9 3/4% Series B Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014
Exhibit 4.4
CUSIP/CINS 038101 AH 4
9 3/4% Series B Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014
No. 1 | $ | 150,000,000.00 |
APPLETON PAPERS INC.
promises to pay to Cede & Co. or registered assigns,
the principal sum of One Hundred Fifty Million DOLLARS on June 15, 2014.
Interest Payment Dates: June 15 and December 15
Record Dates: June 1 and December 1
Dated: June 13, 2006 | ||||
APPLETON PAPERS INC. | ||||
By: |
| |||
Name: | ||||
Title: |
This is one of the Notes referred to | ||
in the within-mentioned Indenture: | ||
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||
By: |
| |
Authorized Signatory |
9 3/4% Series B Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014
THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (1) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (2) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (3) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (4) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.
UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (DTC), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
Capitalized terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.
(1) INTEREST. Appleton Papers Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 9 3/4% per annum from June 11, 2004 until maturity and shall pay the Liquidated Damages, if any, payable pursuant to Section 5 of the Registration Rights Agreement referred to below. The Company will pay interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each, an Interest Payment Date). Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided further that the first Interest Payment Date shall be December 15, 2004. The Company will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at a rate that is 1% per annum in excess of the rate then in effect to the extent lawful; it will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful. In addition, the Company will pay additional interest at the rates and for the periods provided in Section 2.13 of the Indenture. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
(2) METHOD OF PAYMENT. The Company will pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the June 1 or December 1 next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose within or without the City and State of New York, or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of
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Holders; provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal of and interest, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which will have provided wire transfer instructions to the Company or the Paying Agent. Such payment will be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.
(3) PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR. Initially, U.S. Bank National Association, the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.
(4) INDENTURE. The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of June 11, 2004 (the Indenture) by and among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the TIA. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling. The Notes are unsecured obligations of the Company. The Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be issued thereunder.
(5) OPTIONAL REDEMPTION.
(a) Except as set forth in subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph 5, the Company will not have the option to redeem the Notes prior to June 15, 2009. On or after June 15, 2009, the Company will have the option to redeem all or a part of the Notes upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes redeemed to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on June 15 of the years indicated below, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date:
Year | Percentage | ||
2009 | 104.875 | % | |
2010 | 103.250 | % | |
2011 | 101.625 | % | |
2012 and thereafter | 100.000 | % |
Unless the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption on the applicable redemption date.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph 5, at any time prior to June 15, 2007, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture at a redemption price equal to 109.750% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any to the redemption date with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings; provided that at least 65% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued under the Indenture (excluding Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption and that such redemption occurs within 90 days of the date of the closing of such Equity Offering.
(6) MANDATORY REDEMPTION.
The Company is not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.
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(7) REPURCHASE AT THE OPTION OF HOLDER.
(a) If there is a Change of Control, the Company will be required to make an offer (a Change of Control Offer) to each Holder to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of each Holders Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the date of purchase, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date (the Change of Control Payment). Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company will mail a notice to each Holder setting forth the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer as required by the Indenture.
(b) If the Company, the Parent Entity or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company consummates any Asset Sales, within ten days of each date on which the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $15.0 million, the Company will commence an offer to all Holders of Notes and all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes containing provisions similar to those set forth in the Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets (an Asset Sale Offer) pursuant to Section 3.09 of the Indenture to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the date of purchase, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company may use those Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis. Holders of Notes that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive an Asset Sale Offer from the Company prior to any related purchase date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled Option of Holder to Elect Purchase attached to the Notes.
(8) NOTICE OF REDEMPTION. Notice of redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction or discharge of the Indenture. Notes in denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed. On and after the redemption date, interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.
(9) DENOMINATIONS, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, the Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date.
(10) PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS. The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.
(11) AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER. Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture or the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes including Additional Notes, if any, voting as a single class, and any existing Default or Event or Default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes including Additional Notes, if any, voting as a single class. Without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the Indenture or the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be
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amended or supplemented to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, to provide for the assumption of the Companys or a Guarantors obligations to Holders of the Notes and Note Guarantees in case of a merger or consolidation or sale of substantially all of the Companys or such Guarantors assets, as applicable, to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any such Holder, to comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the TIA, to conform the text of the Indenture, or the Notes or the Note Guarantees to any provision of the Description of Senior Subordinated Notes section of the Companys Offering Memorandum dated June 3, 2004, relating to the initial offering of the Notes, to the extent that such provision in that Description of Senior Subordinated Notes was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of the Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes, to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in the Indenture; to allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture to the Indenture and/or a Note Guarantee with respect to the Notes or to release any Guarantor from its Note Guarantee as provided or permitted by the terms of the Indenture or to provide for the acceptance of appointment under this Indenture of a successor Trustee with respect to the Notes issued hereunder.
(12) DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES. Events of Default include: (i) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on, or Liquidated Damages, if any, with respect to the Notes, whether or not prohibited by the subordination provisions of the Indenture; (ii) default in the payment when due (at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise) of the principal of, or premium, if any, on, the Notes, whether or not prohibited by the subordination provisions of the Indenture, (iii) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with Section 4.10, 4.15, 4.17 or 5.01 of the Indenture; (iv) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with the provisions of Sections 4.07 and 4.09 for 30 days after notice to comply with such provisions; (v) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 60 days after notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class to comply with any of the other agreements in the Indenture; (vi) default under certain other agreements relating to Indebtedness of the Company which default is caused by a failure to pay principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness on the date of such default or results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity and the amount of any such Indebtedness which is defaulted or accelerated aggregates $15.0 million or more; (vii) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay certain final judgments exceeding $15.0 million in the aggregate, which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days; (viii) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; (ix) the Environmental Indemnity Agreements or the Credit Enhancement are terminated, held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any reason (except in accordance with the terms thereof) to be in full force and effect or any party thereto, or any Person acting on behalf of any party thereto, shall deny or disaffirm in writing its obligations under either the Environmental Indemnity Agreements or the Credit Enhancement and (x) except as permitted by the Indenture, any Note Guarantee that is a Significant Subsidiary or a group of Guarantors that, taken as a whole would constitute Significant Subsidiary, is held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect or any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary, denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Note Guarantee. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal or interest or premium or Liquidated Damages, if any,) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes, rescind an acceleration or waive any existing Default or
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Event of Default and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest or premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, on, or the principal of, the Notes. The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the Company is required, upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.
(13) SUBORDINATION. Payment of principal, interest and premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes is subordinated to the prior payment of Senior Debt on the terms provided in the Indenture.
(14) TRUSTEE DEALINGS WITH COMPANY. The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.
(15) NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS. A past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any of the Guarantors, as such, will not have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Note Guarantees or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes. The waiver may not be effective may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.
(16) AUTHENTICATION. This Note will not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.
(17) ABBREVIATIONS. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).
(18) ADDITIONAL RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES AND RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES. In addition to the rights provided to Holders of Notes under the Indenture, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes will have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of June 11, 2004, by and among the Company, the Guarantors and the other parties named on the signature pages thereof or, in the case of Additional Notes, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes will have the rights set forth in one or more registration rights agreements, if any, by and among the Company, the Guarantors and the other parties thereto, relating to rights given by the Company and the Guarantors to the purchasers of any Additional Notes (collectively, the Registration Rights Agreement).
(19) CUSIP NUMBERS. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes, and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption, and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.
(20) GOVERNING LAW. THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THE INDENTURE, THIS NOTE AND THE NOTE GUARANTEES WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.
The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture and/or the Registration Rights Agreement. Requests may be made to:
Appleton Papers Inc.
825 E. Wisconsin Ave.
P.O. Box 359
Appleton, WI ###-###-####
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
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ASSIGNMENT FORM
To assign this Note, fill in the form below:
(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Insert assignees legal name)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Insert assignees soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Print or type assignees name, address and zip code)
and irrevocably appoint __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.
Date: | ||||||
Your Signature: |
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(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note) |
Signature Guarantee*:
* | Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee). |
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OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE
If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.15 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:
¨Section 4.10 ¨Section 4.15
If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.15 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:
$
Date: | ||||
Your Signature: |
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(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note) | ||||
Tax Identification No.: |
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Signature Guarantee*:
* | Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee). |
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SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE *
The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:
Date of Exchange | Amount of decrease in of this Global Note | Amount of increase in of this Global Note | Principal Amount of this Global Note (or increase) | Signature of authorized officer of Trustee or Custodian |
* | This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form. |
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