Exhibit (10)(o)(iv)
March 19, 2002
To the Lenders under the Credit Agreement referenced below
Re: Credit Agreement dated as of June 29, 2001 (as amended by that First
Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of August 27, 2001, that Second
Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of December 19, 2001 and that
Third Amendment to Credit Agreement dated of January 24, 2002 and as
otherwise modified from time to time pursuant to the terms thereof,
the "Credit Agreement") among Potlatch Corporation (the "Borrower"),
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the Guarantors from time to time party thereto, the Lenders from time
to time party thereto and Bank of America, N.A. ("Bank of America"),
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as Administrative Agent.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is hereby made to the above-referenced Credit Agreement.
Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings
ascribed to such terms in the Credit Agreement.
The Borrower hereby requests that the Required Lenders consent to:
(a) Notwithstanding the terms of Section 8.5 of the Credit Agreement,
the sale of its Cloquet, Minnesota, pulp and printing papers facilities and
associated assets to a subsidiary of Sappi Limited, as more fully described
in the press release issued by the Borrower on March 18, 2002 and filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission in a filing on Form 8-K on
March 18, 2002 (the "Cloquet Sale"); provided that:
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(i) the Borrower shall receive as consideration for the Cloquet
Sale (x) gross cash proceeds of at least $470 million and (y) Net Cash
Proceeds of at least $400 million;
(ii) no later than five (5) Business Days prior to the Cloquet
Sale, the Borrower shall have delivered to the Agent (x) a Pro Forma
Compliance Certificate demonstrating that, upon giving effect on a Pro
Forma Basis to such transaction (and giving effect to this letter
agreement, to the extent it has been executed by the Required
Lenders), the Credit Parties would be in compliance with the financial
covenants set forth in Section 7.10(a)-(c) of the Credit Agreement,
(y) a notification
To the Lenders under the Potlatch Corporation Credit Agreement
March 19, 2002
Page 2
from the Borrower in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and
specifying the anticipated date of such Asset Disposition, briefly
describing the assets to be sold or otherwise disposed of and setting
forth the net book value of such assets, the aggregate consideration
and the Net Cash Proceeds to be received for such assets in connection
with such Asset Disposition and (z) a certificate of an Executive
Officer of the Borrower stating that the Cloquet Sale is permitted
under the Senior Subordinated Note Indenture; and
(iii) the Credit Parties shall, immediately upon consummation of
the Cloquet Sale, apply (or cause to be applied) an amount equal to
the Net Cash Proceeds of the Cloquet Sale to prepay the Loans (and, if
necessary, cash collateralize LOC Obligations) in accordance with the
terms of Section 3.3(b)(ii)(A) of the Credit Agreement; provided that
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in the calculating the Net Cash Proceeds, the Credit Parties may
subtract from the gross cash proceeds received from the Cloquet Sale
those applicable amounts permitted to be subtracted pursuant to the
definition of Net Cash Proceeds, including the amount necessary to
prepay or retire debt related to the Cloquet property in accordance
with clause (c) of such definition to the extent such amounts are
actually paid as contemplated.
Furthermore, notwithstanding the terms of Section 8.5 of the Credit
Agreement, the net book value of the assets of the Credit Parties sold in
connection with the Cloquet Sale shall not count toward the baskets for
permitted Asset Dispositions contained in Section 8.5(e) of the Credit
Agreement.
(b) Notwithstanding the definition of Consolidated Net Worth and the
terms of Section 7.10(b) of the Credit Agreement, the after-tax charge
taken by the Borrower in the first quarter of its 2002 fiscal year to cover
costs associated with the write-down of the book value of assets and
closure costs in connection with the Borrower's closure of its remaining
printing papers mill in Brainerd, Minnesota, and its exit from the coated
printing papers business, as more fully described in the press release
issued by the Borrower on March 18, 2002 and filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission in a filing on Form 8-K on March 18, 2002 (the
"After-Tax Charge"), shall be excluded from calculating Consolidated Net
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Worth for the purposes of determining compliance with Section 7.10(b);
provided that such exclusion in connection with the After-Tax Charge shall
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be limited to $150 million.
In consideration of the Required Lenders granting their consent to the
foregoing, the Borrower hereby agrees that (1) promptly following the
consummation of the Cloquet Sale, it will negotiate in good faith with the Agent
and the Lenders an amendment to and/or restatement of the Credit Agreement so as
to modify the terms thereof to more appropriately reflect (in the reasonable
determination of the Agent and the Required Lenders) the Borrower's business and
financial condition and prospects (including based upon pro forma financial
information and projections) after giving effect to the Cloquet Sale and (II) it
will use commercially reasonable efforts to conclude such negotiations and enter
into such an amendment to and/or restatement of the Credit Agreement that will
become effective on or prior to July 31, 2002.
To the Lenders under the Potlatch Corporation Credit Agreement
March 19, 2002
Page 3
Except to the extent specifically provided to the contrary in this letter,
all terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents
shall remain in full force and effect, without modification or limitation. This
letter shall not operate as a consent to any action or inaction by the Borrower,
or as a waiver of any other right, power, or remedy of any Lender or the Agent
under, or any provision contained in, the Credit Agreement or any other Credit
Document except as specifically provided herein. This letter shall constitute a
Credit Document and may be executed by the parties hereto in several
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which
shall constitute together but one and the same agreement. Delivery of an
executed counterpart by telecopy shall be as effective as an original. This
letter shall become effective upon the Agent's receipt of counterparts hereof
duly executed by the Borrower and the Required Lenders.
To evidence your consent to the foregoing, please sign and return a copy of
this letter to the Agent by no later than 5 p.m. EST, Thursday, March 21, 2002
via facsimile to the attention of Xxxxx XxXxxxxx of Xxxxx & Xxx Xxxxx PLLC at
(000) 000-0000.
Thank you for your time and consideration of this matter.
Very truly yours,
POTLATCH CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
The undersigned hereby acknowledge their
consent and agreement to the foregoing:
SUBSIDIARY
GUARANTORS: DULUTH & NORTHEASTERN RAILROAD CO.
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By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Secretary
THE PRESCOTT AND NORTHWESTERN
RAILROAD COMPANY
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Secretary and Assistant
Treasurer
ST. MARIES RIVER RAILROAD
COMPANY
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Secretary and Assistant
Treasurer
XXXXXX AND SALINE RIVER RAILROAD
COMPANY
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Secretary and Assistant
Treasurer
AGENT: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
----- in its capacity as Administrative Agent
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
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Name: XXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
Title: MANAGING DIRECTOR
LENDERS: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
------- individually in its capacity as a Lender
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
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Name: XXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
Title: MANAGING DIRECTOR
