Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit; Auto-Renewal Letters of Credit (i) Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, 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 must be received by the relevant L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. at least two (2) Business Days prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be; or, in each case, such later date and time as the relevant L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in its sole discretion. 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 reasonably satisfactory to the relevant L/C Issuer: (a) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (b) the amount and currency 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; and (g) such other matters as the relevant L/C Issuer may reasonably request. 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 reasonably satisfactory to the relevant L/C Issuer (1) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (2) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (3) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (4) such other matters as the relevant L/C Issuer may reasonably request.
(ii) Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the relevant 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 the relevant L/C Issuer has received written notice from the Administrative Agent, any Revolving Credit Lender or any Loan Party, at least one (1) 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 have been 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 (and, if requested, on behalf of a Subsidiary) or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case, in accordance with such L/C’s Issuer’s usual and customary business policies. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Revolving Credit Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, acquire from the relevant L/C Issuer a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Revolving Credit Lender’s Pro Rata Share times the amount of such Letter of Credit.
(iii) If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the relevant L/C Issuer shall agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic renewal provisions (each, an “Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit”); provided that any such Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit must permit the relevant L/C Issuer to prevent any such renewal 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 “Nonrenewal 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 the relevant L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the relevant L/C Issuer for any such renewal. Once an Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit has been issued, the applicable Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the relevant L/C Issuer to permit the renewal of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date (unless the Borrower has entered into arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the relevant L/C Issuer to Cash Collateralize the Outstanding Amount of such L/C Obligations or backstop such Letter of Credit on the later of (I) the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit and (II) the 30th day prior to the Letter of Credit Expiration Date); provided that the relevant L/C Issuer shall not permit any such renewal if (A) the relevant 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 renewed form under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of Sections 2.03(a)(ii) or (iii) or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone, followed promptly in writing, or in writing) on or before the day that is five (5) Business Days before the Nonrenewal Notice Date from the Administrative Agent or any Revolving Credit Lender, as applicable, or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied.
(iv) 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 relevant 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.
Requirements For Issuance of Letters of Credit (a) Borrowing Agent shall authorize and direct any Issuer to name the applicable Borrower as the “Applicant” or “Account Party” of each Letter of Credit. If Agent is not the Issuer of any Letter of Credit, Borrowing Agent shall authorize and direct Issuer to deliver to Agent all instruments, documents, and other writings and property received by Issuer pursuant to the Letter of Credit and to accept and rely upon Agent’s instructions and agreements with respect to all matters arising in connection with the Letter of Credit, the application therefor or any acceptance therefor.
(b) In connection with all trade Letters of Credit issued or caused to be issued by Issuer under this Agreement, each Borrower hereby appoints Issuer, or its designee, as its attorney, with full power and authority if an Event of Default shall have occurred: (i) to sign and/or endorse such Borrower’s name upon any warehouse or other receipts, and acceptances; (ii) to sign such Borrower’s name on bills of lading; (iii) to clear Inventory through the United States of America Customs Department (“Customs”) in the name of such Borrower or Issuer or Issuer’s designee, and to sign and deliver to Customs officials powers of attorney in the name of such Borrower for such purpose; and (iv) to complete in such Borrower’s name or Issuer’s, or in the name of Issuer’s designee, any order, sale or transaction, obtain the necessary documents in connection therewith, and collect the proceeds thereof. Neither Agent, Issuer nor their attorneys will be liable for any acts or omissions nor for any error of judgment or mistakes of fact or law, except for Agent’s, Issuer’s or their respective officers’, directors’, agents’, employees’, attorneys’ or Affiliates’ gross negligence, willful misconduct. This power, being coupled with an interest, is irrevocable as long as any Letters of Credit remain outstanding.
General Provisions Applicable to Loans and Letters of Credit 4.1. Interest Rates and Payment Dates
4.2. Conversion and Continuation Options
4.3. Minimum Amounts of Sets
Procedure for Issuance of Letters of Credit The Borrower may from time to time request that the Issuing Lender issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower by delivering to the Issuing Lender at its address for notices specified herein an Application therefor, completed to the satisfaction of the Issuing Lender, and such other certificates, documents and other papers and information as the Issuing Lender may request. Upon receipt of any Application, the Issuing Lender will process such Application and the certificates, documents and other papers and information delivered to it in connection therewith in accordance with its customary procedures and shall promptly issue the Letter of Credit requested thereby (but in no event shall the Issuing Lender be required to issue any Letter of Credit earlier than three (3) Business Days after its receipt of the Application therefor and all such other certificates, documents and other papers and information relating thereto) by issuing the original of such Letter of Credit to the beneficiary thereof or as otherwise may be agreed to by the Issuing Lender and the Borrower. The Issuing Lender shall furnish a copy of such Letter of Credit to the Borrower promptly following the issuance thereof. The Issuing Lender shall promptly furnish to the Administrative Agent, which shall in turn promptly furnish to the Lenders, notice of the issuance of each Letter of Credit (including the amount thereof).
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.
Requests for Issuance of Letters of Credit The Borrower shall give the Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent written notice at least five (5) Business Days prior to the requested date of issuance of a Letter of Credit, such notice to describe in reasonable detail the proposed terms of such Letter of Credit and the nature of the transactions or obligations proposed to be supported by such Letter of Credit, and in any event shall set forth with respect to such Letter of Credit the proposed (i) initial Stated Amount, (ii) beneficiary, and (iii) expiration date. The Borrower shall also execute and deliver such customary applications and agreements for standby letters of credit, and other forms as requested from time to time by the Issuing Bank. Provided the Borrower has given the notice prescribed by the first sentence of this subsection and delivered such applications and agreements referred to in the preceding sentence, subject to the other terms and conditions of this Agreement, including the satisfaction of any applicable conditions precedent set forth in Section 6.2, the Issuing Bank shall issue the requested Letter of Credit on the requested date of issuance for the benefit of the stipulated beneficiary but in no event shall Issuing Bank be obligated to deliver the requested Letter of Credit prior to the date five (5) Business Days following the date after which the Issuing Bank has received all of the items required to be delivered to it under this subsection. The Issuing Bank shall not at any time be obligated to issue any Letter of Credit if such issuance would conflict with, or cause the Issuing Bank or any Revolving Lender to exceed any limits imposed by, any Applicable Law. References herein to “issue” and derivations thereof with respect to Letters of Credit shall also include extensions or modifications of any outstanding Letters of Credit, unless the context otherwise requires. Upon the written request of the Borrower, the Issuing Bank shall deliver to the Borrower a copy of each issued Letter of Credit within a reasonable time after the date of issuance thereof. To the extent any term of a Letter of Credit Document is inconsistent with a term of any Loan Document, the term of such Loan Document shall control.
Compensation for Facility Letters of Credit (a) The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable account of the Lenders (including the Issuing Bank), based upon the Lenders’ respective Percentages, a per annum fee (the “Facility Letter of Credit Fee”) as a percentage of the face amount of each Facility Letter of Credit outstanding equal to the LIBOR Applicable Margin in effect from time to time hereunder while such Facility Letter of Credit is outstanding. The Facility Letter of Credit Fee relating to any Facility Letter of Credit shall accrue on a daily basis and shall be due and payable in arrears on the first Business Day of each calendar quarter following the issuance of such Facility Letter of Credit and, to the extent any such fees are then due and unpaid, on the Facility Termination Date or any other earlier date that the Obligations are due and payable in full. The Administrative Agent shall promptly (on the same day as received by the Administrative Agent if received prior to noon (Cleveland time) on such day and otherwise on the next Business Day) remit such Facility Letter of Credit Fees, when paid, to the other Lenders in accordance with their Percentages thereof. The Borrower shall not have any liability to any Lender for the failure of the Administrative Agent to promptly deliver funds to any such Lender and shall be deemed to have made all such payments on the date the respective payment is made by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, provided such payment is received by the time specified in Section 2.13 hereof.
(b) The Issuing Bank also shall have the right to receive solely for its own account an issuance fee equal to the greater of (A) $1,500 or (B) one-eighth of one percent (0.125%) per annum to be calculated on the face amount of each Facility Letter of Credit for the stated duration thereof, based on the actual number of days and using a 360-day year basis. The issuance fee shall be payable by the Borrower on the Issuance Date for each such Facility Letter of Credit and on the date of any increase therein or extension thereof. The Issuing Bank shall also be entitled to receive its reasonable out-of-pocket costs and the Issuing Bank’s standard charges of issuing, amending and servicing Facility Letters of Credit and processing draws thereunder.
Actions in Respect of Letters of Credit (a) If, at any time and from time to time, any Letter of Credit shall have been issued hereunder and the same shall expire on a date after the Revolving Credit Termination Date, then, on the Revolving Credit Termination Date, the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, in same day funds at the Administrative Agent’s office designated in such demand, for deposit in a special cash collateral account (the “Letter of Credit Collateral Account”) to be maintained in the name of the Administrative Agent (on behalf of the Lenders) and under its sole dominion and control at such place as shall be designated by the Administrative Agent, an amount equal to the amount of the Letter of Credit Obligations, in the applicable currency, under the Letters of Credit. Interest shall accrue on the Letter of Credit Collateral Account at a rate equal to the rate on overnight funds. The Borrower shall also make deposits into the Letter of Credit Collateral Account in accordance with Section 11.2 and Section 14.25(c).
(b) The Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower hereby pledges, assigns and grants to the Administrative Agent, as Administrative Agent for its benefit and the ratable benefit of the Lenders a lien on and a security interest in, the following collateral (the “Letter of Credit Collateral”):
(i) the Letter of Credit Collateral Account, all cash deposited therein and all certificates and instruments, if any, from time to time representing or evidencing the Letter of Credit Collateral Account;
(ii) all notes, certificates of deposit and other instruments from time to time hereafter delivered to or otherwise possessed by the Administrative Agent for or on behalf of the Borrower in substitution for or in respect of any or all of the then existing Letter of Credit Collateral;
(iii) all interest, dividends, cash, instruments and other property from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of the then existing Letter of Credit Collateral; and
(iv) to the extent not covered by the above clauses, all proceeds of any or all of the foregoing Letter of Credit Collateral.
(c) The lien and security interest granted hereby secures the payment of all obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing hereunder and under any other Loan Document.
(d) The Borrower and the applicable Qualified Borrower hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Lenders to apply, from time to time after funds are deposited in the Letter of Credit Collateral Account and for so long as an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, funds then held in the Letter of Credit Collateral Account to the payment of any amounts, in such order as the Administrative Agent may elect, as shall have become due and payable by the Borrower to the Lenders in respect of the Letters of Credit.
(e) Neither the Borrower nor the applicable Qualified Borrower nor any Person claiming or acting on behalf of or through the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower shall have any right to withdraw any of the funds held in the Letter of Credit Collateral Account.
(f) The Borrower and the applicable Qualified Borrower each agrees that it will not (i) sell or otherwise dispose of any interest in the Letter of Credit Collateral or (ii) create or permit to exist any lien, security interest or other charge or encumbrance upon or with respect to any of the Letter of Credit Collateral, except for the security interest created by this Section 3.4.
(g) If any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing:
(i) The Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, without notice to the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower except as required by law and at any time from time to time, charge, set off or otherwise apply all or any part of first, (x) amounts previously drawn on any Letter of Credit that have not been reimbursed by the Borrower and (y) any Letter of Credit Obligations described in clause (ii) of the definition thereof that are then due and payable and second, any other unpaid Obligations then due and payable against the Letter of Credit Collateral Account or any part thereof, in such order as the Administrative Agent shall elect. The rights of the Administrative Agent under this Section 3.4 are in addition to any rights and remedies which any Lender may have.
(ii) The Administrative Agent may also exercise, in its sole discretion, in respect of the Letter of Credit Collateral Account, in addition to the other rights and remedies provided herein or otherwise available to it, all the rights and remedies of a secured party upon default under the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the State of New York at that time.
(iii) The Administrative Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of the Letter of Credit Collateral if the Letter of Credit Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which the Administrative Agent accords its own property, it being understood that, assuming such treatment, the Administrative Agent shall not have any responsibility or liability with respect thereto.
(iv) At such time as all Events of Default have been cured or waived in writing, all fees and expenses, if any, owing to the Lenders paid in full, and all Letters of Credit returned to the Issuing Banks, all amounts remaining in the Letter of Credit Collateral Account shall be promptly returned to the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower. Absent such cure or written waiver, any surplus of the funds held in the Letter of Credit Collateral Account and remaining after payment in full of all of the Obligations of the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower hereunder and under any other Loan Document after the Revolving Credit Termination Date shall be paid promptly to the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive such surplus.
Conditions Precedent to Loans and Letters of Credit 32 Section 3.1 Conditions To Effectiveness.................................................32 Section 3.2 Each Credit Event...........................................................33 Section 3.3 Delivery of Documents.......................................................34
CONDITIONS TO LOANS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT The obligations of Lenders to make Loans and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions.
