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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

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FORM 8-K

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CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): July 1, 2015

 

MeadWestvaco Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

(804) 444-1000

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

 

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Introductory Note

On July 1, 2015, pursuant to the Second Amended and Restated Business Combination Agreement, dated as of April 17, 2015 and amended as of May 5, 2015 (the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and among WestRock Company (formerly known as Rome-Milan Holdings, Inc.), a Delaware corporation (“WestRock”), Rock-Tenn Company, a Georgia corporation (“RockTenn”), MeadWestvaco Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Rome Merger Sub, Inc., a Georgia corporation (“RockTenn Merger Sub”), and Milan Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“MWV Merger Sub”), the Company and RockTenn completed a strategic combination of their respective businesses. Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, (i) RockTenn Merger Sub was merged with and into RockTenn, with RockTenn surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of WestRock, and (ii) MWV Merger Sub was merged with and into the Company, with the Company surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of WestRock (collectively, the “Combination”).

At the effective time of the Combination, each share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Company Common Stock”), of the Company issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Combination was converted into the right to receive 0.78 fully paid and nonassessable shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“WestRock Common Stock”), of WestRock.  In the aggregate, stockholders of the Company received 131,154,432 shares of WestRock Common Stock (which includes shares to be issued under certain Company equity awards that vested as a result of the Combination).

Under the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, subject to proration, allocation and certain limitations set forth in the Business Combination Agreement, shareholders of RockTenn had the option to elect to receive for each share of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“RockTenn Common Stock”), of RockTenn such shareholder held (except for excluded shares and dissenting shares as more particularly set forth in the Business Combination Agreement):

Because the Cash Consideration option was oversubscribed, the consideration to be received by the holders who elected to receive Cash Consideration was prorated pursuant to the terms set forth in the Business Combination Agreement. Following the proration:

As a result, RockTenn shareholders will receive in the aggregate 130,378,207 shares of WestRock Common Stock (which includes shares to be issued under certain RockTenn equity awards that vested as a result of the Combination) and approximately $667,829,832 in cash.

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On July 2, 2015, shares of WestRock Common Stock began regular-way trading on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “WRK”.

The description of the Business Combination Agreement contained herein does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Business Combination Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 2.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference. This summary is not intended to modify or supplement any factual disclosures about the Company, WestRock or RockTenn, and should not be relied upon as disclosure about the Company, WestRock or RockTenn without consideration of the periodic and current reports and statements that the Company, WestRock and RockTenn file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The terms of the Business Combination Agreement govern the contractual rights and relationships between, and allocate risks among, the parties thereto in relation to the transactions contemplated thereby. In particular, the representations and warranties made by the parties to each other in the Business Combination Agreement reflect negotiations between, and are solely for the benefit of, the parties thereto and may be limited or modified by a variety of factors, including: subsequent events, information included in public filings, disclosures made during negotiations, correspondence between the parties and disclosure schedules to the Business Combination Agreement. Accordingly, the representations and warranties may not describe the actual state of affairs at the date they were made or at any other time and should not be relied upon as statements of fact.

Item 1.01    Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Credit Agreement

On July 1, 2015, WestRock and the Company entered into a credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) among WestRock, as borrower, RockTenn Company of Canada Holdings Corp./Compagnie de Holdings RockTenn du Canada Corp., a Nova Scotia unlimited liability company (“RockTenn Canada”), as Canadian borrower, the other borrowers from time to time party thereto, the guarantors from time to time party thereto, the lenders from time to time party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and multicurrency agent.  The Credit Agreement provides for a five-year senior unsecured term loan in an aggregate principal amount of $2,300,000,000 ($1,100,000,000 of which can be drawn on a delayed draw basis not later than nine months after the closing of the Credit Agreement) (the “Term Loan Facility”) and a five-year senior unsecured revolving credit facility in an aggregate committed principal amount of $2,000,000,000 (the “Revolving Credit Facility” and, together with the Term Loan Facility, the “Credit Facilities”). Certain proceeds of the Credit Facilities were used to repay loans outstanding under the Existing Company Credit Agreement (as defined below) and other indebtedness of WestRock’s subsidiaries and to pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Credit Agreement.  On July 1, 2015, after giving effect to the refinancing described above and the rollover of letters of credit outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement, WestRock had more than $3.5 billion of availability under the Revolving Credit Facility and existing accounts receivable securitization facility, which may be used to provide ongoing working capital and for other general corporate purposes. The Credit Facilities are unsecured and, as of July 1, 2015, are guaranteed by the Company and RockTenn.

At WestRock’s option, loans issued under the Credit Facilities will bear interest at either LIBOR or an alternate base rate, in each case plus an applicable interest rate margin.  Loans will initially bear interest at LIBOR plus 1.125% per annum, in the case of LIBOR borrowings, or at the alternate base rate plus 0.125%, in the alternative, and thereafter the interest rate will fluctuate between LIBOR plus 1.000% per annum and LIBOR plus 1.750% per annum (or between the alternate base rate plus 0.000% per annum and the alternate base rate plus 0.750% per annum), based upon WestRock’s corporate credit ratings or the Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) (whichever yields a lower applicable interest rate margin) at such time.  In addition, WestRock will be required to pay fees that will fluctuate between 0.125% per annum to 0.300% per annum on the unused amount of the Revolving Credit Facility, based upon WestRock’s corporate credit ratings or the Leverage Ratio (whichever yields a lower fee).  Loans under the Credit Facilities may be prepaid at any time without premium.

The Credit Agreement contains usual and customary representations and warranties, and usual and customary affirmative and negative covenants, including: financial covenants (including maintenance of a maximum consolidated debt to capitalization ratio and a minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio) and limitations on liens, additional indebtedness and asset sales and mergers.  The Credit Agreement also contains usual and customary events of default, including: non-payment of principal, interest, fees and other amounts; material breach of a representation or warranty; default on other material debt; bankruptcy or insolvency; incurrence of certain material ERISA liabilities; material judgments; impairment of loan documentation; change of control; and material breach of obligations under securitization programs.

The foregoing summary of the Credit Agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the Credit Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

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Farm Credit Facility

On July 1, 2015, RockTenn CP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Rock-Tenn Converting Company, a Georgia corporation, and MeadWestvaco Virginia Corporation, a Delaware corporation, as borrowers, entered into a credit agreement (the “Farm Loan Credit Agreement”) with CoBank ACB (“CoBank”), as administrative agent. The Farm Loan Credit Agreement provides for a seven-year senior unsecured term loan in an aggregate principal amount of $600,000,000 (the “Farm Credit Facility”). The proceeds from the Farm Credit Facility will be used by the borrowers under the facility to finance (or refinance) investments made by the borrowers that satisfy both of the following criteria: (a) such investments are (or were) made in order to allow existing mills to (i) utilize waste and waste product (including mixed paper post-consumer materials and old corrugated containers) as inputs for their operations or (ii) generate electric power from renewable energy sources (namely, energy conversion systems fueled by biomass) and to use the renewable power generated by the mills for their operations and (b) such investments are (or were) made in mills that are located in rural areas with populations of no more than 20,000.  The Farm Credit Facility is unsecured and, as of July 1, 2015, is guaranteed by the Company, WestRock and RockTenn.

At WestRock’s option, loans issued under the Farm Credit Facility will bear interest at either LIBOR or an alternate base rate, in each case plus an applicable interest rate margin.  Loans will initially bear interest at LIBOR plus 1.500% per annum, in the case of LIBOR borrowings, or at the alternate base rate plus 0.500%, in the alternative, and thereafter the interest rate will fluctuate between LIBOR plus 1.500% per annum and LIBOR plus 2.125% per annum (or between the alternate base rate plus 0.500% per annum and the alternate base rate plus 1.125% per annum), based upon WestRock’s corporate credit ratings or Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Farm Loan Credit Agreement) (whichever yields a lower applicable interest rate margin) at such time.  Loans under the Farm Credit Facility may be prepaid at any time without premium.

The Farm Loan Credit Agreement contains substantially similar representations and warranties, affirmative and negative covenants and events of default as in the Credit Agreement described above.

The foregoing summary of the Farm Loan Credit Agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the Farm Loan Credit Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

Supplemental Indentures

The Company previously executed (i) an indenture, dated as of July 15, 1982, between the Company (as successor to The Mead Corporation) and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (as successor to Bankers Trust Company), as trustee (as supplemented from time to time, the “1982 Indenture”), under which the Company is the issuer of the 9.830% Notes due 2020; (ii) an indenture, dated as of March 1, 1983, between the Company (as successor to Westvaco Corporation) and The Bank of New York Mellon (as successor to Irving Trust Company), as trustee (as supplemented from time to time, the “1983 Indenture”), under which the Company is the issuer of the 9.750% Debentures due 2020, the 7.500% Sinking Fund Debentures due 2027, the 7.650% Sinking Fund Debentures due 2027, the 8.200% Debentures due 2030 and the 7.95% Debentures due 2031; (iii) an indenture, dated as of February 1, 1993, between the Company (as successor to The Mead Corporation) and The Bank of New York Mellon  (as successor to The First National Bank of Chicago), as trustee (as supplemented from time to time, the “1993 Indenture”), under which the Company is the issuer of the 7.350% Debentures due 2017, the 6.840% Debentures due 2037 and the 7.550% Debentures due 2047; and (iv) and an indenture, dated as of April 2, 2002, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (as supplemented from time to time, the “2002 Indenture” and, together with the 1982 Indenture, the 1983 Indenture and the 1993 Indenture, the “Company Indentures”), under which the Company is the issuer of the 7.375% Notes due 2019 and the 6.800% Debentures due 2032.

RockTenn previously executed (i) an indenture, dated as of February 22, 2012, by and among RockTenn, the guarantors party thereto and HSBC Bank USA, National Association, as trustee (as supplemented from time to time, the 2012 HSBC Indenture”), under which RockTenn is the issuer of the 4.450% Senior Notes due 2019 and the 4.900% Senior Notes due 2022 and (ii) an indenture, dated as of September 11, 2012, by and among RockTenn, the guarantors party thereto and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (as supplemented from time to time, the “2012 BONYM Indenture” and, together with the 2012 HSBC Indenture, the “RockTenn Indentures”), under which RockTenn is the issuer of the 3.500% Senior Notes due 2020 and the 4.000% Senior Notes due 2023.

In connection with the Combination, WestRock, the Company and RockTenn entered into supplemental indentures (a) to add WestRock and RockTenn as guarantors of the obligations of the Company under the Company Indentures and all outstanding debt securities issued thereunder and (b) to add WestRock and the Company as guarantors of the obligations of RockTenn under the RockTenn Indentures and all outstanding debt securities issued thereunder. On July 1, 2015, WestRock, the Company, RockTenn and the appropriate trustees, entered into (i) Supplemental Indenture No. 3 to the 2012 HSBC Indenture; (ii) Supplemental Indenture No. 3 to the 2012 BONYM Indenture; (iii) the Seventh Supplemental Indenture to the 1982 Indenture; (iv) the Third Supplemental Indenture to the 1983 Indenture; (v) the Fourth Supplemental Indenture to the 1993 Indenture; and (vi) the First Supplemental Indenture to the 2002 Indenture ((i) through (vi) together, the “Supplemental Indentures”).  The guarantees of WestRock, the Company and RockTenn may be released upon the circumstances described in the Supplemental Indentures, including upon the merger or consolidation of any guarantor into another obligor in respect of the applicable Company Indenture or RockTenn Indenture.

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The foregoing summary of the Supplemental Indentures does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the Supplemental Indentures, copies of which are filed as Exhibits 4.1 through 4.6 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 1.02  Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

On July 1, 2015, in connection with the closing of the Credit Agreement and the Farm Loan Credit Agreement, the Company terminated all outstanding commitments and repaid all outstanding loans under that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of January 30, 2012, among the Company, the other borrowers from time to time party thereto, the lenders from time to time party thereto, Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent, Bank of America, N.A., (the “Existing Company Credit Agreement”) as syndication agent, and Barclays Bank plc, The Bank of Tokyo- Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. and UBS Loan Finance LLC, as documentation agents.  As of July 1, 2015, immediately prior to the effectiveness of the Credit Agreement, the aggregate principal amount of the loans outstanding under the Existing Company Credit Agreement was $0. Outstanding letters of credit under the Existing Company Credit Agreement were rolled over as letters of credit outstanding under the Credit Agreement.

Item 2.01  Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

 

The information set forth in the Introductory Note of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.01.

Item 2.03  Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

The information set forth in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

Item 3.01  Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing.

 

Prior to the Combination, shares of Company Common Stock were registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and listed on the NYSE.  As a result of the Combination, the Company has requested that the NYSE file a Form 25 to withdraw the shares of Company Common Stock from listing on the NYSE. The shares of Company Common Stock were suspended from trading on the NYSE prior to the open of trading on July 2, 2015. The Company expects to file a Form 15 with the SEC to terminate the registration under the Exchange Act of the shares of Company Common Stock, and suspend the reporting obligations under Sections 12(g) and 15(d) of the Exchange Act of the Company.

The information set forth in the Introductory Note of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.01.

Item 3.03.  Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

In connection with the Combination, on July 1, 2015, each share of Company Common Stock was canceled. In exchange for each share of Company Common Stock, stockholders of the Company received 0.78 shares of WestRock Common Stock.

In connection with the closing of the Combination, WestRock assumed the sponsorship of each of the following compensatory plans of the Company:  (i) the MWV Savings and Employee Stock Ownership Plan for Bargained Hourly Employees, (ii) the MWV Savings and Employee Stock Ownership Plan for Salaried and Non-Bargained Hourly Employees, (iii) the MWV 2005 Performance Incentive Plan, effective April 22, 2005 and as amended through February 25, 2013, (iv) the MWV Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors, as amended and restated effective January 1, 2009 and (v) the MWV 1996 Stock Option Plan, as amended and restated,  as well as any outstanding awards granted under the applicable plan, the award agreements evidencing the grants of such awards and the remaining shares available under the applicable plan, including any awards granted to the Company’s executive officers, in each case subject to applicable adjustments in the manner set forth in the Business Combination Agreement to such awards.

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As provided in the Combination Agreement, at the effective time of the Combination, all options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units and director stock units relating to shares of Company Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Combination were generally converted into options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units and director stock units, respectively, relating to shares of WestRock Common Stock, on the same terms and conditions as applied prior to the effective time of the Combination and after giving effect to appropriate adjustments to reflect the Combination.

 

The information set forth in the Introductory Note and Items 1.01, 3.01 and 5.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03.

Item 5.01  Changes in Control of Registrant.

Upon the effective time of the Combination, a change in control of the Company occurred and all shares of Company Common Stock are now held by WestRock. The information set forth in the Introductory Note and Items 3.03 and 5.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.01.

Item 5.02  Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

In connection with the consummation of the Combination and the Company becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of WestRock, on July 1, 2015, all directors of the Company resigned from the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”), and the Company’s sole stockholder, WestRock, elected Steven C. Voorhees and Ward H. Dickson to the Board.

In connection with the Combination, each of John A. Luke, Jr., Robert A. Feeser, E. Mark Rajkowski, Linda V. Schreiner and Wendell L. Willkie, II ceased to serve as an officer of the Company.

 

On July 1, 2015, in connection with the Combination, the Company amended and restated its Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws.  The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company are filed as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference.

Item 8.01.  Other Events.

On July 1, 2015, WestRock issued a press release announcing the completion of the Combination, which is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

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Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

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EXHIBIT INDEX