Collateral for Undrawn Letters of Credit (a) If the prepayment of the amount available for drawing under any or all outstanding Letters of Credit is required under Section 1.8(b), Section 1.14, Section 9.2 or Section 9.3 above, the Borrower shall forthwith pay the amount required to be so prepaid, to be held by the Administrative Agent as provided in subsection (b) below.
(b) All amounts prepaid pursuant to subsection (a) above shall be held by the Administrative Agent in one or more separate collateral accounts (each such account, and the credit balances, properties, and any investments from time to time held therein, and any substitutions for such account, any certificate of deposit or other instrument evidencing any of the foregoing and all proceeds of and earnings on any of the foregoing being collectively called the “Collateral Account”) as security for, and for application by the Administrative Agent (to the extent available) to, the reimbursement of any payment under any Letter of Credit then or thereafter made by the L/C Issuer, and to the payment of the unpaid balance of all other Obligations (and to all Hedging Liability and Bank Product Obligations). The Collateral Account shall be held in the name of and subject to the exclusive dominion and control of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, and the L/C Issuer. If and when requested by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall invest funds held in the Collateral Account from time to time in direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of America with a remaining maturity of one year or less, provided that the Administrative Agent is irrevocably authorized to sell investments held in the Collateral Account when and as required to make payments out of the Collateral Account for application to amounts then due and owing from the Borrower to the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent or the Lenders. If the Borrower shall have made payment of all obligations referred to in subsection (a) above required under Section 1.8(b) hereof, if any, at the request of the Borrower the Administrative Agent shall release to the Borrower amounts held in the Collateral Account so long as at the time of the release and after giving effect thereto no Default or Event of Default is then continuing. If the Borrower shall have made payment of all obligations referred to in subsection (a) above required under Section 9.2 or 9.3 hereof, so long as no Letters of Credit, Commitments, Loans or other Obligations, Hedging Liability, or Bank Product Obligations remain outstanding, at the request of the Borrower the Administrative Agent shall release to the Borrower any remaining amounts held in the Collateral Account.
(c) At any time that there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, within one Business Day following the written request of the Administrative Agent or any L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuers’ Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender (determined after giving effect to Section 1.14(a)(iv) and any Cash Collateral provided by such Defaulting Lender) in an amount not less than the Minimum Collateral Amount.
The Letters of Credit Each Issuing Bank severally agrees, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, to issue (or cause its Affiliate that is a commercial bank to issue on its behalf) letters of credit (together with the Existing Letters of Credit referred to in Section 2.03(f), the “Letters of Credit”) in U.S. dollars for the account of the Borrower (but in connection with the business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Effective Date until 30 days before the Termination Date in an aggregate Available Amount (i) for all Letters of Credit not to exceed at any time the Letter of Credit Facility at such time and (ii) for all Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank not to exceed at any time such Issuing Bank’s Letter of Credit Commitment at such time and (iii) for each such Letter of Credit not to exceed the Unused Revolving Credit Commitments of the Lenders at such time. No Letter of Credit shall have an expiration date (including all rights of the Borrower or the beneficiary to require renewal) later than the earlier of 30 days before the Termination Date and (A) in the case of a Standby Letter of Credit, one year after the date of issuance thereof, but may by its terms be renewable annually upon notice (a “Notice of Renewal”) given to the Issuing Bank that issued such Standby Letter of Credit and the Paying Agent on or prior to any date for notice of renewal set forth in such Letter of Credit but in any event at least three Business Days prior to the date of the proposed renewal of such Standby Letter of Credit and upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions set forth in Article III unless such Issuing Bank has notified the Borrower (with a copy to the Paying Agent) on or prior to the date for notice of termination set forth in such Letter of Credit but in any event at least 45 Business Days prior to the date of automatic renewal of its election not to renew such Standby Letter of Credit (a “Notice of Termination”) and (B) in the case of a Trade Letter of Credit, 30 days after the date of issuance thereof; provided that the terms of each Standby Letter of Credit that is automatically renewable annually shall (x) require the Issuing Bank that issued such Standby Letter of Credit to give the beneficiary named in such Standby Letter of Credit notice of any Notice of Termination, (y) permit such beneficiary, upon receipt of such notice, to draw under such Standby Letter of Credit prior to the date such Standby Letter of Credit otherwise would have been automatically renewed and (z) not permit the expiration date (after giving effect to any renewal) of such Standby Letter of Credit in any event to be extended to a date later than 30 days before the Termination Date. If either a Notice of Renewal is not given by the Borrower or a Notice of Termination is given by the relevant Issuing Bank pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, such Standby Letter of Credit shall expire on the date on which it otherwise would have been automatically renewed; provided, however, that even in the absence of receipt of a Notice of Renewal the relevant Issuing Bank may in its discretion, unless instructed to the contrary by the Paying Agent or the Borrower, deem that a Notice of Renewal had been timely delivered and in such case, a Notice of Renewal shall be deemed to have been so delivered for all purposes under this Agreement. Within the limits of the Letter of Credit Facility, and subject to the limits referred to above, the Borrower may request the issuance of Letters of Credit under this Section 2.01(c), repay any Letter of Credit Advances resulting from drawings thereunder pursuant to Section 2.03(c) and request the issuance of additional Letters of Credit under this Section 2.01(c).
Existing Letters of Credit On and after the Closing Date, the Existing Letters of Credit shall be deemed for all purposes, including for purposes of the fees to be collected pursuant to Sections 3.3(a) and (b), reimbursement of costs and expenses to the extent provided herein and for purposes of being secured by the Collateral, a Letter of Credit outstanding under this Agreement and entitled to the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and shall be governed by the applications and agreements pertaining thereto and by this Agreement (which shall control in the event of a conflict).
New Letters of Credit So long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, no Issuing Bank shall be required to issue, extend, renew or increase any Letter of Credit unless it is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect thereto.
Additional Costs in Respect of Letters of Credit Without limiting the obligations of the Borrower under the preceding subsections of this Section (but without duplication), if as a result of any Regulatory Change or any risk-based capital guideline or other requirement heretofore or hereafter issued by any Governmental Authority there shall be imposed, modified or deemed applicable any Tax (other than Indemnified Taxes, Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and Connection Income Taxes), reserve, special deposit, capital adequacy or similar requirement against or with respect to or measured by reference to Letters of Credit and the result shall be to increase the cost to the Issuing Bank of issuing (or any Lender of purchasing participations in) or maintaining its obligation hereunder to issue (or purchase participations in) any Letter of Credit or reduce any amount receivable by the Issuing Bank or any Lender hereunder in respect of any Letter of Credit, then, upon demand by the Issuing Bank or such Lender, the Borrower shall pay immediately to the Issuing Bank or, in the case of such Lender, to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender, from time to time as specified by the Issuing Bank or such Lender, such additional amounts as shall be sufficient to compensate the Issuing Bank or such Lender for such increased costs or reductions in amount.
Letter of Credit Collateral Account (a) As collateral security for the prompt payment in full when due of all Letter of Credit Liabilities and the other Obligations, the Borrower hereby pledges and grants to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders as provided herein, a security interest in all of its right, title and interest in and to the Letter of Credit Collateral Account and the balances from time to time in the Letter of Credit Collateral Account (including the investments and reinvestments therein provided for below). The balances from time to time in the Letter of Credit Collateral Account shall not constitute payment of any Letter of Credit Liabilities until applied as provided herein. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, funds held in the Letter of Credit Collateral Account shall be subject to withdrawal only as provided in this Section.
(b) Amounts on deposit in the Letter of Credit Collateral Account shall be invested and reinvested by the Administrative Agent in such Cash Equivalents as the Administrative Agent shall determine in its sole discretion. All such investments and reinvestments shall be held in the name of and be under the sole dominion and control of the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders; provided, that all earnings on such investments will be credited to and retained in the Letter of Credit Collateral Account. The Administrative Agent shall exercise reasonable care in the custody and preservation of any funds held in the Letter of Credit Collateral Account and shall be deemed to have exercised such care if such funds are accorded treatment substantially equivalent to that which the Administrative Agent accords other funds deposited with the Administrative Agent, it being understood that the Administrative Agent shall not have any responsibility for taking any necessary steps to preserve rights against any parties with respect to any funds held in the Letter of Credit Collateral Account.
(c) If a drawing pursuant to any Letter of Credit occurs on or prior to the expiration date of such Letter of Credit, the Borrower and the Lenders authorize the Administrative Agent to use the monies deposited in the Letter of Credit Collateral Account to reimburse the Issuing Bank for the payment made by the Issuing Bank to the beneficiary with respect to such drawing.
(d) If an Event of Default exists, the Administrative Agent may (and, if instructed by the Requisite Lenders, shall) in its (or their) discretion at any time and from time to time elect to liquidate any such investments and reinvestments and apply the proceeds thereof to the Obligations in accordance with Section 11.5.
(e) So long as no Default or Event of Default exists, and to the extent amounts on deposit in or credited to the Letter of Credit Collateral Account exceed the aggregate amount of the Letter of Credit Liabilities then due and owing, the Administrative Agent shall, from time to time, at the request of the Borrower, deliver to the Borrower within ten (10) Business Days after the Administrative Agent’s receipt of such request from the Borrower, against receipt but without any recourse, warranty or representation whatsoever, such amount of the credit balances in the Letter of Credit Collateral Account as exceeds the aggregate amount of Letter of Credit Liabilities at such time. When all of the Obligations shall have been paid in full and no Letters of Credit remain outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall deliver to the Borrower, against receipt but without any recourse, warranty or representation whatsoever, the balances remaining in the Letter of Credit Collateral Account.
(f) The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent from time to time such fees as the Administrative Agent normally charges for similar services in connection with the Administrative Agent’s administration of the Letter of Credit Collateral Account and investments and reinvestments of funds therein.
Letter of Credit Accommodations (a) Subject to and upon the terms and conditions contained herein, at the request of any Borrower, Lender agrees to provide or arrange for Letter of Credit Accommodations for the account of Borrowers containing terms and conditions acceptable to Lender and the issuer thereof. Any payments made by Lender to any issuer thereof and/or related parties in connection with the Letter of Credit Accommodations shall constitute additional Revolving Loans to Borrowers pursuant to this Section 2.
(b) In addition to any charges, fees or expenses charged by any bank or issuer in connection with the Letter of Credit Accommodations, Borrowers shall pay to Lender a letter of credit fee at a rate equal to one and one-half percent (1.5%) per annum on the daily outstanding balance of the Letter of Credit Accommodations for the immediately preceding month (or part thereof), payable in arrears as of the first day of each succeeding month, except that Borrowers shall pay to Lender such letter of credit fee, at Lender's option, without notice, at a rate equal to three and one-half percent (3 1/2%) per annum on such daily outstanding balance for:
(i) the period from and after the date of termination hereof until Lender has received full and final payment of all Obligations (notwithstanding entry of a judgment against any Borrower) and (ii) the period from and after the date of the occurrence of an Event of Default for so long as such Event of Default is continuing as determined by Lender. Such letter of credit fee shall be calculated on the basis of a three hundred sixty (360) day year and actual days elapsed and the obligation of Borrowers to pay such fee shall survive the termination or non- renewal of this Agreement.
(c) No Letter of Credit Accommodations shall be available unless on the date of the proposed issuance of any Letter of Credit Accommodations, the Revolving Loans available to any Borrowers (subject to the Maximum Credit and any Availability Reserves) are equal to or greater than: (i) if the proposed Letter of Credit Accommodation is for the purpose of purchasing Eligible Inventory, the sum of (A) seventy percent (70%) of the cost of such Eligible Inventory, plus (B) freight, taxes, duty and other amounts which Lender estimates must be paid in connection with such Inventory upon arrival and for delivery to one of such Borrower's locations for Eligible Inventory within the United States of America and (ii) if the proposed Letter of Credit Accommodation is for any other purpose, an amount equal to one hundred (100%) percent of the face amount thereof and all other commitments and obligations made or incurred by Lender with respect thereto. Effective on the issuance of each Letter of Credit Accommodation, an Availability Reserve shall be established in the applicable amount set forth in Section 2.2(c)(i) or Section 2.2(c)(ii).
(d) Except in Lender's discretion, the amount of all outstanding Letter of Credit Accommodations and all other commitments and obligations made or incurred by Lender in connection therewith shall not at any time exceed $3,000,000 with respect to all Borrowers; provided, however, that no Letter of Credit Accommodations shall be made with respect to IBI. At any time an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing, upon Lender's request, Borrowers will either furnish cash collateral to secure the reimbursement obligations to the issuer in connection with any Letter of Credit Accommodations or furnish cash collateral to Lender for the Letter of Credit Accommodations, and in either case, the Revolving Loans otherwise available to Borrowers shall not be reduced as provided in Section 2.2(c) to the extent of such cash collateral.
(e) Each Borrower shall jointly and severally indemnify and hold Lender harmless from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses which Lender may suffer or incur in connection with any Letter of Credit Accommodations and any documents, drafts or acceptances relating thereto, including any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses due to any action taken by any issuer or correspondent with respect to any Letter of Credit Accommodation. Each Borrower assumes all risks with respect to the acts or omissions of the drawer under or beneficiary of any Letter of Credit Accommodation and for such purposes the drawer or beneficiary shall be deemed such Borrower's agent. Each Borrower assumes all risks for, and agrees to pay, all foreign, Federal, State and local taxes, duties and levies relating to any goods subject to any Letter of Credit Accommodations or any documents, drafts or acceptances thereunder. Each Borrower hereby releases and holds Lender harmless from and against any acts, waivers, errors, delays or omissions, whether caused by any Borrower, by any issuer or correspondent or otherwise with respect to or relating to any Letter of Credit Accommodation. The provisions of this Section 2.2(e) shall survive the payment of Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
(f) Nothing contained herein shall be deemed or construed to grant any Borrower any right or authority to pledge the credit of Lender in any manner. Lender shall have no liability of any kind with respect to any Letter of Credit Accommodation provided by an issuer other than Lender unless Lender has duly executed and delivered to such issuer the application or a guarantee or indemnification in writing with respect to such Letter of Credit Accommodation. Each Borrower shall be bound by any reasonable interpretation made in good faith by Lender, or any other issuer or correspondent under or in connection with any Letter of Credit Accommodation or any documents, drafts or acceptances thereunder, notwithstanding that such interpretation may be inconsistent with any instructions of such or any Borrower. Lender shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority to: (i) at any time an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing, (A) approve or resolve any questions of non-compliance of documents, (B) give any instructions as to acceptance or rejection of any documents or goods or (C) execute any and all applications for steamship or airway guaranties, indemnities or delivery orders, and (ii) at all times, (A) grant any extensions of the maturity of, time of payment for, or time of presentation of, any drafts, acceptances, or documents, and (B) agree to any amendments, renewals, extensions, modifications, changes or cancellations of any of the terms or conditions of any of the applications, Letter of Credit Accommodations, or documents, drafts or acceptances thereunder or any letters of credit included in the Collateral. Lender may take such actions either in its own name or in any Borrower's name.
(g) Any rights, remedies, duties or obligations granted or undertaken by any Borrower to any issuer or correspondent in any application for any Letter of Credit Accommodation, or any other agreement in favor of any issuer or correspondent relating to any Letter of Credit Accommodation, shall be deemed to have been granted or undertaken by any Borrower to Lender. Any duties or obligations undertaken by Lender to any issuer or correspondent in any application for any Letter of Credit Accommodation, or any other agreement by Lender in favor of any issuer or correspondent relating to any Letter of Credit Accommodation, shall be deemed to have been undertaken by any Borrower to Lender and to apply in all respects to such Borrower.
Requesting Letters of Credit (a) Borrower must make written application for any Letter of Credit or amendment or extension of any Letter of Credit at least 5 Business Days (or such shorter period as LC Issuer may in its discretion from time to time agree) before the date on which Borrower desires for LC Issuer to issue such Letter of Credit. By making any such written application, unless otherwise expressly stated therein, Borrower shall be deemed to have represented and warranted that the LC Conditions described in Section 2.11 (other than Section 2.11(f)) will be met as of the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit. Each such written application for a Letter of Credit must be made in writing in the form customarily used by LC Issuer, the terms and provisions of which, to the extent not inconsistent with the terms hereof, are hereby incorporated herein by reference (or in such other form as may mutually be agreed upon by LC Issuer and Borrower).
(b) If Borrower requests in any applicable LC Application, LC Issuer may, in its discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an “Auto-Extension Letter of Credit”); provided that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit must permit LC Issuer to prevent any such extension at least once in each 12 month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “Non-Extension Notice Date”) in each such 12 month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by LC Issuer, Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to LC Issuer for any such extension. Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) LC Issuer to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Termination Date; provided, however, that LC Issuer shall not permit any such extension if (i) LC Issuer has determined that it would not be permitted, or would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its revised form (as extended) under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of Section 2.11 or otherwise), or (ii) it has received notice (which notice may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is 5 Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date (1) from Administrative Agent that Required Lenders have elected not to permit such extension or (2) from Administrative Agent, any Lender or Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.2 is not then satisfied, and in each such case directing LC Issuer not to permit such extension.
(c) Two Business Days after the LC Conditions for a Letter of Credit have been met as described in Section 2.11 (or if LC Issuer otherwise desires to issue such Letter of Credit earlier), LC Issuer will issue such Letter of Credit at LC Issuer’s office in New York, New York. If any provisions of any LC Application conflict with any provisions of this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall govern and control. Borrower shall promptly examine a copy of each Letter of Credit and each amendment thereto that is delivered to it and, in the event of any claim of noncompliance with Borrower’s instructions or other irregularity, Borrower will immediately notify LC Issuer.
(d) Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of a Restricted Person other than Borrower, Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse LC Issuer hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit. Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the benefit of such other Restricted Persons inures to the benefit of Borrower, and that Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such other Restricted Persons
Loans and Letters of Credit On the Closing Date:
Reaffirmation of Credit Party Obligations Each Credit Party hereby ratifies the Credit Agreement and acknowledges and reaffirms (a) that it is bound by all terms of the Credit Agreement applicable to it and (b) that it is responsible for the observance and full performance of its respective Credit Party Obligations.
