AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
among
XXXXXX & XXXXX CORPORATION, as Borrower,
The GUARANTORS Party Hereto,
The Financial Institutions Party Hereto,
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., SUNTRUST BANK and REGIONS BANK,
as Co-Syndication Agents,
LASALLE BANK, N.A., as Documentation Agent
and
WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Administrative Agent,
Swing Bank and Issuing Bank
Dated as of June 14, 2005
WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
and
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES, LLC,
as Co-Lead Arrangers
ARTICLE 1.DEFINED TERMS, ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES AND OTHER INTERPRETIVE MATTERS |
1 | |||||||||||
Section 1.1 |
Defined Terms |
1 | ||||||||||
Section 1.2 |
Accounting Principles |
20 | ||||||||||
Section 1.3 |
Other Interpretive Matters |
21 | ||||||||||
ARTICLE 2.THE LOANS AND THE LETTERS OF CREDIT |
21 | |||||||||||
Section 2.1 |
Extension of Credit |
21 | ||||||||||
Section 2.2 |
Manner of Borrowing and Disbursement of Loans |
22 | ||||||||||
Section 2.3 |
Interest |
28 | ||||||||||
Section 2.4 |
Fees |
29 | ||||||||||
Section 2.5 |
Prepayment/Reduction of Commitment |
30 | ||||||||||
Section 2.6 |
Repayment |
30 | ||||||||||
Section 2.7 |
Revolving Loan Notes; Loan Accounts |
31 | ||||||||||
Section 2.8 |
Manner of Payment |
31 | ||||||||||
Section 2.9 |
Reimbursement |
32 | ||||||||||
Section 2.10 |
Pro Rata Treatment |
32 | ||||||||||
Section 2.11 |
Application of Payments |
33 | ||||||||||
Section 2.12 |
Use of Proceeds |
34 | ||||||||||
Section 2.13 |
Maximum Rate of Interest |
35 | ||||||||||
Section 2.14 |
Letters of Credit |
35 | ||||||||||
ARTICLE 3.GUARANTY |
40 | |||||||||||
Section 3.1 |
Guaranty |
40 | ||||||||||
ARTICLE 4.CONDITIONS PRECEDENT |
45 | |||||||||||
Section 4.1 |
Conditions Precedent to Closing |
45 | ||||||||||
Section 4.2 |
Conditions Precedent to Each Advance |
46 | ||||||||||
Section 4.3 |
Conditions Precedent to Each Letter of Credit |
47 | ||||||||||
ARTICLE 5.REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
47 | |||||||||||
Section 5.1 |
General Representations and Warranties |
47 | ||||||||||
Section 5.2 |
Survival of Representations and Warranties, etc. |
52 | ||||||||||
ARTICLE 6.GENERAL COVENANTS |
52 | |||||||||||
Section 6.1 |
Preservation of Existence and Similar Matters |
52 | ||||||||||
Section 6.2 |
Compliance with Applicable Law |
52 | ||||||||||
Section 6.3 |
Maintenance of Properties |
52 | ||||||||||
Section 6.4 |
Accounting Methods and Financial Records |
52 | ||||||||||
Section 6.5 |
Insurance |
53 | ||||||||||
Section 6.6 |
Payment of Taxes and Claims |
53 | ||||||||||
Section 6.7 |
Visits and Inspections |
53 | ||||||||||
Section 6.8 |
Conduct of Business |
53 | ||||||||||
Section 6.9 |
ERISA |
53 | ||||||||||
Section 6.10 |
Further Assurances |
54 | ||||||||||
Section 6.11 |
Indemnity |
54 | ||||||||||
Section 6.12 |
Environmental Matters |
54 | ||||||||||
Section 6.13 |
Formation of Subsidiaries |
54 | ||||||||||
ARTICLE 7.INFORMATION COVENANTS |
55 | |||||||||||
Section 7.1 |
Quarterly Financial Statements and Information |
55 |
Section 7.2 Annual Financial Statements and Information; Certificate of No Default 55 |
Section 7.3 |
Compliance Certificates |
55 | ||||||
Section 7.4 |
Access to Accountants |
56 | ||||||
Section 7.5 |
Additional Reports |
56 | ||||||
Section 7.6 |
Notice of Litigation and Other Matters |
57 | ||||||
ARTICLE 8.NEGATIVE COVENANTS |
58 | |||||||
Section 8.1 |
Indebtedness |
58 | ||||||
Section 8.2 |
Liens |
58 | ||||||
Section 8.3 |
Restricted Payments |
59 | ||||||
Section 8.4 |
Affiliate Transactions |
59 |
Section 8.5 Fundamental Changes; Disposition or Acquisition of Assets; Investments 59 |
Section 8.6 |
ERISA Liability |
60 | ||||||
Section 8.7 |
Financial Covenants |
60 | ||||||
Section 8.8 |
Amendment and Waiver |
60 | ||||||
Section 8.9 |
Negative Pledge |
61 | ||||||
ARTICLE 9.DEFAULT |
61 | |||||||
Section 9.1 |
Events of Default |
61 | ||||||
Section 9.2 |
Remedies |
63 | ||||||
ARTICLE 10.THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT |
64 | |||||||
Section 10.1 |
Appointment and Authority |
64 | ||||||
Section 10.2 |
Rights as a Lender |
65 | ||||||
Section 10.3 |
Exculpatory Provisions |
65 | ||||||
Section 10.4 |
Reliance by Administrative Agent |
66 | ||||||
Section 10.5 |
Delegation of Duties |
66 | ||||||
Section 10.6 |
Resignation of Administrative Agent |
66 | ||||||
Section 10.7 |
Indemnification |
67 | ||||||
Section 10.8 |
Non-Reliance On Administrative Agent and Other Lenders67 |
|||||||
Section 10.9 |
No Other Duties, etc. |
67 | ||||||
ARTICLE 11.MISCELLANEOUS |
68 | |||||||
Section 11.1 |
Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication |
68 | ||||||
Section 11.2 |
Expenses |
69 | ||||||
Section 11.3 |
Waivers |
70 | ||||||
Section 11.4 |
Set-Off |
71 | ||||||
Section 11.5 |
Assignment |
71 | ||||||
Section 11.6 |
Counterparts |
73 | ||||||
Section 11.7 |
Governing Law |
73 | ||||||
Section 11.8 |
Severability |
74 | ||||||
Section 11.9 |
Headings |
74 | ||||||
Section 11.10 |
Source of Funds |
74 | ||||||
Section 11.11 |
Entire Agreement |
74 | ||||||
Section 11.12 |
Amendments and Waivers |
74 | ||||||
Section 11.13 |
Other Relationships |
75 | ||||||
Section 11.14 |
Pronouns |
75 | ||||||
Section 11.15 |
Disclosure |
75 | ||||||
Section 11.16 |
Confidentiality |
75 | ||||||
Section 11.17 |
Revival and Reinstatement of Obligations |
76 | ||||||
ARTICLE 12.YIELD PROTECTION |
77 | |||||||
Section 12.1 |
Increased Costs |
77 | ||||||
Section 12.2 |
Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders |
80 | ||||||
ARTICLE 13.JURISDICTION, VENUE AND WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL |
81 | |||||||
Section 13.1 |
Jurisdiction and Service of Process |
81 | ||||||
Section 13.2 |
Consent to Venue |
82 | ||||||
Section 13.3 |
Waiver of Jury Trial |
82 |
EXHIBITS:
|
||
Exhibit AForm of Assignment and Assumption |
||
Exhibit BForm of Compliance Certificate Exhibit CForm of Guaranty Supplement |
||
Exhibit DForm of Notice of Conversion/Continuation |
||
Exhibit EForm of Request for Advance
|
||
Exhibit FForm of Request for Issuance of Letter of Credit |
||
Exhibit GForm of Revolving Loan Note Exhibit HForm of Loan Certificate SCHEDULES: |
||
Schedule 1 Schedule 2 Schedule 5.1(c) Schedule 5.1(h) Schedule 5.1(i) Schedule 5.1(m) Schedule 5.1(r) Schedule 8.4 |
Existing Letters of Credit Revolving Loan Commitment Subsidiaries; Partnerships and Joint Ventures; Affiliates Labor and Employment Taxes Employee Benefits Environmental Matters Affiliate Transactions |
AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
This AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT is entered into as of June 14, 2005, by and among XXXXXX & XXXXX CORPORATION, a Tennessee corporation (the “Borrower”), the GUARANTORS party hereto (collectively, the “Guarantors” and individually, a “Guarantor”), the financial institutions from time to time party hereto as lenders (collectively, the “Lenders” and individually, each a “Lender”), and WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent, Swing Bank and Issuing Bank.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Guarantors, certain of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent are parties to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of June 25, 2003 (as amended, supplemented, and otherwise modified from time to time prior to the Agreement Date, the “Existing Credit Agreement”); and
WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent desire to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement in its entirety as provided in this Agreement, effective as of the Agreement Date, to provide, among other things, for (a) an increase in the maximum principal amount of, and the determination of availability under, the Revolving Loan Commitment, and (b) the release of all of the Collateral (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) pledged to secure the Obligations (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) pursuant to the Security Documents (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement), it being understood that nothing contained herein shall be deemed a satisfaction or novation of the indebtedness and obligations created or evidenced by the Existing Credit Agreement as of the Agreement Date and it being further understood that this Agreement is merely an amendment and restatement of the Existing Credit Agreement in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement in its entirety as follows:
ARTICLE 1.
DEFINED TERMS, ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES AND
OTHER INTERPRETIVE MATTERS
Section 1.1 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings specified below:
“Accounting Change” shall mean any change in accounting principles required by any change in GAAP.
“Acquisition” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any transaction or series of related transactions for the direct or indirect (whether by purchase, lease, exchange, issuance of Equity Interests, merger, reorganization or any other method) (a) acquisition by such Person of any other Person, which Person shall then become consolidated with the acquiring Person in accordance with GAAP, (b) acquisition of all or any substantial part of the assets, property or business of any other Person, or (c) acquisition of any assets that constitute a division or operating unit, or a product line within a division or operating unit, of the business of any other Person.
“Administrative Agent” shall mean Wachovia Bank, National Association, in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent appointed pursuant to Section 10.6.
“Administrative Agent’s Office” shall mean the address of the Administrative Agent set forth in Section 11.1, or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent hereafter may designate by written notice to the Borrower and the Lenders.
“Administrative Questionnaire” shall mean an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.
“Advance” or “Advances” shall mean amounts of the Revolving Loans advanced by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.2 on the occasion of any borrowing.
“Affiliate” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person which, directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person, or which is a director, officer, or partner of such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any Person includes, without limitation, the direct or indirect beneficial ownership of five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding voting Equity Interests of such Person or the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person whether by contract or otherwise. Unless otherwise specified, “Affiliate” as used herein with respect to the Borrower Parties shall not include Leviton.
“Aggregate Real Properties” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(s).**
“Aggregate Revolving Credit Obligations” shall mean, as of any particular time, the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Loans then outstanding, plus (b) the aggregate amount of all Letter of Credit Obligations then outstanding, plus (c) the aggregate principal amount of all Swing Loans then outstanding.
“Agreement” shall mean this Credit Agreement, together with all Exhibits and Schedules hereto.
“Agreement Date” shall mean the date as of which this Agreement is dated.
“Anti-Terrorism Laws” has the meaning specified in Section 5.1(u).
“Applicable Law” shall mean, in respect of any Person, all provisions of constitutions, statutes, rules, regulations, and orders of governmental bodies or regulatory agencies applicable to such Person, and all orders and decrees of all courts and arbitrators in proceedings or actions (other than any non-binding arbitration proceedings) to which the Person in question is a party or by which it is bound.
“Applicable Rate” shall mean the rate per annum, in basis points, set forth under the relevant column heading below based upon the applicable Debt Ratings:
Debt Ratings | Eurodollar Rate/ | |||||||||||||||
Pricing Level | (Xxxxx’x/S&P) | Facility Fee | Base Rate | Letters of Credit | ||||||||||||
1 |
=Baa1/BBB+ | 15.0 | 0.0 | 60.0 | ||||||||||||
2 |
Baa2/BBB | 17.5 | 0.0 | 70.0 | ||||||||||||
3 |
Baa3/BBB- | 20.0 | 0.0 | 80.0 | ||||||||||||
4 |
Ba1/BB+ | 25.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | ||||||||||||
5 |
=Ba2/BB | 30.0 | 0.0 | 120.0 |
As used in this definition, “Debt Rating” means, as of any date of determination, the rating as determined by either S&P or Xxxxx’x (collectively, the “Debt Ratings”) of the Borrower’s senior unsecured non-credit enhanced long-term Funded Debt; provided, that solely for purposes of determining the Applicable Rate, if a Debt Rating is issued by each of S&P and Xxxxx’x, then the higher of such Debt Ratings shall apply (with Pricing Level 1 being the highest and Pricing Level 5 being the lowest), unless there is a split in Debt Ratings of more than one level, in which case, the level that is one level lower than the higher Debt Rating shall apply. Initially, the Debt Ratings shall be at Pricing Level 3. Thereafter, the Debt Ratings shall be determined from the most recent public announcement of any changes in the Debt Ratings. Any change in the Applicable Rate shall become effective on and as of the date of any public announcement of any Debt Rating that indicates a different Applicable Rate. If the rating system of S&P or Xxxxx’x shall change, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall negotiate in good faith to amend this definition to reflect such changed rating system, and pending effectiveness of such amendment (which shall require the approval of the Majority Lenders, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed or conditioned upon the payment of a fee to one or more of the Lenders), the Debt Ratings shall be determined by reference to the rating most recently in effect prior to such change.
“Approved Fund” shall mean any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.
“Assignment and Assumption” shall mean an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required pursuant to Section 11.5), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit A or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
“Authorized Signatory” shall mean such personnel of any Borrower Party as may be duly authorized and designated in writing to the Administrative Agent by such Borrower Party to execute documents, agreements, and instruments on behalf of such Borrower Party.
“Available Letter of Credit Amount” shall mean, as of any particular time, an amount equal to the lesser of (a) the result of (i) the Letter of Credit Commitment at such time, minus (ii) the aggregate amount of all Letter of Credit Obligations then outstanding, and (b) the result of (i) the Revolving Loan Commitment at such time, minus (ii) the Aggregate Revolving Credit Obligations then outstanding.
“Backup Letter of Credit” shall mean a Non-Participated Letter of Credit provided by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent to support payment of any outstanding Letter of Credit Obligations, which Non-Participated Letter of Credit shall name the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lender Group, as beneficiary and shall have an aggregate face amount equal to one hundred and five percent (105%) of the aggregate then undrawn and unexpired amount of the Letter of Credit Obligations supported thereby.
“Bankruptcy Code” shall mean the United States Bankruptcy Code (11 U.S.C. Section 101 et seq.), as now or hereafter amended, and any successor statute.
“Base Rate” shall mean, at any time, a fluctuating and floating rate per annum equal to the higher of: (a) 0.50% per annum above the latest Federal Funds Rate; and (b) the rate of interest announced publicly by the Administrative Agent from time to time, as its “prime rate” for the determination of interest rate loans of varying maturities in Dollars to United States residents of varying degrees of credit worthiness. Such “prime rate” is not necessarily the lowest rate of interest charged to borrowers of the Administrative Agent, and the Administrative Agent may make commercial loans or other loans at rates of interest at, above, or below such “prime rate”. Each change in the prime rate announced by the Administrative Agent shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.
“Base Rate Advance” shall mean an Advance made hereunder that bears interest based upon the Base Rate.
“Borrower” shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph hereto.
“Borrower Parties” shall mean, collectively, the Borrower and the Guarantors; and “Borrower Party” shall mean any one of the foregoing Borrower Parties. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Borrower Parties shall not include any Foreign Subsidiaries.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close in Charlotte, North Carolina or New York, New York; provided that in the case of Eurodollar Loans, such day is also a day on which dealings between banks are carried on in Dollar deposits in the London interbank market.
“Capitalized Lease Obligation” shall mean that portion of any obligation of a Person as lessee under a lease which at the time would be required to be capitalized on the balance sheet of such lessee in accordance with GAAP.
“Cash Equivalents” shall mean, collectively, (a) marketable, direct obligations of the United States of America and its agencies maturing within three hundred sixty-five (365) days of the date of purchase, (b) commercial paper issued by corporations, each of which shall (i) have a consolidated net worth of at least $250,000,000, and (ii) conduct substantially all of its business in the United States of America, which commercial paper will mature within one hundred eighty (180) days from the date of the original issue thereof and is rated “P-1” or better by Xxxxx’x or “A-1” or better by S&P, (c) certificates of deposit, deposit notes, bankers acceptances, bank notes and time deposits maturing within three hundred sixty-five (365) days of the date of purchase and issued by a United States national or state bank having deposits totaling more than $250,000,000, and whose short-term debt is rated “P-1” or better by Xxxxx’x or “A-1” or better by S&P, (d) up to $100,000 per institution and up to $1,000,000 in the aggregate in (i) short-term obligations issued by any local commercial bank or trust company located in those areas where the Borrower conducts its business, whose deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or (ii) commercial bank-insured money market funds, or any combination of the types of investments described in this clause (d), (e) the following types of investments in accordance with investment policy approved by the Board of Directors of the Borrower as in effect on the Agreement Date: (i) repurchase agreements with major banks and authorized dealers, fully collateralized to at least one hundred two (102%) of market value by securities of the United States government, (ii) taxable municipal securities, (iii) asset backed securities, (iv) corporate bonds, notes and floating rate notices including medium term notes, (v) fixed income mutual funds, (vi) short duration mortgage-backed securities, (vii) tax-exempt commercial paper, (viii) municipal notes and bonds, (ix) tax-exempt variable rate demand notes, (x) tax-exempt money market funds, and (xi) tax-exempt fixed income funds, and (f) other Investments approved by the Majority Lenders.
“CERCLA” shall mean the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. § 9601 et. seq. and its implementing regulations and amendments.
“CERCLIS” shall mean the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Inventory System established pursuant to CERCLA.
“Certified Public Accountants” shall mean the Borrower’s independent certified public accountants as of the Agreement Date and such other firm or firms of nationally recognized independent certified public accountants which may be retained by the Borrower thereafter for the purpose of auditing its financial statements.
“Change in Control” shall mean (a) any Person or two or more Persons acting in concert shall have acquired beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the outstanding shares of the voting stock of the Borrower; (b) as of any date a majority of the board of directors of the Borrower consists of individuals who were not either (i) directors of the Borrower as of the corresponding date of the previous year, (ii) selected or nominated to become directors by the board of directors of the Borrower of which a majority consisted of individuals described in clause (i), or (iii) selected or nominated to become directors by the board of directors of the Borrower of which a majority consisted of individuals described in clause (i) and individuals described in clause (ii), or (c) except to the extent that a Domestic Subsidiary may be sold or otherwise disposed of in a Permitted Disposition, the Borrower ceases to directly or indirectly own and control one hundred percent (100%) of the outstanding Equity Interests of each of the Domestic Subsidiaries extant as of the Agreement Date (other than directors’ qualifying shares).
“Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the Agreement Date, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority.
“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
“Commercial Letter of Credit” shall mean a documentary letter of credit issued in respect of the purchase of goods or services by the Borrower in the ordinary course of its business.
“Compliance Certificate” shall mean a certificate of an Authorized Signatory of the Borrower substantially in the form of Exhibit B.
“Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” shall mean, on any calculation date, for the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, the ratio of (a) the sum of (i) EBITDA plus (ii) Rent Expense, to (b) Fixed Charges, in each case as determined for the immediately preceding twelve (12) month period.
“Consolidated Subsidiaries” shall mean, collectively, at any date the Subsidiaries of the Borrower or other Persons the accounts of which, in accordance with GAAP, would be consolidated with those of the Borrower in its consolidated financial statements as of such date.
“Date of Issue” shall mean the date on which the Issuing Bank issues a Letter of Credit pursuant to Section 2.14; provided, however, that the Date of Issue with respect to the Existing Letters of Credit shall be deemed to be the Agreement Date.
“Default” shall mean any Event of Default or any event specified in Section 9.1 which with the giving of notice or lapse of time (or both) would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.
“Default Rate” shall mean a simple per annum interest rate equal to, with respect to all outstanding Obligations, the sum of (a) the highest applicable Interest Rate Basis, plus (b) the highest Applicable Rate, plus (c) two percent (2.00%). As to any Eurodollar Advance outstanding on the date that the Default Rate becomes applicable, the Default Rate shall be based on the then applicable Eurodollar Basis until the end of the current Eurodollar Advance Period and thereafter the Default Rate shall be based on the Base Rate as in effect from time to time. As to any Base Rate Advance outstanding on the date that the Default Rate becomes applicable, the Default Rate shall be based on the Base Rate as in effect from time to time.
“Debt Rating” shall have the meaning set forth in definition of “Applicable Rate”.
“Dividends” shall mean, any direct or indirect distribution, dividend, or payment to any Person on account of any Equity Interests of the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries (other than in connection with an employee equity compensation plan or similar plan with respect to members of the board of directors of the Borrower who are not employees of the Borrower).
“Dollars” or “$” shall mean the lawful currency of the United States of America.
“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any state or commonwealth thereof or under the laws of the District of Columbia.
“EBITDA” shall mean, with respect to any period, for the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, net income (or loss) minus non-cash extraordinary gains, plus non-cash extraordinary losses and impairment charges relating to either fixed assets or goodwill required under GAAP plus, to the extent deducted from such net earnings, interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, and other non-cash charges for such period.
“Eligible Assignee” shall mean (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender, (c) an Approved Fund, and (d) any other Person constituting a commercial bank or financial institution organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof and having total assets in excess of $5,000,000,000, or an Affiliate of any such bank, or any other financial institution not meeting the foregoing requirements but otherwise acceptable to the Administrative Agent, that is, in any such case, approved by the Administrative Agent and, unless a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower, such approvals not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
“Engagement Letter” shall mean that certain letter agreement dated as of April 22, 2005, executed by the Administrative Agent and addressed to and accepted by the Borrower.
“Environmental Authority” shall mean any foreign, federal, state, local or regional government that exercises any form of jurisdiction or authority under any Environmental Requirement.
“Environmental Authorizations” shall mean all licenses, permits, orders, approvals, notices, registrations or other legal prerequisites for conducting the business of any Borrower Party required by any Environmental Requirement.
“Environmental Judgments and Orders” shall mean all judgments, decrees or orders arising from or in any way associated with any Environmental Requirements, whether or not entered upon consent, or written agreements with an Environmental Authority or other entity arising from or in any way associated with any Environmental Requirement, whether or not incorporated in a judgment, decree or order.
“Environmental Liabilities” shall mean any liabilities, whether accrued, contingent or otherwise, arising from and in any way associated with any Environmental Requirements.
“Environmental Notice” shall mean notice from any Environmental Authority or by any other Person, of possible or alleged noncompliance with or liability under any Environmental Requirement, including any complaints, citations, demands or requests from any Environmental Authority or from any other person or entity for correction of any violation of any Environmental Requirement or any investigations concerning any violation of any Environmental Requirement.
“Environmental Proceedings” shall mean any judicial or administrative proceedings arising from or in any way associated with any Environmental Requirement.
“Environmental Releases” shall mean releases as defined in CERCLA or under any applicable state or local environmental law or regulation.
“Environmental Requirements” means any legal requirement relating to health, safety or the environment and applicable to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or the Aggregate Real Properties, including any such requirement under CERCLA or similar state legislation and all federal, state and local laws, ordinances, regulations, orders, writs, decrees and common law.
“Equity Interests” shall mean, as applied to any Person, any capital stock, membership interests, partnership interests or other equity interests of such Person, regardless of class or designation, and all warrants, options, purchase rights, conversion or exchange rights, voting rights, calls or claims of any character with respect thereto.
“ERISA” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“ERISA Affiliate” shall mean any “affiliate” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c) or (m) of the Code.
“Eurodollar Advance” shall mean an Advance (other than a Swing Loan) made hereunder that bears interest based upon the Eurodollar Rate.
“Eurodollar Advance Period” shall mean, in connection with any Eurodollar Advance, the term of such Advance selected by the Borrower, which may be one (1), two (2), three (3) or six (6) months; provided, however, notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) any applicable Eurodollar Advance Period which would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day shall be extended to the succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Eurodollar Advance Period shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day, (b) any applicable Eurodollar Advance Period which begins on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month during which such Eurodollar Advance Period is to end shall (subject to clause (a) above) end on the last day of such calendar month, and (c) no Eurodollar Advance Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date or such earlier date as would interfere with the Borrower’s repayment obligations under Section 2.6.
“Eurodollar Basis” shall mean a simple per annum interest rate equal to the quotient of (a) the Eurodollar Rate divided by (b) one minus the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage, stated as a decimal. The Eurodollar Basis shall remain unchanged during the applicable Eurodollar Advance Period, except for changes to reflect adjustments in the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage.
“Eurodollar Rate” shall mean, for any Eurodollar Advance Period, the interest rate per annum (rounded upward to the nearest one one-hundredth of one percent (1/100%)) determined by the Administrative Agent as the offered rate for deposits in U.S. Dollars for a period comparable to the Eurodollar Advance Period appearing on the Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. London time, on the day that is two (2) London banking days prior to the Eurodollar Advance Period. If at least two (2) such rates appear on Telerate Page 3750, the rate for such Eurodollar Advance Period will be the arithmetic average of such rates, rounded to the fourth decimal place.
“Eurodollar Reserve Percentage” shall mean the percentage which is in effect from time to time under Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as such regulation may be amended from time to time, as the maximum reserve requirement applicable with respect to Eurocurrency Liabilities (as that term is defined in Regulation D), whether or not any Lender has any Eurocurrency Liabilities subject to such reserve requirement at that time. The Eurodollar Basis for any Eurodollar Advance shall be adjusted as of the effective date of any change in the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage.
“Event of Default” shall mean any of the events specified in Section 9.1.
“Excess Funding Guarantor” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(n).
“Excess Payment” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(n).
“Existing Credit Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.
“Existing Letters of Credit” shall mean the letters of credit set forth on Schedule 1.
“Federal Funds Rate” shall mean, for any day, the rate set forth in the weekly statistical release designated as H.15(519), or any successor publication, published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (including any such successor, “H.15(519)”) on the preceding Business Day opposite the caption “Federal Funds (Effective)”; or, if for any relevant day such rate is not so published on any such preceding Business Day, the rate for such day will be the arithmetic mean as determined by the Administrative Agent of the rates for the last transaction in overnight Federal funds arranged prior to 12:00 noon (Eastern time) on that day by each of three (3) leading brokers of Federal funds transactions in New York, New York selected by the Administrative Agent.
“Financial Covenants” shall mean from time to time the financial covenants applicable to the Borrower from time to time as set forth in Section 8.7.
“Fixed Charges” shall mean, for any period, the sum of (a) consolidated interest expense, including non-capitalized interest and the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations during such period, plus (b) Rent Expense paid during such period.
“Foreign Subsidiary” shall mean any Subsidiary of the Borrower that does not constitute a Domestic Subsidiary.
“Fund” shall mean any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of business.
“Funded Debt” shall mean all outstanding obligations, liabilities and indebtedness of the types described in subsections (a) through (h) of the definition of Indebtedness set forth herein, including all obligations under the Loan Documents and the Indentures; provided, however, that for purposes of determining Funded Debt, indebtedness of the type described in subsections (f) and (g) of the definition of Indebtedness shall only be included to the extent such payment obligations have been realized; provided further, however, that notwithstanding anything in GAAP to the contrary, the amount of all obligations shall be the full amount of such obligations owing at the time of determination.
“GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles and practices set forth from time to time in the opinions or pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements or pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (or agencies with similar functions of comparable stature and authority within the United States accounting profession).
“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States of America or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).
“Guarantors” shall mean, collectively, (a) Xxxxxx & Xxxxx International, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (b) Xxxxx Europe, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (c) Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Europe, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (d) Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Caribe Inc., a Delaware Corporation, (e) TB Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation, (f) Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Mexico, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, (g) Dutch L.P., Inc., a Delaware corporation, and (h) all other present and future, direct and indirect Domestic Subsidiaries of the Borrower which have delivered a Guaranty Supplement; and “Guarantor” shall mean any one of the foregoing Guarantors.
“Guaranty” or “guaranteed,” as applied to an obligation (each a “primary obligation”), shall mean and include (a) any guaranty, direct or indirect, in any manner, of any part or all of such primary obligation, and (b) any agreement, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, the practical effect of which is to assure in any way the payment or performance (or payment of damages in the event of non-performance) of any part or all of such primary obligation, including any reimbursement obligations as to amounts drawn down by beneficiaries of outstanding letters of credit, and any obligation of any Person, whether or not contingent, (i) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property or asset constituting direct or indirect security therefor, (ii) to advance or supply funds (1) for the purchase or payment of such primary obligation or (2) to maintain working capital, equity capital or the net worth, cash flow, solvency or other balance sheet or income statement condition of any other Person, (iii) to purchase property, assets, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner or holder of any primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor with respect to such primary obligation to make payment thereof or (iv) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the owner or holder of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof. All references in this Agreement to “this Guaranty” shall be to the Guaranty provided for pursuant to the terms of Article 3.
“Guaranty Supplement” shall mean a joinder and supplement to this Agreement delivered pursuant to Section 6.13, in substantially the form of Exhibit C.
“Hazardous Materials” shall mean, collectively, (a) solid or hazardous waste, as defined in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1980, 42 U.S.C. § 6901 et seq. and its implementing regulations and amendments, or in any applicable state or local law or regulation, (b) “hazardous substance”, “pollutant”, or “contaminant” as defined in CERCLA, or in any applicable state or local law or regulation, (c) gasoline, or any other petroleum product or by-product, including crude oil or any fraction thereof, (d) toxic substances, as defined in the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, or in any applicable state or local law or regulation, and (e) insecticides, fungicides, or rodenticides, as defined in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act of 1975, or in any applicable state or local law or regulation, as each such Act, statute or regulation may be amended from time to time.
“Indebtedness” shall mean, with respect to any Person, (a) any obligation for borrowed money; (b) any obligation evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments; (c) any obligation to pay the deferred purchase price of property or for services (other than in the ordinary course of business); (d) any Capitalized Lease Obligation; (e) any obligation or liability of others secured by a Lien on property owned by such Person, whether or not such obligation or liability is assumed; (f) any net payment obligations with respect to interest rate and currency hedging agreements; (g) any reimbursement obligations (contingent or otherwise) with respect to letters of credit, bankers acceptances and similar instruments issued for the account of such Person; (h) any Guaranty (except items of shareholders’ equity or Equity Interests or surplus or general contingency or deferred tax reserves); (i) any financial obligation under purchase money mortgages; (j) any obligations under conditional sales contracts and similar title retention instruments with respect to property acquired; (k) any off-balance sheet obligation; and (l) any financial obligation of such Person as issuer of Equity Interests redeemable in whole or in part at the option of a Person other than such issuer, at a fixed and determinable date or upon the occurrence of an event not solely within the control of such issuer.
“Indentures” shall mean, collectively, the 1992 Indenture and the 0000 Xxxxxxxxx; and “Indenture” shall mean any one of the foregoing Indentures.
“Interest Rate Basis” shall mean the Base Rate or the Eurodollar Basis, as appropriate.
“Investment” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any loan, advance or extension of credit by such Person to, or any Guaranty with respect to the Equity Interests, Funded Debt or other obligations of, or any contributions to the capital of, any other Person, or any ownership, purchase or other acquisition by such Person of any Equity Interests of any other Person, other than any Acquisition.
“Issuing Bank” shall mean Wachovia Bank, National Association.
“Lender Group” shall mean, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Swing Bank, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders.
“Lenders” shall mean those lenders whose names are set forth on the signature pages to this Agreement under the heading “Lenders” and any assignees of the Lenders who hereafter become parties hereto pursuant to and in accordance with Section 11.5; and “Lender” shall mean any one of the foregoing Lenders.
“Letter of Credit Commitment” shall mean $100,000,000.
“Letter of Credit Obligations” shall mean, at any time, the sum of (a) an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the aggregate undrawn and unexpired amount (including the amount to which any such Letter of Credit can be reinstated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement) of the then outstanding Letters of Credit, plus (b) an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the aggregate drawn, but unreimbursed drawings under any Letters of Credit.
“Letter of Credit Reserve Account” shall mean any account maintained by the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Issuing Bank, the proceeds of which shall be applied as provided in Section 9.2(d).
“Letters of Credit” shall mean either Standby Letters of Credit or Commercial Letters of Credit issued by the Issuing Bank on behalf of the Borrower from time to time in accordance with Section 2.14, and shall include the Existing Letters of Credit; provided, however, that Letters of Credit shall not include any of the Non-Participated Letters of Credit.
“Leverage Ratio shall mean, on any calculation date, for the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, the ratio of (a) Funded Debt as of such date to (b) EBITDA determined for the immediately preceding twelve (12) month period.
“Leviton” shall mean Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc., a Delaware corporation.
“Lien” shall mean, with respect to any property, any mortgage, lien, pledge, assignment, charge, security interest, title retention agreement, levy, execution, seizure, attachment, garnishment, or other encumbrance of any kind in respect of such property, whether or not xxxxxx, vested, or perfected.
“Loan Account” shall mean an account with respect to the Loans and interest thereon.
“Loan Documents” shall mean this Agreement, any Revolving Loan Notes, the Engagement Letter, all Guaranty Supplements, the Negative Pledge Agreement, all reimbursement agreements relating to Letters of Credit issued hereunder, all legal opinions or reliance letters issued by counsel to the Borrower in connection herewith, all Requests for Advance, all Requests for Issuance of Letters of Credit, and all Compliance Certificates.
“Loans” shall mean, collectively, the Revolving Loans and the Swing Loans.
“Majority Lenders” shall mean (a) as of any date of calculation prior to the termination of the Revolving Loan Commitment, Lenders the sum of whose Revolving Commitment Ratios of the Revolving Loan Commitment on such date of calculation exceeds fifty percent (50%) of the Revolving Loan Commitment on such date of calculation, or (b) as of any date of calculation after termination of the Revolving Loan Commitment, Lenders the total of whose Revolving Loans outstanding plus participation interests in Letter of Credit Obligations and Swing Loans outstanding, as applicable, on such date of calculation exceeds fifty percent (50%) of the total principal amount of the Revolving Loans and Swing Loans outstanding plus Letters of Credit Obligations as of such date of calculation.
“Material Contracts” shall mean, collectively, (a) the Material Financing Agreements, and (b) all other contracts, leases, instruments, guaranties, licenses or other arrangements (other than any of the Loan Documents), to which any of the Borrower Parties is or becomes a party as to which the breach, nonperformance, cancellation or failure to renew by any party thereto could have a Materially Adverse Effect. In no event, however, shall the term Material Contract include any employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, maintained for employees of the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates.
“Material Financing Agreements” shall mean, individually and collectively, the Indentures and any other material agreement the primary purpose of which is to provide financing for any of the Borrower Parties.
“Materially Adverse Effect” shall mean any materially adverse effect (a) upon the business, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, or results of operations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) upon the ability of the Borrower Parties taken as a whole to perform under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to which it is a party.
“Maturity Date” shall mean June 14, 2010, or such earlier date as payment of the Loans shall be due (whether by acceleration or otherwise).
“Moody’s” shall mean Xxxxx’x Investor Service, Inc.
“Multiemployer Plan” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
“Necessary Authorizations” shall mean all material authorizations, consents, permits, approvals, licenses, and exemptions from, and all material filings and registrations with, and all material reports to, any Governmental Authority whether federal, state, local, and all agencies thereof, which are required for the conduct of the businesses and the ownership (or lease) of the properties and assets of the Borrower Parties.
“Negative Pledge Agreement” shall mean that certain Negative Pledge Agreement of even date herewith among the Special Purpose Subsidiary, the Foreign Subsidiaries and the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lender Group, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
“1992 Indenture” means that certain Indenture dated as of January 15, 1992, between the Borrower and Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as trustee, as amended by that First Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 28, 1992, between the Borrower and Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as trustee, as further amended by that certain Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 10, 1998, between the Borrower and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee, as further amended by that certain Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 7, 1998, between the Borrower and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee.
“1998 Indenture” means that certain Trust Indenture dated as of August 1, 1998, between the Borrower and The Bank of New York, as trustee, as amended by that Supplemental Indenture No. 1 dated as of February 5, 1999, between the Borrower and The Bank of New York, as trustee, as further amended by that certain Supplemental Indenture No. 2 dated as of May 27, 2003, between the Borrower and The Bank of New York, as trustee.
“Non-Participated Letters of Credit” shall mean either Standby Letters of Credit or Commercial Letters of Credit issued by any financial institution for the account of the Borrower from time to time in the ordinary course of its business, other than Letters of Credit issued by the Issuing Bank, in such capacity and not individually, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
“Notice of Conversion/Continuation” shall mean a notice in substantially the form of Exhibit D.
“Obligations” shall mean (a) all payment and performance obligations as existing from time to time of the Borrower Parties to the Lender Group under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including all Letter of Credit Obligations and including any interest, fees and expenses that, but for the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, would have accrued), or as a result of making the Loans or issuing the Letters of Credit, and (b) the obligation to pay an amount equal to the amount of any and all damages which the Lender Group, or any of them, may suffer by reason of a breach by any Borrower Party of any obligation, covenant, or undertaking with respect to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
“OFAC” shall mean the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
“Off-Balance Sheet Obligation” shall mean any transaction, agreement or other contractual arrangement to which an entity unconsolidated with the Borrower is a party, under which the Borrower has:
(a) Any obligation under a guarantee contract that has any of the characteristics identified in paragraph 3 of FASB Interpretation No. 45, Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others (November 2002) (“FIN 45”), as may be modified or supplemented, and that is not excluded from the initial recognition and measurement provisions of FIN 45 pursuant to paragraphs 6 or 7 of that Interpretation;
(b) A retained or contingent interest in assets transferred to an unconsolidated entity or similar arrangement that serves as credit, liquidity or market risk support to such entity for such assets;
(c) Any obligation, including a contingent obligation, under a contract that would be accounted for as a derivative instrument, except that it is both indexed to the Borrower’s own stock and classified in stockholders’ equity in the Borrower’s statement of financial position, and therefore excluded from the scope of FASB Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (June 1998), pursuant to paragraph 11(a) of that Statement, as may be modified or supplemented; or
(d) Any obligation, including a contingent obligation, arising out of a variable interest (as referenced in FASB Interpretation No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities (January 2003), as may be modified or supplemented) in an unconsolidated entity that is held by, and material to, the Borrower, where such entity provides financing, liquidity, market risk or credit risk support to, or engages in leasing, hedging or research and development services with, the Borrower.
“Participant” shall mean a bank or other entity to which any Lender shall have sold a participation in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement pursuant to Section 11.5(d).
“Patriot Act” has the meaning specified in Section 10.9.
“Payment Date” shall mean the last day of each Eurodollar Advance Period for a Eurodollar Advance.
“PBGC” shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any entity succeeding to any or all of its functions under ERISA.
“Permitted Acquisitions” shall mean Acquisitions made by the Borrower Parties, subject to compliance with Section 6.13, of assets reasonably related to, or reasonably complementary to, the Borrower Parties’ business as currently conducted, or of Persons that are engaged in such business, provided that (a) the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, at least fifteen (15) days prior to the closing of any proposed Acquisition, a Compliance Certificate setting forth calculations demonstrating, on a pro forma basis, that the Borrower shall be in compliance with the Financial Covenants immediately before and after giving effect to the closing of such Acquisition, and (b) no Default or Event of Default shall then exist or be caused thereby.
“Permitted Dispositions” shall mean (a) the sale of Inventory in the ordinary course of business at the fair market value thereof and for cash or Cash Equivalents, (b) physical assets used, consumed or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business, (c) the termination of any derivative agreements in accordance with the terms thereof, (d) the sale, transfer or other disposition by the Borrower of its interests in Leviton, and (e) the sale or other disposition of any other assets of the Borrower Parties (including any Equity Interests in their Subsidiaries), provided that (i) the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, at least fifteen (15) days prior to the closing of any proposed disposition, a Compliance Certificate setting forth calculations demonstrating, on a pro forma basis, that (A) the Borrower shall be in compliance with the Financial Covenants immediately before and after giving effect to the closing of such disposition and (B) the aggregate book value attributable to the assets subject to such disposition, shall not (1) together with the aggregate book value attributable to all other assets disposed of during the immediately preceding twelve (12) month period, exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the aggregate book value of all assets of the Borrower Parties as of the date of such certificate, or (2) together with the aggregate book value attributable to all other assets disposed of during the term of this Agreement, exceed forty percent (40%) of the aggregate book value of all assets of the Borrower Parties as of the date of such certificate, and (b) no Default or Event of Default shall then exist or be caused thereby.
“Permitted Liens” shall mean, as applied to any Person:
(a) Any Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent or any other member of the Lender Group given to secure the Obligations;
(b) Liens for taxes, assessments, judgments, governmental charges or levies, or claims not yet delinquent or the non-payment of which is being diligently contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which reserves have been established by such Person in accordance with GAAP;
(c) Liens arising by operation of law in favor of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, laborers, suppliers, workers and materialmen incurred in the ordinary course of business and not in connection with the borrowing of money, which are not yet delinquent or the non-payment of which is being diligently contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which reserves have been established by such Person in accordance with GAAP;
(d) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with worker’s compensation and unemployment insurance or other types of social security benefits;
(e) Easements, rights-of-way, restrictions (including zoning or deed restrictions), and other similar encumbrances on the use of real property which do not interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of such Person;
(f) Deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for borrowed money), tenders, sales, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(g) Liens incidental to the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or the ownership of their respective assets which (i) do not secure Funded Debt and (ii) do not, in the aggregate, materially detract from the value of their respective assets or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of their respective businesses;
(h) Liens on any “margin security” or “margin stock” as defined in Regulation T, U, and X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System;
(i) Liens existing on any specific fixed asset of any Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower and not created in contemplation of such event;
(j) Liens on any specific fixed asset of any Person at the time such Person is merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries and not created in contemplation of such event;
(k) Liens existing on any specific fixed asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and not created in contemplation of such acquisition; and
(l) Other Liens on assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $150,000,000 at any time outstanding.
“Person” shall mean an individual, corporation, partnership, trust, joint stock company, limited liability company, unincorporated organization, other legal entity or joint venture or a government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Plan” shall mean the Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Pension Plan, the Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Corporation Pension Plan for Bargaining Unit Employees, the Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Corporation Employees’ Investment Plan, and any other “pension plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA) that is a tax-qualified plan under Section 401 of the Code which the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates adopts, maintains, or joins.
“Pro Rata Share” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(n).
“Prohibited Transaction” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA; provided, however, that the term “Prohibited Transaction” shall not include (a) a transaction for which a statutory, administrative or regulatory exemption is available, or (b) a transaction which, individually or in the aggregate with other transactions which would be Prohibited Transactions but for this subsection (b), would have a Materially Adverse Effect.
“Register” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.5(c).
“Reimbursement Obligations” shall mean the payment obligations of the Borrower under Section 2.14(d).
“Related Parties” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.
“Rent Expense” shall mean, for any period, the actual amount of lease expense of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period determined in accordance with GAAP in respect of all real and personal property leases of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries.
“Reportable Event” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA and the regulations thereunder, but shall not include any event with respect to which the notice requirement is waived pursuant to regulations issued under Section 4043 of ERISA.
“Request for Advance” shall mean any certificate signed by an Authorized Signatory of the Borrower requesting an Advance hereunder which will increase the aggregate amount of the Revolving Loans outstanding, which certificate shall be denominated a “Request for Advance,” and shall be in substantially the form of Exhibit E, and shall, among other things, specify the date of the Advance, which shall be a Business Day, the amount of the Advance, and the type of Advance.
“Request for Issuance of Letter of Credit” shall mean any certificate signed by an Authorized Signatory of the Borrower requesting that the Issuing Bank issue a Letter of Credit hereunder, which certificate shall be in substantially the form of Exhibit F, and shall, among other things, (a) specify that the requested Letter of Credit is either a Commercial Letter of Credit or a Standby Letter of Credit, (b) the stated amount of the Letter of Credit, (c) the effective date (which shall be a Business Day) for the issuance of such Letter of Credit, (d) the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall be a Business Day and which shall be subject to Section 2.14(a)), (e) the Person for whose benefit such Letter of Credit is to be issued, (f) other relevant terms of such Letter of Credit, and (g) the Available Letter of Credit Amount as of the scheduled date of issuance of such Letter of Credit.
“Revolving Commitment Ratio” shall mean, with respect to any Lender, the ratio, expressed as a percentage, of (a) the Revolving Loan Commitment of such Lender, divided by (b) the aggregate Revolving Loan Commitment of all Lenders, which, as of the Agreement Date, are set forth (together with Dollar amounts thereof) on Schedule 2; and “Revolving Commitment Ratios” shall mean, collectively, the Revolving Commitment Ratio of each Lender.
“Revolving Loan Commitment” shall mean the several obligations of the lenders to advance to the Borrower on or after the Agreement Date an aggregate amount not to exceed, at any time, the sum of (a) $200,000,000, plus (b) the aggregate amount of any Revolving Loan Commitment Increases effected pursuant to Section 2.1(d), in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitment Ratios, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and as such amount may be reduced from time to time, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
“Revolving Loan Commitment Increase” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(d).
“Revolving Loan Notes” shall mean those certain promissory notes issued by the Borrower to each of the Lenders that requests a promissory note, in accordance with each such Lender’s Revolving Loan Commitment, in substantially the form of Exhibit G.
“Revolving Loans” shall mean, collectively, amounts advanced from time to time by the Lenders to the Borrower under the Revolving Loan Commitment, not to exceed the amount of the Revolving Loan Commitment, excluding any amounts advanced as Swing Loans.
“Sanctioned Entity” shall mean (a) an agency of the government of, (b) an organization directly or indirectly controlled by, or (c) a person resident in a country that is subject to a sanctions program identified on the list maintained by OFAC and available at xxxx://xxx.xxxxx.xxx/xxxxxxx/xxxxxx/xxxx/xxxxxxxxx/xxxxx.xxxx, or as otherwise published from time to time as such program may be applicable to such agency, organization or person.
“Sanctioned Person” shall mean a person named on the list of Specially Designated Nationals or Blocked Persons maintained by OFAC available at xxxx://xxx.xxxxx.xxx/xxxxxxx/xxxxxx/xxxx/xxx/xxxxx.xxxx, or as otherwise published from time to time.
“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any similar Federal law then in force.
“Senior Notes” shall mean, collectively, the Senior Notes (2006), the Senior Notes (2008), the Senior Notes (2009) and the Senior Notes (2013).
“Senior Notes (2006)” shall mean the 6.50% Notes due January 15, 2006 issued by the Borrower on January 25, 1996, in an aggregate original principal amount of $150,000,000, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the 1992 Indenture.
“Senior Notes (2008)” shall mean the 6.625% Notes due May 7, 2008 issued by the Borrower on May 7, 1998, in an aggregate original principal amount of $115,000,000, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the 1992 Indenture.
“Senior Notes (2009)” shall mean the 6.39% Notes due February 10, 2009 issued by the Borrower on February 10, 1999, in an aggregate original principal amount of $150,000,000, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the 1998 Indenture.
“Senior Notes (2013)” shall mean the 7.25% Notes due June 1, 2013 issued by the Borrower on May 27, 2003, in an aggregate principal amount of $175,000,000, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the 1998 Indenture.
“Special Purpose Subsidiary” shall mean TBSPV, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
“S&P” shall mean Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, a division of XxXxxx-Xxxx, Inc.
“Standby Letter of Credit” shall mean a Letter of Credit issued to support obligations of the Borrower, and which is not a Commercial Letter of Credit.
“Subsidiary” shall mean, as applied to any Person, any corporation of which more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding stock (other than directors’ qualifying shares) having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of its board of directors, regardless of the existence at the time of a right of the holders of any class or classes of securities of such corporation to exercise such voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency, or any partnership or limited liability company of which more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding partnership interests or limited liability company interests, as applicable, is at the time owned by such Person, or by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or by such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.
“Swing Bank” shall mean Wachovia Bank, National Association, or any other Lender who shall agree with the Administrative Agent and the Borrower to act as Swing Bank.
“Swing Loans” shall mean, collectively, the amounts advanced from time to time by the Swing Bank to the Borrower under the Revolving Loan Commitment in accordance with Section 2.2(g).
“Total Availability” shall mean, as of any particular time, the result of (a) the Revolving Loan Commitment, minus (b) the Aggregate Revolving Credit Obligations then outstanding.
“Uniform Customs” shall mean the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits (1993 Revision), International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 500, as the same may be amended from time to time.
“Voidable Transfer” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.18.
Section 1.2 Accounting Principles. The classification, character and amount of all assets, liabilities, capital accounts and reserves and of all items of income and expense to be determined, and any consolidation or other accounting computation to be made, and the interpretation of any definition containing any financial term, pursuant to this Agreement shall be determined and made in accordance with GAAP consistently applied; provided, however, in the event that an Accounting Change shall occur and either the Borrower or the Majority Lenders shall object to the application of such Accounting Change to the method of calculation of the Financial Covenants, or any other financial standards or terms in this Agreement, then GAAP shall be applied on a basis consistent with the most recent financial statements of the Borrower for which no objection was made. All accounting terms used herein without definition shall be used as defined under GAAP. All financial calculations hereunder shall, unless otherwise stated, be determined for the Borrower on a consolidated basis with its Consolidated Subsidiaries.
Section 1.3 Other Interpretive Matters. Each definition of an agreement in this Article 1 shall include such instrument or agreement as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time with, if required, the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders, except as provided in Section 11.12, and otherwise to the extent permitted under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Except where the context otherwise requires, definitions imparting the singular shall include the plural and vice versa, and the terms “includes” and “including” are not limiting. Except where otherwise specifically provided herein, each reference to a “Section”, “Article”, “Exhibit” or “Schedule” shall be to a Section or Article of this Agreement or an Exhibit or Schedule attached hereto. Except where otherwise specifically restricted, reference to a party to a Loan Document includes that party and its successors and assigns. An Event of Default, if one occurs, shall “exist”, “continue” or be “continuing” until such Event of Default has been waived in writing in accordance with Section 11.12.
ARTICLE 2.
THE LOANS AND THE LETTERS OF CREDIT
Section 2.1 Extension of Credit. Subject to the terms and conditions of, and in reliance upon the representations and warranties made in, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the Lenders agree, severally in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitment Ratios, and not jointly, to extend credit to the Borrower in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $200,000,000, plus the amount of any Revolving Loan Commitment Increase effected pursuant to paragraph (d) below.
(a) The Revolving Loans. The Lenders agree, severally in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitment Ratios and not jointly, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, to make Revolving Loans in Dollars to the Borrower, from time to time during the period from the Agreement Date to the Maturity Date, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time the Revolving Loan Commitment; provided, however, that the Aggregate Revolving Credit Obligations outstanding at any time shall not exceed the Revolving Loan Commitment. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and prior to the Maturity Date, Advances under the Revolving Loan Commitment may be repaid and reborrowed from time to time on a revolving basis.
(b) The Letters of Credit. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Issuing Bank agrees to issue Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower, from time to time after the Agreement Date but prior to the Maturity Date, pursuant to Section 2.14 in outstanding face amounts (i) not to exceed, together with all other Letter of Credit Obligations then outstanding, the Letter of Credit Commitment, and (ii) not to exceed, together with all other Aggregate Revolving Credit Obligations then outstanding, the Revolving Loan Commitment.
(c) The Swing Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Swing Bank, in its sole discretion, may from time to time after the Agreement Date but prior to the Maturity Date, make Swing Loans in Dollars to the Borrower; provided, however, that (i) the aggregate principal amount of Swing Loans outstanding at any time shall not exceed $25,000,000, and (ii) the Aggregate Revolving Credit Obligations outstanding at any time shall not exceed the Revolving Loan Commitment. Swing Loans hereunder may be repaid and reborrowed in accordance with the provisions hereof.
(d) Revolving Loan Commitment Increases. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Borrower may request an increase in the amount of the Revolving Loan Commitment (each a “Revolving Loan Commitment Increase”) on any Business Day; provided, however, that the Borrower may not request a Revolving Loan Commitment Increase during the continuance of a Default or Event of Default, including any Default or Event of Default that would result after giving effect to any such Revolving Loan Commitment Increase; and provided further, that the Borrower may request up to two (2) Revolving Loan Commitment Increases in any consecutive twelve (12) month period (each of which commitments may be from more than one lender) which may be no less than $50,000,000 and no more than $100,000,000 in the aggregate. In requesting a Revolving Loan Commitment Increase, the Borrower shall offer each of the Lenders an opportunity to provide their pro rata share of such Revolving Loan Commitment Increase; provided that none of the Lenders shall be required to issue any Revolving Loan Commitment Increase and the decision of any Lender to issue or not issue any Revolving Loan Commitment Increase to the Borrower shall be at such Lender’s sole discretion. Persons not then Lenders may be included as Lenders with the written approval, not to be unreasonably withheld, of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. Prior to the effectiveness of any Revolving Loan Commitment Increase, the Borrower shall (i) deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders a written notice, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, setting forth the proposed effective date and amount of such Revolving Loan Commitment Increase and (ii) deliver to the Administrative Agent at least fifteen (15) days prior to such Revolving Loan Commitment Increase a Compliance Certificate setting forth calculations demonstrating, on a pro forma basis, that the Borrower shall be in compliance with the Financial Covenants immediately before and after giving effect to such Revolving Loan Commitment Increase.
Section 2.2 Manner of Borrowing and Disbursement of Loans.
(a) Choice of Interest Rate, etc. Any Advance of the Revolving Loans shall, at the option of the Borrower, be made either as a Base Rate Advance or as a Eurodollar Advance (except for the first two (2) Business Days after the Agreement Date, during which period each Advance shall bear interest as a Base Rate Advance); provided, however, that (i) if the Borrower fails to give the Administrative Agent written notice specifying whether a Eurodollar Advance is to be repaid, continued or converted on a Payment Date, such Advance shall be converted to a Base Rate Advance on the Payment Date, and (ii) the Borrower may not select a Eurodollar Advance (A) with respect to an Advance, the proceeds of which are to reimburse the Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.14, or (B) if, at the time of such Advance, a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. Any notice given to the Administrative Agent in connection with a requested Advance hereunder shall be given to the Administrative Agent prior to 11:00 a.m. (Eastern time) in order for such Business Day to count toward the minimum number of Business Days required.
(b) Base Rate Advances.
(i) Initial and Subsequent Advances. The Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent in the case of Base Rate Advances irrevocable notice by telephone or telecopy not later than 11:00 a.m. (Eastern time) on the date of such Base Rate Advance and shall confirm any such telephone notice with a written Request for Advance; provided, however, that the failure by the Borrower to confirm any notice by telephone with a written Request for Advance shall not invalidate any notice so given.
(ii) Repayments and Conversions. The Borrower may (A) repay a Base Rate Advance at any time, or (B) upon at least three (3) Business Days’ irrevocable prior written notice to the Administrative Agent in the form of a Notice of Conversion/Continuation, convert all or a portion of the principal thereof to one or more Eurodollar Advances. Upon the date indicated by the Borrower, such Base Rate Advance shall be so repaid or converted.
(iii) Miscellaneous. Notwithstanding any term or provision of this Agreement which may be construed to the contrary, each Base Rate Advance (except any Base Rate Advance, the proceeds of which are to reimburse the Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.14) shall be in a principal amount of no less than $500,000 and in an integral multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof, or the remaining amount of the Revolving Loan Commitment.
(c) Eurodollar Advances.
(i) Initial and Subsequent Advances. The Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent in the case of Eurodollar Advances at least three (3) Business Days’ irrevocable prior notice by telephone or telecopy and shall immediately confirm any such telephone notice with a written Request for Advance; provided, however, that the failure by the Borrower to confirm any notice by telephone with a written Request for Advance shall not invalidate any notice so given.
(ii) Repayments, Continuations and Conversions. At least three (3) Business Days prior to each Payment Date for a Eurodollar Advance, the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent written notice in the form of a Notice of Conversion/Continuation specifying whether all or a portion of such Eurodollar Advance outstanding on such Payment Date is to be continued in whole or in part as one or more new Eurodollar Advances and also specifying the Eurodollar Advance Period applicable to each such new Eurodollar Advance (and subject to the provisions of this Agreement, upon such Payment Date, such Eurodollar Advance shall be so continued). Upon such Payment Date, any Eurodollar Advance (or portion thereof) not so continued shall be converted to a Base Rate Advance or, subject to Section 2.5, be prepaid or repaid.
(iii) Miscellaneous. Notwithstanding any term or provision of this Agreement which may be construed to the contrary, each Eurodollar Advance shall be in a principal amount of no less than $5,000,000 and in an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, and at no time shall the aggregate number of all Eurodollar Advances then outstanding exceed five (5).
(d) Notification of Lenders. Upon receipt of a (i) Request for Advance or a telephone or telecopy request for Advance, (ii) notification from the Issuing Bank that a draw has been made under any Letter of Credit (unless the Issuing Bank will be reimbursed through the funding of a Swing Loan), (iii) notification from the Swing Bank with respect to any outstanding Swing Loans pursuant to Section 2.2(g)(ii), or (iv) notice from the Borrower with respect to any continuation or conversion of an outstanding Eurodollar Advance prior to the Payment Date for such Advance, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender by telephone or telecopy of the contents thereof and the amount of each Lender’s portion of any such Advance. Each Lender shall, not later than 2:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on the date specified for the borrowing of an Advance in such notice, make available to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office, or at such account as the Administrative Agent shall designate, the amount of such Lender’s portion of the Advance in immediately available funds.
(e) Disbursement. Prior to 3:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on the date of an Advance hereunder, the Administrative Agent shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Article 4, disburse the amounts made available to the Administrative Agent by the Lenders in like funds by (i) transferring the amounts so made available by wire transfer pursuant to the Borrower’s instructions or (B) in the case of an Advance the proceeds of which are to reimburse the Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.14, transferring such amounts to the Issuing Bank. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to 12:00 noon (Eastern time) on the date of any Advance that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s ratable portion of such Advance, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made or will make such portion available to the Administrative Agent on the date of such Advance and the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion and in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If and to the extent such Lender shall not have so made such ratable portion available to the Administrative Agent, such Lender agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is made available to the Borrower until the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent, (x) for the first two (2) Business Days, at the Federal Funds Rate, and (y) thereafter, at the Base Rate. If such Lender shall repay to the Administrative Agent such corresponding amount, such amount so repaid shall constitute such Lender’s portion of the applicable Advance for purposes of this Agreement. If such Lender does not repay such corresponding amount immediately upon the Administrative Agent’s demand therefor, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower, and the Borrower shall immediately pay such corresponding amount to the Administrative Agent. If both such Lender and the Borrower shall pay and repay such corresponding amount, the Administrative Agent shall promptly relend to the Borrower such corresponding amount. The failure of any Lender to fund its portion of any Advance shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation, if any, hereunder to fund its respective portion of the Advance on the date of such borrowing, but no Lender shall be responsible for any such failure of any other Lender. In the event that a Lender for any reason fails or refuses to fund its portion of an Advance in violation of this Agreement, then, until such time as such Lender has funded its portion of such Advance, or all other Lenders have received payment in full (whether by repayment or prepayment) of the principal and interest due in respect of such Advance, such non-funding Lender shall not (i) have the right to vote regarding any issue on which voting is required or advisable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and, with respect to any such Lender, the amount of the Revolving Loan Commitment or Loans, as applicable, held by such Lender shall not be counted as outstanding for purposes of determining “Majority Lenders” hereunder, and (ii) be entitled to receive any payments of principal, interest or fees from the Borrower or the Administrative Agent (or the other Lenders) in respect of its Loans.
(f) Deemed Requests for Advance. Unless payment is otherwise timely made by the Borrower, the becoming due of any amount required to be paid under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents as principal, interest, reimbursement obligations in connection with Letters of Credit, fees, reimbursable expenses or other sums payable under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents shall be deemed irrevocably to be a Request for Advance on the due date of, and in an aggregate amount required to pay, such principal, interest, reimbursement obligations in connection with Letters of Credit, fees, reimbursable expenses or other sums payable under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, and the proceeds of a Revolving Loan in Dollars made pursuant thereto may be disbursed by way of direct payment of the relevant Obligation and shall bear interest as a Base Rate Advance; provided, however, the Administrative Agent shall provide the Borrower with prior written notice (which, so long as no Event of Default then exists, shall be at least five (5) days prior written notice) before making any such Advance that will be made for the purpose of paying any Obligations other than principal, interest, reimbursement obligations in connection with Letters of Credit, premiums or fees. The Lenders shall have no obligation to the Borrower to honor any deemed Request for Advance under this Section 2.2(f) unless all conditions set forth in Section 4.2 have been satisfied, but, with the consent of all Lenders, may do so in their sole discretion and without regard to the existence of, and without being deemed to have waived, any Default or Event of Default and without regard to the failure by the Borrower to satisfy any of the conditions set forth in Section 4.2. No further authorization, direction or approval shall be required to be given by the Borrower for any deemed Request for Advance under this Section 2.2(f). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower promptly after the making of any Advance pursuant to a deemed Request for Advance under this Section 2.2(f).
(g) Special Provisions Pertaining to Swing Loans.
(i) The Borrower shall give the Swing Bank written notice in the form of a Request for Advance, or notice by telephone followed immediately by a written Request for Advance, no later than 11:00 a.m. (Eastern time) on the date on which the Borrower wishes to receive any Swing Loan, in each case with a copy to the Administrative Agent; provided, however, that the failure by the Borrower to confirm any notice by telephone with a written Request for Advance shall not invalidate any notice so given; provided further, however, that any request by the Borrower of a Base Rate Advance under the Revolving Loan Commitment shall be deemed to be a request for a Swing Loan unless the Borrower specifically requests otherwise. Each Swing Loan shall bear interest at the same rate as a Base Rate Advance. If the Swing Bank, in its sole discretion, elects to make the requested Swing Loan, the Swing Loan shall be made under the Revolving Loan Commitment on the date specified in the notice or the Request for Advance and such notice or Request for Advance shall specify (A) the amount of the requested Swing Loan, and (B) instructions for the disbursement of the proceeds of the requested Swing Loan. Each Swing Loan shall be subject to all the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents applicable to Revolving Loans, except that all payments thereon shall be payable to the Swing Bank solely for its own account. The Swing Bank shall have no duty or obligation to make any Swing Loans hereunder. The Swing Bank shall not make any Swing Loans if the Swing Bank has received written notice from any Lender that one or more applicable conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.2 will not be satisfied on the date of the requested Swing Loan. In the event the Swing Bank in its sole and absolute discretion elects to make any requested Swing Loan, the Swing Bank shall make the proceeds of such Swing Loan available to the Borrower by deposit of Dollars in same day funds by wire transfer pursuant to the Borrower’s instructions.
(ii) The Swing Bank shall notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender no less frequently than weekly, as determined by the Administrative Agent, of the principal amount of Swing Loans outstanding as of 3:00 p.m. (Eastern time) as of such date and each Lender’s pro rata share thereof. Each Lender shall before 2:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on the next Business Day make available to the Administrative Agent, in immediate available funds, the amount of its pro rata share of such principal amount of Swing Loans outstanding. Upon such payment by a Lender, such Lender shall be deemed to have made an Advance of the Revolving Loans to the Borrower, notwithstanding any failure of the Borrower to satisfy the conditions in Section 4.2. The Administrative Agent shall use such funds to repay the principal amount of Swing Loans to the Swing Bank. Additionally, if at any time any Swing Loans are outstanding, any of the events described in clauses (g) or (h) of Section 9.1 shall have occurred, then each Lender shall automatically upon the occurrence of such event and without any action on the part of the Swing Bank, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or the Lenders be deemed to have purchased an undivided participation in the principal and interest of all Swing Loans then outstanding in an amount equal to such Lender’s Revolving Commitment Ratio and each Lender shall, notwithstanding such Event of Default, immediately pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Bank in immediately available funds, the amount of such Lender’s participation (and upon receipt thereof, the Swing Bank shall deliver to such Lender a loan participation certificate dated the date of receipt of such funds in such amount).
Section 2.3 Interest.
(a) On Revolving Loans. Interest on Advances under the Revolving Loan Commitment, subject to Section 2.3(b) and (c), shall be payable as follows:
(i) On Base Rate Advances. Interest on each Base Rate Advance shall be computed on the basis of a hypothetical 360-day year for the actual number of days elapsed and shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the first day of each calendar quarter for the prior calendar quarter, commencing on July 1, 2005. Interest on Base Rate Advances then outstanding shall also be due and payable on the Maturity Date. Interest shall accrue and be payable on each Base Rate Advance at the simple per annum interest rate equal to the sum of (A) the Base Rate, and (B) the Applicable Rate then in effect with respect to Base Rate Advances.
(ii) On Eurodollar Advances. Interest on each Eurodollar Advance shall be computed on the basis of a hypothetical 360-day year for the actual number of days elapsed and shall be payable in arrears (A) on the applicable Payment Date for such Advance, and (B) if the Eurodollar Advance Period for such Eurodollar Advance exceeds three (3) months, interest on such Eurodollar Advance shall be due and payable in arrears on every three (3) month anniversary of such Eurodollar Advance. Interest on Eurodollar Advances then outstanding shall also be due and payable on the Maturity Date. Interest shall accrue and be payable on each Eurodollar Advance at the simple per annum interest rate equal to the sum of (A) the Eurodollar Basis applicable to such Eurodollar Advance, and (B) the Applicable Rate then in effect with respect to Eurodollar Advances.
(iii) If No Notice of Selection of Interest Rate. If the Borrower fails to give the Administrative Agent timely notice of its selection of a Eurodollar Basis, or if for any reason a determination of a Eurodollar Basis for any Advance is not timely concluded, the Base Rate shall apply to such Advance. If the Borrower fails to elect to continue any Eurodollar Advance then outstanding prior to the last Payment Date applicable thereto in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.2, as applicable, the Base Rate shall apply to such Advance commencing on and after such Payment Date.
(b) Upon Default. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, interest on the outstanding Obligations shall accrue at the Default Rate from the date of such Event of Default. Interest accruing at the Default Rate shall be payable on demand and in any event on the Maturity Date and shall accrue until the earliest to occur of (i) waiver of the applicable Event of Default in accordance with Section 11.12, (ii) agreement by the Majority Lenders to rescind the charging of interest at the Default Rate, or (iii) payment in full of the Obligations. The Lenders shall not be required to (A) accelerate the maturity of the Loans, (B) terminate the Revolving Loan Commitment, or (C) exercise any other rights or remedies under the Loan Documents in order to charge interest hereunder at the Default Rate.
(c) Computation of Interest. In computing interest on any Advance, the date of making the Advance shall be included and the date of payment shall be excluded; provided, however, that if an Advance is repaid on the date that it is made, one (1) day’s interest shall be due with respect to such Advance.
Section 2.4 Fees.
(a) Engagement Letter. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent such fees as are set forth in the Engagement Letter.
(b) Facility Fee. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders, in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitment Ratios, a facility fee on the Revolving Loan Commitment (regardless of usage) for each day from the Agreement Date through the Maturity Date (or the date of any earlier prepayment in full of the Obligations), at a rate equal to the Applicable Rate in effect from time to time with respect to the facility fee. Such facility fee shall be computed on the basis of a hypothetical year of 360 days for the actual number of days elapsed, shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the first (1st) day of each calendar quarter for the immediately preceding calendar quarter, commencing on July 1, 2005, and if then unpaid, on the Maturity Date (or the date of any earlier prepayment in full of the Obligations), and shall be fully earned when due and non-refundable when paid.”
(c) Letter of Credit Fees.
(i) The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders, in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitment Ratios, a fee on the stated amount of each outstanding Letter of Credit for each day from the Date of Issue through the expiry date of such Letter of Credit (or the date of any earlier prepayment in full of the Obligations) at a rate per annum on the amount of the Letter of Credit Obligations equal to the Applicable Rate in effect from time to time with respect to Letters of Credit; provided, however, that following the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Letter of Credit fee shall be increased by an additional two percent (2.00%) per annum. Such Letter of Credit fee shall be computed on the basis of a hypothetical year of 360 days for the actual number of days elapsed, shall be payable monthly in arrears on the first (1st) day of each calendar month for the immediately preceding calendar month, commencing on June 1, 2005 and if then unpaid, on the Maturity Date (or the date of any earlier prepayment in full of the Obligations), and shall be fully earned when due and non-refundable when paid.
(ii) The Borrower shall also pay to the Issuing Bank (A) a fronting fee on the stated amount of each Letter of Credit for each day from the Date of Issue through the expiration date of such Letter of Credit (or any earlier prepayment in full of the Obligations) at a rate of one-eighth of one percent (0.125%) per annum which fee shall be computed on the basis of a hypothetical year of 360 days for the actual number of days elapsed, shall be payable monthly in arrears on the first (1st) day of each calendar month for the immediately preceding calendar month, commencing on June 1, 2005, and if then unpaid, on the Maturity Date, (or any earlier prepayment in full of the Obligations) and (B) any reasonable and customary fees charged by the Issuing Bank for issuance and administration of such Letters of Credit. The foregoing fees shall be fully earned when due, and non-refundable when paid.
(d) Computation of Fees. In computing any fees payable under this Section 2.4, the first day of the applicable period shall be included and the date of payment shall be excluded.
Section 2.5 Prepayment/Reduction of Commitment.
(a) Prepayment of Advances. The principal amount of any Base Rate Advance may be repaid in full or in part at any time, without penalty; and the principal amount of any Eurodollar Advance may be prepaid prior to the applicable Payment Date, upon three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, provided that the Borrower shall reimburse the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, on the earlier of demand and the Maturity Date, for any loss or reasonable out-of-pocket expense incurred by the Lenders or the Administrative Agent in connection with such prepayment, as set forth in Section 2.9. Each notice of prepayment of any Eurodollar Advance shall be irrevocable, and each prepayment or repayment made under this Section 2.5(a) shall include the accrued interest on the amount so prepaid. Upon receipt of any notice of prepayment or repayment, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the contents thereof by telephone or telecopy and of such Lender’s portion of such prepayment or repayment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall not make any repayment or prepayment of the Revolving Loans unless and until the balance of the Swing Loans then outstanding is zero. Other than with respect to amounts required to be applied to the Revolving Loans pursuant to Section 2.6, repayments and prepayments of principal hereunder shall be in minimum amounts of $1,000,000 and integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Except as provided in Section 2.5(b), any repayment or prepayment of outstanding Advances shall not reduce the Revolving Loan Commitment.
(b) Permanent Prepayment or Reduction. The Borrower shall have the right, at any time and from time to time after the Agreement Date and prior to the Maturity Date, upon at least three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, without premium or penalty, to cancel or reduce permanently all or a portion of the Revolving Loan Commitment on a pro rata basis among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitment Ratios, provided that any such partial reductions shall be made in minimum amounts of $5,000,000 and integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall not cancel or reduce permanently the Revolving Loan Commitment to an amount less than the then outstanding Letter of Credit Obligations. As of the date of cancellation or reduction set forth in such notice, the Revolving Loan Commitment shall be permanently reduced to the amount stated in the Borrower’s notice for all purposes herein, and the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders the amount necessary to reduce the principal amount of the applicable type of Revolving Loans then outstanding to not more than the amount of the Revolving Loan Commitment as so reduced, together with accrued interest on the amount so prepaid and the facility fee set forth in Section 2.4(b) accrued through the date of the reduction with respect to the amount reduced, and shall reimburse the Administrative Agent and the Lenders for any loss or out-of-pocket expense incurred by any of them in connection with such payment as set forth in Section 2.9.
Section 2.6 Repayment.
(a) All unpaid principal and accrued interest on the Revolving Loans shall be due and payable in full on the Maturity Date.
(b) In addition to the foregoing, the Borrower hereby promises to pay all Obligations, including the principal amount of the Loans, all Base Rate Advances made pursuant to draws under the Letters of Credit and all interest and fees on the foregoing, as the same become due and payable hereunder and, in any event, on the Maturity Date.
Section 2.7 Revolving Loan Notes; Loan Accounts.
(a) The Revolving Loans shall be repayable in accordance with the terms and provisions set forth herein and, upon request by any Lender, the Revolving Loans owed to such Lender shall be evidenced by Revolving Loan Notes. Each Revolving Loan Note shall be payable to the order of each Lender requesting the same in accordance with such Lender’s Revolving Commitment Ratio. Any such Revolving Loan Notes shall be issued by the Borrower to the Lenders and shall be duly executed and delivered by an Authorized Signatory of the Borrower.
(b) The Administrative Agent may open and maintain on its books in the name of the Borrower a Loan Account. The Administrative Agent shall debit such Loan Account for the principal amount of each Advance made by it on behalf of the Lenders, accrued interest thereon, and all other amounts which shall become due from the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement (including any Swing Loans) and shall credit the Loan Account for each payment which the Borrower shall make in respect to the Obligations. The records of the Administrative Agent with respect to such Loan Account shall be conclusive evidence of the Loans and accrued interest thereon, absent manifest error.
Section 2.8 Manner of Payment.
(a) When Payments Due. Each payment (including any prepayment) by the Borrower on account of the principal of or interest on the Loans, fees, and any other amount owed to any member of the Lender Group under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents shall be made not later than 1:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on the date specified for payment under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office, for the account of the Lenders, the Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, in Dollars and in immediately available funds. Any payment received by the Administrative Agent after 1:00 p.m. (Eastern time) shall be deemed received on the next Business Day. In the case of a payment for the account of a Lender, the Administrative Agent will promptly thereafter distribute the amount so received in like funds to such Lender. If the Administrative Agent shall not have received any payment from the Borrower as and when due, the Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders accordingly. If any payment under this Agreement or any Revolving Loan Note shall be specified to be made upon a day which is not a Business Day, it shall be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day, and such extension of time shall in such case be included in computing interest and fees, if any, in connection with such payment.
(b) No Deduction.
(i) The Borrower agrees to pay principal, interest, fees, and all other amounts due hereunder or under any other Loan Documents without set-off or counterclaim or any deduction whatsoever. If the Borrower shall hereafter be required by law to deduct any taxes from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder or under any other Loan Documents to any Lender, the Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent, (A) the sum payable shall be increased as may be necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.8(b)), such Lender, the Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (B) the Borrower shall make such deductions, and (C) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with Applicable Law.
(ii) On or prior to the Agreement Date and on or prior to the first Business Day of each calendar year thereafter, each Lender which is organized in a jurisdiction other than the United States or a political subdivision thereof shall provide each of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with either (a) two (2) properly executed originals of Form W-8ECI or Form W-8BEN (or any successor forms) prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service or other documents satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, certifying (i) as to such Lender’s status for purposes of determining exemption from United States withholding taxes with respect to all payments to be made to such Lender hereunder and under any other Loan Documents, or (ii) that all payments to be made to such Lender hereunder and under any other Loan Documents are subject to such taxes at a rate reduced to zero by an applicable tax treaty, or (b)(i) a certificate executed by such Lender certifying that such Lender is not a “bank” and that such Lender qualifies for the portfolio interest exemption under Section 881(c) of the Code, and (ii) two (2) properly executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN (or any successor form), in each case, certifying such Lender’s entitlement to an exemption from United States withholding tax with respect to payments of interest to be made hereunder or under any other Loan Documents. Each such Lender agrees to provide the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with new forms prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service upon the expiration or obsolescence of any previously delivered form, or after the occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most recent forms delivered by it to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower.
Section 2.9 Reimbursement. Whenever any Lender shall sustain or incur any losses or out-of-pocket expenses in connection with (a) failure by the Borrower to borrow or continue any Eurodollar Advance, or convert any Advance to a Eurodollar Advance, in each case, after having given notice of its intention to do so in accordance with Section 2.2 (whether by reason of the election of the Borrower not to proceed or the non-fulfillment of any of the conditions set forth in Article 4), or (b) prepayment of any Eurodollar Advance in whole or in part for any reason, or (c) failure by the Borrower to prepay any Eurodollar Advance after giving notice of its intention to prepay such Advance, or (d) any assignment to replace a Lender pursuant to Section 12.3(b), the Borrower agrees to pay to such Lender, upon the earlier of such Lender’s demand or the Maturity Date, an amount sufficient to compensate such Lender for all such losses and out-of-pocket expenses; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall have no obligation to make any such payment in respect of any such losses or expenses incurred more than one hundred eighty (180) days prior to its receipt of demand from such Lender. A certificate indicating the computation of the amount of such losses and out-of-pocket expenses sustained or increased by any Lender as a result of any event referred to in this paragraph submitted by such Lender to the Borrower shall be binding and conclusive, absent manifest error, as to the amount thereof. Losses subject to reimbursement hereunder shall include, without limitation, expenses incurred by any Lender or any participant of such Lender permitted hereunder in connection with the re-employment of funds prepaid, repaid, not borrowed, or paid, as the case may be.
Section 2.10 Pro Rata Treatment.
(a) Advances. Each Advance with respect to the Revolving Loans from the Lenders under this Agreement shall be made pro rata on the basis of their respective Revolving Commitment Ratios.
(b) Payments. Each payment and prepayment of the principal of the Revolving Loans and each payment of interest on the Revolving Loans received from the Borrower shall be made by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders pro rata on the basis of their respective unpaid principal amounts thereof outstanding immediately prior to such payment or prepayment (except in cases when a Lender’s right to receive payments is restricted pursuant to Section 2.2(e)). If any Lender shall obtain any payment (whether involuntary, through the exercise of any right of set-off, or otherwise) on account of the Revolving Loans in excess of its ratable share of the Revolving Loans under its Revolving Commitment Ratio (or in violation of any restriction set forth in Section 2.2(e)), such Lender shall forthwith purchase from the other Lenders such participation in the Revolving Loans made by them as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment ratably with each of them; provided, however, that if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from such purchasing Lender, such purchase from each Lender shall be rescinded and such Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price to the extent of such recovery without interest thereon unless the Lender obligated to repay such amount is required to pay interest. The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender pursuant to this Section 2.10(b) may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all its rights of payment (including the right of set-off) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.
Section 2.11 Application of Payments.
(a) Payments Prior to Event of Default. Prior to the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, all amounts received by the Administrative Agent from the Borrower (other than payments specifically earmarked for application to certain principal, interest, fees or expenses hereunder or payments made pursuant to Section 2.6), shall be distributed by the Administrative Agent in the following order of priority: FIRST, to pay any fees, indemnities or expense reimbursements then due to the Administrative Agent (or any Affiliate of the Administrative Agent) from the Borrower, SECOND, to the payment of fees and expenses then due and payable to the Administrative Agent hereunder; THIRD, to the payment of any fees and expenses then due and payable to the Lenders and the Issuing Bank hereunder or under any other Loan Documents; FOURTH, to the payment of interest then due and payable on the Swing Loans and the Revolving Loans; FIFTH, pro rata to the payment of principal then due and payable on the Swing Loans; SIXTH, to the payment of principal then due and payable on the Revolving Loans; and SEVENTH, to the payment of all other Obligations not otherwise referred to in this Section 2.11(a) then due and payable.
(b) Payments Subsequent to Event of Default. Subsequent to the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, payments and prepayments with respect to the Obligations made to the Lender Group, or any of them, or otherwise received by any member of the Lender Group shall be distributed in the following order of priority (subject, as applicable, to Section 2.10): FIRST, to the costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses), if any, incurred by any member of the Lender Group in the collection of such amounts under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; SECOND, to any fees then due and payable to the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; THIRD, pro rata to any fees then due and payable to the Lenders and the Issuing Bank under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; FOURTH, pro rata to the payment of interest then due and payable on the Swing Loans and the Revolving Loans; FIFTH, to the payment of the principal of the Swing Loans then outstanding; SIXTH, pro rata to the payment of principal of the Revolving Loans then outstanding; SEVENTH, to the Letter of Credit Reserve Account to the extent of one hundred five percent (105%) of any Letter of Credit Obligations then outstanding which are not supported by a Backup Letter of Credit; EIGHTH, to any other Obligations not otherwise referred to in this Section 2.11(b); NINTH, to damages incurred by any member of the Lender Group by reason of any breach of this Agreement or of any other Loan Document; and TENTH, upon satisfaction in full of all Obligations to the Borrower or as otherwise required by law.
Section 2.12 Use of Proceeds. The Borrower shall use the aggregate proceeds of all Loans to fund the Borrower’s general operating needs and for other general corporate purposes to the extent not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement (including to finance fees and expenses relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to refinance, under certain circumstances, existing Indebtedness and to finance Permitted Acquisitions).
Section 2.13 Maximum Rate of Interest. The Borrower and the Lender Group hereby agree and stipulate that the only charges imposed upon the Borrower for the use of money in connection with this Agreement are and shall be the specific interest and fees described in this Article 2 and in any other Loan Document. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower and the Lender Group further agree and stipulate that all closing fees, agency fees, syndication fees, facility fees, underwriting fees, default charges, late charges, funding or “breakage” charges, increased cost charges, attorneys’ fees and reimbursement for costs and expenses paid by any member of the Lender Group to third parties or for damages incurred by the Lender Group, or any of them, are charges to compensate the Lender Group for underwriting and administrative services and costs or losses performed or incurred, and to be performed and incurred, by the Lender Group in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and shall under no circumstances be deemed to be charges for the use of money pursuant to any Applicable Law. In no event shall the amount of interest and other charges for the use of money payable under this Agreement exceed the maximum amounts permissible under any law that a court of competent jurisdiction shall, in a final determination, deem applicable. The Borrower and the Lender Group, in executing and delivering this Agreement, intend legally to agree upon the rate or rates of interest and other charges for the use of money and manner of payment stated within it; provided, however, that, anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, if the amount of such interest and other charges for the use of money or manner of payment exceeds the maximum amount allowable under Applicable Law, then, ipso facto as of the Agreement Date, the Borrower is and shall be liable only for the payment of such maximum as allowed by law, and payment received from the Borrower in excess of such legal maximum, whenever received, shall be applied to reduce the principal balance of the Revolving Loans to the extent of such excess, and any remaining excess shall be returned to the Borrower.
Section 2.14 Letters of Credit.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Issuing Bank, on behalf of the Lenders, and in reliance on the agreements of the Lenders set forth in Section 2.14(c) below, hereby agrees to issue one or more Letters of Credit up to an aggregate face amount equal to the Letter of Credit Commitment; provided, however, that, without the consent of the Lenders, the Issuing Bank shall not issue any Letter of Credit unless the conditions precedent to the issuance thereof set forth in Section 4.3 have been satisfied, and shall not issue any Letter of Credit if any Default then exists or would be caused thereby; and provided further, however, that at no time shall the Letter of Credit Obligations outstanding hereunder exceed the Letter of Credit Commitment. Each Letter of Credit shall (1) be denominated in Dollars (or, at the request of the Borrower, a foreign currency if such issuance is consented to by the Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent and is issued on substantially the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 2.14), and (2) expire no later than the earlier to occur of (A) thirteen (13) months following the Maturity Date, and (B) 360 days after its date of issuance (but may contain provisions for automatic renewal provided that no Default or Event of Default exists on the renewal date or would be caused by such renewal and provided no such renewal shall extend beyond thirteen (13) months following the Maturity Date). Each Letter of Credit shall be subject to the Uniform Customs and, to the extent not inconsistent therewith, the laws of the State of New York. The Issuing Bank shall not at any time be obligated to issue, or to cause to be issued, any Letter of Credit if such issuance would conflict with, or cause the Issuing Bank to exceed any limits imposed by, any Applicable Law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each of the Existing Letters of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a Letter of Credit issued under this Agreement on the Agreement Date and shall thereafter be subject to each of the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
(b) The Borrower may from time to time request that the Issuing Bank issue a Letter of Credit. The Borrower shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank a Request for Issuance of Letter of Credit for each Letter of Credit to be issued by the Issuing Bank, not later than 12:00 noon (Eastern time) on the second (2nd) Business Day preceding the date on which the requested Letter of Credit is to be issued, or such shorter notice as may be acceptable to the Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent. Upon receipt of any such Request for Issuance of Letter of Credit, subject to satisfaction of all conditions precedent thereto as set forth in Section 4.3, the Issuing Bank shall process such Request for Issuance of Letter of Credit 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. The Issuing Bank shall furnish a copy of such Letter of Credit to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent following the issuance thereof. In addition to the fees payable pursuant to Section 2.4(c)(ii), the Borrower shall pay or reimburse the Issuing Bank for normal and customary and reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Issuing Bank in issuing, effecting payment under, amending or otherwise administering the Letters of Credit.
(c) Immediately upon the issuance by the Issuing Bank of a Letter of Credit and in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have sold and transferred to each Lender, and each Lender shall be deemed irrevocably and unconditionally to have purchased and received from the Issuing Bank, without recourse or warranty, an undivided interest and participation, to the extent of such Lender’s Revolving Commitment Ratio, in such Letter of Credit and the obligations of the Borrower with respect thereto (including all Letter of Credit Obligations with respect thereto). The Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent of any such draw under a Letter of Credit. At such time as the Administrative Agent shall be notified by the Issuing Bank that the beneficiary under any Letter of Credit has drawn on the same, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and each Lender, by telephone or telecopy, of the amount of the draw and, in the case of each Lender, such Lender’s portion of such draw amount as calculated in accordance with its Revolving Commitment Ratio.
(d) The Borrower hereby agrees to immediately reimburse the Issuing Bank for amounts paid by the Issuing Bank in respect of draws under each Letter of Credit. In order to facilitate such repayment, the Borrower hereby irrevocably requests the Lenders, and the Lenders hereby severally agree, on the terms and conditions of this Agreement (other than as provided in Article 2 with respect to the amounts of, the timing of requests for, and the repayment of Advances hereunder and in Article 4 with respect to conditions precedent to Advances hereunder), with respect to any drawing under a Letter of Credit, to make a Base Rate Advance on each day on which a draw is made under any Letter of Credit and in the amount of such draw, and to pay the proceeds of such Advance directly to the Issuing Bank to reimburse the Issuing Bank for the amount paid by it upon such draw, and the Administrative Agent agrees to notify the Borrower promptly after the making of any such Base Rate Advance. Each Lender shall pay its share of such Base Rate Advance by paying its portion of such Advance to the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 2.2(e) and its Revolving Commitment Ratio, without reduction for any set-off or counterclaim of any nature whatsoever and regardless of whether any Default or Event of Default then exists or would be caused thereby. The disbursement of funds in connection with a draw under a Letter of Credit pursuant to this Section hereunder shall be subject to the terms and conditions of Section 2.2(e). The obligation of each Lender to make payments to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Issuing Bank, in accordance with this Section 2.14 shall be absolute and unconditional and no Lender shall be relieved of its obligations to make such payments by reason of noncompliance by any other Person with the terms of the Letter of Credit or for any other reason (other than the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Issuing Bank in paying such Letter of Credit, as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). The Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Issuing Bank the amounts so received from the other Lenders. Any overdue amounts payable by the Lenders to the Issuing Bank in respect of a draw under any Letter of Credit shall bear interest, payable on demand, (x) for the first two (2) Business Days, at the Federal Funds Rate, and (y) thereafter, at the Base Rate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at the request of the Administrative Agent, the Swing Bank may, at its option and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 2.2(g), make Swing Loans to reimburse the Issuing Bank for amounts drawn under any Letter of Credit.
(e) The Borrower agrees that each Advance by the Lenders to reimburse the Issuing Bank for draws under any Letter of Credit, shall, for all purposes hereunder, be deemed to be a Base Rate Advance under the Revolving Loan Commitment and shall be payable and bear interest in accordance with all other Base Rate Advances.
(f) The Borrower agrees that any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Issuing Bank in connection with any Letter of Credit, except for such actions or omissions as shall constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Issuing Bank as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, shall be binding on the Borrower as between the Borrower and the Issuing Bank, and shall not result in any liability of the Issuing Bank to the Borrower. The obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the Issuing Bank for a drawing under any Letter of Credit or the Lenders for Advances made by them to the Issuing Bank on account of draws made under the Letters of Credit shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances whatsoever, including the following circumstances:
(i) Any lack of validity or enforceability of any Loan Document;
(ii) Any amendment or waiver of or consent to any departure from any or all of the Loan Documents;
(iii) Any improper use which may be made of any Letter of Credit or any improper acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee of any Letter of Credit in connection therewith;
(iv) The existence of any claim, set-off, defense or any right which the Borrower may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of any Letter of Credit (or Persons for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), any Lender or any other Person, whether in connection with any Letter of Credit, any transaction contemplated by any Letter of Credit, this Agreement, or any other Loan Document, or any unrelated transaction;
(v) Any statement or any other documents presented under any Letter of Credit proving to be insufficient, forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect whatsoever;
(vi) The insolvency of any Person issuing any documents in connection with any Letter of Credit;
(vii) Any breach of any agreement between the Borrower and any beneficiary or transferee of any Letter of Credit;
(viii) Any irregularity in the transaction with respect to which any Letter of Credit is issued, including any fraud by the beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit;
(ix) Any errors, omissions, interruptions or delays in transmission or delivery of any messages, by mail, cable, telegraph, wireless or otherwise, whether or not they are in code;
(x) Any act, error, neglect or default, omission, insolvency or failure of business of any of the correspondents of the Issuing Bank;
(xi) Any other circumstances arising from causes beyond the control of the Issuing Bank;
(xii) Payment by the Issuing Bank under any Letter of Credit against presentation of a sight draft or a certificate which does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit, provided that such payment shall not have constituted gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Issuing Bank as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction; and
(xiii) Any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing.
(g) If any change in Applicable Law, any change in the interpretation or administration thereof, or any change in compliance with Applicable Law by the Issuing Bank as a result of any request or directive of any Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency (whether or not having the force of law) after the Agreement Date shall (i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve (including any imposed by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), special deposit, capital adequacy, assessment or other requirements or conditions against letters of credit issued by the Issuing Bank or (ii) impose on the Issuing Bank any other condition regarding this Agreement or any Letter of Credit or any participation therein, and the result of any of the foregoing in the determination of the Issuing Bank is to increase the cost to the Issuing Bank of issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or purchasing or maintaining any participation therein, then, on the earlier of the Maturity Date or a date not more than five (5) days after demand by the Issuing Bank, the Borrower agrees to pay to the Issuing Bank, from time to time as specified by the Issuing Bank, such additional amount or amounts as the Issuing Bank reasonably determines will compensate it for such increased costs, from the date such change or action is effective, together with interest on each such amount from the Maturity Date or the date demanded, as applicable, until payment in full thereof at the Base Rate. A certificate as to such increased cost incurred by the Issuing Bank as a result of any event referred to in this paragraph submitted by the Issuing Bank to the Borrower shall be conclusive, absent manifest error, as to the amount thereof.
(h) The Borrower will indemnify and hold harmless each member of the Lender Group and each of their respective employees, representatives, officers and directors from and against any and all claims, liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against such member of the Lender Group in any way relating to or arising out of the issuance of a Letter of Credit, except that the Borrower shall not be liable to any member of the Lender Group for any portion of such claims, liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses, or disbursements resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such member of the Lender Group as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. This Section 2.14(h) shall survive termination of this Agreement.
(i) Each Lender shall be responsible (to the extent the Issuing Bank is not reimbursed by the Borrower) for its pro rata share (based on such Lender’s Revolving Commitment Ratio) of any and all reasonable out-of-pocket costs, expenses (including reasonable legal fees) and disbursements which may be incurred or made by the Issuing Bank in connection with the collection of any amounts due under, the administration of, or the presentation or enforcement of any rights conferred by any Letter of Credit, the Borrower’s or any Guarantor’s obligations to reimburse draws thereunder or otherwise. In the event the Borrower shall fail to pay such expenses of the Issuing Bank within fifteen (15) days of demand for payment by the Issuing Bank, each Lender shall thereupon pay to the Issuing Bank its pro rata share (based on such Lender’s Revolving Commitment Ratio) of such expenses within ten (10) days from the date of the Issuing Bank’s notice to the Lenders of the Borrower’s failure to pay; provided, however, that if the Borrower shall thereafter pay such expenses, the Issuing Bank will repay to each Lender the amounts received from such Lender hereunder.
(j) In regard to all Letters of Credit with respect to which presentment for honor shall not have occurred at the Maturity Date, the Borrower shall promptly upon demand by the Administrative Agent deposit in a Letter of Credit Reserve Account opened by Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Issuing Bank, an amount equal to one hundred and five percent (105%) of the aggregate then undrawn and unexpired amount of such Letter of Credit Obligations or provide one or more Backup Letters of Credit with respect to such Letter of Credit Obligations. Amounts held in such Letter of Credit Reserve Account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to the payment of drafts drawn under such Letters of Credit, and the unused portion thereof after such Letters of Credit shall have expired or been fully drawn upon, if any, shall be applied to repay other Obligations in the manner set forth in Section 2.11. Pending the application of such deposit to the payment of the Reimbursement Obligations, the Administrative Agent shall, to the extent reasonably practicable, invest such deposit in an interest bearing open account or similar available savings deposit account selected by the Borrower and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, and all interest accrued thereon shall be held with such deposit as additional security for the Obligations. After all such Letters of Credit shall have expired or been fully drawn upon, all Reimbursement Obligations shall have been satisfied, and all other Obligations shall have been paid in full, the balance, if any, in such Letter of Credit Reserve Account shall be returned to the Borrower. Except as expressly provided hereinabove, presentment, demand, protest and all other notices of any kind are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower.
ARTICLE 3.
GUARANTY
Section 3.1 Guaranty
(a) Each Guarantor hereby guarantees to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lender Group, the full and prompt payment of the Obligations, including any interest therein (including interest as provided in this Agreement accruing after the filing of a petition initiating any insolvency proceedings, whether or not such interest accrues or is recoverable against the Borrower after the filing of such petition for purposes of the Bankruptcy Code or is an allowed claim in such proceeding), plus reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses if the obligations represented by this Guaranty are collected by law, through an attorney-at-law, or under advice therefrom.
(b) Regardless of whether any proposed guarantor or any other Person shall become in any other way responsible to the Lender Group, or any of them, for or in respect of the Obligations or any part thereof, and regardless of whether or not any Person now or hereafter responsible to the Lender Group, or any of them, for the Obligations or any part thereof, whether under this Guaranty or otherwise, shall cease to be so liable, each Guarantor hereby declares and agrees that this Guaranty shall be a joint and several obligation, shall be a continuing guaranty and shall be operative and binding until the Obligations shall have been indefeasibly paid in full in cash (or in the case of Letter of Credit Obligations, secured through delivery of cash collateral in an amount equal to one hundred and five percent (105%) of the Letter of Credit Obligations or supported by one or more Backup Letters of Credit) and the Revolving Loan Commitment shall have been terminated.
(c) Each Guarantor absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably waives any and all right to assert any defense (other than the defense of payment in cash in full, to the extent of its obligations hereunder, or a defense that such Guarantor’s liability is limited as provided in Section 3.1(g)), set-off, counterclaim or cross-claim of any nature whatsoever with respect to this Guaranty or the obligations of the Guarantors under this Guaranty or the obligations of any other Person or party (including the Borrower) relating to this Guaranty or the obligations of any of the Guarantors under this Guaranty or otherwise with respect to the Obligations in any action or proceeding brought by the Administrative Agent or any other member of the Lender Group to collect the Obligations or any portion thereof, or to enforce the obligations of any of the Guarantors under this Guaranty.
(d) The Lender Group, or any of them, may from time to time, without exonerating or releasing any Guarantor in any way under this Guaranty, (i) take such further or other security or securities for the Obligations or any part thereof as they may deem proper, or (ii) release, discharge, abandon or otherwise deal with or fail to deal with any guarantor of the Obligations or any security or securities therefor or any part thereof now or hereafter held by the Lender Group, or any of them, or (iii) amend, modify, extend, accelerate or waive in any manner any of the provisions, terms, or conditions of the Loan Documents, all as they may consider expedient or appropriate in their sole discretion. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, or of Section 3.1(e), it is understood that the Lender Group, or any of them, may, without exonerating or releasing any Guarantor, give up, modify or abstain from perfecting or taking advantage of any security for the Obligations and accept or make any compositions or arrangements, and realize upon any security for the Obligations when, and in such manner, and with or without notice, all as such Person may deem expedient.
(e) Each Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that no change in the nature or terms of the Obligations or any of the Loan Documents, or other agreements, instruments or contracts evidencing, related to or attendant with the Obligations (including any novation), shall discharge all or any part of the liabilities and obligations of such Guarantor pursuant to this Guaranty; it being the purpose and intent of the Guarantors and the Lender Group that the covenants, agreements and all liabilities and obligations of each Guarantor hereunder are absolute, unconditional and irrevocable under any and all circumstances. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Guarantor agrees that until each and every one of the covenants and agreements of this Guaranty is fully performed, and without possibility of recourse, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Guarantor’s undertakings hereunder shall not be released, in whole or in part, by any action or thing which might, but for this paragraph of this Guaranty, be deemed a legal or equitable discharge of a surety or guarantor, or by reason of any waiver, omission of the Lender Group, or any of them, or their failure to proceed promptly or otherwise, or by reason of any action taken or omitted by the Lender Group, or any of them, whether or not such action or failure to act varies or increases the risk of, or affects the rights or remedies of, such Guarantor or by reason of any further dealings between the Borrower, on the one hand, and any member of the Lender Group, on the other hand, or any other guarantor or surety, and such Guarantor hereby expressly waives and surrenders any defense to its liability hereunder (other than the defense of payment in cash in full, to the extent of its obligations hereunder, or a defense that such Guarantor’s liability is limited as provided in Section 3.1(g)), or any right of counterclaim or offset of any nature or description which it may have or may exist based upon, and shall be deemed to have consented to, any of the foregoing acts, omissions, things, agreements or waivers.
(f) The Lender Group, or any of them, may, without demand or notice of any kind upon or to any Guarantor, at any time or from time to time when any amount shall be due and payable hereunder by any Guarantor, if the Borrower shall not have timely paid any of the Obligations (including any Letter of Credit Obligations), set-off and appropriate and apply to any portion of the Obligations hereby guaranteed, and in such order of application as the Administrative Agent may from time to time elect in accordance with this Agreement, any deposits, property, balances, credit accounts or moneys of any Guarantor in the possession of any member of the Lender Group or under their respective control for any purpose. If and to the extent that any Guarantor makes any payment to the Administrative Agent or any other Person pursuant to or in respect of this Guaranty, any claim which such Guarantor may have against the Borrower by reason thereof shall be subject and subordinate to the prior payment in full of the Obligations to the satisfaction of the Lender Group.
(g) The creation or existence from time to time of Obligations in excess of the amount committed to or outstanding on the date of this Guaranty is hereby authorized, without notice to any Guarantor, and shall in no way impair or affect this Guaranty or the rights of the Lender Group herein. It is the intention of each Guarantor and the Administrative Agent that each Guarantor’s obligations hereunder shall be, but not in excess of, the Maximum Guaranteed Amount (as herein defined). The “Maximum Guaranteed Amount” with respect to any Guarantor, shall mean the maximum amount which could be paid by such Guarantor without rendering this Guaranty void or voidable as would otherwise be held or determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in any action or proceeding involving any state or federal bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws relating to the insolvency of debtors.
(h) Upon the bankruptcy or winding up or other distribution of assets of the Borrower, or of any surety or guarantor (other than the applicable Guarantor) for any Obligations of the Borrower to the Lender Group, or any of them, the rights of the Administrative Agent against any Guarantor shall not be affected or impaired by the omission of any member of the Lender Group to prove its claim, or to prove the full claim, as appropriate, against the Borrower, or any such other guarantor or surety, and the Administrative Agent may prove such claims as it sees fit and may refrain from proving any claim and in its discretion may value as it sees fit or refrain from valuing any security held by it without in any way releasing, reducing or otherwise affecting the liability to the Lender Group of each of the Guarantors.
(i) Each Guarantor hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably expressly waives, except to the extent such waiver would be expressly prohibited by Applicable Law, the following: (i) notice of acceptance of this Guaranty, (ii) notice of the existence or creation of all or any of the Obligations, (iii) presentment, demand, notice of dishonor, protest and all other notices whatsoever (other than notices expressly required hereunder or under any other Loan Document to which any Guarantor is a party), (iv) all diligence in collection or protection of or realization upon the Obligations or any part thereof, any obligation hereunder, or any security for any of the foregoing, (v) all rights to enforce any remedy which the Lender Group, or any of them, may have against the Borrower, and (vi) until the Obligations shall have been paid in full in cash (or in the case of Letter of Credit Obligations, secured through delivery of cash collateral in an amount equal to one hundred and five percent (105%) of the Letter of Credit Obligations or supported by one or more Backup Letters of Credit), all rights of subrogation, indemnification, contribution and reimbursement from the Borrower for amounts paid hereunder and any benefit of, or right to participate in, any collateral or security now or hereinafter held by the Lender Group, or any of them, in respect of the Obligations. If a claim is ever made upon any member of the Lender Group for the repayment or recovery of any amount or amounts received by such Person in payment of any of the Obligations and such Person repays all or part of such amount by reason of (x) any judgment, decree or order of any court or administrative body having jurisdiction over such Person or any of its property, or (y) any settlement or compromise of any such claim effected by such Person with any such claimant, including the Borrower, then in such event each Guarantor agrees that any such judgment, decree, order, settlement or compromise shall be binding upon such Guarantor, notwithstanding any revocation hereof or the cancellation of any promissory note or other instrument evidencing any of the Obligations, and such Guarantor shall be and remain obligated to such Person hereunder for the amount so repaid or recovered to the same extent as if such amount had never originally been received by such Person.
(j) This Guaranty is a continuing guaranty of the Obligations and all liabilities to which it applies or may apply under the terms hereof and shall be conclusively presumed to have been created in reliance hereon. No failure or delay by any member of the Lender Group in the exercise of any right, power, privilege or remedy shall operate as a waiver thereof, and no single or partial exercise by the Administrative Agent of any right or remedy shall preclude other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy and no course of dealing between any Guarantor and any member of the Lender Group shall operate as a waiver thereof. No action by any member of the Lender Group permitted hereunder shall in any way impair or affect this Guaranty. For the purpose of this Guaranty, the Obligations shall include, without limitation, all Obligations of the Borrower to the Lender Group, notwithstanding any right or power of any third party, individually or in the name of the Borrower and the Lender Group, or any of them, to assert any claim or defense as to the invalidity or unenforceability of any such Obligation, and no such claim or defense shall impair or affect the obligations of any Guarantor hereunder.
(k) This is a guaranty of payment and not of collection. In the event the Administrative Agent makes a demand upon any Guarantor in accordance with the terms of this Guaranty, such Guarantor shall be held and bound to the Administrative Agent directly as debtor in respect of the payment of the amounts hereby guaranteed. All costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, incurred by the Administrative Agent in obtaining performance of or collecting payments due under this Guaranty shall be deemed part of the Obligations guaranteed hereby.
(l) This Guaranty shall remain in full force and effect until all of the Obligations (other than any contingent indemnity obligations) shall have been paid in full in cash or otherwise satisfied to the satisfaction of the Lender Group and the obligation of the Lender Group to extend credit pursuant to this Agreement shall have expired or been terminated.
(m) Each Guarantor is a direct or indirect wholly-owned Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower. Each Guarantor expressly represents and acknowledges that any financial accommodations by the Lender Group to the Borrower, including the extension of credit, are and will be of direct interest, benefit and advantage to such Guarantor.
(n) The Guarantors hereby agree, among themselves, that if any Guarantor shall become an Excess Funding Guarantor (as defined below) by reason of the payment by such Guarantor of any Obligations, each other Guarantor shall, on demand of such Excess Funding Guarantor (but subject to the next sentence), pay to such Excess Funding Guarantor an amount equal to such Guarantor’s Pro Rata Share (as defined below and determined, for this purpose, without reference to the properties, debts and liabilities of such Excess Funding Guarantor) of the Excess Payment (as defined below) in respect of such Obligations. The payment obligation of a Guarantor to any Excess Funding Guarantor under this Section 3.1(n) shall be subordinate and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in full of the obligations of such Guarantor under the other provisions of this Guaranty, and such Excess Funding Guarantor shall not exercise any right or remedy with respect to such excess until payment and satisfaction in full of all such obligations. For purposes of this Section 3.1(n), (i) “Excess Funding Guarantor” shall mean, in respect of any Obligations, a Guarantor that has paid an amount in excess of proceeds of Loans advanced to it by the Borrower that have not been repaid as of the date of determination, plus its Pro Rata Share of the remaining portion of such Obligations, (ii) “Excess Payment” shall mean, in respect of any Obligations, the amount paid by an Excess Funding Guarantor in excess of proceeds of Loans advanced to it by the Borrower that have not been repaid as of the date of determination, plus its Pro Rata Share of the remaining portion of such Obligations and (iii) “Pro Rata Share” shall mean, for any Guarantor, the ratio (expressed as a percentage) of (x) the amount by which the aggregate present fair saleable value of all properties of such Guarantor (excluding any shares of stock of any other Guarantor) exceeds the amount of all the debts and liabilities of such Guarantor (including contingent, subordinated, unmatured and unliquidated liabilities, but excluding the obligations of such Guarantor hereunder and any obligations of any other Guarantor that have been guaranteed by such Guarantor) to (y) the amount by which the aggregate fair saleable value of all properties of the Borrower and all of the Guarantors exceeds the amount of all the debts and liabilities (including contingent, subordinated, unmatured and unliquidated liabilities, but excluding the obligations of the Borrower and the Guarantors hereunder) of the Borrower and all of the Guarantors, all as of the Agreement Date.
(o) Pursuant to Section 6.13, any new Domestic Subsidiary (whether by Acquisition, creation or designation) is required to enter into this Agreement by executing and delivering to the Administrative Agent a Guaranty Supplement. Upon the execution and delivery of a Guaranty Supplement by such new Domestic Subsidiary, such Domestic Subsidiary shall become a “Guarantor” and “Borrower Party” hereunder and under the other Loan Documents with the same force and effect as if originally named as a Guarantor or Borrower Party herein or therein. The execution and delivery of any Guaranty Supplement adding an additional Guarantor as a party to this Agreement shall not require the consent of any other party hereto. The rights and obligations of each party hereunder shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any new Guarantor hereunder.
ARTICLE 4.
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
Section 4.1 Conditions Precedent to Closing. The obligations of the Lenders to undertake the Revolving Loan Commitment as of the Agreement Date are subject to the prior fulfillment of each of the following conditions at the closing of this Agreement:
(a) The Administrative Agent shall have received each of the following, in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender Group:
(i) This duly executed Agreement;
(ii) A duly executed Revolving Loan Note to the order of each Lender requesting a promissory note in the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Commitment Ratio of the Revolving Loan Commitment;
(iii) The Engagement Letter duly executed by the Borrower;
(iv) The duly executed Negative Pledge Agreement;
(v) The legal opinions of (A) Milbank, Tweed, Xxxxxx & XxXxxx, LLP, counsel to the Borrower Parties, and (B) W. Xxxxx Xxxxx, in-house counsel to the Borrower Parties, in each case addressed to the Lender Group, together with copies of any legal opinions upon which any of the foregoing rely;
(vi) With respect to each Borrower Party, a loan certificate signed by an Authorized Signatory of such Borrower Party in substantially the form of Exhibit H, including a certificate of incumbency with respect to each Authorized Signatory of such Borrower Party, together with appropriate attachments which shall include, without limitation, the following: (A) a copy of the certificate or articles of incorporation, certificate of limited partnership or certificate of organization of such Borrower Party certified to be true, complete and correct by the Secretary of State for the State of such Borrower Party’s organization, (B) a true, complete and correct copy of the by-laws, partnership agreement or limited liability company or operating agreement of such Borrower Party, (C) a true, complete and correct copy of the resolutions of such Borrower Party authorizing the execution, delivery and performance by such Borrower Party of the Loan Documents and, with respect to the Borrower, authorizing the borrowings hereunder, and (D) certificates of good standing from each jurisdiction in which such Borrower Party is qualified or authorized to do business, except to the extent failure to be qualified or authorized to do business, or to be in good standing, could not reasonably be expected to have a Materially Adverse Effect;
(vii) a certificate setting forth information required by the Patriot Act, including the identity of each Borrower Party, the name and address of each Borrower Party, and other information that will allow the Administrative Agent or any Lender, as applicable, to identify each Borrower Party in accordance with the Patriot Act; and
(viii) the Borrower’s financial projections on a fiscal year basis through December 31, 2008.
(b) All fees and expenses payable to the Administrative Agent, the Affiliates of the Administrative Agent, and each other member of the Lender Group in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, including fees and expenses of counsel to the Administrative Agent, to the extent invoices for such fees and expenses have been delivered to the Borrower, shall have been paid.
Section 4.2 Conditions Precedent to Each Advance. The obligation of the Lenders to make each Advance, including the initial Advance hereunder (but excluding Advances, the proceeds of which are to reimburse (i) the Swing Bank for Swing Loans or (ii) the Issuing Bank for amounts drawn under a Letter of Credit), is subject to the fulfillment of each of the following conditions immediately prior to or contemporaneously with such Advance:
(a) All of the representations and warranties of the Borrower Parties under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, which, pursuant to Section 5.2, are made at and as of the time of such Advance, shall be true and correct at such time, both before and after giving effect to the application of the proceeds of such Advance;
(b) The incumbency of the Authorized Signatories of the Borrower shall be as stated in the certificate of incumbency contained in the certificate of the Borrower delivered pursuant to Section 4.1(a) or as subsequently modified and reflected in a certificate of incumbency delivered to the Administrative Agent; and
(c) There shall not exist on the date of such Advance, and after giving effect to the application of the proceeds of such Advance, a Default or an Event of Default.
The Borrower hereby agrees that the delivery of any Request for Advance hereunder shall be deemed to be the certification of the applicable Authorized Signatory of the Borrower, on behalf of the Borrower, that there does not exist, on the date of the making of the Advance and after giving effect thereto, a Default or an Event of Default and that all of the other conditions set forth in this Section 4.2 have been satisfied.
Section 4.3 Conditions Precedent to Each Letter of Credit. The obligation of the Issuing Bank to issue each Letter of Credit (excluding the automatic renewal of any previously issued Letter of Credit) hereunder is subject to the fulfillment of each of the following conditions immediately prior to or contemporaneously with the issuance of such Letter of Credit:
(a) All of the representations and warranties of the Borrower Parties under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, which, pursuant to Section 5.2, are made at and as of the time of the issuance of such Letter of Credit, shall be true and correct at such time, both before and after giving effect to the issuance of such Letter of Credit;
(b) The incumbency of the Authorized Signatories of the Borrower shall be as stated in the certificate of incumbency contained in the certificate of the Borrower delivered pursuant to Section 4.1(a) or as subsequently modified and reflected in a certificate of incumbency delivered to the Administrative Agent; and
(c) There shall not exist on the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit, and after giving effect thereto, a Default or an Event of Default.
The Borrower hereby agrees that the delivery of any Request for Issuance of Letter of Credit hereunder shall be deemed to be the certification of the applicable Authorized Signatory of the Borrower, on behalf of the Borrower, that there does not exist, on the date of the issuance of the Letter of Credit and after giving effect thereto, a Default or an Event of Default and that all of the other conditions set forth in this Section 4.3 have been satisfied.
ARTICLE 5.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Section 5.1 General Representations and Warranties. Each of the Borrower Parties hereby represents and warrants in favor of each member of the Lender Group that:
(a) Organization; Power; Qualification. Each Borrower Party (i) is a corporation or other legal entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (ii) has the power and authority to own or lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business, and (iii) is duly qualified, in good standing as a foreign corporation, and authorized to do business in each jurisdiction in which the character of its properties or the nature of its business requires such qualification or authorization, except where the failure to be so qualified, in good standing or authorized could not reasonably be expected to have a Materially Adverse Effect. The Special Purpose Subsidiary does not have an interest in any material properties or assets.
(b) Authorization; Enforceability. Each Borrower Party has the power and has taken all necessary action, corporate or otherwise, to authorize it to execute, deliver and perform each of the Loan Documents to which it is a party in accordance with the terms thereof and to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby. Each of the Loan Documents to which a Borrower Party is a party has been duly executed and delivered by such Borrower Party, and is a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Borrower Party, enforceable in accordance with its terms except to the extent that the enforceability thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditor’s rights generally or by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
(c) Organization Structure; Subsidiaries; Affiliates. Schedule 5.1(c) sets forth, as of the Agreement Date, a complete and accurate organization chart of the Borrower Parties and their Subsidiaries, which Subsidiaries are identified on such chart as Domestic Subsidiaries or Foreign Subsidiaries. As of the Agreement Date, no Borrower Party has any Subsidiaries or owns an interest, directly or indirectly, in any partnership or joint venture except as set forth on Schedule 5.1(c). Schedule 5.1(c) further sets forth, as of the Agreement Date, the name or type of each Affiliate of the Borrower and the nature of its affiliation. The outstanding Equity Interests of the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable, and are free and clear of all Liens.
(d) No Contravention. The execution, delivery, and performance by each Borrower Party of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, in accordance with their respective terms, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, do not and will not (i) violate any Applicable Law, (ii) conflict with, result in a breach of, or constitute a default under the organizational documents of such Borrower Party or under any indenture, agreement, or other instrument to which such Borrower Party is a party or by which such Borrower Party or any of its properties may be bound (including the Indentures), or (iii) result in or require the creation or imposition of any Lien upon or with any Borrower Party except Permitted Liens.
(e) Necessary Authorizations. Each Borrower Party has obtained all Necessary Authorizations, and all such Necessary Authorizations are in full force and effect, except in each case where the failure to obtain, or to maintain in full force and effect, such Necessary Authorization does not have, and could not reasonably be expected to have, a Materially Adverse Effect. No Borrower Party is required to obtain any additional Necessary Authorizations in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents in accordance with their respective terms and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby.
(f) Title to Properties. Each Borrower Party has title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all of its properties and assets sufficient for the conduct of its business, and none of such properties or assets is subject to any Liens, other than Permitted Liens.
(g) Material Contracts. All of the Material Contracts have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibits to the Borrower’s annual, quarterly or current reports. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default under or with respect to any Material Contract to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties are bound.
(h) Labor Matters. Except (i) as disclosed on Schedule 5.1(h) or (ii) matters which (A) are not reasonably expected to have a Materially Adverse Effect and (B) exclusively affect the Foreign Subsidiaries, (I) there is no collective bargaining agreement or other labor contract covering employees of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (II) no collective bargaining agreement or other labor contract is scheduled to expire during the term of this Agreement, (III) to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge, no union or other labor organization is seeking to organize, or to be recognized as, a collective bargaining unit of employees of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or for any similar purpose, and (IV) there is no pending, or to the Borrower’s knowledge, threatened, strike, work stoppage, material unfair labor practice claim, or other material labor dispute against or affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective employees.
(i) Taxes. Except as disclosed on Schedule 5.1(i), there have been filed on behalf of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (and, to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge, on behalf of all Persons which have been acquired by or merged into any Borrower Party for periods prior to any such merger or acquisition) all federal, state and local income, excise, property and other tax returns which are required to be filed by them, and all taxes due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by or on behalf of any of the Borrower Parties have been paid other than those which are being contested in good faith. Any charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in respect of taxes or other governmental charges are, in the reasonable opinion of the Borrower, adequate. United States income tax returns of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have been examined and closed through the fiscal year ended on or about December 31, 2001.
(j) Financial Statements. The Borrower has furnished, or caused to be furnished, to the Lenders (i) the audited consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries which present fairly in accordance with GAAP the financial position of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as at December 31, 2004, and the results of operations for the periods then ended and (ii) the unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries which present fairly in accordance with GAAP (subject to normal adjustments and the absence of footnotes) the financial position of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as at March 31, 2005, and the results of operations for the periods then ended.
(k) No Adverse Change. Since December 31, 2004, there has occurred no event which has had or which could reasonably be expected to have a Materially Adverse Effect.
(l) Litigation. There is no material action, suit or proceeding pending, or to the knowledge of the Borrower threatened, against or affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries before any court or arbitrator or any governmental body, agency or official, except as disclosed as of the Agreement Date in the Borrower’s Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings dated December 31, 2004 and March 31, 2005, respectively, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and as disclosed after the Agreement Date from time to time pursuant to Section 7.6(a).
(m) ERISA. Each Plan is in substantial compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code except to the extent non-compliance would individually or in the aggregate have a Materially Adverse Effect, and neither the Borrower nor any of its ERISA Affiliates incurred any accumulated funding deficiency with respect to any Plan within the meaning of Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code. Neither the Borrower nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has incurred any material liability to the PBGC in connection with any Plan. The Borrower and each of its ERISA Affiliates have fulfilled their obligations under the minimum funding standards of ERISA and the Code with respect to each Plan to which such standards apply. No Reportable Event has occurred and is continuing with respect to any Plan. No Plan or trust created thereunder, or party in interest (as defined in Section 3(14) of ERISA), or any fiduciary (as defined in Section 3(21) of ERISA), has engaged in a Prohibited Transaction which would subject such Plan or any other Plan of the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates, any trust created thereunder, or any such party in interest or fiduciary, or any party dealing with any such Plan or any such trust to any material penalty or tax on Prohibited Transactions imposed by Section 502 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code. Except as provided in Schedule 5.1(m), neither the Borrower nor any of its ERISA Affiliates is a participant in or is obligated to make any payment to a Multiemployer Plan. As of the Agreement Date, using actuarial assumptions and computation methods consistent with Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA, the aggregate liabilities of the Borrower and its ERISA Affiliates to all Multiemployer Plans in the event of a complete withdrawal therefrom, as of the close of the most recent fiscal year of each Multiemployer Plan ended prior to the date hereof, would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Materially Adverse Effect.
(n) Compliance with Law; Absence of Default. Each Borrower Party is in material compliance with all Applicable Laws, except where such compliance is being contested in good faith through appropriate proceedings, and except where such failure to comply (other than with respect to the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended) does not have, or could not reasonably be expected to have, a Materially Adverse Effect, and with all of the provisions of its certificate or articles of incorporation or formation, by-laws or other governing documents. The Borrower has adopted and continues to follow a compliance program satisfactory to assure the accuracy of the statement contained in the foregoing sentence. No event has occurred or has failed to occur which has not been remedied or waived, the occurrence or non-occurrence of which constitutes, or with the passage of time or giving of notice or both would constitute, an Event of Default.
(o) Accuracy and Completeness of Information. None of the written information, reports, other papers and data in final form relating to the Borrower Parties furnished by or at the direction of the Borrower Parties to the Lender Group in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein not misleading in light of the circumstances in which made. All information, documents or certifications provided to the Administrative Agent in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are correct and complete. No fact is currently known to any Borrower Party which has, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Materially Adverse Effect. With respect to projections, estimates and forecasts given to the Lender Group, such projections, estimates and forecasts are based on the Borrower Parties’ good faith assessment of the future of the business at the time made. The Borrower Parties had a reasonable basis for such assessment at the time made.
(p) Compliance with Regulations T, U, and X. No Borrower Party is engaged principally in, or has as one of its important activities, the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying, and no Borrower Party owns or presently intends to acquire, any “margin security” or “margin stock” as defined in Regulations T, U, and X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (herein called “margin stock”). None of the proceeds of the Loans will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock or for the purpose of reducing or retiring any Indebtedness which was originally incurred to purchase or carry margin stock or for any other purpose which might constitute this transaction a “purpose credit” within the meaning of said Regulations T, U and X. Neither the making of the Loans nor the use of proceeds thereof will violate, or be inconsistent with, the provisions of Regulation T, U, or X of said Board of Governors.
(q) Solvency. As of the Agreement Date and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents, (i) the property of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, at a fair valuation on a going concern basis, will exceed their debt; (ii) the capital of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, will not be unreasonably small to conduct the business; and (iii) taken as a whole, will not have incurred debts, or have intended to incur debts, beyond their ability to pay such debts as they mature. For purposes of this Section, “debt” means any liability on a claim, and “claim” means (A) the right to payment, whether or not such right is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured or unsecured, or (B) the right to an equitable remedy for breach of performance if such breach gives rise to a right to payment, whether or not such right to an equitable remedy is reduced to judgment, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, undisputed, secured or unsecured.
(r) Environmental Matters. Except as disclosed in Schedule 5.1(r):
(i) Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any Environmental Liability, or any designation as a potentially responsible party under CERCLA or under any state statute similar to CERCLA, which could have or cause a Materially Adverse Effect. None of the real property owned, leased or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Aggregate Real Properties”) has been identified on any current or proposed (A) National Priorities List under 40 C.F.R. § 300, (B) CERCLIS list or (C) any list arising from a state statute similar to CERCLA.
(ii) No Hazardous Materials have been or are being used, produced, manufactured, processed, treated, recycled, generated, stored, disposed of, managed or otherwise handled at, or shipped or transported to or from the Aggregate Real Properties or are otherwise present at, on, in or under the Aggregate Real Properties, or, to the best of the knowledge of the Borrower, at or from any adjacent site or facility, except for Hazardous Materials, such as cleaning solvents, pesticides and other materials used, produced, manufactured, processed, treated, recycled, generated, stored, disposed of, managed, or otherwise handled in minimal amounts in the ordinary course of business in substantial compliance with all applicable Environmental Requirements.
(iii) The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries have procured all Environmental Authorizations necessary for the conduct of its business, and is in substantial compliance with all Environmental Requirements in connection with the operation of the Aggregate Real Properties, and the respective businesses of the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries.
(s) Investment Company Act; Public Utility Holding Company Act. No Borrower Party is required to register under the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. No Borrower Party is a “holding company” or a “subsidiary company” of a “holding company”, or an “affiliate” of a “holding company” or of a “subsidiary company” of a “holding company”, as such terms are defined in the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.
(t) Compliance with OFAC Requirements. None of the Borrower, any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any Affiliate of the Borrower (i) is a Sanctioned Person, (ii) has more than ten percent (10%) of its assets in Sanctioned Entities, or (iii) derives more than ten percent (10%) of its operating income from investments in, or transactions with Sanctioned Persons or Sanctioned Entities. The proceeds of any Loan will not be used and have not been used to fund any operations in, finance any investments or activities in or make any payments to, a Sanctioned Person or a Sanctioned Entity. The Borrower has established what it has determined to be an appropriately comprehensive OFAC compliance system, including an OFAC compliance policy statement that emphasizes the importance of OFAC compliance to each business unit and that explicitly states the Borrower’s senior management’s commitment to ensuring compliance with all applicable OFAC regulations.
(u) Anti-Terrorism Laws. Neither the making of the Loans hereunder nor the Parent’s use of the proceeds thereof will violate the Patriot Act, the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto, or is in violation of any Federal statute or Presidential Executive Order, including without limitation Executive Order 13224 66 Fed. Reg. 49079 (September 25, 2001) (Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions with Persons who Commit, Threaten to Commit or Support Terrorism) (collectively, “Anti-Terrorism Laws”). The use of the proceeds of the Loans hereunder will not violate the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto. Without limiting the foregoing, none of the Borrower Parties is or will (i) become a person whose property or interest in property are blocked pursuant to Section 1 of Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001 Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism (66 Fed. Reg. 49079 (2001)) or (ii) to the best of its knowledge, engage in any dealings or transactions, or be associated with, any such Person.
Section 5.2 Survival of Representations and Warranties, etc. All representations and warranties made by each Borrower Party under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be deemed to be made, and shall be true and correct, at and as of the Agreement Date and the date of each Advance or issuance of a Letter of Credit hereunder, except to the extent previously fulfilled in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and to the extent subsequently inapplicable. All representations and warranties made by each Borrower Party under this Agreement shall survive, and not be waived by, the execution of this Agreement by the Lender Group and the closing of the transactions described herein.
ARTICLE 6.
GENERAL COVENANTS
Until the Revolving Loan Commitment has expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on the Loans, and all fees and expenses (other than contingent expenses) payable under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, shall have been paid in full in cash and all Letters of Credit have expired or been terminated and all amounts drawn under each Letter of Credit shall have been reimbursed, each Borrower Party covenants and agrees with the Lender Group that:
Section 6.1 Preservation of Existence and Similar Matters. Except as otherwise permitted under Section 8.7, each Borrower Party will (a) preserve and maintain its existence and remain in good standing in its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, (b) preserve and maintain its rights, franchises, licenses, and privileges necessary or desirable in the ordinary conduct of its business, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Materially Adverse Effect, and (c) qualify and remain qualified and authorized to do business and in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the character of its properties or the nature of its business requires such qualification or authorization, except where the failure to be so qualified or authorized or in good standing could not reasonably be expected to have a Materially Adverse Effect.
Section 6.2 Compliance with Applicable Law. Each Borrower Party will comply with the requirements of all Applicable Laws, except where the failure to so comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Materially Adverse Effect.
Section 6.3 Maintenance of Properties. Each Borrower Party will maintain or cause to be maintained in the ordinary course of business in good repair, working order, and condition, normal wear and tear and disposal of obsolete equipment excepted, all properties used in its business (whether owned or held under lease).
Section 6.4 Accounting Methods and Financial Records. Each Borrower Party will maintain, and the Borrower will cause each of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to maintain, a system of accounting established and administered in accordance with GAAP, and will keep adequate records and books of account in which complete entries will be made in accordance with such accounting principles consistently applied and reflecting all transactions required to be reflected by such accounting principles. Each Borrower Party will maintain a year-end for accounting purposes consisting of a fiscal year ending on December 31st of each year.
Section 6.5 Insurance. Each of the Borrower Parties will maintain (either in the name of the Borrower or in such Borrower Party’s own name), with financially sound and reputable insurance companies having a Best’s Rating of at least “A”, insurance on all of their property in at least such amounts and against at least such risks (including on all its property, public liability and worker’s compensation (but solely with respect to worker’s compensation, only to the extent not self-insured), and business interruption insurance) as are usually insured against in the same general area by companies of established repute engaged in the same or similar business.
Section 6.6 Payment of Taxes and Claims. Each Borrower Party will pay and discharge all taxes, assessments, and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or its income or profit or upon any properties belonging to it prior to the date on which penalties attach thereto, and all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which have become due and payable and which by law have or may become a Lien upon any of its property, except that, no such tax, assessment, charge, levy, or claim need be paid which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and against which such Borrower Party has established reserves in accordance with GAAP. Each Borrower Party shall timely file all information returns required by federal, state, or local tax authorities.
Section 6.7 Visits and Inspections. Each Borrower Party will permit representatives of each member of the Lender Group, (x) prior to the occurrence of a Default or Event of Default, with reasonable notice and during normal business hours, and (y) after the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default or Event of Default, at any time and without prior notice, to (a) visit and inspect the properties of the Borrower Parties, (b) inspect and make extracts from and copies of the Borrower Parties’ books and records, and (c) discuss with the Borrower Parties’ respective principal officers the Borrower Parties’ businesses, assets, liabilities, financial positions, results of operations, and business prospects relating to the Borrower Parties.
Section 6.8 Conduct of Business. Each Borrower Party shall continue to engage in business of the same general type as now conducted by it or reasonably complementary thereto.
Section 6.9 ERISA. The Borrower shall at all times: make, or cause to be made, prompt payment of contributions required to meet the minimum funding standards set forth in ERISA with respect to the Plans that are subject to such standards; furnish to the Administrative Agent, promptly upon the Administrative Agent’s request therefor, copies of any annual report required to be filed pursuant to ERISA in connection with each Plan; notify the Administrative Agent as soon as practicable of any Reportable Event and of any additional act or condition arising in connection with any Plan which the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates believes might constitute grounds for the termination thereof by the PBGC or for the appointment by the appropriate United States District Court of a trustee to administer such Plan; and furnish to the Administrative Agent, promptly upon the Administrative Agent’s request therefor, such additional information concerning any Plan as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent.
Section 6.10 Further Assurances. Each Borrower Party will promptly cure, or cause to be cured, defects in the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents resulting from any act or failure to act by any Borrower Party or any employee or officer thereof.
Section 6.11 Indemnity. Each Borrower Party will indemnify and hold harmless each member of the Lender Group and each of its Related Parties from and against any and all claims, liabilities, investigations, losses, damages, actions, fines, penalties, and demands by any party against the Lender Group, or any of them, resulting from any breach or alleged breach by the Borrower Parties, or any of them, of any representation or warranty made hereunder, or otherwise arising out of or relating to the Revolving Loan Commitment or the making, administration or enforcement of the Loan Documents and the Loans or any of the other transactions contemplated under any of the Loan Documents; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any indemnified person, be available to the extent that any of the foregoing losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such indemnified person. In the case of any claim, investigation, litigation, proceeding, action or demand to which the indemnity in this Section 6.11 applies, such indemnity shall be effective whether or not such claim ; investigation, proceeding, action or demand is brought by a Borrower Party or any other creditors of any Borrower Party or an indemnified person, and whether or not an indemnified person is otherwise a party thereto. NO INDEMNIFIED PERSON SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE TO ANY OTHER PARTY TO ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, ANY SUCCESSOR, ASSIGNEE OR THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARY OF SUCH PERSON OR ANY OTHER PERSON ASSERTING CLAIMS DERIVATIVELY THROUGH SUCH PARTY, FOR INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES WHICH MAY BE ALLEGED AS A RESULT OF CREDIT HAVING BEEN EXTENDED, SUSPENDED OR TERMINATED UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR AS A RESULT OF ANY OTHER TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREUNDER OR THEREUNDER. This Section 6.11 shall survive termination of this Agreement.
Section 6.12 Environmental Matters. The Borrower will not, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries not to, and will not permit any other Person to, use, produce, manufacture, process, treat, recycle, generate, store, dispose of, manage at, or otherwise handle, or ship or transport to or from the Aggregate Real Properties any Hazardous Materials except for Hazardous Materials such as cleaning solvents, pesticides and other similar materials used, produced, manufactured, processed, treated, recycled, generated, stored, disposed, managed, or otherwise handled in amounts in the ordinary course of business in compliance with all applicable Environmental Requirements. The Borrower agrees that upon the occurrence of an Environmental Release at or on any of the Aggregate Real Properties it will act immediately to investigate the extent of, and to take appropriate remedial action to eliminate, such Environmental Release, whether or not ordered or otherwise directed to do so by any Environmental Authority. The Borrower shall defend, indemnify, and save harmless, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders from all loss, costs, damages and expense (including attorneys’ fees and costs and consequential damages) asserted or proven against any member of the Lender Group by any party, as a result of the presence of such substances or any removal or compliance with such Applicable Law. The foregoing indemnification shall survive repayment of the Obligations.
Section 6.13 Formation of Subsidiaries. At the time of the formation of any direct or indirect wholly-owned Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower or the Acquisition of any direct or indirect wholly-owned Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower after the Agreement Date, the Borrower Parties shall cause each such new Domestic Subsidiary to provide to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lender Group, a Guaranty Supplement pursuant to which such new Domestic Subsidiary shall agree to join as a Guarantor of the Obligations under Article 3 and to join this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents as a Guarantor and a Borrower Party for all purposes. At the time of the formation of any direct or indirect wholly-owned Foreign Subsidiary of the Borrower or the Acquisition of any direct or indirect wholly-owned Foreign Subsidiary of the Borrower after the Agreement Date, the Borrower shall confirm, or cause such Foreign Subsidiary, to confirm in writing such Foreign Subsidiary’s agreement with the terms of the Negative Pledge Agreement.
ARTICLE 7.
INFORMATION COVENANTS
Until the Revolving Loan Commitment has expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on the Loans, and all fees and expenses (other than contingent expenses) payable under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, shall have been paid in full in cash and all Letters of Credit have expired or been terminated and all amounts drawn under each Letter of Credit shall have been reimbursed, the Borrower Parties will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Administrative Agent (or to each member of the Lender Group, if requested, at their respective offices):
Section 7.1 Quarterly Financial Statements and Information. Within forty-five (45) days after the last day of each of the first three (3) fiscal quarters in each fiscal year of the Borrower, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, on consolidated basis, as at the end of such fiscal quarter, and the statement of income and related statement of cash flows for such fiscal quarter which statement of income and related statement of cash flows shall set forth in comparative form such figures as at the end of such quarter and for such quarter during the previous fiscal year, all of which shall be on a consolidated basis with the Consolidated Subsidiaries and shall be certified by an Authorized Signatory of the Borrower to be, in his or her opinion, complete and correct in all material respects and to present fairly in accordance with GAAP the financial position of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, as at the end of such period and the results of operations for such period, subject only to normal adjustments.
Section 7.2 Annual Financial Statements and Information; Certificate of No Default. Within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the audited balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, as at the end of such year and the related audited statements of income and related audited statements of cash flows for such year, all of which shall be on a consolidated basis with the Consolidated Subsidiaries, which financial statements shall set forth in comparative form such figures as at the end of and for the previous year, all certified by the Certified Public Accountants, with such certification to be free of exceptions or qualifications which are not acceptable to the Majority Lenders.
Section 7.3 Compliance Certificates. At the time the financial statements are furnished pursuant to Section 7.1 and Section 7.2, the Borrower shall deliver a Compliance Certificate to the Administrative Agent:
(a) Setting forth as at the end of such quarter or year, as the case may be, the arithmetical calculations required to establish whether or not the Borrower was in compliance with the requirements of the Financial Covenants being tested as at the end of such quarter or year, as applicable;
(b) Stating that, to the best of his or her knowledge, no Default or Event of Default has occurred as at the end of such quarter or year or as of such date, as the case may be, or, if a Default or an Event of Default has occurred, disclosing each such Default or Event of Default and its nature, when it occurred and whether it is continuing; and
(c) With respect to each fiscal quarter end, setting forth a report of the xxxx-to-market interest rate with respect to (i) derivative transactions (including any obligations arising in respect of any interest rate or currency hedge or similar agreements) determined in accordance with GAAP, and (ii) any of the Investments of the Borrower described in clause (e) of the definition of “Cash Equivalents” determined in accordance with GAAP.
Section 7.4 Access to Accountants. Each Borrower Party hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to communicate directly with such Borrower Party’s independent public accountants and authorizes these accountants to disclose to the Administrative Agent any and all financial statements and other supporting financial data, including matters relating to the annual audit and copies of any arrangement letter with respect to its business, financial condition and other affairs, provided in any such case that the applicable Borrower Party shall be given notice at least two (2) Business Days prior to such meeting and the opportunity to be present at any meeting between the Administrative Agent and such Borrower Party’s independent public accountants. On or before the Agreement Date, the Borrower Parties shall deliver to their independent public accountants a letter authorizing them to comply with the provisions of this Section 7.4.
Section 7.5 Additional Reports.
(a) Promptly upon receipt thereof, the Borrower Parties shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a copy of the final management report addressed to the audit committee of the Borrower’s Board of Directors, if any, prepared by the Borrower’s independent public accountants in connection with the annual audit referred to in Section 7.2.
(b) As soon as available and in no event later than forty-five (45) days after the end of each fiscal year, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the preliminary annual budget for the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (including income statements, balance sheets and cash flow statements) for the current fiscal year on a quarterly basis, and as soon as available and in no event later than ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year, the final annual budget and forecast for the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries approved by the board of directors of the Borrower.
(c) To the extent not covered elsewhere in this Article 7, promptly after the sending thereof, the Borrower Parties shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders copies of all material reports and other information which any Borrower Party sends to any holder of its Funded Debt (including in respect of the Senior Notes) or its securities (excluding any employee benefit plans) or which any Borrower Party files with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any national securities exchange; provided, however, that, with respect to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of such filings shall be deemed to have been provided to the Lenders at such time as copies of such filings shall become publicly available on XXXXX; provided further, however, that in the event that any material filing is made by the Borrower with the Securities and Exchange Commission (other than the filing of quarterly and annual reports on Forms 10-Q and 10-K, respectively), or if the Borrower does not file its required quarterly and annual reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or before the originally scheduled deadline therefore, the Borrower shall deliver prompt notice of such filing to the Administrative Agent.
(d) From time to time and promptly upon each request the Borrower Parties shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lender Group, such additional information regarding the financial position of the Borrower Parties, or any of them, as the Administrative Agent, at the request of any member of the Lender Group, may reasonably request.
Section 7.6 Notice of Litigation and Other Matters.
(a) Promptly after the Borrower obtaining knowledge of the announcement thereof, notice of any announcement by Xxxxx’x or S&P of any change in a Debt Rating.
(b) Promptly (but in any event within three (3) Business Days) after any Borrower Party’s obtaining knowledge of (i) the commencement of any litigation affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective assets, whether or not the claim is considered by such Borrower Party to be covered by insurance, and (ii) the institution of any administrative proceeding, such Borrower Party shall provide written notice to the Administrative Agent thereof to the extent such litigation or proceeding, if decided adversely, could reasonably be expected to have a Materially Adverse Effect.
(c) Promptly after the rendition of (i) any judgment in an amount exceeding $10,000,000 or (ii) judgments in the aggregate which exceed $20,000,000, or (iii) any judgment involving federal or state taxes, the Borrower Parties shall notify the Administrative Agent thereof.
(d) Promptly upon any Borrower Party’s receipt of notice of any material adverse change with respect to the business, assets, liabilities, financial position, prospects, or results of operations of any Borrower Party, other than changes in the ordinary course of business which have not had and are not likely to have a Materially Adverse Effect, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of the occurrence thereof.
(e) Promptly (but in any event within five (5) Business Days) following any Default or Event of Default, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such occurrence giving in each case the details thereof and specifying the action proposed to be taken with respect thereto.
(f) Promptly following any Borrower Party’s receipt of notice thereof, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of any default by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries under any Material Financing Agreement. Prior to the execution of any amendment to any Material Financing Agreement, the Borrower shall send to the Administrative Agent a copy of the proposed amendment, and promptly upon execution thereof (subject to the provisions of Section 8.11), the Borrower shall send to the Administrative Agent a copy of the executed amendment.
(g) Promptly (but in any event within three (3) Business Days) following the occurrence of any Reportable Event or a Prohibited Transaction with respect to any Plan or the institution or threatened institution by the PBGC of proceedings under ERISA to terminate or to partially terminate any such Plan or the commencement of any litigation regarding any such Plan or naming it or the trustee of any such Plan with respect to such Plan (other than claims for benefits in the ordinary course of business and claims that would not individually or in the aggregate have a Materially Adverse Effect), or the failure by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates to make any required contribution to a Plan that is subject to Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of the occurrence thereof.
(h) Promptly after any Borrower Party’s obtaining knowledge after the Agreement Date of any material Environmental Liabilities, pending, threatened or anticipated Environmental Proceedings, Environmental Notices, Environmental Judgments and Orders, or Environmental Releases at, on, in, under or in any way affecting the Aggregate Real Properties, or any adjacent properties, or of any facts, events, or conditions that could lead to any of the foregoing, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent thereof.
ARTICLE 8.
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
Until the Revolving Loan Commitment has expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on the Loans, and all fees and expenses (other than contingent expenses) payable under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, shall have been paid in full in cash and all Letters of Credit have expired or been terminated and all amounts drawn under each Letter of Credit shall have been reimbursed:
Section 8.1 Indebtedness. No Borrower Party will create, assume, incur, or otherwise become or remain obligated in respect of, or permit to be outstanding, any Indebtedness except:
(a) Indebtedness under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;
(b) Trade or accounts payable and/or similar obligations, and accrued expenses, incurred in the ordinary course of business, other than for borrowed money;
(c) Indebtedness existing on the Agreement Date under the Indentures in respect of the Senior Notes;
(d) Indebtedness owing from one Borrower Party to another Borrower Party; and
(e) Other Indebtedness of the Borrower Parties so long as, prior to and after giving effect thereto, the Borrower Parties are otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Agreement.
Section 8.2 Liens. No Borrower Party will, and no Borrower Party will permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create, assume, incur, or permit to exist or to be created, assumed, or permitted to exist, directly or indirectly, any Lien on any of its property, real or personal (including any property constituting Equity Interests), now owned or hereafter acquired, except for Permitted Liens.
Section 8.3 Restricted Payments .
(a) No Borrower Party shall, directly or indirectly, declare or pay any Dividends upon or otherwise in respect of any of its Equity Interests, or make any cash payment on account of the purchase, redemption, or other acquisition or retirement of any Equity Interests of any Borrower Party, except that (i) the Borrower Parties may make Dividends on common stock which accrue (but are not paid in cash) or are paid in kind or Dividends on preferred stock which accrue (but are not paid in cash) or are paid in kind, and (ii) so long as no Default or Event of Default then exists or would be caused thereby, the Borrower may make cash Dividends to, or repurchase shares of common stock from, its shareholders, provided that (A) the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent at least fifteen (15) days prior to any proposed payment date a Compliance Certificate setting forth calculations demonstrating, on a pro forma basis, that the Borrower shall be in compliance with the Financial Covenants immediately before and after giving effect to such Dividend or repurchase, and (B) that Total Availability immediately before and after giving effect to such Dividend or repurchase shall be not less than $100,000,000.
(b) No Borrower Party shall, directly or indirectly, make any payment, prior to the scheduled maturity thereof, on account of any Funded Debt of any Borrower Party, except that, so long as no Default or Event of Default then exists or would be caused thereby, the Borrower may make purchase, redeem, or otherwise acquire or retire all or any portion of the Senior Notes from the holders thereof, provided that (i) the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent at least fifteen (15) days prior to any proposed purchase or redemption date a Compliance Certificate setting forth calculations demonstrating, on a pro forma basis, that the Borrower shall be in compliance with the Financial Covenants immediately before and after giving effect to such purchase or redemption, and (ii) that Total Availability immediately before and after giving effect to such purchase or redemption shall be not less than $50,000,000
Section 8.4 Affiliate Transactions. No Borrower Party shall enter into or be a party to any agreement or transaction with any Affiliate except (a) as described on Schedule 8.4, (b) relating to compensation and benefits plans for officers and directors of the Borrower Parties, (c) pursuant to the Borrower’s transfer pricing policy substantially as in effect as of the Agreement Date subject to normal and customary price adjustments, (d) Investments permitted under Section 8.5, or (e) in the ordinary course of and pursuant to the reasonable requirements of the applicable Borrower Party’s business and upon fair and reasonable terms that are no less favorable to such Borrower Party than it would obtain in a comparable arms length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate of such Borrower Party. All obligations (consisting of Indebtedness or otherwise) owed by any Affiliate to any of the Borrower Parties shall be subordinated in full to the payment of the Obligations.
Section 8.5 Fundamental Changes; Disposition or Acquisition of Assets; Investments No Borrower Party shall at any time:
(a) Enter into any transaction of merger or consolidation, or liquidate or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution) or otherwise wind up its business, except that (i) any Subsidiary of the Borrower may liquidate or dissolve itself in accordance with Applicable Law, and (ii) any Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge into any Borrower Party so long as the Borrower Party is the surviving entity after such merger, and (iii) any Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge into any other Person in connection with the consummation of Permitted Disposition;
(b) Sell, lease, abandon, transfer or otherwise dispose of, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, to any other Person (other than the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries) any assets, property or business, except for Permitted Dispositions; and
(c) Make any Acquisitions or Investments or become a partner or joint venturer with any third party, except that (i) any Borrower Party may purchase or otherwise acquire and own Cash Equivalents, (ii) the Borrower Parties may hold the Investments in existence on the Agreement Date and, so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, may make additional Investments after the Agreement Date, (iii) the Borrower may hold the Equity Interests of its Subsidiaries in existence as of the Agreement Date and its Subsidiaries created after the Agreement Date, and (iv) the Borrower Parties may make Permitted Acquisitions.
Section 8.6 ERISA Liability. Neither the Borrower nor of its any ERISA Affiliates shall fail to meet all of the applicable minimum funding requirements of ERISA and the Code, without regard to any waivers thereof, and, to the extent that the assets of any Plan would be less than an amount sufficient to provide all accrued benefits payable under such Plans, the Borrower shall make (or cause to be made) the contribution required under Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code (based on the Borrower’s current actuarial assumptions). Except as provided in Schedule 5.1(m), neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate shall become a participant in any Multiemployer Plan.
Section 8.7 Financial Covenants.
(a) Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. The Borrower shall not permit the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter set forth below to be less than the ratio set forth below opposite such fiscal quarter:
Quarters Ending: | Ratio: | |
Agreement Date through March 31, 2006
|
2.50 to 1.00 | |
June 30, 2006 through December 31, 2006
|
2.75 to 1.00 | |
March 31, 2007 and thereafter
|
3.00 to 1.00 |
(b) Leverage Ratio. The Borrower shall not permit the Leverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter set forth below to be greater than the ratio set forth below opposite such fiscal quarter:
Quarters Ending: | Ratio: | |
Agreement Date through December 31, 2006
|
4.00 to 1.00 | |
March 31, 2007 and thereafter
|
3.75 to 1.00 |
Section 8.8 Amendment and Waiver. The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, (a) enter into any amendment of, or agree to or accept any waiver, which would adversely affect the rights of such Borrower Party or the Lender Group, or any of them, of (i) its articles or certificate of incorporation or formation, by-laws or other governing documents, or (ii) the Indentures or any of the Senior Notes, except amendments, waivers and modifications approved by the Administrative Agent, or (b) enter into any amendment or modification to any Material Financing Agreement of a material nature.
Section 8.9 Negative Pledge. The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into, assume or become subject to any agreement with any Person that prohibits or restricts or limits the ability of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to repay the Obligations, or to create, incur, pledge, or suffer to exist any Lien (other than any Permitted Lien) upon any of its respective assets, or restricts the ability of any Subsidiary of the Borrower to pay Dividends to the Borrower.
ARTICLE 9.
DEFAULT
Section 9.1 Events of Default. Each of the following events shall constitute an Event of Default, whatever the reason for such event and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment or order of any court or any order, rule, or regulation of any governmental or non-governmental body:
(a) Any representation or warranty made under this Agreement or in any other Loan Document shall prove incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed to have been made;
(b) (i) Any payment of any principal hereunder, or any reimbursement obligations with respect to any Letter of Credit, shall not be received by the Administrative Agent on the date such payment is due, or (ii) any payment of any interest hereunder, or any fees payable hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, or any other Obligations, shall not be received within five (5) Business Days after the date such payment is due;
(c) (i) Any Borrower Party shall default in the performance or observance of any agreement or covenant contained in Section 2.12 (Use of Proceeds), 6.1(a) (Preservation of Existence), 6.5 (Insurance), 6.7 (Visits and Inspections), 8.1 (Indebtedness), 8.2 (Liens), 8.3 (Restricted Payments and Purchases), 8.5 (Fundamental Changes; Disposition or Acquisition of Assets; Investments), 8.7 (Financial Covenants), or 8.9 (Negative Pledge), or (ii) any Borrower Party shall default in the performance or observance of any agreement or covenant contained in Article 7 and such default continues for ten (10) days;
(d) Any Borrower Party shall default in the performance or observance of any other agreement or covenant contained in this Agreement not specifically referred to elsewhere in this Section 9.1, and such default, if curable, shall not be cured within the earlier of (i) a period of thirty (30) days from the date that such Borrower Party knew or reasonably should have known of the occurrence of such default, or (ii) a period of thirty (30) days after written notice of such default is given to the Borrower;
(e) There shall occur any default in the performance or observance of any agreement or covenant contained in any of the other Loan Documents (other than this Agreement or as otherwise provided in this Section 9.1), which shall not be cured within the applicable cure period, if any, provided for therein, or, if there is no applicable cure period set forth therein, within the earlier of (i) a period of thirty (30) days from the date that any Borrower Party knew or reasonably should have known of the occurrence of such default, or (ii) a period of thirty (30) days after written notice of such default is given to the Borrower;
(f) There shall occur any Change of Control;
(g) (i) There shall be entered a decree or order for relief in respect of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries under the Bankruptcy Code, or any other applicable federal or state bankruptcy law or other similar law, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, or similar official of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or of any substantial part of their respective properties, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of the affairs of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (ii) an involuntary petition shall be filed against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and a temporary stay entered and (A) such petition and stay shall not be diligently contested, or (B) any such petition and stay shall continue undismissed for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days;
(h) The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall file a petition, answer, or consent seeking relief under the Bankruptcy Code, or any other applicable federal or state bankruptcy law or other similar law, or the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall consent to the institution of proceedings thereunder or to the filing of any such petition or to the appointment or taking of possession of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, or other similar official of the Borrower or such Subsidiary or of any substantial part of its properties, or the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall fail generally to pay their respective debts as they become due, or the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall take any action in furtherance of any such action;
(i) A final judgment (other than a money judgment or judgments fully covered (except for customary deductibles or co-payments not to exceed $20,000,000 in the aggregate) by insurance as to which the insurance company has acknowledged coverage) shall be entered by any court against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries for the payment of money which exceeds $20,000,000 or a warrant of attachment or execution or similar process shall be issued or levied against property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to a final judgment which, together with all other such property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries subject to other such process, exceeds in value $20,000,000 in the aggregate, and if, within thirty (30) days after the entry, issue, or levy thereof, such judgment, warrant, or process shall not have been paid or discharged or stayed pending appeal, or if, after the expiration of any such stay, such judgment, warrant, or process shall not have been paid or discharged;
(j) There shall be at any time any “accumulated funding deficiency,” as defined in Section 302 of ERISA or in Section 412 of the Code, with respect to any Plan subject to such Sections; or a trustee shall be appointed by a United States District Court to administer any such Plan; or the PBGC shall institute proceedings to terminate any such Plan; or the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates shall incur any liability to the PBGC in connection with the termination of any such Plan; or any Plan or trust created under any Plan of the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates shall engage in a Prohibited Transaction which would subject any such Plan, any trust created thereunder, any trustee or administrator thereof, or any party dealing with any such Plan or trust to any material tax or penalty on Prohibited Transactions imposed by Section 502 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code; or except as provided in Schedule 5.1(m), the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates shall enter into or become obligated to contribute to a Multiemployer Plan;
(k) There shall occur (i) any payment default (after the expiration of any applicable cure period) under any indenture, agreement, or instrument evidencing Funded Debt of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount of $8,000,000 or more, or (ii) any event or condition which results in the acceleration of the maturity of Funded Debt outstanding of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount of $8,000,000 or more (including any required mandatory prepayment or “put” of such Funded Debt to the Borrower or any Subsidiary) or enables (or, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would enable) the holders of such Funded Debt or commitment or any Person acting on such holders’ behalf to accelerate the maturity thereof or terminate any such commitment prior to its normal expiration (including any required mandatory prepayment or “put” of such Funded Debt to the Borrower or any Subsidiary);
(l) All or any portion of any Loan Document shall at any time and for any reason be declared to be null and void, or a proceeding shall be commenced by any Borrower Party or any Affiliate thereof, or by any governmental authority having jurisdiction over any Borrower Party any Affiliate of any Borrower Party, seeking to establish the invalidity or unenforceability thereof (exclusive of questions of interpretation of any provision thereof), or any Borrower Party or any Affiliate of a Borrower Party shall deny that it has any liability or obligation for the payment of principal or interest purported to be created under any Loan Document; or
(m) There shall have occurred an event that could reasonably be expected to have a Materially Adverse Effect on the legality, validity or enforceability of any Loan Document.
Section 9.2 Remedies. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and shall be continuing, in addition to the rights and remedies set forth elsewhere in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents:
(a) With the exception of an Event of Default specified in Section 9.1(g) or (h), the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Majority Lenders, shall (i) terminate each Revolving Loan Commitment and the Letter of Credit Commitment, or (ii) declare the principal of and interest on the Loans and all other Obligations to be forthwith due and payable without presentment, demand, protest, or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived, anything in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding, or both.
(b) Upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default specified in Section 9.1(g) or (h), such principal, interest, and other Obligations shall thereupon and concurrently therewith become due and payable, and each Revolving Loan Commitment and the Letter of Credit Commitment shall forthwith terminate, all without any action by any member of the Lender Group, or any of them, or the Majority Lenders and without presentment, demand, protest, or other notice of any kind, all of which are expressly waived, anything in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding.
(c) Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may proceed to protect, exercise and enforce against the Borrower Parties the rights and remedies of the Lender Group and such other rights and remedies as are provided by or under Applicable Law or in equity.
(d) In regard to all Letters of Credit with respect to which presentment for honor shall not have occurred at the time of any acceleration of the Obligations pursuant to the provisions of this Section 9.2 or, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, after the occurrence of an Event of Default and prior to acceleration, the Borrower shall promptly deposit in a Letter of Credit Reserve Account opened by Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Issuing Bank, an amount equal to one hundred and five percent (105%) of the aggregate then undrawn and unexpired amount of such Letter of Credit Obligations, or provide one or more Backup Letters of Credit in respect of such Letter of Credit Obligations. Amounts held in such Letter of Credit Reserve Account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to the payment of drafts drawn under such Letters of Credit, and the unused portion thereof after such Letters of Credit shall have expired or been fully drawn upon, if any, shall be applied to repay other Obligations in the manner set forth in Section 2.11. Pending the application of such deposit to the payment of the Reimbursement Obligations, the Administrative Agent shall, to the extent reasonably practicable, invest such deposit in an interest bearing open account or similar available savings deposit account and all interest accrued thereon shall be held with such deposit as additional security for the Obligations. After all such Letters of Credit shall have expired or been fully drawn upon, all Reimbursement Obligations shall have been satisfied, and all other Obligations shall have been paid in full, the balance, if any, in such Letter of Credit Reserve Account shall be returned to the Borrower. Except as expressly provided hereinabove, presentment, demand, protest and all other notices of any kind are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower.
(e) The rights and remedies of the Lender Group hereunder shall be cumulative, and not exclusive.
ARTICLE 10.
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Section 10.1 Appointment and Authority. Each of the Lenders and the Issuing Bank hereby irrevocably appoints Wachovia to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Bank, and neither the Borrower nor any other Borrower Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.
Section 10.2 Rights as a Lender. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.
Section 10.3 Exculpatory Provisions. The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:
(a) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;
(b) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Majority Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or Applicable Law; and
(c) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.
The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Majority Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 11.12 and 9.2) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless and until notice describing such Default or Event of Default is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or the Issuing Bank.
The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article 4 or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.
Section 10.4 Reliance by Administrative Agent . The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of an Advance, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or the Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or the Issuing Bank unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or the Issuing Bank prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.
Section 10.5 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.
Section 10.6 Resignation of Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the Issuing Bank and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Majority Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a successor Administrative Agent. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Majority Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Bank, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be any Lender or a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any political subdivision thereof which has combined capital and reserves in excess of $5,000,000,000, provided that if the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (a) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and (b) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and the Issuing Bank directly, until such time as the Majority Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this paragraph. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this paragraph). The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Sections 6.11 and 11.2 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.
Section 10.7 Indemnification. The Lenders agree to indemnify the Administrative Agent (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower) pro rata in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitment Ratios from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, investigations, costs, expenses (including fees and expenses of experts, agents, consultants, and counsel), or disbursements of any kind or nature (whether or not the Administrative Agent is a party to any such action, suit or investigation) whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Administrative Agent in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any other document contemplated by this Agreement or any action taken or omitted by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any other document contemplated by this Agreement, except that no Lender shall be liable to the Administrative Agent for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses, or disbursements resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrative Agent as determined by a final non-appealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction. The provisions of this Section 10.7 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
Section 10.8 Non-Reliance On Administrative Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender and the Issuing Bank acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender and the Issuing Bank also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.
Section 10.9 Patriot Act Notice. Each Lender and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any other party) hereby notifies each Borrower Party that, pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act, Title III of Pub. L. 107-56, signed into law October 26, 2001 (the “Patriot Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Borrower Party, which information includes the name and address of each Borrower Party and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify each Borrower Party in accordance with the Patriot Act.
Section 10.10 No Other Duties, etc.. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the arrangers and agents listed on the cover page hereof shall not have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in their respective capacities, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender, the Swing Bank or the Issuing Bank hereunder.
ARTICLE 11.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 11.1 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.
(a) Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in clause (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier as follows:
(i) | If to any Borrower Party, to such Borrower Party in care of the Borrower at: |
Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Corporation
0000 X&X Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Vice President-Treasurer
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to:
(ii)
|
Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Corporation 0000 X&X Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000 Attn: Vice President-General Counsel Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000 If to the Administrative Agent, to it at: |
Wachovia Bank, National Association
Xxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX-0
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000-XX0000
Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxx, Agency Management
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
and, in the case of notices under Article 2, with a copy to: |
Wachovia Bank, National Association
Xxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX-0
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attn: Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
and, in each case, with a copy to:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
Paul, Hastings, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X.
Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
(iii) | if to the Issuing Bank, to it at its address (or telecopier number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire. |
(iv) | if to a Lender, to it at its address (or telecopier number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire. |
Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient). Notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in paragraph (b) below, shall be effective as provided in said paragraph (b).
(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the Issuing Bank hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or the Issuing Bank pursuant to Article 2 if such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.
Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.
(c) Change of Address, Etc. Any party hereto may change its address or telecopier number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.
Section 11.2 Expenses. The Borrower agrees to promptly pay or reimburse:
(a) All reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and syndication of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the transactions contemplated hereunder and thereunder, and the making of the initial Advance hereunder, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent;
(b) All reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent in connection with the administration of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, and the preparation, negotiation, execution, and delivery of any waiver, amendment, or consent by the Lenders relating to this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, including: (i) all reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of any law firm or special counsel engaged by the Administrative Agent; (ii) costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ and paralegals’ fees and disbursements) for any amendment, supplement, waiver, consent, or subsequent closing in connection with the Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby; (iii) costs and expenses of lien and title searches on the property and assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; (iv) sums paid or incurred to pay any amount or take any action required of the Borrower Parties under the Loan Documents that the Borrower Parties fail to pay or take; (v) costs of appraisals, inspections, and verifications of the properties and assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and other due diligence, including travel, lodging, and meals for inspections of the Borrower Parties’ operations by the Administrative Agent; and (vi) costs and expenses of forwarding loan proceeds, collecting checks and other items of payment;
(c) All out-of-pocket costs and expenses of each member of the Lender Group in connection with any restructuring, refinancing, or “work out” of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and of obtaining performance under this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and all out-of-pocket costs and expenses of collection if default is made in the payment of the Obligations, which in each case shall include fees and out-of-pocket expenses of special counsel for each member of the Lender Group and the fees and out-of-pocket expenses of any experts or consultants of the Administrative Agent; and
(d) All taxes, assessments, general or special, and other charges levied on, or assessed, placed or made against any of the Loan Documents or the Obligations, excluding income taxes of the Administrative Agent and each Lender.
Section 11.3 Waivers. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under this Agreement and under the other Loan Documents shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies which they would otherwise have. No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, the Majority Lenders or the Lenders in exercising any right shall operate as a waiver of such right. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders expressly reserve the right to require strict compliance with the terms of this Agreement in connection with any funding of a request for an Advance. In the event the Lenders decide to fund a request for an Advance at a time when the Borrower is not in strict compliance with the terms of this Agreement, such decision by the Lenders shall not be deemed to constitute an undertaking by the Lenders to fund any further requests for Advances or preclude the Lenders from exercising any rights available to the Lenders under the Loan Documents or at law or equity. Any waiver or indulgence granted by the Lenders or by the Majority Lenders shall not constitute a modification of this Agreement, except to the extent expressly provided in such waiver or indulgence, or constitute a course of dealing by the Lenders at variance with the terms of the Agreement such as to require further notice by the Lenders of the Lenders’ intent to require strict adherence to the terms of the Agreement in the future. Any such actions shall not in any way affect the ability of the Lenders, in their discretion, to exercise any rights available to them under this Agreement or under any other agreement, whether or not the Lenders are party, relating to the Borrower.
Section 11.4 Set-Off. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, the Issuing Bank, and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender, the Issuing Bank or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any other Borrower Party against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower or such Borrower Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or the Issuing Bank, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or the Issuing Bank shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower or such Borrower Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender or the Issuing Bank different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness. The rights of each Lender, the Issuing Bank and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of set-off) that such Lender, the Issuing Bank or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender and the Issuing Bank agree to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such set-off and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application.
Section 11.5 Assignment.
(a) Successors and Assigns Generally. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that neither the Borrower nor any other Borrower Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender, and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an Eligible Assignee in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (d) of this Section, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of paragraph (f) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in paragraph (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
(b) Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Revolving Loan Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that
(i) except in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Revolving Loan Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to a Lender, the aggregate amount of the Revolving Loan Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Revolving Loan Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date) shall not be less than $5,000,000, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consent (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed);
(ii) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Revolving Loan Commitment assigned; and
(iii) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500, and the Eligible Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.
Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the Eligible Assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Article 12 and Sections 2.8(b), 2.9 and 6.11 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this paragraph shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (d) of this Section.
(c) Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Revolving Loan Commitments of, and principal amounts of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
(d) Participations. Any Lender may at any time, with the consent of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries ) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Revolving Loan Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and the Issuing Bank shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.
Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in Section 11.12(a)(i) that affects such Participant. Subject to paragraph (e) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.9 and Article 12 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 11.4 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.10(b) as though it were a Lender.
(e) Limitations upon Participant Rights. A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 2.8(b) and 12.1 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent.
(f) Certain Pledges. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
Section 11.6 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such separate counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. In proving this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any judicial proceedings, it shall not be necessary to produce or account for more than one such counterpart signed by the party against whom such enforcement is sought. Any signatures delivered by a party by facsimile or electronic mail transmission shall be deemed an original signature hereto.
Section 11.7 Governing Law. This Agreement and the Loan Documents (except to the extent otherwise provided therein) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
Section 11.8 Severability. Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof in that jurisdiction or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.
Section 11.9 Headings. Headings used in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be used in connection with the interpretation of any provision hereof.
Section 11.10 Source of Funds. Notwithstanding the use by the Lenders of the Base Rate and the Eurodollar Rate as reference rates for the determination of interest on the Loans, the Lenders shall be under no obligation to obtain funds from any particular source in order to charge interest to the Borrower at interest rates tied to such reference rates.
Section 11.11 Entire Agreement. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents embody the entire Agreement and understanding among the parties hereto and thereto and supersede all prior agreements, understandings, and conversations relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof. The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders that it has read the provisions of this Section 11.11 and discussed the provisions of this Section 11.11 and the rest of this Agreement with counsel for the Borrower, and the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders are expressly relying upon such representations and warranties of the Borrower (as well as the other representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in Section 5.1) in entering into this Agreement.
Section 11.12 Amendments and Waivers
(a) Neither this Agreement, any other Loan Document nor any term hereof or thereof may be amended orally, nor may any provision hereof be waived orally but only by an instrument in writing signed by (or in the case of Loan Documents executed by the Administrative Agent, signed by the Administrative Agent and approved by) the Majority Lenders and, in the case of an amendment, also by the Borrower, except that (i) the consent of the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders affected thereby shall be required for (A) any release of all or substantially all of the guarantors of the Obligations, (B) any extensions of the Maturity Date or the scheduled date of payment of interest or principal or fees, or any reduction of principal (without a corresponding payment with respect thereto), or any reduction in the rate of interest or fees due to the Lenders hereunder, (C) any amendment of this Section 11.12 or of the definition of “Majority Lenders” or any other provision of the Loan Documents specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights thereunder or make any determination or grant any consent thereunder, and (D) any amendment increasing the Revolving Loan Commitment (it being understood and agreed that a waiver of any Default or Event of Default or a modification of any of the defined terms contained herein (other than those defined terms specifically addressed in this Section 11.12) shall not constitute a change in the terms of the Revolving Loan Commitment of any Lender), (ii) the consent of the Administrative Agent, the Majority Lenders and the Borrower shall be required for any amendment to Article 10; (iii) the consent of the Issuing Bank, the Majority Lenders and the Borrower shall be required for any amendment to Section 2.14; (iv) the consent of the Swing Bank, the Majority Lenders and the Borrower shall be required for any amendment to Section 2.1(c) or Section 2.2(g); and (v) the consent of the Guarantors and the Majority Lenders shall be required for any amendment to Article 3; provided, however, Schedule 2 hereto (Revolving Loan Commitment) may be amended from time to time by the Administrative Agent alone to reflect assignments of the Revolving Loan Commitment in accordance herewith.
(b) Each Lender grants to the Administrative Agent the right to purchase all (but not less than all) of such Lender’s Revolving Loan Commitment, Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations owing to it and any Revolving Loan Notes held by it and all of its rights and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at a price equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Loans payable to such Lender plus any accrued but unpaid interest on such Loans and accrued but unpaid facility fees, letter of credit fees and all other obligations owing to such Lender, which right may be exercised by the Administrative Agent if requested by the Borrower and if such Lender refuses to execute any amendment, waiver or consent which requires the written consent of all of the Lenders and to which the Majority Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower have agreed. Each Lender agrees that if the Administrative Agent exercises its option hereunder, it shall promptly execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption and other agreements and documentation necessary to effectuate such assignment; provided, however, that any such right to purchase shall expire on the ninetieth (90th) day following the date of the proposed waiver, amendment or consent which was not approved by such Lender. The Administrative Agent may assign its purchase rights hereunder to any assignee if such assignment complies with the requirements of Section 11.5(b).
(c) If any fees are paid to the Lenders as consideration for amendments, waivers or consents with respect to this Agreement, at the Administrative Agent’s election, such fees may be paid only to those Lenders that agree to such amendments, waivers or consents within the time specified for submission thereof.
Section 11.13 Other Relationships. No relationship created hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall in any way affect the ability of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and each Lender to enter into or maintain business relationships with the Borrower, or any of its Affiliates, beyond the relationships specifically contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
Section 11.14 Pronouns. The pronouns used herein shall include, when appropriate, either gender and both singular and plural, and the grammatical construction of sentences shall conform thereto.
Section 11.15 Disclosure. The Administrative Agent shall obtain the prior written approval of the Borrower with respect to the issuance of any press releases regarding the making of the Loans to the Borrower pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
Section 11.16 Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Bank agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors and other representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the Issuing Bank or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Bank may disclose Information, without notice to the Borrower, to governmental regulatory authorities in connection with any regulatory examination of such Person or in accordance with such Person’s regulatory compliance policy; provided that, in the event of any such disclosure, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Bank, as applicable, will endeavor to provide the Borrower with notice thereof, to the extent permitted by applicable law, but the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Bank shall not be subject to any liability for failure to do so.
For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries relating to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Bank on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.
Section 11.17 Revival and Reinstatement of Obligations. If the incurrence or payment of the Obligations by the Borrower or any Guarantor, or the transfer to the Lender Group of any property, should for any reason subsequently be declared to be void or voidable under any state or federal law relating to creditors’ rights, including provisions of the Bankruptcy Code relating to fraudulent conveyances, preferences or other voidable or recoverable payments of money or transfers of property (collectively, a “Voidable Transfer”), and if the Lender Group, or any of them, is required to repay or restore, in whole or in part, any such Voidable Transfer, or elects to do so upon the reasonable advice of its counsel, then, as to any such Voidable Transfer, or the amount thereof that the Lender Group, or any of them, is required or elects to repay or restore, and as to all reasonable costs, expenses and attorneys fees of the Lender Group related thereto, the liability of the Borrower or such Guarantor, as applicable, automatically shall be revived, reinstated and restored and shall exist as though such Voidable Transfer had never been made.
ARTICLE 12.
YIELD PROTECTION
Section 12.1 Increased Costs.
(a) Increased Costs Generally. If any Change in Law shall:
(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement reflected in the Eurodollar Basis) or the Issuing Bank; or
(ii) impose on any Lender or the Issuing Bank or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Advance made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any Eurodollar Advance (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Advance), or to increase the cost to such Lender or the Issuing Bank of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or the Issuing Bank hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender or the Issuing Bank, the Borrower will pay to such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.
(b) Capital Requirements. If any Lender or the Issuing Bank determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or the Issuing Bank or any lending office of such Lender or such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any, regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Revolving Loan Commitment of such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by the Issuing Bank, to a level below that which such Lender or the Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.
(c) Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender or the Issuing Bank setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 12.1 and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.
(d) Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section 12.1 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or the Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section 12.1 for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine (9) months prior to the date that such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the nine (9) month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).
Section 12.2 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.
(a) Designation of a Different Lending Office. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 12.1, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 12.1 in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.
(b) Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 12.1, or if any Lender defaults in its obligation to fund any Advances hereunder, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 11.5), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:
(i) the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 11.5;
(ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in the Letter of Credit Obligations, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 2.9) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);
(iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 12.1, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter; and
(iv) such assignment does not conflict with Applicable Law.
A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
ARTICLE 13.
JURISDICTION, VENUE AND WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
Section 13.1 Jurisdiction and Service of Process. FOR PURPOSES OF ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT BY ANY MEMBER OF THE LENDER GROUP WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, EACH BORROWER PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE PERSONAL JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL AND STATE COURTS SITTING IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND HEREBY IRREVOCABLY DESIGNATES AND APPOINTS, AS ITS AUTHORIZED AGENT FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, CT CORPORATION SYSTEM, WHOSE ADDRESS IS 000 XXXXXX XXXXXX, XXX XXXX, XXX XXXX 00000, OR SUCH OTHER PERSON AS SUCH BORROWER PARTY SHALL DESIGNATE HEREAFTER BY WRITTEN NOTICE GIVEN TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT. THE CONSENT TO JURISDICTION HEREIN SHALL NOT BE EXCLUSIVE. THE LENDER GROUP SHALL FOR ALL PURPOSES AUTOMATICALLY, AND WITHOUT ANY ACT ON THEIR PART, BE ENTITLED TO TREAT SUCH DESIGNEE OF EACH BORROWER PARTY AS THE AUTHORIZED AGENT TO RECEIVE FOR AND ON BEHALF OF SUCH BORROWER PARTY SERVICE OF WRITS, OR SUMMONS OR OTHER LEGAL PROCESS IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WHICH SERVICE SHALL BE DEEMED EFFECTIVE PERSONAL SERVICE ON SUCH BORROWER SERVED WHEN DELIVERED, WHETHER OR NOT SUCH AGENT GIVES NOTICE TO SUCH BORROWER PARTY. EACH BORROWER PARTY FURTHER IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS AT THE ADDRESS AND IN THE MANNER SET FORTH ABOVE IN SECTION 11.1. IN THE EVENT THAT, FOR ANY REASON, SUCH AGENT OR HIS OR HER SUCCESSORS SHALL NO LONGER SERVE AS AGENT OF EACH BORROWER PARTY TO RECEIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, EACH BORROWER PARTY SHALL SERVE AND ADVISE THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT THEREOF SO THAT AT ALL TIMES EACH BORROWER PARTY WILL MAINTAIN AN AGENT TO RECEIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK ON BEHALF OF SUCH BORROWER PARTY WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT AND ALL OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS. IN THE EVENT THAT, FOR ANY REASON, SERVICE OF LEGAL PROCESS CANNOT BE MADE IN THE MANNER DESCRIBED ABOVE, SUCH SERVICE MAY BE MADE IN SUCH MANNER AS PERMITTED BY LAW.
Section 13.2 Consent to Venue. EACH BORROWER PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION IT WOULD MAKE NOW OR HEREAFTER FOR THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUIT, ACTION, OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BROUGHT IN THE FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY, NEW YORK, AND HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION, OR PROCEEDING HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.
Section 13.3 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH BORROWER PARTY AND EACH MEMBER OF THE LENDER GROUP TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW WAIVE, AND OTHERWISE AGREE NOT TO REQUEST, A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY COURT AND IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM OF ANY TYPE IN WHICH ANY BORROWER PARTY, ANY MEMBER OF THE LENDER GROUP, OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE SUCCESSORS OR ASSIGNS IS A PARTY, AS TO ALL MATTERS AND THINGS ARISING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, AND THE RELATIONS AMONG THE PARTIES LISTED IN THIS ARTICLE 13.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized officers, all as of the day and year first above written.
BORROWER: a Tennessee corporation |
XXXXXX & XXXXX CORPORATION, |
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By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx Title: Vice President — Treasurer |
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GUARANTORS: a Delaware corporation |
XXXXXX & XXXXX INTERNATIONAL, INC., |
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By: /s/ X. X. Xxxxxx | ||
Name: X. X. Xxxxxx Title: Vice President |
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a Delaware corporation
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XXXXX EUROPE, INC., |
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By: /s/ X. X. Xxxxxx | ||
Name: X. X. Xxxxxx Title: Vice President |
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XXXXXX & XXXXX EUROPE, INC., a Delaware corporation |
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By: /s/ X. X. Xxxxxx | ||
Name: X. X. Xxxxxx Title: Vice President |
XXXXXX & XXXXX CARIBE INC., |
a Delaware corporation
By: /s/ X. X. Xxxxxx
Name: X. X. Xxxxxx Title: Vice President |
TB ACQUISITION CORP.,
a Delaware corporation
By: /s/ X. X. Xxxxxx
Name: X. X. Xxxxxx Title: Vice President |
XXXXXX & XXXXX MEXICO, L.L.C.,
a Delaware limited liability company
By: Xxxxxx & Xxxxx International, Inc., Sole Member
By: /s/ X. X. Xxxxxx
Name: X. X. Xxxxxx Title: Vice President |
DUTCH L.P., INC.,
a Delaware corporation
By: /s/ X. X. Xxxxxx
Name: X. X. Xxxxxx Title: Vice President |
ADMINISTRATIVE
|
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AGENT: | WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION |
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By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxx | ||||
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Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxx Title: Director |
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ISSUING BANK: | WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION |
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By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxx | ||||
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Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxx Title: |
Director |
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LENDERS: | WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION |
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By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxx | ||||
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Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxx Title: |
Director |
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. |
By:/s/ W. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx | ||
Name:W. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx | ||
Title:Senior Vice President | ||
Address: | ||
Bank of America, N.A. |
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: W. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
REGIONS BANK
By:/s/ X. Xxxxxxx | ||
Name:X. Xxxxxxx | ||
Title:Vice President | ||
Address: | ||
Regions Bank |
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
KBC BANK N.V.
By:
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/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx | |
Name:
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Xxxx Xxxxxx | |
Title:
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Vice President | |
By:
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/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx | |
Name:
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Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx | |
Title:
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First Vice President | |
Address: |
KBC Bank N.V.
000 X. 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Loan Administration
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By:
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/s/ X. X. Xxxxxxx | |
Name:
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X. X. Xxxxxxx | |
Title:
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Senior Vice President | |
Address: |
LaSalle Bank National Association
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx, X.X. #000
Xxxxxxx Financial Center
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxx Xxxxxxx
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
SUNTRUST BANK
By:
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/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxx | |
Name:
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Xxxxx X. Xxxx | |
Title:
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Director | |
Address: |
SunTrust Bank
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxx
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
By:
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/s/ Xxxxx XxXxxx | |
Name:
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Xxxxx XxXxxx | |
Title:
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Vice President | |
Address: |
The Northern Trust Company
00 X. XxXxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxxxxxx XxXxxx
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
CIBC INC.
By:
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/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |
Name:
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Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |
Title:
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Executive Director | |
CIBC World Markets Corp., as Agent |
Address:
CIBC Inc.
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Facsimile: 000-000-0000