligible employee’s allocations of “company contributions” or “allocable forfeitures” are reduced under the 401(k) Plan due to Internal Revenue Code limits or because the eligible employee had deferred an award under Potlatch Corporation’s annual incentive plan. For years after 2004, eligible employees are credited with contributions under the Supplemental Plan II equal to the difference between the amount of Potlatch Corporation contributions and allocable forfeitures actually allocated to the eligible employee under the 401(k) Plan for the year and the amount of Potlatch Corporation contributions and allocable forfeitures that would have been allocated to the eligible employee under the 401(k) Plan if the eligible employee had made “participating contributions” equal to 6% percent of his earnings determined without regard to the Internal Revenue Code limit on maximum eligible compensation ($225,000 in 2007) and without regard to deferral of any award otherwise payable under Potlatch Corporation’s annual incentive plan. Such amounts credited to the Supplemental Plan II on behalf of eligible employees are credited with interest equal to 70% of the higher of either the prime rate or the corporate “A” long-term bond rate. Beginning in 2008, cash deferrals would have been able to be invested in any investments allowed under the 401(k) Plan. Eligible employees become vested in the supplemental benefit upon the earliest of completion of two years of service, attainment of age 65 while an employee, or total and permanent disability. The supplemental benefits are to be paid in ten or fewer annual installments or in a lump sum, at the eligible employee’s election, beginning in the year following the year in which the eligible employee separated from service. Benefit payments made under Potlatch Corporation’s

 

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Supplemental Plan II to “key employees,” as defined under the Internal Revenue Code, must be delayed for a minimum of six months following the date their employment terminates. Account balances that are equal to less than $10,000 on the date the eligible employee separates from service are to be paid in a lump sum without regard to the employee’s election.

Employees, including Messrs. DeVleming and Seamans, who earn an award under Potlatch Corporation’s annual incentive plan could have deferred receipt of a minimum of 50% and a maximum of 100% of the award pursuant to rules established under the plan. Employees whose compensation exceeded the amount deductible under Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m) are required to defer any portion of the award that is not deductible. Eligible employees could elect to defer awards in cash, stock units or a combination of both. If stock units are elected, dividend equivalents are credited to the units. Cash deferrals are credited with interest equal to 70% of the higher of either the prime rate or the corporate “A” long-term bond rate. Eligible employees were 100% vested in deferred awards at all times. Beginning in 2008, cash deferrals could have been invested in any investments allowed under the 401(k) Plan.

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control

Severance Program for Executive Employees. Prior to the spin-off, Potlatch Corporation’s Severance Program for Executive Employees, or Severance Program, provides severance benefits to Messrs. Seamans and DeVleming that would be payable both in connection with a termination of employment with Potlatch Corporation and in connection with a change in control involving Potlatch Corporation. No amounts will be payable under the Severance Program as a result of the spin-off.

Termination Other Than in Connection with Change of Control . The following table sets forth the severance benefits that would have been payable to either Messrs. Seamans or DeVleming under the Severance Program if his employment had been terminated in the circumstances described below. The following table assumes the termination of employment occurred on December 31, 2007, and uses the $44.44 price per share of Potlatch Corporation’s common stock as of December 31, 2007 for purposes of valuing the equity component of severance benefits.

 

Name

   Cash
Severance
Payment
($)
   Benefits
Continuation
($)
   Total
($)

Robert P. DeVleming

   $ 252,480    $ 10,322    $ 262,802

Harry D. Seamans

   $ 288,180    $ 7,752    $ 295,932

Under the Severance Program, benefits would have been payable to either Mr. Seamans or Mr. DeVleming if his respective employment had been terminated by Potlatch Corporation in the following circumstances:

 

   

involuntary termination of employment for any reason other than death, disability or misconduct;

 

   

election by Messrs. Seamans or DeVleming to terminate employment upon being required to relocate his principal place of business to a place that is 50 miles or more further from his primary residence than the prior principal place of business; or

 

   

separation from service by him within 24 months of

 

   

a material reduction in authority or responsibility,

 

   

any reduction in his base salary, standard bonus opportunity, or long-term incentive opportunity, or

 

   

a 15% or greater reduction in his aggregate benefits as compared to all other similarly situated employees unless the reduction applies to all similarly situated employees.

 

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No severance benefits would have been payable in connection with either Messrs. Seamans’ or DeVleming’s termination generally if either had separated from service on or after his normal retirement date and during the two-year period immediately before retirement they had been an eligible employee under the Severance Program.

Upon the occurrence of any of the events described above, the following severance benefits would have been payable to Messrs. Seamans or DeVleming, as applicable:

 

   

Cash Severance Payment.  A cash payment equal to three weeks of base compensation for each full year of service. The minimum cash benefit is six months of base compensation and the maximum is one year.

 

   

Unused and Accrued Vacation.  Unused and accrued vacation.

 

   

Benefits Continuation.  Continued medical, dental and basic life insurance coverage for a period of weeks equal to three weeks for each full year of service. The minimum period for continued insurance coverage is six months and the maximum is one year.

Termination in Connection with a Change of Control . The following table sets forth the severance benefits that would have been payable to either Messrs. Seamans or DeVleming under the Severance Program in connection with a change of control involving Potlatch Corporation. The following table assumes the termination of employment and a change of control each occurred on December 31, 2007, and uses the $44.44 price per share of Potlatch Corporation’s common stock as of December 31, 2007, for purposes of valuing the equity component of severance benefits.

 

Name

  Cash
Severance
Payment
($)
  Pro-Rata
Bonus
Under
Annual
Incentive
Plan or
Guaranteed
Bonus
($)
  Equity
Acceleration
($)(1)
  Benefit
Continuation
($)
  Gross-Up
Payment,
if
applicable
($)
  Total
($)

Robert P. DeVleming

  $ 912,950   $ 96,120   $ 357,668   $ 25,804   $ 533,544   $ 1,926,086

Harry D. Seamans

  $ 1,042,950   $ 129,000   $ 460,576   $ 19,381   $ 587,291   $ 2,239,198

 

(1) The Equity Acceleration column includes amounts for acceleration of performance share awards, which only require a “single trigger,” or change of control, to occur for a payment to be due. The amounts shown are for acceleration of performance share awards and therefore only require a single trigger.

Under the Severance Program, benefits would have been payable to Messrs. Seamans and DeVleming upon a change of control involving Potlatch Corporation. Had a change in control occurred, the performance period for outstanding performance share awards would have been deemed concluded on the effective date of the change of control. As of that date, target awards would have been deemed payable and dividend equivalents would have been calculated on the target award pro-rated to the date of the change of control.

In addition, other benefits would have been payable to Messrs. Seamans and DeVleming if, within two years following a change of control involving Potlatch Corporation, one of the following events or “double trigger” had occurred:

 

   

involuntary termination of employment for any reason other than death, disability or misconduct;

 

   

election by Messrs. Seamans or DeVleming to terminate employment upon being required to relocate his principal place of business to a place that is 50 miles or more further from his primary residence than the prior principal place of business; or

 

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separation from service by the employee within 24 months of

 

   

a material reduction in authority or responsibility,

 

   

any reduction in base salary, standard bonus opportunity, or long-term incentive opportunity, or

 

   

a 15% or greater reduction in aggregate benefits as compared to all other similarly situated employees unless the reduction applies to all similarly situated employees.

Upon the occurrence of any of the events described above within two years following a change of control involving Potlatch Corporation, the following severance benefits would have been payable to Messrs. Seamans or DeVleming, as applicable:

 

   

Cash Severance Payment.  A cash benefit equal to the base compensation plus his base compensation multiplied by his standard bonus percentage, determined as of the date of the change of control or the effective date Mr. Seamans or Mr DeVleming had separated from service, whichever produces the larger amount, multiplied by 2.5. The cash benefit would have been subject to a downward adjustment if Mr. Seamans or Mr. DeVleming had separated from service within thirty months of his normal retirement date and additional service credit for the severance period was added to the pension benefit calculation;

 

   

Pro-Rata Bonus.  Eligibility for a pro rata award under Potlatch Corporation’s annual incentive plan;

 

   

Benefits Continuation.  COBRA premium payments for two and a half years for continued medical, dental and basic life insurance coverage;

 

   

Vacation Pay Enhancement.  Unused and accrued vacation notwithstanding whether any minimum service requirement has been met under Potlatch Corporation’s vacation policy; and

 

   

Gross-Up Payment; If Applicable.  A tax gross-up payment if Messrs. Seamans or DeVleming had been subject to an excise tax on his change of control benefits. If payments would have been less than $50,000 over the safe harbor limit, then his payments would have been reduced to the safe harbor limit to avoid the imposition of the excise tax.

Other Potential Payments Upon Termination

The following table summarizes the value, as of December 31, 2007, of the performance shares that Messrs. Seamans and DeVleming would have been entitled to receive at the end of the applicable performance periods assuming their respective employment terminated on December 31, 2007 in connection with death, disability or retirement:

 

Name

  Prorated Number
of Shares Issued at
End of Performance
Period
(#) (1)(2)
  Value at
December 31,
2007
($) (3)
  Pro-Rata Bonus
Under Annual
Incentive Plan
($) (2)
  Total
($)

Robert P. DeVleming

  9,122   $ 405,369   $ 112,700   $ 518,069

Harry D. Seamans

  11,987   $ 532,690   $ 129,000   $ 661,690

 

(1) The prorated number of shares shown in this column is based on target performance share awards for those awards granted by Potlatch Corporation for the 2006-2008 and 2007-2009 Potlatch Corporation performance periods. Depending on Potlatch Corporation’s actual performance during the applicable performance period, the prorated number of shares issued would have been 0% to 200% of the amounts shown in this column.

 

(2) Messrs. Seamans and DeVleming were not eligible for retirement under the Retirement Plan as of December 31, 2007. As a result, the amounts shown in this column reflect amounts they would be entitled to receive in connection only with death or disability.

 

(3) The amounts shown in this column were calculated using the $44.44 closing price for Potlatch Corporation’s common stock on December 31, 2007, plus dividend equivalents through December 31, 2007.

 

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

In connection with the spin-off, we will enter into certain other agreements with Potlatch Corporation to define our ongoing relationship with Potlatch Corporation after the spin-off. These agreements will define responsibility for obligations arising before and after the spin-off, including, among others, obligations relating to our employees, certain transition services, retained debt obligations, log and fiber supply and taxes. See “Our Relationship with Potlatch Corporation after the Spin-off.”

Procedures for Approval of Related Party Transactions

Our board of directors will approve a Related Person Transactions Policy that will be effective upon the spin-off. The Related Person Transactions Policy will provide for approval by the audit committee of our board of directors of transactions with us involving more than $120,000 in which any director, officer, 5% stockholder or certain related persons or entities has a direct or indirect material interest.

Related Party Transactions

Other than the agreements with Potlatch Corporation described in “Our Relationship with Potlatch Corporation after the Spin-off,” we did not conduct, and are not conducting, any transactions with related persons since January 1, 2007 that would require disclosure in this information statement.

 

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PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

Potlatch Corporation currently owns all of our outstanding shares of common stock. None of our director nominees or the persons expected to become our executive officers currently own any shares of our common stock, but those who own shares of Potlatch Corporation common stock will be treated as stockholders of Potlatch Corporation and, accordingly, will receive shares of our common stock in the distribution.

The following table sets forth the number of shares of Potlatch Corporation common stock and the number of shares of our common stock that will be held by our director nominees, the persons expected to become our executive officers immediately upon completion of the spin-off and each stockholder that we believe will be a beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of our outstanding voting securities immediately after the spin-off, assuming there are no changes in each person’s holdings of Potlatch Corporation common stock since October 31, 2008 in the case of directors and officers, and based on our estimates as of October 31, 2008, using the distribution ratio of one share of our common stock for every 3.5 shares of Potlatch Corporation common stock, with no fractional shares.

Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes below, the mailing address of each of these individuals will be 601 W. Riverside Avenue, Suite 1100, Spokane, WA 99201. As used in this information statement, “beneficial ownership” means that a person has, or may have within 60 days of October 31, 2008, the sole or shared power to vote or direct the voting of a security or the sole or shared investment power with respect to a security (that is, the power to dispose or direct the disposition of a security), or both.

 

     Number of
Shares of
Potlatch
Corporation
Beneficially
Owned
    Number of
Our Shares to
be Beneficially
Owned
   Percentage
Ownership
 

Benefic ial Owners of more than 5%:

       

Barclays Global Investors, NA

   2,581,534 (1)   737,581    6.54 %

T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.

   2,375,432 (2)   678,694    6.01 %

N amed executive officers, directors and director n ominees :

       

Gordon L. Jones

   2,127     607    *  

Linda K. Massman

   —       —      *  

Thomas H. Carter

   1,022 (3)   292    *  

Robert P. DeVleming

   11,496 (4)   3,284    *  

Harry D. Seamans

   26,164 (5)   7,475    *  

Boh A. Dickey

   5,500 (6)   1,571    *  

Jack A. Hockema

   —       —      *  

William D. Larsson

   —       —      *  

Michael T. Riordan

   1,709     488    *  

William T. Weyerhaeuser

   549,122 (7)   156,892    1.39 %

All executive officers and directors as a group (11 persons)

   597,232     170,609    1.51 %

 

* Less than 1%.
(1) Based on the stockholders’ Schedule 13G filed on February 6, 2008 with the SEC. The Schedule indicates that sole dispositive power over all these shares is held by the following entities in the respective amounts listed: Barclays Global Investors, NA, 1,379,710 shares; Barclays Global Fund Advisors, 1,173,225 shares; Barclays Global Investors, Ltd., 11,700 shares; and Barclays Global Investors Japan Limited, 16,899 shares. In addition, the Schedule reports sole voting power by the following entities over the respective shares listed: Barclays Global Investors, NA, 1,212,495 shares; Barclays Global Fund Advisors, 1,173,225 shares; Barclays Global Investors, Ltd., 11,700 shares; and Barclays Global Investors Japan Limited, 16,899 shares. The address for Barclays Global Investors, NA is 45 Fremont Street, San Francisco, CA 94105.

 

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(2) Based on the stockholder’s Schedule 13G filed on February 14, 2008, with the SEC, the stockholder serves as an investment advisor registered under the Investment Act, with sole dispositive power over all these shares and sole voting power over 714,812 of these shares. These securities are owned by various individuals and institutional investors, which T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (Price Associates) serves as investment advisor with power to direct investments and/or sole power to vote the securities. For the purposes of the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Price Associates is deemed to be a beneficial owner of such securities; however, Price Associates expressly disclaims that it is, in fact, the beneficial owner of such securities. The address for T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. is 100 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202.
(3) Includes 22 shares of common stock held for Mr. Carter’s individual account under the Potlatch 401(k) employee savings plan.
(4) Includes 6,162 shares of common stock held for Mr. DeVleming’s individual account under the Potlatch 401(k) employee savings plan.
(5) Includes 17,181 shares of common stock held for Mr. Seamans’ individual account under the Potlatch 401(k) employee savings plan.
(6) These shares are held in the name of Mr. Dickey and his spouse with whom Mr. Dickey shares voting and investment power for these shares.
(7) Includes the following: (i) 4,465 shares owned directly; (ii) 447,169 shares held by trusts or nonprofit entities of which Mr. Weyerhaeuser is either a trustee or director, 43,338 shares over which he has sole voting and investment power, 433,831 shares over which he has shared voting power, and 72,804 shares over which he has shared investment power; and (iii) 64,055 shares held by a trust of which Mr. Weyerhaeuser is a trustee and has sole voting and investment power. Also includes 3,433 shares held in the name of his spouse, of which Mr. Weyerhaeuser disclaims beneficial ownership. A total of 101,706 shares of common stock held in trust are currently pledged as collateral for bank loans by two of the trusts. Mr. Weyerhaeuser disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares except for the 4,465 shares he owns directly and 64,055 shares held in a trust for his benefit for which he is also trustee.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

General

The following description of our capital stock and provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws is only a summary. You should also refer to the copies of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws that have been filed with the SEC as exhibits to our Form 10, of which this information statement is a part, and to the provisions of Delaware law. Upon completion of the spin-off, our authorized capital stock will consist of 100,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, and 5,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share.

Common Stock

Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share of common stock held on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. Common stockholders will not be entitled to cumulative voting in the election of directors. This means that the holders of a majority of the voting shares will be able to elect all of the directors then standing for election. Subject to preferences that may apply to shares of preferred stock outstanding at the time, the holders of outstanding shares of our common stock will be entitled to receive dividends out of assets legally available at the times and in the amounts that our board of directors may determine from time to time. Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, the holders of common stock would be entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of all liabilities and the liquidation preferences of any outstanding preferred stock. Holders of common stock have no preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights. There will be no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock.

Preferred Stock

Following the spin-off, our board of directors will be authorized, subject to limitations imposed by Delaware law, to issue from time to time up to a total of 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series, without stockholder approval. We expect that our board of directors will be authorized to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each series, and to fix the rights, preferences and privileges of the shares of each wholly unissued series and any of its qualifications, limitations or restrictions. We expect that our board of directors will also be able to increase or decrease the number of shares of any series, but not below the number of shares of that series then outstanding, without any further vote or action by the stockholders.

Our board of directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could harm the voting power or other rights of the holders of the common stock, or that could decrease the amount of earnings and assets available for distribution to the holders of common stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control and might harm the market price of our common stock and the voting and other rights of the holders of common stock. We have no current plans to issue any shares of preferred stock.

Stockholder Rights Plan

We expect to adopt a stockholder rights plan after the Board of Directors of Potlatch Corporation approves the distribution. Under the rights plan, we would issue one “right” with respect to each share of our common stock that is issued prior to the distribution date described below. Except as set forth below, each right, when exercisable, would entitle the holder to purchase one one-thousandth of a share of an as-of-yet undesignated series of our preferred stock at a specified exercise price to be determined. The rights would not be exercisable until the distribution date occurs. Until a right is exercised, the holder of the right, as such, would have no rights as a stockholder, including no right to vote or to receive dividends.

 

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The rights would initially trade with shares of our common stock. In general, the rights would separate from the common stock and a distribution date would thereupon occur only upon one of the following events:

 

   

the public announcement by a person, entity or affiliated group of the acquisition of at least a specified threshold percentage to be determined of our common stock, or

 

   

ten business days after commencement of a tender or exchange offer that would result in the acquisition of at least that specified threshold percentage of our common stock.

If a person, entity or affiliated group acquires at least the specified threshold percentage of our common stock, all holders of rights, except the acquiring person, entity or affiliated group at issue, would be entitled to buy shares of our common stock at a discount or, under certain circumstances, to acquire shares of an acquiring company at a discount. Also, our board of directors could, under certain circumstances, authorize the exchange of all or part of the then outstanding rights, excluding rights held by the acquiring person, entity or affiliated group at issue, which would be void, for shares of our common stock at a rate of one share of common stock per right.

We currently expect that our board of directors would have the ability to authorize the redemption of the rights, at a nominal price per right, at any time before a person, entity or affiliated group acquires at least the specified threshold percentage of our common stock. We also currently expect that the rights plan would have a relatively short term, and would likely terminate prior to the annual meeting of our stockholders in 2009.

Anti-Takeover Effects of Delaware Law and Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

The provisions of Delaware law, our restated certificate of incorporation and our bylaws described below may have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another party from acquiring control.

Delaware Law

We will be subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law regulating corporate takeovers. In general, those provisions prohibit a Delaware corporation from engaging in any business combination with any interested stockholder for a period of three years following the date that the stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:

 

   

the transaction is approved by the board before the date the interested stockholder attained that status;

 

   

upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced; or

 

   

the business combination is approved by the board and authorized at a meeting of stockholders by at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

In general, Section 203 defines “business combination” to include the following:

 

   

any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder;

 

   

any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation involving the interested stockholder;

 

   

subject to certain exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder;

 

   

any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; or

 

   

the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation.

 

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In general, Section 203 defines an interested stockholder as any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by any such entity or person.

A Delaware corporation may opt out of this provision by express provision in its original certificate of incorporation or by amendment to its certificate of incorporation or bylaws approved by its stockholders. However, we have not opted out of, and do not currently intend to opt out of, this provision. The statute could prohibit or delay mergers or other takeovers or change in control attempts and, accordingly, may discourage attempts to acquire us.

Charter and Bylaws

Following the spin-off, we expect that our certificate of incorporation and bylaws will provide that:

 

   

our board will consist of between five and eleven members as determined by the board and the board will be divided into three classes, with each class serving three-year staggered terms;

 

   

no action can be taken by stockholders except at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders called in accordance with our bylaws, and stockholders may not act by written consent;

 

   

the approval of holders of two-thirds of the shares entitled to vote at an election of directors will be required to adopt, amend or repeal our bylaws or amend or repeal the provisions of our certificate of incorporation regarding the election and removal of directors and the ability of stockholders to take action by written consent or call a special meeting;

 

   

our board of directors will be expressly authorized to make, alter or repeal our bylaws;

 

   

vacancies on the board will be filled by the board rather than the stockholders;

 

   

special meetings of stockholders may be called only by the chair or vice chair of the board, a majority of the board or the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote;

 

   

stockholders must provide notice of nominations of directors or the proposal of business to be voted on at an annual meeting;

 

   

to be elected, a nominee for director in an uncontested election must receive a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, and, in a contested election, a plurality of the votes cast;

 

   

our board of directors will be authorized to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval, as described above;

 

   

directors may only be removed for cause; and

 

   

we will indemnify officers and directors against losses that they may incur in investigations and legal proceedings resulting from their services to us, which may include services in connection with takeover defense measures.

Limitation of Liability and Indemnification Matters

We will adopt provisions in our certificate of incorporation that limit the liability of our directors for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duty as directors, except for liability that cannot be eliminated under the Delaware General Corporation Law. Accordingly, our directors will not be personally liable for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duty as directors, except for liabilities:

 

   

for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders;

 

   

for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

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for unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions, as provided under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law; or

 

   

for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

Any amendment or repeal of these provisions will require the approval of the holders of shares representing at least two-thirds of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors, voting as one class.

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws will also provide that we will indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws will also permit us to purchase insurance on behalf of any officer, director, employee or other agent for any liability arising out of his or her actions as our officer, director, employee or agent, regardless of whether Delaware law would permit indemnification. We intend to enter into separate indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers that could require us, among other things, to indemnify them against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or executive officers and to advance their expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. We believe that the limitation of liability provision in our certificate of incorporation and the indemnification agreements will facilitate our ability to continue to attract and retain qualified individuals to serve as directors and officers.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is BNY Mellon.

 

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2009 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

Our bylaws provide that an annual meeting of stockholders will be held each year on a date specified by our board of directors. The first annual meeting of our stockholders after the spin-off is expected to be held on May 19, 2009. In order to be considered for inclusion in our proxy materials for the 2009 annual stockholders meeting, any proposals by stockholders must be received at our principal executive offices at 601 W. Riverside Avenue, Suite 1100, Spokane, Washington 99201, Attn: Corporate Secretary, on or prior to March 30, 2009. We anticipate commencing the mailing of proxies for the 2009 annual stockholders meeting in April 2009. In addition, stockholders at the 2009 annual stockholders meeting may consider proposals or nominations brought by a stockholder of record on the record date for the meeting who is entitled to vote at such meeting and who has complied with the advance notice procedures established by our bylaws. A stockholder proposal or nomination intended to be brought before the 2009 annual stockholders meeting must be received by our corporate secretary on or prior to February 18, 2009.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

Before the date of this information statement, we were not required to file reports with the SEC. This information statement, the registration statement on Form 10 of which it forms a part and the related exhibits, as well as all future materials we file with the SEC may be read and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room or its internet website. The Public Reference Room is located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at (800) SEC-0330. You may also obtain information by mail from the SEC at the above address, at prescribed rates. The SEC also maintains a website that contains information filed electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is http://www.sec.gov .

While we have provided a summary of the material terms of certain agreements and other documents, the summary does not describe all of the details of the agreements and other documents. In each instance where a copy of an agreement or other document has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, please refer to the exhibit filed with the registration statement. Each statement in this information statement regarding an agreement or other document is qualified in all respects by such exhibit.

 

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Index to Combined Financial Statements

 

Combined Financial Statements as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 (unaudited)

  

Combined Balance Sheets

   F-2

Combined Statements of Operations

   F-3

Combined Statements of Cash Flows

   F-4

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

   F-5

Combined Financial Statements as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   F-9

Combined Balance Sheets

   F-10

Combined Statements of Operations

   F-11

Combined Statements of Cash Flows

   F-12

Combined Statements of Parent’s Equity

   F-13

Summary of Principal Accounting Policies

   F-14

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

   F-20

 

F-1


Table of Contents

THE BUSINESS

(Pulp and Paperboard Segment, Consumer Products Segment, and the

Lewiston, Idaho, Lumber Manufacturing Facilities of Potlatch Corporation)

Combined Balance Sheets

September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007

(Dollars in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     September 30,
2008
    December 31,
2007
 

Assets

    

Current assets:

    

Cash

   $ 9     9  

Receivables, net

     101,438     95,193  

Inventories

     144,891     140,526  

Prepaid expenses

     3,914     1,400  

Deferred taxes

     8,646     8,646  
              

Total current assets

     258,898     245,774  

Land

     4,729     4,729  

Plant and equipment, at cost, net of accumulated depreciation

     390,564     408,441  

Pension assets

     40,540     37,064  

Other assets

     323     86  
              
   $ 695,054     696,094  
              

Liabilities and Parent’s Equity

    

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

   $ 129,440     109,276  

Other postretirement employee benefits

     7,971     7,792  
              

Total current liabilities

     137,411     117,068  

Note payable to Parent

     100,000     100,000  

Other postretirement employee benefits

     129,613     129,293  

Other long-term obligations

     1,907     2,093  

Deferred taxes

     68,726     74,820  

Parent’s equity:

    

Parent’s equity

     305,416     321,648  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (48,019 )   (48,828 )
              

Total Parent’s equity

     257,397     272,820  
              
   $ 695,054     696,094  
              

See accompanying notes to combined financial statements.

 

F-2


Table of Contents

THE BUSINESS

(Pulp and Paperboard Segment, Consumer Products Segment, and the

Lewiston, Idaho, Lumber Manufacturing Facilities of Potlatch Corporation)

Combined Statements of Operations

Nine Months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007

(Dollars in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     2008    2007  

Net sales

   $ 943,969    868,987  
             

Costs and expenses:

     

Depreciation

     35,318    39,174  

Materials, labor and other operating expenses

     857,720    761,703  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     26,124    27,954  
             
     919,162    828,831  
             

Earnings before interest and income taxes

     24,807    40,156  

Interest expense

     9,750    9,750  
             

Earnings before income taxes

     15,057    30,406  

Income tax provision

     5,233    10,861  
             

Net earnings

     9,824    19,545  
             

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

     

Pension and other postretirement employee benefit plans, net of tax of $517 and $(659)

     809    (1,030 )
             

Comprehensive income

   $ 10,633    18,515  
             

 

 

See accompanying notes to combined financial statements.

 

F-3


Table of Contents

THE BUSINESS

(Pulp and Paperboard Segment, Consumer Products Segment, and the

Lewiston, Idaho, Lumber Manufacturing Facilities of Potlatch Corporation)

Combined Statements of Cash Flows

Nine Months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007

(Dollars in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     2008     2007  

Cash flows from operations:

    

Net earnings

   $ 9,824     19,545  

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net operating cash flows:

    

Depreciation

     35,318     39,174  

Deferred taxes

     (6,611 )   (5,435 )

Equity-based compensation expense

     1,596     2,341  

Employee benefit plans

     (2,276 )   (6,156 )

Loss on disposal of plant and equipment

     60     12  

Decrease (increase) in receivables

     (6,245 )   18,844  

Increase in inventories

     (6,207 )   (8,328 )

Increase in prepaid expenses

     (2,514 )   (1,458 )

Increase in taxes payable

     11,327     16,955  

Increase in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities

     8,652     3,788  
              

Net cash provided by operations

     42,924     79,282  
              

Cash flows from investing:

    

Additions to plant and equipment

     (15,703 )   (14,623 )

Other, net

     5     (6 )
              

Net cash used for investing

     (15,698 )   (14,629 )
              

Cash flows from financing:

    

Net payments to Parent

     (26,843 )   (65,117 )

Line of credit borrowing costs

     (200 )   —    

Other, net

     (183 )   304  
              

Net cash used for financing

     (27,226 )   (64,813 )
              

Change in cash

     —       (160 )

Balance at beginning of period

     9     170  
              

Balance at end of period

   $ 9     10  
              

 

See accompanying notes to combined financial statements.

 

F-4


Table of Contents

THE BUSINESS

(Pulp and Paperboard Segment, Consumer Products Segment, and the

Lewiston, Idaho, Lumber Manufacturing Facilities of Potlatch Corporation)

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

Unaudited

 

(1) Basis of Presentation

The accompanying combined financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for the purpose of presenting the financial position of the Pulp and Paperboard Segment, the Consumer Products Segment and the Lewiston, Idaho, lumber manufacturing facilities (the Business) of Potlatch Corporation (Potlatch or Parent) and the results of operations and cash flows of the Business. The Business consists of pulp and paperboard mills, tissue mills and converting facilities, and a lumber manufacturing complex.

The combined financial statements reflect the historical accounts of the Business’ operations and have been derived from the historical financial statements and accounts of Potlatch. The accompanying unaudited combined financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and Securities and Exchange Commission requirements for interim financial statements. As a result, they do not include all of the information and disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. However, in management’s opinion, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. All adjustments were of a normal recurring nature. These interim operating results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire year. These unaudited interim combined financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited combined financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2007.

 

(2) Inventories

Inventories at the balance sheet dates consist of:

 

     September 30,
2008
   December 31,
2007
     (Dollars in thousands)

Raw materials

   $ 64,938    $ 51,080

Finished goods

     79,953      89,446
             
   $ 144,891    $ 140,526
             

 

(3) Income Taxes

For the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, income tax provisions of $5.2 million and $10.9 million, respectively, were recorded.

A review of the Business’ tax positions at September 30, 2008, pursuant to the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes , indicates that no uncertain tax positions were taken during the first nine months of 2008, and no new information is available that would require derecognition of previously taken positions. Interest related to tax obligations, as well as penalties, is reflected in the income tax provision.

 

(4) Equity-Based Compensation

The Business recorded equity-based compensation expense of $1.6 million and $2.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

F-5


Table of Contents

THE BUSINESS

(Pulp and Paperboard Segment, Consumer Products Segment, and the

Lewiston, Idaho, Lumber Manufacturing Facilities of Potlatch Corporation)

Notes to Combined Financial Statements—(Continued)

Unaudited

 

(5) Pension and Other Postretirement Employee Benefit Plans

The following table details the components of net periodic cost (benefit) of the pension and other postretirement employee benefit plans for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007:

 

     Pension Benefit
Plans
    Other Postretirement
Employee Benefit Plans
 
     2008     2007     2008     2007  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Service cost

   $ 4,618     $ 4,927     $ 838     $ 836  

Interest cost

     10,849       9,849       6,361       5,917  

Expected return on plan assets

     (18,191 )     (18,428 )     —         —    

Amortization of prior service cost (credit)

     918       965       (2,079 )     (1,808 )

Amortization of actuarial loss

     856       1,456       1,630       1,588  
                                

Net periodic cost (benefit)

   $ (950 )   $ (1,231 )   $ 6,750     $ 6,533  
                                

The $0.8 million reported as “Other comprehensive income, net of tax,” on the Combined Statements of Operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, and the $1.0 million reported as “Other comprehensive loss, net of tax,” for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, related to the defined benefit pension and other postretirement employee benefit plans.

As discussed in the notes to the combined financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2007, no minimum contributions to the qualified pension plans are estimated for 2008 due to the funded status of those plans at December 31, 2007. There is no anticipated funding of the postretirement employee benefit plans in 2008 except to pay benefit costs as incurred during the year by plan participants.

 

(6) Related Party Transactions

 

  (a) Purchases and Sales

The Business purchases pulpwood logs from Potlatch’s Resource segment as well as chips and sawdust from Potlatch’s Wood Products segment other than the Lewiston lumber facility. Purchases from the Parent’s other segments by the Business totaled $58.3 million and $77.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Purchases by the Business are made, and related inventory are carried, at approximate market price. The Business also sells to other segments of the Parent. These sales to other Potlatch segments for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 were less than $0.1 million for both periods and were also at approximate market price. The purchases and sales flow through the costs and revenues of the Business and are reflected in payments and transfers (to)/from Parent in Parent’s equity.

 

F-6


Table of Contents

THE BUSINESS

(Pulp and Paperboard Segment, Consumer Products Segment, and the

Lewiston, Idaho, Lumber Manufacturing Facilities of Potlatch Corporation)

Notes to Combined Financial Statements—(Continued)

Unaudited

 

  (b) Corporate and Wood Products Overhead

The estimated corporate administration and wood products administration and selling expense included in the Business’ combined statements of operations are as follows:

 

     Nine months ended September 30,
           2008                2007      
     (Dollars in thousands)

Corporate administration

   $ 6,725    $ 6,033

Wood Products administration

     795      660

Wood Products selling

     512      576
             

Total allocated overhead

   $ 8,032    $ 7,269
             

 

  (c) Interest Expense

Interest expense on the note payable to Parent was $9.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007.

 

F-7


Table of Contents

THE BUSINESS

(Pulp and Paperboard Segment, Consumer Products Segment, and the

Lewiston, Idaho, Lumber Manufacturing Facilities of Potlatch Corporation)

Notes to Combined Financial Statements—(Continued)

(Dollars in thousands)

Unaudited

 

(7) Segment Information

 

     Nine months ended September 30,  
           2008                 2007        
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Segment net sales:

  

Pulp and Paperboard:

    

Paperboard

   $ 483,725     $ 423,292  

Pulp

     72,742       70,479  

Other

     604       821  
                
     557,071       494,592  

Consumer Products

     370,476       328,614  

Lewiston Lumber:

    

Lumber

     65,386       89,065  

Other

     8,360       5,553  
                
     73,746       94,618  
                
     1,001,293       917,824  

Elimination of intersegment net sales

     (57,324 )     (48,837 )
                

Net sales

   $ 943,969       868,987  
                

Intersegment net sales or transfers:

    

Pulp and Paperboard

   $ 48,901     $ 43,214  

Consumer Products

     63       70  

Lewiston Lumber

     8,360       5,553  
                

Total intersegment net sales or transfers

   $ 57,324     $ 48,837  
                

Operating income (loss):

    

Pulp and Paperboard

   $ 17,779     $ 28,535  

Consumer Products

     21,224       14,006  

Lewiston Lumber

     (8,688 )     3,518  
                
     30,315       46,059  

Corporate and eliminations

     (5,508 )     (5,903 )
                

Earnings before interest and income taxes

   $ 24,807     $ 40,156  
                

 

F-8


Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors

Potlatch Corporation:

We have audited the accompanying combined balance sheets of the Business (Pulp and Paperboard Segment, Consumer Products Segment, and the Lewiston, Idaho, Lumber Manufacturing Facilities of Potlatch Corporation) as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related combined statements of operations, cash flows and Parent’s equity for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2007. These combined financial statements are the responsibility of the Business’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these combined financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the combined financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Business (Pulp and Paperboard Segment, Consumer Products Segment, and the Lewiston, Idaho, Lumber Manufacturing Facilities of Potlatch Corporation) as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2007, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Effective December 31, 2006, the Business adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans—an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R) , as discussed in note 7 in the accompanying combined financial statements. Also, effective January 1, 2006, the Business adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment, as discussed in note 6 in the accompanying combined financial statements.

As discussed in the accompanying Summary of Principal Accounting Policies, the combined financial statements referred to above have been adjusted to retrospectively apply the impacts resulting from a change in planned capital structure.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Seattle, Washington

November 6, 2008

 

F-9


Table of Contents

THE BUSINESS

(Pulp and Paperboard Segment, Consumer Products Segment, and the

Lewiston, Idaho, Lumber Manufacturing Facilities of Potlatch Corporation)

Combined Balance Sheets

December 31, 2007 and 2006

(Dollars in thousands)

 

     2007     2006  

Assets

    

Current assets:

    

Cash

   $ 9     170  

Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $760 and $1,060

     95,193     113,973  

Inventories

     140,526     135,302  

Prepaid expenses

     1,400     1,817  

Deferred taxes

     8,646     8,156  
              

Total current assets

     245,774     259,418  

Land

     4,729     4,379  

Plant and equipment, at cost, net of accumulated depreciation of $1,158,156 and $1,116,857

     408,441     437,384  

Pension assets

     37,064     40,151  

Other assets

     86     86  
              
   $ 696,094     741,418  
              

Liabilities and Parent’s Equity

    

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

   $ 109,276     84,095  

Other postretirement employee benefits

     7,792     8,170  
              

Total current liabilities

     117,068     92,265  

Note payable to Parent

     100,000     100,000  

Other postretirement employee benefits

     129,293     130,850  

Other long-term obligations

     2,093     1,043  

Deferred taxes

     74,820     83,333  

Parent’s equity:

    

Parent’s equity

     321,648     381,381  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (48,828 )   (47,454 )
              

Total Parent’s equity

     272,820     333,927  
              
   $ 696,094     741,418  
              

See accompanying notes to combined financial statements.

 

F-10


Table of Contents

THE BUSINESS

(Pulp and Paperboard Segment, Consumer Products Segment, and the

Lewiston, Idaho, Lumber Manufacturing Facilities of Potlatch Corporation)

Combined Statements of Operations

Years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

(Dollars in thousands)

 

     2007     2006    2005  

Net sales

   $ 1,173,326     1,106,681    983,034  
                   

Costs and expenses:

       

Depreciation

     51,325     54,290    54,854  

Materials, labor and other operating expenses

     1,033,099     977,901    894,852  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     36,127     36,280    35,156  
                   
     1,120,551     1,068,471    984,862  
                   

Income from Canadian lumber settlement

     —       8,476    —    
                   

Earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes

     52,775     46,686    (1,828 )

Interest expense

     13,000     13,000    12,590  
                   

Earnings (loss) before income taxes

     39,775     33,686    (14,418 )

Income tax provision (benefit)

     14,209     12,561    (5,965 )
                   

Net earnings (loss)

     25,566     21,125    (8,453 )
                   

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:

       

Pension and other postretirement employee benefits, net of tax of $(877)

     (1,374 )   —      —    
                   

Comprehensive income (loss)

   $ 24,192     21,125    (8,453 )
                   

 

 

See accompanying notes to combined financial statements.

 

F-11


Table of Contents

THE BUSINESS

(Pulp and Paperboard Segment, Consumer Products Segment, and the

Lewiston, Idaho, Lumber Manufacturing Facilities of Potlatch Corporation)

Combined Statements of Cash Flows

Years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

(Dollars in thousands)

 

     2007     2006     2005  

Cash flows from operations:

      

Net earnings (loss)

   $ 25,566     21,125     (8,453 )

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net operating cash flows:

      

Depreciation

     51,325     54,290     54,854  

Deferred taxes

     (8,125 )   8,342     (5,623 )

Equity-based compensation expense

     3,299     1,350     964  

Employee benefit plans

     (1,100 )   (3,195 )   1,483  

Loss on disposal of plant and equipment

     65     368     179  

Decrease (increase) in receivables

     18,780     (21,238 )   15,712  

Decrease (increase) in inventories

     (6,591 )   32,086     (23,807 )

Decrease (increase) in prepaid expenses

     417     (684 )   229  

Increase in taxes payable

     18,114     4,561     103  

Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities

     6,918     (834 )   2,640  
                    

Net cash provided by operations

     108,668     96,171     38,281  
                    

Cash flows from investing:

      

Additions to plant and equipment

     (20,531 )   (27,505 )   (43,412 )

Disposition of plant and equipment

     32     58     56  
                    

Net cash used for investing

     (20,499 )   (27,447 )   (43,356 )
                    

Cash flows from financing:

      

Net payments (to)/from Parent

     (88,662 )   (68,981 )   4,640  

Other, net

     332     294     479  
                    

Net cash (used for) provided by financing

     (88,330 )   (68,687 )   5,119  
                    

Change in cash

     (161 )   37     44  

Balance at beginning of year

     170     133     89  
                    

Balance at end of year

   $ 9     170     133  
                    

 

See accompanying notes to combined financial statements.

 

F-12


Table of Contents

THE BUSINESS

(Pulp and Paperboard Segment, Consumer Products Segment, and the

Lewiston, Idaho, Lumber Manufacturing Facilities of Potlatch Corporation)

Combined Statements of Parent’s Equity

Years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

(Dollars in thousands)

 

     Parent’s
equity
    Accumulated
other
comprehensive
loss
    Total
Parent’s
equity
 

Balance, December 31, 2004

   $ 432,111     —       432,111  

Net loss

     (8,453 )   —       (8,453 )

Net payments from Parent

     4,640     —       4,640  

Net noncash transfers from Parent

     1,053     —       1,053  
                    

Balance, December 31, 2005

     429,351     —       429,351  

Net earnings

     21,125     —       21,125  

Adjustment to initially adopt FASB Statement No. 158, net of tax of $(30,339)

     —       (47,454 )   (47,454 )

Net payments to Parent

     (68,981 )   —       (68,981 )

Net noncash transfers to Parent

     (114 )   —       (114 )
                    

Balance, December 31, 2006

     381,381     (47,454 )   333,927  

Net earnings

     25,566     —       25,566  

Pension and other postretirement employee benefit plans, net of tax of $(877)

     —       (1,374 )   (1,374 )

Net payments to Parent

     (88,662 )   —       (88,662 )

Net noncash transfers from Parent

     3,363     —       3,363  
                    

Balance, December 31, 2007

   $ 321,648     (48,828 )   272,820  
                    

 

See accompanying notes to combined financial statements.

 

F-13


Table of Contents

THE BUSINESS

(Pulp and Paperboard Segment, Consumer Products Segment and the

Lewiston, Idaho, Lumber Manufacturing Facilities of Potlatch Corporation)

Summary of Principal Accounting Policies

As of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for the

years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

Background and Nature of Operations

The accompanying combined financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for the purpose of presenting the financial position of the Pulp and Paperboard Segment, the Consumer Products Segment and the Lewiston, Idaho, lumber manufacturing facilities (the Business) of Potlatch Corporation (Potlatch or Parent) and the results of operations, cash flows and changes in Parent’s equity of the Business. The Business consists of pulp and paperboard mills, tissue mills and converting facilities, and a lumber manufacturing complex.

The Business segments are:

 

   

Pulp and Paperboard, which produces and markets bleached paperboard and bleached pulp at two mills in Lewiston, Idaho and Cypress Bend, Arkansas. Paperboard is sold to packaging converters domestically through sales offices located throughout the United States and internationally through sales representative offices. The majority of the segment’s market pulp is sold through agents.

 

   

Consumer Products, which produces and markets household tissue products. The segment has tissue mills and converting facilities in Lewiston, Idaho and Las Vegas, Nevada, as well as a tissue converting facility in Elwood, Illinois. Tissue products are sold to major retail outlets, primarily through brokers.

 

   

Lewiston Lumber, which produces lumber and specialty lumber products in Lewiston, Idaho. The lumber products are sold through the Parent’s sales offices to wholesalers.

As of December 31, 2007, the Business had approximately 2,500 employees. The workforce consisted of approximately 400 salaried, 2,000 hourly and 100 temporary or part-time employees. As of December 31, 2007, approximately 66% of the workforce was covered under collective bargaining agreements.

Hourly union labor contracts expiring in 2008 are set forth below:

 

Contract
expiration
date

  

Location

  

Union

   Approximate
number of
hourly
employees

May 31

   Wood Products Division
Lewiston, Idaho
   International Association of
Machinists
   300
   Pulp and Paperboard Division
Number 4 Power Boiler
Lewiston, Idaho
   International Association of
Machinists
   45

Basis of Presentation of Financial Statements

These combined financial statements include the financial condition and results of operations of the Business’ Pulp and Paperboard segment, Consumer Products segment and one lumber manufacturing facility. All significant transactions and balances between operations within the Business have been eliminated. Financial statements historically have not been prepared for the Business. The accompanying combined financial statements have been derived from the historical accounting records of Potlatch. The historical operating results and cash flows of the Business may not be indicative of what they would have been had the Business been a stand-alone entity, nor are they necessarily indicative of what the Business operating results and cash flows may be in the future.

 

F-14


Table of Contents

THE BUSINESS

(Pulp and Paperboard Segment, Consumer Products Segment and the

Lewiston, Idaho, Lumber Manufacturing Facilities of Potlatch Corporation)

Summary of Principal Accounting Policies—(Continued)

As of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for the

years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

 

The combined statements of operations for the Business include allocations of certain costs from the Parent directly related to the operations of the Business including: medical costs for hourly and salaried active and retired employees, hourly employees’ pension, worker’s compensation, general liability and property insurance, salaried payroll costs (payroll taxes, pension, and other payroll-related costs), equity-based compensation, management performance award plan, and a pro-rata share of direct corporate administration expense for accounting, information systems, accounts payable and accounts receivable. The direct costs are charged to the Business based on the weighted average of the underlying employee base performing the function and payroll or invoices processed, depending on the nature of the cost. In addition to the direct costs associated with the Business, indirect corporate overhead costs were allocated to the Business based on an apportionment factor using relative revenues and assets. Selling and administration costs for the Parent Wood Products segment were allocated to the Business based on the relative revenues of the Lewiston lumber segment in relation to the entire Parent Wood Products segment. Management believes the methodologies applied for the allocation of costs were reasonable in relation to the historical reporting of Potlatch, but may not be indicative of costs had the Business been a stand-alone entity, nor what they may be in the future. Except for interest expense associated with the Business’ note payable to Parent (in connection with the retained obligation further described in note 10), no interest expense or interest income is allocated from the Parent to the Business.

Certain assets and liabilities of the Business are common assets and liabilities shared with the Parent. The primary shared assets allocated to the Business were the pension assets. Other assets specifically identified and assigned to the Business include the Jaype log yard, the main office building complex and related assets in Lewiston, Idaho, and certain information technology equipment. The majority of shared liabilities that relate to the Business include active employee medical insurance, general liability and property insurance, other postretirement employee benefits (OPEB) liability for hourly and salaried employees, other employee compensation benefits, salaried employee vacation accruals and payroll tax accruals. The pension assets and liabilities, as well as the OPEB liability were estimated using the same actuarial liability assumptions as those used in the consolidated Parent financial statements for the applicable periods for the active and retired hourly and salaried employees of the Business. The other shared assets and liabilities were allocated to the Business either by specific identification or by relative allocation factors, such as employee headcounts or payroll costs, among others.

Except for a note payable to Parent (in connection with the retained obligation further described in note 10) and related interest expense, no long-term debt or current debt and related interest costs have been allocated to the Business by the Parent. Significant changes could have occurred in the funding and operations of the Business if it operated as an independent stand-alone entity, including a possible change in capital structure including other debt, which could have had a significant impact on its financial position and results of operations.

Change in Reporting Entity

Previously issued versions of the combined financial statements of the Business did not reflect any debt obligations to the Parent. This was because the debt obligations to the Parent were previously not to be retained by or carried forward in the combined financial statements of the Business subsequent to the spin-off, as the Business was to be capitalized through a third-party debt offering concurrent with the spin-off. Due to the difficult credit markets in the United States, such third-party financing was not readily available. Thus the planned capital structure of the Business was modified to reflect retention of a debt obligation that has resulted in recognition of the note payable to Parent in the accompanying combined financial statements (as discussed

 

F-15


Table of Contents

THE BUSINESS

(Pulp and Paperboard Segment, Consumer Products Segment and the

Lewiston, Idaho, Lumber Manufacturing Facilities of Potlatch Corporation)

Summary of Principal Accounting Policies—(Continued)

As of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for the

years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

 

further in note 10), as well as the related interest expense and tax effects. This change in the planned capital structure of the Business is considered a change in reporting entity.

The effects of the change on net earnings (loss) as compared to previously issued combined financial statements of the Business are as follows:

 

     (Dollars in thousands)  
       2007     2006     2005  

Net earnings (loss) before change in planned capital structure:

   $ 33,769     $ 29,560     $ ( 278 )

Recognition of interest expense

     (13,000 )     (13,000 )     (12,590)  

Related tax effects

     4,797       4,565       4,415  
                        

Net earnings (loss):

   $ 25,566     $ 21,125     $ (8,453 )
                        

Parent’s Equity

Investments by and advances from Potlatch represent Potlatch’s interest in the recorded net assets of the Business. Potlatch uses a centralized approach to cash management and the financing of operations. As a result, none of Potlatch’s cash or cash equivalents have been allocated to the Business in the financial statements, except for one local bank account. Except for amounts shown as a note payable to Parent (in connection with the retained obligation further described in note 10), all transactions between the Business and the Parent, including those involving shared assets and liabilities, flow through the Parent’s equity account. Balances related to purchases and sales between the Parent and the Business are also reflected in Parent’s equity, with the net changes in this account reflected as financing activities in the accompanying combined statements of cash flows.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant areas requiring the use of estimates and measurement of uncertainty include the allocation of assets, liabilities and costs described above, determination of net realizable value for receivables and inventory, depreciation rates for property, plant and equipment, assessment of impairment, environmental matters, income taxes and asset retirement obligations. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of current average cost or market, except that the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method is used to determine cost of logs, lumber, chips and sawdust. The average cost method is used to determine cost of all other inventories.

Properties

Land, plant and equipment are stated at cost, including any interest costs capitalized by the Parent, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation of buildings, equipment and other depreciable assets is determined using the straight-line method. Estimated useful lives range from 30 to 40 years for buildings and structures and 2 to 25 years for equipment.

 

F-16


Table of Contents

THE BUSINESS

(Pulp and Paperboard Segment, Consumer Products Segment and the

Lewiston, Idaho, Lumber Manufacturing Facilities of Potlatch Corporation)

Summary of Principal Accounting Policies—(Continued)

As of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for the

years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

 

Major improvements and replacements of property, plant and equipment are capitalized. Maintenance, repairs, and minor improvements and replacements are expensed. Upon retirement or other disposition, applicable cost and accumulated depreciation or amortization are removed from the accounts. Any gains or losses are included in earnings.

Long-Lived Assets

Long-lived assets are accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets. The statement requires that long-lived assets be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell.

Revenue Recognition

The Business recognizes revenue when there is persuasive evidence of a sales agreement, the price to the customer is fixed and determinable, collection is reasonably assured, and title and the risk of loss passes to the customer. Shipping terms generally indicate when title and the risk of loss have passed. Revenue is recognized at shipment for sales when shipping terms are FOB (free on board) shipping point. For sales where shipping terms are FOB destination, revenue is recognized when the goods are received by the customer. Revenue from both domestic and foreign sales of pulp and paperboard and consumer tissue products can have shipping terms of either FOB shipping point or FOB destination, depending upon the sales agreement with the customer. Sales of lumber and related by-products, all of which are domestic, can have shipping terms of either FOB shipping point or FOB destination, depending upon the sales agreement with the customer.

The Business provides for trade promotions, customer cash discounts, customer returns and other deductions as reductions to revenues in the same period as the related revenues are recognized. Provisions for these items are determined based on historical experience or specific customer arrangements. The following table summarizes the total amount of trade promotions, customer cash discounts, customer returns and other deductions as a percentage of gross billings by business segment for each of the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005. The majority of the Consumer Products segment’s deductions are related to trade promotions.

 

       2007     2006     2005  

Pulp and Paperboard

   4 %   5 %   5 %

Consumer Products

   26 %   26 %   26 %

Lewiston Lumber

   1 %   1 %   1 %

Revenue is recognized net of any sales taxes collected. Sales taxes, when collected, are recorded as a current liability and remitted to the appropriate governmental entities.

Shipping and Handling Costs

Costs for shipping and handling of manufactured goods are included in materials, labor and other operating expenses in the Business’ combined statements of operations.

Income Taxes

The Business is part of Potlatch and, for the purposes of U.S. federal and state income taxes, is not directly subject to income taxes but is included in the income tax returns of Potlatch Forest Products Corporation, a

 

F-17


Table of Contents

THE BUSINESS

(Pulp and Paperboard Segment, Consumer Products Segment and the

Lewiston, Idaho, Lumber Manufacturing Facilities of Potlatch Corporation)

Summary of Principal Accounting Policies—(Continued)

As of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for the

years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

 

C-corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Potlatch. The Business’ provision for income taxes is determined on a separate return basis and based on earnings or loss reported in the combined statements of operations. Deferred income taxes are recorded under the asset and liability method for the temporary differences between reported earnings and taxable income using current tax laws and rates.

Environment

As part of its corporate policy, Potlatch has an ongoing process to monitor, report on and comply with environmental requirements. Based on this process, accruals for environmental liabilities that are not within the scope of SFAS No. 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations, and FASB Interpretation, or FIN, No. 47, Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations, are established in accordance with SFAS No. 5, Accounting for Contingencies. The Business estimates its environmental liabilities based on various assumptions and judgments, the specific nature of which varies in light of the particular facts and circumstances surrounding each environmental liability. These estimates typically reflect assumptions and judgments as to the probable nature, magnitude and timing of required investigation, remediation and monitoring activities and the probable cost of these activities, and in some cases reflect assumptions and judgments as to the obligation or willingness and ability of third parties to bear a proportionate or allocated share of the cost of these activities. Due to the numerous uncertainties and variables associated with these assumptions and judgments, and the effects of changes in governmental regulation and environmental technologies, both the precision and reliability of the resulting estimates of the related liabilities are subject to substantial uncertainties. The Business regularly monitors its estimated exposure to environmental liabilities and, as additional information becomes known, its estimates may change significantly. The Business’ estimates of its environmental liabilities do not reflect potential future recoveries from insurance carriers except to the extent that recovery may from time to time be deemed probable as a result of a carrier’s agreement to payment terms. In those instances in which the Business’ estimated exposure reflects actual or anticipated cost-sharing arrangements with third parties, management does not believe that the Business will be exposed to additional material liability as a result of nonperformance by such third parties. Currently, the Business is not aware of any material environmental liabilities and has accrued for only specific environmental remediation costs that it has determined are probable and reasonably estimable.

Canadian Lumber Settlement

In 2002, the United States imposed duties on imported lumber from Canada in response to a dispute over the stumpage pricing policies of some provincial governments. In October 2006, the United States and Canada reached a final negotiated agreement to end the trade dispute, at which time the United States ceased collecting duties on Canadian softwood lumber imports, and Canada initiated the imposition of taxes or quotas on Canadian softwood exports in accordance with the terms of the settlement agreement. The agreement also required the United States to return to Canada approximately U.S. $5 billion of duties the United States had collected on Canadian softwood lumber imports. Canada, in turn, was required to pay approximately U.S. $1 billion to the United States, of which approximately U.S. $500 million was distributed to members of the Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports, of which Potlatch was a member. In the fourth quarter of 2006, Potlatch received a total of $39.3 million, which represented its pro rata share of the total $500 million returned to the coalition. Of the $39.3 million, approximately $8.5 million was allocated to, and is reflected in the 2006 operating income of, the Business’ Lewiston Lumber segment.

 

F-18


Table of Contents

THE BUSINESS

(Pulp and Paperboard Segment, Consumer Products Segment and the

Lewiston, Idaho, Lumber Manufacturing Facilities of Potlatch Corporation)

Summary of Principal Accounting Policies—(Continued)

As of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for the

years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements. This Statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in GAAP, and expands disclosures about fair value. SFAS No. 157 (as amended by FSP FAS No. 157-2) is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years, for financial assets and liabilities, and nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). In November 2007, the effective date was partially deferred by the FASB for one year for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair market value in the financial statements on a nonrecurring basis. With the exception of the deferred portion of SFAS No. 157, the Parent adopted this Statement effective January 1, 2008, which did not have a material effect on the financial condition and results of operations of the Business. The Parent is currently reviewing the deferred portion of this Statement to determine what effect, if any, it will have on the Business’ financial condition and results of operations.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements—an amendment of ARB No. 51. This Statement requires all companies to report noncontrolling or minority interests in subsidiaries as equity in the consolidated financial statements. The intention of SFAS No. 160 is to eliminate the diversity in practice regarding the accounting for transactions between a company and noncontrolling interests. SFAS No. 160 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The Parent is currently reviewing this Statement to determine what effect, if any, it will have on the Business’ financial condition and results of operations.

In December 2007, the FASB also issued SFAS No. 141 (Revised 2007), Business Combinations. This revised Statement, referred to as SFAS No. 141R, is intended to simplify existing guidance and converge rulemaking under U.S. GAAP with international accounting rules. SFAS No. 141R will significantly change the accounting for business combinations in a number of areas, including the treatment of contingent consideration, contingencies, acquisition costs and restructuring costs. Also under this Statement, changes in deferred tax asset valuation allowances and acquired income tax uncertainties in a business combination after the measurement period will have an impact on income tax expense. SFAS No. 141R is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. Adoption of this Statement is not expected to have a material effect on the financial condition and results of operations of the Business.

In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities—an amendment of SFAS No. 133. This Statement amends and expands the disclosure requirements by requiring qualitative disclosures about objectives and strategies for using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about fair value amounts of, and gains and losses on, derivative instruments, and disclosures about credit risk-related contingent features in derivative agreements. SFAS No. 161 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008. The Parent is currently reviewing this Statement to determine what effect, if any, it will have on the Business’ financial condition and results of operations.

In May 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 162, The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles . This Statement identifies the sources of accounting principles and the framework for selecting the principles to be used in the preparation of financial statements of nongovernmental entities that are presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. This Statement is effective November 15, 2008. This Statement is not expected to result in a change in the Business’ accounting practices.

 

F-19


Table of Contents

THE BUSINESS

(Pulp and Paperboard Segment, Consumer Products Segment and the

Lewiston, Idaho, Lumber Manufacturing Facilities of Potlatch Corporation)

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

As of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for the

years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

 

(1) Inventories

 

     2007    2006
     (Dollars in thousands)

Logs, pulpwood, chips and sawdust

   $ 11,999    8,409

Lumber

     7,857    9,749

Pulp, paperboard, and tissue products

     81,589    79,407

Materials and supplies

     39,081    37,737
           
   $ 140,526    135,302
           

Valued at lower of cost or market:

     

LIFO basis

   $ 19,331    17,676

Average cost basis

     121,195    117,626
           
   $ 140,526    135,302
           

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. The last-in, last-out (LIFO) method is used to determine the cost of logs, lumber, chips and sawdust. The average cost method is used to determine the cost of all other inventories. For purposes of these combined financial statements, the portion of the LIFO reserve related to the Business has been allocated to the Business based on the relative volumes of each respective category of inventory as included herein. If the LIFO inventory had been priced at lower of current average cost or market, the values would have been approximately $10.8 million higher at December 31, 2007, and $8.8 million higher at December 31, 2006. Reductions in quantities of LIFO inventories valued at lower costs prevailing in prior years had the effect of increasing earnings, net of income taxes, by $0.1 million, $0.2 million, and $0 in 2007, 2006, and 2005, respectively.

 

(2) Plant and Equipment

 

     2007    2006
     (Dollars in thousands)

Land improvements

   $ 45,461    45,095

Buildings and structures

     179,257    176,305

Machinery and equipment

     1,328,289    1,320,110

Construction in progress

     13,590    12,731
           
   $ 1,566,597    1,554,241
           

 

(3) Income Taxes

The income tax provision (benefit) is comprised of the following:

 

     2007     2006    2005  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Current

   $ 22,334     4,219    (342 )

Deferred

     (8,125 )   8,342    (5,623 )
                   

Income tax provision (benefit)

   $ 14,209     12,561    (5,965 )
                   

Included within deferred taxes is the application of net operating loss carryforwards of $0, $13,711, and $1,397 for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively, generated in years prior to 2005.

 

F-20


Table of Contents

THE BUSINESS

(Pulp and Paperboard Segment, Consumer Products Segment and the

Lewiston, Idaho, Lumber Manufacturing Facilities of Potlatch Corporation)

Notes to Combined Financial Statements—(Continued)

As of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for the

years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

 

The income tax provision (benefit) differs from the amount computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate of 35% to earnings before taxes due to the following:

 

     2007     2006     2005  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Computed expected tax provision (benefit)

     13,921     11,790     (5,046 )

State and local taxes, net of federal income tax impact

     1,451     1,107     (578 )

Federal manufacturing deduction

     (1,272 )   (130 )   —    

Extraterritorial income exclusion

     —       (285 )   (424 )

Other

     109     79     83  
                    

Income tax provision (benefit)

   $ 14,209     12,561     (5,965 )
                    

The tax effects of significant temporary differences creating deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31 were:

 

     2007     2006  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Deferred tax assets:

    

Employee benefits

   $ 4,839     4,463  

Postretirement employee benefits

     53,463     54,218  

Inventories

     242     —    

Other

     1,343     914  
              

Total deferred tax assets

     59,887     59,595  
              

Deferred tax liabilities:

    

Plant and equipment

     (111,606 )   (119,113 )

Pensions

     (14,455 )   (15,659 )
              

Total deferred tax liabilities

     (126,061 )   (134,772 )
              

Net deferred tax liabilities

   $ (66,174 )   (75,177 )
              

Net deferred tax liabilities consist of:

    
     2007     2006  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Current deferred tax assets

   $ 8,646     8,156  
              

Noncurrent deferred tax assets

     51,241     51,439  

Noncurrent deferred tax liabilities

     (126,061 )   (134,772 )
              

Net noncurrent deferred tax liabilities

     (74,820 )   (83,333 )
              

Net deferred tax liabilities

   $ (66,174 )   (75,177 )
              

Potlatch adopted the provisions of FIN No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, effective January 1, 2007. Adoption did not result in recognition of a liability for unrecognized tax benefits on that date. A

 

F-21


Table of Contents

THE BUSINESS

(Pulp and Paperboard Segment, Consumer Products Segment and the

Lewiston, Idaho, Lumber Manufacturing Facilities of Potlatch Corporation)

Notes to Combined Financial Statements—(Continued)

As of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for the

years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

 

review of the Business’ tax positions at December 31, 2007, indicates that no uncertain tax positions had been taken during 2007 and no new information is available which would require derecognition of previously taken positions. Accrued interest related to tax obligations, as well as penalties, is reflected in the income tax provision.

 

(4) Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities

 

     2007    2006
     (Dollars in thousands)

Trade accounts payable

   $ 36,711    33,079

Accrued wages and employee benefits

     28,397    27,501

Accrued income taxes

     22,334    4,219

Accrued discounts and allowances

     7,027    6,336

Accrued utilities

     4,916    4,062

Accrued freight

     3,877    3,151

Accrued taxes, other than income taxes

     3,796    3,850

Accrued commissions

     976    980

Other

     1,242    917
           
   $ 109,276    84,095
           

 

(5) Financial Instruments and Concentration of Credit Risk

The Business’ note payable to Parent, (in connection with the retained obligation further described in note 10), for which there is a $100 million carrying amount at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, had a fair value of $113.1 million and $116.0 million as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

For each of the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, the Business had no single customer that accounted for 10% or more of combined revenues.

To partially mitigate its exposure to market risk for changes in utility commodity pricing, the Business occasionally uses firm-price contracts to supply a portion of the natural gas requirements for its manufacturing facilities.

 

(6) Equity-Based Compensation

Potlatch’s stock incentive programs include stock option, performance share and restricted stock unit plans. Some employees of the Business participate in the stock option and performance share plans, under which stock options and performance share awards are outstanding. In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment (SFAS No. 123R). Potlatch adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 123R on its effective date of January 1, 2006, using the modified prospective method. Prior to 2006, the Business applied the intrinsic value method under Accounting Principles Board No. 25 and related Interpretations for its equity-based compensation. As a result, no compensation cost was recognized for stock options granted under the plans because the exercise price was equal to market value at the grant date. For performance share awards, which were first granted in December 2003, compensation expense was recorded ratably over the performance period

 

F-22


Table of Contents

THE BUSINESS

(Pulp and Paperboard Segment, Consumer Products Segment and the

Lewiston, Idaho, Lumber Manufacturing Facilities of Potlatch Corporation)

Notes to Combined Financial Statements—(Continued)

As of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for the

years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

 

based upon the market value of Potlatch stock and likelihood that performance measurements would be met. The Business recorded equity-based compensation expense of $3.3 million in 2007, $1.4 million in 2006 and $1.0 million in 2005, with the offset in Parent’s equity. Compensation expense in 2005 would not have been materially different had amounts been determined following the fair value method prescribed under SFAS No. 123R.

 

(7) Savings, Pension and Other Postretirement Employee Benefit Plans

Substantially all of the Business’ employees are eligible to participate in 401(k) savings plans and are covered by noncontributory defined benefit pension plans. These include both company-sponsored and multi-employer plans. The Parent also provides benefits under company-sponsored defined benefit retiree health care and life insurance plans, which cover certain salaried and hourly employees. Most of the retiree health care plans require retiree contributions and contain other cost-sharing features. The retiree life insurance plans are primarily noncontributory.

Hourly employees at two of the manufacturing facilities participate in multi-employer defined benefit pension plans: the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union Pension Fund; and the International Association of Machinist & Aerospace Workers National Pension Fund, to which the Parent makes contributions. The Parent also makes contributions to a trust fund established to provide retiree medical benefits for a portion of these employees, which is managed by the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union Pension Fund. The Parent made contributions, which are included in the expense of the Business, to these plans in 2007, 2006 and 2005 in the amount of $8.2 million, $7.8 million and $9.0 million, respectively.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans—an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132(R), which requires a company that is a business entity and sponsors one or more single-employer defined benefit plans to:

 

   

Recognize the funded status of a benefit plan—measured as the difference between plan assets at fair value (with limited exceptions) and the benefit obligation—in its statement of financial position. For a pension plan, the benefit obligation is the projected benefit obligation; for any other postretirement employee benefit plan, such as a retiree health care plan, the benefit obligation is the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation.

 

   

Recognize as a component of other comprehensive income, net of tax, the gains or losses and prior service costs or credits that arise during the period but are not recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost pursuant to SFAS No. 87, Employers’ Accounting for Pensions , or SFAS No. 106, Employers’ Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions . Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), including the gains or losses, prior service costs or credits, and the transition asset or obligation remaining from the initial application of Statements No. 87 and No. 106 are adjusted as they are subsequently recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost pursuant to recognition and amortization provisions of those Statements.

 

   

Measure defined benefit plan assets and obligations as of the date of the employer’s fiscal year-end statement of financial position (with limited exceptions).

 

   

Disclose in the notes to financial statements additional information about certain effects of net periodic benefit cost for the next fiscal year that arise from delayed recognition of the gains or losses, prior service costs or credits, and transition asset or obligation.

 

F-23


Table of Contents

THE BUSINESS

(Pulp and Paperboard Segment, Consumer Products Segment and the

Lewiston, Idaho, Lumber Manufacturing Facilities of Potlatch Corporation)

Notes to Combined Financial Statements—(Continued)

As of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for the

years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

 

As required by SFAS No. 158, the Business recognized on its balance sheets at December 31, 2007 and 2006, the funded status of the defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefits plans. For the pension and OPEB plans for certain salaried and hourly retired and active employees of the Business, the benefit obligation related to those current or former employees is shown in the Business’ combined balance sheet. The Business determined the pension and OPEB obligation and the pro-rata share of expense of the Parent’s amounts using the same actuarial assumptions as used in the determination of the Parent’s benefit obligation at December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the net periodic benefit cost for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007.

The change in benefit obligation, change in plan assets and funded status for company-sponsored benefit plans that have been allocated to the Business based on the Parent’s consolidated plans are presented below as of December 31 (the measurement date):

Pension Benefit Plans

 

     2007     2006  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Weighted average assumptions used to determine the benefit obligation as of December 31:

    

Discount rate

     6.40 %   5.85 %

Expected return on plan assets

     9.00     9.50  

Rate of salaried compensation increase

     4.00     4.00  

Benefit obligation at beginning of year

   $ 226,092     229,220  

Plan amendments

     —       228  

Service cost

     6,569     6,558  

Interest cost

     13,133     12,775  

Benefits paid

     (13,193 )   (13,130 )

Actuarial loss (gain)

     102     (9,559 )
              

Benefit obligation at end of year

     232,703     226,092  
              

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

     266,243     231,739  

Actual return on plan assets

     16,717     41,691  

Employer contributions

     —       5,943  

Benefits paid

     (13,193 )   (13,130 )
              

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

     269,767     266,243  
              

Funded status at end of year

   $ 37,064     40,151  
              

Amounts recognized in the combined balance sheets:

    

Noncurrent assets

   $ 37,064     40,151  
              

Net amount recognized

   $ 37,064     40,151  
              

Amounts recognized (pre-tax) in accumulated other comprehensive loss consist of:

    

Net loss

   $ 49,241     43,226  

Prior service cost

     7,757     9,044  
              

Net amount recognized

   $ 56,998     52,270  
              

 

F-24


Table of Contents

THE BUSINESS

(Pulp and Paperboard Segment, Consumer Products Segment and the

Lewiston, Idaho, Lumber Manufacturing Facilities of Potlatch Corporation)

Notes to Combined Financial Statements—(Continued)

As of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for the

years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

 

Other Postretirement Employee Benefit Plans

 

     2007     2006  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Weighted average assumptions used to determine the benefit obligation as of December 31:

    

Discount rate

     6.40 %   5.85 %

Medical trend rate

     9.00     10.00  

Benefit obligation at beginning of year

   $ 139,020     160,582  

Plan amendments

     (3,307 )   —    

Service cost

     1,115     1,405  

Interest cost

     7,889     8,261  

Benefits paid

     (8,747 )   (7,099 )

Medicare Part D subsidies received

     577     494  

Actuarial loss (gain)

     538     (24,623 )
              

Benefit obligation at end of year

     137,085     139,020  
              

Funded status at end of year

   $ (137,085 )   (139,020 )
              

Amounts recognized in the combined balance sheets:

    

Current liabilities

   $ (7,792 )   (8,170 )

Noncurrent liabilities

     (129,293 )   (130,850 )
              

Net amount recognized

   $ (137,085 )   (139,020 )
              

Amounts recognized (pre-tax) in accumulated other comprehensive loss consist of:

    

Net loss

   $ 35,442     37,021  

Prior service credit

     (12,395 )   (11,498 )
              

Net amount recognized

   $ 23,047     25,523  
              

Effect of a 1% increase in health care cost trend on:

    

Service cost plus interest cost

   $ 1,005     1,038  

Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation

     13,111     14,383  

Effect of a 1% decrease in health care cost trend on:

    

Service cost plus interest cost

   $ (842 )   (931 )

Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation

     (11,203 )   (12,180 )

 

F-25


Table of Contents

THE BUSINESS

(Pulp and Paperboard Segment, Consumer Products Segment and the

Lewiston, Idaho, Lumber Manufacturing Facilities of Potlatch Corporation)

Notes to Combined Financial Statements—(Continued)

As of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for the

years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

 

Pre-tax components of Net Periodic Cost (Benefit) and other amounts recognized in Other Comprehensive Loss were as follows:

Pension Benefit Plans

 

    2007     2006     2005  
    (Dollars in thousands)  

Assumptions used for net periodic benefit for the years ended December 31:

     

Discount rate

    5.85 %   5.60 %   5.90 %

Expected return on plan assets

    9.50     9.50     9.50  

Rate of salaried compensation increase

    4.00     4.00     4.00  

Service cost

  $ 6,569     6,558     5,721  

Interest cost

    13,133     12,775     12,872  

Expected return on plan assets

    (24,571 )   (24,215 )   (24,504 )

Amortization of prior service cost

    1,287     1,230     1,235  

Amortization of actuarial loss

    1,941     2,077     389  
                   

Net periodic benefit

    (1,641 )   (1,575 )   (4,287 )
                   

Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive loss (pre-tax):

     

Net loss

    7,955     —       —    

Amortization of prior service cost

    (1,287 )   —       —    

Amortization of actuarial loss

    (1,941 )   —       —    
                   

Total recognized in other comprehensive loss

    4,727     —       —    
                   

Total recognized in net periodic benefit and other comprehensive loss

  $ 3,086     (1,575 )   (4,287 )
                   

The estimated net loss and prior service cost for the pension benefit plans that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year are $1.1 million and $1.2 million, respectively.

 

F-26


Table of Contents

THE BUSINESS

(Pulp and Paperboard Segment, Consumer Products Segment and the

Lewiston, Idaho, Lumber Manufacturing Facilities of Potlatch Corporation)

Notes to Combined Financial Statements—(Continued)

As of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for the

years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

 

Other Postretirement Employee Benefit Plans

 

     2007     2006     2005  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Assumptions used for net periodic benefit cost for the years ended December 31:

      

Discount rate

     5.85 %   5.60 %   5.90 %

Service cost

   $ 1,115     1,405     1,394  

Interest cost

     7,889     8,261     9,357  

Amortization of prior service credit

     (2,410 )   (1,960 )   (1,960 )

Amortization of actuarial loss

     2,117     3,222     4,574  
                    

Net periodic cost

     8,711     10,928     13,365  
                    

Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive loss (pre-tax):

      

Net loss

     538     —       —    

Prior service credit

     (3,307 )   —       —    

Amortization of prior service credit

     2,410     —       —    

Amortization of actuarial loss

     (2,117 )   —       —    
                    

Total recognized in other comprehensive loss

     (2,476 )   —       —    
                    

Total recognized in net periodic cost and other comprehensive loss

   $ 6,235     10,928     13,365  
                    

The estimated net loss and prior service credit for the other postretirement employee benefit plans that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year are $2.2 million and $2.8 million, respectively.

In December 2003, the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (the Act) was signed into law. The Act, which went into effect on January 1, 2006, introduced a drug benefit under Medicare Part D and a federal subsidy to sponsors of retiree health care benefit plans that provide an equivalent benefit. Pursuant to FASB Staff Position (FSP) No. 106-2, Potlatch determined in 2004 that certain benefits provided under its plans were actuarially equivalent to the Medicare Part D standard plan and were eligible for the employer subsidy. Potlatch chose the prospective application option for adoption of the FSP as of July 1, 2004. At that time, the effects of the Act on the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation (APBO) were measured and were determined to reduce the APBO of the Business by approximately $13.8 million. After receiving further guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in 2005, the Parent determined that the effects of the Act would reduce the APBO of the Business by an additional $11.5 million. The aggregate effect in 2005 of these two adjustments on service cost, interest cost and amortization of net loss was approximately $3.9 million. This reduction in costs is reflected in the table presented above. The Business received subsidy payments totaling approximately $0.7 million in both 2007 and 2006.

The discount rate used in the determination of pension benefit obligations and pension expense is a weighted average benchmark rate based on high-quality fixed income investment interest rates, as well as the amount and timing of expected benefit payments. The discount rate used to calculate OPEB obligations was determined using the same methodology used for the pension plans.

 

F-27


Table of Contents

THE BUSINESS

(Pulp and Paperboard Segment, Consumer Products Segment and the

Lewiston, Idaho, Lumber Manufacturing Facilities of Potlatch Corporation)

Notes to Combined Financial Statements—(Continued)

As of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for the

years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

 

The expected return on plan assets assumption is based upon an analysis of historical long-term returns for various investment categories, as measured by appropriate indices. These indices are weighted based upon the extent to which plan assets are invested in the particular categories in arriving at the determination of a composite expected return. Over the past 30 years, the period Potlatch has actively managed pension assets, the actual average annual return on pension plan assets has been approximately 11%.

The assumed health care cost trend rate used to calculate OPEB obligations and expense for 2007 was a 10% increase over the previous year, with the rate of increase scheduled to decline one percent annually to a long-term ultimate rate increase assumption of 6% for 2011 and thereafter. This assumption has a significant effect on the amounts reported.

The weighted average asset allocations at December 31 by asset category are as follows:

 

     Pension benefit plans  

Asset category

   2007     2006  

Domestic equity securities

   62 %   66 %

Global equity securities

   10     10  

Debt securities

   26     22  

Other

   2     2  
            

Total

   100 %   100 %
            

Potlatch utilizes formal investment policy guidelines for the company-sponsored pension plans. These guidelines are periodically reviewed by the board of directors. The board of directors has delegated its authority to management to ensure that the investment policy and guidelines are adhered to and the investment objectives are met.

The general policy states that plan assets will be invested to seek the greatest return consistent with the fiduciary character of the pension funds and to allow the plans to meet the need for timely pension benefit payments. The specific investment guidelines stipulate that management will maintain adequate liquidity for meeting expected benefit payments by reviewing, on a timely basis, contribution and benefit payment levels and appropriately revise long-term and short-term asset allocations. Management takes reasonable and prudent steps to preserve the value of pension fund assets and to avoid the risk of large losses. Major steps taken to provide this protection include:

 

   

Assets are diversified among various asset classes, such as domestic equities, global equities, fixed income, convertible securities, venture capital and liquid reserves. The long-term asset allocation ranges are as follows:

 

Domestic and global equities

   50% – 80%

Fixed income and convertible securities

   15% – 40%

Venture capital

   0% –   5%

Liquid reserves

   0% – 10%

 

   

The ranges are more heavily weighted toward equities since the liabilities of the pension plans are long-term in nature and equities historically have significantly outperformed other asset classes over long periods of time. Periodic reviews of allocations within these ranges are made to determine what adjustments should be made based on changing economic and market conditions and specific liquidity requirements.

 

F-28


Table of Contents

THE BUSINESS

(Pulp and Paperboard Segment, Consumer Products Segment and the

Lewiston, Idaho, Lumber Manufacturing Facilities of Potlatch Corporation)

Notes to Combined Financial Statements—(Continued)

As of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for the

years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

 

   

Assets are managed by professional investment managers and may be invested in separately managed accounts or commingled funds. Assets will be diversified by selecting different investment managers for each asset class and by limiting assets under each manager to no more than 25% of the total pension fund.

 

   

Assets, other than venture capital, are not invested in securities rated below BBB – by S&P or Baa3 by Moody’s.

 

   

Assets are not invested in Potlatch stock.

The investment guidelines also require that the individual investment managers are expected to achieve a reasonable rate of return over a market cycle. Emphasis will be placed on long-term performance versus short-term market aberrations. Factors to be considered in determining reasonable rates of return include performance achieved by a diverse cross section of other investment managers, performance of commonly used benchmarks (e.g., S&P 500 Index, Shearson Lehman Government/Corporate Intermediate Index, Morgan Stanley World Index, Merrill Lynch Investment Grade Convertibles Index, Russell Value Index), actuarial assumptions for return on plan investments and specific performance guidelines given to individual investment managers.

During 2007, eight active investment managers managed substantially all of the pension funds, each of whom had responsibility for managing a specific portion of these assets. Plan assets were diversified among the various asset classes within the allocation ranges approved by the board of directors.

No minimum contributions to the qualified pension plans are estimated for 2008 due to the funded status of those plans at December 31, 2007. The Business does not anticipate funding the postretirement employee benefit plans in 2008 except to pay benefit costs as incurred during the year by plan participants.

Estimated future benefit payments, which reflect expected future service and expected medicare prescription subsidy receipts, are as follows for the years indicated:

 

     Pension
benefit
plans
   OPEB    Expected
medicare
subsidy
     (Dollars in thousands)

2008

   $ 13,366    8,533    741

2009

     13,290    8,806    829

2010

     13,354    9,158    915

2011

     13,488    9,471    959

2012

     13,675    9,432    1,003

2013 – 2017

     72,719    48,806    5,670

 

(8) Commitments and Contingencies

The Business has operating leases covering office, warehouse and distribution space, equipment and vehicles expiring at various dates through 2019. As leases expire, it can be expected that, in the normal course of business, certain leases will be renewed or replaced.

 

F-29


Table of Contents

THE BUSINESS

(Pulp and Paperboard Segment, Consumer Products Segment and the

Lewiston, Idaho, Lumber Manufacturing Facilities of Potlatch Corporation)

Notes to Combined Financial Statements—(Continued)

As of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for the

years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

 

As of December 31, 2007, the future minimum lease payments required under operating leases (that have initial or remaining noncancelable lease terms in excess of one year as of December 31, 2007) are as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

2008

   $ 10,244

2009

     6,984

2010

     5,140

2011

     4,800

2012

     4,104

2013 and later years

     17,967
      

Total

   $ 49,239
      

Total lease expense was $11.3 million, $11.6 million and $11.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

During 2005, the FASB issued FIN 47, an interpretation of SFAS No. 143. Under FIN 47, the Business must recognize a liability and an asset equal to the fair value of its legal obligation to perform asset retirement activities that are conditional on a future event if the amount can be reasonably estimated. In accordance with the guidance of FIN 47, the Business undertook a review of its manufacturing facilities and other assets to determine, if possible, amounts that should be recognized as asset retirement obligations. The review resulted in the recording of additional assets and corresponding liabilities, which were not material to the Business’ financial position or results of operations. The Business also identified situations that would have resulted in the recognition of additional asset retirement obligations, except for an inability to reasonably estimate the fair value of the liability at the time. Most of these situations relate to asbestos located within the Business’ manufacturing facilities where a settlement date or range of settlement dates cannot be specified, so that the Business is unable at this time to apply present value calculations to appropriately value an obligation. Any additional obligations recognized in the future as more information becomes available are not expected to have a material effect on the Business’ financial position or results of operations.

 

(9) Related Party Transactions

 

  (a) Purchases and Sales

The Business purchases pulpwood logs from Potlatch’s Resource segment as well as chips and sawdust from Potlatch’s Wood Products segment other than the Lewiston lumber facility. Purchases from the Parent’s other segments by the Business totaled $95.4 million, $105.3 million and $103.4 million for 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Purchases by the Business are made, and related inventory are carried, at approximate market price. The Business also sells to other segments of the Parent. These sales to other Potlatch segments for 2007, 2006 and 2005 were less than $0.1 million in 2007 and 2006 and $0.2 million in 2005, which were also at approximate market price. The purchases and sales flow through the costs and revenues of the Business and are reflected in payments and transfers (to)/from Parent in Parent’s equity.

 

F-30


Table of Contents

THE BUSINESS

(Pulp and Paperboard Segment, Consumer Products Segment and the

Lewiston, Idaho, Lumber Manufacturing Facilities of Potlatch Corporation)

Notes to Combined Financial Statements—(Continued)

As of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for the

years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

 

  (b) Corporate and Wood Products Overhead

The Business has been allocated an estimated pro-rata share of the Parent’s corporate administration expense and pro-rata share of the Parent’s Wood Products segment administration and selling expense. The estimate for the corporate administration allocation was based on an apportionment factor using relative book values and revenues of the Business in relation to the Parent. The estimate for the Wood Products administration and selling expense was based on the gross revenues of the Lewiston lumber facility as a ratio to total Parent Wood Products segment revenues. The estimated corporate administration and wood products administration and selling expense included in the Business’ combined statements of operations are as follows:

 

     2007    2006    2005
     (Dollars in thousands)

Corporate administration

   $ 8,045    7,795    7,523

Wood Products administration

     881    1,426    1,385

Wood Products selling

     767    732    751
                

Total allocated overhead

   $ 9,693    9,953    9,659
                

The allocation of these expenses may not be indicative of the amount that would have been incurred had the Business been a stand-alone entity, nor is it indicative of the amount that may be incurred in the future as a stand-alone entity. The expenses allocated are based on allocation methodologies that management considers reasonable based on the historical expenses of the Parent. Corporate accruals related to the Business have been allocated by the Parent and are reflected on the Business’ combined balance sheets. These accruals primarily include: active medical insurance, general liability and property insurance, the OPEB liability for hourly and salaried employees, other employee compensation benefits, salaried employee vacation accruals and payroll tax accruals.

Over time, Potlatch has financed capital projects and other operating costs for its divisions (including the Business) through the issuance of debt. The Business is retaining the obligation to pay the interest and principal on approximately $100 million of debentures previously issued by Potlatch Corporation that will become due and payable in full in December 2009. No other debt or interest is reflected herein.

 

  (c) Interest Expense

The Business incurs interest expense related to its note payable to Parent. Interest expense was $13.0 million for 2007 and 2006, and $12.6 million for 2005.

(10) Note Payable to Parent

Through an agreement dated December 30, 2005 between Potlatch Forest Products Corporation (PFPC) and the Parent, PFPC assumed an unsecured obligation to pay the principal and interest to the holders of the Parent’s $100 million of credit sensitive debentures. The obligation will be retained by the Business until the credit sensitive debentures mature in December of 2009, at which time payment to the holders is due in full. As the obligation will be retained by the Business and will be recorded on the Business’ books, the debt and related interest expense have been included in the accompanying combined financial statements for all periods presented.

 

F-31


Table of Contents

THE BUSINESS

(Pulp and Paperboard Segment, Consumer Products Segment and the

Lewiston, Idaho, Lumber Manufacturing Facilities of Potlatch Corporation)

Notes to Combined Financial Statements—(Continued)

As of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for the

years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

 

This obligation has been classified as a note payable to Parent in the accompanying combined balance sheets because PFPC’s assumption of the obligation to make such payments to the debenture holders did not effect a release of the Parent’s obligation under these debentures. The terms of the note payable to Parent mirror the terms of the Parent’s obligation under its credit sensitive debentures, and thus the interest rate on the note payable to Parent was 13% in 2007 and 2006. In 2005, the interest rate was 12.5% through October of 2005, at which time it increased to 13%. The interest rate payable on the Parent’s credit sensitive debentures was subject to adjustment if certain changes in the debt rating of the Parent occurred. In such circumstances, the interest rate payable by the Business was also adjusted. Under the terms of the credit sensitive debentures, the interest rate could vary from 8.825% to 14%, depending upon the Parent’s debt rating.

 

(11) Segment Information

The Business is organized into three reportable operating segments, as defined by SFAS No. 131, Disclosures About Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information: Pulp and Paperboard, Consumer Products and Lewiston Lumber. The reporting segments follow the same accounting policies used for the Parent’s consolidated financial statements, and are described in the summary of significant accounting policies, with the exception of inventories. Management evaluates segment performance based upon profit or loss from operations before income taxes. Intersegment sales or transfers are recorded based on prevailing market prices.

 

F-32


Table of Contents

THE BUSINESS

(Pulp and Paperboard Segment, Consumer Products Segment and the

Lewiston, Idaho, Lumber Manufacturing Facilities of Potlatch Corporation)

Notes to Combined Financial Statements—(Continued)

As of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for the

years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

 

The Business’ segment information for each of the past three years is presented below. Potlatch amounts that have been allocated to the Business are included to reconcile segment data to the Business’ combined financial statements.

 

     2007     2006     2005  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Segment net sales:

      

Pulp and Paperboard:

      

Paperboard

   $ 567,798     535,796     500,624  

Pulp

     101,754     77,291     64,569  

Other

     1,070     1,113     922  
                    
     670,622     614,200     566,115  

Consumer Products

     444,721     436,911     368,432  

Lewiston Lumber

     121,652     114,106     97,597  
                    
     1,236,995     1,165,217     1,032,144  

Elimination of intersegment net sales

     (63,669 )   (58,536 )   (49,110 )
                    

Net sales

   $ 1,173,326     1,106,681     983,034  
                    

Intersegment net sales or transfers  (1) :

      

Pulp and Paperboard

   $ 55,838     52,080     43,745  

Consumer Products

     86     82     74  

Lewiston Lumber

     7,745     6,374     5,291  
                    

Total

   $ 63,669     58,536     49,110  
                    

Operating income (loss):

      

Pulp and Paperboard

   $ 45,282     26,331     (274 )

Consumer Products

     17,554     25,616     7,455  

Lewiston Lumber  (2)

     1,691     6,331     (31 )
                    
     64,527     58,278     7,150  

Corporate and eliminations

     (11,752 )   (11,592 )   (8,978 )
                    

Earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes

   $ 52,775     46,686     (1,828 )
                    

Depreciation:

      

Pulp and Paperboard

   $ 32,388     35,547     36,407  

Consumer Products

     16,268     15,800     15,587  

Lewiston Lumber

     2,181     2,527     2,540  

Corporate

     488     416     320  
                    

Total

   $ 51,325     54,290     54,854  
                    

Assets:

      

Pulp and Paperboard

   $ 361,611     383,621     406,050  

Consumer Products

     256,541     269,235     285,501  

Lewiston Lumber

     53,715     38,726     34,903  
                    
     671,867     691,582     726,454  

Corporate

     24,227     49,836     95,892  
                    

Total combined assets

   $ 696,094     741,418     822,346  
                    

Capital expenditures:

      

Pulp and Paperboard

   $ 13,789     13,014     21,733  

Consumer Products

     5,531     12,774     13,402  

Lewiston Lumber

     1,016     1,417     7,806  
                    
     20,336     27,205     42,941  

Corporate

     195     300     471  
                    

Total capital expenditures

   $ 20,531     27,505     43,412  
                    

 

F-33


Table of Contents

THE BUSINESS

(Pulp and Paperboard Segment, Consumer Products Segment and the

Lewiston, Idaho, Lumber Manufacturing Facilities of Potlatch Corporation)

Notes to Combined Financial Statements—(Continued)

As of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for the

years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

 

 

(1) Intersegment sales for 2005 through 2007, which were based on prevailing market prices, consisted primarily of pulp from the Pulp and Paperboard segment to the Consumer Products segment.
(2) Operating income in 2006 for the Lewiston Lumber segment included $8.5 million associated with the negotiated settlement of the softwood lumber trade dispute between the U.S. and Canada. The Parent calculated the pro-rata share to the Lewiston Lumber segment based on the ratio of lumber production to the Parent’s lumber production.

All of the Business’ manufacturing facilities and all other assets are located within the continental United States. However, the Business sells and ships products to many foreign countries. Geographic information regarding the net sales of the Business is summarized as follows:

 

     2007    2006    2005
     (Dollars in thousands)

United States

   $ 1,030,543    994,944    851,149

Japan

     45,350    38,317    60,830

China

     30,354    23,675    17,600

Canada

     12,259    10,374    10,110

Taiwan

     11,301    11,841    13,269

Netherlands

     10,736    1,398    —  

Australia

     4,835    6,278    8,694

Vietnam

     4,420    22    —  

Korea

     4,315    2,158    8,576

Poland

     3,550    2,347    —  

England

     3,383    3,224    3,145

Mexico

     2,525    4,296    4,039

Other foreign countries

     9,755    7,807    5,622
                

Total combined net sales

   $ 1,173,326    1,106,681    983,034
                

 

F-34