CREDIT AGREEMENT Dated as of August 2, 2010 among INNERWORKINGS, INC, as the Borrower, THE SUBSIDIARIES OF THE BORROWER IDENTIFIED HEREIN, as the Guarantors, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer, JPMORGAN...
EXHIBIT 10.1
Dated as
of August 2, 2010
among
INNERWORKINGS,
INC,
as the
Borrower,
THE
SUBSIDIARIES OF THE BORROWER IDENTIFIED HEREIN,
as the
Guarantors,
BANK OF
AMERICA, N.A.,
as
Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer,
JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as
Syndication Agent,
PNC BANK,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as
Documentation Agent
and
THE OTHER
LENDERS PARTY HERETO
Arranged
By:
BANC OF
AMERICA SECURITIES LLC,
as Sole
Lead Arranger and Book Manager
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
ARTICLE
I DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
|
1
|
|
1.01
|
Defined
Terms
|
1
|
1.02
|
Other Interpretive
Provisions
|
20
|
1.03
|
Accounting
Terms
|
21
|
1.04
|
Rounding
|
21
|
1.05
|
Times of
Day
|
21
|
1.06
|
Letter of Credit
Amounts
|
22
|
ARTICLE
II THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS
|
22
|
|
2.01
|
Revolving
Loans
|
22
|
2.02
|
Borrowings,
Conversions and Continuations of Loans
|
23
|
2.03
|
Letters of
Credit
|
25
|
2.04
|
Swing Line
Loans
|
32
|
2.05
|
Prepayments
|
34
|
2.06
|
Termination or
Reduction of Aggregate Revolving Commitments
|
35
|
2.07
|
Repayment of
Loans
|
35
|
2.08
|
Interest
|
36
|
2.09
|
Fees
|
36
|
2.10
|
Computation of
Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable
Rate
|
37
|
2.11
|
Evidence of
Debt
|
37
|
2.12
|
Payments Generally;
Administrative Agent's Clawback
|
38
|
2.13
|
Sharing of Payments by
Lenders
|
39
|
2.14
|
Cash
Collateral
|
40
|
2.15
|
Defaulting
Lenders
|
41
|
ARTICLE
III TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
|
43
|
|
3.01
|
Taxes
|
43
|
3.02
|
Illegality
|
46
|
3.03
|
Inability to Determine
Rates
|
46
|
3.04
|
Increased
Costs
|
47
|
3.05
|
Compensation for
Losses
|
48
|
3.06
|
Mitigation
Obligations; Replacement of Lenders
|
48
|
3.07
|
Survival
|
49
|
ARTICLE
IV GUARANTY
|
49
|
|
4.01
|
The
Guaranty
|
49
|
4.02
|
Obligations
Unconditional
|
50
|
4.03
|
Reinstatement
|
50
|
4.04
|
Certain Additional
Waivers
|
50
|
4.05
|
Remedies
|
51
|
4.06
|
Rights of
Contribution
|
51
|
4.07
|
Guarantee of Payment;
Continuing Guarantee
|
51
|
4.08
|
Discharge Only Upon
Payment in Full
|
51
|
ARTICLE
V CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS
|
51
|
|
5.01
|
Conditions of
Effectiveness
|
51
|
5.02
|
Conditions to all
Credit Extensions
|
53
|
ARTICLE
VI REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
|
53
|
|
6.01.
|
Organization; Powers;
Subsidiaries
|
54
|
6.02
|
Authorization;
Enforceability
|
54
|
6.03
|
Governmental
Approvals; No Conflicts
|
54
|
6.04
|
Financial Condition;
No Material Adverse Change
|
54
|
i
6.05
|
Properties
|
55
|
6.06
|
Litigation,
Environmental and Labor Matters
|
55
|
6.07
|
Compliance with Laws
and Agreements
|
55
|
6.08
|
Investment Company
Status
|
55
|
6.09
|
Taxes
|
56
|
6.10
|
ERISA
|
56
|
6.11
|
Disclosure
|
56
|
6.12
|
Federal Reserve
Regulations
|
56
|
6.13
|
Solvency
|
56
|
6.14
|
No
Default
|
57
|
6.15
|
Insurance
|
57
|
6.16
|
No Burdensome
Restrictions
|
57
|
6.17
|
Security Interest in
Collateral
|
57
|
6.18
|
Collateral
Matters
|
57
|
ARTICLE
VII AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
|
58
|
|
7.01
|
Financial Statements
and Other Information
|
58
|
7.02
|
Notices of Material
Events
|
59
|
7.03
|
Existence; Conduct of
Business
|
60
|
7.04
|
Payment of
Obligations
|
60
|
7.05
|
Maintenance of
Properties; Insurance
|
60
|
7.06
|
Books and Records;
Inspection Rights
|
61
|
7.07
|
Compliance with Laws
and Material Contractual Obligations
|
61
|
7.08
|
Use of
Proceeds
|
61
|
7.09
|
Additional Guarantors;
Pledges; Additional Collateral; Further Assurances
|
61
|
7.10
|
Account Control
Agreements
|
63
|
7.11
|
Post-Closing
Matters
|
64
|
ARTICLE
VIII NEGATIVE COVENANTS
|
64
|
|
8.01
|
Indebtedness
|
64
|
8.02.
|
Liens
|
65
|
8.03
|
Fundamental Changes
and Asset Sales
|
66
|
8.04
|
Investments, Loans,
Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions
|
67
|
8.05
|
Swap
Contracts
|
68
|
8.06
|
Transactions with
Affiliates
|
68
|
8.07
|
Restricted
Payments
|
68
|
8.08
|
Restrictive
Agreements
|
69
|
8.09
|
Subordinated
Indebtedness and Amendments to Subordinated Indebtedness
Documents
|
69
|
8.10
|
Sale and Leaseback
Transactions
|
70
|
8.11
|
Financial
Covenants
|
70
|
ARTICLE
IX EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
|
70
|
|
9.01
|
Events of
Default
|
70
|
9.02
|
Remedies Upon Event of
Default
|
72
|
9.03
|
Application of
Funds
|
72
|
ARTICLE
X ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
|
73
|
|
10.01
|
Appointment and
Authority
|
73
|
10.02
|
Rights as a
Lender
|
74
|
10.03
|
Exculpatory
Provisions
|
74
|
10.04
|
Reliance by
Administrative Agent
|
75
|
10.05
|
Delegation of
Duties
|
75
|
10.06
|
Resignation of
Administrative Agent
|
75
|
10.07
|
Non-Reliance on
Administrative Agent and Other Lenders
|
76
|
10.08
|
No Other Duties;
Etc.
|
76
|
ii
10.09
|
Administrative Agent
May File Proofs of Claim
|
76
|
10.10
|
Collateral and
Guaranty Matters
|
77
|
ARTICLE
XI MISCELLANEOUS
|
78
|
|
11.01
|
Amendments,
Etc.
|
78
|
11.02
|
Notices;
Effectiveness; Electronic Communications
|
79
|
11.03
|
No Waiver; Cumulative
Remedies; Enforcement
|
81
|
11.04
|
Expenses; Indemnity;
and Damage Waiver
|
82
|
11.05
|
Payments Set
Aside
|
83
|
11.06
|
Successors and
Assigns
|
84
|
11.07
|
Treatment of Certain
Information; Confidentiality
|
87
|
11.08
|
Set-off
|
88
|
11.09
|
Interest Rate
Limitation
|
89
|
11.10
|
Counterparts;
Integration; Effectiveness
|
89
|
11.11
|
Survival of
Representations and Warranties
|
89
|
11.12
|
Severability
|
89
|
11.13
|
Replacement of
Lenders
|
90
|
11.14
|
Governing Law;
Jurisdiction; Etc.
|
90
|
11.15
|
Waiver of Right to
Trial by Jury
|
91
|
11.16
|
No Advisory or
Fiduciary Responsibility
|
92
|
11.17
|
Electronic Execution
of Assignments and Certain Other Documents
|
92
|
11.18
|
USA PATRIOT Act
Notice
|
92
|
iii
SCHEDULES
1.01
|
Existing
Letters of Credit
|
2.01
|
Commitments
and Applicable Percentages
|
6.01
|
Subsidiaries
|
6.05
|
Locations
of Real Property
|
6.15
|
Insurance
|
6.18(a)
|
IP
Rights
|
6.18(b)
|
Locations
of Tangible Personal Property
|
6.18(c)
|
Location
of Chief Executive Office, Taxpayer Identification Number,
Etc.
|
6.18(d)
|
Changes
in Legal Name, State of Formation and Structure
|
6.18(e)
|
Deposit
and Investment Accounts
|
8.01
|
Indebtedness
Existing on the Closing Date
|
8.02
|
Liens
Existing on the Closing Date
|
8.04
|
Investments
Existing on the Closing Date
|
8.06
|
Affiliate
Transactions Existing on the Closing Date
|
11.02
|
Certain
Addresses for Notices
|
EXHIBITS
2.02
|
Form
of Loan Notice
|
2.04
|
Form
of Swing Line Loan Notice
|
2.11(a)
|
Form
of Note
|
7.01
|
Form
of Compliance Certificate
|
7.09
|
Form
of Joinder Agreement
|
11.06(b)
|
Form
of Assignment and Assumption
|
11.06(b)(iv)
|
Form
of Administrative
Questionnaire
|
iv
This
CREDIT AGREEMENT is entered into as of August 2, 2010 among INNERWORKINGS, INC,
a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), the
Guarantors (defined herein), the Lenders (defined herein) and BANK OF AMERICA,
N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer.
The
Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide $100,000,000 in credit
facilities for the purposes set forth herein, and the Lenders are willing to do
so on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
In
consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the
parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
1.01 Defined
Terms.
As used
in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth
below:
"Administrative Agent"
means Bank of America in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the
Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.
"Administrative Agent's
Office" means the Administrative Agent's address and, as appropriate,
account as set forth on Schedule 11.02 or
such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time
notify to the Borrower and the Lenders.
"Administrative
Questionnaire" means an Administrative Questionnaire in substantially the
form of Exhibit
11.06(b)(iv) or any other form approved by the Administrative
Agent.
"Affiliate" means,
with respect to any Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through
one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common
Control with the Person specified.
"Aggregate Revolving
Commitments" means the Revolving Commitments of all the
Lenders. The initial amount of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments in
effect on the Closing Date is $100,000,000.
"Agreement" means this
Credit Agreement.
"Applicable
Percentage" means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage
(carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments
represented by such Lender's Revolving Commitment at such time; provided that if the
commitment of each Lender to make Revolving Loans and the obligation of the L/C
Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 9.02 or if
the Aggregate Revolving Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage
of each Lender shall be determined based on the Applicable Percentage of such
Lender most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent
assignments. The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set
forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in
the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party
hereto, as applicable. The Applicable Percentages shall be subject to
adjustment as provided in Section
2.15.
"Applicable Pledge
Percentage" means 100%, but 65% in the case of a pledge of Equity
Interests of a Foreign Subsidiary.
"Applicable Rate"
means the following percentages per annum, based upon the Consolidated Leverage
Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the
Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 7.01(c):
Pricing
Tier
|
Consolidated
Leverage Ratio
|
Commitment
Fee
|
Eurodollar Rate Loans and
Letter of Credit Fees
|
Base Rate Loans
|
||||||||||
1
|
> 2.25 to
1.0
|
0.400 | % | 2.50 | % | 1.50 | % | |||||||
2
|
> 2.00 to
1.0 but < 2.25 to 1.0
|
0.375 | % | 2.25 | % | 1.25 | % | |||||||
3
|
> 1.75 to
1.0 but < 2.00 to 1.0
|
0.350 | % | 2.00 | % | 1.00 | % | |||||||
4
|
> 1.50 to
1.0 but < 1.75 to 1.0
|
0.350 | % | 1.75 | % | 0.75 | % | |||||||
5
|
<
1.50 to 1.0
|
0.350 | % | 1.50 | % | 0.50 | % |
Any
increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the
Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day
immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is required to be delivered pursuant to
Section 7.01(c);
provided, however, that if a
Compliance Certificate is not delivered when due in accordance with such
Section, then, upon the request of the Required Lenders, Pricing Tier 1 shall
apply as of the first Business Day after the date on which such Compliance
Certificate was required to have been delivered and shall remain in effect until
the date on which such Compliance Certificate is delivered in accordance with
Section
7.01(c), whereupon the Applicable Rate shall be adjusted based upon the
calculation of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio contained in such Compliance
Certificate. The Applicable Rate in effect from the Closing Date
through the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance
Certificate is required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(c)
for the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2010 shall be determined based upon
Pricing Tier 2.
"Approved Fund" means
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.
"Arranger" means Banc
of America Securities LLC, in its capacity as sole lead arranger and book
manager.
"Assignee Group" means
two or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two or more
Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.
"Assignment and
Assumption" means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender
and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by
Section
11.06(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the
form of Exhibit
11.06(b) or any other form approved by the Administrative
Agent.
"Attributable Debt" of
any Person means, as of the date of determination thereof, with respect to any
synthetic lease, tax retention operating lease, off-balance sheet loan or
similar off-balance sheet financing product to which such Person is a party
(including, without limitation, all Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities), the net
present value (discounted according to GAAP at the cost of debt implied in such
financing product) of the obligations of such Person for rental payments,
interest and principal payments, or other similar periodic payments during the
then remaining term of such synthetic lease, tax retention operating lease,
off-balance sheet loan or similar off-balance sheet financing product
(including, without limitation, all Off-Balance Sheet
Liabilities)
2
"Audited Financial
Statements" means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 and the related
consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders' equity and cash
flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal year, including the
notes thereto.
"Availability Period"
means, with respect to the Revolving Commitments, the period from and including
the Closing Date to the earliest of (a) the Maturity Date, (b) the date of
termination of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06, and (c)
the date of termination of the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and of
the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions pursuant to Section
9.02.
"Bank of America"
means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors.
"Base Rate" means for
any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal
Funds Rate plus
0.50%, (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced
from time to time by Bank of America as its "prime rate" and (c) the Eurodollar
Rate plus 1.0%. The
"prime rate" is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors
including Bank of America's costs and desired return, general economic
conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some
loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced
rate. Any change in such "prime rate" announced by Bank of America
shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public
announcement of such change.
"Base Rate Loan" means
a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.
"Borrower" has the
meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.
"Borrower Materials"
has the meaning specified in Section
7.01.
"Borrowing" means a
borrowing consisting of simultaneous Loans of the same Type and, in the case of
Eurodollar Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the
Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01.
"Burdensome
Restrictions" means any consensual encumbrance or restriction of the type
described in clause (a) or (b) of Section 8.08 (without
giving effect to any exceptions described in clauses (i) through (iv) of such
Section
8.08).
"Business Day" means
any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are
authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where
the Administrative Agent's Office is located and, if such day relates to any
Eurodollar Rate Loan or any Base Rate Loan bearing interest at a rate based on
the Eurodollar Rate, means any such day that is also a London Banking
Day.
"Capital Expenditures"
means, without duplication, any expenditure for any purchase or other
acquisition of any asset which would be classified as a fixed or capital asset
on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries prepared in
accordance with GAAP.
3
"Capital Lease
Obligations" of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay
rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the
right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which
obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on
a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations
shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with
GAAP.
"Cash Collateralize"
means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the
benefit of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender (as
applicable) and the Lenders, as collateral for L/C Obligations, Obligations in
respect of Swing Line Loans, or obligations of Lenders to fund participations in
respect of either thereof (as the context may require), cash or deposit account
balances or, if the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender benefitting from such
collateral shall agree in its sole discretion, other credit support, in each
case pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to (a) the
Administrative Agent and (b) the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender (as
applicable). "Cash
Collateral" shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing and shall
include the proceeds of such cash collateral and other credit
support.
"Cash Equivalents"
means (a) direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on
which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States (or by any agency
thereof to the extent such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit
of the United States), in each case maturing within one year from the date of
acquisition thereof; (b) investments in commercial paper maturing within 270
days from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of
acquisition, the highest credit rating obtainable from S&P or from Xxxxx'x;
(c) investments in certificates of deposit, banker's acceptances and time
deposits maturing within 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof issued or
guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or
offered by, any domestic office of any commercial bank organized under the laws
of the United States or any State thereof which has a combined capital and
surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000; (d) fully
collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than thirty (30)
days for securities described in clause (a) above and entered into with a
financial institution satisfying the criteria described in clause (c) above; and
(e) money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in Securities
and Exchange Commission Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, (ii)
are rated AAA by S&P and Aaa by Xxxxx'x and (iii) have portfolio assets of
at least $5,000,000,000.
"Change in Law" means
the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, 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.
"Change of Control"
means (a) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or
of record, by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 and the rules of the SEC thereunder as in effect on the Closing
Date), of Equity Interests representing more than 30% of the aggregate ordinary
voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the
Borrower on a fully diluted basis; or (b) the occupation of a majority of the
seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of the Borrower by
Persons who were not (i) nominated by the board of directors of the Borrower,
(ii) appointed by directors who were themselves nominated by the board of
directors of the Borrower, or (iii) directors of the Borrower on the Closing
Date.
"Closing Date" means
August 2, 2010.
4
"Collateral" means a
collective reference to all real and personal property with respect to which
Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of itself and the
Lenders, are purported to be granted pursuant to and in accordance with the
terms of the Collateral Documents.
"Collateral Documents"
means a collective reference to the Security Agreement, the Mortgages and other
security documents as may be executed and delivered by the Loan Parties pursuant
to the terms of Section 7.09,
Section 7.10 or
any of the Loan Documents.
"Commitment" means, as
to each Lender, the Revolving Commitment of such Lender.
"Compliance
Certificate" means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit
7.01.
"Consolidated EBITDA"
means (a) Consolidated Net Income plus (b) to the
extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income and, without duplication,
(i) Consolidated Interest Charges, (ii) expense for taxes paid or accrued, (iii)
depreciation, (iv) amortization, (v) extraordinary or non-recurring non-cash
expenses or losses incurred other than in the ordinary course of business, (vi)
non-cash compensation expenses arising from any grant of stock, stock options or
other equity based awards, (vii) non-cash expenses resulting from
non-speculative hedging activities that are required to be recognized as
Indebtedness under GAAP to the extent permitted hereunder, (viii) any other
non-cash charges for such period (including any impairment or writeoff of
goodwill or other intangible assets but excluding any such non-cash charge,
expense or loss to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for
cash expenses in any future period or an amortization of a prepaid cash expense
that was paid in a prior period), (ix) amortization of any financing costs or
fees or original issue discount incurred in connection with any Indebtedness,
and (x) transaction expenses paid in cash in such period in connection with (A)
the making of the Credit Extensions and the closing of this Agreement and (B)
Permitted Acquisitions and other investments permitted under this Agreement,
minus (c) to
the extent included in Consolidated Net Income and, without duplication, (i)
interest income, (ii) income tax credits and refunds (to the extent not netted
from tax expense), (iii) any cash payments made during such period in respect of
items described in clauses (b)(v), (b)(vi), (b)(vii) and (b)(viii) above
subsequent to the fiscal quarter in which the relevant non-cash expenses or
losses were incurred, (iv) non-cash gains resulting from non-speculative hedging
activities that are required to be recognized as income under GAAP to the extent
permitted hereunder, and (v) extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring income or
gains realized other than in the ordinary course of business, all calculated for
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. For the purposes of
calculating Consolidated EBITDA for any period of four consecutive fiscal
quarters (each, a "Reference Period"),
(i) if at any time during such Reference Period the Borrower or any Subsidiary
shall have made any Material Disposition, the Consolidated EBITDA for such
Reference Period shall be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA
(if positive) attributable to the property that is the subject of such Material
Disposition for such Reference Period or increased by an amount equal to the
Consolidated EBITDA (if negative) attributable thereto for such Reference
Period, in each case, to the extent reasonably calculable, and (ii) if during
such Reference Period the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have made a Material
Acquisition, Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period shall be calculated
after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Material Acquisition occurred
on the first day of such Reference Period. For purposes of clarification,
Consolidated EBITDA shall be adjusted for, without limitation, extraordinary or
nonrecurring expenses, increased costs, identifiable and verifiable expense
reductions and excess management compensation, if any, and other items of any
Permitted Acquisitions, in all cases, calculated on a basis consistent with GAAP
and Regulation S-X of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or as
otherwise approved by Administrative Agent in its reasonable credit
judgment. As used in this definition, "Material Acquisition"
means any acquisition of property or series of related acquisitions of property
that (a) constitutes (i) assets comprising all or substantially all or any
significant portion of a business or operating unit of a business, or (ii) all
or substantially all of the Equity Interests of a Person, and (b) involves the
payment of consideration by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in excess of
$2,500,000; and "Material Disposition"
means any Disposition of property or series of related Dispositions of property
that yields gross proceeds to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in excess
of $2,500,000.
5
"Consolidated Interest
Charges" means, with reference to any period, the interest expense
(including without limitation interest expense under Capital Lease Obligations
that is treated as interest in accordance with GAAP) of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis for such period with respect to
all outstanding Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries allocable to
such period in accordance with GAAP (including, without limitation, all
commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters
of credit and bankers acceptance financing and net costs under interest rate
Swap Contracts to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in
accordance with GAAP).
"Consolidated Interest
Coverage Ratio" means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of
(a) Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently completed four fiscal
quarters to
(b) Consolidated Interest Charges for the most recently completed four
fiscal quarters.
"Consolidated Leverage
Ratio" means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a)
Consolidated Total Indebtedness as of such date to (b) Consolidated EBITDA
for the most recently completed four fiscal quarters.
"Consolidated Net
Income" means, with reference to any period, the net income (or loss) of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis (without duplication)
for such period.
"Consolidated Net
Worth" means, as of any date of determination, consolidated shareholders'
equity of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of that date.
"Consolidated Total
Assets" means, as of the date of any determination thereof, total assets
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, as of such
date.
"Consolidated Total
Indebtedness" means, at any time, the aggregate principal amount of
Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated
basis as of such time in accordance with GAAP.
"Control" means the
possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability
to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. "Controlling" and
"Controlled"
have meanings correlative thereto.
"Credit Extension"
means each of the following: (a) a Borrowing and (b) an L/C Credit
Extension.
"Debtor Relief Laws"
means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation,
conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors,
moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar
debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from
time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors
generally.
"Default" means any
event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the giving
of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of
Default.
6
"Default Rate" means
(a) when used with respect to Obligations other than Letter of Credit Fees, an
interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the
Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (iii) 2% per
annum; provided, however, that with
respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate
equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable
to such Loan plus 2% per annum, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable Laws and (b) when used with respect to Letter of Credit Fees, a rate
equal to the Applicable Rate plus 2% per
annum.
"Defaulting Lender"
means, subject to Section 2.15(b), any
Lender that, as determined by the Administrative Agent, (a) has failed to
perform any of its funding obligations hereunder, including in
respect of its Loans or participations in respect of Letters of Credit or Swing
Line Loans, within three Business Days of the date required to be funded by it
hereunder, (b) has notified the Borrower or the Administrative Agent that it
does not intend to comply with its funding obligations or has made a public
statement to that effect with respect to its funding obligations hereunder or
under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) has failed,
within three Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent, to confirm
in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that it will comply with
its funding obligations, or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company
that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law,
(ii) had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the
benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or
liquidation of its business or a custodian appointed for it, or (iii) taken any
action in furtherance of, or indicated its consent to, approval of or
acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment; provided that a
Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or
acquisition of any equity interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect
parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority.
"Disposition" or
"Dispose" means
the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition of any property by any
Loan Party or any Subsidiary, including any Sale and Leaseback Transaction and
any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of
any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith,
but excluding any Involuntary Disposition.
"Dollar" and "$" mean lawful money
of the United States.
"Domestic Subsidiary"
means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of any state of the United
States or the District of Columbia.
"Eligible Assignee"
means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Sections
11.06(b)(iii) and (v) (subject to such
consents, if any, as may be required under Section
11.06(b)(iii)).
"Environmental Laws"
means all applicable laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders,
decrees, judgments, injunctions or binding agreements issued, promulgated or
entered into by any Governmental Authority, relating to the protection of the
environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the management,
release or threatened release of any Hazardous Material or to occupational
health and safety matters.
"Environmental
Liability" means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any
liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or
indemnities), of the Borrower or any Subsidiary resulting from or based upon (a)
violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling,
transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c)
exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of
any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or
other arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect
to any of the foregoing.
7
"Equity
Interests" means, with respect to any Person, all of the
shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such
Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or
acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership
or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or
exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit
interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or
acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all
of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including
partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting,
and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are
outstanding on any date of determination.
"ERISA" means the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
"ERISA Affiliate"
means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with
the Borrower, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the
Internal Revenue Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and
Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code, is treated as a single employer under
Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code.
"ERISA Event" means
(a) any "reportable event", as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the
regulations issued thereunder, with respect to a Plan (other than an event for
which the 30-day notice period is waived); (b) the existence with respect to any
Plan of an "accumulated funding deficiency" (as defined in Section 412 of the
Internal Revenue Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the
filing pursuant to Section 412(c) of the Internal Revenue Code or Section 3
02(c) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard
with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA
Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the
termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate
from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to
terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan in a
distress termination under Section 4041(c) of ERISA or an involuntary
termination under Section 4042 of ERISA; (f) the incurrence by the Borrower or
any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or
partial withdrawal of the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates from any Plan
or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate
of any notice, concerning the imposition upon the Borrower or any of its ERISA
Affiliates of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan
is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of
Title IV of ERISA.
"Eurodollar Base Rate"
means:
(a) for
any Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the rate per annum
equal to (i) the British Bankers Association LIBOR Rate ("BBA LIBOR"), as
published by Reuters (or such other commercially available source providing
quotations of BBA LIBOR as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from
time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two London Banking Days
prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for Dollar deposits (for
delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to
such Interest Period or (ii) if such published rate is not available at such
time for any reason, the rate determined by the Administrative Agent to be the
rate at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the first day of such Interest
Period in same day funds in the approximate amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loan
being made, continued or converted and with a term equivalent to such Interest
Period would be offered by Bank of America's London Branch to major banks in the
London interbank eurodollar market at their request at approximately 11:00 a.m.
(London time) two London Banking Days prior to the commencement of such Interest
Period; and
8
(b) for
any interest calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any date, the rate
per annum equal to (i) BBA LIBOR, at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time
determined two London Banking Days prior to such date for Dollar deposits being
delivered in the London interbank market for a term of one month commencing that
day or (ii) if such published rate is not available at such time for any reason,
the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at
which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the date of determination in same day
funds in the approximate amount of the Base Rate Loan being made or maintained
and with a term equal to one month would be offered by Bank of America's London
Branch to major banks in the London interbank Eurodollar market at their request
at the date and time of determination.
"Eurodollar Rate"
means (a) for any Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, a
rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be equal to the
quotient obtained by dividing (i) the Eurodollar Base Rate for such Eurodollar
Rate Loan for such Interest Period by (ii) one minus the Eurodollar
Reserve Percentage for such Eurodollar Rate Loan for such Interest Period and
(b) for any day with respect to any Base Rate Loan the interest rate on which is
determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate, a rate per annum determined by
the Administrative Agent to be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i)
the Eurodollar Base Rate for such Base Rate Loan for such day by (ii) one minus the Eurodollar
Reserve Percentage for such Base Rate Loan for such day.
"Eurodollar Rate Loan"
means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on clause (a) of definition of
"Eurodollar Rate."
"Eurodollar Reserve
Percentage" means, for any day, the reserve percentage (expressed as a
decimal, carried out to five decimal places) in effect on such day, whether or
not applicable to any Lender, under regulations issued from time to time by the
FRB for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including any emergency,
supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) with respect to Eurocurrency
funding (currently referred to as "Eurocurrency liabilities"). The
Eurodollar Rate for each outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loan and for each
outstanding Base Rate Loan the interest rate on which is determined by reference
to the Eurodollar Rate shall be adjusted automatically as of the effective date
of any change in the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage.
"Event of Default" has
the meaning specified in Section
9.01.
"Excluded Taxes"
means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or
any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation
of the Borrower hereunder, (a) taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net
income (however denominated), and franchise taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net
income taxes), by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under
the Laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office
is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable Lending Office
is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States or any
similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located
(c) any backup withholding tax that is required by the Internal Revenue Code to
be withheld from amounts payable to a Lender that has failed to comply with
clause (A) of Section
3.01(e)(ii) and (d) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an
assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 11.13), any
United States withholding tax that (i) is required to be imposed on amounts
payable to such Foreign Lender pursuant to the Laws in force at the time such
Foreign Lender becomes a party hereto (or designates a new Lending Office) or
(ii) is attributable to such Foreign Lender's failure or inability (other than
as a result of a Change in Law) to comply with clause (B) of Section 3.01(e)(ii),
except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was
entitled, at the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to
receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such withholding
tax pursuant to Section 3.01(a)(ii)
or (c).
"Existing Letters of
Credit" means the letters of credit described on Schedule
1.01.
9
"FASB ASC" means the
Accounting Standards Codification of the Financial Accounting Standards
Board.
"Federal Funds Rate"
means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the
rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal
Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers on such day, as published by
the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such
day; provided
that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day
shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so
published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so
published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such
day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple
of 1/100 of 1%) charged to Bank of America on such day on such transactions as
determined by the Administrative Agent.
"Fee Letter" means the
letter agreement, dated June 25, 2010, among the Borrower, the Administrative
Agent and the Arranger.
"Financial Officer"
means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or
controller of the Borrower.
"Foreign Lender" means
any Lender that is organized under the Laws of a jurisdiction other than that in
which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes (including such a Lender when
acting in the capacity of the L/C Issuer). For purposes of this
definition, the United States, each State thereof and the District of Columbia
shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.
"Foreign Subsidiary"
means any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.
"FRB" means the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.
"Fronting Exposure"
means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, (a) with respect to the L/C
Issuer, such Defaulting Lender's Applicable Percentage of the outstanding L/C
Obligations other than L/C Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lender's
participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash
Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof, and (b) with respect to the
Swing Line Lender, such Defaulting Lender's Applicable Percentage of Swing Line
Loans other than Swing Line Loans as to which such Defaulting Lender's
participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash
Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof.
"Fully Satisfied"
means, with respect to the Obligations as of any date, that, as of such date,
(a) all principal of and interest accrued to such date which constitute
Obligations shall have been paid in full in cash, (b) all fees, expenses
and other amounts then due and payable which constitute Obligations shall have
been paid in cash, (c) all outstanding Letters of Credit shall have been
(i) terminated, (ii) fully Cash Collateralized or (iii) secured
by one or more letters of credit on terms and conditions, and with one or more
financial institutions, satisfactory to the L/C Issuer and (d) the
Commitments shall have expired or been terminated in full.
"Fund" means 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 its activities.
"GAAP" means generally
accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions
and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute
of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the
Financial Accounting Standards Board, consistently applied and as in effect from
time to time.
10
"Governmental
Authority" means the government of the United States 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).
"Guarantee" of or by
any Person (the "guarantor") means any
obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the
economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any
other Person (the "primary obligor") in
any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the
guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply
funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or
to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for
the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services
for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation
of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any
other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to
enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (d)
as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty
issued to support such Indebtedness or obligation; provided, that the term
Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the
ordinary course of business. The amount of any Guarantee made by any guarantor
shall be deemed to be the lower of (i) an amount equal to the stated or
determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such Guarantee
is made and (ii) the maximum amount for which such guarantor may be liable
pursuant to the terms of the instrument embodying such Guarantee, unless (in the
case of a primary obligation that is not Indebtedness) such primary obligation
and the maximum amount for which such guarantor may be liable are not stated or
determinable, in which case the amount of such Guarantee shall be such
guarantor's maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as
determined by the Borrower in good faith.
"Guarantors" means
each Material Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower identified as a "Guarantor" on
the signature pages hereto and each other Material Domestic Subsidiary that
joins as a Guarantor pursuant to Section 7.09 or
otherwise, together with their successors and permitted assigns.
"Guaranty" means the
Guaranty made by the Guarantors in favor of the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders pursuant to Article
IV.
"Hazardous Materials"
means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or
toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum
distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated
biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or
wastes of any nature regulated as hazardous or toxic pursuant to any
Environmental Law.
"Honor Date" has the
meaning set forth in Section
2.03(c).
"Hostile Acquisition"
means (a) the acquisition of the Equity Interests of a Person through a tender
offer or similar solicitation of the owners of such Equity Interests which has
not been approved (prior to such acquisition) by the board of directors (or any
other applicable governing body) of such Person or by similar action if such
Person is not a corporation and (b) any such acquisition as to which such
approval has been withdrawn.
11
"Indebtedness" of any
Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for
borrowed money or with respect to deposits or advances of any kind, (b) all
obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar
instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person upon which interest charges are
customarily paid, (d) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or
other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person,
(e) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of
property or services (excluding current accounts payable incurred in the
ordinary course of business), (f) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for
which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or
otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such
Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed; provided that if such Person
has not assumed or otherwise become liable for such Indebtedness, such
Indebtedness shall be measured at the lower of the outstanding amount of such
Indebtedness and the fair market value of such property securing such
Indebtedness, in each case, at the time of determination, (g) all Guarantees by
such Person of Indebtedness of others, (h) all Attributable Debt in respect of
Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities of such Person, (i) all Capital Lease Obligations
of such Person, (j) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as
an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty, (k)
all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers'
acceptances, (l) net obligations of such Person under Swap Contracts, (m) all
earn-out obligations of such Person to the extent treated as Indebtedness under
GAAP, and (n) all Attributable Debt of such Person under Sale and Leaseback
Transactions. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of
any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general
partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such
Person's ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to
the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable
therefor. The amount of any net obligation under any Swap Contract on
any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such
date.
"Indemnified Taxes"
means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.
"Indemnitees" has the
meaning specified in Section
11.04(b).
"Information" has the
meaning specified in Section
11.07.
"Interest Payment
Date" means (a) as to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, the last day of each
Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date; provided, however, that if any
Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Loan exceeds three months, the respective
dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period
shall also be Interest Payment Dates; and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan
(including a Swing Line Loan), the last Business Day of each March, June,
September and December and the Maturity Date.
"Interest Period"
means, as to each Eurodollar Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such
Eurodollar Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurodollar
Rate Loan and ending on the date one, two, three, six, nine or twelve months
thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Loan Notice; provided
that:
(i)
any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a
day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business
Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such
Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;
(ii) any
Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on
a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month
at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the
calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and
12
(iii) no
Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date.
"Internal Revenue
Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
"Involuntary
Disposition" means any loss of, damage to or destruction of, or any
condemnation or other taking for public use of, any property of any Loan Party
or any Subsidiary.
"IP Rights" has the
meaning specified in Section
6.05(b).
"IRS" means the United
States Internal Revenue Service.
"ISP" means, with
respect to any Letter of Credit, the "International Standby Practices 1998"
published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, Inc. (or
such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of
issuance).
"Issuer Documents"
means with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Application,
and any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by the L/C Issuer
and the Borrower (or any Subsidiary) or in favor of the L/C Issuer and relating
to such Letter of Credit.
"Joinder Agreement"
means a joinder agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit 7.09 executed
and delivered by a Domestic Subsidiary in accordance with the provisions of
Section
7.09.
"Laws" means,
collectively, all international, foreign, federal, state and local statutes,
treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative
or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or
administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the
enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable
administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and
permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case
whether or not having the force of law.
"L/C Advance" means,
with respect to each Lender, such Lender's funding of its participation in any
L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.
"L/C Borrowing" means
an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which
has not been reimbursed on the date when made or refinanced as a Borrowing of
Revolving Loans.
"L/C Credit Extension"
means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or extension
of the expiry date thereof, or the increase of the amount thereof.
"L/C Issuer" means (a)
solely with regard to the Existing Letters of Credit, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
and (b) with respect to all other Letters of Credit, Bank of America in its
capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, or any successor issuer of
Letters of Credit hereunder.
"L/C Obligations"
means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate amount available to be
drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of
all Unreimbursed Amounts, including all L/C Borrowings. For purposes
of computing the amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the
amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section
1.06. For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of
determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may
still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP,
such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be "outstanding" in the amount so
remaining available to be drawn.
13
"Lenders" means each
of the Persons identified as a "Lender" on the signature pages hereto, each
other Person that becomes a "Lender" in accordance with this Agreement and their
successors and assigns and, as the context requires, includes the Swing Line
Lender.
"Lending Office"
means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such
in such Lender's Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices
as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent.
"Letter of Credit"
means any letter of
credit issued hereunder and shall include the Existing Letters of
Credit. A Letter of Credit may be a commercial letter of credit or a
standby letter of credit.
"Letter of Credit
Application" means an application and agreement for the issuance or
amendment of a letter of credit in the form from time to time in use by the L/C
Issuer.
"Letter of Credit Expiration
Date" means the day that is five days prior to the Maturity Date then in
effect (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business
Day).
"Letter of Credit Fee"
has the meaning specified in Section
2.03(h).
"Letter of Credit
Sublimit" means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) the Aggregate
Revolving Commitments and (b) $10,000,000. The Letter of Credit
Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Revolving
Commitments.
"Lien" means any
mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance,
lien (statutory or otherwise), charge, or preference, priority or other security
interest or preferential arrangement in the nature of a security interest of any
kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title
retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to
real property, and any financing lease having substantially the same economic
effect as any of the foregoing).
"Loan" means an
extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under Article II in the
form of a Revolving Loan or a Swing Line Loan.
"Loan Documents" means
this Agreement, each Note, each Issuer Document, each Joinder Agreement, the
Collateral Documents and the Fee Letter.
"Loan Notice" means a
notice of (a) a Borrowing of Revolving Loans, (b) a conversion of Loans from one
Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, in each case
pursuant to Section
2.02(a), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of
Exhibit 2.02.
"Loan Parties" means,
collectively, the Borrower and each Guarantor.
"London Banking Day"
means any day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between
banks in the London interbank eurodollar market.
"Material Adverse
Effect" means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse
effect upon, the operations, business, properties, liabilities (actual or
contingent) or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of any
Loan Party to perform in any material respect its obligations under any Loan
Document to which it is a party; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the
legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against any Loan Party of
any Loan Document to which it is a party.
14
"Material Domestic
Subsidiary" means each Domestic Subsidiary (a) which, as of the most
recent fiscal quarter of the Borrower, for the period of four consecutive fiscal
quarters then ended, for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant
to Section
7.01, contributed greater than five percent (5%) of Consolidated EBITDA
for such period or (ii) which contributed greater than five percent (5%) of
Consolidated Total Assets as of such date; provided that, if at any time
the aggregate amount of the Consolidated EBITDA or Consolidated Total Assets of
all Domestic Subsidiaries that are not Material Domestic Subsidiaries exceeds
ten percent (10%) of Consolidated EBITDA for any such period or ten percent
(10%) of Consolidated Total Assets as of the end of any such fiscal quarter, the
Borrower (or, in the event the Borrower has failed to do so within ten (10)
days, the Administrative Agent) shall designate sufficient Domestic Subsidiaries
as "Material Domestic Subsidiaries" to eliminate such excess, and such
designated Subsidiaries shall for all purposes of the Loan Documents constitute
Material Domestic Subsidiaries.
"Maturity Date" means
August 2, 2014; provided, however, that if such
date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding
Business Day.
"Moody's" means
Xxxxx'x Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.
"Mortgaged Property"
means any real property that is owned or leased by any Loan Party and is subject
to a Mortgage.
"Mortgages" means the
mortgages, deeds of trust or deeds to secure debt that purport to grant to the
Administrative Agent a security interest in the fee interests and/or leasehold
interests of any Loan Party in any real property.
"Multiemployer Plan"
means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of
ERISA.
"Note" has the meaning
specified in Section
2.11(a).
"Obligations" means
all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of,
any Loan Party arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any
Loan or Letter of Credit, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired
by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or
hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the
commencement by or against any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof of any
proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such
proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in
such proceeding. The foregoing shall also include (a) all obligations under any
Swap Contract between any Loan Party or any Subsidiary and any Lender or
Affiliate of a Lender that is permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 8.01(f) and
(b) all obligations under any Treasury Management Agreement between any Loan
Party or any Subsidiary and any Lender or Affiliate of a Lender.
"Off-Balance Sheet
Liability" of a Person means (a) any repurchase obligation or liability
of such Person with respect to accounts or notes receivable sold by such Person,
(b) any indebtedness, liability or obligation under any so-called "synthetic
lease" transaction entered into by such Person, or (c) any indebtedness,
liability or obligation arising with respect to any other transaction to which
such Person is a party where such transaction is considered borrowed money
indebtedness for tax purposes but is classified as an operating lease in
accordance with GAAP.
15
"Organization
Documents" means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or
articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable
constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with
respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of
formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect to any
partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the
partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or
organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect
thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the
applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or
organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or
organization of such entity.
"Other Taxes" means
all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property
taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or
under any other Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of,
or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan
Document.
"Outstanding Amount"
means (a) with respect to any Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding
principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments
or repayments of any Loans occurring on such date; and (b) with respect to any
L/C Obligations on any date, the amount of such L/C Obligations on such date
after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any
other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date,
including as a result of any reimbursements by the Borrower of Unreimbursed
Amounts.
"Participant" has the
meaning specified in Section
11.06(d).
"PBGC" means the
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any successor thereto.
"Permitted
Acquisition" means any acquisition (whether by purchase, merger,
consolidation or otherwise but excluding in any event a Hostile Acquisition) or
series of related acquisitions by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of (i) all or
substantially all the assets of or (ii) all or substantially all the Equity
Interests in, a Person or division or line of business of a Person, if, at the
time of and immediately after giving effect thereto, (a) no Default has occurred
and is continuing or would arise after giving effect thereto, (b) such Person or
division or line of business is engaged in the same or a similar line of
business as the Borrower and the Subsidiaries or business reasonably related
thereto, (c) the Borrower and the Subsidiaries are in compliance, on a pro forma
basis reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent after giving effect to
such acquisition (but without giving effect to any synergies or cost savings),
with the covenants contained in Section 8.11
recomputed as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the
Borrower for which financial statements are available, as if such acquisition
(and any related incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, with any new
Indebtedness being deemed to be amortized over the applicable testing period in
accordance with its terms) had occurred on the first day of each relevant period
for testing such compliance and, if the aggregate consideration paid in respect
of such acquisition exceeds $15,000,000 (including any earn-out payments which
may be required to be made), the Borrower shall have delivered to the
Administrative Agent a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower to
such effect, together with all relevant financial information, statements and
projections requested by the Administrative Agent, (d) in the case of an
acquisition or merger involving the Borrower or a Subsidiary, the Borrower or
such Subsidiary is the surviving entity of such merger and/or consolidation, (f)
if the Consolidated Leverage Ratio is or will be greater than 2.5 to 1.0 at the
time of, or after giving pro forma effect to, any acquisition, the aggregate
consideration paid in respect of such acquisition shall not exceed $20,000,000,
and (g) if the Consolidated Leverage Ratio is or will be greater than 2.5 to 1.0
at the time of, or after giving pro forma effect to, any acquisition (the "Current
Acquisition"), the sum of the consideration paid in respect of the
Current Acquisition plus the aggregate
consideration paid in respect of all other acquisitions consummated during the
twelve-month period ending with the effective date of the Current Acquisition
shall not exceed $40,000,000.
16
"Permitted
Encumbrances" means: (a) Liens imposed by law for taxes that are not yet
due or are being contested in compliance with Section 7.04; (b)
carriers', warehousemen's, mechanics', materialmen's, repairmen's and other like
Liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of business and securing
obligations that are not overdue by more than thirty (30) days or are being
contested in compliance with Section 7.04; (c)
pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with
workers' compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or
regulations; (d) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts,
leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and
other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of
business; (e) judgment liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an
Event of Default under Section 9.01(h); and
(f) easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on
real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that
do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the
value of the affected property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of
business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided that the term
"Permitted Encumbrances" shall not include any Lien securing
Indebtedness.
"Permitted Liens"
means, at any time, Liens in respect of property of any Loan Party or any
Subsidiary permitted to exist at such time pursuant to the terms of Section
8.02.
"Person" means any
natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture,
association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other
entity.
"Plan" means any
employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the
provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code or
Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which the Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of
ERISA be deemed to be) an "employer" as defined in Section 3(5) of
ERISA.
"Platform" has the
meaning specified in Section
7.01.
"Pledge Subsidiary"
means (i) each Domestic Subsidiary and (ii) each Foreign Subsidiary with respect
to which any one or more of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries directly
owns or controls more than 50% of such Foreign Subsidiary's issued and
outstanding Equity Interests.
"Public Lender" has
the meaning specified in Section
7.01.
"Register" has the
meaning specified in Section
11.06(c).
"Related Parties"
means, with respect to any Person, such Person's Affiliates and the partners,
directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees and advisors of such Person and
of such Person's Affiliates.
"Reportable Event"
means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events
for which the thirty-day notice period has been waived.
"Request for Credit
Extension" means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or
continuation of Loans, a Loan Notice, (b) with respect to an L/C Credit
Extension, a Letter of Credit Application, and (c) with respect to a Swing Line
Loan, a Swing Line Loan Notice.
17
"Required Lenders"
means, at any time, Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of
(a) the unfunded Commitments and the outstanding Loans, L/C Obligations and
participations therein or (b) if the Commitments have been terminated, the
outstanding Loans, L/C Obligations and participations therein. The
unfunded Commitments of, and the outstanding Loans, L/C Obligations and
participations therein held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be
excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required
Lenders.
"Responsible Officer"
means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer,
treasurer, assistant treasurer or controller of a Loan Party, solely for
purposes of the delivery of incumbency certificates pursuant to Section 5.01, the
secretary or any assistant secretary of a Loan Party and, solely for purposes of
notices given pursuant to Article II, any other
officer or
employee of the
applicable Loan Party so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice
to the Administrative Agent. Any document delivered hereunder that is
signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed
to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other
action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be
conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party.
"Restricted Payment"
means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other
property) with respect to any Equity Interests in the Borrower or any
Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property),
including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase,
redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such
Equity Interests in the Borrower or any option, warrant or other right to
acquire any such Equity Interests in the Borrower.
"Revolving Commitment"
means, as to each Lender, its obligation to (a) make Revolving Loans to the
Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01, (b)
purchase participations in L/C Obligations, and (c) purchase participations in
Swing Line Loans, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding
not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender's name on Schedule 2.01 or in
the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party
hereto or in any documentation executed by such Lender pursuant to Section 2.01(b), as
applicable as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with
this Agreement.
"Revolving Loan" has
the meaning specified in Section
2.01(a).
"S&P" means
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, a division of The XxXxxx-Xxxx Companies,
Inc. and any successor thereto.
"Sale and Leaseback
Transaction" means any sale or other transfer of any property or asset by
any Person with the intent to lease such property or asset as
lessee.
"SEC" means the
Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to
any of its principal functions.
"Security Agreement"
means the security and pledge agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, executed
in favor of the Administrative Agent by each of the Loan Parties.
"Subordinated
Indebtedness" means any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary
the payment of which is contractually subordinated to payment of the
Obligations.
"Subordinated Indebtedness
Documents" means any document, agreement or instrument evidencing any
Subordinated Indebtedness or entered into in connection with any Subordinated
Indebtedness.
18
"Subsidiary" of a
Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability
company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of Voting
Stock is at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise
controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both,
by such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to
a "Subsidiary" or to "Subsidiaries" shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries
of the Borrower.
"Swap Contract" means
(a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative
transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options,
forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or
bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price
or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign
exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar
transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions,
currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any
combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of
the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to
any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the
related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or
governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps
and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master
Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together
with any related schedules, a "Master Agreement"),
including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master
Agreement.
"Swap Termination
Value" means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking
into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to
such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts
have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance
therewith, such termination value(s) and (b) for any date prior to the date
referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the xxxx-to-market
value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon one or more
mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized
dealer in such Swap Contracts (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a
Lender).
"Swing Line Lender"
means Bank of America in its capacity as provider of Swing Line Loans, or any
successor swing line lender hereunder.
"Swing Line Loan" has
the meaning specified in Section
2.04(a).
"Swing Line Loan
Notice" means a notice of a Borrowing of Swing Line Loans pursuant to
Section
2.04(b), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of
Exhibit
2.04.
"Swing Line Sublimit"
means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $5,000,000 and (b) the Aggregate
Revolving Commitments. The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in
addition to, the Aggregate Revolving Commitments.
"Synthetic Lease"
means any synthetic lease, tax retention operating lease, off-balance sheet loan
or similar off-balance sheet financing arrangement whereby the arrangement is
considered borrowed money indebtedness for tax purposes but is classified as an
operating lease or does not otherwise appear on a balance sheet under
GAAP.
"Taxes" means all
present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings
(including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by
any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or
penalties applicable thereto.
19
"Total Revolving
Outstandings" means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Revolving
Loans, all Swing Line Loans and all L/C Obligations.
"Treasury Management
Agreement" means any agreement governing the provision of treasury or
cash management services, including deposit accounts, overnight draft, credit or
debit cards, funds transfer, automated clearinghouse, zero balance accounts,
returned check concentration, controlled disbursement, lockbox, account
reconciliation and reporting and trade finance services and other cash
management services.
"Type" means, with
respect to any Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Rate
Loan.
"United States" and
"U.S." mean the
United States of America.
"Unreimbursed Amount"
has the meaning specified in Section
2.03(c)(i).
"Voting Stock" means,
with respect to any Person, Equity Interests issued by such Person the holders
of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for
the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of such
Person, even though the right so to vote has been suspended by the happening of
such a contingency.
"Withdrawal Liability"
means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial
withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of
Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.
1.02 Other
Interpretive Provisions.
With
reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise
specified herein or in such other Loan Document:
(a) The
definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms
of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun
shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter
forms. The words "include," "includes" and "including" shall be
deemed to be followed by the phrase "without limitation." The word
"will" shall be
construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word "shall." Unless
the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any
agreement, instrument or other document (including any Organization Document)
shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document
as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any
restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein
or in any other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be
construed to include such Person's successors and assigns, (iii) the words
"hereto,"
"herein,"
"hereof" and
"hereunder,"
and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall be construed
to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular
provision thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections,
Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of,
and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references
appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory
provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law and any
reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to
such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time,
and (vi) the words "asset" and "property" shall be
construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all
tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities,
accounts and contract rights.
20
(b) In
the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified
date, the word "from" means "from and including;"
the words "to"
and "until"
each mean "to but
excluding;" and the word "through" means "to and
including."
(c) Section
headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of
reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any
other Loan Document.
1.03 Accounting
Terms.
(a) Generally. Except
as otherwise specifically prescribed herein, all accounting terms not
specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with,
and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial
calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be
prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis, as in effect
from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing
the Audited Financial Statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for
purposes of determining compliance with any covenant (including the computation
of any financial covenant) contained herein, Indebtedness of the Loan Parties
and their Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding
principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 on financial
liabilities shall be disregarded.
(b) Changes in
GAAP. If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the
computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan
Document, and either the Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the
Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith
to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in
light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders);
provided that, until so
amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in
accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower
shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements
and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested
hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or
requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in
GAAP.
1.04 Rounding.
Any
financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower pursuant to this
Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other
component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by
which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the
nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).
1.05 Times of
Day.
Unless
otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references
to Central time (daylight or standard, as applicable).
21
1.06 Letter of
Credit Amounts.
Unless
otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall
be deemed to be the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such
time; provided,
however, that
with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any
Issuer Document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in
the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed
to be the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to
all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at
such time.
ARTICLE
II
THE
COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS
2.01 Revolving
Loans.
(a) Revolving
Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein,
each Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a "Revolving Loan") to
the Borrower in Dollars from time to time on any Business Day during the
Availability Period in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding
the amount of such Lender's Revolving Commitment; provided, however, that after
giving effect to any Borrowing of Revolving Loans, (i) the Total Revolving
Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitments, and (ii) the
aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender's
Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender's
Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall
not exceed such Lender's Revolving Commitment. Within the limits of
each Lender's Revolving Commitment, and subject to the other terms and
conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01, prepay
under Section
2.05, and reborrow under this Section
2.01. Revolving Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar
Rate Loans, as further provided herein, provided, however, all
Borrowings made on the Closing Date shall be made as Base Rate
Loans.
(b) Increases of the Aggregate
Revolving Commitments. The Borrower shall have the right, upon
at least five Business Days' prior written notice to the Administrative Agent,
to increase the Aggregate Revolving Commitments by up to $25,000,000 in the
aggregate in one or more increases, at any time prior to the date that is six
months prior to the Maturity Date, subject, however, in any such
case, to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:
(i)
the Aggregate Revolving Commitments shall not
exceed $125,000,000 without the consent of the Required Lenders;
(ii) no
Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date on which such increase
is to become effective;
(iii) the
representations and warranties set forth in Article VI shall be
true and correct in all material respects (or, if such representation or
warranty is qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, it shall be
true and correct in all respects as drafted) on and as of the date on which such
increase is to become effective, except to the extent that such representations
and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall
be true and correct in all material respects (or, if such representation or
warranty is qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, it shall be
true and correct in all respects as drafted) as of such earlier
date;
22
(iv) such
increase shall be in a minimum amount of $5,000,000 and in integral multiples of
$1,000,000 in excess thereof (or such lesser amounts as may be agreed by the
Administrative Agent);
(v) such
requested increase shall only be effective upon receipt by the Administrative
Agent of (A) additional Revolving Commitments in a corresponding amount of such
requested increase from either existing Lenders and/or one or more other
institutions that qualify as Eligible Assignees (it being understood and agreed
that no existing Lender shall be required to provide an additional Revolving
Commitment) and (B) documentation from each institution providing an additional
Revolving Commitment evidencing its additional Revolving Commitment and its
obligations under this Agreement in form and substance reasonably acceptable to
the Administrative Agent;
(vi) the
Administrative Agent shall have received all documents (including resolutions of
the board of directors of the Loan Parties) it may reasonably request relating
to the corporate or other necessary authority for such increase and the validity
of such increase in the Aggregate Revolving Commitments, and any other matters
relevant thereto, either in form consistent with those documents delivered on
the Closing Date or otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
the Administrative Agent; and
(vii) if
any Revolving Loans are outstanding at the time of the increase in the Aggregate
Revolving Commitments, the Borrower shall, if applicable, prepay one or more
existing Revolving Loans (such prepayment to be subject to Section 3.05) in
an amount necessary such that after giving effect to the increase in the
Aggregate Revolving Commitments, each Lender will hold its pro rata share (based
on its Applicable Percentage of the increased Aggregate Revolving Commitments)
of outstanding Revolving Loans.
2.02 Borrowings,
Conversions and Continuations of Loans.
(a) Each
Borrowing, each conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, and each
continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made upon the Borrower's
irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by
telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative
Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) three Business Days prior to the requested
date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of, Eurodollar Rate
Loans or of any conversion of Eurodollar Rate Loans to Base Rate Loans, and (ii)
on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans. Each
telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) must
be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Loan
Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the
Borrower. Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of
Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole
multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Except as provided in Sections 2.03(c) and
2.04(c), each
Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of
$1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof. Each
Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the
Borrower is requesting a Borrowing, a conversion of Loans from one Type to the
other, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of
the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a
Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted or
continued, (iv) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Loans are
to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with
respect thereto. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of a Loan in
a Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a
conversion or continuation, then the applicable Loans shall be made as, or
converted to, Base Rate Loans. Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans
shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with
respect to the applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans. If the Borrower
requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans
in any Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed
to have specified an Interest Period of one month. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary herein, a Swing Line Loan may not be converted to a
Eurodollar Rate Loan.
23
(b) Following
receipt of a Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each
Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Loans, and
if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower,
the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any
automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans as described in the preceding
subsection. In the case of a Borrowing, each Lender shall make the
amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately
available funds at the Administrative Agent's Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on
the Business Day specified in the applicable Loan Notice. Upon
satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 5.02 (and, if
such Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 5.01), the
Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower
in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting
the account of the Borrower on the books of Bank of America with the amount of
such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with
instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent
by the Borrower; provided, however, that if, on
the date of a Borrowing of Revolving Loans, there are L/C Borrowings
outstanding, then the proceeds of such Borrowing, first, shall be applied to the
payment in full of any such L/C Borrowings and second, shall be made
available to the Borrower as provided above.
(c) Except
as otherwise provided herein, a Eurodollar Rate Loan may be continued or
converted only on the last day of the Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate
Loan. During the existence of an Event of Default, no Loans may be
converted to or continued as Eurodollar Rate Loans without the consent of the
Required Lenders, and the Required Lenders may demand that any or all of the
then outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loans be converted immediately to Base Rate
Loans.
(d) The
Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the
interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurodollar Rate Loans upon
determination of such interest rate. At any time that Base Rate Loans
are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the
Lenders of any change in Bank of America's prime rate used in determining the
Base Rate promptly following the public announcement of such
change.
(e) After
giving effect to all Borrowings, all conversions of Loans from one Type to the
other, and all continuations of Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more
than ten Interest Periods in effect with respect to Revolving
Loans.
24
2.03 Letters
of Credit.
(a) The Letter of Credit
Commitment.
(i) Subject
to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (A) the L/C Issuer agrees, in
reliance upon the agreements of the Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03, (1)
from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date
until the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, to issue Letters of Credit in
Dollars for the account of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and to amend
or extend Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with
subsection (b) below, and (2) to honor drawings under the Letters of Credit; and
(B) the Lenders severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit issued for
the account of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries and any drawings thereunder;
provided that
after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of
Credit, (x) the Total Revolving Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate
Revolving Commitments, (y) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving
Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender's
Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender's
Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall
not exceed such Lender's Revolving Commitment and (z) the Outstanding Amount of
the L/C Obligations shall not exceed the Letter of Credit
Sublimit. Each request by the Borrower for the issuance or amendment
of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be a representation by the Borrower
that the L/C Credit Extension so requested complies with the conditions set
forth in the proviso to the preceding sentence. Within the foregoing
limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower's ability
to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the
Borrower may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to replace
Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and
reimbursed. All Existing Letters of Credit shall be deemed to have
been issued pursuant hereto, and from and after the Closing Date shall be
subject to and governed by the terms and conditions hereof.
(ii) The
L/C Issuer shall not issue any Letter of Credit if:
(A)
subject to Section
2.03(b)(iii), the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would
occur more than twelve months after the date of issuance or last extension,
unless the Lenders (other than Defaulting Lenders) holding a majority of the
Revolving Commitments have approved such expiry date; or
(B) the
expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur after the Letter of
Credit Expiration Date, unless all the Lenders that have Revolving Commitments
have approved such expiry date.
(iii) The
L/C Issuer shall not be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit
if:
(A) any
order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by
its terms purport to enjoin or restrain the L/C Issuer from issuing such Letter
of Credit, or any Law applicable to the L/C Issuer or any request or directive
(whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with
jurisdiction over the L/C Issuer shall prohibit, or request that the L/C Issuer
refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of
Credit in particular or shall impose upon the L/C Issuer with respect to such
Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which the
L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing
Date, or shall impose upon the L/C Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense
which was not applicable on the Closing Date and which the L/C Issuer in good
xxxxx xxxxx material to it;
(B) the
issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of the L/C
Issuer applicable to borrowers generally;
(C) except
as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer, such Letter
of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than $100,000, in the case of a
commercial Letter of Credit, or $500,000, in the case of a standby Letter of
Credit;
(D) such
Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars;
or
25
(E) any
Lender is at that time a Defaulting Lender, unless the L/C Issuer has entered
into arrangements, including the delivery of Cash Collateral, satisfactory to
the L/C Issuer (in its sole discretion) with the Borrower or such Lender to
eliminate the L/C Issuer's actual or potential Fronting Exposure (after giving
effect to Section
2.15(a)(iv)) with respect to the Defaulting Lender arising from either
the Letter of Credit then proposed to be issued or that Letter of Credit and all
other L/C Obligations as to which the L/C Issuer has actual or potential
Fronting Exposure, as it may elect in its sole discretion.
(iv)
The L/C Issuer shall not amend any Letter of Credit if the L/C Issuer
would not be permitted at such time to issue the Letter of Credit in its amended
form under the terms hereof.
(v) The
L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if
(A) the L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue the
Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof, or (B) the
beneficiary of the Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to
the Letter of Credit.
(vi) The
L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of
Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and the L/C Issuer
shall have all of the benefits and immunities (A) provided to the
Administrative Agent in Article X with
respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by the L/C Issuer in connection
with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and Issuer
Documents pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term
"Administrative Agent" as used in Article X included
the L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (B) as additionally
provided herein with respect to the L/C Issuer.
(b) Procedures for Issuance and
Amendment of Letters of Credit; Auto-Extension Letters of
Credit.
(i)
Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the
case may be, upon the request of the Borrower delivered to the L/C Issuer (with
a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit
Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the
Borrower. Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the
L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. at least five
Business Days (or such later date and time as the Administrative Agent and the
L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in their sole discretion) prior to
the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may
be. In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of
Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail
satisfactory to the L/C Issuer: (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested
Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount thereof; (C)
the expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof;
(E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing
thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such
beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (G) the purpose and nature of the
requested Letter of Credit; and (H) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may
require. In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding
Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and
detail satisfactory to the L/C Issuer (A) the Letter of Credit to be amended;
(B) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (C)
the nature of the proposed amendment; and (D) such other matters as the L/C
Issuer may require. Additionally, the Borrower shall furnish to the
L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent such other documents and
information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment,
including any Issuer Documents, as the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent
may reasonably require.
26
(ii) Promptly
after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer will confirm
with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the
Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application
from the Borrower and, if not, the L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative
Agent with a copy thereof. Unless the L/C Issuer has received written
notice from any Lender, the Administrative Agent or any Loan Party, at least one
Business Day prior to the requested date of issuance or amendment of the
applicable Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions contained in
Article V shall
not be satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the L/C
Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of
the Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary or enter into the applicable
amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with the L/C Issuer's
usual and customary business practices. Immediately upon the issuance
of each Letter of Credit, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably
and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the L/C Issuer a risk participation
in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Lender's
Applicable Percentage times the amount of
such Letter of Credit.
(iii) If
the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the L/C
Issuer shall agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic extension
provisions (each, an "Auto-Extension Letter of
Credit"); provided that any
such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit must permit the L/C Issuer to prevent any
such extension at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the
date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the
beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the "Non-Extension Notice
Date") in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon at the time
such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by the L/C
Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the L/C
Issuer for any such extension. Once an Auto-Extension Letter of
Credit has been issued, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized the
extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than
the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided, however, that the L/C
Issuer shall not permit any such extension if (A) the L/C Issuer has determined
that it would not be permitted, or would have no obligation, at such time to
issue such Letter of Credit in its revised form (as extended) under the terms
hereof (by reason of the provisions of clause (ii) or (iii) of Section 2.03(a) or
otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in
writing) on or before the day that is seven Business Days before the
Non-Extension Notice Date (1) from the Administrative Agent that the Required
Lenders have elected not to permit such extension or (2) from the Administrative
Agent, any Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions
specified in Section
5.02 is not then satisfied, and in each case directing the L/C Issuer not
to permit such extension.
(iv) Promptly
after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of
Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof,
the L/C Issuer will also deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a
true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.
(c) Drawings and Reimbursements;
Funding of Participations.
(i) Upon
receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of drawing
under such Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall notify the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent thereof. Not later than 11:00 a.m. on the date
of any payment by the L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit if the Borrower shall
have received notice of such drawing prior to 9:00 a.m. of such date, otherwise
on the Business Day following the day that the Borrower receives such notice
(each such date, an "Honor Date"), the
Borrower shall reimburse the L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent in an
amount equal to the amount of such drawing. If the Borrower fails to
so reimburse the L/C Issuer by such time, the Administrative Agent shall
promptly notify each Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed
drawing (the "Unreimbursed
Amount"), and the amount of such Lender's Applicable Percentage
thereof. In such event, the Borrower shall be deemed to have
requested a Borrowing of Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans to be
disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount,
without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.02 for the
principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the conditions set forth in
Section 5.02
(other than the delivery of a Loan Notice) and provided that, after giving
effect to such Borrowing, the Total Revolving Outstandings shall not exceed the
Aggregate Revolving Commitments. Any notice given by the L/C Issuer
or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.03(c)(i)
may be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the
lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or
binding effect of such notice.
27
(ii) Each
Lender shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i)
make funds available (and the Administrative Agent may apply Cash Collateral
provided for this purpose) for the account of the L/C Issuer at the
Administrative Agent's Office in an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of
the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified
in such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions
of Section
2.03(c)(iii), each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed
to have made a Base Rate Loan to the Borrower in such amount. The
Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the L/C
Issuer.
(iii) With
respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a Borrowing
of Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans because the conditions set forth in
Section 5.02
cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, the Borrower shall be deemed to
have incurred from the L/C Issuer an L/C Borrowing in the amount of the
Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due
and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall, at the request of the
L/C Issuer, bear interest at the Default Rate. In such event, each
Lender's payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer
pursuant to Section
2.03(c)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in
such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance from such Lender in
satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section
2.03.
(iv) Until
each Lender funds its Revolving Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) to
reimburse the L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit,
interest in respect of such Lender's Applicable Percentage of such amount shall
be solely for the account of the L/C Issuer.
(v) Each
Lender's obligation to make Revolving Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse the L/C
Issuer for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.03(c),
shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any
circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or
other right which such Lender may have against the L/C Issuer, the Borrower or
any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuance of
a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not
similar to any of the foregoing; provided, however, that each
Lender's obligation to make Revolving Loans pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) is
subject to the conditions set forth in Section 5.02 (other
than delivery by the Borrower of a Loan Notice). No such making of an
L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to
reimburse the L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by the L/C Issuer
under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided
herein.
28
(vi)
If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the
account of the L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant
to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03(c) by
the time specified in Section 2.03(c)(ii),
then, without limiting the other provisions of this Agreement, the L/C Issuer
shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative
Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the
date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately
available to the L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the
Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the L/C Issuer in accordance with
banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative,
processing or similar fees customarily charged by the L/C Issuer in connection
with the foregoing. If such Lender pays such amount (with interest
and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender's
Revolving Loan included in the relevant Borrowing or L/C Advance in respect of
the relevant L/C Borrowing, as the case may be. A certificate of the
L/C Issuer submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with
respect to any amounts owing under this clause (vi) shall be conclusive absent
manifest error.
(d) Repayment of
Participations.
(i) At
any time after the L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit and
has received from any Lender such Lender's L/C Advance in respect of such
payment in accordance with Section 2.03(c), if
the Administrative Agent receives for the account of the L/C Issuer any payment
in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether
directly from the Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of cash collateral
applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will
distribute to such Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof in the same funds as
those received by the Administrative Agent.
(ii) If
any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C
Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) is
required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 11.05
(including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the L/C Issuer in its
discretion), each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account
of the L/C Issuer its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the
Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the
date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the
Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of
the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the
Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
(e) Obligations
Absolute. The obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the L/C
Issuer for each drawing under each Letter of Credit and to repay each L/C
Borrowing shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid
strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances,
including the following:
(i) any
lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Agreement or
any other Loan Document;
(ii) the
existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that any
Loan Party or any Subsidiary may have at any time against any beneficiary or any
transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary
or any such transferee may be acting), the L/C Issuer or any other Person,
whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby
or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or
any unrelated transaction;
29
(iii) any
draft, demand, certificate or other document presented under such Letter of
Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect
or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss
or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to
make a drawing under such Letter of Credit;
(iv) any
payment by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation of a
draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter
of Credit; or any payment made by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to
any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession,
assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other
representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such
Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under
any Debtor Relief Law; or
(v) any
other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the
foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a
defense available to, or a discharge of, any Loan Party or any
Subsidiary.
The
Borrower shall promptly examine a copy of each Letter of Credit and each
amendment thereto that is delivered to it and, in the event of any claim of
noncompliance with the Borrower's instructions or other irregularity, the
Borrower will immediately notify the L/C Issuer. The Borrower shall
be conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against the L/C Issuer and
its correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid.
(f)
Role of L/C
Issuer. Each Lender and the Borrower agree that, in paying any
drawing under a Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall not have any
responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates
and documents expressly required by such Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or
inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of
the Person executing or delivering any such document. None of the L/C
Issuer, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor
any correspondent, participant or assignee of the L/C Issuer shall be liable to
any Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the
request or with the approval of the Lenders or the Required Lenders, as
applicable; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence
or willful misconduct; or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or
enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or
Issuer Document. The Borrower hereby assumes all risks of the acts or
omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter
of Credit; provided, however, that this
assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Borrower's pursuing
such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at
law or under any other agreement. None of the L/C Issuer, the
Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any
correspondent, participant or assignee of the L/C Issuer shall be liable or
responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i) through (v) of Section 2.03(e);
provided, however, that
anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower may have
a claim against the L/C Issuer, and the L/C Issuer may be liable to the
Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to
consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrower which the Borrower
proves were caused by the L/C Issuer's willful misconduct or gross negligence or
the L/C Issuer's willful failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the
presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s)
strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of
Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the
L/C Issuer may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order,
without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or
information to the contrary, and the L/C Issuer shall not be responsible for the
validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or
purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits
thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be
invalid or ineffective for any reason.
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(g) Applicability of ISP and
UCP. Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the L/C Issuer and
the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued (including any such agreement
applicable to an Existing Letter of Credit, (i) the rules of the ISP shall apply
to each standby Letter of Credit, and (ii) the rules of the Uniform Customs and
Practice for Documentary Credits, as most recently published by the
International Chamber of Commerce at the time of issuance shall apply to each
commercial Letter of Credit.
(h) Letter of Credit
Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for
the account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage a Letter
of Credit fee (the "Letter of Credit
Fee") for each Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable Rate times the daily
amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit; provided, however, any Letter
of Credit Fees otherwise payable for the account of a Defaulting Lender with
respect to any Letter of Credit as to which such Defaulting Lender has not
provided Cash Collateral satisfactory to the L/C Issuer pursuant to this Section 2.03 shall be
payable, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law, to the other Lenders
in accordance with the upward adjustments in their respective Applicable
Percentages allocable to such Letter of Credit pursuant to Section 2.15(a)(iv),
with the balance of such fee, if any, payable to the L/C Issuer for its own
account. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be
drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be
determined in accordance with Section
1.06. Letter of Credit Fees shall be (i) due and payable on
the first Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and
December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of
such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on
demand and (ii) computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. If there is
any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily amount available
to be drawn under each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the
Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such
Applicable Rate was in effect. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained herein, upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of
Default exists, all Letter of Credit Fees shall accrue at the Default
Rate.
(i)
Fronting Fee and Documentary
and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuer. The Borrower shall pay
directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account a fronting fee (i) with respect
to each commercial Letter of Credit, at the rate specified in the Fee Letter,
computed on the amount of such Letter of Credit, and payable upon the issuance
thereof, (ii) with respect to any amendment of a commercial Letter of Credit
increasing the amount of such Letter of Credit, at a rate separately agreed
between the Borrower and the L/C Issuer, computed on the amount of such
increase, and payable upon the effectiveness of such amendment, and (iii) with
respect to each standby Letter of Credit, at the rate per annum specified in the
Fee Letter, computed on the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter
of Credit and on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such fronting fee
shall be due and payable on the tenth Business Day after the end of each March,
June, September and December in respect of the most recently-ended quarterly
period (or portion thereof, in the case of the first payment), commencing with
the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the
Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. For
purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of
Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance
with Section
1.06. In addition, the Borrower shall pay directly to the L/C
Issuer for its own account the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and
other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of the L/C Issuer
relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect. Such
customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable on demand and
are nonrefundable.
(j)
Conflict with Issuer
Documents. In the event of any conflict between the terms
hereof and the terms of any Issuer Document, the terms hereof shall
control.
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(k) Letters of Credit Issued for
Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued
or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of, or is for the
account of, a Subsidiary, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the L/C
Issuer hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of
Credit. The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters
of Credit for the account of Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the Borrower,
and that the Borrower's business derives substantial benefits from the
businesses of such Subsidiaries.
2.04 Swing
Line Loans.
(a) Swing Line
Facility. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth
herein, the Swing Line Lender, in reliance upon the agreements of the other
Lenders set forth in this Section 2.04, may in
its sole discretion make loans (each such loan, a "Swing Line Loan") to
the Borrower in Dollars from time to time on any Business Day during the
Availability Period in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding
the amount of the Swing Line Sublimit, notwithstanding the fact that such Swing
Line Loans, when aggregated with the Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding
Amount of Revolving Loans and L/C Obligations of the Lender acting as Swing Line
Lender, may exceed the amount of such Lender's Revolving Commitment; provided, however, that after
giving effect to any Swing Line Loan, (i) the Total Revolving Outstandings shall
not exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitments, and (ii) the aggregate
Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender's
Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender's
Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall
not exceed such Lender's Revolving Commitment, and provided, further, that the
Borrower shall not use the proceeds of any Swing Line Loan to refinance any
outstanding Swing Line Loan. Within the foregoing limits, and subject
to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this
Section 2.04,
prepay under Section
2.05, and reborrow under this Section
2.04. Each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest only at a rate
based on the Base Rate. Immediately upon the making of a Swing Line
Loan, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
agrees to, purchase from the Swing Line Lender a risk participation in such
Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to the product of such Lender's Applicable
Percentage times the amount of
such Swing Line Loan.
(b) Borrowing
Procedures. Each Borrowing of Swing Line Loans shall be made
upon the Borrower's irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lender and the
Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such
notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent
not later than 1:00 p.m. on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (i)
the amount to be borrowed, which shall be a minimum principal amount of $100,000
and integral multiples of $100,000 in excess thereof, and (ii) the requested
borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day. Each such telephonic
notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Swing Line Lender and the
Administrative Agent of a written Swing Line Loan Notice, appropriately
completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the
Borrower. Promptly after receipt by the Swing Line Lender of any
telephonic Swing Line Loan Notice, the Swing Line Lender will confirm with the
Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent
has also received such Swing Line Loan Notice and, if not, the Swing Line Lender
will notify the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) of the
contents thereof. Unless the Swing Line Lender has received notice
(by telephone or in writing) from the Administrative Agent (including at the
request of any Lender) prior to 2:00 p.m. on the date of the proposed Borrowing
of Swing Line Loans (A) directing the Swing Line Lender not to make such Swing
Line Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the first proviso to the
first sentence of Section 2.04(a), or
(B) that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Article V is not then
satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swing Line
Lender will, not later than 3:00 p.m. on the borrowing date specified in such
Swing Line Loan Notice, make the amount of its Swing Line Loan available to the
Borrower.
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(c) Refinancing of Swing Line
Loans.
(i) The
Swing Line Lender at any time in its sole and absolute discretion may request,
on behalf of the Borrower (which hereby irrevocably authorizes the Swing Line
Lender to so request on its behalf), that each Lender make a Revolving Loan that
is a Base Rate Loan in an amount equal to such Lender's Applicable Percentage of
the amount of Swing Line Loans then outstanding. Such request shall
be made in writing (which written request shall be deemed to be a Loan Notice
for purposes hereof) and in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.02, without
regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the principal amount
of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the conditions set forth in Section 5.02 (other
than the delivery of a Loan Notice) and provided that, after
giving effect to such Borrowing, the Total Revolving Outstandings shall not
exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitments. The Swing Line Lender
shall furnish the Borrower with a copy of the applicable Loan Notice promptly
after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent. Each Lender
shall make an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the amount specified
in such Loan Notice available to the Administrative Agent in immediately
available funds (and the Administrative Agent may apply Cash Collateral
available with respect to the applicable Swing Line Loan) for the account of the
Swing Line Lender at the Administrative Agent's Office not later than 1:00 p.m.
on the day specified in such Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section 2.04(c)(ii),
each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base
Rate Loan to the Borrower in such amount. The Administrative Agent
shall remit the funds so received to the Swing Line Lender.
(ii) If
for any reason any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Borrowing of
Revolving Loans in accordance with Section 2.04(c)(i),
the request for Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans submitted by the Swing
Line Lender as set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request by the Swing
Line Lender that each of the Lenders fund its risk participation in the relevant
Swing Line Loan and each Lender's payment to the Administrative Agent for the
account of the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i)
shall be deemed payment in respect of such participation.
(iii) If
any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account
of the Swing Line Lender any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant
to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.04(c) by
the time specified in Section 2.04(c)(i),
the Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting
through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon
for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such
payment is immediately available to the Swing Line Lender at a rate per annum
equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the
Swing Line Lender in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank
compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily
charged by the Swing Line Lender in connection with the foregoing. If
such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount
so paid shall constitute such Lender's Revolving Loan included in the relevant
Borrowing or funded participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan, as the case
may be. A certificate of the Swing Line Lender submitted to any
Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing
under this clause (iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(iv) Each
Lender's obligation to make Revolving Loans or to purchase and fund risk
participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) shall
be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance,
including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right that
such Lender may have against the Swing Line Lender, the Borrower or any other
Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a
Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar
to any of the foregoing; provided, however, that each
Lender's obligation to make Revolving Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) is
subject to the conditions set forth in Section
5.02. No such funding of risk participations shall relieve or
otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to repay Swing Line Loans,
together with interest as provided herein.
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(d) Repayment of
Participations.
(i) At
any time after any Lender has purchased and funded a risk participation in a
Swing Line Loan, if the Swing Line Lender receives any payment on account of
such Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Lender will distribute to such Lender its
Applicable Percentage thereof in the same funds as those received by the Swing
Line Lender.
(ii) If
any payment received by the Swing Line Lender in respect of principal or
interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by the Swing Line
Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 11.05
(including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Swing Line Lender in
its discretion), each Lender shall pay to the Swing Line Lender its Applicable
Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon
from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per
annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate. The Administrative Agent will
make such demand upon the request of the Swing Line Lender. The
obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full
of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
(e) Interest for Account of
Swing Line Lender. The Swing Line Lender shall be responsible
for invoicing the Borrower for interest on the Swing Line
Loans. Until each Lender funds its Revolving Loans that are Base Rate
Loans or risk participation pursuant to this Section 2.04 to
refinance such Lender's Applicable Percentage of any Swing Line Loan, interest
in respect of such Applicable Percentage shall be solely for the account of the
Swing Line Lender.
(f) Payments Directly to Swing
Line Lender. The Borrower shall make all payments of principal
and interest in respect of the Swing Line Loans directly to the Swing Line
Lender.
2.05 Prepayments.
(a) Voluntary
Prepayments.
(i) Revolving
Loans. The Borrower may, upon notice from the Borrower to the
Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay
Revolving Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (A)
such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00
a.m. (1) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate
Loans and (2) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans; (B) any such
prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000
or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (or, if less, the entire
principal amount thereof then outstanding); and (C) any prepayment of Base Rate
Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of
$500,000 in excess thereof (or, if less, the entire principal amount thereof
then outstanding). Each such notice shall specify the date and amount
of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid and, if Eurodollar
Rate Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such
Loans. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of
its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender's Applicable
Percentage of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the
Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount
specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified
therein. Any prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be
accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any
additional amounts required pursuant to Section
3.05. Subject to Section 2.15, each
such prepayment shall be applied to the Loans of the Lenders in accordance with
their respective Applicable Percentages.
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(ii) Swing Line
Loans. The Borrower may, upon notice to the Swing Line Lender
(with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at any time or from time to time,
voluntarily prepay Swing Line Loans in whole or in part without premium or
penalty; provided that (i)
such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative
Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date of the prepayment, and (ii) any such
prepayment shall be in a minimum principal amount of $100,000 or a whole
multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof (or, if less, the entire principal
thereof then outstanding). Each such notice shall specify the date
and amount of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the
Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount
specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified
therein.
(b) Mandatory
Prepayments. If for any reason the Total Revolving
Outstandings at any time exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitments then in
effect, the Borrower shall immediately prepay Revolving Loans and/or Swing Line
Loans and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount equal
to such excess; provided, however, that the
Borrower shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations
pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)
unless after the prepayment in full of the Revolving Loans and Swing Line Loans
the Total Revolving Outstandings exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitments then
in effect. All amounts required to be paid pursuant to this Section 2.05(b) shall
be applied as follows: first, ratably to the
L/C Borrowings and the Swing Line Loans, second, to the
outstanding Revolving Loans, and, third, to Cash
Collateralize the remaining L/C Obligations. Within the parameters of
the applications set forth above, prepayments shall be applied first to Base
Rate Loans and then to Eurodollar Rate Loans in direct order of Interest Period
maturities. All prepayments under this Section 2.05(b) shall
be subject to Section
3.05, but otherwise without premium or penalty, and shall be accompanied
by interest on the principal amount prepaid through the date of
prepayment.
2.06 Termination
or Reduction of Aggregate Revolving Commitments.
The
Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Aggregate
Revolving Commitments, or from time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate
Revolving Commitments to an amount not less than the Total Revolving
Outstandings; provided that
(i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later
than 12:00 noon five Business Days prior to the date of termination or
reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount
of $5,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and
(iii) if, after giving effect to any reduction of the Aggregate Revolving
Commitments, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit exceeds
the amount of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments, such sublimit shall be
automatically reduced by the amount of such excess. The
Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any such notice of
termination or reduction of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments. Any
reduction of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments shall be applied to the
Revolving Commitment of each Lender according to its Applicable
Percentage. All fees accrued with respect thereto until the effective
date of any termination of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments shall be paid on
the effective date of such termination.
2.07 Repayment
of Loans.
(a) Revolving
Loans. The Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity
Date the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Loans outstanding on such
date.
(b) Swing Line
Loans. The Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity
Date the aggregate principal amount of all Swing Line Loans outstanding on such
date.
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2.08 Interest.
(a) Subject
to the provisions of subsection (b) below, (i) each Eurodollar Rate Loan shall
bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest
Period at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the Eurodollar Rate for such
Interest Period plus the Applicable
Rate; (ii) each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal
amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to
the Base Rate plus the Applicable
Rate; and (iii) each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding
principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum
equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable
Rate.
(b) (i)
If any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when
due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated
maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall thereafter bear
interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the
Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
(ii) If
any amount (other than principal of any Loan) payable by the Borrower under any
Loan Document is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace
periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, then upon
the request of the Required Lenders, such amount shall thereafter bear interest
at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate
to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
(iii) Upon
the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, the
Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding
Obligations hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times
equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable
Laws.
(iv) Accrued
and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due
interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.
(c) Interest
on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date
applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified
herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance
with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the
commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.
2.09 Fees.
In
addition to certain fees described in subsections (h) and (i) of Section
2.03:
(a) Commitment
Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for
the account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a
commitment fee equal to the product of (i) the Applicable Rate times (ii) the actual
daily amount by which the Aggregate Revolving Commitments exceed the sum of (y)
the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Loans and (z) the Outstanding Amount of L/C
Obligations, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.15. The
commitment fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability Period,
including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article V is not met,
and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of
each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to
occur after the Closing Date, and on the last day of the Availability Period.
The commitment fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any
change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall
be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period
during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect. For
purposes of clarification, Swing Line Loans shall not be considered outstanding
for purposes of determining the unused portion of the Aggregate Revolving
Commitments.
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(b) Fee
Letter. The Borrower shall pay to the Arranger and the
Administrative Agent for their own respective accounts fees in the amounts and
at the times specified in the Fee Letter. Such fees shall be fully
earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason
whatsoever.
2.10 Computation
of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable
Rate.
(a) All
computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans
determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate) shall be made on the basis of a
year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days
elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on
the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees
or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a
365-day year). Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on
which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof,
for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid, provided that any
Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a), bear
interest for one day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent
of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all
purposes, absent manifest error.
(b) If,
as a result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial
statements of the Borrower or for any other reason, the Borrower or the Lenders
determine that (i) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as calculated by the Borrower
as of any applicable date was inaccurate and (ii) a proper calculation of the
Consolidated Leverage Ratio would have resulted in higher pricing for such
period, the Borrower shall immediately and retroactively be obligated to pay to
the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders or the L/C
Issuer, as the case may be, promptly on demand by the Administrative Agent (or,
after the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with
respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States,
automatically and without further action by the Administrative Agent, any Lender
or the L/C Issuer), an amount equal to the excess of the amount of interest and
fees that should have been paid for such period over the amount of interest and
fees actually paid for such period. This paragraph shall not limit
the rights of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the
case may be, under Section 2.03(c)(iii), 2.03(h) or 2.08(b) or under
Article
IX. The Borrower's obligations under this paragraph shall
survive the termination of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments and the repayment
of all other Obligations hereunder.
2.11 Evidence
of Debt.
(a) The
Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts
or records maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the
ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by
the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest
error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrower
and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or
any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the
obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the
Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and
records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the
Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the
Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest
error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative
Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the
Administrative Agent) a promissory note, which shall evidence such Lender's
Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each such promissory
note shall be in the form of Exhibit 2.11(a) (a
"Note"). Each
Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if
applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect
thereto.
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(b) In
addition to the accounts and records referred to in subsection (a), each Lender
and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual
practice accounts or records evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender
of participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans. In the
event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the
Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of
such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control
in the absence of manifest error.
2.12 Payments
Generally; Administrative Agent's Clawback.
(a) General. All
payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction
for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as
otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower hereunder
shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective
Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Administrative Agent's Office in
Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date
specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute
to each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share as provided
herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such
Lender's Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative
Agent after 2:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business
Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. If
any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a
Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such
extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case
may be.
(b) (i) Funding by Lenders;
Presumption by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative
Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any
Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans (or, in the case of any Borrowing of Base
Rate Loans, prior to 12:00 noon on the date of such Borrowing) that such Lender
will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender's share of such
Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such
share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 (or, in
the case of a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share
available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.02) and
may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a
corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made
its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent,
then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the
Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in
immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and
including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but
excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of
a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a
rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry
rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar
fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the
foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the
interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans. If the Borrower and such
Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an
overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the
Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such
period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Borrowing to
the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender's
Loan included in such Borrowing. Any payment by the Borrower shall be
without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall
have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.
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(ii) Payments by Borrower;
Presumptions by Administrative Agent. Unless the
Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the
time at which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of
the Lenders or the L/C Issuer hereunder that the Borrower will not make such
payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such
payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such
assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the
amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such
payment, then each of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be,
severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the
amount so distributed to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, in immediately available
funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such
amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the
Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate
determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules
on interbank compensation.
A notice
of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any
amount owing under this subsection (b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest
error.
(c) Failure to Satisfy
Conditions Precedent. If any Lender makes available to the
Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in
the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such
funds are not made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent because
the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article V are not
satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative
Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to
such Lender, without interest.
(d) Obligations of Lenders
Several. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make
Loans, to fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans and to
make payments pursuant to Section 11.04(c) are
several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan, to
fund any such participation or to make any payment under Section 11.04(c) on
any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its
corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be
responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Loan, to purchase
its participation or to make its payment under Section
11.04(c).
(e) Funding
Source. Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender
to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to
constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain
the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.
(f) Insufficient
Funds. If at any time insufficient funds are received by and
available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, L/C
Borrowings, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied
(i) first,
toward payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the
parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees
then due to such parties, and (ii) second, toward
payment of principal and L/C Borrowings then due hereunder, ratably among the
parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal and L/C
Borrowings then due to such parties.
2.13 Sharing
of Payments by Lenders.
If any
Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise,
obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Loans
made by it, or the participations in L/C Obligations or in Swing Line Loans held
by it resulting in such Lender's receiving payment of a proportion of the
aggregate amount of such Loans or participations and accrued interest thereon
greater than its pro rata share thereof as
provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a)
notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face
value) participations in the Loans and subparticipations in L/C Obligations and
Swing Line Loans of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall
be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the
Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and
accrued interest on their respective Loans and other amounts owing them, provided
that:
39
(i) if
any such participations or subparticipations are purchased and all or any
portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations or
subparticipations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the
extent of such recovery, without interest; and
(ii) the
provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (A) any payment
made by or on behalf of the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the
express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from
the existence of a Defaulting Lender), (B) the application of Cash Collateral
provided for in Section 2.14, or (C)
any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale
of a participation in any of its Loans or subparticipations in L/C Obligations
or Swing Line Loans to any assignee or participant, other than an assignment to
any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this
Section shall apply).
Each Loan
Party consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do
so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to
the foregoing arrangements may exercise against such Loan Party rights of setoff
and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender
were a direct creditor of such Loan Party in the amount of such
participation.
2.14 Cash
Collateral.
(a) Certain Credit Support
Events. Upon the request of the Administrative Agent or the
L/C Issuer (i) if the L/C Issuer has honored any full or partial drawing request
under any Letter of Credit and such drawing has resulted in an L/C Borrowing, or
(ii) if, as of the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, any L/C Obligation for any
reason remains outstanding, the Borrower shall, in each case, immediately Cash
Collateralize the then Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations. At
any time that there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, immediately upon the
request of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender,
the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent Cash Collateral in an
amount sufficient to cover all Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.15(a)(iv)
and any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender).
(b) Grant of Security
Interest. All Cash Collateral (other than credit support not
constituting funds subject to deposit) shall be maintained in blocked,
non-interest bearing deposit accounts at Bank of America. The
Borrower, and to the extent provided by any Lender, such Lender, hereby grants
to (and subjects to the control of) the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of
the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders (including the Swing
Line Lender), and agrees to maintain, a first priority security interest in all
such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein, and all other property so
provided as collateral pursuant hereto, and in all proceeds of the foregoing,
all as security for the obligations to which such Cash Collateral may be applied
pursuant to Section
2.14(c). If at any time the Administrative Agent determines
that Cash Collateral is subject to any right or claim of any Person other than
the Administrative Agent as herein provided, or that the total amount of such
Cash Collateral is less than the applicable Fronting Exposure and other
obligations secured thereby, the Borrower or the relevant Defaulting Lender
will, promptly upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay or provide to the
Administrative Agent additional Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to
eliminate such deficiency.
40
(c) Application. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Cash Collateral provided
under any of this Section 2.14 or Sections 2.03, 2.04, 2.05, 2.15 or 9.02 in respect of
Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans shall be held and applied to the
satisfaction of the specific L/C Obligations, Swing Line Loans, obligations to
fund participations therein (including, as to Cash Collateral provided by a
Defaulting Lender, any interest accrued on such obligation) and other
obligations for which the Cash Collateral was so provided, prior to any other
application of such property as may be provided for herein.
(d) Release. Cash
Collateral (or the appropriate portion thereof) provided to reduce Fronting
Exposure or other obligations shall be released promptly following (i) the
elimination of the applicable Fronting Exposure or other obligations giving rise
thereto (including by the termination of Defaulting Lender status of the
applicable Lender (or, as appropriate, its assignee following compliance with
Section
11.06(b)(vi))) or (ii) the Administrative Agent's good faith
determination that there exists excess Cash Collateral; provided, however, (x) that
Cash Collateral furnished by or on behalf of a Loan Party shall not be released
during the continuance of a Default or Event of Default (and following
application as provided in this Section 2.14 may be
otherwise applied in accordance with Section 9.03), and
(y) the Person providing Cash Collateral and the L/C Issuer or Swing Line
Lender, as applicable, may agree that Cash Collateral shall not be released but
instead held to support future anticipated Fronting Exposure or other
obligations.
2.15 Defaulting
Lenders.
(a) Adjustments. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a
Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as that Lender is no longer a
Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable Law:
(i) Waivers and
Amendments. That Defaulting Lender's right to approve or
disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall
be restricted as set forth in Section
11.01.
(ii) Reallocation of
Payments. Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other
amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of that Defaulting
Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article IX or
otherwise, and including any amounts made available to the Administrative Agent
by that Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 11.08), shall
be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative
Agent as follows: first, to the payment
of any amounts owing by that Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent
hereunder; second, to the
payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by that Defaulting Lender to
the L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder; third, if so
determined by the Administrative Agent or requested by the L/C Issuer or Swing
Line Lender, to be held as Cash Collateral for future funding obligations of
that Defaulting Lender of any participation in any Swing Line Loan or Letter of
Credit; fourth,
as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default exists), to the funding of
any Loan in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its
portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the
Administrative Agent; fifth, if so
determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a
non-interest bearing deposit account and released in order to satisfy
obligations of that Defaulting Lender to fund Loans under this Agreement; sixth, to the payment
of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender as a
result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any
Lender, the L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender against that Defaulting Lender as a
result of that Defaulting Lender's breach of its obligations under this
Agreement; seventh, so long as
no Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a
result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the
Borrower against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender's
breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth, to that
Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction;
provided that
if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or L/C
Borrowings in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its
appropriate share and (y) such Loans or L/C Borrowings were made at a time when
the conditions set forth in Section 5.02 were
satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of,
and L/C Borrowings owed to, all non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior
to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or L/C Borrowings owed to, that
Defaulting Lender. Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or
payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by
a Defaulting Lender or to post Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.15(a)(ii)
shall be deemed paid to and redirected by that Defaulting Lender, and each
Lender irrevocably consents hereto.
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(iii) Certain
Fees. That Defaulting Lender (x) shall not be entitled to
receive any commitment fee pursuant to Section 2.09(a) for
any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrower
shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been
required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender) and (y) shall be limited
in its right to receive Letter of Credit Fees as provided in Section
2.03(h).
(iv) Reallocation of Applicable
Percentages to Reduce Fronting Exposure. During any period in
which there is a Defaulting Lender, for purposes of computing the amount of the
obligation of each non-Defaulting Lender to acquire, refinance or fund
participations in Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans pursuant to Sections 2.03 and
2.04, the
"Applicable Percentage" of each non-Defaulting Lender shall be computed without
giving effect to the Revolving Commitment of that Defaulting Lender; provided, that, (i)
each such reallocation shall be given effect only if, at the date the applicable
Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, no Default exists; and (ii) the aggregate
obligation of each non-Defaulting Lender to acquire, refinance or fund
participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans shall not exceed the
positive difference, if any, of (1) the Revolving Commitment of that
non-Defaulting Lender minus (2) the
aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Loans of that Lender.
(b) Defaulting Lender
Cure. If the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Swing
Line Lender and the L/C Issuer agree in writing in their sole discretion that a
Defaulting Lender should no longer be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender, the
Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the
effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth
therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any Cash Collateral),
that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase that portion of outstanding
Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative
Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Loans and funded and unfunded
participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans to be held on a pro
rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Applicable Percentages
(without giving effect to Section 2.15(a)(iv)),
whereupon that Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no
adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments
made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender;
and provided,
further, that
except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no
change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or
release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender's having
been a Defaulting Lender.
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ARTICLE
III
TAXES,
YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
3.01 Taxes.
(a) Payments Free of Taxes;
Obligation to Withhold; Payments on Account of Taxes. (i) Any
and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Loan Parties
hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall to the extent permitted by
applicable Laws be made free and clear of and without reduction or withholding
for any Taxes. If, however, applicable Laws require any Loan Party or
the Administrative Agent to withhold or deduct any Tax, such Tax shall be
withheld or deducted in accordance with such Laws as determined by such Loan
Party or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, upon the basis of the
information and documentation to be delivered pursuant to subsection (e)
below.
(ii) If
the Loan Parties or the Administrative Agent shall be required by the Internal
Revenue Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes,
including both United States Federal backup withholding and withholding taxes,
from any payment, then (A) the Administrative Agent shall withhold or make such
deductions as are determined by the Administrative Agent to be required based
upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection
(e) below, (B) the Administrative Agent shall timely pay the full amount
withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with
the Internal Revenue Code, and (C) to the extent that the withholding or
deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, the sum
payable by the Loan Parties shall be increased as necessary so that after any
required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including
deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the
Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, receives
an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or
deduction been made.
(b) Payment of Other Taxes by
the Loan Parties. Without limiting the provisions of
subsection (a) above, the Loan Parties shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the
relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Laws.
(c) Tax
Indemnification. (i) Without limiting the provisions of
subsection (a) or (b) above, the Loan Parties shall, and do hereby, indemnify
the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the L/C Issuer, and shall make payment
in respect thereof within ten days after demand therefor, for the full amount of
any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes
imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section)
withheld or deducted by the Loan Parties or the Administrative Agent or paid by
the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, and
any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with
respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were
correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental
Authority. The Loan Parties shall also, and do hereby, indemnify the
Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within ten days
after demand therefor, for any amount which a Lender or the L/C Issuer for any
reason fails to pay indefeasibly to the Administrative Agent as required by
clause (ii) of this subsection. A certificate as to the amount of any
such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender or the L/C
Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent
on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, shall be
conclusive absent manifest error.
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(ii) Without
limiting the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) above, each Lender and the L/C
Issuer shall, and does hereby, indemnify the Loan Parties and the Administrative
Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within ten days after demand
therefor, against any and all Taxes and any and all related losses, claims,
liabilities, penalties, interest and expenses (including the fees, charges and
disbursements of any counsel for the Borrower or the Administrative
Agent) incurred by or asserted against the Borrower or the Administrative Agent
by any Governmental Authority as a result of the failure by such Lender or the
L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to deliver, or as a result of the inaccuracy,
inadequacy or deficiency of, any documentation required to be delivered by such
Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to the Borrower or the
Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (e). Each Lender and the
L/C Issuer hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any
and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case
may be, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due
to the Administrative Agent under this clause (ii). The agreements in
this clause (ii) shall survive the resignation and/or replacement of the
Administrative Agent, any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a
Lender or the L/C Issuer, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment,
satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations.
(d) Evidence of
Payments. Upon request by any Loan Party or the Administrative
Agent, as the case may be, after any payment of Taxes by such Loan Party or by
the Administrative Agent to a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section 3.01, such
Loan Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent
shall deliver to such Loan Party, as the case may be, the original or a
certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing
such payment, a copy of any return required by Law to report such payment or
other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to such Loan Party or the
Administrative Agent, as the case may be.
(e) Status of Lenders; Tax
Documentation. (i) Each Lender shall deliver to the Borrower
and to the Administrative Agent, at the time or times prescribed by applicable
Laws or when reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent,
such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable Laws
or by the taxing authorities of any jurisdiction and such other reasonably
requested information as will permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent,
as the case may be, to determine (A) whether or not payments made hereunder or
under any other Loan Document are subject to Taxes, (B) if applicable, the
required rate of withholding or deduction, and (C) such Lender's entitlement to
any available exemption from, or reduction of, applicable Taxes in respect of
all payments to be made to such Lender by the Borrower pursuant to this
Agreement or otherwise to establish such Lender's status for withholding tax
purposes in the applicable jurisdiction.
(ii) Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, if the Borrower is resident for tax
purposes in the United States,
(A) any
Lender that is a "United States person" within the meaning of Section
7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code shall deliver to the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or
such other documentation or information prescribed by applicable Laws or
reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable
the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, to determine
whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information
reporting requirements; and
(B) each
Foreign Lender that is entitled under the Internal Revenue Code or any
applicable treaty to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax with
respect to payments hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall deliver to
the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be
requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender
becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the
request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, but only if such Foreign
Lender is legally entitled to do so), whichever of the following is
applicable:
44
(I) executed
originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN claiming eligibility for
benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a
party,
(II) executed
originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI,
(III) executed
originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY and all required supporting
documentation,
(IV) in
the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for
portfolio interest under section 881(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, (x) a
certificate to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (A) a "bank" within
the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, (B) a "10
percent shareholder" of the Borrower within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(B)
of the Internal Revenue Code, or (C) a "controlled foreign corporation"
described in section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code and (y) executed
originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, or
(V) executed
originals of any other form prescribed by applicable Laws as a basis for
claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States Federal withholding tax
together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by
applicable Laws to permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine
the withholding or deduction required to be made.
(iii) Each
Lender shall promptly (A) notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of
any change in circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed
exemption or reduction, and (B) take such steps as shall not be materially
disadvantageous to it, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, and as may be
reasonably necessary (including the re-designation of its Lending Office) to
avoid any requirement of applicable Laws of any jurisdiction that the Borrower
or the Administrative Agent make any withholding or deduction for taxes from
amounts payable to such Lender.
(f) Treatment of Certain
Refunds. Unless required by applicable Laws, at no time shall
the Administrative Agent have any obligation to file for or otherwise pursue on
behalf of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, or have any obligation to pay to any
Lender or the L/C Issuer, any refund of Taxes withheld or deducted from funds
paid for the account of such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may
be. If the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer
determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes
or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by any Loan Party or with
respect to which any Loan Party has paid additional amounts pursuant to this
Section, it shall pay to such Loan Party an amount equal to such refund (but
only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by
such Loan Party under this Section with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes
giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the
Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, and
without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental
Authority with respect to such refund), provided that each
Loan Party, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C
Issuer, agrees to repay the amount paid over to such Loan Party (plus any
penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental
Authority) to the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer in the
event the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer is required to
repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This subsection
shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the
L/C Issuer to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating
to its taxes that it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other
Person.
45
3.02 Illegality.
If any
Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental
Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable
Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by
reference to the Eurodollar Rate, or to determine or charge interest rates based
upon the Eurodollar Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material
restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take
deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by
such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, (i) any obligation
of such Lender to make or continue Eurodollar Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate
Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended and (ii) if such notice
asserts the illegality of such Lender making or maintaining Base Rate Loans the
interest rate on which is determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate
component of the Base Rate, the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such
Lender, shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the
Administrative Agent without reference to the Eurodollar Rate component of the
Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and
the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer
exist. Upon receipt of such notice, (x) the Borrower shall, upon
demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if
applicable, convert all of such Lender's Eurodollar Rate Loans to Base Rate
Loans (the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if
necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent
without reference to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate), either on
the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully
continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if
such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans and
(y) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging
interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, the Administrative Agent shall
during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such
Lender without reference to the Eurodollar Rate component thereof until the
Administrative Agent is advised in writing by such Lender that it is no longer
illegal for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based
upon the Eurodollar Rate. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the
Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or
converted.
3.03 Inability
to Determine Rates.
If the
Required Lenders determine that for any reason in connection with any request
for a Eurodollar Rate Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof that
(a) Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank
eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such
Eurodollar Rate Loan, (b) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for
determining the Eurodollar Base Rate for any requested Interest Period with
respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan or in connection with an existing or
proposed Base Rate Loan, or (c) the Eurodollar Base Rate for any requested
Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan or in connection
with a Eurodollar Rate Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to
such Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly notify
the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the
Lenders to make or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended and (y) in
the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to
the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the
Eurodollar Rate component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, in
each case until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Required
Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the
Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or
continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or, failing that, will be deemed to have
converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the
amount specified therein.
46
3.04 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 Rate) or the L/C
Issuer;
(ii) subject
any Lender or the L/C Issuer to any tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to
this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, any participation in a Letter of Credit or
any Eurodollar Rate Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments
to such Lender or the L/C Issuer in respect thereof (except for Indemnified
Taxes or Other Taxes covered by Section 3.01 and the
imposition of, or any change in the rate of, any Excluded Tax payable by such
Lender or the L/C Issuer); or
(iii) impose
on any Lender or the L/C Issuer or the London interbank market any other
condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Rate Loans
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 Loan the interest on which is determined by reference
to the Eurodollar Rate (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan),
or to increase the cost to such Lender or the L/C Issuer 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 L/C Issuer hereunder (whether
of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender or
the L/C Issuer, the Borrower will pay to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the
case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or
the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or
reduction suffered.
(b) Capital
Requirements. If any Lender or the L/C Issuer determines that
any Change in Law affecting such Lender or the L/C Issuer or any Lending Office
of such Lender or such Lender's or the L/C Issuer'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 L/C Issuer's capital or on the capital of such
Lender's or the L/C Issuer's holding company, if any, as a consequence of this
Agreement, the Commitments 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 L/C Issuer, to a level below that which such Lender or the
L/C Issuer or such Lender's or the L/C Issuer's holding company could have
achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender's or
the L/C Issuer's policies and the policies of such Lender's or the L/C Issuer's
holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the
Borrower will pay to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such
additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer or
such Lender's or the L/C Issuer's holding company for any such reduction
suffered.
(c) Certificates for
Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender or the L/C Issuer
setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the
L/C Issuer or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in
subsection (a) or (b) of this Section and delivered to the Borrower shall be
conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender
or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such
certificate within ten days after receipt thereof.
47
(d) Delay in
Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the
L/C Issuer to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this
Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender's or the L/C Issuer's right
to demand such compensation, provided that the
Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant
to the foregoing provisions of this Section for any increased costs incurred or
reductions suffered more than nine months prior to the date that such Lender or
the L/C Issuer, 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
L/C Issuer'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-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the
period of retroactive effect thereof).
3.05 Compensation
for Losses.
Upon
demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to
time, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such
Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result
of:
(a) any
continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Eurodollar Rate Loan on a
day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether
voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or
otherwise);
(b) any
failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to
make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Eurodollar Rate Loan on
the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower; or
(c) any
assignment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the
Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to
Section 11.13;
or
including
any loss of anticipated profits and any loss or expense arising from the
liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or
from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were
obtained. The Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative
fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.
For
purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under
this Section
3.05, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurodollar Rate
Loan made by it at the Eurodollar Base Rate used in determining the Eurodollar
Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London
interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period,
whether or not such Eurodollar Rate Loan was in fact so funded.
3.06 Mitigation
Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.
(a) Designation of a Different
Lending Office. If any Lender requests compensation under
Section 3.04,
or the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender, the L/C
Issuer, or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender or the L/C
Issuer pursuant to Section 3.01, or if
any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then
such Lender or the L/C Issuer shall, as applicable, 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 or the L/C Issuer,
such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable
pursuant to Section
3.01 or 3.04, as the case may
be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as
applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender or the L/C
Issuer, as the case may be, to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not
otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may
be. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and
expenses incurred by any Lender or the L/C Issuer in connection with any such
designation or assignment.
48
(b) Replacement of
Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if
the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any
Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, the
Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section
11.13.
3.07 Survival.
All of
the Loan Parties' obligations under this Article III shall
survive termination of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments, repayment of all
other Obligations hereunder, and resignation of the Administrative
Agent.
ARTICLE
IV
GUARANTY
4.01 The
Guaranty.
Each of
the Guarantors hereby jointly and severally guarantees to each Lender, the L/C
Issuer, each Affiliate of a Lender that enters into a Swap Contract or a
Treasury Management Agreement with any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, and the
Administrative Agent as hereinafter provided, as primary obligor and not as
surety, the prompt payment of the Obligations in full when due (whether at
stated maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration, as a mandatory cash
collateralization or otherwise) strictly in accordance with the terms
thereof. The Guarantors hereby further agree that if any of the
Obligations are not paid in full when due (whether at stated maturity, as a
mandatory prepayment, by acceleration, as a mandatory cash collateralization or
otherwise), the Guarantors will, jointly and severally, promptly pay the same,
without any demand or notice whatsoever, and that in the case of any extension
of time of payment or renewal of any of the Obligations, the same will be
promptly paid in full when due (whether at extended maturity, as a mandatory
prepayment, by acceleration, as a mandatory cash collateralization or otherwise)
in accordance with the terms of such extension or renewal.
Notwithstanding
any provision to the contrary contained herein or in any other of the Loan
Documents, Swap Contracts or Treasury Management Agreements, the obligations of
each Guarantor under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not
exceed an aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not render
such obligations subject to avoidance under applicable Debtor Relief
Laws.
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4.02 Obligations
Unconditional.
Subject
to Section
4.08, the obligations of the Guarantors under Section 4.01 are
joint and several, absolute and unconditional, irrespective of the value,
genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents
or other documents relating to the Obligations, or any substitution, release,
impairment or exchange of any other guarantee of or security for any of the
Obligations, and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law,
irrespective of any other circumstance whatsoever which might otherwise
constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor,
it being the intent of this Section 4.02
that the obligations of the Guarantors hereunder shall be absolute and
unconditional under any and all circumstances. Each Guarantor agrees
that such Guarantor shall have no right of subrogation, indemnity, reimbursement
or contribution against the Borrower or any other Guarantor for amounts paid
under this Article IV until
such time as the Obligations have been Fully Satisfied. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is agreed that, to the fullest
extent permitted by Law, the occurrence of any one or more of the following
shall not alter or impair the liability of any Guarantor hereunder, which shall
remain absolute and unconditional as described above:
(a) at
any time or from time to time, without notice to any Guarantor, the time for any
performance of or compliance with any of the Obligations shall be extended, or
such performance or compliance shall be waived;
(b) any
of the acts mentioned in any of the provisions of any of the Loan Documents or
other documents relating to the Obligations shall be done or
omitted;
(c) the
maturity of any of the Obligations shall be accelerated, or any of the
Obligations shall be modified, supplemented or amended in any respect, or any
right under any of the Loan Documents or other documents relating to the
Obligations shall be waived or any other guarantee of any of the Obligations or
any security therefor shall be released, impaired or exchanged in whole or in
part or otherwise dealt with;
(d) any
Lien granted to, or in favor of, the Administrative Agent or any other holder of
the Obligations as security for any of the Obligations shall fail to attach or
be perfected; or
(e) any
of the Obligations shall be determined to be void or voidable (including,
without limitation, for the benefit of any creditor of any Guarantor) or shall
be subordinated to the claims of any Person (including, without limitation, any
creditor of any Guarantor).
With
respect to its obligations hereunder, each Guarantor hereby expressly waives
diligence, presentment, demand of payment, protest and all notices whatsoever,
and any requirement that the Administrative Agent or any other holder of the
Obligations exhaust any right, power or remedy or proceed against any Person
under any of the Loan Documents or any other document relating to the
Obligations, or against any other Person under any other guarantee of, or
security for, any of the Obligations.
4.03 Reinstatement.
The
obligations of the Guarantors under this Article IV shall
be automatically reinstated if and to the extent that for any reason any payment
by or on behalf of any Person in respect of the Obligations is rescinded or must
be otherwise restored by any holder of any of the Obligations, whether as a
result of any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, and each Guarantor agrees that it
will indemnify the Administrative Agent and each other holder of the Obligations
on demand for all reasonable costs and expenses (including, without limitation,
the fees, charges and disbursements of counsel) incurred by the Administrative
Agent or such holder of the Obligations in connection with such rescission or
restoration, including any such costs and expenses incurred in defending against
any claim alleging that such payment constituted a preference, fraudulent
transfer or similar payment under any Debtor Relief Law.
4.04 Certain
Additional Waivers.
Each
Guarantor agrees that such Guarantor shall have no right of recourse to security
for the Obligations, except through the exercise of rights of subrogation
pursuant to Section 4.02 and
through the exercise of rights of contribution pursuant to Section 4.06.
50
4.05 Remedies.
The
Guarantors agree that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, as between the
Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the other holders
of the Obligations, on the other hand, the Obligations may be declared to be
forthwith due and payable as specified in Section 9.02
(and shall be deemed to have become automatically due and payable in the
circumstances specified in said Section 9.02)
for purposes of Section 4.01
notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such
declaration (or preventing the Obligations from becoming automatically due and
payable) as against any other Person and that, in the event of such declaration
(or the Obligations being deemed to have become automatically due and payable),
the Obligations (whether or not due and payable by any other Person) shall
forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for purposes of Section 4.01. The
Guarantors acknowledge and agree that their obligations hereunder are secured in
accordance with the terms of the Collateral Documents and that the holders of
the Obligations may exercise their remedies thereunder in accordance with the
terms thereof.
4.06 Rights of
Contribution.
The
Guarantors agree among themselves that, in connection with payments made
hereunder, each Guarantor shall have contribution rights against the other
Guarantors as permitted under applicable law. Such contribution
rights shall be subordinate and subject in right of payment to the obligations
of such Guarantors under the Loan Documents and no Guarantor shall exercise such
rights of contribution until all Obligations have been Fully
Satisfied.
4.07 Guarantee
of Payment; Continuing Guarantee.
The
guarantee in this Article IV is a
guaranty of payment and not of collection, is a continuing guarantee, and shall
apply to all Obligations whenever arising.
4.08 Discharge
Only Upon Payment in Full.
Each of the Guarantors' obligations
under this Article IV shall remain in full force and effect until all
Obligations have been Fully Satisfied, at which time, subject to Section 4.03 above,
the guarantees made hereunder shall be terminated.
ARTICLE
V
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS
5.01 Conditions
of Effectiveness.
This
Agreement shall be effective upon satisfaction of the following conditions
precedent:
(a) Loan
Documents. Receipt by the Administrative Agent of executed
counterparts of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, each properly
executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party and, in the case of
this Agreement, by each Lender.
(b) Opinions of Counsel.
Receipt by the Administrative Agent of favorable opinions of legal counsel to
the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, dated
as of the Closing Date, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent.
51
(c) No Material Adverse
Change. There shall not have occurred a material adverse
change since December 31, 2009 in the business, assets, property or condition
(financial or otherwise) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole.
(d) Organization Documents,
Resolutions, Etc. Receipt by the Administrative Agent of the
following, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative
Agent:
(i)
copies of the Organization Documents
of each Loan Party certified to be true and complete as of a recent date by the
appropriate Governmental Authority of the state or other jurisdiction of its
incorporation or organization, where applicable, and certified by a secretary or
assistant secretary of such Loan Party to be true and correct as of the Closing
Date;
(ii) such
certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or
other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as the
Administrative Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity
of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer
in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such
Loan Party is a party; and
(iii) such
documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require
to evidence that each Loan Party is duly organized or formed, and is validly
existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in its state of
organization or formation.
(e) Personal Property
Collateral. Receipt by the Administrative Agent of the
following:
(i)
UCC financing statements for each appropriate jurisdiction as is
necessary, in the Administrative Agent's sole discretion, to perfect the
Administrative Agent's security interest in the Collateral; and
(ii) duly
executed notices of grant of security interest in the form required by the
Security Agreement as are necessary, in the Administrative Agent's sole
discretion, to perfect the Administrative Agent's security interest in the
United States registered intellectual property of the Loan Parties.
(f) Evidence of
Insurance. Receipt by the Administrative Agent of copies of
insurance policies or certificates of insurance of the Loan Parties evidencing
liability and casualty insurance meeting the requirements set forth in the Loan
Documents, including, but not limited to, naming the Administrative Agent as
additional insured (in the case of liability insurance) or lender's loss payee
(in the case of hazard insurance) on behalf of the Lenders.
(g) Closing
Certificate. Receipt by the Administrative Agent of a
certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying that the
conditions specified in Section 5.01(c) and
Sections
5.02(a) and (b) have been
satisfied.
(h) Existing Credit
Agreement. Receipt by the Administrative Agent of evidence
that that all obligations of the Borrower under certain Credit Agreement, dated
as of May 21, 2008, by and among the Borrower, the lenders party thereto and
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., have been paid in full, all commitments thereunder
shall have been terminated and all security interests related thereto shall have
been released.
(i) Fees. Receipt
by the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and the Lenders of any fees required
to be paid on or before the Closing Date.
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(j) Attorney
Costs. The Borrower shall have paid all fees, charges and
disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel
if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced prior to or on
the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and
disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges
and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing
proceedings (provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final
settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent).
Without
limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.03,
for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this
Section 5.01,
each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to,
approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter
required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or
satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received
notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its
objection thereto.
5.02 Conditions
to all Credit Extensions.
The
obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension is subject
to the following conditions precedent:
(a) The
representations and warranties of each Loan Party contained in Article VI or any
other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any
time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct in
all material respects (or, if such representation or warranty is qualified by
materiality or Material Adverse Effect, it shall be true and correct in all
respects as drafted) on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to
the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an
earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material
respects (or, if such representation or warranty is qualified by materiality or
Material Adverse Effect, it shall be true and correct in all respects as
drafted) as of such earlier date.
(b) No
Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Credit Extension or from
the application of the proceeds thereof.
(c) The
Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender
shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the
requirements hereof.
Each
Request for Credit Extension submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a
representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections 5.02(a) and
(b) have been
satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.
53
ARTICLE
VI
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
The Loan
Parties represent and warrant to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
that:
6.01. Organization;
Powers; Subsidiaries.
Each of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has all
requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and,
except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, is qualified to
do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such
qualification is required. Schedule 6.01 hereto
(as supplemented from time to time) identifies each Subsidiary, noting whether
such Subsidiary is a Material Domestic Subsidiary, the jurisdiction of its
incorporation or organization, as the case may be, the percentage of issued and
outstanding shares of each class of its Equity Interests owned by the Borrower
and the other Subsidiaries and, if such percentage is not 100% (excluding
directors' qualifying shares as required by Law), a description of each class
issued and outstanding. All of the outstanding shares of Equity
Interests of each Subsidiary are validly issued and outstanding and fully paid
and nonassessable and all such Equity Interests indicated on Schedule 6.01 as
owned by the Borrower or another Subsidiary are owned, beneficially and of
record, by the Borrower or any Subsidiary free and clear of all Liens other than
Permitted Liens. Other than as set forth on Schedule 6.01, there
are no outstanding commitments or other obligations of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary to issue, and no options, warrants or other rights of any Person to
acquire, any shares of any class of Equity Interests of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary.
6.02 Authorization;
Enforceability.
The
execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to
which such Person is party are within such Loan Party's corporate or other
organizational powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
or other organizational action and, if required, equityholder
action. The Loan Documents to which each Loan Party is a party have
been duly executed and delivered by such Loan Party and constitute a legal,
valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable in accordance with
its terms, subject to applicable Debtor Relief Laws and subject to general
principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity
or at Law.
6.03 Governmental
Approvals; No Conflicts.
The
execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to
which such Person is party (a) do not require any consent or approval of,
registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority,
except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, and
except for filings necessary to perfect Liens created pursuant to the Collateral
Documents, (b) will not violate any applicable Law or the Organization Documents
of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any order of any Governmental
Authority, (c) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture,
agreement or other instrument binding upon the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries or its assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any
payment to be made by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and (d) will not
result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries, except Liens created pursuant to the Loan
Documents.
6.04 Financial
Condition; No Material Adverse Change.
(a) The
Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lenders its consolidated balance sheet
and statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows (i) as of and for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 reported on by Ernst & Young LLP,
independent public accountants, and (ii) as of and for the fiscal quarter and
the portion of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010, certified by its chief
financial officer. Such financial statements present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash
flows of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and for
such periods in accordance with GAAP, subject to year-end audit adjustments and
the absence of footnotes in the case of the statements referred to in clause
(ii) above.
(b) Since
December 31, 2009, there has been no material adverse change in the business,
assets, property or condition, financial or otherwise, of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
54
6.05 Properties.
(a) As
of the Closing Date, Schedule 6.05 sets
forth the address of each parcel of real property that is owned or leased by
each Loan Party. Each of such leases and subleases is valid and
enforceable in accordance with its terms and is in full force and effect, and no
default by any party to any such lease or sublease exists. Each of
the Loan Parties and its Subsidiaries has good and indefeasible title to, or
valid leasehold interests in, all its real and personal property material to its
business, except for minor defects in title that do not interfere with its
ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such
properties for their intended purposes, in each case, free of all Liens other
than Permitted Liens.
(b) Each
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed to use, all
trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, patents and other intellectual property
(collectively, "IP
Rights") material to its business, and the use thereof by the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries does not infringe upon the rights of any other Person,
except for any such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, could
not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
6.06 Litigation,
Environmental and Labor Matters.
(a) There
are no actions, suits, proceedings or investigations by or before any arbitrator
or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of the Loan
Parties, threatened in writing against or affecting the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries (i) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse
determination and that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected,
individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (ii)
that involve this Agreement or the execution, delivery and performance by the
Loan Parties of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. There
are no strikes lockouts or slowdowns against the Borrower or any Subsidiary
pending or, to the knowledge of the Loan Parties, threatened. There
are no labor controversies pending against or, to the knowledge of the Loan
Parties, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
(i) which could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to
result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) that involve this Agreement or the
execution, delivery and performance by the Loan Parties of this Agreement and
the other Loan Documents.
(b) Except
with respect to any matters that, individually or in the aggregate, could not
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, neither the
Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has failed to comply with any
Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or
other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has become subject to
any Environmental Liability, (iii) has received written notice of any claim with
respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) has knowledge of any reasonable
basis for any Environmental Liability.
6.07 Compliance
with Laws and Agreements.
Each of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all Laws applicable to
it or its property and all indentures, agreements and other instruments binding
upon it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in
the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
6.08 Investment
Company Status.
Neither
the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is an "investment company" as defined
in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of
1940.
55
6.09 Taxes.
Each of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be filed all tax
returns and reports required to have been filed and has paid or caused to be
paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except (a) Taxes that are being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Borrower or
such Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves or
(b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect.
6.10 ERISA.
No ERISA
Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together
with all other such ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
6.11 Disclosure.
The Loan
Parties have disclosed to the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate
or other restrictions to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, and all
other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, could
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None
of the reports, financial statements, certificates or other information
furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to the
Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of this
Agreement or delivered hereunder (as modified or supplemented by other
information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to
state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with
respect to projected financial information, the Loan Parties represent only that
such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to
be reasonable at the time.
6.12 Federal
Reserve Regulations.
No part
of the proceeds of any Credit Extension have been used or will be used, whether
directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the
regulations of the FRB, including Regulations T, U and X.
6.13 Solvency.
(a) Immediately
after the consummation of the Credit Extensions to occur on the Closing Date,
(i) the fair value of the assets of each Loan Party, at a fair valuation, will
exceed its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise; (ii)
the present fair saleable value of the property of each Loan Party will be
greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of
its debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such
debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured; (iii) each Loan Party
will be able to pay its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or
otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured; and (iv)
each Loan Party will not have unreasonably small capital with which to conduct
the business in which it is engaged as such business is now conducted and is
proposed to be conducted after the Closing Date.
(b) No
Loan Party intends to, or will permit any of its Subsidiaries to, and no Loan
Party believes that it or any of its Subsidiaries will, incur debts beyond its
ability to pay such debts as they mature, taking into account the timing of and
amounts of cash to be received by it or any such Subsidiary and the timing of
the amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its Indebtedness or the
Indebtedness of any such Subsidiary.
56
6.14 No
Default.
No
Default has occurred and is continuing.
6.15 Insurance.
Schedule 6.15 sets
forth a description of all insurance maintained by or on behalf of the Loan
Parties and the Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date. As of the
Closing Date, all premiums in respect of such insurance have been
paid. All such insurance is offered by financially sound and
reputable insurance companies and is in such amounts and covering such
properties and risks as are adequate and customary for companies engaged in the
same or similar business and in the same or similar location as the Borrower and
the Subsidiaries.
6.16 No
Burdensome Restrictions.
No Loan
Party is subject to any Burdensome Restrictions except Burdensome Restrictions
permitted under Section
8.08.
6.17 Security
Interest in Collateral.
The
provisions of the Collateral Documents create legal and valid Liens on all the
Collateral in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the
Administrative Agent and the holders of the Obligations, and, following the
effectiveness of the appropriate account control agreements and the registration
or recordation of those filings (such as UCC financing statements) necessary to
perfect such Liens, such Liens shall constitute perfected and continuing Liens
on the Collateral, securing the Obligations, enforceable against the applicable
Loan Party and all third parties, and having priority over all other Liens on
the Collateral except in the case of (a) Permitted Encumbrances, to the extent
any such Permitted Encumbrances would have priority over the Liens in favor of
the Administrative Agent pursuant to any applicable Law, (b) Liens perfected
only by possession (including possession of any certificate of title) to the
extent the Administrative Agent has not obtained or does not maintain possession
of such Collateral, and (c) Liens perfected only by control to the extent the
Administrative Agent has not obtained control of such Collateral.
6.18 Collateral
Matters.
Set forth on Schedule 6.18(a) is a
list of all IP Rights registered or pending registration with the United States
Copyright Office or the United States Patent and Trademark Office and owned by
each Loan Party as of the Closing Date. Set forth on Schedule 6.18(b) is a
list of all locations where any tangible personal property of any Loan Party is
located as of the Closing Date. Set forth on Schedule 6.18(c) is
the chief executive office, exact legal name, U.S. tax payer identification
number and organizational identification number of each Loan Party as of the
Closing Date. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.18(d), no
Loan Party has during the five years preceding the Closing Date (i) changed its
legal name, (ii) changed its state of formation or (iii) been party to a merger,
consolidation or other change in structure. Set forth on Schedule 6.18(e), is
a list of each deposit and investment account of each Loan Party as of the
Closing Date.
57
ARTICLE
VII
AFFIRMATIVE
COVENANTS
Until
such time as the Obligations have been Fully Satisfied, each Loan Party shall
and shall cause each Subsidiary to:
7.01 Financial
Statements and Other Information.
Furnish
to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:
(a) within
ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, its audited
consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders'
equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each
case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported
on by Ernst & Young LLP or other independent public accountants of
recognized national standing (without a "going concern" or like qualification or
exception and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such
audit) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly
in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of
the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in
accordance with GAAP consistently applied;
(b) within
forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of
each fiscal year of the Borrower, its consolidated balance sheet and related
statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows as of the end of
and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year,
setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding
period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of)
the previous fiscal year, all certified by one of its Financial Officers as
presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results
of operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to
normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;
(c) concurrently
with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) above, a
Compliance Certificate (i) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and,
if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken
or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth reasonably
detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with Section 8.11 and
(iii) stating whether any change in GAAP or in the application thereof has
occurred since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 6.04 and, if
any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the
financial statements accompanying such certificate;
(d) as
soon as available, but in any event not more than forty-five (45) days after the
end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a copy of the plan and forecast of the
Borrower for the upcoming fiscal year in form reasonably satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent;
(e) promptly
after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other
reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by the Borrower or any
Subsidiary with the SEC or with any national securities exchange, or distributed
by the Borrower to its shareholders generally, as the case may be;
and
(f)
promptly following any request therefor,
such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial
condition of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of
this Agreement, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably
request.
58
Documents
required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a) or
(b) or Section 7.02(f) (to
the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the
SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to
have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents,
or provides a link thereto on the Borrower's website on the Internet at the
website address listed on Schedule 11.02; or
(ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower's behalf on an Internet
or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent
have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by
the Administrative Agent); provided that: (i)
the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative
Agent or any Lender upon its request to the Borrower to deliver such paper
copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the
Administrative Agent or such Lender and (ii) the Borrower shall notify the
Administrative Agent (by telecopier or electronic mail) of the posting of any
such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent, at is request, by
electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of
such documents. The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to
request the delivery of or to maintain paper copies of the documents referred to
above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by
the Borrower with any such request by a Lender for delivery, and each Lender
shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its
copies of such documents.
The
Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or BAS will
make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer materials and/or information
provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, "Borrower Materials")
by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic
system (the "Platform") and (b)
certain of the Lenders (each a "Public Lender") may
have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with
respect to the Borrower or its Affiliates, or the respective securities of any
of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related
activities with respect to such Persons' securities. The Borrower
hereby agrees that (w) all Borrower Materials that are to be made available to
Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked "PUBLIC" which, at a
minimum, shall mean that the word "PUBLIC" shall appear prominently on the first
page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials "PUBLIC," the Borrower shall be
deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, BAS, the L/C Issuer and the
Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material
non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for
purposes of United States federal and state securities laws (provided, however, that to the
extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as
set forth in Section
11.07); (y) all Borrower Materials marked "PUBLIC" are permitted to be
made available through a portion of the Platform designated as "Public Side
Information;" and (z) the Administrative Agent and BAS shall be entitled to
treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked "PUBLIC" as being suitable only
for posting on a portion of the Platform that is not marked as "Public Side
Information." Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall be
under no obligation to xxxx any Borrower Materials "PUBLIC."
7.02 Notices
of Material Events.
Furnish
to the Administrative Agent and each Lender prompt written notice of the
following:
(a) the
occurrence of any Default (such notice to be provided within two (2) Business
Days of such occurrence);
(b) any
Lien (other than Permitted Encumbrances) or claim made or asserted against any
of the Collateral;
(c) any
loss, damage, or destruction to the Collateral in the amount of $2,000,000 or
more, whether or not covered by insurance;
(d) the
filing or commencement of any action, suit or proceeding by or before any
arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or affecting the Borrower or any
Affiliate thereof that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect;
59
(e) the
occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together with any other ERISA
Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect; and
(f) any
other development that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in,
a Material Adverse Effect.
Each
notice delivered under this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a
Financial Officer or other Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth the
details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken
or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.
7.03 Existence;
Conduct of Business.
Do or
cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force
and effect its legal existence and the rights, qualifications, licenses,
permits, privileges, franchises, governmental authorizations and intellectual
property rights material to the conduct of its business, and maintain all
requisite authority to conduct its business in each jurisdiction in which its
business is presently conducted; provided that the
foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or
dissolution permitted under Section
8.03.
7.04 Payment
of Obligations.
Pay its
obligations, including Taxes, that, if not paid, could result in a Material
Adverse Effect before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except
where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings, (b) the Borrower or such Subsidiary has set aside on
its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (c)
the failure to make payment pending such contest could not reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
7.05 Maintenance
of Properties; Insurance.
(a) Keep
and maintain all property (including all Collateral) material to the conduct of
its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear
excepted, and (b) maintain with financially sound and reputable carriers having
a financial strength rating of at least "A" by A.M. Best Company (i) insurance
in such amounts (with no greater risk retention) and against such risks
(including loss or damage by fire and loss in transit; theft, burglary,
pilferage, larceny, embezzlement, and other criminal activities; business
interruption; and general liability) and such other hazards, as is customarily
maintained by companies of established repute engaged in the same or similar
businesses operating in the same or similar locations and (ii) all insurance
required pursuant to the Collateral Documents. The Loan Parties will
furnish to the Lenders, upon request of the Administrative Agent, information in
reasonable detail as to the insurance so maintained. The Loan Parties
shall deliver to the Administrative Agent endorsements (x) to all "All Risk"
physical damage insurance policies on all of the Loan Parties' tangible personal
property and assets and business interruption insurance policies naming the
Administrative Agent as lender loss payee, and (y) to all general liability and
other liability policies naming the Administrative Agent an additional
insured. In the event the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries at any
time or times hereafter shall fail to obtain or maintain any of the policies or
insurance required herein or to pay any premium in whole or in part relating
thereto, then the Administrative Agent, without waiving or releasing any
obligations or resulting Default hereunder, may, upon prior written notice to
the Loan Parties, at any time or times thereafter (but shall be under no
obligation to do so) obtain and maintain such policies of insurance and pay such
premiums and take any other action with respect thereto which the Administrative
Agent deems advisable. All sums so disbursed by the Administrative
Agent shall constitute part of the Obligations, payable as provided in this
Agreement. The Loan Parties (x) will furnish to the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders prompt written notice of any casualty or other insured
damage to any material portion of the Collateral or the commencement of any
action or proceeding for the taking of any material portion of the Collateral or
interest therein under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar
proceeding, and (y) will ensure that the net proceeds of any such event (whether
in the form of insurance proceeds, condemnation awards or otherwise) are
collected and applied in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Loan
Documents.
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7.06 Books and
Records; Inspection Rights.
(a) Keep
proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries are
made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and
activities.
(b) Permit
any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender
(including employees of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any consultants,
accountants, lawyers and appraisers retained by the Administrative Agent), upon
reasonable prior notice, to visit and inspect its properties, to examine and
make extracts from its books and records, including environmental assessment
reports and Phase I and Phase II studies, and to discuss its affairs, finances
and condition with its officers and independent accountants (provided that so
long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower shall
be provided with the opportunity to be present during such discussions), all at
such reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested; provided, however, that so long
as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower shall not be
required to reimburse the Administrative Agent or any Lender under this Section 7.06 for
inspections or visits by representatives of the Administrative Agent or such
Lender more frequently than twice each fiscal year. The Loan Parties
acknowledge that the Administrative Agent, after exercising its rights of
inspection, may prepare and distribute to the Lenders certain reports pertaining
to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries' assets for internal use by the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders.
7.07 Compliance
with Laws and Material Contractual Obligations.
Comply
with all laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority
applicable to it or its property (including without limitation Environmental
Laws) and (b) perform in all material respects its obligations under material
agreements to which it is a party, in each case except where the failure to do
so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result
in a Material Adverse Effect.
7.08 Use of
Proceeds.
The
proceeds of the Credit Extensions will be used to refinance certain Indebtedness
in existence on the Closing Date, and to finance the working capital needs and
other general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the
ordinary course of business. Additionally, the proceeds of the Credit
Extensions will be used to fund Permitted Acquisitions, Capital Expenditures and
Restricted Payments permitted under Section
8.07. No part of the proceeds of any Credit Extension will be
used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation
of any of the regulations of the FRB, including Regulations T, U and
X.
61
7.09 Additional
Guarantors; Pledges; Additional Collateral; Further
Assurances.
(a) As
promptly as possible but in any event within thirty (30) days (or such later
date as may be agreed upon by the Administrative Agent) after any Person becomes
a Material Domestic Subsidiary or any Subsidiary qualifies independently as, or
is designated by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as, a Guarantor
pursuant to the definitions of "Material Domestic Subsidiary" and "Guarantor",
provide the Administrative Agent with written notice thereof setting forth, if
requested by the Administrative Agent, information in reasonable detail
describing the material assets of such Person, and shall cause each such
Material Domestic Subsidiary which also qualifies as a Guarantor to deliver to
the Administrative Agent a Joinder Agreement, such Joinder Agreement to be
accompanied by appropriate authorizing resolutions, other corporate or other
organizational documentation and legal opinions in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(b) Cause
each Loan Party's owned property (whether personal, tangible, intangible, or
mixed), other than any real property (unless required pursuant to Section 7.09(c)), to
be subject at all times to first priority, perfected Liens in favor of the
Administrative Agent to secure the Obligations in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the Collateral Documents, subject in any case to Permitted
Liens. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Loan
Parties will (subject to the terms and conditions of the Security Agreement,
including the definition of "Excluded Property" set forth therein) (i) cause the
Applicable Pledge Percentage of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of
each Pledge Subsidiary directly owned by any Loan Party to be subject at all
times to a first priority, perfected Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent
to secure the Obligations in accordance with the terms and conditions of the
Collateral Documents or such other security documents as the Administrative
Agent shall reasonably request (including, without limitation, if
requested by the Administrative Agent, applicable local law pledge agreements),
subject in each case to Permitted Liens, and (ii) if required pursuant to Section 7.09(c), will
promptly deliver Mortgages (together with such title reports, title insurance,
opinions of counsel, surveys, appraisals and environmental reports (if any) as
are requested by, and in form and substance reasonably acceptable to, the
Administrative Agent) with respect to real property owned by the Loan Parties to
the extent, and within such time period as is, reasonably required by the
Administrative Agent.
(c) At
any time prior to the Maturity Date, upon notice from the Administrative Agent
to the Borrower, cause each Loan Party to cause, all of its real property that
has not previously been provided as Collateral (all with such exceptions as to
materiality, cost and material credit support, in each case, to the extent
determined in the reasonable discretion of the Administrative Agent) to be
subject at all times to first priority, perfected Liens in favor of or for the
benefit of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the holders of the
Obligations, subject in each case to Permitted Liens, all within thirty (30)
days (or such later date as may be agreed to by the Administrative Agent in its
sole discretion) following the Borrower's receipt of the Administrative Agent's
notice.
(d) Without
limiting the foregoing, execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such
documents, agreements and instruments, and will take or cause to be taken such
further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements,
fixture filings, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents and such other
actions or deliveries of the type required by Section 5.01, as
applicable), which may be required by Law or which the Administrative Agent may,
from time to time, reasonably request to carry out the terms and conditions of
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to ensure perfection and
priority of the Liens created or intended to be created by the Collateral
Documents, all at the expense of the Loan Parties.
(e) If
any assets are acquired by a Loan Party after the Closing Date (other than
assets constituting Collateral under the Security Agreement that become subject
to the Lien of the Security Agreement upon acquisition thereof), notify the
Administrative Agent thereof, and, if reasonably requested by the Administrative
Agent, cause such assets to be subjected to a Lien securing the Obligations and
take such actions as shall be necessary or reasonably requested by the
Administrative Agent to grant and perfect such Liens, including actions
described in Section
7.09(d), all at the expense of the Loan Parties.
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7.10 Account
Control Agreements.
(a) Within
thirty (30) days (or such later date as may be agreed to by the Administrative
Agent in its sole discretion) after the date on which the balance of any deposit
account (excluding any payroll account or zero balance account) or securities
account of any Loan Party maintained with the Administrative Agent, a Lender, or
any Affiliate thereof equals or exceeds $500,000, cause each such deposit
account or securities account to become subject to an account control agreement,
in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, which
grants the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the holders of the
Obligations, control over and a first-priority perfected security interest in
such deposit account or securities account, including, without limitation,
amounts and other items on deposit therein or financial assets credited to such
account (as applicable). If the aggregate balance of all deposit
accounts (excluding any payroll accounts or zero balance accounts) of the Loan
Parties that are maintained with the Administrative Agent, a Lender, or any
Affiliate thereof and are not subject to the account control agreements
described in this Section 7.10(a)
exceeds $1,000,000, the Loan Parties shall subject a sufficient number of such
deposit accounts to account control agreements as and when described in this
Section 7.10(a)
to eliminate such excess. If the aggregate balance of all securities
accounts of the Loan Parties that are maintained with the Administrative Agent,
a Lender, or any Affiliate thereof and are not subject to the account control
agreements described in this Section 7.10(a)
exceeds $1,000,000, the Loan Parties subject a sufficient number of such
securities accounts to account control agreements as and when described in this
Section 7.10(a)
to eliminate such excess.
(b) Within
thirty (30) days (or such later date as may be agreed to by the Administrative
Agent in its sole discretion) after the date on which the balance of any deposit
account (excluding any payroll account or zero balance account) or securities
account of any Loan Party maintained with any Person other than the
Administrative Agent, a Lender, or any Affiliate thereof equals or exceeds
$250,000, cause each such deposit account or securities account to become
subject to an account control agreement, in form and substance reasonably
acceptable to the Administrative Agent, which grants the Administrative Agent,
for the benefit of the holders of Obligations, control over and a first-priority
perfected security interest in such deposit account or securities account,
including, without limitation, amounts and other items on deposit therein or
financial assets credited to such account (as applicable). If the
aggregate balance of all deposit accounts (excluding any payroll accounts or
zero balance accounts) of the Loan Parties that are maintained with any Person
other than the Administrative Agent, a Lender, or any Affiliate thereof and are
not subject to the account control agreements described in this paragraph
exceeds $500,000, the Loan Parties shall subject a sufficient number of such
deposit accounts to account control agreements as and when described in this
Section 7.10(b)
to eliminate such excess. If the aggregate balance of all securities
accounts of the Loan Parties that are maintained with any Person other than the
Administrative Agent, a Lender, or any Affiliate thereof and are not subject to
the account control agreements described in this Section 7.10(b)
exceeds $500,000, the Loan Parties shall subject a sufficient number of such
securities accounts to account control agreements as and when described in this
Section 7.10(b)
to eliminate such excess.
(c) Within
thirty (30) days (or such later date as may be agreed to by the Administrative
Agent in its sole discretion) after the Closing Date, deliver to the
Administrative Agent written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent
that all of the deposit accounts and securities accounts that are required to be
subject to account control agreements pursuant to any of the Loan Documents are
subject to such account control agreements.
63
7.11 Post-Closing
Matters.
Within
thirty (30) days (or such later date as may be agreed to by the Administrative
Agent in its sole discretion) after the Closing Date, deliver all certificates
evidencing any certificated Equity Interests pledged to the Administrative Agent
pursuant to the Security Agreement, together with duly executed in blank,
undated stock powers attached thereto (unless, with respect to the pledged
Equity Interests of any Foreign Subsidiary, such stock powers are deemed
unnecessary by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion under the
law of the jurisdiction of organization of such Person) unless the Subsidiary
whose Equity Interests are being pledged has been dissolved by such
date.
ARTICLE
VIII
NEGATIVE
COVENANTS
Until
such time as the Obligations have been Fully Satisfied, no Loan Party shall, nor
shall it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:
8.01 Indebtedness.
Create,
incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, except:
(a) the
Obligations;
(b) Indebtedness
existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 8.01 and
extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness with Indebtedness
of a similar type that does not increase the outstanding principal amount
thereof;
(c) Indebtedness
of the Borrower to any Subsidiary and of any Subsidiary to the Borrower or any
other Subsidiary; provided that
Indebtedness of any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party to any Loan Party shall
be subject to the limitations set forth in Section
8.04(c);
(d) Guarantees
by the Borrower of Indebtedness of any Subsidiary and by any Subsidiary of
Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary, provided that (i) the
Indebtedness so Guaranteed is permitted by this Section 8.01, (ii)
Guarantees by the Borrower or any Subsidiary that is a Loan Party of
Indebtedness of any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party shall be subject to
Section 8.04
and (iii) Guarantees permitted under this Section 8.01(d) shall
be subordinated to the Obligations of the applicable Subsidiary on the same
terms as the Indebtedness so Guaranteed is subordinated to the
Obligations;
(e) Indebtedness
incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or
capital assets, including Capital Lease Obligations and any Indebtedness assumed
in connection with the acquisition of any such assets or secured by a Lien on
any such assets prior to the acquisition thereof, and extensions, renewals and
replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding
principal amount thereof; provided that (i)
such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within ninety (90) days after such
acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement and (ii) the
aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this Section 8.01(e) shall
not exceed $5,000,000 at any time outstanding;
64
(f) Indebtedness
as an account party in respect of (i) trade letters of credit or (ii)
constituting obligations in respect of Swap Contracts permitted under Section
7.05;
(g) Indebtedness
of any Loan Party secured by a Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary; provided that the
aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this Section 8.01(g) shall
not in the aggregate exceed $5,000,000 at any time;
(h) Indebtedness
of any Person that becomes a Domestic Subsidiary after the Closing Date, and
extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness with Indebtedness
of a similar type that does not increase the outstanding principal amount
thereof; provided that (i)
such Indebtedness existed at the time such Person became a Domestic Subsidiary,
(ii) such Indebtedness is not created in contemplation of or in connection with
such Person becoming a Domestic Subsidiary, and (iii) the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of Indebtedness permitted under this Section 8.01(h) shall
not exceed $15,000,000 at any time;
(i)
Indebtedness in the form
of earn-out obligations in connection with Permitted Acquisitions (to the extent
such earn-out obligations are treated as Indebtedness under GAAP);
(j)
Indebtedness in an aggregate
principal amount not exceeding $10,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(k) Indebtedness
owed to any Person providing workers' compensation, health, disability or other
employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance, pursuant to
reimbursement or indemnification obligations to such Person, in each case
incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(l)
Indebtedness of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary as an account party in respect of performance bonds, bid bonds,
appeal bonds, surety bonds and similar obligations, in each case provided in the
ordinary course of business; and
(m) Indebtedness
of Foreign Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding
$15,000,000 at any time outstanding.
8.02. Liens.
Create,
incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned or
hereafter acquired by it, or assign or sell any income or revenues (including
accounts receivable) or rights in respect of any thereof, except:
(a) Liens
created pursuant to any Loan Document;
(b) Permitted
Encumbrances;
(c) any
Lien existing on the Closing Date and set forth in Schedule 8.02; provided that (i)
such Lien shall not apply to any other property or asset of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary and (ii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it
secures on the Closing Date and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof
that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;
65
(d) any
Lien existing on any property or asset prior to the acquisition thereof or
existing on any property or asset of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after
the Closing Date prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided that (i)
such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such
acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (ii) such
Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary and (iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it
secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a
Subsidiary, as the case may be, and extensions, renewals and replacements
thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof and (iv)
the aggregate amount of Indebtedness secured by the Liens described in this
Section 8.02(d)
shall at no time exceed an aggregate amount in excess of
$5,000,000;
(e) Liens
in connection with Sale and Leaseback Transactions that comply with the
requirements of Section
8.10;
(f) Liens
on fixed or capital assets acquired, constructed or improved by the Borrower or
any Subsidiary; provided that (i)
such security interests secure Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.01(e), (ii)
such security interests and the Indebtedness secured thereby are incurred prior
to or within ninety (90) days after such acquisition or the completion of such
construction or improvement, (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not
exceed the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital
assets; (iv) such security interests shall not apply to any other property or
assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; and (v) the aggregate amount of
Indebtedness secured by the Liens described in this Section 8.02(f) shall
at no time exceed an aggregate amount in excess of $5,000,000;
(g) Liens
securing Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries to the extent such Indebtedness is
permitted by Section
8.01(m); and
(h) Liens
not otherwise permitted above so long as the aggregate principal amount of the
Indebtedness subject to such Liens does not at any time exceed
$5,000,000.
8.03 Fundamental
Changes and Asset Sales.
(a)
Merge into or consolidate with any other
Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or
Dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) any of its assets
(including pursuant to a Sale and Leaseback Transaction), or any of the Equity
Interests of any of its Subsidiaries (in each case, whether now owned or
hereafter acquired), or liquidate or dissolve, except that, if at the time
thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Default shall have
occurred and be continuing:
(i) any
Person may merge into the Borrower in a transaction in which the Borrower is the
surviving corporation;
(ii) any
Subsidiary may merge into a Loan Party in a transaction in which the surviving
entity is such Loan Party (provided that any such merger involving the Borrower
must result in the Borrower as the surviving entity);
(iii) any
Subsidiary may Dispose of its assets to a Loan Party;
(iv) the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries may (A) sell inventory in the ordinary course of
business, (B) effect sales, trade-ins or dispositions of used, obsolete, worn
out or surplus equipment or property for value in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice, (C) sell or transfer any property or
asset in connection with a Sale and Leaseback Transaction that complies with the
requirements of Section 8.10; (D)
enter into licenses of technology in the ordinary course of business, and (E)
make any other Dispositions that, together with all other property of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries previously Disposed of as permitted by this clause
(E) during any fiscal year of the Borrower, does not exceed the greater of (x)
$5,000,000 and (y) 5% of the Consolidated Total Assets (determined as of the
first Business Day of such fiscal year); and
66
(v) any
Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve if the Borrower determines in good faith
that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrower
and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders; provided that any
such merger involving a Person that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary immediately
prior to such merger shall not be permitted unless also permitted by Section 8.04;
provided that all
Dispositions permitted hereby shall be for fair market value and at least 75% of
the consideration paid therefor shall be in cash.
(b) Engage
to any material extent in any business other than businesses of the type
conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the Closing Date and
businesses reasonably related thereto.
(c) Change
the end of its fiscal year from December 31st without
the Administrative Agent's and the Required Lenders' prior written
consent.
8.04 Investments,
Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions.
Purchase,
hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger with any Person that was not a
wholly owned Subsidiary prior to such merger) any Equity Interests, evidences of
Indebtedness or other securities (including any option, warrant or other right
to acquire any of the foregoing) of, make or permit to exist any loans or
advances to, Guarantee any obligations of, or make or permit to exist any
investment or any other interest in, any other Person, or purchase or otherwise
acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any Person or any
assets of any other Person constituting a business unit, except:
(a) Cash
Equivalents;
(b) Permitted
Acquisitions;
(c) loans
or advances made by the Borrower in or to any Subsidiary and made by any
Subsidiary to the Borrower; provided that not
more than $5,000,000 in such loans or advances may be made and remain
outstanding, during the term of this Agreement, by any Loan Party to a
Subsidiary which is not a Loan Party;
(d)(i) investments
by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in Equity Interests in their respective
Subsidiaries and (ii) investments by any Foreign Subsidiary in any other Foreign
Subsidiary; provided that, with
respect to clause (i) of this Section 8.04(d), the
amount of such investments by the Loan Parties in Foreign Subsidiaries and other
non-Loan Parties, when taken together with Guarantees by the Loan Parties of
Indebtedness owing by Foreign Subsidiaries and other non-Loan Parties, shall not
be more than $10,000,000 in the aggregate at any time;
(e) Guarantees
constituting Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.01; provided that the
amount of such Guarantees of Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries and other
non-Loan Parties by the Loan Parties, when taken together with investments by
the Loan Parties in Equity Interests in their respective Subsidiaries that are
Foreign Subsidiaries or other non-Loan Parties, shall not be more than
$10,000,000 in the aggregate at any time;
67
(f) investments
of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the Closing Date; provided that (i)
such investments existed at the time such Person became a Subsidiary, (ii) such
investments are not made in contemplation of or in connection with such Person
becoming a Subsidiary, and (iii) the aggregate amount of investments permitted
under this Section
8.04(f) shall not exceed $5,000,000 at any time;
(g) promissory
notes and other non-cash consideration received in connection with any asset
sale permitted by clause (iv) of Section
8.03(a);
(h) Swap
Contracts to the extent permitted by Section
8.05;
(i) any
investments, loans or advances existing on the Closing Date as set forth on
Schedule
8.04;
(j) bank
deposits in the ordinary course of business;
(k) investments
in securities of account debtors received pursuant to any plan of reorganization
or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of such account
debtors; and
(l) any
other investment, loan or advance (other than acquisitions) made by Domestic
Subsidiaries so long as the aggregate amount of all such investments, loans and
advances does not exceed $10,000,000 during the term of this
Agreement.
8.05 Swap
Contracts.
Enter
into any Swap Contract, except (a) Swap Contracts entered into to hedge or
mitigate risks to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary has actual exposure
(other than those in respect of Equity Interests of the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries), and (b) Swap Contracts entered into in order to effectively cap,
collar or exchange interest rates (from fixed to floating rates, from one
floating rate to another floating rate or otherwise) with respect to any
interest-bearing liability or investment of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary.
8.06 Transactions
with Affiliates.
Dispose
of any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any
property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any
of its Affiliates, except (a) in the ordinary course of business at prices and
on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary
than could be obtained on an arm's-length basis from unrelated third parties,
(b) transactions between or among the Borrower and its wholly owned Subsidiaries
not involving any other Affiliate, (c) any Indebtedness incurred in accordance
with Section 8.01,
(d) any Restricted Payment permitted by Section 8.07, (e) any
Cash Equivalent, and (f) as set forth on Schedule
8.06.
8.07 Restricted
Payments.
Declare
or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted
Payment, except (a) the Borrower may declare and pay dividends with respect to
its Equity Interests payable solely in additional shares of its common stock,
(b) Subsidiaries may declare and pay dividends ratably with respect to their
Equity Interests, (c) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments pursuant to and
in accordance with stock option plans or other benefit plans for management or
employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and (d) the Borrower may declare
and pay dividends or repurchase, redeem or otherwise retire its Equity
Interests, as the case may be, so long as (i) no Default is outstanding at the
time of or will result from the applicable dividend, repurchase, redemption or
retirement, and (ii) the aggregate amount paid in respect of all such dividends,
repurchases, redemptions and retirements during the term of this Agreement does
not exceed the sum of $50,000,000 plus 50% of the Consolidated Net Income for
the period beginning with the quarter ended March 31, 2010 and ending with the
most recent quarter to occur prior to the date of the applicable dividend,
repurchase, redemption or retirement for which the Borrower has delivered
financial information (including Consolidated Net Income) to the Administrative
Agent under and in compliance with Section 7.01(a) or
7.01(b), as the
case may be.
68
8.08 Restrictive
Agreements.
Enter
into, incur or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement that
prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon (a) the ability of the
Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur or permit to exist any Lien upon any
of its property or assets in favor of the Administrative Agent to secure the
Obligations, or (b) the ability of any Subsidiary to pay dividends or other
distributions with respect to holders of its Equity Interests or to make or
repay loans or advances to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary or to Guarantee
Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary; provided that (i) the
foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions imposed by Law or by
any Loan Document, (ii) the foregoing shall not apply to customary restrictions
and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Subsidiary
pending such sale, provided such restrictions and conditions apply only to the
Subsidiary that is to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder, (iii) the
preceding clause (a) shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by
any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement if
such restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets securing
such Indebtedness and (iv) the preceding clause (a) shall not apply to customary
provisions in leases and other contracts restricting the assignment
thereof.
8.09 Subordinated
Indebtedness and Amendments to Subordinated Indebtedness
Documents.
(a) Voluntarily
prepay, defease or in substance defease, purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise
acquire, any Subordinated Indebtedness or any Indebtedness from time to time
outstanding under the Subordinated Indebtedness Documents.
(b) Amend
the Subordinated Indebtedness Documents or any document, agreement or instrument
evidencing any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the Subordinated Indebtedness
Documents (or any replacements, substitutions, extensions or renewals thereof)
or pursuant to which such Indebtedness is issued where such amendment,
modification or supplement provides for the following or which has any of the
following effects: (i) increases the overall principal amount of any
such Indebtedness or increases the amount of any single scheduled installment of
principal or interest; (ii) shortens or accelerates the date upon which any
installment of principal or interest becomes due or adds any additional
mandatory redemption provisions; (iii) shortens the final maturity date of such
Indebtedness or otherwise accelerates the amortization schedule with respect to
such Indebtedness; (iv) increases the rate of interest accruing on such
Indebtedness; (v) provides for the payment of additional fees or increases
existing fees; (vi) amends or modifies any financial or negative covenant (or
covenant which prohibits or restricts the Borrower or any Subsidiary from taking
certain actions) in a manner which is more onerous or more restrictive in any
material respect to the Borrower or such Subsidiary or which is otherwise
materially adverse to the Borrower, any Subsidiary and/or the Lenders or, in the
case of any such covenant, which places material additional restrictions on the
Borrower or such Subsidiary or which requires the Borrower or such Subsidiary to
comply with more restrictive financial ratios or which requires the Borrower to
better its financial performance, in each case from that set forth in the
existing applicable covenants in the Subordinated Indebtedness Documents or the
applicable covenants in this Agreement; or (vii) amends, modifies or adds any
affirmative covenant in a manner which (A) when taken as a whole, is materially
adverse to the Borrower, any Subsidiary and/or the Lenders or (B) is more
onerous than the existing applicable covenant in the Subordinated Indebtedness
Documents or the applicable covenant in this Agreement.
69
8.10 Sale and
Leaseback Transactions.
Enter
into any Sale and Leaseback Transaction, other than Sale and Leaseback
Transactions (a) in respect of which the cash consideration received for the
asset or property being sold or otherwise transferred therewith is an amount not
less than the fair market value of such asset or property and (b) that are
consummated within 90 days after the Borrower or such Subsidiary acquires or
completes the construction of the asset or property being sold or otherwise
transferred therewith.
8.11 Financial
Covenants.
(a) Consolidated Net
Worth. Permit Consolidated Net Worth at any time to be less
than the sum of $119,000,000.
(b) Consolidated Leverage
Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as of the end of
any fiscal quarter of the Borrower to be greater than 3.00 to 1.0.
(c) Consolidated Interest
Coverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Interest Coverage
Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower to be less than 5.00
to 1.0.
ARTICLE
IX
EVENTS
OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
9.01 Events of
Default.
Any of
the following shall constitute an Event of Default:
(a) Non-Payment. Any
Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount
of principal of any Loan or any L/C Obligation, or (ii) within three (3)
Business Days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or on any L/C
Obligation, any fee due hereunder or other amount payable hereunder or under any
other Loan Document; or
(b) Specific
Covenants. Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any
term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 7.02, 7.03 (with respect to
the Borrower's existence), 7.08 or 7.09, or Article VIII;
or
(c) Other
Defaults. Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other
covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) or (b) above) contained
in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure
continues for thirty (30) days thirty days after the earlier of the date on
which (i) a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party becomes aware of such failure or
(ii) notice thereof shall have been given by the Administrative Agent to the
Borrower; or
(d) Representations and
Warranties. Any representation, warranty, certification or
statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Loan Party herein,
in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith
or therewith shall be incorrect when made or deemed made; or
70
(e) Cross-Default. (i)
Any Loan Party or any Subsidiary (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether
by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise)
in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than Indebtedness hereunder
and Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount
(including undrawn committed or available amounts and including amounts owing to
all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than
$5,000,000, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition
relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or
agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs,
the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder
or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such
Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or
beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required,
such Indebtedness to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid,
defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase,
prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated
maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect
thereof to be demanded (provided that this
subclause (B) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a
result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such
Indebtedness); or (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination
Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default
under such Swap Contract as to which any Loan Party or any Subsidiary is the
Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) any Termination Event
(as so defined) under such Swap Contract as to which any Loan Party or any
Subsidiary is an Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either event, the Swap
Termination Value owed by such Loan Party or such Subsidiary as a result thereof
is greater than $5,000,000; or
(f)
Insolvency Proceedings,
Etc. Any Loan Party or any Subsidiary institutes or consents
to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an
assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the
appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator,
rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its
property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator,
rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent
of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for sixty
calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any
such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without
the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for sixty (60)
calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding;
or
(g) Inability to Pay Debts;
Attachment. (i) Any Loan Party or any Subsidiary becomes
unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as
they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or
similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the
property of any such Person and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within
thirty days after its issue or levy; or
(h) Judgments. There
is entered against any Loan Party or any Subsidiary (i) one or more final
judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all
such judgments or orders) exceeding $5,000,000 (to the extent not covered by
independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer has been notified of
the claim and does not dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary
final judgments that have, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually
or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A)
enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or
order, or (B) there is a period of forty-five consecutive days during which a
stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or
otherwise, is not in effect; or
71
(i)
ERISA. An
ERISA Event shall have occurred that, when taken together with all other ERISA
Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect; or
(j)
Invalidity of Loan
Documents. Any Loan Document, at any time after its execution
and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or
thereunder or the Obligations being Fully Satisfied, ceases to be in full force
and effect; or any Loan Party or any other Person contests in any manner the
validity or enforceability of any Loan Document; or any Loan Party denies that
it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or
purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any Loan Document; or
(k) Change of
Control. There occurs any Change of Control.
9.02 Remedies
Upon Event of Default.
If any
Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at
the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or
all of the following actions:
(a) declare
the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuer
to make L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and
obligation shall be terminated;
(b) declare
the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and
unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any
other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment,
demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly
waived by the Borrower;
(c) require
that the Borrower Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to
the then Outstanding Amount thereof); and
(d) exercise
on behalf of itself, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer all rights and remedies
available to it, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer under the Loan Documents or
applicable Law;
provided, however, that upon
the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect
to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation
of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C
Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of
all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall
automatically become due and payable, and the obligation of the Borrower to Cash
Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become
effective, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any
Lender.
9.03 Application
of Funds.
After the
exercise of remedies provided for in Section 9.02 (or
after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the
L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as
set forth in the proviso to Section 9.02), any
amounts received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the
Administrative Agent in the following order:
First, to payment of
that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and
other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the
Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III) payable
to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;
72
Second, to payment of
that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts
(other than principal, interest and Letter of Credit Fees) payable to the
Lenders and the L/C Issuer (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel
to the respective Lenders and the L/C Issuer and amounts payable under Article III), ratably
among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause
Second payable
to them;
Third, to payment of
that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid Letter of Credit
Fees and interest on the Loans and L/C Borrowings and fees, premiums and
scheduled periodic payments, and any interest accrued thereon, due under any
Swap Contract between any Loan Party or any Subsidiary and any Lender, or any
Affiliate of a Lender, to the extent such Swap Contract is permitted by Section 8.01(f),
ratably among the Lenders (and, in the case of such Swap Contracts, Affiliates
of Lenders) and the L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described
in this clause Third held by
them;
Fourth, to (a)
payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the
Loans and L/C Borrowings, (b) payment of breakage, termination or other
payments, and any interest accrued thereon, due under any Swap Contract between
any Loan Party or any Subsidiary and any Lender, or any Affiliate of a Lender,
to the extent such Swap Contract is permitted by Section 8.01(f),
(c) payments of amounts due under any Treasury Management Agreement between
any Loan Party or any Subsidiary and any Lender, or any Affiliate of a Lender
and (d) Cash Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the
aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit, ratably among the Lenders (and,
in the case of such Swap Contracts and Treasury Management Agreements,
Affiliates of Lenders) and the L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective
amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;
and
Last, the balance, if
any, after all of the Obligations have been Fully Satisfied, to the Borrower or
as otherwise required by Law.
Subject
to Section
2.03(c), amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount
of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fourth above shall be
applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they
occur. If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all
Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount
shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth
above.
ARTICLE
X
ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENT
10.01 Appointment
and Authority.
Each of
the Lenders and the L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints Bank of America 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 L/C
Issuer, and no Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any
of such provisions.
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10.02 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
any Loan Party 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.
10.03 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 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 Required 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 any Loan Party 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 Required 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 11.01 and
9.02) 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 unless
and until notice describing such Default is given to the Administrative Agent by
the Borrower, a Lender or the L/C Issuer.
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, (iv) the validity, enforceability,
effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any
other agreement, instrument or document, or the creation, perfection or priority
of any Lien purported to be created by the Collateral Documents, (v) the value
or the sufficiency of any Collateral, or (vi) the satisfaction of any condition
set forth in Article
V or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly
required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.
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10.04 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 a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms
must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, the
Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such
Lender or the L/C Issuer unless the Administrative Agent shall have received
notice to the contrary from such Lender or the L/C Issuer 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
Loan Parties), 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.
10.05 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.
10.06 Resignation
of Administrative Agent.
The
Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the
Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such
notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in
consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank
with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an
office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been so
appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment
within 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 L/C Issuer, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the
qualifications set forth above; 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 (except that in the
case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of
the Lenders or the L/C Issuer under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring
Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such
time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) 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 L/C Issuer directly, until such time as the Required Lenders (in
consultation with the Borrower) appoint a successor Administrative Agent as
provided for above in this Section. 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 Section). 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
Section 11.04
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.
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Any
resignation by Bank of America as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section
shall also constitute its resignation as L/C Issuer and Swing Line
Lender. Upon the acceptance of a successor's appointment as
Administrative Agent hereunder, (i) such successor shall succeed to and become
vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C
Issuer and Swing Line Lender, (ii) the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender
shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations
hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, and (iii) the successor L/C Issuer
shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any,
outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements
satisfactory to the retiring L/C Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of
the retiring L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.
10.07 Non-Reliance
on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.
Each
Lender and the L/C Issuer 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 L/C Issuer 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.
10.08 No Other
Duties; Etc.
Anything
herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the bookrunners, arrangers,
syndication agents, documentation agents or co-agents shall have any powers,
duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan
Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a
Lender or the L/C Issuer hereunder.
10.09 Administrative
Agent May File Proofs of Claim.
In case
of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other
judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent
(irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation shall then
be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and
irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on
the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such
proceeding or otherwise:
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(a) to
file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing
and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations and all other Obligations
arising under the Loan Documents that are owing and unpaid and to file such
other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of
the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent (including any claim
for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the
Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents
and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the
Administrative Agent under Sections 2.03(h) and
(i), 2.09 and 11.04) allowed in
such judicial proceeding; and
(b) to
collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any
such claims and to distribute the same;
and any
custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other
similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each
Lender and the L/C Issuer to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and,
if the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments
directly to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, to pay to the Administrative Agent
any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and
advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other
amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and
11.04.
Nothing
contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to
authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or the L/C
Issuer any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition
affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or the L/C Issuer to
authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender
or the L/C Issuer in any such proceeding.
10.10 Collateral
and Guaranty Matters.
The
Lenders and the L/C Issuer irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at
its option and in its discretion,
(a) to
release any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent
under any Loan Document (i) at such time as the Obligations have been Fully
Satisfied, (ii) that is transferred or to be transferred as part of or in
connection with any Disposition permitted hereunder or under any other Loan
Document or any Involuntary Disposition, or (iii) as approved in accordance
with Section 11.01;
(b) to
subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative
Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is
permitted by Section 8.02(f);
and
(c) to
release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty if such Person
ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted
hereunder.
Upon
request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will
confirm in writing the Administrative Agent's authority to release or
subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release
any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty, pursuant to this Section
10.10.
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ARTICLE
XI
MISCELLANEOUS
11.01 Amendments,
Etc.
No
amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan
Document, and no consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom, shall be
effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower or
the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the
Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in
the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, further,
that
(a) no
such amendment, waiver or consent shall:
(i) extend
or increase the Commitment of a Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated
pursuant to Section
9.02) without the written consent of such Lender whose Commitment is
being extended or increased (it being understood and agreed that a waiver of any
condition precedent set forth in Section 5.02 or of
any Default or a mandatory reduction in Commitments is not considered an
extension or increase in Commitments of any Lender);
(ii) postpone
any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment
(excluding mandatory prepayments) of principal, interest, fees or other amounts
due to the Lenders (or any of them) or any scheduled reduction of the
Commitments hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written
consent of each Lender entitled to receive such payment or whose Commitments are
to be reduced;
(iii) reduce
the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or L/C
Borrowing, or (subject to clause (i) of the final proviso to this Section 11.01) any
fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without
the written consent of each Lender entitled to receive such amount; provided, however, that only
the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to (A) amend the
definition of "Default Rate" or waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay
interest or Letter of Credit Fees at the Default Rate or (B) to amend any
financial covenant hereunder (or any defined term used therein) even if the
effect of such amendment would be to reduce the rate of interest on any Loan or
L/C Borrowing or to reduce any fee payable hereunder;
(iv) change
Section 9.03 in
a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby
without the written consent of each Lender directly affected
thereby;
(v) change
any provision of this Section 11.01(a) or
the definition of "Required Lenders" without the written consent of each Lender
directly affected thereby;
(vi) release
all or substantially all of the Collateral without the written consent of each
Lender whose Obligations are secured by such Collateral;
(vii) release
the Borrower without the consent of each Lender, or, except in connection with a
transaction permitted under Section 8.03, all or
substantially all of the value of the Guaranty without the written consent of
each Lender whose Obligations are guarantied thereby, except to the extent such
release is permitted pursuant to Section 10.10 (in
which case such release may be made by the Administrative Agent acting alone);
or
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(b) unless
also signed by the L/C Issuer, no amendment, waiver or consent shall affect the
rights or duties of the L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Issuer Document
relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it;
(c) unless
also signed by the Swing Line Lender, no amendment, waiver or consent shall
affect the rights or duties of the Swing Line Lender under this Agreement;
and
(d) unless
also signed by the Administrative Agent, no amendment, waiver or consent shall
affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or
any other Loan Document;
provided, however, that
notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (i) the Fee Letter may be
amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only
by the parties thereto, (ii) each Lender is entitled to vote as such Lender sees
fit on any bankruptcy reorganization plan that affects the Loans, and each
Lender acknowledges that the provisions of Section 1126(c) of the
Bankruptcy Code of the United States supersedes the unanimous consent provisions
set forth herein and (iii) the Required Lenders shall determine whether or
not to allow a Loan Party to use cash collateral in the context of a bankruptcy
or insolvency proceeding and such determination shall be binding on all of the
Lenders.
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to
approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any
amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all
Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the
applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the
Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the
consent of such Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring
the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any
Defaulting Lender more adversely than other affected Lenders shall require the
consent of such Defaulting Lender.
11.02 Notices;
Effectiveness; Electronic Communications.
(a) Notices
Generally. Except in the case of notices and other
communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as
provided in subsection (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, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder
to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as
follows:
(i) if
to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line
Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone
number specified for such Person on Schedule 11.02;
and
(ii) if
to any other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address
or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire (including, as
appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender on
its Administrative Questionnaire then in effect for the delivery of notices that
may contain material non-public information relating to the
Borrower).
Notices
and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by
certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received;
notices and other communications 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 and other
communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent
provided in subsection (b) below, shall be effective as provided in such
subsection (b).
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(b) Electronic
Communications. Notices and other communications to the
Lenders and the L/C Issuer 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 L/C Issuer pursuant to
Article II if
such Lender or the L/C Issuer, 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) The
Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS
AVAILABLE." THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE
ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE
PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE
BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR
STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER
CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER
MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the Administrative Agent
or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the "Agent Parties") have
any liability to the Borrower, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other Person
for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in
tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower's or the Administrative
Agent's transmission of Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the
extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined
by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to
have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent
Party; provided, however, that in no
event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender, the
L/C Issuer or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential
or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).
(d) Change of Address,
Etc. Each of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C
Issuer and the Swing Line Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone
number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other
parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier
or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to
the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line
Lender. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative
Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record
(i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, telecopier number and
electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent
and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender. Furthermore,
each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of
such Public Lender to at all times have selected the "Private Side Information"
or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in
order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such
Public Lender's compliance procedures and applicable Law, including United
States Federal and state securities Laws, to make reference to Borrower
Materials that are not made available through the "Public Side Information"
portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information
with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States
Federal or state securities laws.
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(e) Reliance by Administrative
Agent, L/C Issuer and Lenders. The Administrative
Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any
notices (including telephonic Loan Notices and Swing Line Loan Notices)
purportedly given by or on behalf of any Loan Party even if (i) such notices
were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded
or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms
thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation
thereof. The Loan Parties shall indemnify the Administrative Agent,
the L/C Issuer, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all
losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such
Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of a Loan Party; provided, that such
indemnity shall not be available to the extent that such losses, costs, expenses
or liabilities are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to have
resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Person seeking
such indemnity. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic
communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the
Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such
recording.
11.03 No
Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement.
No
failure by any Lender, the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent to exercise,
and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or
privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or
partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege
hereunder or under any other Loan Document preclude any other or
further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or
privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein
provided, and provided under each other Loan Document are cumulative and not
exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by
law.
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the
authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan
Documents against the Loan Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively
in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement
shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in
accordance with Section 9.02 for the
benefit of all the Lenders and the L/C Issuer; provided, however, that the
foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its
own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its
capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents,
(b) the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender from exercising the rights and
remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as L/C Issuer or
Swing Line Lender, as the case may be) hereunder and under the other Loan
Documents, (c) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 11.08
(subject to the terms of Section 2.13), or (d)
any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its
own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Loan Party under
any Debtor Relief Law; and provided, further, that if at
any time there is no Person acting as Administrative Agent hereunder and under
the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights
otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.02 and (ii)
in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b), (c) and (d) of the
preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.13, any
Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and
remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required
Lenders.
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11.04 Expenses;
Indemnity; and Damage Waiver.
(a) Costs and
Expenses. The Loan Parties shall pay (i) all reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates
(including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the
Administrative Agent) in connection with the syndication of the credit
facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution,
delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or
any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof
(whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be
consummated), (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the
L/C Issuer in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of
any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the
L/C Issuer (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any
counsel for the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer), in
connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in
connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its
rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made or
Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses
incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such
Loans or Letters of Credit.
(b) Indemnification by the Loan
Parties. The Loan Parties shall indemnify the Administrative
Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and the L/C Issuer, and each
Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an
"Indemnitee")
against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the reasonable fees,
charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee) incurred by any
Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by any Loan
Party arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the
execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any
agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the
parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case
of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties
only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents
(including in respect of any matters addressed in Section 3.01),
(ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the
proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the L/C Issuer to honor a demand
for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection
with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of
Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous
Materials on or from any property owned or operated by a Loan Party or any of
its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to a Loan
Party or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim,
litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing,
whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third
party or by any Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party
thereto; provided that such
indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) 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 Indemnitee or
(y) result from a claim brought by any Loan Party against an Indemnitee for
breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee's obligations hereunder or under any
other Loan Document, if such Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable
judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction.
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(c) Reimbursement by
Lenders. To the extent that the Loan Parties for any reason
fail to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a)
or (b) of this Section to be paid by them to the Administrative Agent (or
any sub-agent thereof), the L/C Issuer or any Related Party of any of the
foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or
any such sub-agent), the L/C Issuer or such Related Party, as the case may be,
such Lender's Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the
applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid
amount, provided that the
unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related
expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the
Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or the L/C Issuer in its capacity
as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the
Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or L/C Issuer in connection with
such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this
subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(d).
(d) Waiver of Consequential
Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable
law, no Loan Party shall assert, and each Loan Party hereby waives, any claim
against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect,
consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages)
arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other
Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the
use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in subsection
(b) above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended
recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended
recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other
information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other
Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than for
direct or actual damages resulting from the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and nonappealable
judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.
(e) Payments. All
amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten Business Days
after demand therefor.
(f) Survival. The
agreements in this Section shall survive the resignation of the Administrative
Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender, the replacement of any Lender,
the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge
of all the other Obligations.
11.05 Payments
Set Aside.
To the
extent that any payment by or on behalf of any Loan Party is made to the
Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent,
the L/C Issuer or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or
the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated,
declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including
pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent, the L/C
Issuer or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or
any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law
or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part
thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in
full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had
not occurred, and (b) each Lender and the L/C Issuer severally agrees to pay to
the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication)
of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus
interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made
at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in
effect. The obligations of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer under
clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the
Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
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11.06 Successors
and Assigns.
(a) Successors and Assigns
Generally. The provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto
and thereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except
that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or
obligations hereunder or thereunder 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 assignee in
accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of
participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this
Section or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject
to the restrictions of subsection (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 subsection (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly
contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent,
the L/C Issuer 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
assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement
and the other Loan Documents (including all or a portion of its Commitment and
the Loans (including for purposes of this subsection (b), participations in L/C
Obligations and in Swing Line Loans) at the time owing to it); provided that any
such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:
(i) Minimum
Amounts.
(A) in
the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning
Lender's Commitment and the related Loans at the time owing to it or in the case
of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no
minimum amount need be assigned; and
(B) in
any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the aggregate
amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding
thereunder) or, if the 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 Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise
consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, however, that
concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent
assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single assignee (or to an
assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single
assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been
met.
(ii) Proportionate
Amounts. Each partial assignment shall be made as an
assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender's Loans and
Commitments, and rights and obligations with respect thereto, assigned, except
that this clause (ii) shall not apply to the Swing Line Lender's rights and
obligations in respect of Swing Line Loans;
(iii) Required
Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment
except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section and, in
addition:
(A) the
consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) shall be
required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the
time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a
Lender or an Approved Fund; provided that the
Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it
shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within five
(5) Business Days after having received notice
thereof;
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(B) the
consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably
withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments in respect of any
Revolving Commitment if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender, an
Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender;
and
(C) the
consent of the L/C Issuer (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or
delayed) shall be required for any assignment that increases the obligation of
the assignee to participate in exposure under one or more Letters of Credit
(whether or not then outstanding); and
(D) the
consent of the Swing Line Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld
or delayed) shall be required for any assignment in respect of Revolving Loans
and Revolving Commitments.
(iv) Assignment and
Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall execute and
deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with
a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500; provided, however, that the
Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing
and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The assignee, if
it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an
Administrative Questionnaire.
(v) No Assignment to Certain
Persons. No such assignment shall be made to (A) the Borrower
or any of the Borrower's Affiliates or Subsidiaries, (B) any Defaulting Lender
or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder,
would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B), or
(C) a natural person.
(vi) Certain Additional
Payments. In connection with any assignment of rights and
obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be
effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set
forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments
to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution
thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee
of participations or subparticipations, or other compensating actions, including
funding, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the
applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the
Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby
irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities
then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent or any Lender
hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as
appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans and participations in Letters
of Credit and Swing Line Loans in accordance with its Applicable
Percentage. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any
assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall
become effective under applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of
this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a
Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance
occurs.
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Subject
to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to
subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in
each Assignment and Assumption, the 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 Sections
3.01, 3.04, 3.05 and 11.04 with respect to
facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such
assignment). Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall
execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or
transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not
comply with this subsection 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 subsection (d) of this Section.
(c) Register. The
Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower
(and such agency being solely for tax purposes), 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 Commitments of, and principal amounts of the Loans and L/C
Obligations 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. In addition, the Administrative Agent shall maintain on the
Register information regarding the designation, and revocation of designation,
of any Lender as a Defaulting Lender. 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, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or
the Administrative Agent, 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/or obligations under this Agreement
(including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans (including such
Lender's participations in L/C Obligations and/or Swing Line 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, the other Lenders and the L/C Issuer 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, waiver or other modification
described in clauses (i) through (vii) of Section 11.01(a) that
affects such Participant. Subject to subsection (e) of this Section,
the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of
Sections 3.01,
3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as
if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to
subsection (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by Law, each
Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 11.08 as though it were a
Lender, provided such
Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as
though it were a Lender.
(e) Limitation on Participant
Rights. A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any
greater payment under Section 3.01 or 3.04 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. A
Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be
entitled to the benefits of Section 3.01
unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant
and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with
Section 3.01(e)
as though it were a Lender. A Participant that would be a non-Foreign
Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.01 unless
the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such
Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 3.01(e) as
though it were a Lender.
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(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
(including under its Note, if any) 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.
(g) Resignation as L/C Issuer or
Swing Line Lender after Assignment. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary contained herein, if at any time Bank of America assigns all of
its Revolving Commitment and Revolving Loans pursuant to subsection (b) above,
Bank of America may, (i) upon thirty days' notice to the Borrower and the
Lenders, resign as L/C Issuer and/or (ii) upon thirty days' notice to the
Borrower, resign as Swing Line Lender. In the event of any such
resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, the Borrower shall be entitled
to appoint from among the Lenders a successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender
hereunder; provided, however, that no
failure by the Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the
resignation of Bank of America as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case
may be. If Bank of America resigns as L/C Issuer, it shall retain all
the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the L/C Issuer hereunder with
respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its
resignation as L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto
(including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk
participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section
2.03(c)). If Bank of America resigns as Swing Line Lender, it
shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with
respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date
of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base
Rate Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant
to Section
2.04(c). Upon the appointment of a successor L/C Issuer and/or
Swing Line Lender, (1) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with
all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer or
Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, and (2) the successor L/C Issuer shall
issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any,
outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements
satisfactory to Bank of America to effectively assume the obligations of Bank of
America with respect to such Letters of Credit.
11.07 Treatment
of Certain Information; Confidentiality.
Each of
the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer 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, trustees, advisors and
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
any Eligible Assignee invited to become a Lender pursuant to Section 2.01(b) or
(ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or
derivative transaction relating to a Loan Party 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 L/C Issuer or any
of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other
than the Borrower.
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For
purposes of this Section, "Information" means
all information received from a Loan Party or any Subsidiary relating to the
Loan Parties or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than
any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender
or the L/C Issuer on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by such Loan
Party or any Subsidiary, provided that, in the
case of information received from a Loan Party or any Subsidiary 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.
Each of
the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer acknowledges that (a)
the Information may include material non-public information concerning a Loan
Party or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance
procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will
handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law,
including United States Federal and state securities Laws.
11.08 Set-off.
If an
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, the L/C
Issuer and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time
and from time to time, after obtaining the prior written consent of the
Administrative Agent, 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 L/C
Issuer or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of any Loan
Party against any and all of the obligations of such Loan Party now or hereafter
existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or the
L/C Issuer, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or the L/C Issuer shall
have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and
although such obligations of such Loan Party may be contingent or unmatured or
are owed to a branch or office of such Lender or the L/C Issuer different from
the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness;
provided, that
in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff,
(x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative
Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.15 and,
pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its
other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent
and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the
Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations
owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of
setoff. The rights of each Lender, the L/C Issuer and their
respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and
remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, the L/C Issuer or
their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer
agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any
such setoff and application, provided that the
failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and
application.
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11.09 Interest
Rate Limitation.
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or
agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of
non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the "Maximum
Rate"). If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall
receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest
shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid
principal, refunded to the Borrower. In determining whether the
interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a
Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by
applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an
expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments
and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in
equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated
term of the Obligations hereunder.
11.10 Counterparts;
Integration; Effectiveness.
This
Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in
different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of
which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This
Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire contract among the
parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous
agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter
hereof. Except as provided in Section 5.01, this
Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the
Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received
counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of
the other parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a
signature page of this Agreement by telecopy or other electronic imaging means
shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this
Agreement.
11.11 Survival
of Representations and Warranties.
All
representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or
other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or
therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and
thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be
relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any
investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf
and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had
notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and
shall continue in full force and effect until such time as the Obligations have
been Fully Satisfied.
11.12 Severability.
If any
provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal,
invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the
remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be
affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith
negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with
valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that
of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity
of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render
unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. Without
limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.12, if and
to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement
relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as
determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the
Swing Line Lender, as applicable, then such provisions shall be deemed to be in
effect only to the extent not so limited.
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11.13 Replacement
of Lenders.
If (i)
any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, (ii)
the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any
Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, (iii) a
Lender (a "Non-Consenting
Lender") does not consent to a proposed change, waiver, discharge or
termination with respect to any Loan Document that has been approved by the
Required Lenders as provided in Section 11.01 but
requires unanimous consent of all Lenders or all Lenders directly affected
thereby (as applicable) or (iv) any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, 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 11.06), 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:
(a) the
Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee
specified in Section
11.06(b);
(b) such
Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding
principal of its Loans and L/C Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees
and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents
(including any amounts under Section 3.05) 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);
(c) in
the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under
Section 3.04 or
payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, such
assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments
thereafter;
(d) such
assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws; and
(e) in
the case of any such assignment resulting from a Non-Consenting Lender's failure
to consent to a proposed change, waiver, discharge or termination with respect
to any Loan Document, the applicable replacement bank, financial institution or
Fund consents to the proposed change, waiver, discharge or
termination;
provided, further, that the
failure by such Lender to execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption shall
not impair the validity of the removal of such Lender and the mandatory
assignment of such Lender's Commitments and outstanding Loans and participations
in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans pursuant to this Section 11.13 shall
nevertheless be effective without the execution by such Lender of an Assignment
and Assumption.
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.
11.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction;
Etc.
(a) GOVERNING
LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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(b) SUBMISSION TO
JURISDICTION. EACH LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY
SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE
COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED
STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE
COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING
TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT
OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY
AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD
AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED
BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO
AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE
CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR
IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN
ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT,
ANY LENDER OR THE L/C ISSUER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR
PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST ANY
LOAN PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.
(c) WAIVER OF
VENUE. EACH LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES,
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW
OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT
OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT
REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION. EACH OF THE
PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY
APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH
ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.
(d) SERVICE OF
PROCESS. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF
PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 11.02. NOTHING
IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN
ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
11.15 Waiver of
Right to Trial by Jury.
EACH
PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY
APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING
DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER
LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED
ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO
(A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON
HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN
THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND
(B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO
ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS,
THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
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11.16 No
Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.
In
connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including
in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any
other Loan Document), each of the Loan Parties acknowledges and agrees, and
acknowledges its Affiliates' understanding, that: (i) (A) the arranging and
other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent and
the Arranger, are arm's-length commercial transactions between the Loan Parties
and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent
and the Arranger, on the other hand, (B) each of the Loan Parties has consulted
its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has
deemed appropriate, and (C) each of the Loan Parties is capable of evaluating,
and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions
contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) the Administrative
Agent and the Arranger each is and has been acting solely as a principal and,
except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is
not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Loan
Parties or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (B)
neither the Administrative Agent nor the Arranger has any obligation to the Loan
Parties or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions
contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in
the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger
and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions
that involve interests that differ from those of the Loan Parties and their
respective Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent nor the Arranger has
any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Loan Parties and their
respective Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by Law, each
of the Loan Parties hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have
against the Administrative Agent and the Arranger with respect to any breach or
alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any
transaction contemplated hereby.
11.17 Electronic
Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents.
The words
"execution," "signed," "signature," and words of like import in any Assignment
and Assumption or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including
waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the
keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal
effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use
of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as
provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures
in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures
and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic
Transactions Act.
11.18 USA
PATRIOT Act Notice.
Each
Lender that is subject to the Act (as hereinafter defined) and the
Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby
notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act
(Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the "Act"), it
is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the
Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and
other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as
applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Act. The
Borrower shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any
Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative
Agent or such Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations
under applicable "know your customer" and anti-money laundering rules and
regulations, including the Act.
[SIGNATURE
PAGES FOLLOW]
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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the
parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date
first above written.
BORROWER:
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INNERWORKINGS,
INC,
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a
Delaware corporation
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By:
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
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|
Name:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
|
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Title:
Chief Financial Officer
|
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ADMINISTRATIVE
|
|
AGENT:
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BANK
OF AMERICA, N.A.,
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as
Administrative Agent
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By:
/s/ Xxxxx Lov
|
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Name:
Xxxxx Lov
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Title:
AVP
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LENDERS:
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BANK
OF AMERICA, N.A.,
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as
a Lender, L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender
|
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By:
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
|
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Name:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
|
|
Title:
Vice President
|
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JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A,
|
|
as
a Lender
|
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By:
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
|
|
Name:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
|
|
Title:
Vice President
|
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PNC
BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
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as
a Lender
|
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By:
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
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Name:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
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Title:
AVP
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ASSOCIATED
BANK, N.A.,
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as
a Lender
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By:
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Name:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
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Title:
Vice President
|
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THE
NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY,
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as
a Lender
|
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By:
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
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|
Name:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
|
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Title:
Vice President
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