Round Wood Supply Agreement - Prime Timber Co. LLC and Crown Paper Co.
ROUND WOOD SUPPLY AGREEMENT
This Agreement is made as of the 28th day of June, 1999 between Prime
Timber Company LLC, a New Hampshire limited liability company ("Prime"), and
Crown Paper Co., a Virginia corporation ("Crown").
Recitals
A. Crown owns a pulp mill located in Berlin, New Hampshire (the "Berlin
Mill").
B. Prime has acquired cutting rights to the timber on certain timberlands
in the States of New Hampshire and Maine which are more particularly described
on Exhibit A hereto (the "Timberlands").
C. The Timberlands have been a material source of roundwood supply for the
Berlin Mill and the parties hereto intend to utilize this Agreement to continue
a long-term relationship with respect thereto.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
contained herein and intending to be legally bound, the parties agree as
follows:
1. Quantities of Hardwood Pulpwood to be Supplied.
(a) During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on
________(the "Initial Period") and during each Six-Month period thereafter
commencing on December 1 or June 1 (the Initial Period and each such six
month period being a "Six-Month Period"), until the supply obligations
under this Section of this Agreement are terminated in accordance with the
provisions of Section 6, Prime shall supply to Crown at the Berlin Mill
from any timberland owned by Prime at such time, and Crown shall purchase
from Prime, the quantity of Hardwood Pulpwood set forth in Exhibit B. The
quantities of Hardwood Pulpwood to be delivered during the Initial Period
shall be prorated based upon the actual number of days within the Initial
Period in relation to the 365-day year.
(b) Prime shall deliver such Hardwood Pulpwood so that the total quantity
of Hardwood Pulpwood to be purchased by Crown and supplied by Prime in each
Six-Month Period shall be delivered substantially in accordance with
Exhibit B.
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(c) The quantity of Hardwood Pulpwood to be supplied hereunder shall be
purchased according to the specifications and the scaling rules set forth
in Exhibit C hereto in accordance with the usual business practice of the
timber industry in the State of New Hampshire.
2. Prices.
(a) The price at which Hardwood Pulpwood supplied hereunder is to be
purchased by Crown shall be established by the parties hereto for each
Six-Month Period during the term of this Agreement Crown shall make payment
no later than Friday for Hardwood Pulpwood delivered during the previous
week (Monday through Sunday).
(b) The prices for the Hardwood Pulpwood for each Six-Month Period shall be
market price in the vicinity. The parties shall use their best efforts to
agree on such market prices for each Six-Month Period at least 15 days
prior to the beginning of each such period, but if the parties are unable
to do so by such time, then neither party shall have any obligation to
supply or purchase Hardwood Pulpwood pursuant to this agreement for such
Six-Month Period. Prime shall have available for sale to Crown at the
beginning of each such Six-Month Period sufficient quantities of Hardwood
Pulpwood to satisfy the volumes provided for in Exhibit B.
(c) The price for Hardwood Pulpwood supplied hereunder shall be f.o.b. the
Berlin Mill or other point of delivery designated by Crown and shall be
determined on the basis of green tons of delivered wood.
(d) In addition to the payment provided for in paragraph 2(a), Crown shall
pay to Prime, within 30 days after the end of each Six-Month Period, a
performance premium of four percent (4%) of the agreed price of the
Products delivered to the Berlin Mill during such Six-Month Period,
provided Prime has delivered no less than 95% of the volume specified in
Exhibit B for such Product during such period and provided such premium
shall be paid on not less than 95% of such volume and on not more than 110%
of such volume.
(e) If Crown shall fail to make a payment for Hardwood Pulpwood delivered
by Prime to Crown hereunder when due, and such failure shall continue for
fifteen (15) days after Crown receives written notice of such failure, then
until such payment has been made (i) such unpaid amount shall bear interest
from the original due date of such payment at one percent over the prime
rate of Citibank, N.A. (New York City) in effect from time to time and (ii)
Prime shall be under no obligation to make further Hardwood Pulpwood
deliveries hereunder until such delinquent payment is made.
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3. Deliveries
Title to the Hardwood Pulpwood shall pass to Crown at the point of delivery
and the risk of loss or damage shall be borne by Prime until delivery.
4. Force Majeure.
Prime and Crown shall not be liable to each other or any failure or delay
in delivery or acceptance of delivery of Hardwood Pulpwood where such
failure or delay is due to circumstances beyond that party's control,
including, without limitation, extraordinary weather conditions, fires,
labor disputes, acts of God and acts of any governmental body or, as to
Crown, in the event Crown, with at least 90 days notice to Prime,
substantially curtails operations at the Berlin Mill (collectively referred
to herein as a "Force Majeure Event"), nor shall any such failure or delay
give either party the right to terminate this Agreement except as provided
in Section 6. Each party shall use its best efforts to minimize the
duration and consequences of any failure or delay in delivery or acceptance
of delivery resulting from a Force Majeure Event and shall give the other
party immediate notice of the occurrence of a Force Majeure Event and of
the time when the party affected by such Force Majeure Event is no longer
affected thereby. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if, as a result of a Force
Majeure Event pursuant to which a delay in Prime's performance is excused
hereunder, or for any other reason deliveries from Prime are reduced to the
extent that Crown cannot maintain its scheduled production level at the
Berlin Mill, Crown shall thereafter have the right to obtain the Hardwood
Pulpwood, or substitutes therefor (in either case, "Substitute Hardwood
Pulpwood"), from sources other than Prime until such time as Prime is again
able to commence delivery of Hardwood Pulpwood to Crown hereunder. After
Prime gives notice to Crown that it is again able to commence delivery of
Hardwood Pulpwood to Crown hereunder, Crown will notify Prime of any
commitments for Substitute Hardwood Pulpwood that Crown has entered into
and Crown shall not be required to again accept delivery from Prime until
it has accepted delivery of all Substitute Hardwood Pulpwood contracted by
Crown, provided that no such contract shall be entered into for a term
longer than three months without the consent of Prime, which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld, and Crown's obligation to take Hardwood
Pulpwood hereunder (and Prime's obligation to deliver such) shall be
reduced, at Crown's election, by the quantity of all such Substitute
Hardwood Pulpwood. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if as a result of a Force
Majeure Event Crown cannot accept the quantity of Hardwood Pulpwood
determined hereunder, Crown shall promptly notify Prime of the same, and
Prime shall thereafter have the right to contract for the sale of any such
Hardwood Pulpwood Crown is unable to accept. After Crown gives notice to
Prime that it is again able to accept delivery of Hardwood Pulpwood to
Crown hereunder, Prime will notify Crown of any commitments for the sale of
Hardwood Pulpwood that Prime has entered into and
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Prime shall not be required to again deliver Hardwood Pulpwood to Crown
until such contract shall be entered into for a term longer than three
months without the consent of Crown, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld, and Prime's obligation to deliver Hardwood Pulpwood
hereunder (and Crown's obligation to accept such Hardwood Pulpwood) shall
be reduced, at Prime's election, by the quantity of all such Hardwood
Pulpwood.
5. Confidentiality.
(a) It is recognized that both parties may disclose to each other certain
information regarding the subject of this Agreement which they consider to
be private and confidential, the disclosure of which could prove injurious
to either party. Therefore, the parties agree to use such information
solely for the use, sale and pricing of Hardwood Pulpwood, and to use their
best efforts to prevent the disclosure of such information (other than
information which is a matter of public knowledge or which has been filed
as public information with any governmental authority) to third parties
without the prior written consent of the affected party, unless such
disclosure is required by law.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 5(a), either party may make
any such disclosure necessary in connection with a legal action to enforce
its rights hereunder and, in the event there is a material breach by Prime
of its obligations pursuant to Section 7, Crown may disclose to any third
party purchaser of Timberlands involved in such breach the terms of Section
7 as they relate to such Timberlands.
6. Termination of Supply Obligations.
(a) Although it is the intent of the parties that this Agreement shall
result in a long term, mutually beneficial supply relationship, the wood
supply obligations pursuant to Section 1 of this Agreement may be
terminated by either party, at its option exercisable by written notice to
the other party, but only under any one of the following circumstances:
(i) As of November 1st, 2009 (the "initial Termination Date") or as of
any November 1st thereafter which is a multiple of three years after
the Initial Termination Date, provided (A) such notice is given not
less than three years prior to such termination date, and (B) such
notice is accompanied by a certificate of an officer of the party
providing such notice to the effect that the notice is being given due
to a change in management practices of the terminating party such
that, if Prime is the terminating party, the Hardwood Pulpwood is no
longer available, and, if
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Crown is the terminating party, the Hardwood Pulpwood can no longer be
utilized at the Berlin Mill; or
(ii) Through no default by either party, no Hardwood Pulpwood has been
delivered pursuant to the terms of this Agreement during the initial
twelve year term or any subsequent three year term; or
(iii) By either party if the other party shall default in the
performance of any of its agreements or obligations herein, and such
default continues unremedied for a period of sixty (60) days after
written notice from the nondefaulting party; or
(iv) In the event Crown sells the Berlin Mill, then by either party,
as to the supply obligations associated as provided in Exhibit B, (A)
on 30 days prior written notice if such supply obligations were not
assigned to the purchaser of such mill or (B) upon one year's prior
written notice effective as of any November 1st following such sale if
such supply obligations were assigned to the purchaser of such mill.
(b) Any such termination of the supply obligations shall not constitute a
waiver by either party of its rights to damages or other remedies for any
breach of this Agreement by the other party.
7. Transfer of Cutting Rights.
(a) Transfer. In the event Prime desires to sell, assign or otherwise
transfer all or any part of its cutting rights on the Timberlands, other
than exempt Property as described below, transfers shall be made subject to
this Agreement and Prime shall submit to Crown for its approval, not to be
unreasonably withheld or delayed, a proposal for equitable allocation of
Prime's obligations to provide the Hardwood Pulpwood volumes set forth in
Exhibit B for each Annual Period of the remaining term of this Agreement to
which property transferred shall be subject, with the overall objective of
ensuring that such volumes are provided to Crown during the term of this
Agreement and taking into consideration the following factors for
determining such reduction: (i) species and product mix; (ii) site index
(productivity); and (iii) time remaining under this Agreement Easements
(including conservation easements), mineral leases and recreational leases
shall not be considered a sale or transfer for purposes of this section.
(b) Exempt Property. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth
above, the sale of any part of Prime's cutting rights on the Timberlands
shall be exempt from the obligations of this Wood Supply Agreement herein;
provided (A) the aggregate of all such exempt property ("Exempt Property")
shall not exceed 4,000 acres; and (B) until such 4,000 acre limit has been
reached, any parcel containing 500 acres or less the cutting rights on
which are sold or otherwise transferred shall be deemed Exempt Property.
The transfer of any
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Exempt Property pursuant to the provisions of this subsection (a) shall
relieve the Exempt Property from the obligations under this Agreement, but
shall not relieve Prime of its obligations under this Agreement including
the obligations to make available to Crown the Hardwood Pulpwood volumes in
Exhibit B.
8. Representations and Covenants.
(a) Prime hereby covenants and agrees that:
(i) it shall give Crown no less than 30 days prior notice of any
transfer of any of any of the cutting rights on the Timberlands or any
other transaction related thereto which would have any effect on
Prime's obligations under this Agreement; and
(ii) it has the right, power and authority to grant the rights hereby
purported to be granted Crown.
(b) Crown represents and warrants that it has the right, power and
authority to enter into this Agreement and consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby.
9. Relationship of Parties.
In all matters relating to this Agreement, both parties shall be acting
solely as independent contractors and shall be solely responsible for the
acts of their employees; and employees of one party shall not be considered
employees of the other party. Neither party shall have any right, power or
authority to create any obligation, express or implied, on behalf of the
other party.
10. SF1.
Prime agrees to manage the Timberlands in accordance with the Sustainable
Forestry Initiative of the American Forest and Paper Association ("SFI).
This commitment will last until the first occurrence of either one of the
following two scenarios: (1) the SFI program is no longer a viable, ongoing
program, or (2) the Wood Supply Agreement between Crown and Prime is no
longer in effect.
11. Compliance with Law.
Each party agrees to comply with all applicable laws, statutes, ordinances
and governmental rules and regulations applicable to the conduct of its
business.
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12. Waiver.
No waiver shall be deemed to be made by either party of any of its rights
hereunder unless the same shall be in writing, and each waiver, if any,
shall be a waiver only with respect to the specific instance involved and
shall in no way impair the rights of the waiving party or the obligations
of the other party in any other respect at any other time.
13. Assignment.
(a) Either party may assign this Agreement to any corporation which
controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such party,
formed by consolidation of such party with another corporation or
corporations, or into which such party shall be merged, or to which
substantially all the property of such party shall be conveyed or
transferred as an entirety (the "Successor Corporation"), or to a trustee
under any deed of trust mortgaging or pledging all, or substantially all,
of such party's plants and real property. Upon any such transfer, all the
terms and provisions of this Agreement binding upon, or inuring to the
benefit of, the assigning party shall be binding upon, the inure to the
benefit of, its successor or assign, whether so expressed or not, provided,
however, in any such case the assignee shall assume in writing the
obligations of the assigning party and the assigning party shall remain
primarily liable hereunder. Except as above provided, this Agreement shall
not be assignable or transferable by either party without the consent of
the other party.
(b) In the event Crown sells the Berlin Mill, Crown may assign to any such
purchaser its supply rights under this Agreement as provided in Exhibit B,
and, in such event, such assignment shall also be deemed a delegation and
assumption by such purchaser of all Crown's duties and obligations
hereunder related to such supply rights, and upon the assumption in writing
by such purchaser of all Crown's duties and obligations hereunder, Crown
shall be released from all future obligations hereunder with respect to
such supply rights and Prime shall thereafter look only to such assignee
for performance under this Agreement with respect to such rights.
14. Separability.
If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable, the balance of this Agreement shall remain in effect.
15. Notices.
Any notices which may be required or are appropriate hereunder shall be in
writing or by electronic means producing a written record (facsimile
machine, telex, telecopier or telegraph), personally delivered or mailed by
Registered or Certified United States Mail or reputable overnight courier,
postage prepaid,
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return receipt requested, effective on personal delivery, one day after mailing
if by reputable overnight courier or three days after mailing if by United
States mail:
To Crown at the following address:
Mr. A. Bradford Wyman
Crown Vantage, Inc.
650 Main Street
Berlin, NH 03570
Telephone: (603) 342-2500
Facsimile: (603) 342-2301
Copy to:
Chris McLain, Esq.
Crown Vantage
300 Lakeside Drive, Room 1451
Oakland, CA 94612-3592
Telephone: (510) 874-3869
Facsimile: (510) 874-3939
To Prime at the following address:
Mr. Thomas I. Colgan
Prime Timber Company LLC
do Wagner Forest Management, Ltd.
P.O. Box 160
150 Orford Road
Lyme, NH 03768
Telephone: (603) 795-2002
Facsimile: (603) 795-4631
Copy to:
Karen Huber, Esq.
Eaton, Peabody, Bradford & Veague
144 Exchange Street, Fleet Center
Bangor, ME 04402
Telephone: (207) 947-0111
16. Headings.
The headings in this Agreement are solely for convenience of reference and shall
be given no effect in the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.
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17. Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall
be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one
agreement.
18. Governing Law.
This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws
of the State of New Hampshire, without regard to the principles of conflict
of law thereof.
19. Nonrecordation.
Neither this Agreement nor a memorandum of the terms hereof shall be
recorded in the land records of any jurisdiction where any of the
Timberlands are located except in connection with a lawsuit filed by Crown
as a result of a breach by Prime of its obligations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto each of have caused this Agreement
to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
WITNESSED BY: PRIME T1MBER COMPANY LLC
By: Wagner Forest Management, Ltd.,
Its Manager
/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
-------------------------
By: /s/ J.F. Sobetzer
-------------------------------
Name: J.F. Sobetzer
Its: Vice President
Duly Authorized
WITNESSED BY: CROWN PAPER CO.
/s/ [ILLEGIBLE] By: /s/ Michael J. Hunter
------------------------- -------------------------------
Name: Michael J. Hunter
Its: Senior Vice President
Duly Authorized
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STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
COUNTY OF Grafton
The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 23 day of June,
1999. by J. F. Sobetzer, in his capacity as Vice President of Wagner Forest
Management, Ltd., a New Hampshire corporation, the Manager of Prime Timber
Company LLC, a New Hampshire limited liability company, on behalf of such
limited liability company.
[EXECUTE IN BLACK INK] /s/ Donna Brenner
---------------------------------------
Notary Public
Name: Donna Brenner, Notary Public
My Commission expires: April 29, 2003
(AFFIX SEAL]
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STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF ALEMEDA
The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 29th day of June,
1999, by Michael J. Hunter, Senior Vice President of Crown Paper Co., a Virginia
corporation, on behalf of the corporation.
[EXECUTE IN BLACK INK] /s/ Laurel Avi
----------------------------------
Notary Public
Name: Laurel Avi
My Commission expires: 9/2/2000
[AFFIX SEAL]
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