DOMTAR CORPORATION, as Issuer and Certain of its Subsidiaries, as Guarantors $250,000,000 6.25% Senior Notes due 2042 Underwriting Agreement August 20, 2012
Exhibit 1.1
DOMTAR CORPORATION,
as Issuer
and
Certain of its Subsidiaries,
as Guarantors
$250,000,000
6.25% Senior Notes due 2042
Underwriting Agreement
August 20, 2012
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
As Representatives of the several
Underwriters listed in Schedule 1 hereto
c/o J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
383 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10179
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
1585 Broadway
New York, New York 10013
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
Three World Financial Center
200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor
New York, New York 10281
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Domtar Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the Company), proposes to issue and sell to the several Underwriters listed in Schedule 1 hereto (the Underwriters), for whom you are acting as representatives (the Representatives), $250,000,000 principal amount of its 6.25% Senior Notes due 2042 (the Securities) to be guaranteed (collectively, the Guarantees) by the subsidiary guarantors listed on Schedule 2 hereto (collectively, the Guarantors). The Securities will be issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of November 19, 2007 (as supplemented as of the date hereof, the Base Indenture) among the Company, the Guarantors party thereto and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (the Trustee), as further supplemented by a Eighth
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Supplemental Indenture, to be dated as of August 23, 2012 (the Eighth Supplemental Indenture and, together with the Base Indenture, the Indenture) between the Company, the Guarantors party thereto and the Trustee.
Each of the Company and the Guarantors hereby confirms its agreement with the several Underwriters concerning the purchase and sale of the Securities, as follows:
1. Registration Statement. The Company and the Guarantors have prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the Securities Act), a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-183410), including a prospectus, relating to the Securities. Such registration statement as of the Effective Date (as defined below), including the information, if any, deemed pursuant to Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act to be part of the registration statement at the time of the Effective Date (Rule 430 Information), is referred to herein as the Registration Statement; and as used herein the term Effective Date means the effective date of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act for purposes of liability under Section 11 of the Securities Act of the Company or the Underwriters with respect to the offering of the Securities; and the term Preliminary Prospectus means the prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time of the Effective Date that omits Rule 430 Information and any prospectus made available prior to the Time of Sale, and the term Prospectus means the prospectus in the form first used (or made available upon request of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) in connection with confirmation of sales of the Securities which shall be in the form in which it has most recently been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) as of the date of such first use or availability. Any reference in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act, as of the effective date of the Registration Statement or the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, and any reference to amend, amendment or supplement with respect to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the Exchange Act) that are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein after such date. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Prospectus.
As of 2:00 p.m. New York City time (the Time of Sale), the Company had prepared the following information (collectively, the Time of Sale Information): Preliminary Prospectus dated August 20, 2012, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, whether any such incorporated document is filed before or after the Preliminary Prospectus, so long as the incorporated document is filed before the Time of Sale, the Pricing Term Sheet (as defined in Section 5(a) hereof), and each other free-writing prospectus (as defined pursuant to Rule 405 under the Securities Act) listed on Annex C hereto as constituting part of the Time of Sale Information.
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2. Purchase of the Securities by the Underwriters. (a) The Company agrees to issue and sell the Securities to the several Underwriters as provided in this Agreement and the Guarantors agree to guarantee the Securities pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, and each Underwriter, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective principal amount of Securities set forth opposite such Underwriters name in Schedule 1 hereto at a price equal to 98.706% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest, if any, from August 23, 2012 to the Closing Date (as defined below). The Company will not be obligated to deliver any of the Securities except upon payment for all the Securities to be purchased as provided herein.
(b) Each of the Company and the Guarantors understand that the Underwriters intend to make a public offering of the Securities as soon after the effectiveness of this Agreement as in the judgment of the Representatives is advisable, and initially to offer the Securities on the terms set forth in the Prospectus. Each of the Company and the Guarantors acknowledge and agree that the Underwriters may offer and sell Securities to or through any affiliate of an Underwriter and that any such affiliate may offer and sell Securities purchased by it to or through any Underwriter.
(c) Payment for and delivery of the Securities will be made at the offices of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on August 23, 2012, or at such other time or place on the same or such other date, not later than the fifth business day thereafter, as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing. The time and date of such payment and delivery is referred to herein as the Closing Date.
(d) Payment for the Securities shall be made by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the account(s) specified by the Company to the Representatives against delivery to the nominee of The Depository Trust Company, for the account of the Underwriters, of one or more global notes representing the Securities (collectively, the Global Note), with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the sale of the Securities duly paid by the Company. The Global Note will be made available for inspection by the Representatives on the business day prior to the Closing Date.
(e) The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters are acting solely in the capacity of an arms length contractual counterparty to the Company with respect to the offering of Securities contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the terms of the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Company or any other person. Additionally, neither the Representatives nor any other Underwriter is advising the Company or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction. The Company shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Underwriters shall have no responsibility or liability to the Company with respect thereto. Any review by the Underwriters of the Company, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Underwriters and shall not be on behalf of the Company.
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3. Representations and Warranties of the Company and the Guarantors. Each of the Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to each Underwriter that:
(a) Preliminary Prospectus. No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and each Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act and did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that neither the Company nor any Guarantor makes any representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company or the Guarantors in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in any Preliminary Prospectus.
(b) Time of Sale Information. The Time of Sale Information at the Time of Sale did not, and at the Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that neither the Company nor any of the Guarantor makes any representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company or the Guarantors in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in such Time of Sale Information. No statement of material fact included in the Time of Sale Information that is required to be included in the Prospectus has been omitted therefrom.
(c) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. Each of the Company and the Guarantors (including its agents and representatives, other than the Underwriters in their capacity as such) has not used, authorized, approved or referred to and will not use, authorize, approve or refer to any written communication (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Securities (each such communication by the Company or its agents and representatives (other than a communication referred to in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) below) an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus) other than (i) any document not constituting a prospectus pursuant to Section 2(a)(10)(a) of the Securities Act or Rule 134 under the Securities Act, (ii) the Preliminary Prospectus, (iii) the Prospectus, (iv) the documents listed on Annex C hereto as constituting the Time of Sale Information and (v) any electronic road show or other written communications, in each case approved in writing in advance by the Representatives. Each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, has been or will be (within the time period specified in Rule 433) filed in accordance with the Securities Act (to the extent required thereby) and, when taken together with the Preliminary Prospectus and any free writing prospectus (as described below) accompanying, or delivered prior to delivery of, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, did not, and at the Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that neither the Company nor any Guarantor makes
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any representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company or the Guarantors in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.
(d) Registration Statement. A registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-183410) relating to the Securities, including a form of prospectus, has been filed with the Commission under the Securities Act and such registration statement, and any post-effective amendment thereto, automatically became effective on filing under the Securities Act and is not proposed to be amended in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement. No notice of objection of the Commission to the use of such registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act has been received by the Company and no order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act against the Company or the Guarantors or related to the offering has been initiated or, to the knowledge of the Company or the Guarantors, threatened by the Commission; the Registration Statement as of the Effective Date complied, and any amendment thereto as of the date it becomes effective will comply, in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the Trust Indenture Act), and the Registration Statement as of the Effective Date did not and any amendment thereto as of the date it becomes effective will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and the Prospectus as of its date did not and any amendment or supplement thereto and as of the Closing Date, the Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that neither the Company nor any Guarantor makes any representation and warranty with respect to (i) that part of the Registration Statement that constitutes the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification (Form T-1) of the Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act or (ii) any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company or the Guarantors in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.
(e) Incorporated Documents. The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Time of Sale Information, when they were filed with the Commission, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and none of such documents, at its time of filing with the Commission, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Time of Sale Information, when such documents become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
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(f) Financial Statements. The financial statements and the related notes thereto included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules and notes, comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and present fairly the financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and the changes in their cash flows for the periods specified; such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied, except as stated therein, on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby, and the supporting schedules, if any, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement present fairly the information required to be stated therein; and the other financial information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus has been derived from the accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries and presents fairly the information shown thereby.
(g) Certain Statements in Registration Statement, Time of Sale Information and Prospectus. The statements in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus under the headings Material U.S. federal tax consequences and Description of the notes, insofar as such statements summarize legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings discussed therein, are accurate and fair summaries of such legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings.
(h) No Material Adverse Change. Since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, (i) there has not been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any dividend or distribution of any kind declared (other than any regular quarterly dividend), set aside for payment, paid or made by the Company on any class of capital stock, or any material adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, or on the ability of the Company and the Guarantors to perform their respective obligations under the Indenture, the Securities and the Guarantees (a Material Adverse Effect), or any development involving a prospective Material Adverse Effect, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus; and (ii) except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus since such date neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has entered into any transaction or agreement (whether or not in the ordinary course of business) material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.
(i) Organization and Good Standing. The Company, each Guarantor and each other subsidiary of the Company that meets the definition of a significant subsidiary as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act (each a Significant Subsidiary), (i) has been duly
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incorporated or formed, is validly existing as a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership, as applicable, and is in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation with full corporate, limited liability company or limited partnership, as applicable, power and authority to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its properties and conduct its business and (ii) is duly qualified to do business as a foreign entity or an extra provincial corporation, as applicable, and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction which requires such qualification, other than, with respect to clause (ii), where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. The subsidiaries listed in Schedule 3 to this Agreement are the only Significant Subsidiaries of the Company.
(j) Capitalization. The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus under the heading Capitalization and all the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each Significant Subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the Company either directly or through wholly-owned subsidiaries, free and clear of any perfected security interest or any other security interests, claims, liens, charges or encumbrances, other than where such security interests, claims, liens, charges or encumbrances would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(k) Due Authorization. The Company has full right, power and authority to execute and deliver the Securities, and the Company and each of the Guarantors have full right, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Indenture (including the Guarantees) (collectively, together with the Securities, the Transaction Documents) and to perform their respective obligations hereunder and thereunder; and all action required to be taken for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery of each of the Transaction Documents to which the Company and each of the Guarantors is a party and the due and proper authorization and consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby has been duly and validly taken.
(l) The Indenture. Each of the Base Indenture and the Eighth Supplemental Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and the Base Indenture has been validly executed and delivered by the Company. Each of the Guarantors has validly executed and delivered either the Base Indenture or a supplemental indenture by which it has become a party to the Base Indenture and has duly authorized the Base Indenture or such supplemental indenture, as applicable, and the Eighth Supplemental Indenture. As of the Closing Date, the Eighth Supplemental Indenture will have been validly executed and delivered by the Company and each of the Guarantors. When the Eighth Supplemental Indenture has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and each of the Guarantors, and, assuming that the Base Indenture and the Eighth Supplemental Indenture are each a valid and binding obligation of the Trustee, the Base Indenture is and the Eighth Supplemental Indenture will be, a valid and binding agreement of the Company and each Guarantor, enforceable against the Company and each Guarantor in accordance with its terms except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability (collectively, the Enforceability Exceptions).
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(m) The Securities. The Securities have been duly authorized by the Company and, when duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered as provided in the Indenture and paid for as provided herein, will be duly and validly issued and outstanding and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.
(n) Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Guarantors.
(o) The Guarantees. The Guarantees have been duly authorized by each of the Guarantors and are in the form contemplated by, and entitled to the benefits of, the Indenture and, when the Securities have been executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in the manner provided in the Indenture and delivered against payment of the purchase price for the Securities as provided in this Agreement, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of each of the Guarantors, enforceable against each of the Guarantors in accordance with their terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.
(p) Descriptions of the Transaction Documents. Each Transaction Document conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.
(q) No Violation or Default. Neither the Company nor any Significant Subsidiary is, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both would be, in violation or default of (i) any provision of its charter or by-laws or other constituting or organizational documents, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which it is a party or bound or to which its property is subject, or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or such subsidiary or any of its or their properties or assets, as applicable, which violation or default would, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, either individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(r) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company and each of the Guarantors of each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, the issuance and sale of the Securities and compliance by the Company and each of the Guarantors, as applicable, with the terms thereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, any indenture, note, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (iii) result in the violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of the Commission or any other agency or any court having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation or default that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(s) No Consents Required. No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority is required for the execution, delivery and performance by the Company or the Guarantors of each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, the issuance and sale of the Securities by the Company and compliance by the Company with the terms thereof, the issue of the Guarantees by the Guarantors and compliance by the Guarantors with the terms thereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, except such as have been made or obtained under the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act, as may be required by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. in connection with the registration of the Securities and the Guarantees, and such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications as may be required under applicable state securities laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters.
(t) Legal Proceedings. No action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, its property or property of its subsidiaries is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened that (i) is of a character required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, (ii) could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the performance of this Agreement or the Indenture by the Company or any Guarantor or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby, (iii) could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on either the Companys or any Guarantors ability to enter into and perform its obligations under the Eighth Supplemental Indenture or (iv) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, except as as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.
(u) Independent Accountants. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, who has certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and as required by the Securities Act.
(v) Title to Real and Personal Property. The Company and its subsidiaries own or lease all such properties as are necessary or material to the conduct of the operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole as presently conducted and as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.
(w) Judicial Immunity. None of the Companys subsidiaries nor any of its or their properties or assets has any immunity from the jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution or otherwise) under the federal laws of Canada or the laws of the Province of Québec.
(x) Defects in Title. The Company is not aware of any defects in title to its material properties or its material assets and facilities which are used in the production and marketing of pulp and paper and adult incontinence products that would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(y) Title to Intellectual Property. The Company and its subsidiaries own, possess, are licensed to use or have other sufficient legal rights to use all patents, patent applications, trade and service marks, trade and service mark registrations, trade names, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets, technology, know-how and other intellectual property (collectively, the Intellectual Property) necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses as presently conducted and as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus. Except as as disclosed in the in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, (i) there are no rights of third parties to any such Intellectual Property owned by the Company and its subsidiaries; (ii) to the knowledge of the Company, there is no material infringement by third parties of any such Intellectual Property owned by the Company and its subsidiaries; (iii) there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the Companys rights in or to any such Intellectual Property, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim; (iv) there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity or scope of any such Intellectual Property, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim; and (v) there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others that the Company infringes or otherwise violates any Intellectual Property or other proprietary rights of others, and the Company is unaware of any other fact which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim.
(z) Investment Company Act. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor is and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, will be an investment company or an entity controlled by an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, Investment Company Act).
(aa) No Stamp Duty. No stamp duty, registration or documentary taxes, duties or similar charges imposed under the laws of the United States or Canada are payable (i) in connection with the creation or original issuance and sale of the Securities, (ii) with respect to the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or the Eighth Supplemental Indenture or (iii) with respect to any payments made to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement.
(bb) Taxes. The Company has filed all U.S. and foreign federal, state, provincial, territorial and local tax returns that are required to be filed or has requested extensions thereof (except in any case in which the failure so to file would not have a Material Adverse Effect), except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus and has paid all taxes required to be paid by it and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against it, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable, except for any such assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested in good faith or as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, and except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.
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(cc) Licenses and Permits. The Company and its subsidiaries possess all licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by the appropriate federal, state, provincial or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, and neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has received any notice of any proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such license, certificate, permit or authorization, which, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a Material Adverse Effect, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.
(dd) No Labor Disputes. Except as as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, no labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is threatened or imminent, and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor dispute by the employees of any of its subsidiaries, or to the knowledge of the Company, its subsidiaries principal suppliers, contractors or customers, that could have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ee) Compliance With Environmental Laws. The Company and its subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, Canadian federal, provincial and local, and U.S. federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations relating to the protection of human health or safety, the environment, natural resources or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (Environmental Laws), (ii) have received and are in compliance with all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses as presently conducted and as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, and (iii) except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, have not received notice of any actual or potential liability under any Environmental Laws, including for the investigation or remediation of any disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, except where such non-compliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive or comply with required permits, licenses or other approvals, or liability would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has been named as a potentially responsible party under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, except in instances where (A) the Company has made adequate provision for such event in the reserves on its balance sheet or (B) being so named would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ff) Environmental Reviews. In the ordinary course of its business, the Company periodically reviews the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, in the course of which it identifies and evaluates associated costs and liabilities (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws, or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties). On the basis of such review, the Company has reasonably concluded that such
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associated costs and liabilities would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.
(gg) Pension Plans. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, each defined benefit pension plan sponsored by the Company or for which either of them could have any liability has been maintained in compliance with the terms thereof and with the requirements prescribed by applicable law, except where such non-compliance would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(hh) Disclosure Controls. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, the Company and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, maintain an effective system of disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) that is designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company, including with respect to their respective subsidiaries, in the respective reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commissions rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Companys management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company has carried out evaluations of the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures of itself and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, as required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.
(ii) Accounting Controls. The Company and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, maintain systems of internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, their respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, including, but not limited to internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with managements general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with managements general or specific authorization; (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; and (v) interactive data in eXtensbile Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus is prepared in accordance with the Commissions rules and guidelines applicable thereto. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, there are no material weaknesses in the internal controls of the Company and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis.
(jj) Insurance. The Company and each of its subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which they are engaged; the Company and its
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subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies and instruments in all material respects; and there are no material claims by the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.
(kk) No Unlawful Payments. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the best knowledge of the Company and each of the Guarantors, any director, officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii) has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that did or would result in a violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any equivalent provision of Canadian law; or (iv) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.
(ll) Compliance with Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the Money Laundering Laws) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(mm) Compliance with OFAC. None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (OFAC); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Securities hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.
(nn) Solvency. On and immediately after the Closing Date, the Company (after giving effect to the issuance of the Securities and the other transactions related thereto as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus) will be Solvent. As used in this paragraph, the term Solvent means, with respect to a particular date, that on such date (i) the present fair market value (or present fair saleable value) of the assets of the Company is not less than the total amount required to pay the liabilities of the Company on its total existing debts and liabilities (including contingent liabilities) as they become absolute and matured; (ii) the Company is able to realize upon its assets and pay its debts and other liabilities, contingent obligations and commitments as they mature and become due in the normal course of business; (iii) assuming consummation of the issuance of the Securities as contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration
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Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, the Company is not incurring debts or liabilities beyond its ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature; (iv) the Company is not engaged in any business or transaction, and does not propose to engage in any business or transaction, for which its property would constitute unreasonably small capital after giving due consideration to the prevailing practice in the industry in which the Company is engaged; and (v) the Company is not a defendant in any civil action that would result in a judgment that the Company is or would become unable to satisfy.
(oo) No Restrictions on Subsidiary Dividends. No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiarys capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiarys property or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.
(pp) No Brokers Fees. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finders fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities.
(qq) No Registration Rights. No person has the right to require the Company or any of its subsidiaries to register any securities for sale under the Securities Act by reason of the filing of the Registration Statement with the Commission or the issuance and sale of the Securities.
(rr) No Stabilization. The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities.
(ss) Margin Rules. Neither the issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities nor the application of the proceeds thereof by the Company as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus will violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any other regulation of such Board of Governors.
(tt) Forward-Looking Statements. No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.
(uu) Sarbanes-Oxley Act. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or its respective directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply in all material respects, in the case of the Company, with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.
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(vv) Status under the Securities Act. The Company is not an ineligible issuer and is a well-known seasoned issuer, in each case as defined under the Securities Act, in each case at the times specified in the Securities Act in connection with the offering of the Securities.
4. Further Agreements of the Company and the Guarantors. Each of the Company and each of the Guarantors jointly and severally covenant and agree with each Underwriter that:
(a) Required Filings. The Company will file the final Prospectus with the Commission within the time periods specified by Rule 424(b) and Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act, will file any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (including the Pricing Term Sheet) to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act; and the Company will furnish copies of the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (to the extent not previously delivered) to the Underwriters in New York City prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement in such quantities as the Representatives may reasonably request.
(b) Delivery of Copies. The Company will deliver, without charge, (i) to each of the Representatives, one signed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto, in each case including all exhibits and consents filed therewith (other than exhibits or consents incorporated by reference therein); and (ii) to each Underwriter (A) a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto, in each case including all exhibits and consents filed therewith (other than exhibits or consents incorporated by reference therein) and (B) during the Prospectus Delivery Period (as defined below), as many copies of the Prospectus (including all amendments and supplements thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein) and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as the Representatives may reasonably request. As used herein, the term Prospectus Delivery Period means such period of time after the first date of the public offering of the Securities as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus relating to the Securities is required by law to be delivered (or required to be delivered but for Rule 172 under the Securities Act) in connection with sales of the Securities by any Underwriter or dealer.
(c) Amendments or Supplements; Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. Before using, authorizing, approving, referring to or filing any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and before filing any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, in each case prior to the end of the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters a copy of the proposed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, amendment or supplement for review and will not use or refer to in connection with the offering of the Securities or file with the Commission any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or file with the Commission any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representatives reasonably object in a timely manner.
(d) Notice to the Representatives. The Company will advise the Representatives promptly, and confirm such advice in writing, (i) when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective; (ii) when any supplement to the Prospectus or any amendment to the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus has been filed prior to the end of the Prospectus Delivery Period; (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or
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the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating to the Registration Statement or any other request by the Commission for any additional information; (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act; (v) of the occurrence of any event within the Prospectus Delivery Period as a result of which the Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information or any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading; (vi) of the receipt by the Company of any notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act; and (viii) of the receipt by the Company or the Guarantors of any notice with respect to any suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offer and sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and each of the Company and the Guarantors will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or suspending any such qualification of the Securities and, if any such order is issued, will obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.
(e) Time of Sale Information. If at any time prior to the Closing Date (i) any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Time of Sale Information as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Information to comply with law, the Company will immediately notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission (to the extent required) and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representatives may designate, such amendments or supplements to the Time of Sale Information as may be necessary so that the statements in the Time of Sale Information as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances, be misleading or so that the Time of Sale Information will comply with law.
(f) Ongoing Compliance. If during the Prospectus Delivery Period (i) any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with law, the Company will immediately notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representatives may designate, such amendments or supplements to the Prospectus as may be necessary so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus will comply with law.
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(g) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company will qualify the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives shall reasonably request and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for distribution of the Securities; provided that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject.
(h) Earning Statement. The Company will make generally available to its security holders and the Representatives as soon as practicable an earning statement that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Commission promulgated thereunder covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the effective date (as defined in Rule 158) of the Registration Statement.
(i) Clear Market. During the period from the date hereof through and including the date that is 30 days after the date hereof, neither the Company nor any Guarantor will, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company or any Guarantor and having a tenor of more than one year.
(j) Use of Proceeds. The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus under the heading Use of proceeds.
(k) No Stabilization. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities.
(l) Record Retention. The Company and the Guarantors will, pursuant to reasonable procedures developed in good faith, retain copies of each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 433 under the Securities Act.
(m) Payment of Filing Fee. The Company will pay the required Commission filings fees relating to the Securities within the time required by Rule 456(b)(i) under the Securities Act without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rule 457(r) under the Securities Act.
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5. Certain Agreements of the Underwriters. Each Underwriter hereby represents, warrants and agrees that:
(a) Such Underwriter has not and will not use, authorize use of or, refer to, any free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act (which term includes use of any written information furnished to the Commission by the Company and not incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and any press release issued by the Company) in connection with any offer relating to the Securities other than (i) a free writing prospectus that, solely as a result of use by such underwriter, would not trigger an obligation to file such free writing prospectus with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433, (ii) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Annex C or prepared pursuant to Section 3(c) or Section 4(c) above (including any electronic road show), or (iii) any free writing prospectus prepared by such Underwriter and approved by the Company in advance in writing (each such free writing prospectus referred to in this clause (iii), an Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus). Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to the preparation of the Pricing Term Sheet (as defined below), the Underwriters may use a term sheet substantially in the form of the Pricing Term Sheet without the consent of either the Company or the Guarantors describing the preliminary terms of the Securities or their offering. The Pricing Term Sheet shall mean the term sheet prepared by the Company and approved by the Representatives setting forth the final terms of the Securities and filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433 under the Securities Act.
(b) Such Underwriter is not subject to any pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act with respect to the offering (and will promptly notify the Company if any such proceeding against it is initiated during the Prospectus Delivery Period).
6. Conditions of Underwriters Obligations. The obligation of each Underwriter to purchase Securities on the Closing Date as provided herein is subject to the performance by the Company and each of the Guarantors of their respective covenants and other obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:
(a) Registration Compliance; No Stop Order. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose, pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission; the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission under the Securities Act (in the case of a Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act) and in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof; and all requests by the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representatives.
(b) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of each of the Company and the Guarantors contained herein shall be true and correct on the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date; and the statements of each of the Company and the Guarantors and its officers made in any certificates delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date.
(c) No Downgrade. Subsequent to the earlier of (A) the Time of Sale and (B) the execution and delivery of this Agreement, (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Securities or any other debt securities or preferred stock of or guaranteed by the
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Company by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization, as such term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, or has changed its outlook with respect to, its rating of the Securities or of any other debt securities or preferred stock of or guaranteed by the Company (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading).
(d) No Material Adverse Change. No event or condition of a type described in Section 3(h) hereof shall have occurred or shall exist, which event or condition is not described in the Time of Sale Information (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the Prospectus (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the effect of which in the judgment of the Representatives makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.
(e) Officers Certificate. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date a certificate of an executive officer of the Company who has specific knowledge of the Companys and the Guarantors financial matters and is satisfactory to the Representatives (i) confirming that such officer has carefully reviewed the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus and, to the best knowledge of such officer, the representations set forth in Sections 3(b) or 3(d) hereof are true and correct, (ii) confirming that the other representations and warranties of the Company and the Guarantors in this Agreement are true and correct and that the Company and the Guarantors have complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on their part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date and (iii) to the effect set forth in paragraphs (a), (c) and (d) above.
(f) Comfort Letters. On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants comfort letters to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus; provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a cut-off date no more than three business days prior to the Closing Date.
(g) Opinion and 10b-5 Disclosure Letter of Counsel for the Company. Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, counsel to the Company and the Guarantors, shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, their written opinion and 10b-5 disclosure letter, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect set forth in Annex A hereto.
(h) Opinions of Special Counsel for the Company. Each of (i) Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., Delaware counsel to the Company and certain of the Guarantors, and (ii) Quarles & Brady LLP, Wisconsin counsel to certain of the Guarantors, shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, their written opinion, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect set forth in Annex B hereto.
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(i) Opinion and 10b-5 Disclosure Letter of Counsel for the Underwriters. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date an opinion and 10b-5 disclosure letter of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, with respect to such matters as the Representatives may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such documents and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.
(j) No Legal Impediment to Issuance. No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities or the issuance of the Guarantees; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities or the issuance of the Guarantees.
(k) Good Standing. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date satisfactory evidence of the good standing of the Company and its subsidiaries in their respective jurisdictions of organization and their good standing in such other jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably request, in each case in writing or any standard form of telecommunication from the appropriate governmental authorities of such jurisdictions.
(l) Additional Documents. On or prior to the Closing Date, the Company and the Guarantors shall have furnished to the Representatives such further certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.
All opinions, letters, certificates and evidence mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.
7. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters. Each of the Company and each of the Guarantors jointly and severally agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, not misleading, (ii) or any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Time of Sale Information, or caused by any omission or
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alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein.
(b) Indemnification of the Company. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of the Guarantors, each of their respective directors and officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company or any Guarantor within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Time of Sale Information (it being understood and agreed that the only such information consists of the following: the fifth paragraph (second sentence only), sixth paragraph, seventh paragraph (first sentence only) and eight paragraph under the caption Underwriting).
(c) Notice and Procedures. If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to either Section 7(a) or 7(b) above, such person (the Indemnified Person) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the Indemnifying Person) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under this Section 7 except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided, further, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under this Section 7. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person (who shall not, without the consent of the Indemnified Person, be counsel to the Indemnifying Person) to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to Section 7 that the Indemnifying Party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses of such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses of counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and
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the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interest between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for any Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control persons of such Underwriter shall be designated in writing by the Representatives, on behalf of the Underwriters, and any such separate firm for the Company, the Guarantors, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and any control persons of the Company and the Guarantors shall be designated in writing by the Company. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested that an Indemnifying Person reimburse the Indemnified Person for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this paragraph, the Indemnifying Person shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by the Indemnifying Person of such request and (ii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (x) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.
(d) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 7(a) and 7(b) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the Guarantors from the sale of the Securities and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters in connection therewith, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to
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the aggregate offering price of the Securities. The relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or any Guarantor or by the Underwriters and the parties relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
(e) Limitation on Liability. The Company, each of the Guarantors and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 7(d) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, in no event shall an Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Securities exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to their respective purchase obligations hereunder and not joint.
(f) Non-Exclusive Remedies. The remedies provided for in this Section 7 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.
8. Effectiveness of Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.
9. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on the New York Stock Exchange or the over-the-counter market; (ii) trading of any securities issued or guaranteed by the Company or any Guarantor shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by U.S. federal, New York state or Canadian federal or provincial authorities; or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis, either within or outside the United States or Canada, that, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.
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10. Defaulting Underwriter. (a) If, on the Closing Date, any Underwriter defaults on its obligation to purchase the Securities that it has agreed to purchase hereunder, the non-defaulting Underwriters may in their discretion arrange for the purchase of such Securities by other persons satisfactory to the Company on the terms contained in this Agreement. If, within 36 hours after any such default by any Underwriter, the non-defaulting Underwriters do not arrange for the purchase of such Securities, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of 36 hours within which to procure other persons satisfactory to the non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase such Securities on such terms. If other persons become obligated or agree to purchase the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter, either the non-defaulting Underwriters or the Company may postpone the Closing Date for up to five full business days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement, and the Company agrees to promptly prepare any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus that effects any such changes. As used in this Agreement, the term Underwriter includes, for all purposes of this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires, any person not listed in Schedule 1 hereto that, pursuant to this Section 10, purchases Securities that a defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase.
(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in Section 10(a) above, the aggregate principal amount of such Securities that remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of all the Securities, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the principal amount of Securities that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder plus such Underwriters pro rata share (based on the principal amount of Securities that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder) of the Securities of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made.
(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of such Securities that remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of all the Securities, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in paragraph (b) above, then this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10 shall be without liability on the part of the Company, except that the Company will continue to be liable for the payment of expenses as set forth in Section 11(a) hereof and except that the provisions of Section 7 hereof shall not terminate and shall remain in effect.
(d) Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have to the Company, or any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages caused by its default.
11. Payment of Expenses. (a) Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company and each of the Guarantors jointly and severally agree to pay or cause to be paid all costs and expenses incident to the performance of their respective obligations hereunder, including without limitation, (i) the
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costs incident to the authorization, issuance, sale, preparation and delivery of the Securities and any taxes payable in that connection; (ii) the costs incident to the preparation, printing and filing under the Securities Act of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus (including all exhibits, amendments and supplements thereto) and the distribution thereof; (iii) the costs of reproducing and distributing each of the Transaction Documents; (iv) the fees and expenses of the Companys counsel and independent registered public accounting firm; (v) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the registration or qualification and determination of eligibility for investment of the Securities under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate and the preparation, printing and distribution of a Blue Sky memorandum (including the related fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters); (vi) any fees charged by rating agencies for rating the Securities; (vii) the fees and expenses of the Trustee and any paying agent (including related fees and expenses of any counsel to such parties); (viii) all expenses and application fees incurred in connection with any filing with, and clearance of the offering by, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority; and (ix) all expenses incurred by the Company in connection with any road show presentation to potential investors.
(b) If (i) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9, (ii) the Company for any reason fails to tender the Securities for delivery to the Underwriters or (iii) the Underwriters decline to purchase the Securities for any reason permitted under this Agreement (other than Section 10), the Company and each of the Guarantors jointly and severally agrees to reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the fees and expenses of their counsel) reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement and the offering contemplated hereby.
12. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and any controlling persons referred to herein, and the affiliates of each Underwriter referred to in Section 7 hereof. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein. No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor merely by reason of such purchase.
13. Survival. The respective indemnities, rights of contribution, representations, warranties and agreements of the Company, the Guarantors and the Underwriters contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of the Company, the Guarantors or the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement or any certificate delivered pursuant hereto shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Securities and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company, the Guarantors or the Underwriters.
14. Certain Defined Terms. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) except where otherwise expressly provided, the term affiliate has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act; (b) the term business day means any day other than a day on which banks are permitted or required to be closed in New York City; and (c) the term subsidiary has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
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15. Miscellaneous. (a) Authority of the Representatives. Any action by the Underwriters hereunder may be taken by J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC or RBC Capital Markets, LLC on behalf of the Underwriters, and any such action taken by J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC or RBC Capital Markets, LLC shall be binding upon the Underwriters.
(b) Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted and confirmed by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be given to the Representatives c/o J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, 383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10179 (fax: 212 ###-###-####); Attention: High Grade Syndicate Desk 3rd floor; Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10013 (fax: 212 ###-###-####); Attention: Yurij Slyz, Executive Director; RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Three World Financial Center, 200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor, New York, New York 10281 (fax: 212 ###-###-####; Attention: Scott Primrose;. Notices to the Company and the Guarantors shall be given to it at 395 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West, Montreal, Québec, Canada H3A 1L6, (fax: 514 ###-###-####); Attention: Zygmunt Jablonski, Senior Vice-President, Law and Corporate Affairs.
(c) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
(d) Judgment Currency. The Company hereby agrees to indemnify each Underwriter against any loss incurred as a result of any judgment or order being given or made for any amount due hereunder and such judgment or order being expressed and paid in a currency (the Judgment Currency) other than U.S. dollars and as a result of any variation as between (i) the rate of exchange at which the U.S. dollar amount is converted into Judgment Currency for the purpose of such judgment or order, and (ii) the rate of exchange at which an Underwriter would have been able to purchase U.S. dollars with the amount of the Judgment Currency actually received by such Underwriter if such Underwriter had utilized such amount of Judgment Currency to purchase U.S. dollars as promptly as practicable upon receipt thereof by such Underwriter. The foregoing indemnity shall constitute an obligation of the Company and shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any such judgment or order as aforesaid. The term rate of exchange shall include an allowance for any customary or reasonable premiums and costs of exchange payable in connection with the purchase of, or conversion into, the relevant currency.
(e) Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts (which may include counterparts delivered by any standard form of telecommunication), each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
(f) Amendments or Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.
(g) Headings. The headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please indicate your acceptance of this Agreement by signing in the space provided below.
Very truly yours, | ||
DOMTAR CORPORATION | ||
By | /s/ Razvan Theodoru | |
Name: Razvan Theodoru | ||
Title: Vice-President, Corporate Law and Secretary | ||
ARIVA DISTRIBUTION INC. | ||
ATTENDS HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS, INC. | ||
DOMTAR AI, INC. | ||
DOMTAR A.W. LLC | ||
DOMTAR DELAWARE HOLDINGS, LLC | ||
DOMTAR DELAWARE INVESTMENTS INC. | ||
DOMTAR INDUSTRIES INC. | ||
DOMTAR PAPER COMPANY, LLC | ||
DOMTAR WISCONSIN DAM CORP. | ||
EAM CORPORATION | ||
E.B. EDDY PAPER, INC. | ||
By | /s/ Razvan Theodoru | |
Name: Razvan Theodoru | ||
Title: Attorney-in-fact |
Confirmed and accepted as of the date set forth on the first page hereof | ||
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC | ||
By | /s/ Maria Sramek | |
Name: Maria Sramek | ||
Title: Executive Director | ||
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC | ||
By | /s/ Yurij Slyz | |
Name: Yurij Slyz | ||
Title: Executive Director | ||
RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC | ||
By | /s/ Scott G. Primrose | |
Name: Scott G. Primrose | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory |
For themselves and on behalf of the
several Underwriters listed
in Schedule 1 hereto.
Schedule 1
Underwriters
Underwriter | Principal Amount | |||
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC | $ | 41,667,000 | ||
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC | 41,667,000 | |||
RBC Capital Markets, LLC | 41,666,000 | |||
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated | 22,250,000 | |||
Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. | 22,250,000 | |||
CIBC World Markets Corp. | 12,500,000 | |||
Goldman Sachs & Co. | 12,500,000 | |||
BMO Capital Markets Corp. | 9,250,000 | |||
Desjardins Securities Inc. | 9,250,000 | |||
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. | 9,250,000 | |||
National Bank of Canada Financial Inc. | 9,250,000 | |||
Rabo Securities USA, Inc. | 9,250,000 | |||
TD Securities (USA) LLC | 9,250,000 | |||
|
| |||
Total | $ | 250,000,000 |
Schedule 2
Guarantors
Name of Guarantor | Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Formation | |
Ariva Distribution Inc. | New York | |
Attends Healthcare Products, Inc. | Delaware | |
Domtar AI, Inc. | Delaware | |
Domtar A.W. LLC | Delaware | |
Domtar Delaware Holdings, LLC | Delaware | |
Domtar Delaware Investments Inc. | Delaware | |
Domtar Industries LLC | Delaware | |
Domtar Paper Company, LLC | Delaware | |
Domtar Wisconsin Dam Corp. | Wisconsin | |
EAM Corporation | Delaware | |
E.B. Eddy Paper, Inc. | Delaware |
Schedule 3
Significant Subsidiaries
Domtar Paper Company, LLC
Domtar Inc.
Domtar A.W. LLC