WAIVER NO. 8
WAIVER
NO. 8
WAIVER
NO. 8 dated as of July 14, 2009 (this “Agreement”)
between ▇▇▇▇▇▇ PUBLISHING GROUP, LLC (the “Borrower”),
▇▇▇▇▇▇ COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY, LLC (“MCC”),
▇▇▇▇▇▇ COMMUNICATIONS HOLDING COMPANY, LLC (“Holdings”),
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ TRADING & OPERATING COMPANY (“▇▇▇▇▇▇▇”),
MPG NEWSPAPER HOLDING, LLC (“MPG
Holdings”), the SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS party hereto (the “Subsidiary
Guarantors” and, together with the Borrower, MCC, Holdings, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and
MPG Holdings, the “Obligors”),
the Lenders executing this Agreement on the signature pages hereto and JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent for the lenders party to the Credit
Agreement referenced below (in such capacity, together with its successors in
such capacity, the “Administrative
Agent”).
The
Borrower, MCC, the lenders party thereto and the Administrative Agent are
parties to a Credit Agreement dated as of December 14, 2005 (as amended by
Amendment No. 1 thereto, Amendment No. 2 and Waiver thereto, Amendment ▇▇. ▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇. ▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇. ▇ thereto, Waiver No. 3 thereto,
Amendment No. 5 and Waiver No. 4 thereto, Waiver No. 5 thereto, Waiver No. 6
thereto and Waiver No. 7 thereto and as otherwise modified and supplemented and
in effect immediately prior to the effectiveness of this Agreement, the “Credit
Agreement”). The Lenders executing this Agreement on the
signature pages hereto wish now to waive a certain Default under the Credit
Agreement, subject to the terms and provisions of this Agreement, and,
accordingly, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
Section
1. Definitions. Except
as otherwise defined in this Agreement, terms defined in the Credit Agreement
are used herein as defined therein.
Section
2. Waiver. Subject
to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent specified in Section 4
hereof, but effective as of the date hereof, the Administrative Agent, on behalf
of the Lenders, hereby:
(a) extends,
until 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on July 31, 2009, the waiver set forth
in Section 3(a) of Amendment No. 4 and Waiver No. 2 to the Credit Agreement of
any Default under clause (b) of Article VII of the Credit Agreement that
consists solely of the Borrower or ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Finance defaulting in the payment when
due of interest due on February 1, 2009 on the 2003 Senior Subordinated Notes
(the “Bond
Interest Payment Default”); and
(b) waives,
until 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on July 31, 2009, any Default that
consists solely of the Cash Flow Ratio exceeding the applicable amount permitted
under Section 6.06(a) of the Credit Agreement (together with the Bond Interest
Payment Default, the “Specified
Defaults”);
provided
that such waivers shall expire upon:
(i) the
termination or expiry of the Amended Forbearance Agreement referenced below or
the occurrence of any “Forbearance Termination Event” thereunder (as such term
is defined therein);
(ii) any
amendment, waiver, supplementation or modification of the Amended Forbearance
Agreement (other than Amendment No. 3 to Forbearance Agreement referenced below)
without the consent of the Required Lenders;
(iii) the
occurrence or continuance of any Default other than a Specified
Default;
(iv) the
failure of any representation or warranty made in this Agreement to be true and
correct as of the date when made; or
(v) the
failure by any Obligor to comply with any term, condition, covenant or agreement
contained in this Agreement.
Upon the
expiry of any of the foregoing waivers as provided above, the Administrative
Agent and each Lender shall be entitled to exercise any and all rights and
remedies under the Loan Documents in respect of any Event of Default covered by
such waiver to the extent such Event of Default shall then be
continuing.
Section
3. Representations
and Warranties. Each of the Obligors represents and warrants
to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, as to itself and each of its
subsidiaries, that (i) the representations and warranties set forth in
Article III of the Credit Agreement and in the other Loan Documents are
true and complete as if made on and as of the date hereof (or, if any such
representation or warranty is expressly stated to have been made as of a
specific date, such representation or warranty shall be true and correct as of
such specific date) and (ii) immediately before and after giving effect to this
Agreement, no Default or Event of Default (other than any Specified Default or
any Event of Default arising therefrom) has occurred and is
continuing.
Section
4. Conditions
Precedent. The waivers set forth in Section 2 hereof shall
become effective as of the date hereof upon the satisfaction of the following
conditions:
(i) Execution. The
Administrative Agent shall have received executed counterparts of this Agreement
from the Obligors and the Required Lenders.
(ii) Amendment
to Forbearance Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall have
received, in form and substance satisfactory to it, a duly executed and binding
amendment (“Amendment
No. 5 to Forbearance Agreement”) to the Forbearance Agreement dated as of
February 26, 2009 among the Borrower, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Finance, the guarantors parties
thereto and holders, or investment advisors or managers of holders, of over 75%
of the principal amount of the outstanding 2003 Senior Subordinated Notes (as
amended by the Amendment to Forbearance Agreement dated as of April 6, 2009,
Amendment No. 2 to Forbearance Agreement dated as of April 23, 2009, Amendment
No. 3 to Forbearance Agreement dated as of May 28, 2009, Amendment No. 4 to
Forbearance Agreement dated as of June 12, 2009 and Amendment No. 5 to
Forbearance Agreement, the “Amended
Forbearance Agreement”).
(iii) No
Default. No Default or Event of Default (other than any
Specified Default or any Event of Default arising therefrom) shall have occurred
and be continuing on the date hereof.
(iv) Expenses. The
Borrower shall have paid in full the costs, expenses and fees as set forth in
Section 9.03 of the Credit Agreement (including the reasonable fees, charges and
disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent).
Section
5. Security
Documents. Each of the Obligors (a) confirms its obligations
under the Security Documents, as applicable, (b) confirms that the obligations
of the Borrower and MCC under the Credit Agreement are entitled to the benefits
of the pledges and guarantees, as applicable, set forth in the Security
Documents, (c) confirms that the obligations of the Borrower and MCC under the
Credit Agreement constitute “Guaranteed Obligations”, “Secured Obligations” and
“Obligations” (as such terms are defined in the Security Documents, as
applicable) and (d) confirms that the Credit Agreement is the “Credit Agreement”
under and for all purposes of the Security Documents.
Section
6. Miscellaneous. This
Agreement shall be limited as written and nothing herein shall be deemed to
constitute a waiver of any other term, provision or condition of the Credit
Agreement or any other Loan Document in any other instance than as set forth
herein or prejudice any right or remedy that the Administrative Agent or any
Lender may have or may in the future have under the Credit Agreement or any
other Loan Document. Except as herein provided, each of the Credit
Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall remain unchanged and in full force
and effect. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
amendatory instrument, and any of the parties hereto may execute this Agreement
by signing any such counterpart. Delivery of an executed counterpart
of a signature page to this Agreement by electronic transmission shall be
effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this
Agreement. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the law of the State of New York.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed and delivered as of the day and year first above written.
▇▇▇▇▇▇
PUBLISHING GROUP, LLC
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Senior Vice
President of Finance
▇▇▇▇▇▇
COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY, LLC
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Senior Vice
President of Finance
▇▇▇▇▇▇
COMMUNICATIONS HOLDING COMPANY,
LLC
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Senior Vice
President of Finance
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
TRADING & OPERATING COMPANY
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Senior Vice
President of Finance
MPG
NEWSPAPER HOLDING, LLC
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Senior Vice
President of Finance
▇▇▇▇▇▇
PUBLISHING FINANCE CO.
YANKTON
PRINTING COMPANY
BROADCASTER
PRESS, INC.
THE
SUN TIMES, LLC
▇▇▇▇▇
NEWS, LLC
LOG
CABIN DEMOCRAT, LLC
ATHENS
NEWSPAPERS, LLC
SOUTHEASTERN
NEWSPAPERS COMPANY, LLC
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
FLORIDA
PUBLISHING COMPANY
THE
OAK RIDGER, LLC
MPG
ALLEGAN PROPERTY, LLC
MPG
HOLLAND PROPERTY, LLC
MCC
RADIO, LLC
MCC
OUTDOOR, LLC
MCC
MAGAZINES, LLC
MCC
EVENTS, LLC
HIPPODROME,
LLC
BEST
READ GUIDES FRANCHISE COMPANY, LLC
▇▇▇▇▇▇
VISITOR PUBLICATIONS, LLC
▇▇▇▇▇▇
BOOK PUBLISHING, LLC
THE
▇▇▇▇▇ PRESS, INC.
▇▇▇▇▇▇
AIR, LLC
MCC
HARBOUR CONDO, LLC
MCC
CUTTER COURT, LLC
▇▇▇▇▇▇
DIGITAL WORKS, LLC
MSTAR
SOLUTIONS, LLC
MVP
FRANCE, LLC
MVP
GLOBAL, LLC
SOUTHWESTERN
NEWSPAPERS COMPANY, L.P.
MCC
OUTDOOR HOLDING, LLC
THE
MAP GROUP, INC.
By: /s/
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Senior Vice
President of Finance
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JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A.,
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As
Administrative Agent
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By:
/s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Name:
▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Title:
Managing Director
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LENDERS:
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JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A.,
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Individually
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By:
/s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Name:
▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Title:
Managing Director
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THE
BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,
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By:
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Name:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Title:
Managing Director
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SUNTRUST
BANK
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By:
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇
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Name:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
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Title:
First Vice President
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WACHOVIA
BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
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By:
/s/ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇
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Name:
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
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Title:
Director
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ALLIED
IRISH BANKS, PLC
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By:
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Name:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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| Title: Senior Vice President | |
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ALLIED
IRISH BANKS, PLC
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By:
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇'▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Name:
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇'▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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| Title: Assistant Vice President | |
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GENERAL
ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORP.
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By:
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Name:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Title:
Duly Authorized Signatory
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US
BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
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By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇
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Name:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
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Title:
Vice President
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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
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By:
/s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Name:
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Title:
Vice President
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KEYBANK
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
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By:
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Name:
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Title:
Vice President
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BANK
OF AMERICA, N.A.
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By:
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇ ▇▇▇▇
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Name:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇ ▇▇▇▇
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Title:
Senior Vice President
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COMERICA
BANK
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By:
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.
▇▇▇▇
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Name:
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
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Title:
Vice President
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AIB
Debt Management, Limited
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By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Name:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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| Title: Senior Vice President | |
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AIB
Debt Management, Limited
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By:
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇'▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Name:
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇'▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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| Title: Assistant Vice President | |
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FIRST
TENNESSEE BANK N.A.
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By:
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Title:
Senior Vice
President
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