Issuance of Letters of Credit (a) Subject to and upon the terms and conditions herein set forth, at any time and from time to time on and after the Closing Date and prior to the date that is 15 days prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, each Letter of Credit Issuer agrees to issue (or cause its Affiliates or other financial institution with which the Letter of Credit Issuer shall have entered into an agreement regarding the issuance of letters of credit hereunder, to issue on its behalf), upon the request of and for the account of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, letters of credit (each, a “Letter of Credit”) in such form as may be approved by such Letter of Credit Issuer in its reasonable discretion; provided that the Borrower shall be a co-applicant, and be jointly and severally liable, with respect to each Letter of Credit issued for the account of a Restricted Subsidiary.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) no Letter of Credit shall be issued the Stated Amount of which, when added to the Letter of Credit Obligations at such time, would exceed the Letter of Credit Sub-Commitment then in effect, (ii) no Letter of Credit shall be issued the Stated Amount of which, when added to the Letter of Credit Obligations and the Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans outstanding at such time, would exceed the Total Revolving Credit Commitment then in effect, (iii) no Letter of Credit shall be required to be issued by a Letter of Credit Issuer the Stated Amount of which, when added to such Letter of Credit Issuer’s Revolving Credit Exposure (whether held directly or through its Affiliates), would exceed the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Letter of Credit Issuer (or its Affiliates), (iv) each Letter of Credit shall have an expiration date occurring no later than the earlier of (x) one year after the date of issuance thereof, unless otherwise agreed upon by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Letter of Credit Issuer or as provided under Section 3.2(e), and (y) the Letter of Credit Maturity Date, (v) each Letter of Credit shall be denominated in Dollars, (vi) no Letter of Credit shall be issued if it would be illegal under any Applicable Law for the beneficiary of the Letter of Credit to have a Letter of Credit issued in its favor, (vii) no Letter of Credit shall be issued after the applicable Letter of Credit Issuer has received a written notice from the Borrower or the Administrative Agent stating that a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing until such time as the Letter of Credit Issuer shall have received a written notice of (x) rescission of such notice from the party or parties originally delivering such notice or (y) the waiver of such Default or Event of Default in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.1 or that such Default or Event of Default is no longer continuing, (viii) no Letter of Credit shall be issued by the applicable Letter of Credit Issuer if such issuance would cause the Letter of Credit Obligations of such Letter of Credit Issuer to exceed the Letter of Credit Sub-Commitment Obligation of such Letter of Credit Issuer, (ix) UBS AG, Stamford Branch shall only be required to issue standby letters of credit and (x) in no event shall SunTrust Bank be required to issue commercial or trade letters of credit.
(c) In connection with the establishment of any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments or Additional/Replacement Revolving Credit Commitments and subject to the availability of unused Commitments with respect to such newly established Class and the satisfaction of the Conditions set forth in Section 7, the Borrower may, with the written consent of the Letter of Credit Issuer, designate any outstanding Letter of Credit to be a Letter of Credit issued pursuant to such Class of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments or Additional/Replacement Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable. Upon such designation such Letter of Credit shall no longer be deemed to be issued and outstanding under such prior Class and shall instead be deemed to be issued and outstanding under such newly established Class of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments or Additional/Replacement Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable.
(d) On the Closing Date, without further action by any party hereto (including the delivery of a Letter of Credit Request or any consent of, or confirmation by or to, the Administrative Agent), subject to the terms of this Section 3, (i) each Existing Letter of Credit set forth on Schedule 1.1(b) hereto issued by a Letter of Credit Issuer hereunder shall become a Letter of Credit outstanding under this Agreement, shall be deemed to be a Letter of Credit issued under this Agreement and shall be subject to the terms and conditions hereof (including Section 4.1) as if each such Letter of Credit was issued by the applicable Letter of Credit Issuer pursuant to this Agreement and (ii) each Letter of Credit Issuer that has issued an Existing Letter of Credit shall be deemed to have granted each Letter of Credit Participant in respect thereof and each Letter of Credit Participant in respect thereof shall be deemed to have acquired from such Letter of Credit Issuer, on the terms and conditions of Section 3.3 hereof, for such Letter of Credit Participant’s own account and risk, an undivided participation interest in such Letter of Credit Issuer’s obligations and rights under each such Existing Letter of Credit equal to such Letter of Credit Participant’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage, as applicable, of (A) the outstanding amount available to be drawn under such Existing Letter of Credit and (B) the aggregate amount of any outstanding reimbursement obligations in respect thereof.
CONDITIONS OF LENDING AND ISSUANCE OF LETTERS OF CREDIT The obligation of each Lender to make Loans and of the Issuing Lender to issue Letters of Credit hereunder is subject to the performance by each of the Loan Parties of its Obligations to be performed hereunder at or prior to the making of any such Loans or issuance of such Letters of Credit and to the satisfaction of the following further conditions:
Disbursement of Revolving Credit and Swingline Loans Not later than 2:00 p.m. on the proposed borrowing date, (i) each Revolving Credit Lender will make available to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Borrower, at the office of the Administrative Agent in funds immediately available to the Administrative Agent, such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the Revolving Credit Loans to be made on such borrowing date and (ii) the Swingline Lender will make available to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Borrower, at the office of the Administrative Agent in funds immediately available to the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Loans to be made on such borrowing date. The Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent to disburse the proceeds of each borrowing requested pursuant to this Section in immediately available funds by crediting or wiring such proceeds to the deposit account of the Borrower identified in the most recent notice substantially in the form attached as Exhibit C (a “Notice of Account Designation”) delivered by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or as may be otherwise agreed upon by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent from time to time. Subject to Section 5.7 hereof, the Administrative Agent shall not be obligated to disburse the portion of the proceeds of any Revolving Credit Loan requested pursuant to this Section to the extent that any Revolving Credit Lender has not made available to the Administrative Agent its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of such Loan. Revolving Credit Loans to be made for the purpose of refunding Swingline Loans shall be made by the Revolving Credit Lenders as provided in Section 2.2(b).
New Swingline Loans/Letters of Credit So long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, (i) the Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loans unless it is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect to such Swingline Loan and (ii) no Issuing Lender 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.
Commitment to Issue Letters of Credit Subject to the terms and conditions hereof and the execution and delivery by the Borrowers of a letter of credit application on the Administrative Agent's customary form (a "Letter of Credit Application"), the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders and in reliance upon the agreement of the Lenders set forth in §5.1(d) and upon the representations and warranties of the Borrowers contained herein, agrees, in its individual capacity, to issue, extend and renew for the account of the Borrowers one or more standby letters of credit (individually, a "Letter of Credit"), in such form as may be requested from time to time by the Borrowers and agreed to by the Administrative Agent; provided, however, that, at all times, after giving effect to such request, (a) the sum of the aggregate Maximum Drawing Amount and all Unpaid Reimbursement Obligations shall not exceed $15,000,000 at any one time, and (b) the sum of (i) all L/C Obligations, and (ii) the amount of all Revolving Credit Loans outstanding shall not exceed the Total Revolving Credit Commitment at any time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to issue any Letter of Credit to support or secure any Indebtedness of the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries to the extent that such Indebtedness was incurred prior to the proposed issuance date of such Letter of Credit, unless in any such case the Borrowers demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Administrative Agent that (x) such prior incurred Indebtedness was then fully secured by a prior perfected and unavoidable security interest in collateral provided by the Borrowers or such Subsidiary to the proposed beneficiary of such Letter of Credit or (y) such prior incurred Indebtedness was then secured or supported by a letter of credit issued for the account of the Borrowers or such Subsidiary and the reimbursement obligation with respect to such letter of credit was fully secured by a prior perfected and unavoidable security interest in collateral provided to the issuer of such letter of credit by the Borrowers or such Subsidiary.
New Swing Line Loans/Letters of Credit Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, so long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, (i) the Swing Line Lender shall not be required to fund any Swing Line Loans unless it is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect to such Swing Line Loan and (ii) no L/C Issuer 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.
Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit; Auto-Extension Letters of Credit (i) Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, by a single L/C Issuer selected by the Borrower, upon the request of the Borrower delivered to an L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Such Letter of Credit Application may be sent by facsimile, by United States mail, by overnight courier, by electronic transmission using the system provided by the applicable L/C Issuer, by personal delivery or by any other means acceptable to such L/C Issuer. Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the applicable L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. at least two Business Days (or such later date and time as the Administrative Agent and such L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in their sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be. In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer: (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount thereof; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (G) the purpose and nature of the requested Letter of Credit; and (H) such other matters as the applicable L/C Issuer may require. In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer (A) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (B) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (C) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (D) such other matters as such L/C Issuer may require. Additionally, the Borrower shall furnish to the applicable L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent such other documents and information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, including any Issuer Documents, as such L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent may require.
(ii) Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the applicable L/C Issuer will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from the Borrower and, if not, such L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Unless an L/C Issuer has received written notice from any Revolving Credit Lender, the Administrative Agent or any Loan Party, at least one Business Day prior to the requested date of issuance or amendment of the applicable Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions contained in Article IV shall not then be satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, such L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower or applicable Subsidiary thereof or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with such L/C Issuer’s usual and customary business practices. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Revolving Credit Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from such L/C Issuer a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage times the amount of such Letter of Credit.
(iii) If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the applicable L/C Issuer may, in its sole 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 such L/C Issuer to prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve-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 twelve-month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by an L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to such L/C Issuer for any such extension. Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the applicable L/C Issuer to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the first anniversary of the Revolving Credit Maturity Date; provided, however, that no L/C Issuer shall permit any such extension if (A) such L/C 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 clause (ii) or (iii) of Section 2.03(a) or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is seven Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date (1) from the Administrative Agent that the Required Revolving Lenders have elected not to permit such extension or (2) from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied, and in each such case directing such L/C Issuer not to permit such extension.
(iv) If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the applicable L/C Issuer may, in its sole discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that permits the automatic reinstatement of all or a portion of the stated amount thereof after any drawing thereunder (each, an “Auto-Reinstatement Letter of Credit”). Unless otherwise directed by an L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to such L/C Issuer to permit such reinstatement. Once an Auto-Reinstatement Letter of Credit has been issued, except as provided in the following sentence, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the applicable L/C Issuer to reinstate all or a portion of the stated amount thereof in accordance with the provisions of such Letter of Credit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such Auto-Reinstatement Letter of Credit permits an L/C Issuer to decline to reinstate all or any portion of the stated amount thereof after a drawing thereunder by giving notice of such non-reinstatement within a specified number of days after such drawing (the “Non-Reinstatement Deadline”), such L/C Issuer shall not permit such reinstatement if it has received a notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is seven Business Days before the Non-Reinstatement Deadline (A) from the Administrative Agent that the Required Revolving Lenders have elected not to permit such reinstatement or (B) from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied (treating such reinstatement as an L/C Credit Extension for purposes of this clause) and, in each case, directing such L/C Issuer not to permit such reinstatement.
(v) Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the applicable L/C Issuer will also deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.
(vi) If the expiry date of any Letter of Credit would occur after the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, the Borrower hereby agrees that it will at least thirty (30) days prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date (or, in the case of a Letter of Credit issued or extended on or after thirty (30) days prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, on the date of such issuance or extension, as applicable) Cash Collateralize such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to 105% of the L/C Obligations arising or expected to arise in connection with such Letter of Credit.
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.
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.
Issuing Bank’s Duties Regarding Letters of Credit; Unconditional Nature of Reimbursement Obligations In examining documents presented in connection with drawings under Letters of Credit and making payments under such Letters of Credit against such documents, the Issuing Bank shall only be required to use the same standard of care as it uses in connection with examining documents presented in connection with drawings under letters of credit in which it has not sold participations and making payments under such letters of credit. The Borrower assumes all risks of the acts and omissions of, or misuse of the Letters of Credit by, the respective beneficiaries of such Letters of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, none of the Issuing Bank, Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders shall be responsible for, and the Borrower’s obligations in respect of Letters of Credit shall not be affected in any manner by, (i) the form, validity, sufficiency, accuracy, genuineness or legal effects of any document submitted by any party in connection with the application for and issuance of or any drawing honored under any Letter of Credit even if such document should in fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid, insufficient, inaccurate, fraudulent or forged; (ii) the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign any Letter of Credit, or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason; (iii) failure of the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit to comply fully with conditions required in order to draw upon such Letter of Credit; (iv) errors, omissions, interruptions or delays in transmission or delivery of any messages, by mail, cable, facsimile, electronic mail, telecopy or otherwise, whether or not they be in cipher; (v) errors in interpretation of technical terms; (vi) any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under any Letter of Credit, or of the proceeds thereof; (vii) the misapplication by the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit, or of the proceeds of any drawing under any Letter of Credit; or (viii) any consequences arising from causes beyond the control of the Issuing Bank, Administrative Agent or the Lenders. None of the above shall affect, impair or prevent the vesting of any of the Issuing Bank’s or Administrative Agent’s rights or powers hereunder. Any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Issuing Bank under or in connection with any Letter of Credit, if taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final, non-appealable judgment), shall not create against the Issuing Bank any liability to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any Lender. In this connection, the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the Issuing Bank for any drawing made under any Letter of Credit, and to repay any Revolving Loan made pursuant to the second sentence of the immediately preceding subsection (e), shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and any other applicable Letter of Credit Document under all circumstances whatsoever, including without limitation, the following circumstances: (A) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit Document or any term or provisions therein; (B) any amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from all or any of the Letter of Credit Documents; (C) the existence of any claim, setoff, defense or other right which the Borrower may have at any time against the Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any beneficiary of a Letter of Credit or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or in the Letter of Credit Documents or any unrelated transaction; (D) any breach of contract or dispute between the Borrower, the Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other Person; (E) any demand, statement or any other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein or made in connection therewith being untrue or inaccurate in any respect whatsoever; (F) any non-application or misapplication by the beneficiary of a Letter of Credit or of the proceeds of any drawing under such Letter of Credit; (G) payment by the Issuing Bank under any Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate which does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; and (H) any other act, omission to act, delay or circumstance whatsoever that might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute a legal or equitable defense to or discharge of the Borrower’s Reimbursement Obligations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section or Section 12.10., but not in limitation of the Borrower’s unconditional obligation to reimburse the Issuing Bank for any drawing made under a Letter of Credit as provided in this Section and to repay any Revolving Loan made pursuant to the second sentence of the immediately preceding subsection (e), the Borrower shall have no obligation to indemnify the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender in respect of any liability incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or such Lender arising solely out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or such Lender in respect of a Letter of Credit as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final, non-appealable judgment. Except as otherwise provided in this Section, nothing in this Section shall affect any rights the Borrower may have with respect to the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender with respect to any Letter of Credit.
