Exchange Agreement – Debentures – School Specialty, Inc.
EXCHANGE AGREEMENT
___________________ (the “Undersigned“), for itself and on
behalf of the beneficial owners listed on Exhibit A hereto
(“Accounts“) for whom the Undersigned holds contractual and
investment authority (each Account, as well as the Undersigned if it is
exchanging Existing Debentures (as defined below) hereunder, a
“Holder“), enters into this Exchange Agreement (the
“Agreement“) with School Specialty, Inc., a Wisconsin
corporation (the “Company“) on July ___, 2011 whereby the
Holders will exchange (the “Exchange“) the Company153s 3.75%
Convertible Subordinated Debentures due 2026 issued pursuant to the Indenture,
dated as of November 22, 2006, between the Company and The Bank of New York
Trust Company, N.A. (the “Existing Debentures“) for the
Company153s 3.75% Convertible Subordinated Debentures due 2026 (the “New
Debentures“) that will be issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of
March 1, 2011 (the “Indenture“), between the Company and The
Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (the
“Trustee“) attached hereto as Exhibit B.
On and subject to the terms hereof, the parties hereto agree as follows:
Article I: Exchange of the
Existing Debentures for New Debentures
At the Closing (as defined herein), the Undersigned hereby agrees to cause
the Holders to exchange and deliver to the Company the following Existing
Debentures, and in exchange therefor the Company hereby agrees to issue to the
Holders the principal amount of New Debentures described below:
Principal Amount of Existing Debentures to be Exchanged: $
(the “Exchanged Debentures“).
Original Principal Amount (before any accretion) of New Debentures to be
Issued in the Exchange:
$
(the “Holders153 New Debentures“).
The closing of the Exchange (the “Closing“) shall occur on a
date (the “Closing Date“) no later than three business days
after the date of this Agreement, provided that the Closing (and the Closing
Date) shall not occur unless and until an aggregate of at least $50,000,000
principal amount of Existing Debentures (including the Exchanged Debentures in
this Exchange) are simultaneously exchanged for New Debentures on financial
terms substantially the same as those set forth herein. At the Closing, (a) each
Holder shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Company all right, title
and interest in and to its Exchanged Debentures free and clear of any mortgage,
lien, pledge, charge, security interest, encumbrance, title retention agreement,
option, equity or other adverse claim thereto (collectively,
“Liens“), together with any documents of conveyance or transfer
that the Company may deem necessary or desirable to transfer to and confirm in
the Company all right, title and interest in and to the Exchanged Debentures
free and clear of any Liens, and (b) the Company shall deliver to each Holder
the principal amount of Holders153 New Debentures specified on Exhibit A
hereto (or, if there are no Accounts, the Company shall deliver to the
Undersigned, as the sole Holder, the Holders153 New Debentures specified above);
provided, however, that the parties acknowledge that the delivery of the
Holders153 New Debentures to the Holder may be delayed due to procedures and
mechanics within the system of the Depository Trust Company and that such delay
will not be a default under this Agreement so long as (i) the Company is using
its best efforts to effect the issuance of one or more global debentures
representing the New Debentures, (ii) such delay is no longer than three
business days, and (iii) interest shall accrue on such New Debentures from the
latest Interest Payment Date under the Indenture. Simultaneously with or after
the Closing, the Company may issue New Debentures to one or more other holders
of outstanding Existing Debentures or to other investors, subject to the terms
of the Indenture .
Article II: Covenants,
Representations and Warranties of the Holders
Each Holder (and, where specified below, the Undersigned) hereby covenants
(solely as to itself), as follows, and makes the following representations and
warranties (solely as to itself), each of which is and shall be true and correct
on the date hereof and at the Closing, to the Company, Lazard Fr ¨res & Co.
LLC and Lazard Capital Markets LLC, and all such covenants, representations and
warranties shall survive the Closing.
Section 2.1
Power and Authorization. The Holder is duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing, and has the power, authority
and capacity to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations
hereunder, and to consummate the Exchange contemplated hereby. If the
Undersigned is executing this Agreement on behalf of Accounts, (a) the
Undersigned has all requisite discretionary and contractual authority to enter
into this Agreement on behalf of, and bind, each Account, and (b) Exhibit
A hereto is a true, correct and complete list of (i) the name of each
Account, (ii) the principal amount of such Account153s Exchanged Debentures, and
(iii) the principal amount of Holders153 New Debentures to be issued to such
Account in respect of its Exchanged Debentures.
Section 2.2
Valid and Enforceable Agreement; No Violations. This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Undersigned and the Holder
and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Undersigned and the
Holder, enforceable against the Undersigned and the Holder in accordance with
its terms, except that such enforcement may be subject to (a) bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar
laws affecting or relating to enforcement of creditors153 rights generally, and
(b) general principles of equity, whether such enforceability is considered in a
proceeding at law or in equity (the “Enforceability
Exceptions“). This Agreement and consummation of the Exchange will not
violate, conflict with or result in a breach of or default under (i) the
Undersigned153s or the Holder153s organizational documents, (ii) any agreement or
instrument to which the Undersigned or the Holder is a party or by which the
Undersigned or the Holder or any of their respective assets are bound, or (iii)
any laws, regulations or governmental or judicial decrees, injunctions or orders
applicable to the Undersigned or the Holder.
Section 2.3
Title to the Exchanged Debentures. The Holder is the
sole legal and beneficial owner of the Exchanged Debentures set forth opposite
its name on Exhibit A hereto (or, if there are no Accounts, the
Undersigned is the sole legal and beneficial owner of all of the Exchanged
Debentures). The Holder has good, valid and marketable title to its Exchanged
Debentures, free and clear of any Liens (other than pledges or security
interests that the Holder may have created in favor of a prime broker under and
in accordance with its prime brokerage agreement with such broker). The Holder
has not, in whole or in part, except as described in the preceding sentence, (a)
assigned, transferred, hypothecated, pledged, exchanged or otherwise disposed of
any of its Exchanged Debentures or its rights in its Exchanged Debentures, or
(b) given any person or entity any transfer order, power of attorney or other
authority of any nature whatsoever with respect to its Exchanged Debentures.
Upon the Holder153s delivery of its Exchanged Debentures to the Company pursuant
to the Exchange, such Exchanged Debentures shall be free and clear of all Liens
created by the Holder. Upon the Closing, the Holder shall not be entitled to any
interest on the Exchanged Debentures irrespective of whether such interest
accrued before or after the Closing.
Section 2.4
Accredited Investor. The Holder is either a
“qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A promulgated
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities
Act“), or an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501 of
Regulation D (“Regulation D“) promulgated under the Securities
Act.
Section 2.5
No Affiliate Status. The Holder is not, and has not
been during the consecutive three month period preceding the date hereof, a
director, officer or “affiliate” within the meaning of Rule 144 promulgated
under the Securities Act (an “Affiliate“) of the Company. To
its knowledge, the Holder did not acquire any of the Exchanged Debentures,
directly or indirectly, from an Affiliate of the Company.
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Section 2.6
No Illegal Transactions. Each of the Undersigned and
the Holder has not, directly or indirectly, and no person acting on behalf of or
pursuant to any understanding with it has, engaged in any transactions in the
securities of the Company (including, without limitation, any Short Sales (as
defined below) involving any of the Company153s securities) since the time that
the Undersigned was first contacted by either the Company, Lazard Fr ¨res &
Co. LLC or Lazard Capital Markets LLC or any other person regarding the
Exchange, this Agreement or an investment in the New Debentures or the Company.
Each of the Undersigned and the Holder covenants that neither it nor any person
acting on its behalf or pursuant to any understanding with it will engage,
directly or indirectly, in any transactions in the securities of the Company
(including Short Sales) prior to the time the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement are publicly disclosed. “Short Sales” include,
without limitation, all “short sales” as defined in Rule 200 of Regulation SHO
promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
“Exchange Act“), and all types of direct and indirect stock
pledges, forward sale contracts, options, puts, calls, short sales, swaps,
derivatives and similar arrangements (including on a total return basis), and
sales and other transactions through non-U.S. broker-dealers or foreign
regulated brokers. Solely for purposes of this Section 2.6, subject to the
Undersigned153s and the Holder153s compliance with their respective obligations
under the U.S. federal securities laws and the Undersigned153s and the Holder153s
respective internal policies, (a) “Undersigned” and “Holder” shall not be deemed
to include any employees, subsidiaries or affiliates of the Undersigned or the
Holder that are effectively walled off by appropriate “Chinese Wall” information
barriers approved by the Undersigned153s or the Holder’s respective legal or
compliance department (and thus have not been privy to any information
concerning the Exchange) , and (b) the foregoing representations of this Section
2.6 shall not apply to any transaction by or on behalf of an Account that was
effected without the advice or participation of, or such Account153s receipt of
information regarding the Exchange provided by, the Undersigned.
Section 2.7
Adequate Information; No Reliance. The Holder
acknowledges and agrees that (a) the Holder has been furnished with all
materials it considers relevant to making an investment decision to enter into
the Exchange and has had the opportunity to review (i) the Company153s filings and
submissions with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“SEC“), including, without limitation, all information filed or
furnished pursuant to the Exchange Act and (ii) a draft form of Current Report
on Form 8-K (the “Anticipated Disclosure“) disclosing all
material terms of the Exchange and certain other matters concerning the Company,
the substance of which will be publicly issued or filed with the SEC in
accordance with Section 3.6 below, (b) the Holder has had a full opportunity to
ask questions of the Company concerning the Company, its business, operations,
financial performance, financial condition and prospects, and the terms and
conditions of the Exchange, (c) the Holder has had the opportunity to consult
with its accounting, tax, financial and legal advisors to be able to evaluate
the risks involved in the Exchange and to make an informed investment decision
with respect to such Exchange and (d) the Holder is not relying, and has not
relied, upon any statement, advice (whether accounting, tax, financial, legal or
other), representation or warranty made by the Company or any of its affiliates
or representatives including, without limitation, Lazard Fr ¨res & Co. LLC
and Lazard Capital Markets LLC, except for (A) the publicly available filings
and submissions made by the Company with the SEC under the Exchange Act, (B) the
Anticipated Disclosure, and (C) the representations and warranties made by the
Company in this Agreement.
Section 2.8
No Public Market. The Holder understands that no
public market exists for the New Debentures, and that there is no assurance that
a public market will ever develop for the New Debentures.
Article III: Covenants,
Representations and Warranties of the Company
The Company hereby covenants as follows, and makes the following
representations and warranties, each of which is and shall be true and correct
on the date hereof and at the Closing, to the Holders, Lazard Fr ¨res & Co.
LLC and Lazard Capital Markets LLC, and all such covenants, representations and
warranties shall survive the Closing.
Section 3.1
Power and Authorization. The Company is duly
incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its state
of incorporation, and has the power, authority and capacity to execute
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and deliver this Agreement and the Indenture, to perform its obligations
hereunder and thereunder, and to consummate the Exchange contemplated hereby.
Section 3.2
Valid and Enforceable Agreements; No Violations.
This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and
constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable
against the Company in accordance with its terms, except that such enforcement
may be subject to the Enforceability Exceptions. At the Closing, the Indenture
will govern the terms of the New Debentures, and the Indenture will constitute a
legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the
Company in accordance with its terms, except that such enforcement may be
subject to the Enforceability Exceptions. This Agreement, the Indenture and
consummation of the Exchange will not violate, conflict with or result in a
breach of or default under (i) the charter, bylaws or other organizational
documents of the Company, (ii) any agreement or instrument to which the Company
is a party or by which the Company or any of its assets are bound, or (iii) any
laws, regulations or governmental or judicial decrees, injunctions or orders
applicable to the Company.
Section 3.3
Validity of the Holders153 New Debentures. The Holders153
New Debentures have been duly authorized by the Company and, when executed and
authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and delivered
to the Holder pursuant to the Exchange against delivery of the Exchanged
Debentures in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Holders153 New
Debentures will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in
accordance with their terms, except that such enforcement may be subject to the
Enforceability Exceptions, and the Holders153 New Debentures will not be subject
to any preemptive, participation, rights of first refusal or other similar
rights. Assuming the accuracy of each Holder153s representations and warranties
hereunder, the Holders153 New Debentures (a) will be issued in the Exchange exempt
from the registration requirements of the Securities Act pursuant to Section
4(2) of the Securities Act, (b) will, at the Closing, be free of any
restrictions on resale by such Holder pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the
Securities Act, and (c) will be issued in compliance with all applicable state
and federal laws concerning the issuance of the Holders153 New Debentures.
Section 3.4
Validity of Underlying Common Stock. The Holders153 New
Debentures will at the Closing be convertible into shares of Common Stock, par
value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “Conversion
Shares“) in accordance with the terms of the Indenture. The Conversion
Shares have been duly authorized and reserved by the Company for issuance upon
conversion of the Holders153 New Debentures and, when issued upon conversion of
the Holders153 New Debentures in accordance with the terms of the Holders153 New
Debentures and the Indenture, will be validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable, and the issuance of the Conversion Shares will not be subject to
any preemptive, participation, rights of first refusal or other similar rights.
Section 3.5
Listing Approval. At the Closing, the Conversion
Shares shall be listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market.
Section 3.6
Disclosure. On or before the first business day
following the date of this Agreement, the Company shall issue a publicly
available press release or file with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K
disclosing all material terms of the Exchange and certain other matters
concerning the Company (to the extent not previously publicly disclosed).
Article IV:
Miscellaneous
Section 4.1
Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the documents
and agreements herein referenced embody the entire agreement and understanding
of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede
all prior and contemporaneous oral or written agreements, representations,
warranties, contracts, correspondence, conversations, memoranda and
understandings between or among the parties or any of their agents,
representatives or affiliates relative to such subject matter, including,
without limitation, any term sheets, emails or draft documents.
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Section 4.2
Construction. References in the singular shall
include the plural, and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires.
References in the masculine shall include the feminine and neuter, and vice
versa, unless the context otherwise requires. Headings in this Agreement are for
convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the
meanings of the provisions hereof. Neither party, nor its respective counsel,
shall be deemed the drafter of this Agreement for purposes of construing the
provisions of this Agreement, and all language in all parts of this Agreement
shall be construed in accordance with its fair meaning, and not strictly for or
against either party.
Section 4.3
Governing Law. This Agreement shall in all respects
be construed in accordance with and governed by the substantive laws of the
State of New York, without reference to its choice of law rules.
Section 4.4
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Any counterpart or other
signature hereon delivered by facsimile or other electronic means shall be
effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement and
deemed for all purposes as constituting good and valid execution and delivery of
this Agreement by such party.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to
be executed as of the date first above written.
|
“UNDERSIGNED”: By: Name: Title: |
“COMPANY”: SCHOOL SPECIALTY, INC. By: Name: Title: |
Signature Page to Exchange Agreement for School Specialty,
Inc.
3.75% Convertible Subordinated Debentures due 2026
EXHIBIT A
Exchanging Beneficial Owners
|
Name of |
Principal Amount of Exchanged |
Principal Amount of Holders153 New Debentures |
EXHIBIT B
Indenture
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