AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

EX-4.1 2 k48565exv4w1.htm EX-4.1 exv4w1
Exhibit 4.1
Execution Copy
AMENDMENT NO. 3
TO
CREDIT AGREEMENT
          THIS AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (the “Amendment”) is made as of November 13, 2009 by and among Steelcase Inc., a Michigan corporation (the “Company”), the institutions listed on the signature pages hereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the administrative agent for the “Lenders” referred to below (the “Administrative Agent”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings given to them in the “Credit Agreement” referred to below.
WITNESSETH:
          WHEREAS, the signatories hereto are parties to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2005, among the Company, the Subsidiary Borrowers from time to time parties thereto, the financial institutions from time to time parties thereto (the “Lenders”), the Administrative Agent, Bank of America, N.A. and BNP Paribas, as co-syndication agents, and Fifth Third Bank and Société Générale, as co-documentation agents (as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto dated as of August 31, 2006 and by Amendment No. 2 thereto dated as of September 21, 2009, and as the same may be further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”); and
          WHEREAS, the parties hereto have agreed to amend the Credit Agreement on the terms and conditions set forth herein;
          NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises set forth above, the terms and conditions contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company, the Lenders party hereto and the Administrative Agent have agreed to the following amendment to the Credit Agreement.
          1. Amendment. Effective as of the date hereof and subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 2 below, the Credit Agreement is hereby amended as follows:
          (a) The last sentence of Section 7.4(A) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 7.4(A) or in the Credit Agreement, for purposes of determining compliance by the Company with the provisions of this Section 7.4(A) for the fiscal quarter ending August 28, 2009, the Leverage Ratio shall be calculated on December 18, 2009 (it being agreed that during the period of time prior to such calculation date, no Unmatured Default shall be deemed to exist or arise under this Section 7.4(A) with respect to such fiscal quarter); provided, however, that nothing herein shall waive or eliminate the Company’s obligation to furnish a computation of the Leverage Ratio for such fiscal quarter as and when required by the terms of Section 7.1(A) hereof, including for the purpose of determining the Applicable

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Eurocurrency Margin, the Applicable Floating Rate Margin, the Applicable L/C Fee Percentage and the Applicable Facility Fee Percentage (as described in the Pricing Schedule).
          (b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Credit Agreement (including, without limitation, in Section 2.3, 2.7 or 2.9 thereof), during the period from the effective date hereof through December 18, 2009, new Revolving Loans shall only be made as, and outstanding Revolving Loans shall only be converted into or continued as, Floating Rate Loans or Floating Rate Advances, and no Revolving Loan may be made as, converted into or continued as a Eurocurrency Rate Loan or Eurocurrency Rate Advance. Nothing in this clause (b) shall affect or modify the other terms and conditions in the Credit Agreement applicable to Revolving Loans.
          2. Conditions of Effectiveness. This Amendment shall become effective as of the date hereof when the Administrative Agent shall have received: (a) executed copies of this Amendment from the Company and the Required Lenders and (b) executed copies of the Reaffirmation attached hereto in the form of Exhibit A from the existing Subsidiary Guarantors.
          3. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby represents and warrants as follows:
          (a) The Company has the requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Amendment and to perform this Amendment and the Credit Agreement (as modified hereby).
          (b) The execution and delivery of this Amendment and the performance of this Amendment and the Credit Agreement (as modified hereby), and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate, partnership or limited liability company acts, including any required shareholder approval of the Company.
          (c) This Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and the Credit Agreement (as modified hereby) constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms (except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and general equitable principles).
          (d) The execution and delivery of this Amendment and the performance of this Amendment and the Credit Agreement (as modified hereby) do not and will not (i) conflict with the articles of incorporation or by-laws of the Company, (ii) conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) a default under any Requirement of Law (including, without limitation, any Environmental Property Transfer Act) or Contractual Obligation of the Company, or require termination of any Contractual Obligation, except any such conflict, breach, default or termination which individually or in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) result in or require the creation or imposition of any Lien whatsoever upon any of the property or assets of the Company, other than Liens permitted or created by the Loan Documents. The execution and delivery of this

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Amendment and the performance by the Company of this Amendment and the Credit Agreement (as modified hereby) do not and will not require any registration with, consent or approval of, or notice to, or other action to, with or by any Governmental Authority (including under any Environmental Property Transfer Act) or any other third party except such registrations, consents, approvals, notices and other actions which have been made, obtained or given, or which, if not made, obtained or given, individually or in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
          (e) As of the date hereof, after giving effect to the terms of this Amendment, (i) there exists no Default or Unmatured Default and (ii) the representations and warranties contained in Article VI of the Credit Agreement are true and correct in all material respects (unless such representation and warranty is made as of a specific date, in which case, such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such date; it being understood and agreed that the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 6.5 and 6.7 of the Credit Agreement were only made as of the Closing Date).
          4. Reference to and Effect on the Credit Agreement and Loan Documents.
          (a) Upon the effectiveness of this Amendment, each reference to the Credit Agreement in the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement as modified hereby. This Amendment is a Loan Document pursuant to the Credit Agreement and shall (unless expressly indicated herein or therein) be construed, administered, and applied, in accordance with all of the terms and provisions of the Credit Agreement.
          (b) The Company (i) agrees that, except as specifically provided herein, this Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby shall not limit or diminish the obligations of the Company arising under or pursuant to the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, (ii) reaffirms its obligations under the Credit Agreement and each and every other Loan Document to which it is a party and (iii) acknowledges and agrees that, except as specifically modified above, the Credit Agreement and all other Loan Documents executed and/or delivered in connection therewith shall remain in full force and effect and are hereby ratified and confirmed.
          (c) The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment shall not, except as expressly provided herein, operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, nor constitute a waiver of or consent to any modification of any provision of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Documents executed and/or delivered in connection therewith.
          5. Governing Law. THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS (INCLUDING 735 ILCS SECTION 105/5-1 ET SEQ. BUT OTHERWISE WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAWS PROVISIONS) OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

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          6. Headings. Section headings in this Amendment are included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Amendment for any other purpose.
          7. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed by one or more of the parties hereto on any number of separate counterparts (including by means of facsimile or electronic transmission), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.
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          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amendment has been duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
         
  STEELCASE INC.,
as the Company
 
 
  By:   /s/ Gary P. Malburg    
    Name:   Gary P. Malburg   
    Title:   VP, Finance & Treasurer   
Signature Page to Amendment No. 3 to Credit Agreement

 


 

         
         
  JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, the Swing Line Bank and as a Lender
 
 
  By:   /s/ Gregory T. Martin    
    Name:   Gregory T. Martin   
    Title:   Vice President   
Signature Page to Amendment No. 3 to Credit Agreement

 


 

         
         
  BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
(including as successor to STANDARD FEDERAL BANK, N.A.),

as the Syndication Agent and as a Lender
 
 
  By:   /s/ Scott Hitchens    
    Name:   Scott Hitchens   
    Title:   Vice President   
Signature Page to Amendment No. 3 to Credit Agreement

 


 

         
         
  BNP PARIBAS,
as a Syndication Agent and as a Lender
 
 
  By:   /s/ Chad Watkins    
    Name:   Chad Watkins   
    Title:   Vice President   
 
     
  By:   /s/ Michael Pearce    
    Name:   Michael Pearce   
    Title:   Director   
Signature Page to Amendment No. 3 to Credit Agreement

 


 

         
         
  SOCIÉTÉ GÉNÉRALE,
as a Documentation Agent and as a Lender
 
 
  By:   /s/ Eric E.O. Siebert Jr.    
    Name:   Eric E.O. Siebert Jr.   
    Title:   Managing Director   
Signature Page to Amendment No. 3 to Credit Agreement

 


 

         
         
  FIFTH THIRD BANK,
as a Documentation Agent and as a Lender
 
 
  By:   /s/ Randal Wolffis    
    Name:   Randal Wolffis   
    Title:   Vice President   
Signature Page to Amendment No. 3 to Credit Agreement

 


 

         
         
  HSBC BANK USA, N.A.,
as a Lender
 
 
  By:   /s/ Andrew Bicker    
    Name:   Andrew Bicker   
    Title:   Vice President   
Signature Page to Amendment No. 3 to Credit Agreement

 


 

         
         
  THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY,
as a Lender
 
 
  By:   /s/ Rebecca H. Pasquesi    
    Name:   Rebecca H. Pasquesi   
    Title:   Vice President   
Signature Page to Amendment No. 3 to Credit Agreement

 


 

         
         
  THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA,
as a Lender
 
 
  By:   /s/ Paula Czach    
    Name:   Paula Czach   
    Title:   Director and Execution Head   
Signature Page to Amendment No. 3 to Credit Agreement

 


 

         
EXHIBIT A
Reaffirmation
          Each of the undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of Amendment No. 3, dated as of November 13, 2009 (the “Amendment”), to the Credit Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2005, by and among Steelcase Inc., a Michigan corporation (the “Company”), the Subsidiary Borrowers from time to time parties thereto, the institutions from time to time parties thereto (the “Lenders”), JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as the administrative agent for the Lenders (the “Administrative Agent”), Bank of America, N.A. and BNP Paribas, as co-syndication agents, and Fifth Third Bank and Société Générale, as co-documentation agents (as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto dated as of August 31, 2006 and by Amendment No. 2 thereto dated as of September 21, 2009, and as the same may from time to time hereafter be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Credit Agreement”). Capitalized terms used in this Reaffirmation and not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.
          Each of the undersigned, by its signature below, hereby (a) acknowledges and consents to the execution and delivery of the Amendment by the parties thereto, (b) agrees that, except as specifically provided therein, the Amendment and the transactions contemplated thereby shall not limit or diminish the obligations of such Person arising under or pursuant to the Loan Documents to which it is a party (including, without limitation, the Subsidiary Guaranty), (c) reaffirms all of its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (d) acknowledges and agrees that each Loan Document executed by it remains in full force and effect and is hereby reaffirmed, ratified and confirmed. All references to the Credit Agreement contained in any Loan Document shall be a reference to the Credit Agreement as so modified by the Amendment and as the same may from time to time hereafter be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified. The Amendment is a Loan Document pursuant to the Credit Agreement and shall (unless expressly indicated therein) be construed, administered, and applied, in accordance with all of the terms and provisions of the Credit Agreement.
Dated as of November 13, 2009
[Signatures Appear on Following Page]

 


 

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Reaffirmation has been duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
         
  ANDERSON DESK, INC.
BRAYTON INTERNATIONAL, INC.
IDEO LLC, successor by merger to IDEO INC.
POLYVISION CORPORATION
THE DESIGN TEX GROUP INC.

 
 
  By:   /s/ Gary P. Malburg    
    Name:   Gary P. Malburg   
    Title:   Treasurer   
 
  STEELCASE FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
 
 
  By:   /s/ Gary P. Malburg    
    Name:   Gary P. Malburg   
    Title:   President   
 
  STEELCASE EUROPE, L.L.C.
 
 
  By:   /s/ Fred W. Brenner Jr.    
    Name:   Fred W. Brenner Jr.   
    Title:   Manager   
 
  STEELCASE SAS
 
 
  By:   /s/ Yvan Stehly    
    Name:   Yvan Stehly   
    Title:   President   
Signature Page to Reaffirmation