FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of August 30, 2012 Among CASCADES INC. CASCADES USA INC. CASCADES EUROPE SAS (as Borrowers) – and – NATIONAL BANK OF CANADA (as Administrative Agent) THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA (as Collateral Agent) – and...

Exhibit 10.1

EXECUTION COPY

FOURTH AMENDMENT

TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of August 30, 2012

Among

CASCADES INC.

CASCADES USA INC.

CASCADES EUROPE SAS

(as Borrowers)

– and –

NATIONAL BANK OF CANADA

(as Administrative Agent)

THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA

(as Collateral Agent)

– and –

THE LENDERS

FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO

XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX LLP

FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE FEBRUARY 10, 2011 CASCADES CREDIT AGREEMENT made as of August 30, 2012.

BETWEEN:		CASCADES INC. (“Cascades”)
AND :		CASCADES USA INC.
AND :		CASCADES EUROPE SAS
		(each a “Borrower” and collectively, the “Borrowers”)
AND:		THE LENDERS PARTY TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT REFERRED TO BELOW
		(each a “Lender” and collectively the “Lenders”)
AND:		NATIONAL BANK OF CANADA
		(as “Administrative Agent”)
AND:		THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA
		(as “Collateral Agent”)

RECITALS

A. The Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders are party to a credit agreement dated as of February 10, 2011, as amended further to request letters dated April 14, 2011, May 19, 2011 and June 22, 2011 (the “Credit Agreement”), providing for a Facility in an amount of $750,000,000.

B. The Lenders have been requested by the Borrowers to (i) extend the Facility Maturity Date to February 10, 2016 and (ii) reduce the Applicable Margins (or Rates) set out in the pricing grid of Schedule “A”.

C. The parties have also agreed to changes in the amount of the Commitment of certain Lenders.

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NOW, THEREFORE, THE PARTIES AGREE AS FOLLOWS:

1. Interpretation

1.1 Capitalized terms used herein and defined in the Credit Agreement have the meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement unless otherwise defined herein.

1.2 This Agreement may be referred to as the Fourth Amendment to the February 10, 2011 Cascades Credit Agreement.

1.3 Any reference to the Credit Agreement in any Credit Document refers to the Credit Agreement as amended hereby.

2. Amendments to the Credit Agreement

2.1 On the date this Agreement becomes effective, the Commitments of the Lenders under the Facility and each Tranche will be as specified opposite their names on the signature pages of this Agreement.

2.2 Section 1.2 of the Credit Agreement is amended by replacing the definition of “Facility Maturity Date” with the following:

“Facility Maturity Date” means February 10, 2016;”

2.3 Section 2.14 of the Credit Agreement is deleted.

2.4 Schedule “A” to the Credit Agreement is amended by replacing the grid applicable to the Applicable Margins (or Rates) with the following grid:

Rating

Prime, US Base

Acceptance Fee / Libor European Rate/L/C Fee

Stand-By Fee

BBB/Baa2 or Higher

50.0 bps

150.0 bps

30.0 bps

BBB-/Baa3

75.0 bps

175.0 bps

35.0 bps

BB+/Bal

112.5 bps

212.5 bps

42.5 bps

BB/Ba2

150.0 bps

250.0 bps

50.0 bps

BB-/Ba3 or Lower

200.0 bps

300.0 bps

60.0 bps

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2.5 Paragraph 4 of Schedule “A” to the Credit Agreement is amended to provide that adjustments to Acceptance fees as a result of a change of Rate will be payable by the Borrowers or the Lenders (as applicable), and not only by Cascades. Accordingly, paragraph 4 will be replaced by the following:

“4. Interest, Letter of Credit fees and stand-by fees will be calculated, for any day, using the applicable Rate in effect on the relevant day. Acceptance fees will be calculated using the Rate in effect on the date such fees are payable. Any change of Rate (including as a result of an amendment to the Credit Agreement) will give rise to adjustments to Acceptance fees previously calculated if the period of calculation extended beyond the date of the modification. The adjustments will apply to the number of days remaining to accrue from the date of the modification. The adjustments will be calculated by the Administrative Agent and be payable by Cascades or the Lenders (as applicable) within three Business Days from the date of a demand therefor by the Administrative Agent.”

3. Adjustments

On the date this Agreement becomes effective, the Administrative Agent will notify Cascades and the Lenders of the adjustments which are required to be made among the Lenders to ensure that the outstanding Borrowings under the Facility and each Tranche are owed to the Lenders in the proportion of their respective Commitments under the Facility and each Tranche (as set out on the signature pages of this Agreement). The amounts payable by Lenders as a result of such adjustments will be payable by the Lenders concerned to the Agent on the Business Day following the date of notification. The Agent will thereafter promptly remit such amounts to the Lenders in whose favour the adjustments are payable. The Borrowers will be bound by such adjustments.

4. Effectiveness and Conditions Precedent

This Agreement will become effective on the date that the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrowers and the Lenders (through Intralinks in the case of the Lenders) that this Agreement has been executed by all parties hereto and that the Administrative Agent has received copies of the corporate documents evidencing the authority of the persons acting on behalf of the Borrowers.

5. Fees and Expenses

5.1 On the date this Agreement becomes effective, Cascades must pay to each Lender an extension fee of 7.5 bps calculated on the total amount of its Commitment as specified opposite its name on the signature pages of this Agreement. The Administrative Agent is authorized to debit such fees to an account of Cascades with the Administrative Agent.

5.2 The Borrowers agree to pay on demand all reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery and implementation and administration of this Agreement.

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6. Confirmation

Each of the Borrowers represents to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that this Agreement will not result in any Default.

7. Counterparts

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered will be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together will constitute but one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by telecopier will be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

8. Governing Law

This Agreement is governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the Province of Quebec and of the laws of Canada applicable therein.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date and year first above written.

CASCADES INC.

Per: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxx                                             

        Xxxxxx X. Xxxx

CASCADES USA INC.

Per: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxx                                                 

        Xxxxx Xxxx

CASCADES EUROPE SAS

Per: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxx                                                 

        Xxxxxx Xxxx

Per: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx                                                 

        Xxxxx Xxxxxxx

NATIONAL BANK OF CANADA, as Administrative  Agent

Per: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx                                    

        Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx

        Director

Per: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx                                             

        Xxxx Xxxxxx

        Directeur - Director

THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, as Collateral Agent

Per: illegible

(the names and signatures of the Lenders are on the next page)

[Signature page – Fourth Amendment Cascades]

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Commitment Amounts						Lenders
Tranche A:			$73,333,334			National Bank of Canada
Tranche B:			$13,333,333
Tranche C:			$13,333,333			per : /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx             Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx         Director
Total:			$100,000,000			per: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx             Xxxx Xxxxxx
						Directeur - Director
Percentage:			13.33%
						National Bank of Canada, New York Branch (in respect of Tranche B)
						per : /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxx             Xxxxxxx Xxxx - Vice President
						per: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx                     Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx - AVP
Tranche A:			$73,333,334			The Bank of Nova Scotia
Tranche B:			$13,333,333
Tranche C:			$13,333,333			per : illegible
Total:			$100,000,000			per: illegible
Percentage:			13.33%
Tranche A:			$55,000,000			Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
Tranche B:			$10,000,000
Tranche C:			$10,000,000			per : /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxx             Xxxx Xxxxxxxx         Executive Director
Total :			$75,000,000			per: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx             Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx         Executive Director
Percentage:			10.00%
						CIBC Inc., as designated Lender with respect to Tranche B
						per : illegible
						per : illegible

[Signature page – Fourth Amendment Cascades]

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Commitment Amounts						Lenders
Tranche A:			$55,000,000			Caisse centrale Xxxxxxxxxx
Tranche B:			$10,000,000
Tranche C:			$10,000,000			per : illegible
Total :			$75,000,000
						per: illegible
Percentage:			10.00%
						Caisse centrale Xxxxxxxxxx US Branch, as designated Lender with respect to Tranche B
						per: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx             Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx         Vice President
Tranche A:			$55,000,000			Xxxxx Fargo Capital Finance Corporation Canada
Tranche B:			$10,000,000
Tranche C:			$10,000,000
Total :			$75,000,000			per : /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx                     Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx V. P.
Percentage:			10.00%			Xxxxx Fargo Bank, N.A., as designated Lender with respect to Tranche B and Tranche C
						per : /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx                 Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx         Senior Vice President

[Signature page – Fourth Amendment Cascades]

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Commitment Amounts						Lenders
Tranche A:			$36,666,666			BNP Paribas (Canada)
Tranche B:			$6,666,667
Tranche C:			$6,666,667			per : /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxx         Xxxxxxx Xxxxx         Director
Total:			$50,000,000			per: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxx         Xxxx Xxxxx
Percentage:			6.67%			BNP Paribas, New York Branch, as designated Lender with respect to Tranche B
						per : /s/ Xxxxx Xx Xxxxx         Xxxxx Xx Xxxxx         Vice President
						per: /s/ Xxxxxxxxxx Bouych         Xxxxxxxxxx Bouych         Vice President
						BNP Paribas, as designated Lender with respect to Tranche C
						per : illegible
						per: /s/ Xxxxxx Charmois         Xxxxxx Charmois
Tranche A:			$36,666,666			Bank of America, N. A., Canada Branch
Tranche B:			$6,666,667
Tranche C:			$6,666,667
						per : /s/ Xxxxxx Sales de Xxxxxxx         Xxxxxx Sales xx Xxxxxxx         Vice President
Total:			$50,000,000
Percentage:			6.67%			per :
Tranche A:			$34,833,333			Comerica Bank, Canada Branch
Tranche B:			$6,333,335
Tranche C:			$6,333,332
						per : /s/ illegible                                 PORTFOLIO MANAGER
Total:			$47,500,000
						Comerica Bank,
Percentage:			6.33%			(in respect of Tranche B and Tranche C)
						per : illegible

[Signature page – Fourth Amendment Cascades]

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Commitment Amounts						Lenders
Tranche A:			$34,833,332			Rabobank Nederland, Canadian Branch
Tranche B:			$6,333,333
Tranche C:			$6,333,335
						per : /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
						Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
						Vice President
Total:			$47,500,000
Percentage:			6.33%			per: /s/ Xxxxxx Chewpa
						Xxxxxx Chewpa
						Managing Director, RI North America Wholesale
						Regional Head Loan Product Group
Tranche A:			$25,666,666			The Toronto-Dominion Bank
Tranche B:			$4,666,667
Tranche C:			$4,666,667			per : illegible
Total:			$35,000,000			per: illegible
Percentage:			4.67%			Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as designated Lender with respect to Tranche B
						per : /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx
						Xxxxx Xxxxxx - Authorized Signatory
						The Toronto-Dominion Bank, London Office, (in respect of Tranche C)
						per : /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
						Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
						Regional Head of Credit Management London
Tranche A:			$25,666,666			Royal Bank of Canada
Tranche B:			$4,666,667
Tranche C:			$4,666,667			per : /s/ Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxx
						Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxx
						Authorized Signatory
Total:			$35,000,000			per:
Percentage:			4.67%			Royal Bank of Canada, (in respect of Tranche B)
						per: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxx
						Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxx
						Authorized Signatory

[Signature page – Fourth Amendment Cascades]

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Commitment Amounts						Lenders
Tranche A:			$25,666,666			Bank of Montreal
Tranche B:			$4,666,667
Tranche C:			$4,666,667			per :		/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx
Total:			$35,000,000					Xxxxx Xxxxx       Director/Directeur
Percentage:			4.67	%
						Bank of Montreal, Chicago Branch (in respect of Tranche B)
						per :		/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxx
								Xxxxxxx Xxxx       Vice President
Tranche A:			$18,333,335			Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
Tranche B:			$3,333,332
Tranche C:			$3,333,333			per :		/s/ Xxxx - Xxxxxx Xxxxx
								Xxxx - Xxxxxx Xxxxx       Senior Portfolio Manager
Total:			$25,000,000			per :		/s/ Xxxxx X. XxXxxxxx
Percentage:			3.33	%				Xxxxx X. XxXxxxxx       Senior Vice President

[Signature page – Fourth Amendment Cascades]

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CONFIRMATION BY THE DESIGNATED SUBSIDIARIES

We, the undersigned, as Designated Subsidiaries and guarantors under the Credit Agreement, hereby agree with the terms of this Fourth Amending Agreement.

7251637 CANADA INC.

7678169 CANADA INC.

CASCADES CANADA ULC

CASCADES ENVIROPAC HPM LLC

CASCADES SPG SALES INC.

CASCADES GIE INC.

CASCADES HOLDING US INC.

CASCADES MOULDED PULP, INC.

CASCADES PAPERBOARD INTERNATIONAL INC.

CASCADES PLASTICS INC.

CASCADES TENDERCO INC.

CASCADES TISSUE LLC

CASCADES TRANSPORT INC.

CASCADES FINE PAPERS GROUP INC.

KINGSEY FALLS INVESTMENTS INC.

CASCADES TISSUE GROUP – IFC DISPOSABLES INC.

CASCADES TISSUE GROUP – NEW YORK INC.

CASCADES TISSUE GROUP – ARIZONA INC.

CASCADES TISSUE GROUP- SALES INC.

CASCADES TISSUE GROUP – TENNESSEE INC.

CASCADES ENERGY ACTION INC.

NORAMPAC INC.

NORAMPAC EXPORT SALES CORP.

NORAMPAC NEW ENGLAND INC.

NORAMPAC NEW YORK CITY INC.

NORAMPAC FINANCE US INC.

NORAMPAC INDUSTRIES INC.

NORAMPAC SCHENECTADY INC.

each of the foregoing entities being represented by

Name:		/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxx
		Xxxxxx Xxxx, duly authorized as he so declares

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