AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT Dated as of January 18, 2008 among Duckwall-Alco Stores, Inc., as the Borrower, Bank of America, N.A. as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer, and The Other Lenders Party Hereto...
AMENDED
AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
Dated as
of January 18, 2008
among
Xxxxxxxx-Alco
Stores, Inc.,
as the
Borrower,
Bank of
America, N.A.
as
Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, Swing Line Lender
and
L/C
Issuer,
and
The Other
Lenders Party Hereto
Xxxxx
Fargo Retail Finance, LLC,
as
Documentation Agent
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Section Page
|
ARTICLE
I. DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS[INSERT PAGE
NUMBER]
|
|
1.01
|
Defined
Terms
|
|
1.02
|
Other
Interpretive Provisions
|
|
1.03
|
Accounting
Terms.
|
|
1.04
|
Rounding
|
|
1.05
|
Times
of Day
|
|
1.06
|
Letter
of Credit Amounts
|
|
ARTICLE
II. THE REVOLVING CREDIT COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS[INSERT PAGE
NUMBER]
|
|
2.01
|
Revolving
Credit Loans; Reserves
|
|
2.02
|
Reserved.
|
|
2.03
|
Borrowings,
Conversions and Continuations of Loans.
|
|
2.04
|
Letters
of Credit.
|
|
2.05
|
Swing
Line Loans.
|
|
2.06
|
Prepayments.
|
|
2.07
|
Termination
or Reduction of Revolving Credit Commitments.
|
|
2.08
|
Repayment
of Loans.
|
|
2.09
|
Interest.
|
|
2.10
|
Fees
|
|
2.11
|
Computation
of Interest and Fees.
|
|
2.12
|
Evidence
of Debt.
|
|
2.13
|
Payments
Generally.
|
|
2.14
|
Sharing
of Payments by Lenders.
|
|
2.15
|
Settlement
Amongst Lenders
|
|
2.16
|
Increase
in Revolving Credit Commitments.
|
|
ARTICLE
III. TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY[INSERT PAGE
NUMBER]
|
|
3.01
|
Taxes.
|
|
3.02
|
Illegality
|
|
3.03
|
Inability
to Determine Rates
|
|
3.04
|
Increased
Costs; Reserves on LIBO Rate Loans.
|
|
3.05
|
Compensation
for Losses
|
|
3.06
|
Mitigation
Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.
|
|
3.07
|
Survival
|
|
ARTICLE
IV. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS[INSERT PAGE
NUMBER]
|
|
4.01
|
Conditions
of Initial Credit Extension
|
|
4.02
|
Conditions
to all Credit Extensions
|
|
ARTICLE
V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES[INSERT PAGE
NUMBER]
|
|
5.01
|
Existence,
Qualification and Power
|
|
5.02
|
Authorization;
No Contravention
|
|
5.03
|
Governmental
Authorization; Other Consents
|
|
5.04
|
Binding
Effect
|
|
5.05
|
Financial
Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.
|
|
5.06
|
Litigation
|
|
5.07
|
No
Default. Neither
|
|
5.08
|
Ownership
of Property; Liens.
|
|
5.09
|
Environmental
Compliance. Neither
|
|
5.10
|
Insurance
|
|
5.11
|
Taxes
|
|
5.12
|
ERISA
Compliance.
|
|
5.13
|
Subsidiaries;
Equity Interests
|
|
5.14
|
Margin
Regulations; Investment Company Act.
|
|
5.15
|
Disclosure.
|
|
5.16
|
Compliance
with Laws
|
|
5.17
|
Intellectual
Property; Licenses, Etc.
|
|
5.18
|
Labor
Matters.
|
|
5.19
|
Security
Documents.
|
|
5.20
|
Solvency.
|
|
5.21
|
Deposit
Accounts; Credit Card Arrangements.
|
|
5.22
|
Brokers.
|
|
5.23
|
Customer
and Trade Relations.
|
|
5.24
|
Material
Contracts.
|
|
5.25
|
Casualty.
|
|
ARTICLE
VI. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS[INSERT PAGE
NUMBER]
|
|
6.01
|
Financial
Statements
|
|
6.02
|
Certificates;
Other Information
|
|
6.03
|
Notices
|
|
6.04
|
Payment
of Obligations.
|
|
6.05
|
Preservation
of Existence, Etc.
|
|
6.06
|
Maintenance
of Properties.
|
|
6.07
|
Maintenance
of Insurance
|
|
6.08
|
Compliance
with Laws
|
|
6.09
|
Books
and Records; Accountants.
|
|
6.10
|
Inspection
Rights.
|
|
6.11
|
Use
of Proceeds.
|
|
6.12
|
Additional
Loan Parties
|
|
6.13
|
Cash
Management.
|
|
6.14
|
Information
Regarding the Collateral.
|
|
6.15
|
Physical
Inventories.
|
|
6.16
|
Environmental
Laws.
|
|
6.17
|
Further
Assurances.
|
|
6.18
|
Compliance
with Terms of Leaseholds.
|
|
6.19
|
Material
Contracts.
|
|
ARTICLE
VII. NEGATIVE COVENANTS[INSERT PAGE
NUMBER]
|
|
7.01
|
Liens
|
|
7.02
|
Investments
|
|
7.03
|
Indebtedness.
|
|
7.04
|
Fundamental
Changes
|
|
7.05
|
Dispositions.
|
|
7.06
|
Restricted
Payments.
|
|
7.07
|
Prepayments
of Indebtedness.
|
|
7.08
|
Change
in Nature of Business.
|
|
7.09
|
Transactions
with Affiliates
|
|
7.10
|
Burdensome
Agreements
|
|
7.11
|
Use
of Proceeds
|
|
7.12
|
Amendment
of Material Documents.
|
|
7.13
|
Corporate
Name; Fiscal Year.
|
|
7.14
|
Deposit
Accounts; Credit Card Processors.
|
|
7.15
|
Excess
Availability.
|
|
7.16
|
Store
Openings or Closings.
|
|
ARTICLE
VIII. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES[INSERT PAGE
NUMBER]
|
|
8.01
|
Events
of Default
|
|
8.02
|
Remedies
Upon Event of Default
|
|
8.03
|
Application
of Funds
|
|
ARTICLE
IX. ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT[INSERT PAGE
NUMBER]
|
|
9.01
|
Appointment
and Authority.
|
|
9.02
|
Rights
as a Lender
|
|
9.03
|
Exculpatory
Provisions
|
|
9.04
|
Reliance
by Agents.
|
|
9.05
|
Delegation
of Duties
|
|
9.06
|
Resignation
of Agents
|
|
9.07
|
Non-Reliance
on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders
|
|
9.08
|
No
Other Duties, Etc.
|
|
9.09
|
Administrative
Agent May File Proofs of Claim
|
|
9.10
|
Collateral
and Guaranty Matters
|
|
9.11
|
Notice
of Transfer
|
|
9.12
|
Reports
and Financial Statements
|
|
9.13
|
Agency
for Perfection.
|
|
9.14
|
Indemnification
of Agents
|
|
9.15
|
Relation
among Lenders.
|
|
ARTICLE
X. MISCELLANEOUS[INSERT PAGE
NUMBER]
|
|
10.01
|
Amendments,
Etc.
|
|
10.02
|
Notices;
Effectiveness; Electronic Communications.
|
|
10.03
|
No
Waiver; Cumulative Remedies
|
|
10.04
|
Expenses;
Indemnity; Damage Waiver.
|
|
10.05
|
Payments
Set Aside
|
|
10.06
|
Successors
and Assigns.
|
|
10.07
|
Treatment
of Certain Information; Confidentiality
|
|
10.08
|
Right
of Setoff
|
|
10.09
|
Interest
Rate Limitation
|
|
10.10
|
Counterparts;
Integration; Effectiveness
|
|
10.11
|
Survival
|
|
10.12
|
Severability
|
|
10.13
|
Replacement
of Lenders
|
|
10.14
|
Governing
Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.
|
|
10.15
|
Waiver
of Jury Trial
|
|
10.16
|
No
Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.
|
|
10.17
|
USA
PATRIOT Act Notice
|
|
10.18
|
Time
of the Essence
|
|
10.19
|
Press
Releases
|
|
10.20
|
Additional
Waivers.
|
|
10.21
|
No
Strict Construction
|
|
10.22
|
Attachments
|
|
10.23
|
Amendment
and Restatement.
|
SIGNATURES………………………………………………………………………………….S-[INSERT PAGE NUMBER]
SCHEDULES
2.01 Revolving
Credit Commitments and Applicable Percentages
2.04 Existing
Letters of Credit
5.01 Borrower
Organizational Information
5.05 Supplement
to Interim Financial Statements
5.08(b)(1) Owned
Real Estate
5.08(b)(2) Leased
Real Estate
5.10 Insurance
5.13 Subsidiaries;
Other Equity Investments; Equity Interests in the Borrower
5.18 Collective
Bargaining Agreements
5.21(a) DDAs
5.21(b) Credit
Card Arrangements
5.24 Material
Contracts
6.02 Financial
and Collateral Reporting
7.01 Existing
Liens
7.02 Existing
Investments
7.03 Existing
Indebtedness
10.02 Administrative
Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices
EXHIBITS
Form
of
A-1 Revolving
Credit Loan Notice
B Swing
Line Loan Notice
C-1 Revolving
Credit Note
C-2 Swing
Line Note
D Assignment
and Assumption
E Customs
Broker Agreement
F Joinder
Agreement
G Borrowing
Base Certificate
H DDA
Notification
I Credit
Card Notification
AMENDED
AND RESTATED
This
AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is
entered into as of January 18, 2008, among
Xxxxxxxx-Alco Stores, Inc., a
Kansas corporation (the “Borrower”),
each
lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and
individually, a “Lender”),
Bank of America, N.A., as
Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer;
and
Xxxxx Fargo Retail Finance,
LLC, as Documentation Agent.
WHEREAS,
the Borrower, Fleet Retail Group, LLC (f/k/a Fleet Retail Finance Inc.) and
Xxxxx Fargo Retail Finance, LLC are party to that certain Loan and Security
Agreement dated as of April 15, 2002 by and among the Borrower, the other
Borrowers party thereto, the Lenders party thereto, Fleet Retail Group, LLC, as
Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent for the Lenders, and Xxxxx Fargo
Retail Finance, LLC, as Documentation Agent (as amended and in effect, the
“Existing Credit
Agreement”); and
WHEREAS,
Fleet Retail Group, LLC and Xxxxx Fargo Retail Finance, LLC are party to that
certain Agency Agreement dated as of April 15, 2002 by and among the Lenders
party thereto and to the Existing Credit Agreement from time to time, Fleet
Retail Group, LLC, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent for the Lenders,
and Xxxxx Fargo Retail Finance, LLC, as Documentation Agent (as amended and in
effect, the “Agency
Agreement”); and
WHEREAS,
Fleet Retail Group, LLC has resigned as Administrative Agent and Collateral
Agent under the Existing Credit Agreement, the Agency Agreement and the other
Loan Documents (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement), and Bank of
America, N.A. has been appointed as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent by
the Lenders; and
WHEREAS,
Fleet Retail Group, LLC, as a Lender under the Existing Credit Agreement, has
assigned all of its Commitments and all outstanding Revolving Credit Obligations
owed to it to Bank of America, N.A., and Bank of America, N.A. has become a
Lender under the Existing Credit Agreement; and
WHEREAS,
the Borrower has requested that the Agents and the Lenders amend the Existing
Credit Agreement to provide, among other things, an increase in the Revolving
Credit Loan Ceiling (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement), and the
Agents and the Lenders have indicated their willingness to so amend the Existing
Credit Agreement on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein
contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree that the Existing Credit
Agreement and the Agency Agreement shall be amended and restated in their
entirety to read as follows and as set forth in the Security Agreement (as
hereafter defined):
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:
“ACH” means automated
clearing house transfers.
“Account” means
“accounts” as defined in the UCC, and also means a right to payment of a
monetary obligation, whether or not earned by performance, (a) for property that
has been or is to be sold, leased, licensed, assigned, or otherwise disposed of,
(b) for services rendered or to be rendered, (c) for a policy of insurance
issued or to be issued, (d) for a secondary obligation incurred or to be
incurred, (e) for energy provided or to be provided, (f) for the use or hire of
a vessel under a charter or other contract, (g) arising out of the use of a
credit or charge card or information contained on or for use with the card, or
(h) as winnings in a lottery or other game of chance operated or sponsored by a
state, governmental unit of a state, or person licensed or authorized to operate
the game by a state or governmental unit of a state. The term
“Account” includes health-care-insurance receivables.
“Acquisition” means,
with respect to any Person (a) an Investment in, or a purchase of a Controlling
interest in, the Equity Interests of any other Person, (b) a purchase or other
acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets or properties of, another
Person or of any business unit of another Person, (c) any merger or
consolidation of such Person with any other Person or other transaction or
series of transactions resulting in the acquisition of all or substantially all
of the assets, or a Controlling interest in the Equity Interests, of any Person,
or (d) any acquisition of any Store locations of any Person, in each case in any
transaction or group of transactions which are part of a common
plan.
“Additional Commitment
Lender” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.16(c).
“Adjusted LIBO Rate”
means, with respect to any LIBO Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest
rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of one percent
(1%)) equal to (a) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the
Statutory Reserve Rate. The Adjusted LIBO Rate will be adjusted
automatically as to all LIBO Borrowings then outstanding as of the effective
date of any change in the Statutory Reserve Rate.
“Adjustment Date”
means the first day of each Fiscal Quarter, commencing May 5, 2008.
“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 10.02,
or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to
time notify the Borrower and the Lenders.
“Administrative
Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied
by the Administrative Agent.
“Affiliate” means,
with respect to any Person, (i) 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, (ii) any director, officer, managing
member, partner, trustee, or beneficiary of that Person, (iii) any other Person
directly or indirectly holding 10% or more of any class of the Equity Interests
of that Person, and (iv) any other Person 10% or more of any class of whose
Equity Interests is held directly or indirectly by that Person.
“Agency Agreement” has
the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.
“Agent(s)” means,
individually, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, and collectively
means both of them.
“Aggregate
Commitments” means the Revolving Credit Commitments of all the
Lenders.
“Agreement” means this
Credit Agreement.
“Applicable Margin”
means:
(a) From and
after the Closing Date until the first Adjustment Date, the percentages set
forth in Level I of the pricing grid below; and
(b) From and
after the first Adjustment Date, the Applicable Margin shall be determined from
the following pricing grid based upon the Average Daily Uncapped Excess
Availability as of the Fiscal Quarter ended immediately preceding such
Adjustment Date; provided, however,
that notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, upon the
occurrence of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may, and at the
direction of the Required Lenders shall, immediately increase the Applicable
Margin to that set forth in Level IV (even if the Average Daily Uncapped Excess
Availability requirements for a different Level have been met) and interest
shall accrue at the Default Rate.
Level
|
Average
Daily Uncapped Excess Availability
|
LIBOR
Margin for Revolving Loans
|
Base
Rate Margin for Revolving Loans
|
Commercial
Letter of Credit Fee
|
Standby
Letter of Credit Fee
|
I
|
Equal
to or greater than $60,000,000
|
1.00%
|
0%
|
0.50%
|
1.00%
|
II
|
Equal
to or greater than $40,000,000 but less than $60,000,000
|
1.25%
|
0%
|
0.75%
|
1.25%
|
III
|
Equal
to or greater than $25,000,000 but less than $40,000,000
|
1.50%
|
0%
|
1.00%
|
1.50%
|
IV
|
Less
than $25,000,000
|
1.75%
|
0%
|
1.25%
|
1.75%
|
“Applicable
Percentage” means with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage
(carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Revolving Credit Facility
represented by such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment at such
time. If the commitment of each Lender to make Revolving Credit Loans
and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been
terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 or if the
Revolving Credit Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of
each Lender in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility shall be determined
based on the Applicable Percentage of such Lender in respect of the Revolving
Credit Facility
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.
“Appraisal Percentage”
means 85%.
“Appraised Value”
means the net appraised liquidation value of the Borrower’s Inventory (expressed
as a percentage of the Cost of such Inventory) as determined from time to time
by an independent appraiser engaged by the Administrative Agent.
“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.
“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 Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is
required by Section
10.06(b)), and accepted by
the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit D or any
other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
“Attributable
Indebtedness” means, on any date, (a) in respect of any Capital Lease
Obligation of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a
balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP,
(b) in respect of any Synthetic Lease Obligation, the capitalized amount of the
remaining lease or similar payments under the relevant lease or other applicable
agreement or instrument that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person
prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP if such lease, agreement or
instrument were accounted for as a capital lease, and (c) all Synthetic Debt of
such Person.
“Availability” means
the lesser of (a) or (b), where:
(a) is
the result of:
(i) The
Revolving Credit Ceiling
Minus
(ii) The
aggregate unpaid balance of Credit Extensions to, or for the account of, the
Borrower; and
(b) is
the result of:
(i) The
Borrowing Base,
Minus
(ii) The
aggregate unpaid balance of Credit Extensions to, or for the account of, the
Borrower.
In
calculating Availability at any time and for any purpose under this Agreement,
the Borrower shall certify to the Administrative Agent that all accounts payable
and Taxes are being paid on a timely basis and consistent with past practices
(absent which the Administrative Agent may establish a Reserve
therefor).
“Availability Period”
means the period from and including the Closing Date to the earliest of (a) the
Maturity Date, (b) the date of termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments
pursuant to Section
2.07, and (c) the
date of termination of the commitment of each Lender to make Revolving Credit
Loans and of the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions
pursuant to Section
8.02.
“Availability
Reserves” means, without duplication of any other Reserves or items that
are otherwise addressed or excluded through eligibility criteria, such reserves
as the Administrative Agent from time to time determines in its discretion as
being appropriate (a) to reflect the impediments to the Agents’ ability to
realize upon the Collateral, (b) to reflect claims and liabilities that the
Administrative Agent determines will need to be satisfied in connection with the
realization upon the Collateral, (c) to reflect criteria, events, conditions,
contingencies or risks which adversely affect any component of the Borrowing
Base, or the assets, business, financial performance or financial condition of
the Borrower, or (d) to reflect that a Default or an Event of Default then
exists. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Availability Reserves
may include (but are not limited to) reserves based on: (i) rent; (ii) customs
duties, and other costs to release Inventory which is being imported into the
United States; (iii) outstanding Taxes and other governmental charges,
including, without limitation, ad valorem, real estate, personal property,
sales, and other Taxes which might have priority over the interests of the
Collateral Agent in the Collateral; (iv) salaries, wages and benefits due to
employees of any Borrower which might have priority over the interests of the
Collateral Agent in the Collateral, (v) Customer Credit Liabilities, (vi)
warehousemen’s or bailee’s charges and other Permitted Encumbrances which might
have priority over the interests of the Collateral Agent in the Collateral,
(vii) Cash Management Reserves, and (viii) Bank Products Reserves.
“Average Daily Uncapped
Excess Availability” shall mean the average daily Uncapped Excess
Availability for the immediately preceding Fiscal
Quarter.
“Bank of America”
means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors.
“Bank Products” means
any services of facilities provided to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent,
any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates (but excluding Cash Management
Services) on account of (a) credit cards, (b) Swap Contracts, (c) purchase
cards, (d) merchant services constituting a line of credit, and (e)
leasing.
“Bank Product
Reserves” means such reserves as the Administrative Agent from time to
time determine in its discretion as being appropriate to reflect the liabilities
and obligations of the Borrower with respect to Bank Products then provided or
outstanding.
“Base Rate”
means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the higher of (a) the
Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1% and (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.” 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 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.
“Blocked Account” has
the meaning provided in Section 6.13(a)(iii).
“Blocked Account
Agreement” has the meaning provided in Section 6.13(a)(iii) and includes, without
limitation, that certain Blocked Account Agreement dated as of April 15, 2002
by, among others, U.S. Bank, as Blocked Account Bank, the Borrower and the
Agents.
“Blocked Account Bank”
means each bank with whom deposit accounts are maintained in which any funds of
the Borrower from one or more DDAs are concentrated and with whom a Blocked
Account Agreement has been, or is required to be, executed in accordance with
the terms hereof.
“Borrower Materials”
has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.
“Borrower” has the
meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.
“Borrowing” means a
Revolving Credit Borrowing or a Swing Line Borrowing, as the context may
require.
“Borrowing Base”
means, at any time of calculation, an amount equal to:
(a) the
face amount of Eligible Credit Card Receivables multiplied by the
Credit Card Advance Rate;
plus
(b) the
Cost of Eligible Inventory, net of Inventory Reserves, multiplied by the
Appraisal Percentage of the Appraised Value of Eligible Inventory;
minus
(c) the
then amount of all Availability Reserves.
“Borrowing Base
Certificate” has the meaning provided in Section 6.02(c).
“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
LIBO Rate Loan, means any such day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are
conducted by and between banks in the London interbank market.
“Capital Expenditures”
means, with respect to any Person for any period, (a) all expenditures made
(whether made in the form of cash or other property) or costs incurred for the
acquisition or improvement of fixed or capital assets of such Person (excluding
normal replacements and maintenance which are properly charged to current
operations), in each case that are (or should be) set forth as capital
expenditures in a Consolidated statement of cash flows of such Person for such
period, in each case prepared in accordance with GAAP, and (b) Capital Lease
Obligations incurred by a Person during such period.
“Capital Lease
Obligations” means, with respect to any Person for any period, 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.
“Cash Collateralize”
has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(g).
“Cash Dominion Event”
means either (i) the occurrence and continuance of any Default, or (ii) the
failure of the Borrower to maintain Excess Availability of at least (x)
$15,000,000 for three consecutive days or (y) $13,000,000 on any
day. For purposes of this Agreement, the occurrence of a Cash
Dominion Event shall be deemed continuing at the Administrative Agent’s option
(i) so long as such Default has not been waived, and/or (ii) if the Cash
Dominion Event arises as a result of the Borrower’s failure to achieve Excess
Availability as required hereunder, until Excess Availability has exceeded
$15,000,000 for twenty (20) consecutive Business Days, in which case a Cash
Dominion Event shall no longer be deemed to be continuing for purposes of this
Agreement; provided
that a Cash Dominion Event shall be deemed continuing (even if a Default
is no longer continuing and/or Excess Availability exceeds the required amount
for twenty (20) consecutive Business Days) at all times after a Cash Dominion
Event has occurred and been discontinued on two (2) occasions after the Closing
Date.
“Cash Management
Reserves ” means such reserves as the Administrative Agent, from time to
time, determines in its discretion as being appropriate to reflect the
reasonably anticipated liabilities and obligations of the Borrower with respect
to Cash Management Services then provided or outstanding.
“Cash Management
Services” means any one or more of the following types or services or
facilities provided to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or
any of their respective Affiliates: (a) ACH transactions, (b) cash management
services, including, without limitation, controlled disbursement services,
treasury, depository, overdraft, and electronic funds transfer services, (c)
foreign exchange facilities, (d) credit or debit cards, and (e) merchant
services not constituting a Bank Product.
“CERCLA” means the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C.
§ 9601 et seq.
“CERCLIS” means the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Information
System maintained by the United States Environmental Protection
Agency.
“CFC” means a Person
that is a controlled foreign corporation under Section 957 of the
Code.
“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 an event or series of events by which:
(a) any
“person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such
person or its subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as
trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the
“beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have
“beneficial ownership” of all securities that such person or group has the right
to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the
passage of time (such right, an “option right”)),
directly or indirectly, of 51% or more of the Equity Interests of the Borrower
entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing
body of the Borrower on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such
Equity Interests that such “person” or “group” has the right to acquire pursuant
to any option right); or
(b) during
any period of 12 consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of
directors or other equivalent governing body of the Borrower cease to be
composed of individuals (i) who were members of that board or equivalent
governing body on the first day of such period, (ii) whose election or
nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by
individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such
election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing
body or (iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent
governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii)
above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a
majority of that board or equivalent governing body (excluding, in the case of
both clause (ii) and clause (iii), any individual whose initial nomination for,
or assumption of office as, a member of that board or equivalent governing body
occurs as a result of an actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or
consents for the election or removal of one or more directors by any person or
group other than a solicitation for the election of one or more directors by or
on behalf of the board of directors); or
(c) any
Person or two or more Persons acting in concert shall have acquired by contract
or otherwise, or shall have entered into a contract or arrangement that, upon
consummation thereof, will result in its or their acquisition of the power to
exercise, directly or indirectly, a controlling influence over the management or
policies of the Borrower, or control over the Equity Interests of the Borrower
entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing
body of the Borrower on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such
securities that such Person or Persons have the right to acquire pursuant to any
option right) representing 51% or more of the combined voting power of such
securities; or
(d) any
“change in control” or “sale” or “disposition” or similar event as defined in
any Organizational Document of the Borrower or in any Material Contract, or any
document governing Material Indebtedness of the Borrower.
“Closing Date” means
the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance
with Section 10.01.
“Code” means the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, as
amended and in effect.
“Collateral” means any
and all “Collateral” as defined in any applicable Security Document and all
other property that is or is intended under the terms of the Security Documents
to be subject to Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent.
“Collateral Access
Agreement” means an agreement reasonably satisfactory in form and
substance to the Collateral Agent executed by (a) a bailee or other Person in
possession of Collateral, and (b) each landlord of Real Estate leased the
Borrower, pursuant to which such Person (i) acknowledges the Collateral Agent’s
Lien on the Collateral, (ii) releases such Person’s Liens in the Collateral held
by such Person or located on such Real Estate, (iii) as to any landlord,
provides the Collateral Agent with access to the Collateral located in or on
such Real Estate and a reasonable time to sell and dispose of the Collateral
from such Real Estate, and (iv) makes such other agreements with the Collateral
Agent as the Collateral Agent may reasonably require.
“Collateral Agent”
means Bank of America, acting in such capacity for its own benefit and the
ratable benefit of the other Credit Parties,.
“Commercial Letter of
Credit” means any Letter of Credit issued for the purpose of providing
the primary payment mechanism in connection with the purchase of any materials,
goods or services by the Borrower in the ordinary course of business of the
Borrower.
“Concentration
Account” has the meaning provided in Section 6.13(b).
“Consent” means actual
consent given by a Lender from whom such consent is sought; or the passage of
seven (7) Business Days from receipt of written notice to a Lender from the
Administrative Agent of a proposed course of action to be followed by the
Administrative Agent without such Lender’s giving the Administrative Agent
written notice of that Lender’s objection to such course of action.
“Consolidated” means,
when used to modify a financial term, test, statement, or report of a Person,
the application or preparation of such term, test, statement or report (as
applicable) based upon the consolidation, in accordance with GAAP, of the
financial condition or operating results of such Person and its
Subsidiaries.
“Contractual
Obligation” means, as to any Person, any provision of any agreement,
instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it
or any of its property is bound.
“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.
“Cost” means the
calculated cost of purchases, based upon the Borrower’s accounting practices,
known to the Administrative Agent, which practices are in effect on the Closing
Date as such calculated cost is determined from invoices received by the
Borrower, the Borrower’s purchase journals or the Borrower’s stock
ledger.
“Credit Card Advance
Rate” means 85%.
“Credit Card
Notifications” has the meaning provided in Section 6.13(a)(ii).
“Credit Extensions”
mean each of the following: (a) a Revolving Credit Borrowing and (b) an L/C
Credit Extension.
“Credit Party” or
“Credit
Parties” means (a) individually, (i) each Lenders and its Affiliates,
(ii) each Agent, (iii) each L/C Issuer, (iv) each beneficiary of each
indemnification obligation undertaken by the Borrower under any Loan Document,
(v) any other Person to whom Obligations under this Agreement and other Loan
Documents are owing, and (vi) the successors and assigns of each of the
foregoing, and (b) collectively, all of the foregoing.
“Credit Party
Expenses” means, without limitation, (a) all reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses incurred by the Agents and their respective Affiliates in connection
with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including without limitation
(i) the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of (A) counsel for the
Agents, (B) outside consultants for the Agents, (C) appraisers, (D) commercial
finance examinations, and (E) all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during
any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of the Obligations, and
(F) environmental site assessments, (ii) in connection with (A) the syndication
of the credit facilities provided for herein, (B) the preparation, negotiation,
administration, management, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the
provisions thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby shall be consummated), (C) the enforcement or protection of their rights
in connection with this Agreement or the Loan Documents or efforts to preserve,
protect, collect, or enforce the Collateral, or (D) any workout, restructuring
or negotiations in respect of any Obligations, and (b) with respect to the L/C
Issuer and its Affiliates, all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in
connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of
Credit or any demand for payment thereunder; and (c) all reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Credit Parties who are not the Agents,
the L/C Issuer or any Affiliate of any of them, after the occurrence and during
the continuance of an Event of Default, provided that such Credit Parties shall
be entitled to reimbursement for no more than one counsel representing all such
Credit Parties (absent a conflict of interest in which case the Credit Parties
may engage and be reimbursed for additional counsel).
“Customer Credit
Liabilities” means at any time, the aggregate remaining value at such
time of (a) outstanding gift certificates and gift cards of the Borrower
entitling the holder thereof to use all or a portion of the certificate or gift
card to pay all or a portion of the purchase price for any Inventory, and (b)
outstanding merchandise credits and customer deposits of the
Borrower.
“Customs Broker
Agreement” means an agreement in substantially the form attached hereto
as Exhibit E
among the Borrower, a customs broker or other carrier, and the Collateral Agent,
in which the customs broker or other carrier acknowledges that it has control
over and holds the documents evidencing ownership of the subject Inventory for
the benefit of the Collateral Agent and agrees, upon notice from the Collateral
Agent, to hold and dispose of the subject Inventory solely as directed by the
Collateral Agent.
“DDA” means each
checking or other demand deposit account maintained by the
Borrower. All funds in each DDA shall be conclusively presumed to be
Collateral and proceeds of Collateral and the Agents and the Lenders shall have
no duty to inquire as to the source of the amounts on deposit in any
DDA.
“DDA Notification” has
the meaning provided therefor in Section 6.13(a)(i).
“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.
“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 Margin, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans, plus (iii) 2% per
annum; provided, however, that with
respect to a LIBO Rate Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to
the interest rate (including any Applicable Margin) otherwise applicable to such
Loan plus 2% per annum, and (b) when used with respect to Letter of Credit Fees,
a rate equal to the Applicable Margin for Standby Letters of Credit or
Commercial Letters of Credit, as applicable, plus 2% per
annum.
“Defaulting Lender”
means any Lender that (a) has failed to fund any Revolving Credit Loans,
participations in L/C Obligations or participations in Swing Line Loans required
to be funded by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date required to be
funded by it hereunder, (b) has otherwise failed to pay over to the
Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by
it hereunder within one Business Day of the date when due, unless the subject of
a good faith dispute, or (c) has been deemed insolvent or become the subject of
a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding.
“Disposition” or
“Dispose” means
the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including any sale and
leaseback transaction and any sale, transfer, license or other disposition of
(whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially
all of its assets) to or in favor of any Person) of any property (including,
without limitation, any Equity Interests) by any Person (or the granting of any
option or other right to do any of the foregoing), including any sale,
assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes
or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith
..
“Documentation Agent”
means Xxxxx Fargo Retail Finance, LLC.
“Dollars” and “$” mean lawful money
of the United States.
“Domestic Subsidiary”
means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of any political
subdivision of the United States.
“Eligible Assignee”
means (a) a Credit Party or any of its Affiliates; (b) a bank, insurance
company, or company engaged in the business of making commercial loans, which
Person, together with its Affiliates, has a combined capital and surplus in
excess of $250,000,000; (c) an Approved Fund; (d) any Person to whom a Credit
Party assigns its rights and obligations under this Agreement as part of an
assignment and transfer of such Credit Party’s rights in and to a material
portion of such Credit Party’s portfolio of asset based credit facilities, and
(e) any other Person (other than a natural person) approved by (i) the
Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender, and (ii) unless
an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower (each such
approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that
notwithstanding the foregoing, “Eligible Assignee” shall not include the
Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries.
“Eligible Credit Card
Receivables” means Accounts due to the Borrower on a non-recourse basis
from (i) Visa, Mastercard, American Express Company, Discover, and other major
credit card processors or (ii) NYCE, MAC and other major debit card processors,
in each case acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its discretion, as arise
in the ordinary course of business, which have been earned by performance, and
are deemed by the Administrative Agent in its discretion to be eligible for
inclusion in the calculation of the Borrowing Base. Without limiting the
foregoing, unless the Administrative Agent otherwise agrees, none of the
following shall be deemed to be Eligible Credit Card Receivables:
(a) Accounts
due from major credit card processors and major debit card processors that have
been outstanding for more than five (5) Business Days from the date of
sale;
(b) Accounts
due from major credit card processors and major debit card processors with
respect to which the Borrower does not have good, valid and marketable title,
free and clear of any Lien (other than Liens granted to the Collateral
Agent);
(c) Accounts
due from major credit card processors and major debit card processors that are
not subject to a first priority security interest in favor of the Collateral
Agent (it being the intent that chargebacks in the ordinary course by the credit
card processors shall not be deemed violative of this clause);
(d) Accounts
due from major credit card processors and major debit card processors which are
disputed, are with recourse, or with respect to which a claim, counterclaim,
offset or chargeback has been asserted (to the extent of such claim,
counterclaim, offset or chargeback);
(e) Accounts
due from major credit card processors as to which the credit card processor has
the right under certain circumstances to require the Borrower to repurchase the
Accounts from such credit card processor; or
(f) Accounts
due from major credit card processors and major debit card processors which the
Administrative Agent determines in its discretion to be uncertain of
collection.
“Eligible In-Transit
Inventory” means, as of any date of determination thereof, without
duplication of other Eligible Inventory, Inventory:
(a) Which
has been shipped from a foreign location for receipt by the Borrower within
sixty (60) days of the date of determination, but which has not yet been
delivered to the Borrower;
(b) For
which the purchase order is in the name of the Borrower and title has passed to
the Borrower;
(c) For
which the document of title reflects the Borrower as consignee or, if requested
by the Collateral Agent, names the Collateral Agent as consignee, and in each
case as to which the Collateral Agent has control over the documents of title
which evidence ownership of the subject Inventory (such as, if requested by the
Collateral Agent, by the delivery of a Customs Broker Agreement);
(d) Which
is insured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Collateral Agent;
(e) Which
is supported by a Commercial Letter of Credit having an initial expiry date of
not more than sixty (60) days; and
(f) Which
otherwise would constitute Eligible Inventory.
“Eligible Inventory”
means, as of the date of determination thereof, without duplication, (i)
Eligible In-Transit Inventory, and (ii) items of Inventory of the Borrower that
are finished goods, merchantable and readily saleable to the public in the
ordinary course deemed by the Administrative Agent in its discretion to be
eligible for inclusion in the calculation of the Borrowing Base, in each case
that, except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent, complies with each
of the representations and warranties respecting Inventory made by the Borrower
in the Loan Documents, and that is not excluded as ineligible by virtue of one
or more of the criteria set forth below. Except as otherwise agreed
by the Administrative Agent, the following items of Inventory shall not be
included in Eligible Inventory:
(a) Inventory
that is not solely owned by the Borrower or the Borrower does not have good and
valid title thereto;
(b) Inventory
that is leased by or is on consignment to the Borrower;
(c) Inventory
(other than Eligible In Transit Inventory) that is not located in the United
States of America (excluding territories or possessions of the United States) at
a location that is owned or leased by the Borrower, except to the extent that
the Borrower have furnished the Administrative Agent with (i) any UCC financing
statements or other documents that the Administrative Agent may determine to be
necessary to perfect its security interest in such Inventory at such location,
and (ii) a Collateral Access Agreement executed by the Person owning any such
location on terms reasonably acceptable to the Administrative
Agent;
(d) Inventory
that is comprised of goods which (i) are damaged, defective, “seconds,” or
otherwise unmerchantable, (ii) are to be returned to the vendor, (iii) are
obsolete or slow moving, or custom items, work-in-process, raw materials, or
that constitute spare parts, promotional, marketing, packaging and shipping
materials or supplies used or consumed in the Borrower’s business, (iv) are not
in compliance with all standards imposed by any Governmental Authority having
regulatory authority over such Inventory, its use or sale, or (v) are xxxx and
hold goods;
(e) Inventory
that is not subject to a perfected first-priority security interest in favor of
the Collateral Agent;
(f) Inventory
that consists of samples, labels, bags, packaging, and other similar
non-merchandise categories;
(g) Inventory
that is not insured in compliance with the provisions of Section 5.10
hereof;
(h) Inventory
that has been sold but not yet delivered or as to which the Borrower has
accepted a deposit;
(i) (x)
Inventory located in any Store of the Borrower which Store was previously open
and has subsequently been closed for business for more than twenty (20) days in
any Fiscal Quarter and (y) Inventory located in any new Store of the Borrower
not yet opened in the event that the actual scheduled opening date of such Store
is not within forty-five (45) days after the date such Inventory is located at
any such Store, provided that the
Borrower shall list the Inventory to be located in such new Stores in a separate
line item on each Borrowing Base Certificate; or
(j) Inventory
acquired in a Permitted Acquisition, unless and until the Collateral Agent has
completed or received (A) an appraisal of such Inventory from appraisers
satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, establishes Inventory Reserves (if
applicable) therefor, and otherwise agrees that such Inventory shall be deemed
Eligible Inventory, and (B) such other due diligence as the Agents may require,
all of the results of the foregoing to be reasonably satisfactory to the
Agents.
“Environmental Laws”
means any and all Federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, laws,
regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits,
concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental
restrictions relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the
release of any materials into the environment, including those related to
hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public
systems.
“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 of its Subsidiaries directly or indirectly
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 consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability
is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.
“Equipment” has the
meaning set forth in the Security Agreement.
“Equipment Financing
Agreement” means that certain Master Loan and Security
Agreement dated December 21, 2007 by and among Xxxxxxxx-Alco Stores, Inc., as
borrower, the lenders party thereto, and Banc of America Leasing & Capital,
LLC, as agent for the lenders.
“Equipment Financing
Facility” means the loan facility provided pursuant to the Equipment
Financing Agreement and all documents executed in connection
therewith.
“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) under common control
with the Borrower within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and
Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to
Section 412 of the Code).
“ERISA Event” means
(a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by the
Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of
ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in
Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated
as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial
withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or
notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (d) the filing of a
notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Plan amendment as a
termination under Sections 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of
proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e)
an event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for
the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension
Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (f) the imposition of any liability under Title
IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section
4007 of ERISA, upon the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.
“Event of Default” has
the meaning specified in Section 8.01. An
Event of Default shall be deemed to be continuing unless and until that Event of
Default has been duly waived as provided in Section 10.03
hereof.
“Excess Availability”
means, as of any date of determination thereof by the Administrative Agent, the
result, if a positive number, of:
(a) The
lesser of:
(i) the
Borrowing Base; or
(ii) the
Revolving Credit Commitments;
minus
(b) The
sum of: (i) the aggregate of the outstanding Credit Extensions;
(ii) all
checks held thirty (30) days or longer;
(iii) accounts
payable which are more than thirty (30) days beyond credit terms then accorded
the Borrower; and
(iv) all
past due obligations of the Borrower to pay rent for leases which are beyond
applicable grace periods.
“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 any Borrower is located
and (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a
request by the Borrower under Section 10.13), any
withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the
time such Foreign Lender becomes a party hereto (or designates a new Lending
Office) or is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure or inability (other
than as a result of a Change in Law) to comply with Section 3.01(e), 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).
“Existing Credit
Agreement” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph
hereto.
“Existing Letters of
Credit” means each letter of credit issued and outstanding under the
Existing Credit Agreement as set forth on Schedule 2.04
hereto.
“Extraordinary
Receipt” means any cash received by or paid to or for the account of any
Person not in the ordinary course of business, including tax refunds, pension
plan reversions, proceeds of insurance (other than proceeds of business
interruption insurance to the extent such proceeds constitute compensation for
lost earnings), condemnation awards (and payments in lieu thereof), indemnity
payments and any purchase price adjustments.
“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 the Closing Date, among the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent.
“FIRREA” means the
Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989, as amended
from time to time.
“Fiscal Quarter” means
any fiscal quarter of any Fiscal Year, which quarters shall generally end on the
last Sunday of each April, July, October and January of such Fiscal Year in
accordance with the fiscal accounting calendar of the Borrower.
“Fiscal Year” means
any period of twelve consecutive months ending on the Sunday closest to January
31 of any calendar year.
“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. For purposes of this
definition, the United States, each State thereof and the District of Columbia
shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.
“FRB” means the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.
“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 business.
“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 or such other principles as may be approved
by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that
are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination,
consistently applied.
“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” means, as
to any Person, any (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person
guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or
other obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary
obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any
obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or
advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or
other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for
the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other
obligation of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness or other
obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other
financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of
the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness
or other obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any
other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of
the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in
respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such
Person securing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person,
whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by such Person
(or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to
obtain any such Lien). The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to
be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary
obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or,
if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in
respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good
faith. The term “Guarantee” as a verb has a corresponding
meaning.
“Guarantor” means each
Subsidiary of the Borrower that shall be required to execute and deliver a
Guarantee pursuant to Section 6.12.
“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 pursuant to any Environmental Law.
“Increase Effective
Date” shall have the meaning provided therefor in Section 2.16(d).
“Indebtedness” means,
as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the
following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance
with GAAP:
(a) all
obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person
evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar
instruments;
(b) the
maximum amount of all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising
under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’
acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;
(c) net
obligations of such Person under any Swap Contract;
(d) all
obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or
services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business
and, in each case, not past due for more than 60 days after the date on which
such trade account payable was created);
(e) indebtedness
(excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property owned or
being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional
sales or other title retention agreements), whether or not such indebtedness
shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;
(f) All
Attributable Indebtedness in respect of Capital Lease Obligations and Synthetic
Lease Obligations of such Person;
(g) all
obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise
make any payment in respect of any Equity Interest in such Person or any other
Person, or any warrant, right or option to acquire such Equity Interest, valued,
in the case of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary
or involuntary liquidation preference plus accrued and
unpaid dividends; and
(h) all
Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing.
For all
purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness
of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a
corporation or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general
partner or a joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made
non-recourse to such Person. 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 10.04(b).
“Information” has the
meaning specified in Section 10.07.
“Intellectual
Property” means all present and future: trade secrets,
know-how and other proprietary information; trademarks, trademark applications,
internet domain names, service marks, trade dress, trade names, business names,
designs, logos, slogans (and all translations, adaptations, derivations and
combinations of the foregoing) indicia and other source and/or business
identifiers, and all registrations or applications for registrations which have
heretofore been or may hereafter be issued thereon throughout the world;
copyrights and copyright applications; (including copyrights for computer
programs) and all tangible and intangible property embodying the copyrights,
unpatented inventions (whether or not patentable); patents and patent
applications; industrial design applications and registered industrial designs;
license agreements related to any of the foregoing and income therefrom; books,
records, writings, computer tapes or disks, flow diagrams, specification sheets,
computer software, source codes, object codes, executable code, data, databases
and other physical manifestations, embodiments or incorporations of any of the
foregoing; all other intellectual property; and all common law and other rights
throughout the world in and to all of the foregoing.
“Interest Payment
Date” means, (a) as to any Loan other than a Base 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 LIBO 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 month and the Maturity
Date.
“Interest Period”
means, as to each LIBO Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such LIBO
Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a LIBO Rate Loan and
ending on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the
Borrower in its Revolving Credit 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;
(iii) no
Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date; and
(iv) notwithstanding
the provisions of clause (iii), no Interest Period shall have a duration of less
than one (1) month, and if any Interest Period applicable to a LIBO Borrowing
would be for a shorter period, such Interest Period shall not be available
hereunder.
For
purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which
such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most
recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.
“Internal Control
Event” means a material weakness in, or fraud that involves management or
other employees who have a significant role in, the Borrower’s and/or its
Subsidiaries’ internal controls over financial reporting, in each case as
described in the Securities Laws.
“Inventory” has the
meaning given that term in the UCC, and shall also include,
without limitation, all: (a) goods which (i) are leased by a Person as lessor,
(ii) are held by a Person for sale or lease or to be furnished under a contract
of service, (iii) are furnished by a Person under a contract of service, or (iv)
consist of raw materials, work in process, or materials used or consumed in a
business; (b) goods of said description in transit; (c) goods of said
description which are returned, repossessed or rejected; and (d) packaging,
advertising, and shipping materials related to any of the
foregoing.
“Inventory Reserves”
means such reserves as may be established from time to time by the
Administrative Agent in the Administrative Agent’s discretion with respect to
the determination of the saleability, at retail, of the Eligible Inventory or
which reflect such other factors as affect the market value of the Eligible
Inventory. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Inventory Reserves
may include (but are not limited to) reserves based on:
(a) Obsolescence;
(b) Seasonality;
(c) Shrink;
(d) Imbalance;
(e) Change
in Inventory character;
(f) Change
in Inventory composition;
(g) Change
in Inventory mix;
(h) Markdowns
(both permanent and point of sale);
(i) Retail
markons and markups inconsistent with prior period practice and performance,
industry standards, current business plans or advertising calendar and planned
advertising events; and
(j) Out-of-date
and/or expired Inventory.
“Investment” means, as
to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person,
whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition Equity Interests of
another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or
assumption of debt of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or
interest in, another Person, or (c) any Acquisition, or (d) any other investment
of money or capital in order to obtain a profitable return.
“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 (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 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 the L/C Issuer and relating to any
such Letter of Credit.
“Joinder Agreement”
means an agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F pursuant to
which, among other things, a Person becomes a party to, and bound by the terms
of, this Agreement and/or the other Loan Documents in the same capacity and to
the same extent as either a Borrower or a Guarantor, as the Administrative Agent
may determine.
“Landlord Lien State”
means such state(s) in which a landlord’s claim for rent may have priority over
the lien of the Collateral Agent in any of the Collateral.
“Laws” means each
international, foreign, Federal, state and local statute, treaty, rule,
guideline, regulation, ordinance, code and administrative or judicial precedent
or authority, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any
Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or
administration thereof, and each applicable administrative order, directed duty,
request, license, authorization and permit of, and agreement 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 Revolving
Credit Borrowing.
“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
either Bank of America in its capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder
or Xxxxx Fargo Retail Finance, LLC in its capacity as issuer of Letters of
Credit hereunder, as applicable, or any successor issuer of Letters of Credit
hereunder (which successor may only be a Lender selected by the Administrative
Agent in its discretion). The L/C Issuer may, in its discretion,
arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of the L/C
Issuer, in which case the term “L/C Issuer” shall include any such Affiliate
with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate.
“L/C Obligations”
means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate undrawn 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 amounts 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.
“Lease” means any
agreement, whether written or oral, no matter how styled or structured, pursuant
to which the Borrower is entitled to the use or occupancy of any space in a
structure, land, improvements or premises for any period of time.
“Lender” has the
meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto 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 each Standby Letter of Credit and each Commercial Letter of Credit issued
hereunder and shall include the Existing Letters 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 seven 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 2.04(i).
“Letter of Credit
Sublimit” means an amount equal to $20,000,000. The Letter of
Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Credit
Commitments. A permanent reduction of the Revolving Credit
Commitments shall not require a corresponding pro rata reduction in the Letter
of Credit Sublimit; provided, however, that if the
Revolving Credit Commitments are reduced to an amount less than the Letter of
Credit Sublimit, then the Letter of Credit Sublimit shall be reduced to an
amount equal to (or, at Borrower’s option, less than) the Revolving Credit
Commitments.
“LIBO Borrowing” means
a Borrowing comprised of LIBO Loans.
“LIBO Rate” means for
any Interest Period with respect to a LIBO Rate Loan, the rate per annum equal
to the British Bankers Association LIBOR Rate (“BBA LIBOR”), as
published by Reuters (or other commercially available source providing
quotations of BBA LIBOR as designated by the Administrative Agent from time to
time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business 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. If such rate is not available at such time for any reason,
then the “LIBO Rate” for such Interest Period shall be the rate per annum
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 LIBO Rate Loan being made, continued or
converted by Bank of America 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 Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest
Period.
“LIBO Rate Loan” means
a Revolving Credit Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Adjusted LIBO
Rate.
“Lien” means (a) any
mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement,
encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), 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,
Capital Lease Obligation, Synthetic Lease Obligation, 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) and (b) in the case of securities, any purchase option,
call or similar right of a third party with respect to such
securities.
“Liquidation” means
the exercise by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent of those rights and
remedies accorded to such Agents under the Loan Documents and applicable Law as
a creditor of the Borrower with respect to the realization on the Collateral,
including (after the occurrence and continuation of an Event of Default) the
conduct by the Borrower acting with the consent of the Administrative Agent, of
any public, private or GOB sale or other disposition of the Collateral for the
purpose of liquidating the Collateral. Derivations of the word
“Liquidation” (such as “Liquidate”) are used with like meaning in this
Agreement.
“Loan” means an
extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under Article II in the form of
a Revolving Credit Loan or a Swing Line Loan.
“Loan Account” has the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.12(a).
“Loan Documents” means
this Agreement, each Note, each Issuer Document, the Fee Letter, all Borrowing
Base Certificates, the Blocked Account Agreements, the DDA Notifications, the
Credit Card Notifications, the Security Documents, all Customs Broker Agreements
and any other instrument or agreement now or hereafter executed and delivered in
connection herewith, or in connection with any transaction arising out of any
Cash Management Services and Bank Products provided by the Administrative Agent
or any of its Affiliates, each as amended and in effect from time to
time.
“Material Adverse
Effect” means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse
effect upon, the operations, business, properties, liabilities (actual or
contingent), condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of
the Borrower to perform its obligations under any Loan Document to which it is a
party; or (c) a material impairment of the rights and remedies of the Agent or
the Lenders under any Loan Document or a material adverse effect upon the
legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against the Borrower of any
Loan Document. In determining whether any individual event would
result in a Material Adverse Effect, notwithstanding that such event in and of
itself does not have such effect, a Material Adverse Effect shall be deemed to
have occurred if the cumulative effect of such event and all other then existing
events would result in a Material Adverse Effect.
“Material Contract”
means, with respect to any Person, each contract to which such Person is a party
involving aggregate consideration payable to or by such Person of $5,000,000 or
more or otherwise material to the business, condition (financial or otherwise),
operations, performance, properties or prospects of such Person.
“Material
Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (other than the Obligations) of the
Borrower in an aggregate principal amount exceeding
$5,000,000. For purposes of determining the amount of Material
Indebtedness at any time, the amount of the obligations in respect of any Swap
Contract at such time shall be calculated at the Swap Termination Value
thereof.
“Maturity Date”
means January 18, 2011, which Maturity Date may be extended for two
additional terms of one year each, in each case at the request of the Borrower,
which request shall be made at least sixty (60) days prior to the end of the
then Maturity Date, which request may be approved by the Agents and the Lenders
in their discretion and upon terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to the
Agents and the Lenders.
“Maximum Rate” has the
meaning provided therefor in Section 10.09.
“Moody’s” means
Xxxxx’x Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.
“Multiemployer Plan”
means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3)
of ERISA, to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to
make contributions, or during the preceding five plan years, has made or been
obligated to make contributions.
“Net Proceeds” means
(a) with respect to any Disposition by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries,
or any Extraordinary Receipt received or paid to the account of the Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries, the excess, if any, of (i) the sum of cash and cash
equivalents received in connection with such transaction (including any cash or
cash equivalents received by way of deferred payment pursuant to, or by
monetization of, a note receivable or otherwise, but only as and when so
received) over (ii) the sum of (A) the principal amount of any Indebtedness that
is secured by the applicable asset by a Lien permitted hereunder which is senior
to the Collateral Agent’s Lien on such asset and that is required to be repaid
(or to establish an escrow for the future repayment thereof) in connection with
such transaction (other than Indebtedness under the Loan Documents), (B) the
reasonable and customary out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Borrower or such
Subsidiary in connection with such transaction (including, without limitation,
appraisals, and brokerage, legal, title and recording or transfer tax expenses
and commissions) paid by the Borrower to third parties (other than Affiliates));
and
(b) with
respect to the sale or issuance of any Equity Interest by the Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries, or the incurrence or issuance of any Indebtedness by the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, the excess of (i) the sum of the cash and
cash equivalents received in connection with such transaction over (ii) the
underwriting discounts and commissions, and other reasonable and customary
out-of-pocket expenses, incurred by the Borrower or such Subsidiary in
connection therewith.
“Non-Consenting
Lender” has the meaning provided therefor in Section 10.01.
“Note” means a
Revolving Credit Note or Swing Line Note, as applicable.
“NPL” means the
National Priorities List under CERCLA.
“Obligations” means
(a) all advances to, and debts (including principal, interest, fees, costs, and
expenses), liabilities, obligations, covenants, indemnities, and duties of, the
Borrower arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan
or Letter of Credit (including payments in respect of reimbursement of
disbursements, interest thereon and obligations to provide cash collateral
therefor), 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
the Borrower 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, and (b) any Other
Liabilities.
“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; (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, and (d) in each case, all shareholder or other
equity holder agreements, voting trusts and similar arrangements to which such
Person is a party or which is applicable to its Equity Interests and all other
arrangements relating to the Control or management of such Person.
“Other Liabilities”
means (a) any Cash Management Services furnished to the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries and/or (b) any transaction with any Agent, any Lender or any of
their respective Affiliates, which arises out of any Bank Product entered into
with the Borrower and any such Person, as each may be amended from time to
time.
“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 (i) with respect to Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Line Loans on any
date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to
any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Revolving Credit Loans and Swing
Line Loans, as the case may be, occurring on such date; and (ii) 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.
“Overadvance” means a
Credit Extension to the extent that, immediately after its having been made,
Availability is less than zero.
“Participant” has the
meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).
“Payment Conditions”
means, at the time of determination with respect to any specified transaction or
payment, that (a) no Default then exists or would arise as a result of entering
into such transaction or the making such payment, and (b) after giving effect to
such transaction or payment, the Pro Forma Availability Condition has been
satisfied.
“PBGC” means the
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
“PCAOB” means the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.
“Pension Plan” means
any “employee pension benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of
ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA
and is sponsored or maintained by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or to
which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to
contribute, or in the case of a multiple employer or other plan described in
Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time during the
immediately preceding five plan years.
“Permitted
Acquisition” means an Acquisition in which all of the following
conditions are satisfied:
(a) No
Default then exists or would arise from the consummation of such
Acquisition;
(b) Such
Acquisition shall have been approved by the Board of Directors of the Person (or
similar governing body if such Person is not a corporation) which is the subject
of such Acquisition and such Person shall not have announced that it will oppose
such Acquisition or shall not have commenced any action which alleges that such
Acquisition shall violate applicable Law;
(c) The
Borrower shall have furnished the Administrative Agent with thirty (30) days’
prior written notice of such intended Acquisition and shall have furnished the
Administrative Agent with a current draft of the Acquisition documents (and
final copies thereof as and when executed), a summary of any due diligence
undertaken by the Borrower in connection with such Acquisition, appropriate
financial statements of the Person which is the subject of such Acquisition, pro
forma projected financial statements for the twelve (12) month period following
such Acquisition after giving effect to such Acquisition (including balance
sheets, cash flows and income statements by month for the acquired Person,
individually, and on a Consolidated basis with the Borrower), and such other
information as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require, all of which
shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(d) Either
(i) the legal structure of the Acquisition shall be acceptable to the
Administrative Agent in its discretion, or (ii) the Borrower shall have provided
the Administrative Agent with a solvency opinion from an unaffiliated third
party valuation firm reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative
Agent;
(e) After
giving effect to the Acquisition, if the Acquisition is an Acquisition of the
Equity Interests, the Borrower shall acquire and own, directly or indirectly, a
majority of the Equity Interests in the Person being acquired and shall Control
a majority of any voting interests or shall otherwise Control the governance of
the Person being acquired;
(f) The
Administrative Agent shall have received (i) the results of appraisals of the
assets (or the assets of the Person) to be acquired in such Acquisition and of a
commercial finance examination of the Person which is (or whose assets are)
being acquired, and (ii) such other due diligence as the Administrative Agent
may reasonably require, all of the results of the foregoing to be reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(g) Any
assets acquired shall be utilized in, and if the Acquisition involves a merger,
consolidation or stock acquisition, the Person which is the subject of such
Acquisition shall be engaged in, a business otherwise permitted to be engaged in
by the Borrower under this Agreement;
(h) If
the Person which is the subject of such Acquisition will be maintained as a
Subsidiary of the Borrower, or if the assets acquired in an acquisition will be
transferred to a Subsidiary which is not then party hereto, such Subsidiary
shall have been joined as a “Borrower” hereunder or as a Guarantor, as the
Administrative Agent shall determine, and the Collateral Agent shall have
received a first priority security and/or mortgage interest in such Subsidiary’s
Equity Interests, Inventory, Accounts, Real Estate and other property of the
same nature as constitutes collateral under the Security Documents;
(i) The
total consideration paid for such Acquisition (whether in cash, tangible
property, notes or other property) shall not exceed $15,000,000;
(j) If
such Acquisition is to acquire the right to use any Equipment, in which
Equipment any third party has any interest, (i) such Equipment shall be merely
incidental to the conduct of the Borrower’s business or in replacement of
worn-out or obsolete Equipment or Equipment damaged beyond repair, the
replacement of which is necessary to preserve or improve the operating
efficiency of the Borrower, (ii) the acquisition of such Equipment shall have
been consented to by the Administrative Agent, which consent may be conditioned
upon the Administrative Agent’s receipt of an intercreditor agreement in form
and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent with such third party
holding an interest in such Equipment, and (iii) such Equipment shall be
financed entirely through Permitted Indebtedness pursuant to clause (c) of the
definition thereof;
(j) If
such Acquisition is an acquisition of any Store locations of any Person, the
Borrower shall have complied with the requirements of Section 7.16 hereof;
and
(k) The
Payment Conditions shall have been satisfied.
“Permitted
Disposition” means any of the following:
(a) dispositions
of inventory in the ordinary course of business;
(b) bulk
sales of other dispositions of the Inventory of the Borrower not in the ordinary
course of business in connection with Store closings permitted pursuant to
Section 7.16 hereof, at arm’s length,
provided, that
all sales of Inventory in connection with Store closings shall be in accordance
with liquidation agreements and with professional liquidators reasonably
acceptable to the Agents; provided, further
that all Net Proceeds received in connection therewith are applied to the
Obligations if then required in accordance with Section 2.06
hereof;
(c) non-exclusive
licenses of Intellectual Property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in
the ordinary course of business;
(d) licenses
for the conduct of licensed departments within the Borrower’s Stores in the
ordinary course of business; provided that, if requested by the Agents, the
Agents shall have entered into an intercreditor agreement with the Person
operating such licensed department on terms and conditions reasonably
satisfactory to the Agents;
(e) dispositions
of Equipment in the ordinary course of business that is substantially worn,
damaged, obsolete or, in the judgment of the Borrower, no longer useful or
necessary in its business or that of any Subsidiary and is not replaced with
similar property having at least equivalent value; and
(f) as
long as no Default then exists or would arise therefrom, sales of Real Estate of
the Borrower (or sales of any Person or Persons created to hold such Real Estate
or the equity interests in such Person or Persons), including sale-leaseback
transactions involving any such Real Estate pursuant to leases on market terms,
as long as, (A) such sale is made for fair market value, (B) the proceeds of
such sale are utilized to repay the Obligations, to the extent required under
Section 2.06, and (C) in
the case of any sale-leaseback transaction permitted hereunder, the Agents shall
have received from such each purchaser or transferee a Collateral Access
Agreement on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to the
Agents.
“Permitted
Encumbrances” means:
(a) Liens
imposed by law for Taxes that are not yet due or are being contested in
compliance with Section 6.04;
(b) Carriers’,
warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s and other like Liens
imposed by applicable 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 6.04;
(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, other than any Lien imposed by ERISA;
(d) Deposits
to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts and leases (other than
Indebtedness), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds
and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of
business;
(e) Liens
in respect of judgments that would not constitute an Event of Default
hereunder;
(f) Easements,
covenants, conditions, restrictions, building code laws, 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 materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the
Borrower and such other minor title defects or survey matters that are disclosed
by current surveys that, in each case, do not materially interfere with the
current use of the real property;
(g) Liens
existing on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.01 and any
renewals or extensions thereof, provided that (i) the
property covered thereby is not changed, (ii) the amount secured or benefited
thereby is not increased, (iii) the direct or any contingent obligor with
respect thereto is not changed, and (iv) any renewal or extension of the
obligations secured or benefited thereby is otherwise permitted
hereunder);
(h) Liens
on fixed or capital assets acquired by the Borrower which are permitted under
clause (b) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness so long as (i) such Liens
and the Indebtedness secured thereby are incurred prior to or within ninety (90)
days after such acquisition, (ii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not
exceed the cost of acquisition of such fixed or capital assets and
(iii) such Liens shall not extend to any other property or assets of the
Borrower;
(i) Liens
in favor the Collateral Agent;
(j) Landlords’
and lessors’ Liens in respect of rent not in default;
(k) Possessory
Liens in favor of brokers and dealers arising in connection with the acquisition
or disposition of Investments owned as of the date hereof and Permitted
Investments, provided that such
liens (a) attach only to such Investments and (b) secure only obligations
incurred in the ordinary course and arising in connection with the acquisition
or disposition of such Investments and not any obligation in connection with
margin financing;
(l) Liens
arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provisions relating to
banker’s liens, liens in favor of securities intermediaries, rights of setoff or
similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or securities accounts or
other funds maintained with depository institutions or securities
intermediaries;
(m) Liens
arising from precautionary UCC filings regarding “true” operating leases or, to
the extent permitted under the Loan Documents, the consignment of goods to the
Borrower;
(n) voluntary
Liens on property (other than property of the type included in the Borrowing
Base) in existence at the time such property is acquired pursuant to a Permitted
Acquisition or on such property of a Subsidiary of the Borrower in existence at
the time such Subsidiary is acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition; provided, that such
Liens are not incurred in connection with or in anticipation of such Permitted
Acquisition and do not attach to any other assets of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary; and
(o) Liens
in favor of customs and revenues authorities imposed by applicable Law arising
in the ordinary course of business in connection with the importation of goods
and securing obligations (i) that are not overdue by more than thirty (30) days,
or (ii)(A) that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings,
(B) the Borrower or Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with
respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (C) such contest effectively
suspends collection of the contested obligation and enforcement of any Lien
securing such obligation;
provided, however, that,
except as provided in any one or more of clauses (a) through (o) above, the term
“Permitted Encumbrances” shall not include any Lien securing
Indebtedness.
“Permitted
Indebtedness” means:
(a) Indebtedness
outstanding on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.03 and any
refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that (i) the
amount of such Indebtedness is not increased at the time of such refinancing,
refunding, renewal or extension except by an amount equal to a reasonable
premium or other reasonable amount paid, and fees and expenses reasonably
incurred, in connection with such refinancing and by an amount equal to any
existing commitments unutilized thereunder, and the direct or contingent obligor
with respect thereto is not changed as a result of or in connection with such
refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension, (ii) the result of such extension,
renewal or replacement shall not be an earlier maturity date or decreased
weighted average life of such Indebtedness, and (iii) the terms relating to
principal amount, amortization, maturity, collateral (if any) and subordination
(if any), and other material terms taken as a whole, of any such refinancing,
refunding, renewing or extending Indebtedness, and of any agreement entered into
and of any instrument issued in connection therewith, are no less favorable in
any material respect to the Borrower or the Lenders than the terms of any
agreement or instrument governing the Indebtedness being refinanced, refunded,
renewed or extended and the interest rate applicable to any such refinancing,
refunding, renewing or extending Indebtedness does not exceed the then
applicable market interest rate;
(b) Without
duplication of Indebtedness described in clause (e) of this definition, purchase
money Indebtedness of the Borrower to finance the acquisition of any fixed or
capital assets, including Capital Lease Obligations and Synthetic Lease
Obligations, including Indebtedness under the Equipment Financing Facility, 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 or result in an earlier
maturity date or decreased weighted average life thereof provided that the terms
relating to principal amount, amortization, maturity, collateral (if any) and
subordination (if any), and other material terms taken as a whole, of any such
refinancing, refunding, renewing or extending Indebtedness, and of any agreement
entered into and of any instrument issued in connection therewith, are no less
favorable in any material respect to the Borrower or the Lenders than the terms
of any agreement or instrument governing the Indebtedness being refinanced,
refunded, renewed or extended and the interest rate applicable to any such
refinancing, refunding, renewing or extending Indebtedness does not exceed the
then applicable market interest rate, provided, however, that the
aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this clause (b) shall
not exceed the sum of (x) $15,000,000 at any time outstanding plus (y) any amounts
outstanding under the Equipment Financing Facility, and further provided that, if
requested by the Collateral Agent, the Borrower shall cause the holders of such
Indebtedness to enter into a Collateral Access Agreement on terms reasonably
satisfactory to the Collateral Agent;
(c) obligations
(contingent or otherwise) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof existing or
arising under any Swap Contract, provided that such
obligations are (or were) entered into by such Person in the ordinary course of
business for the purpose of directly mitigating risks associated with
fluctuations in interest rates or foreign exchange rates, and not for purposes
of speculation or taking a “market view;” provided that the
aggregate Swap Termination Value thereof shall not exceed $1,000,000 at any time
outstanding;
(d) Contingent
liabilities under surety bonds or similar instruments incurred in the ordinary
course of business in connection with the construction or improvement of retail
stores;
(e) Indebtedness
incurred for the construction or acquisition or improvement of, or to finance or
to refinance, any Real Estate owned by the Borrower (including therein any
Indebtedness incurred in connection with sale-leaseback transactions permitted
hereunder), provided
that, (A) all Net Proceeds received in connection with any such
Indebtedness are applied to the Obligations if then required in accordance with
Section 2.06 hereof, and (B) the
Borrower shall cause the holders of such Indebtedness to enter into a Collateral
Access Agreement on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral
Agent;
(f) Indebtedness
with respect to the deferred purchase price for any Permitted Acquisition, provided that such
Indebtedness does not require the payment in cash of principal (other than in
respect of working capital adjustments) prior to the Maturity Date, has a
maturity which extends beyond the Maturity Date, and is subordinated to the
Obligations on terms reasonably acceptable to the Agents;
(g) Indebtedness
of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower in a Permitted
Acquisition, which Indebtedness is existing at the time such Person becomes a
Subsidiary of the Borrower (other than Indebtedness incurred solely in
contemplation of such Person’s becoming a Subsidiary of the Borrower);
and
(h) The
Obligations.
“Permitted
Investments” means:
(a) readily
marketable obligations issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the
United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof having
maturities of not more than 360 days from the date of acquisition thereof; provided that the
full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged in support
thereof;
(b) commercial
paper issued by any Person organized under the laws of any state of the United
States of America and rated at least “Prime-1” (or the then equivalent
grade) by Xxxxx’x or at least “A-1” (or the then equivalent grade) by
S&P, in each case with maturities of not more than 180 days from the date of
acquisition thereof;
(c) time
deposits with, or insured certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances of,
any commercial bank that (i) (A) is a Lender or (B) is organized under the laws
of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia
or is the principal banking subsidiary of a bank holding company organized under
the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of
Columbia, and is a member of the Federal Reserve System, (ii) issues (or the
parent of which issues) commercial paper rated as described in clause (c) of
this definition and (iii) has combined capital and surplus of at least
$1,000,000,000, in each case with maturities of not more than 180 days from the
date of acquisition thereof;
(d) Fully
collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than thirty (30)
days for securities described in clause (a) above (without regard to the
limitation on maturity contained in such clause) and entered into with a
financial institution satisfying the criteria described in clause (c) above or
with any primary dealer and having a market value at the time that such
repurchase agreement is entered into of not less than 100% of the repurchase
obligation of such counterparty entity with whom such repurchase agreement has
been entered into;
(e) Investments,
classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets of the Borrower, in any
money market fund, mutual fund, or other investment companies that are
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, which are
administered by financial institutions that have the highest rating obtainable
from either Xxxxx’x or S&P, and which invest solely in one or more of the
types of securities described in clauses (a) through (d) above;
(f) Investments
existing on the Closing Date, and set forth on Schedule 7.02, but
not any increase in the amount thereof or any other modification of the terms
thereof;
(g) Subject
to the provisions of Section 6.12(b) hereof,
Investments by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in their respective
Subsidiaries outstanding on the date hereof;
(h) Investments
consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes
receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of
business, and Investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction
thereof from financially troubled account debtors to the extent reasonably
necessary in order to prevent or limit loss;
(i) Guarantees
constituting Permitted Indebtedness;
(j) Investments
by the Borrower in Swap Contracts permitted hereunder;
(k) Investments
received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of, or settlement
of delinquent accounts and disputes with, customers and suppliers, in each case
in the ordinary course of business;
(l) advances
to officers, directors and employees of the Borrower and Subsidiaries in the
ordinary course of business with respect to reasonable expenses to be
incurred by such officers, directors and employees for the benefit of the
Borrower, which expenses are properly substantiated by the person seeking such
advance and properly reimbursable by the Borrower; and
(m) Investments
constituting Permitted Acquisitions.
provided, however, that
notwithstanding the foregoing, no such Investments specified in clauses (a)
through (e) shall be permitted unless (i) either (A) no Loans are then
outstanding, or (B) the Investment is a temporary Investment pending expiration
of an Interest Period for a LIBO Rate Loan, the proceeds of which Investment
will be applied to the Obligations after the expiration of such Interest
Period, and (ii) such Investments are pledged to the Collateral Agent
as additional collateral for the Obligations pursuant to such agreements as may
be reasonably required by the Collateral Agent.
“Permitted
Overadvance” means an Overadvance made by the Administrative Agent, in
its discretion, which:
(a) Is
made to maintain, protect or preserve the Collateral and/or the Credit Parties’
rights under the Loan Documents or which is otherwise for the benefit of the
Credit Parties; or
(b) Is
made to enhance the likelihood of, or to maximize the amount of, repayment of
any Obligation;
(c) Is
made to pay any other amount chargeable to the Borrower hereunder;
and
(d) Together
with all other Permitted Overadvances then outstanding, shall not (i) exceed the
lesser of (x) five percent (5%) of the lesser of the Borrowing Base or the
Revolving Credit Ceiling or (y) $3,000,000 at any time or (ii) unless a
Liquidation is occurring, remain outstanding for more than sixty (60)
consecutive days, unless in each case, the Required Lenders otherwise
agree.
provided however, that the
foregoing shall not (i) modify or abrogate any of the provisions of Section 2.04 regarding
the Lenders’ obligations with respect to Letters of Credit, or (ii) result in
any claim or liability against the Administrative Agent (regardless of the
amount of any Overadvance) for “inadvertent Overadvances” (i.e. where an
Overadvance results from changed circumstances beyond the control of the
Administrative Agent (such as a reduction in the collateral value)), and such
“inadvertent Overadvances” shall not reduce the amount of Permitted Overadvances
allowed hereunder, and further provided that
in no event shall the Administrative Agent make an Overadvance, if after giving
effect thereto, the principal amount of the Credit Extensions would exceed the
Revolving Credit Commitments (as in effect prior to any termination of the
Revolving Credit Commitments pursuant to Section 2.07
hereof).
“Person” means any
natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture,
association, company, partnership, limited partnership, Governmental Authority
or other entity.
“Plan” means any
“employee benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA)
established by the Borrower or, with respect to any such plan that is subject to
Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, any ERISA Affiliate.
“Platform” has the
meaning specified in Section 6.02.
“Prepayment Event”
means:
(a) Any
sale, transfer or other disposition (including pursuant to a sale and leaseback
transaction) of any property or asset of the Borrower;
(b) Any
casualty or other insured damage to, or any taking under power of eminent domain
or by condemnation or similar proceeding of, any property or asset of the
Borrower, unless (i) the proceeds therefrom are required to be paid to the
holder of a Lien on such property or asset having priority over the Lien of the
Collateral Agent or (ii) prior to the occurrence of a Cash Dominion Event, the
proceeds therefrom are utilized for purposes of replacing or repairing the
assets in respect of which such proceeds, awards or payments were received
within 180 days of the occurrence of the damage to or loss of the assets being
repaired or replaced;
(c) The
issuance by the Borrower of any Equity Interests, other than any such issuance
of Equity Interests (i) as consideration for a Permitted Acquisition or (ii) as
a compensatory issuance to any employee, director, or consultant (including
under any option plan);
(d) The
incurrence by the Borrower of any Indebtedness for borrowed money other than
Permitted Indebtedness; or
(e) The
receipt by the Borrower of any Extraordinary Receipts.
“Pro Forma Availability
Condition” shall mean, for any date of calculation with respect to any
transaction or payment, Excess Availability immediately following, and on a pro
forma basis for each month during the twelve months following such transaction
or payment and after giving effect to such transaction or payment , will be
equal to or greater than thirty (30%) percent of the Borrowing Base, and a
Responsible Officer of the Borrower shall have delivered a certificate to the
Administrative Agent, together with supporting documentation (including a budget
and projections for such twelve month period), which is reasonably satisfactory
to the Administrative Agent, reflecting compliance with the
foregoing.
“Real Estate” means
all Leases and all land, together with the buildings, structures, parking areas,
and other improvements thereon, now or hereafter owned by the Borrower,
including all easements, rights-of-way, and similar rights relating thereto and
all leases, tenancies, and occupancies thereof.
“Register” has the
meaning specified in Section 10.06(c).
“Registered Public Accounting
Firm” has the meaning specified by the Securities Laws and shall be
independent of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as prescribed by the Securities
Laws.
“Related Parties”
means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners,
directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and of such
Person’s Affiliates.
“Reportable Event”
means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events
for which the 30 day notice period has been waived.
“Reports” has the
meaning provided in Section 9.12(a).
“Reporting Activation
Event” means either (a) the failure of the Borrower to maintain Excess
Availability of at least $20,000,000 for three (3) consecutive Business Days or
$17,500,000 on any Business Day, or (b) a Default has occurred and is
continuing. For purposes of this Agreement, the occurrence of a
Reporting Activation Event shall be deemed continuing at the Administrative
Agent’s option (i) so long as such Default has not been waived, and/or (ii) if
the Reporting Activation Event arises as a result of the Borrower’s failure to
achieve Excess Availability as required hereunder, until Excess Availability has
exceeded $27,500,000 for sixty (60) consecutive Business Days, in which case a
Reporting Activation Event shall no longer be deemed to be continuing for
purposes of this Agreement; provided that a Reporting
Activation Event shall be deemed continuing (even if a Default is no longer
continuing and/or Excess Availability exceeds the required amount for sixty (60)
consecutive Business Days) at all times during each Fiscal Year of the Borrower
after a Reporting Activation Event has occurred and been discontinued on two (2)
occasion(s) during such Fiscal Year.
“Request for Credit
Extension” means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or
continuation of Revolving Credit Loans, a Revolving Credit 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.
“Required Lenders”
means, as of any date of determination, Lenders holding more than 50% of the
Aggregate Commitments or, if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the
obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated
pursuant to Section
8.02, Lenders
holding in the aggregate more than 50% of the Total Outstandings (with the
aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in
L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Lender for
purposes of this definition); provided that the
Revolving Credit Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held
or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of
making a determination of Required Lenders.
“Reserves” means all
(if any) Inventory Reserves, Availability Reserves, and Realty
Reserves.
“Responsible Officer”
means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, treasurer
or assistant treasurer of the Borrower or any of the other individuals
designated in writing to the Administrative Agent by an existing Responsible
Officer of the Borrower as an authorized signatory of any certificate or other
document to be delivered hereunder. Any document delivered hereunder
that is signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower shall be conclusively
presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or
other action on the part of the Borrower and such Responsible Officer shall be
conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of the Borrower.
“Restricted Payment”
means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other
property) with respect to any capital stock or other Equity Interest of any
Person or any of its Subsidiaries, or any payment (whether in cash, securities
or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of
the purchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance, acquisition, cancellation or
termination of any such capital stock or other Equity Interest, or on account of
any return of capital to such Person’s stockholders, partners or members (or the
equivalent of any thereof), or any option, warrant or other right to acquire any
such dividend or other distribution or payment. Without limiting the
foregoing, “Restricted Payments” with respect to any Person shall also include
all payments made by such Person with any proceeds of a dissolution or
liquidation of such Person.
“Revolving Credit
Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Revolving Credit
Loans of the same Type and, in the case of LIBO Rate Loans, having the same
Interest Period made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01.
“Revolving Credit
Ceiling” means $105,000,000, as such amount may be modified in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement.
“Revolving Credit
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, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in
accordance with this Agreement.
“Revolving Credit
Facility” means, at any time, the aggregate amount of the Lenders’
Revolving Credit Commitments at such time.
“Revolving Credit
Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.
“Revolving Credit Loan
Notice” means a notice of (a) a Revolving Credit Borrowing, (b) a
conversion of Revolving Credit Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a
continuation of LIBO Rate Loans, pursuant to Section 2.03, which, if in writing, shall be
substantially in the form of Exhibit
A-1.
“Revolving Credit
Note” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of a Lender
evidencing Revolving Credit Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form
of Exhibit
C-1.
“S&P” means
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The XxXxxx-Xxxx Companies,
Inc. and any successor thereto.
“Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx” means
the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002.
“SEC” means the
Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to
any of its principal functions.
“Securities Laws”
means the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx, and the applicable accounting and auditing principles, rules,
standards and practices promulgated, approved or incorporated by the SEC or the
PCAOB.
“Security Agreement”
means the Security Agreement dated as of the Closing Date among the Borrower and
the Collateral Agent.
“Security Documents”
means the Security Agreement, the Blocked Account Agreements, the DDA
Notifications, the Credit Card Notifications, and each other security agreement
or other instrument or document executed and delivered to the Collateral Agent
pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document granting a Lien to secure
any of the Obligations.
“Settlement Date” has
the meaning provided in Section 2.15(a).
“Shareholders’ Equity”
means, as of any date of determination, consolidated shareholders’ equity of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of that date determined in accordance with
GAAP.
“Shrink” means
Inventory which has been lost, misplaced, stolen, or is otherwise unaccounted
for.
“Shrink Reserve” means
an amount reasonably estimated by the Agents to be equal to that amount which is
required in order that the Shrink reflected in Borrower’s stock ledger would be
reasonably equivalent to the Shrink calculated as part of the Borrower’s most
recent physical inventory.
“Solvent” and “Solvency” means, with
respect to any Person on a particular date, that on such date (a) at fair
valuation, all of the properties and assets of such Person are greater than the
sum of the debts, including contingent liabilities, of such Person, (b) the
present fair saleable value of the properties and assets of such Person is not
less than the amount that would be required to pay the probable liability of
such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (c) such Person is
able to realize upon its properties and assets and pay its debts and other
liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they mature in the
normal course of business, (d) such Person does not intend to, and does not
believe that it will, incur debts beyond such Person’s ability to pay as such
debts mature, and (e) such Person is not engaged in a business or a transaction,
and is not about to engage in a business or transaction, for which such Person’s
properties and assets would constitute unreasonably small capital after giving
due consideration to the prevailing practices in the industry in which such
Person is engaged. The amount of all guarantees at any time shall be
computed as the amount that, in light of all the facts and circumstances
existing at the time, can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured
liability.
“Standby Letter of
Credit” means any Letter of Credit that is not a Commercial Letter of
Credit and that (a) is used in lieu or in support of performance guaranties or
performance, surety or similar bonds (excluding appeal bonds) arising in the
ordinary course of business, (b) is used in lieu or in support of stay or appeal
bonds, (c) supports the payment of insurance premiums for reasonably necessary
casualty insurance carried by the Borrower, or (d) supports payment or
performance for identified purchases or exchanges of products or services in the
ordinary course of business.
“Stated Amount” means
at any time the maximum amount for which a Letter of Credit may be
honored.
“Statutory Reserve
Rate” means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which
is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the
aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages (including any marginal, special,
emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the
FRB to which the Administrative Agent is subject with respect to the
Adjusted LIBO Rate, for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as
“Eurocurrency Liabilities” in Regulation D of the Board). Such reserve
percentages shall include those imposed pursuant to such
Regulation D. LIBO Loans shall be deemed to constitute
eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without
benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available
from time to time to any Lender under such Regulation D or any comparable
regulation. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as
of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.
“Store” means any
retail store (which may include any real property, fixtures, equipment,
inventory and other property related thereto) operated, or to be operated, by
the Borrower.
“Strongbow Filing”
shall mean that certain proxy statement dated December 17, 2007 filed by
Strongbow Capital, Ltd., Strongbow Capital Management, Ltd. and Xxxxxxx A.D.
French pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act.
“Subordinated
Indebtedness” means Indebtedness which is expressly subordinated in right
of payment to the prior payment in full of the Obligations and which is in form
and on terms approved in writing by the Administrative Agent.
“Subsidiary” of a
Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability
company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares Equity
Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other
governing body are 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” means the
revolving credit facility made available by the Swing Line Lender pursuant to
Section 2.05.
“Swing Line Borrowing”
means a borrowing of a Swing Line Loan pursuant to Section 2.05.
“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 2.05(a).
“Swing Line Loan
Notice” means a notice of a Swing Line Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.05(b), which,
if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit
B.
“Swing Line Note”
means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of the Swing Line Lender
evidencing Swing Line Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of
Exhibit
C-2.
“Swing Line Sublimit”
means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $10,000,000 and (b) the Revolving
Credit Commitments. The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in
addition to, the Revolving Credit Commitments.
“Synthetic Lease
Obligation” means the monetary obligation of a Person under (a) a
so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease, or (b) an
agreement for the use or possession of property (including sale and leaseback
transactions), in each case, creating obligations that do not appear on the
balance sheet of such Person but which, upon the application of any Debtor
Relief Laws to such Person, would be characterized as the indebtedness of such
Person (without regard to accounting treatment).
“Taxes” means all
present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings,
assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority,
including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable
thereto.
“Termination Date”
means the earliest to occur of (i) the Maturity Date, (ii) the date on which the
maturity of the Obligations is accelerated (or deemed accelerated) and the
Revolving Credit Commitments are irrevocably terminated (or deemed terminated)
in accordance with Article VII.
“Total Outstandings”
means the aggregate outstanding amount of all Loans and all L/C
Obligations.
“Type” means, with
respect to any Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a LIBO Rate
Loan.
“UCC” or “Uniform Commercial
Code” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; provided, however, that if a
term is defined in Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code differently than in
another Article thereof, the term shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9;
provided further that, if by
reason of mandatory provisions of law, perfection, or the effect of perfection
or non-perfection, of a security interest in any Collateral or the availability
of any remedy hereunder is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect
in a jurisdiction other than Massachusetts, “Uniform Commercial Code” means the
Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in such other jurisdiction for purposes of
the provisions hereof relating to such perfection or effect of perfection or
non-perfection or availability of such remedy, as the case may be.
“Uncapped Excess
Availability” means, as of any date of determination thereof by the
Administrative Agent, the result, if a positive number, of:
(a) The
Borrowing Base
minus
(b) The
sum of:
(i) the aggregate of the outstanding
Credit Extensions;
(ii) all
checks held thirty (30) days or longer;
(iii) accounts
payable which are more than thirty (30) days beyond credit terms then accorded
the Borrower; and
(iv) all
past due obligations of the Borrower to pay rent for leaseswhich are beyond
applicable grace periods.
“Unfunded Pension
Liability” means the excess of a Pension Plan’s benefit liabilities under
Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA, over the current value of that Pension Plan’s
assets, determined in accordance with the assumptions used for funding the
Pension Plan pursuant to Section 412 of the Code for the applicable plan
year.
“United States” and
“U.S.” mean the
United States of America.
“Unreimbursed Amount”
has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(c)(i).
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
“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.
(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. 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, except as otherwise
specifically prescribed herein.
(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).
1.06 Letter
of Credit Amounts»
. Unless otherwise
specified, all references herein to 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 of any Issuer Documents 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
REVOLVING CREDIT COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS
2.01 Revolving
Credit Loans; Reserves»
. (a) Subject to
the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make
loans (each such loan, a “Revolving Credit
Loan”) to the Borrower from time to time, on any Business Day during the
Availability Period, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time
outstanding the lesser of (x) the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit
Commitment, or (y) such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Borrowing Base;
subject in each case to the following limitations:
(i) after
giving effect to any Revolving Credit Borrowing, the Outstanding Amount of all
Revolving Credit Loans and L/C Obligations shall not exceed
Availability,
(ii) after
giving effect to any Revolving Credit Borrowing, the aggregate Outstanding
Amount of the Revolving Credit 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 Credit Commitment, and
(iii) The
Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations shall not at any time exceed the
Letter of Credit Sublimit.
Within
the limits of each Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, and subject to the
other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01, prepay
under Section
2.06, and
reborrow under this Section 2.01. Revolving
Credit Loans may be Base Rate Loans or LIBO Rate Loans, as further provided
herein.
(b) The
following are the Inventory Reserves and Availability Reserves as of the Closing
Date:
(i) Shrink
(an Inventory Reserve): An amount equal to 0.03% of the gross sales of the
Borrower for the Fiscal Year to date;
(ii) Rent (an
Availability Reserve): An amount equal to three (3) months’ rent for all of the
Borrower’s leased locations in each Landlord Lien State, other than leased
locations with respect to which the Collateral Agent has received a Collateral
Access Agreement in form reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent;
and
(iii) Customer
Credit Liabilities (an Availability Reserve): An amount equal to (x) fifty
percent (50%) of the Customer Credit Liabilities pursuant to clause (a) of the
definition thereof, and (y) one hundred percent (100%) of the Customer Credit
Liabilities pursuant to clause (b) of the definition thereof, in each case as
reflected in the Borrower’s books and records.
(c) The
Administrative Agent shall have the right, at any time and from time to time
after the Closing Date in its discretion to establish, modify or eliminate
Reserves.
2.02 Reserved.
2.03 Borrowings, Conversions and
Continuations of Loans.
(a) Revolving
Credit Loans (other than Swing Line Loans) shall be either Base Rate Loans or
LIBO Loans as the Borrower may request subject to and in accordance with this
Section 2.03. All
Swing Line Loans shall be only Base Rate Loans. Subject to the other
provisions of this Section 2.03, Revolving
Credit Borrowings of more than one Type may be incurred at the same
time.
(b) Each
Borrowing, each conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, and each
continuation of LIBO 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 LIBO Rate Loans or of
any conversion of LIBO Rate Loans to Base Rate Loans, and (ii) on the Business
Day which is the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate
Loans. Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.03(b) must be
confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written
Revolving Credit Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a
Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Each Borrowing of, conversion to
or continuation of LIBO 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
2.04(c) and 2.05(c), each
Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of
$500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each
Revolving Credit Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i)
whether the Borrower is requesting a Revolving Credit Borrowing, a conversion of
Revolving Credit Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of LIBO
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 Revolving Credit Loans to be borrowed, converted or
continued, (iv) the Type of Revolving Credit Loans to be borrowed or to which
existing Revolving Credit 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 Revolving Credit Loan in a Revolving Credit Loan
Notice, or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion
or continuation, then the applicable Revolving Credit 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 LIBO Rate Loans. If the
Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of LIBO Rate
Loans in any such Revolving Credit 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 LIBO Rate Loan.
(c) Following
receipt of a Revolving Credit Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall
promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the
Revolving Credit 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 described in Section 2.03(b). In
the case of a Revolving Credit Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of
its Revolving Credit 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 Revolving Credit Loan
Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in
Section 4.02 (and, if
such Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 4.01), the
Administrative Agent shall use reasonable efforts to make all funds so received
available to the Borrower in like funds by no later than 4:00 p.m. on the day of
receipt 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 the Revolving Credit Loan Notice with respect to a Revolving Credit
Borrowing is given by the Borrower, 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.
(d) The
Administrative Agent, without the request of the Borrower, may advance any
interest, fee, service charge, Credit Party Expenses, or other payment to which
any Credit Party is entitled from the Borrower pursuant hereto or any other Loan
Document and may charge the same to the Loan Account notwithstanding that an
Overadvance may result thereby. The Administrative Agent shall advise
the Borrower of any such advance or charge promptly after the making
thereof. Such action on the part of the Administrative Agent shall
not constitute a waiver of the Administrative Agent’s rights and the Borrower’s
obligations under Section 2.06(b). Any
amount which is added to the principal balance of the Loan Account as provided
in this Section
2.03(d) shall
bear interest at the interest rate then and thereafter applicable to Base Rate
Loans for Revolving Credit Loans.
(e) Except as
otherwise provided herein, a LIBO Rate Loan may be continued or converted only
on the last day of an Interest Period for such LIBO Rate Loan. During
the existence of a Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or
continued as LIBO Rate Loans without the Consent of the Required
Lenders.
(f) The
Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the
interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for LIBO 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.
(g) 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 three (3) Interest Periods in effect with respect to the
Loans.
(h) The
Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuer
shall have no obligation to make any Revolving Credit Loan or to provide any
Letter of Credit if an Overadvance would result. The Administrative
Agent may, in its discretion, make Permitted Overadvances without the consent of
the Lenders, the Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuer and each Lender shall be
bound thereby. Any Permitted Overadvance may constitute a Swing Line
Loan. A Permitted Overadvance is for the account of the Borrower and shall
constitute a Loan and an Obligation and shall be repaid by the Borrower in
accordance with the provisions of Section 2.06(b). The
making of any such Permitted Overadvance on any one occasion shall not obligate
the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make or permit any Permitted
Overadvance on any other occasion or to permit such Permitted Overadvances to
remain outstanding. The making by the Administrative Agent of a Permitted
Overadvance shall not modify or abrogate any of the provisions of Section 2.04 regarding
the Lenders’ obligations to purchase participations with respect to Letter of
Credits. The Administrative Agent shall have no liability for, and
neither the Borrower nor Credit Party shall have the right to, or shall, bring
any claim of any kind whatsoever against the Administrative Agent with respect
to “inadvertent Overadvances” (i.e. where an Overadvance results from changed
circumstances beyond the control of the Administrative Agent (such as a
reduction in the collateral value)) regardless of the amount of any such
Overadvance(s).
2.04 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 2.04, (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 for the account
of the Borrower, and to amend or extend Letters of Credit previously issued by
it, in accordance with Section 2.04(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 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 amount of all Credit Extensions shall not exceed the lesser of the
Revolving Credit Commitments or the Borrowing Base, (y) the aggregate
Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Credit 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 Credit Revolving Credit 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) the
expiry date of such requested Standby Letter of Credit would occur more than
twelve months after the date of issuance or last extension, unless the Required
Lenders have approved such expiry date; or
(B) the
expiry date of such requested Commercial Letter of Credit would occur more than
120 days after the date of issuance or last extension, unless the Required
Lenders have approved such expiry date; or
(C) the
expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur after the Letter of
Credit Expiration Date, unless either such Letter of Credit is Cash
Collateralized on or prior to the Letter of Credit Expiration Date or all the
Lenders have approved such expiry date.
(iii) The L/C
Issuer shall not issue any Letter of Credit without the prior consent of the
Administrative Agent 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 letters of credit 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 $25,000, in the case of a
Commercial Letter of Credit, or $100,000, in the case of a Standby Letter of
Credit;
(D) such
Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars; provided that if the
L/C Issuer, in its discretion, issues a Letter of Credit denominated in a
currency other than Dollars, all reimbursements by the Borrower of the honoring
of any drawing under such Letter of Credit shall be paid in the currency in
which such Letter of Credit was denominated; or
(E) a default
of any Lender’s obligations to fund under Section 2.04(c) exists or
any Lender is at such time a Defaulting Lender hereunder, unless the L/C Issuer
has entered into satisfactory arrangements with the Borrower or such Lender to
eliminate the L/C Issuer’s risk with respect to such Lender.
(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 such Letter of Credit in its amended form under
the terms hereof or if the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept
the proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit.
(v) 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 IX 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 IX 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)
|
(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 two
Business Days (or such other 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; and (G) 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 require.
(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 the Borrower, at least one
Business Day prior to the requested date of issuance or amendment of the
applicable Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions contained in
Article IV shall not then
be satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the L/C Issuer
shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the
applicable Borrower 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 or amendment of each Letter
of Credit, each Lender shall be deemed to (without any further action), and
hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the L/C Issuer,
without recourse or warranty, 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. Upon any change in the Revolving Credit
Commitments under this Agreement, it is hereby agreed that with respect to all
L/C Obligations, there shall be an automatic adjustment to the participations
hereby created to reflect the new Applicable Percentages of the assigning and
assignee Lenders.
(iii) If the
Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the L/C
Issuer may, in its sole and absolute discretion, agree to issue a Standby 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 Standby 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 Standby 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 (but
may not require) the L/C Issuer to permit the extension of such Standby 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 Standby 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 2.04(a) or
otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in
writing) on or before the day that is five 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
4.02 is not then
satisfied, and in each such 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 a drawing
under such Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall notify the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent thereof; provided, however, that any
failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Borrower of
its obligation to reimburse the L/C Issuer and the Lenders with respect to any
such payment. Not later than 11:00 a.m. on the date of any payment by
the L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit (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 Revolving Credit Borrowing of 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 2.03 for the
principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized
portion of the Revolving Credit Commitments and the conditions set forth in
Section 4.02 (other than
the delivery of a Revolving Credit Loan Notice). Any notice given by
the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.04(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.
(ii) Each
Lender shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i) make
funds available to the Administrative Agent 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 2.04(c)(iii),
each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a
Revolving Credit Loan which is 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 Revolving
Credit Borrowing of Base Rate Loans because the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 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 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 2.04(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 2.04.
(iv) Until
each Lender funds its Revolving Credit Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this
Section 2.04(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 Credit Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse
the L/C Issuer for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by
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 which
such Lender may have against the L/C Issuer, any 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 Credit Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) is
subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than
delivery by the Borrower of a Revolving Credit 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.
(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 2.04(c) by the
time specified in Section 2.04(c)(ii), 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 Credit Loan included in the relevant Revolving Credit
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 2.04(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 (appropriately adjusted, in the
case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such
Lender’s L/C Advance was outstanding) 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
2.04(c)(i) is
required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.05 (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 the
Borrower 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;
(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;
(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, the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries; or
(vi) the fact
that any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
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 the 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; (iii) any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in
transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or
relating to any Letter of Credit or any error in interpretation of technical
terms; or (iv) 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 2.04(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 (or the L/C Issuer may refuse to accept and make
payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with
the terms of such Letter of Credit), 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.
(g) Cash
Collateral. Upon the request of the Administrative Agent, (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. Sections 2.06 and 8.02(c) set forth
certain additional requirements to deliver Cash Collateral
hereunder. For purposes of this Section 2.04, Section 2.06 and Section 8.02(c), “Cash Collateralize”
means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the
benefit of the L/C Issuer and the Lenders, as collateral for the L/C
Obligations, cash or deposit account balances in an amount equal to 105% of the
Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, pursuant to documentation in form and
substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer (which
documents are hereby Consented to by the Lenders). Derivatives of
such term have corresponding meanings. The Borrower hereby grants to
the Collateral Agent a security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and
all balances therein and all proceeds of the foregoing. Cash
Collateral shall be maintained in blocked, non-interest bearing deposit accounts
at Bank of America except that Permitted Investments of the type listed in
clauses (a) through (e) of the definition thereof may be made at the
request of the Borrower at the option and in the sole discretion of the
Collateral Agent (and at the Borrower’s risk and expense); interest or profits,
if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account. If at
any time the Administrative Agent determines that any funds held as Cash
Collateral are subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the
Administrative Agent or that the total amount of such funds is less than the
aggregate Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, the Borrower will,
forthwith upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay to the Administrative
Agent, as additional funds to be deposited as Cash Collateral, an amount equal
to the excess of (x) such aggregate Outstanding Amount over (y) the
total amount of funds, if any, then held as Cash Collateral that the
Administrative Agent determines to be free and clear of any such right and
claim. Upon the drawing of any Letter of Credit for which funds are
on deposit as Cash Collateral, such funds shall be applied, to the extent
permitted under applicable Laws, to reimburse the L/C Issuer and, to the extent
not so applied, shall thereafter be applied to satisfy other
Obligations.
(h) 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.
(i) 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”) (i) for each Commercial Letter of
Credit equal the Applicable Margin for Commercial Letters of Credit times the daily
Stated Amount under such Letter of Credit (whether or not such maximum amount is
then in effect under such Letter of Credit), and (ii) for each Standby Letter of
Credit equal to the Applicable Margin for Standby Letters of Credit times the daily
Stated Amount under such Letter of Credit. For purposes of computing
the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of
the 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 April, July, October and January, 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
Margin during any quarter, the daily amount available to be drawn under of each
Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Margin
separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Margin was
in effect. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein,
while any Event of Default exists, the Administrative Agent may, and upon the
request of the Required Lenders shall, notify the Borrower that all Letter of
Credit Fees shall accrue at the Default Rate and thereafter such Letter of
Credit Fees shall accrue at the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable Laws.
(j) Documentary and Processing
Charges Payable to L/C Issuer. 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.
(k) 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.
2.05 Swing Line Loans.
(a) The Swing
Line. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein,
the Swing Line Lender agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the other
Lenders set forth in this Section 2.05, to make
loans (each such loan, a “Swing Line Loan”) to
the Borrower 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 Credit Loans and L/C Obligations of the Lender acting as Swing Line
Lender, may exceed the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment;
provided, however, that after
giving effect to any Swing Line Loan, (i) the Outstanding Amount of the Credit
Extensions shall not exceed the lesser of (A) the Revolving Credit Commitments,
or (B) the Borrowing Base, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the
Revolving Credit Loans of any Lender at such time, plus such Lender’s
Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations at such
time, plus such
Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans
at such time shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Credit 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 2.05, prepay
under Section
2.06, and
reborrow under this Section 2.05. 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 Swing Line Borrowing 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 of $100,000, 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
at the request of the Required Lenders prior to 2:00 p.m. on the date of the
proposed Swing Line Borrowing (A) directing the Swing Line Lender not to make
such Swing Line Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the proviso to
the first sentence of Section 2.05(a), or (B)
that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Article IV is not then
satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swing Line
Lender may, 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 at its office by crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of
the Swing Line Lender in immediately available funds.
(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 authorize the Swing Line Lender
to so request on their behalf), that each Lender make 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 Revolving Credit Loan Notice for
purposes hereof) and in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.03, without
regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the principal amount
of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the unutilized portion of the Revolving
Credit Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section
4.02. The Swing Line Lender shall furnish the Borrower with a
copy of the applicable Revolving Credit 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
Revolving Credit Loan Notice available to the Administrative Agent in
immediately available funds 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 Revolving Credit Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section 2.05(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 Revolving Credit
Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.05(c)(i), the
request for 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 2.05(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 2.05(c) by the
time specified in Section 2.05(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 Credit Loan included in the relevant
Revolving Credit 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 Credit Loans or to purchase and fund risk
participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(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 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 Credit Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(c) is
subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. 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.
(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 of such payment (appropriately adjusted, in the case of
interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lender’s risk
participation was funded) 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 10.05 (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 Base Rate Loan or risk
participation pursuant to this Section 2.05 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.
2.06 Prepayments.
(a) The
Borrower may, upon irrevocable notice from the Borrower to the Administrative
Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Revolving Credit
Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i)
such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00
a.m. (A) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of LIBO Rate Loans
and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans; (ii) any prepayment of
LIBO Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple
of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans
shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 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 LIBO Rate Loans,
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 LIBO Rate Loan shall be
accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any
additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Each
such prepayment shall be applied to the Loans of the Lenders in accordance with
their respective Applicable Percentages.
(b) The
Borrower may, upon irrevocable notice from the Borrower 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. 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.
(c) If for
any reason the total amount of the Credit Extensions at any time exceed the
lesser of the Revolving Credit Commitments or the Borrowing Base, each as then
in effect, the Borrower shall immediately prepay Revolving Credit Loans, Swing
Line Loans and L/C Borrowings and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations
(other than L/C Borrowings) 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 2.06(c) unless
after the prepayment in full of the Revolving Credit Loans the total amount of
the Credit Extensions exceed the lesser of the Revolving Credit Commitments or
the Borrowing Base, each as then in effect.
(d) The
Borrower shall prepay the Revolving Credit Loans and Cash Collateralize the L/C
Obligations in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.13
hereof. In addition, the Borrower shall prepay the Loans and
Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an amount equal to the Net Cash
Proceeds received by the Borrower on account of a Prepayment Event, irrespective
of whether a Cash Dominion Event then exists and is continuing.
(e) Prepayments
made pursuant to this Section 2.06, first, shall be
applied ratably to the L/C Borrowings and the Swing Line Loans, second, shall be
applied ratably to the outstanding Revolving Credit Loans, third, shall be used
to Cash Collateralize the remaining L/C Obligations; and, fourth, the amount
remaining, if any, after the prepayment in full of all L/C Borrowings, Swing
Line Loans and Revolving Credit Loans outstanding at such time and the Cash
Collateralization of the remaining L/C Obligations in full may be retained by
the Borrower for use in the ordinary course of its business. Upon the
drawing of any Letter of Credit that has been Cash Collateralized, the funds
held as Cash Collateral shall be applied (without any further action by or
notice to or from the Borrower) to reimburse the L/C Issuer or the Lenders, as
applicable.
2.07 Termination
or Reduction of Revolving Credit Commitments.
(a) The
Borrower may, upon irrevocable notice from the Borrower to the Administrative
Agent, terminate the Revolving Credit Commitments, the Letter of Credit Sublimit
or the Swing Line Sublimit or from time to time permanently reduce the Revolving
Credit Commitments, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit;
provided that
(i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than
11:00 a.m. five Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction,
(ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $10,000,000
or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (iii) the Borrower shall
not terminate or reduce (A) the Revolving Credit Commitments if, after giving
effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Outstanding
Amount of the Credit Extensions would exceed the Revolving Credit Commitments,
(B) the Letter of Credit Sublimit if, after giving effect thereto, the
Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations not fully Cash Collateralized hereunder
would exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit, and (C) the Swing Line Sublimit if,
after giving effect thereto, and to any concurrent payments hereunder, the
Outstanding Amount of Swing Line Loans hereunder would exceed the Swing Line
Sublimit.
(b) If, after
giving effect to any reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitments, the Letter
of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit exceeds the amount of the
Revolving Credit Commitments, such Letter of Credit Sublimit or Swing Line
Sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such
excess.
(c) The
Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any termination or
reduction of the Letter of Credit Sublimit, Swing Line Sublimit or the Revolving
Credit Commitments under this Section 2.07. Upon
any reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitments, the Revolving Credit
Commitment of each Lender shall be reduced by such Lender’s Applicable
Percentage of such reduction amount. All fees (including, without
limitation, commitment fees and Letter of Credit Fees) in respect of the
Revolving Credit Commitments accrued until the effective date of any termination
of the Revolving Credit Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such
termination.
2.08 Repayment
of Loans.
(a) The
Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Termination Date the aggregate
principal amount of Revolving Credit Loans outstanding on such
date.
(b) To the
extent not previously paid, the Borrower shall repay the outstanding balance of
the Swing Line Loans on the Termination Date.
2.09 Interest.
(a) Subject
to the provisions of Section 2.09(b)
below, (i) each LIBO Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal
amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the LIBO
Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable
Margin; (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
Margin; 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
Margin.
(b) (i) If
any amount payable under any Loan Document 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
other Event of Default exists, then the Administrative Agent may, and upon the
request of the Required Lenders shall, notify the Borrower that all outstanding
Obligations shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per
annum at all times equal to the Default Rate and thereafter such Obligations
shall bear interest at the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable Laws.
(iii) 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.
2.10 Fees»
. In addition to
certain fees described in subsections (i) and (j) of Section 2.04:
(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 0.25% times the actual
daily amount by which the Aggregate Commitments exceed the sum of (i) the
Outstanding Amount of Revolving Loans and (ii) the Outstanding Amount of L/C
Obligations. 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
IV is not met,
and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of
each April, July, October and January, commencing with the first such date to
occur after the Closing Date, and on the last day of the Availability
Period.
(b) Other
Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for
its own account 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.
2.11 Computation
of Interest and Fees.
All
computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year
and actual days elapsed. 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 2.13(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.
2.12 Evidence of Debt.
(a) The Loans
and other Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or
more accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent (the “Loan Account”) in the
ordinary course of business. In addition, each Lender may record in
such Lender’s internal records, an appropriate notation evidencing the date and
amount of each Loan from such Lender, each payment and prepayment of principal
of any such Loan, and each payment of interest, fees and other amounts due in
connection with the Obligations due to such Lender. The accounts or
records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be
conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Loans and other 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) Notes, which shall evidence such Lender’s
Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach
schedules to its Notes and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable),
amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect
thereto. Upon receipt of an affidavit of a Lender as to the loss,
theft, destruction or mutilation of any of such Lender’s Notes and upon
cancellation of any such Note, the Borrower will issue, in lieu thereof, a
replacement Note in favor of such Lender, in the same principal amount thereof
and otherwise of like tenor.
(b) In
addition to the accounts and records referred to in Section 2.12(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.
2.13 Payments
Generally.
(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 LIBO 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 2.03 (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 2.03) 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.
(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 Loan or other Credit Extension set forth in
Article IV are not
satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof (subject to the
provisions of the last paragraph of Section 4.02 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 10.04(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 10.04(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 10.04(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.
2.14 Sharing
of Payments by Lenders.
»
If any
Credit Party shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or
otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of, interest on, or other
amounts with respect to, any of the Obligations resulting in such Lender’s
receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Obligations
greater than its pro rata share thereof as
provided herein (including as in contravention of the priorities of payment set
forth in Section
8.03), then the
Credit Party receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the
Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value)
participations in the Obligations of the other Credit Parties, or make such
other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such
payments shall be shared by the Credit Parties ratably and in the priorities set
forth in Section
8.03, provided
that:
(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 (x) any payment
made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of
this Agreement or (y) 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 to the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which
the provisions of this Section shall apply).
The
Borrower 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 the Borrower rights of setoff
and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender
were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such
participation.
2.15 Settlement
Amongst Lenders
(a) The
amount of each Lender’s Applicable Percentage of outstanding Loans (including
outstanding Swing Line Loans, shall be computed weekly (or more frequently in
the Administrative Agent’s discretion) and shall be adjusted upward or downward
based on all Loans (including Swing Line Loans) and repayments of Loans
(including Swingline Loans) received by the Administrative Agent as of 3:00 p.m.
on the first Business Day (such date, the “Settlement Date”)
following the end of the period specified by the Administrative
Agent.
(b) The
Administrative Agent shall deliver to each of the Lenders promptly after a
Settlement Date a summary statement of the amount of outstanding Loans for the
period and the amount of repayments received for the period. As
reflected on the summary statement, (i) the Administrative Agent shall transfer
to each Lender its Applicable Percentage of repayments, and (ii) each Lender
shall transfer to the Administrative Agent (as provided below) or the
Administrative Agent shall transfer to each Lender, such amounts as are
necessary to insure that, after giving effect to all such transfers, the amount
of Loans made by each Lender shall be equal to such Lender’s Applicable
Percentage of all Loans outstanding as of such Settlement Date. If
the summary statement requires transfers to be made to the Administrative Agent
by the Lenders and is received prior to 1:00 p.m. on a Business Day, such
transfers shall be made in immediately available funds no later than 3:00 p.m.
that day; and, if received after 1:00 p.m., then no later than 3:00 p.m. on the
next Business Day. The obligation of each Lender to transfer such funds is
irrevocable, unconditional and without recourse to or warranty by the
Administrative Agent. If and to the extent any Lender shall not have
so made its transfer to the Administrative Agent, such Lender agrees to pay to
the Administrative Agent, forthwith on demand such amount, together with
interest thereon, for each day from such date until the date such amount is paid
to the Administrative Agent, equal to 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.
2.16 Increase in Revolving Credit
Commitments.
(a) Request for
Increase. Provided no Default then exists or would arise
therefrom, upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify
the Lenders), the Borrower may from time to time request an increase in the
Revolving Credit Commitments by an amount (for all such requests) not exceeding
$25,000,000; provided that (i) any
such request for an increase shall be in a minimum amount of $5,000,000, and
(ii) the Borrower may make a maximum of three such requests. At the
time of sending such notice, the Borrower (in consultation with the
Administrative Agent) shall specify the time period within which each Lender is
requested to respond (which shall in no event be less than ten Business Days
from the date of delivery of such notice to the Lenders).
(b) Lender Elections to
Increase. Each Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent
within such time period whether or not it agrees to increase its Revolving
Credit Commitment and, if so, whether by an amount equal to, greater than, or
less than its Applicable Percentage of such requested increase. Any
Lender not responding within such time period shall be deemed to have declined
to increase its Revolving Credit Commitment.
(c) Notification by
Administrative Agent; Additional Lenders. The Administrative
Agent shall notify the Borrower and each Lender of the Lenders’ responses to
each request made hereunder. To achieve the full amount of a
requested increase and subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent, the
L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender (which approvals shall not be unreasonably
withheld), to the extent that the existing Lenders decline to increase their
Revolving Credit Commitments, or decline to increase their Revolving Credit
Commitments to the amount requested by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent,
in consultation with the Borrower, will use its reasonable efforts to arrange
for other Eligible Assignees to become a Lender hereunder (an “Additional Commitment
Lender”) and to issue commitments in an amount equal to the amount of the
increase in the Revolving Credit Commitments requested by the Borrower and not
accepted by the existing Lenders (and the Borrower may also invite additional
Eligible Assignees to become Lenders), provided, however, that
without the consent of the Administrative Agent, at no time shall the Revolving
Credit Commitment of any Additional Commitment Lender be less than
$10,000,000.
(d) Effective Date and
Allocations. If the Revolving Credit Commitments are increased
in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall
determine the effective date (the “Increase Effective
Date”) and the final allocation of such increase. The
Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the
final allocation of such increase and the Increase Effective Date and on the
Effective Date (i) the Revolving Credit Commitments under, and for all purposes
of, this Agreement shall be increased by the aggregate amount of such Commitment
Increases, and (ii) Schedule 2.01 shall
be deemed modified, without further action, to reflect the revised Revolving
Credit Commitments and Applicable Percentages of the Lenders.
(e) Conditions to Effectiveness
of Increase. As a condition precedent to such increase, (i)
the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of the
Borrower dated as of the Increase Effective Date (in sufficient copies for each
Lender) signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower (A) certifying and
attaching the resolutions adopted by the Borrower approving or consenting to
such increase, and (B) certifying that, before and after giving effect to such
increase, (1) the representations and warranties contained in Article V and the other
Loan Documents are true and correct on and as of the Extension Effective Date,
except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer
to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct as of such earlier
date, and except that for purposes of this Section 2.16, the
representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.05 shall be
deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a)
and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01, (ii) the
Borrower, the Administrative Agent, and any Additional Commitment Lender shall
have executed and delivered a joinder to the Loan Documents in such form as the
Administrative Agent shall reasonably require; (iii) the Borrower shall have
paid such fees and other compensation to the Additional Commitment Lenders as
the Borrower and such Additional Commitment Lenders shall agree; (iv) the
Borrower shall have paid such arrangement fees to the Administrative Agent as
the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may agree; (v) the Borrower shall
deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders an opinion or opinions, in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, from
counsel to the Borrower reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and
dated such date; (vi) the Borrower and the Additional Commitment Lender shall
have delivered such other instruments, documents and agreements as the
Administrative Agent may reasonably have requested; and (vii) no Default
exists. The Borrower shall prepay any Revolving Credit Loans
outstanding on the Increase Effective Date (and pay any additional amounts
required pursuant to Section3.05) to the
extent necessary to keep the outstanding Revolving Credit Loans ratable with any
revised Applicable Percentages arising from any nonratable increase in the
Revolving Credit Commitments under this Section.
(f) Conflicting
Provisions. This Section shall supersede any provisions in
Sections 2.14 or 10.01 to the
contrary.
ARTICLE
III.
TAXES,
YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
3.01 Taxes.
(a) Payments Free of
Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation
of the Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made free
and clear of and without reduction or withholding for any Indemnified Taxes or
Other Taxes, provided that if the
Borrower shall be required by applicable law to deduct any Indemnified Taxes
(including any Other Taxes) from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall
be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions
(including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section)
the Administrative Agent, Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, receives an
amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made,
(ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall timely
pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in
accordance with applicable law.
(b) Payment of Other Taxes by
the Borrower. Without limiting the provisions of subsection
(a) above, the Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant
Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.
(c) Indemnification by the
Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative
Agent, each Lender and the L/C Issuer, within 10 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) 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. A certificate as to the amount of 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.
(d) Evidence of
Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of
Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority,
the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a
certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing
such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of
such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(e) Status of
Lenders. Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption
from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which
any Borrower is resident for tax purposes, or any treaty to which such
jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments hereunder or under any other
Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative
Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law or reasonably
requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed
and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law as will permit such
payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of
withholding. In addition, any Lender, if requested by the Borrower or
the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by
applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative
Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine
whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information
reporting requirements.
Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that any Borrower is
resident for tax purposes in the United States, any Foreign Lender 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:
(i) duly
completed copies 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) duly
completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI,
(iii) in the
case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio
interest under section 881(c) of the 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 Code, (B) a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within
the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (C) a “controlled foreign
corporation” described in section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and (y) duly
completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN,
or
(iv) any other
form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a
reduction in United States Federal withholding tax duly completed together with
such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to
permit the Borrower to determine the withholding or deduction required to be
made.
(f) Treatment of Certain
Refunds. 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 the Borrower or with
respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this
Section, it shall pay to the Borrower an amount equal to such refund (but only
to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the
Borrower under this Section with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise
to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of 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 the
Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C
Issuer, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (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.
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 LIBO Rate Loans, or to determine or charge
interest rates based upon the LIBO 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,
any obligation of such Lender to make or continue LIBO Rate Loans or to convert
Base Rate Loans to LIBO Rate Loans shall be suspended 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, the
Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative
Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all LIBO Rate Loans of such Lender to
Base Rate Loans, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such
Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such LIBO Rate Loans to such day, or
immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such LIBO Rate
Loans. 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 LIBO Rate Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof that
(a) Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank
market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such LIBO Rate Loan,
(b) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the LIBO
Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed LIBO Rate Loan
, or (c) the LIBO Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a
proposed LIBO Rate Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such
Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify
the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, the obligation of the
Lenders to make or maintain LIBO Rate Loans shall be suspended 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 LIBO Rate
Loans or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a
request for a Revolving Credit Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount
specified therein.
3.04 Increased Costs; Reserves on LIBO
Rate Loans.
(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 LIBO 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 LIBO 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 LIBO 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 LIBO Rate Loan (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 Revolving Credit 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 10 days after receipt thereof.
(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).
(e) Reserves on LIBO Rate
Loans. The Borrower shall pay to each Lender, as long as such
Lender shall be required to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or
assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency funds or deposits (currently
known as "Eurocurrency liabilities"), additional interest on the unpaid
principal amount of each LIBO Rate Loan equal to the actual costs of such
reserves allocated to such Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in
good faith, which determination shall be conclusive), which shall be due and
payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided the Borrower
shall have received at least 10 days’ prior notice (with a copy to the
Administrative Agent) of such additional interest from such
Lender. If a Lender fails to give notice 10 days prior to the
relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest shall be due and
payable 10 days from receipt of such notice.
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 Loan other than a Base
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 Loan other than a Base
Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower; or
(c) any
assignment of a LIBO 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 10.13;
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 LIBO Rate Loan made
by it at the LIBO Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in
the London interbank market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period,
whether or not such LIBO 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 or any
Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any
Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then such
Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for
funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations
hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment
of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce
amounts payable pursuant to Section 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 to any
unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such
Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and
expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or
assignment.
(b) Replacement of
Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 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 10.13.
3.07 Survival»
. All of the Borrower’s
obligations under this Article III shall survive
termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations
hereunder.
ARTICLE
IV.
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS
4.01 Conditions
of Initial Credit Extension»
. The obligation of
the L/C Issuer and each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is
subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:
(a) The
Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be
originals or telecopies (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise
specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, each
dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental
officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:
(i) executed
counterparts of this Agreement sufficient in number for distribution to the
Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Borrower;
(ii) Notes
executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note;
(iii) such
certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or
other certificates of Responsible Officers of the Borrower as the Administrative
Agent may require evidencing (A) the authority of the Borrower to enter into
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (B) 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;
(iv) copies of
the Borrower’s Organization Documents and such other documents and
certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence
that the Borrower is duly organized or formed, and that the Borrower is validly
existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in each
jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the
conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent that
failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect;
(v) a
favorable opinion of Xxxxxxx & Xxxx X.X., counsel to the Borrower, addressed
to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, as to such matters concerning the
Borrower and the Loan Documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably
request;
(vi) a
certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying (A) that
the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and
(b) have been
satisfied, (B) that there has been no event or circumstance since January 28,
2007 that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually
or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and (C) either that (1) no
consents, licenses or approvals are required in connection with the execution,
delivery and performance by the Borrower and the validity against the Borrower
of the Loan Documents, or (2) that all such consents, licenses and approvals
have been obtained and are in full force and effect;
(vii) evidence
that all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the Loan Documents and
all endorsements in favor of the Agents required under the Loan Documents have
been obtained and are in effect;
(viii) a
certificate from the chief financial officer of the Borrower, satisfactory in
form and substance to the Administrative Agent, attesting to the Solvency of the
Borrower as of the Closing Date after giving effect to the transactions
contemplated hereby;
(ix) the
Security Documents;
(x) all other
Loan Documents, each duly executed by the Borrower;
(xi) (A) appraisals
(based on net liquidation value) by a third party appraiser acceptable to the
Collateral Agent of all Inventory of the Borrower, the results of which are
satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and (B) a written report regarding the
results of a commercial finance examination of the Borrower, which shall be
satisfactory to the Collateral Agent;
(xii) results
of searches or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent
(in each case dated as of a date reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral
Agent) indicating the absence of Liens on the assets of the Borrower, except for
Permitted Encumbrances and Liens for which termination statements and releases,
satisfactions and releases or subordination agreements satisfactory
to the Collateral Agent are being tendered concurrently with such extension of
credit or other arrangements satisfactory to the Collateral Agent for the
delivery of such termination statements and releases, satisfactions and
discharges have been made;
(xiii) (A) all
documents and instruments, including Uniform Commercial Code financing
statements, required by law or reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to
be filed, registered or recorded to create or perfect the first priority Liens
intended to be created under the Loan Documents and all such documents and
instruments shall have been so filed, registered or recorded to the satisfaction
of the Collateral Agent and (B) the DDA Notifications, Credit Card
Notifications, and Blocked Account Agreements required pursuant to Section 6.13
hereof;
(xiv) such
other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Agents
reasonably may require.
(b) The
Administrative Agent shall have received a Borrowing Base Certificate dated the
Closing Date, relating to the month ended on December 30, 2007, and executed by
a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.
(c) The
Administrative Agent shall be reasonably satisfied that any financial statements
delivered to it fairly present the business and financial condition of the
Borrower and that there has been no Material Adverse Effect since the date of
the most recent financial information delivered to the Administrative
Agent.
(d) The
Administrative Agent shall have received and be satisfied with (i) a
Consolidated income statement for the Borrower’s Fiscal Year ending February 1,
2009 and (ii) a balance sheet and statement of cash flow, by quarter for the
Borrower’s Fiscal Year ending February 1, 2009, each prepared in conformity with
GAAP and consistent with the Borrower’s then current practices.
(e) There
shall not be pending any litigation or other proceeding (other than the
Strongbow Filing), the result of which, either individually or in the aggregate,
could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(f) There
shall not have occurred any default of any Material Contract of the Borrower
which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(g) The
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall not violate any
Applicable Law or any Organization Document.
(h) All fees
required to be paid to the Agents on or before the Closing Date shall have been
paid in full, and all fees required to be paid to the Lenders on or before the
Closing Date shall have been paid in full.
(i) The
Borrower shall have paid all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to 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).
(j) the
Administrative Agent shall have received all documentation and other information
required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and
anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the
USA PATRIOT Act
(k) No
material changes in governmental regulations or policies affecting the Borrower
or any Credit Party shall have occurred prior to the Closing Date.
(l) There
shall not have occurred any disruption or material adverse change in the United
States financial or capital markets in general that has had, in the reasonable
opinion of the Administrative Agent, a material adverse effect on the market for
loan syndications or adversely affecting the syndication of the
Loans.
Without
limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 9.04, for
purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, 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.
4.02 Conditions
to all Credit Extensions»
. The obligation of
each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Revolving
Credit Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Revolving Credit Loans to the
other Type, or a continuation of LIBO Rate Loans) is subject to the following
conditions precedent:
(a) The
representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Article V 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 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 as of such earlier date, and except that for
purposes of this Section 4.02, the
representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.05 shall be
deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a)
and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01.
(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.
(d) No event
or circumstance which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect shall have occurred.
Each
Request for Credit Extension (other than a Revolving Credit Loan Notice
requesting only a conversion of Revolving Credit Loans to the other Type or a
continuation of LIBO Rate Loans) submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be
a representation and warranty by the Borrower that the conditions specified in
Sections
4.02(a) and (b) have been
satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit
Extension. The conditions set forth in this Section 4.02 are for the
sole benefit of the Credit Parties but until the Required Lenders otherwise
direct the Administrative Agent to cease making Revolving Credit Loans, the
Lenders will fund their Applicable Percentage of all Loans and L/C Advances and
participate in all Swing Line Loans and Letters of Credit whenever made or
issued, which are requested by the Borrower and which, notwithstanding the
failure of the Borrower to comply with the provisions of this Article IV, agreed
to by the Administrative Agent, provided, however, the making of any such Loans
or the issuance of any Letters of Credit shall not be deemed a modification or
waiver by any Credit Party of the provisions of this Article IV on any future
occasion or a waiver of any rights or the Credit Parties as a result of any such
failure to comply.
ARTICLE
V.
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
To induce
the Credit Parties to enter into this Agreement and to make Loans and to issue
Letters of Credit hereunder, the Borrower represents and warrants to the
Administrative Agent and the other Credit Parties that:
5.01 Existence,
Qualification and Power »
. The Borrower and
each Subsidiary thereof (a) is a corporation, limited liability company,
partnership or limited partnership, duly organized or formed, validly existing
and, where applicable, in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of
its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority and
all requisite governmental licenses, permits, authorizations, consents and
approvals to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business and (ii)
execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which
it is a party, and (c) is duly qualified and is licensed and, where applicable,
in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease
or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such
qualification or license; except in each case referred to in clause (b)(i) or
(c), to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect. Schedule 5.01 annexed
hereto sets forth, as of the Closing Date, the Borrower’s name as it appears in
official filings in its state of incorporation or organization, its state of
incorporation or organization, organization type, organization number, if any,
issued by its state of incorporation or organization, and its federal employer
identification number.
5.02 Authorization;
No Contravention»
. The execution,
delivery and performance by the Borrower of each Loan Document to which such
Person is or is to be a party, has been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate or other organizational action, and does not and will not (a)
contravene the terms of any of such Person's Organization Documents; (b)
conflict with or result in any breach, termination, or contravention of, or
constitute a default under, or require any payment to be made under (i) any
Material Contract or any Material Indebtedness to which such Person is a party
or affecting such Person or the properties of such Person or any of its
Subsidiaries or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental
Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject;
(c) result in or require the creation of any Lien upon any asset of the Borrower
(other than Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent under the Security
Documents); or (d) violate any Law.
5.03 Governmental
Authorization; Other Consents»
. No approval, consent,
exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any
Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in
connection with the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement
against, the Borrower of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except for
(a) the perfection or maintenance of the Liens created under the Security
Documents (including the first priority nature thereof) or (b) such as have been
obtained or made and are in full force and effect.
5.04 Binding
Effect»
. This Agreement
has been, and each other Loan Document, when delivered, will have been, duly
executed and delivered by the Borrower. This Agreement constitutes,
and each other Loan Document when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid
and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in
accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally
and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in
a proceeding in equity or at law.
5.05 Financial Statements; No Material
Adverse Effect.
(a) The
unaudited Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries dated
October 28, 2007, and the related Consolidated statements of income or
operations, Shareholders’ Equity and cash flows for the fiscal quarter ended on
that date (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied
throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted
therein, and (ii) fairly present the financial condition of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the
period covered thereby, subject, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), to the
absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments. Schedule 5.05 sets
forth all Material Indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of
the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the date of such financial
statements, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Material
Indebtedness.
(b) Since
January 28, 2007, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually
or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(c) To the
best knowledge of the Borrower, no Internal Control Event exists or has occurred
since January 28, 2007 that has resulted in or could reasonably be expected to
result in a material misstatement, in any financial information delivered or to
be delivered to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, of (i) covenant
compliance calculations provided hereunder or (ii) the assets, liabilities,
financial condition or results of operations of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis.
5.06 Litigation»
. There are no
actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of
the Borrower after due and diligent investigation, threatened or contemplated,
at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or
against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or against any of its properties
or revenues that (a) purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement or any other
Loan Document, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, or (b) either
individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely, could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.07 No Default. Neither
»
the
Borrower nor any Subsidiary is in default under or with respect to, or party to,
any Material Contract or any Material Indebtedness. No Default has
occurred and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan
Document.
5.08 Ownership
of Property; Liens.
»
(a) Each of
the Borrower and each Subsidiary thereof has good record and marketable title in
fee simple to or valid leasehold interests in, all real property necessary or
used in the ordinary conduct of its business. Each of the Borrower
and each Subsidiary has good and marketable title to, valid leasehold interests
in, or valid licenses to use all personal property and assets material to the
ordinary conduct of its business.
(b) Schedule 5.08(b)(1)
sets forth the address (including street address, county and state) of all Real
Estate that is owned by the Borrower, together with a list of the holders of any
mortgage or other Lien thereon as of the Closing Date. The Borrower
and each of its Subsidiaries has good, marketable and insurable fee simple title
to the real property owned by the Borrower or such Subsidiary, free and clear of
all Liens, other than Permitted Encumbrances. Schedule 5.08(b)(2)
sets forth the address (including street address, county and state) of all
Leases of the Borrower, together with a list of the lessor and its contact
information with respect to each such Lease as of the Closing
Date. Each of such Leases is in full force and effect and the
Borrower is not in default of the terms thereof.
(c) Schedule 7.01 sets
forth a complete and accurate list of all Liens on the property or assets of the
Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries, showing as of the date hereof the
lienholder thereof, the principal amount of the obligations secured thereby and
the property or assets of the Borrower or such Subsidiary subject
thereto. The property of the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries is
subject to no Liens, other than Liens set forth on Schedule 7.01, and
Permitted Encumbrances.
(d) Schedule 7.02 sets
forth a complete and accurate list of all Investments held by the Borrower or
any Subsidiary of the Borrower on the date hereof, showing as of the date hereof
the amount, obligor or issuer and maturity, if any, thereof.
5.09 Environmental Compliance. (a) Neither »
(a) the
Borrower nor any Subsidiary thereof (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 notice of any claim with respect
to any Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any basis for any Environmental
Liability, except, in each case, as could not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) To the
best knowledge of the Borrower, none of the properties currently or formerly
owned or operated by the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof is listed or
proposed for listing on the NPL or on the CERCLIS or any analogous foreign,
state or local list or is adjacent to any such property; there are no and never
have been any underground or above-ground storage tanks or any surface
impoundments, septic tanks, pits, sumps or lagoons in which Hazardous Materials
are being or have been treated, stored or disposed on any property currently
owned or operated by the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof or, to the best of
the knowledge of the Borrower, on any property formerly owned or operated by the
Borrower or Subsidiary thereof; there is no asbestos or asbestos-containing
material on any property currently owned or operated by the Borrower or
Subsidiary thereof; and Hazardous Materials have not been released, discharged
or disposed of on any property currently or formerly owned or operated by the
Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof.
(c) Neither
the Borrower nor any Subsidiary thereof is undertaking, and neither the Borrower
nor any Subsidiary thereof has completed, either individually or together with
other potentially responsible parties, any investigation or assessment or
remedial or response action relating to any actual or threatened release,
discharge or disposal of Hazardous Materials at any site, location or operation,
either voluntarily or pursuant to the order of any Governmental Authority or the
requirements of any Environmental Law; and all Hazardous Materials generated,
used, treated, handled or stored at, or transported to or from, any property
currently or formerly owned or operated by the Borrower or any Subsidiary
thereof have been disposed of in a manner not reasonably expected to result in
material liability to the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof.
5.10 Insurance»
. The properties of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and
reputable insurance companies which are not Affiliates of the Borrower, in such
amounts, with such deductibles and covering such risks (including, without
limitation, workmen’s compensation, public liability, business interruption and
property damage insurance) as are customarily carried by companies engaged in
similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where the
Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary operates. Schedule 5.10 sets
forth a description of all insurance maintained by or on behalf of the Borrower
as of the Closing Date. Each insurance policy listed on Schedule 5.10 is in
full force and effect and all premiums in respect thereof that are due and
payable have been paid.
5.11 Taxes»
. The Borrower and
its Subsidiaries have filed all Federal, state and other material tax returns
and reports required to be filed, and have paid all Federal, state and other
material taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or
imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and
payable, except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings being diligently conducted, for which adequate reserves have been
provided in accordance with GAAP, as to which Taxes no Lien has been filed and
which contest effectively suspends the collection of the contested obligation
and the enforcement of any Lien securing such obligation. There is no
proposed tax assessment against the Borrower or any Subsidiary that would, if
made, have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Borrower nor any
Subsidiary thereof is a party to any tax sharing agreement.
5.12 ERISA Compliance.
(a) Each Plan
is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of
ERISA, the Code and other Federal or state Laws. Each Plan that is
intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable
determination letter from the IRS or an application for such a letter is
currently being processed by the IRS with respect thereto and, to the best
knowledge of the Borrower, nothing has occurred which would prevent, or cause
the loss of, such qualification. The Borrower and each ERISA
Affiliate have made all required contributions to each Plan subject to Section
412 of the Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any
amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with
respect to any Plan. No Lien imposed under the Code or ERISA exists
or is likely to arise on account of any Plan.
(b) There are
no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened claims, actions
or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan
that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the
fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or
could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
(c) (i) No
ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (ii) no Pension
Plan has any Unfunded Pension Liability; (iii) neither the Borrower nor any
ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability
under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan (other than premiums
due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA); (iv) neither the Borrower
nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any
liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under
Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Sections 4201 or
4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan; and (v) neither the Borrower
nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to
Sections 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.
5.13 Subsidiaries;
Equity Interests»
. The Borrower has
no Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Part (a) of Schedule 5.13, which
Schedule sets forth the legal name, jurisdiction of incorporation or formation
and authorized Equity Interests of each such Subsidiary. All of the
outstanding Equity Interests in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are
fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the Borrower (or a Subsidiary of
the Borrower) in the amounts specified on Part (a) of Schedule 5.13 free
and clear of all Liens except for those created under the Security
Documents. Except as set forth in Schedule 5.13, there
are no outstanding rights to purchase any Equity Interests in any
Subsidiary. The Borrower has no equity investments in any other
corporation or entity other than those specifically disclosed in Part(b) of
Schedule
5.13. All of the outstanding Equity Interests in the Borrower
have been validly issued, and are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned in
the amounts specified on Part (c) of Schedule 5.13 free
and clear of all Liens except for those created under the Security
Documents. The copies of the Organization Documents of the Borrower
and each amendment thereto provided pursuant to Section 4.01 are true and
correct copies of each such document, each of which is valid and in full force
and effect.
5.14 Margin Regulations; Investment
Company Act.
(a) The
Borrower is not engaged nor will be engaged, principally or as one of its
important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock
(within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for
the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock. None of the
proceeds of the Credit Extensions shall be used directly or indirectly for the
purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock, for the purpose of reducing
or retiring any Indebtedness that was originally incurred to purchase or carry
any margin stock or for any other purpose that might cause any of the Credit
Extensions to be considered a “purpose credit” within the meaning of Regulations
T, U, or X issued by the FRB.
(b) None of
the Borrower, any Person Controlling the Borrower, or any Subsidiary is or is
required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment
Company Act of 1940.
5.15 Disclosure. »
The
Borrower has disclosed to the Administrative Agent and 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. No report, financial statement, certificate
or other information furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of
the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or
delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document (in each case, 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 Borrower represents only that
such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to
be reasonable at the time.
5.16 Compliance
with Laws»
. Each of the
Borrower and each Subsidiary is in compliance in all material respects with the
requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees
applicable to it or to its properties, except in such instances in which (a)
such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested
in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted or (b) the failure
to comply therewith, either individually or in the aggregate, could not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.17 Intellectual
Property; Licenses, Etc.»
The Borrower and
its Subsidiaries own, or possess the right to use, all of the Intellectual
Property, licenses, permits and other authorizations that are reasonably
necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, without conflict
with the rights of any other Person. To the best knowledge of the
Borrower, no slogan or other advertising device, product, process, method,
substance, part or other material now employed, or now contemplated to be
employed, by the Borrower or any Subsidiary infringes upon any rights held by
any other Person. No claim or litigation regarding any of the
foregoing is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened,
which, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.18 Labor Matters. »
There are
no strikes, lockouts, slowdowns or other material labor disputes against the
Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower,
threatened. The hours worked by and payments made to employees of the Borrower
comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act and any other applicable federal,
state, local or foreign Law dealing with such matters. Neither the Borrower nor
any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any liability or obligation under the
Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act or similar state Law. All
payments due from the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, or for which any claim may
be made against the Borrower, on account of wages and employee health and
welfare insurance and other benefits, have been paid or properly accrued in
accordance with GAAP as a liability on the books of the Borrower. Except as set
forth on Schedule
5.18, neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is a party to or bound by
any collective bargaining agreement, management agreement, employment agreement,
bonus, restricted stock, stock option, or stock appreciation plan or agreement
or any similar plan, agreement or arrangement. There are no representation
proceedings pending or, to the Borrower’s knowledge, threatened to be filed with
the National Labor Relations Board, and no labor organization or group of
employees of the Borrower or any Subsidiary has made a pending demand for
recognition. There are no complaints, unfair labor practice charges, grievances,
arbitrations, unfair employment practices charges or any other claims or
complaints against the Borrower or any Subsidiary pending or, to the knowledge
of the Borrower, threatened to be filed with any Governmental Authority or
arbitrator based on, arising out of, in connection with, or otherwise relating
to the employment or termination of employment of any employee of the Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries. The consummation of the transactions contemplated by
the Loan Documents will not give rise to any right of termination or right of
renegotiation on the part of any union under any collective bargaining agreement
to which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is bound.
5.19 Security
Documents. »
The
Security Documents create in favor of the Collateral Agent a legal, valid and
enforceable security interest in the Collateral, and the Security Documents
constitute, or will upon the filing of financing statements and/or the obtaining
of “control”, in each case with respect to the relevant Collateral as required
under the applicable UCC, the creation of a fully perfected first priority Lien
on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest of the Borrower
thereunder in such Collateral, in each case prior and superior in right to any
other Person, except for Permitted Encumbrances having priority under applicable
Law.
5.20 Solvency. »
After
giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and before and
after giving effect to each Credit Extension the Borrower is Solvent. No
transfer of property has been or will be made by the Borrower and no obligation
has been or will be incurred by the Borrower in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents with the intent to
hinder, delay, or defraud either present or future creditors of the
Borrower.
5.21 Deposit Accounts; Credit Card
Arrangements.
(a) Annexed
hereto as Schedule
5.21(a) is a list of all DDAs maintained by the Borrower as of the
Closing Date, which Schedule includes, with respect to each DDA (i) the name and
address of the depository; (ii) the account number(s) maintained with such
depository; (iii) a telephone number for such depository, and (iv) the
identification of each Blocked Account Bank.
(b) Annexed
hereto as Schedule
5.21(b) is a list describing all arrangements as of the Closing Date to
which the Borrower is a party with respect to the processing and/or payment to
the Borrower of the proceeds of any credit card charges and debit card charges
for sales made by the Borrower.
5.22 Brokers. »
No broker
or finder brought about the obtaining, making or closing of the Loans or
transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents, and no Loan Party or
Affiliate thereof has any obligation to any Person in respect of any finder’s or
brokerage fees in connection therewith.
5.23 Customer
and Trade Relations. »
There
exists no actual or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened, termination
or cancellation of, or any material adverse modification or change in the
business relationship of the Borrower with any supplier material to its
operations.
5.24 Material
Contracts. »
Schedule 5.24 sets
forth all Material Contracts to which the Borrower is a party or is bound as of
the Closing Date. The Borrower has delivered true, correct and
complete copies of such Material Contracts to the Administrative Agent on or
before the date hereof. The Borrower is not in breach or in default
in any material respect of or under any Material Contract and has not received
any notice of the intention of any other party thereto to terminate any Material
Contract.
5.25 Casualty. »
Neither
the businesses nor the properties of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries are
affected by any fire, explosion, accident, strike, lockout or other labor
dispute, drought, storm, hail, earthquake, embargo, act of God or of the public
enemy or other casualty (whether or not covered by insurance) that, either
individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
ARTICLE
VI.
AFFIRMATIVE
COVENANTS
So long
as any Lender shall have any Revolving Credit Commitment hereunder, any Loan or
other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of
Credit shall remain outstanding, the Borrower shall, and shall (except in the
case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01, 6.02, and 6.03) cause each
Subsidiary to:
6.01 Financial
Statements»
. Deliver to the
Administrative Agent, in form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative
Agent:
(a) as soon
as available, but in any event within 90 days after the end of each Fiscal Year
of the Borrower, a Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries as at the end of such Fiscal Year, and the related consolidated
statements of income or operations, Shareholders’ Equity and cash flows for such
Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the
previous Fiscal Year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with
GAAP, audited and accompanied by (i) a report and unqualified opinion of a
Registered Public Accounting Firm of nationally recognized standing reasonably
acceptable to the Administrative Agent, which report and opinion shall be
prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not
be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any
qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit and (ii) an opinion of
such Registered Public Accounting Firm independently assessing the Borrower’s
internal controls over financial reporting in accordance with Item 308 of SEC
Regulation S-K, PCAOB Auditing Standard Xx. 0, xxx Xxxxxxx 000 xx Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx
expressing a conclusion that contains no statement that there is a material
weakness in such internal controls, except for such material weaknesses as to
which the Administrative Agent does not reasonably object;
(b) as soon
as available, but in any event within (x) 75 days after the end of the Fiscal
Months of January, February and March of each Fiscal Year of the Borrower, and
(y) 45 days after the end of each other Fiscal Month of each Fiscal Year of the
Borrower, a Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as
at the end of such Fiscal Month, and the related consolidated statements of
income or operations, Shareholders’ Equity and cash flows for such Fiscal Month
and for the portion of the Borrower’s Fiscal Year then ended, setting forth in
each case in comparative form the figures for (A) such period set forth in the
projections delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(c) hereof, (B) the corresponding
Fiscal Month of the previous Fiscal Year and (C) the corresponding portion of
the previous Fiscal Year, all in reasonable detail, certified by a Responsible
Officer of the Borrower as fairly presenting the financial condition, results of
operations, Shareholders’ Equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Month in accordance with GAAP, subject
only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of
footnotes;
(c) as soon
as available, but in any event within sixty (60) days after the end of each
Fiscal Year of the Borrower, forecasts prepared by management of the Borrower,
in form satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, of consolidated balance sheets
and statements of income or operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries on a monthly basis for the immediately following Fiscal Year
(including the fiscal year in which the Maturity Date occurs).
6.02 Certificates;
Other Information»
. Deliver to the
Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:
(a) concurrently
with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 6.01(a), a
certificate of its Registered Public Accounting Firm certifying such financial
statements and stating that in making the examination necessary for their
certification of such financial statements, such Registered Public Accounting
Firm has not obtained any knowledge of the existence of any Default or, if any
such Default shall exist, stating the nature and status of such
event;
(b) concurrently
with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a), a copy
of management’s discussion and analysis with respect to such financial
statements;
(c) within
forty-five (45) days after the end of each Fiscal Month, and each date that the
Borrower make a request for a Credit Extension hereunder, by 1 p.m. on such
date, a certificate in the form of Exhibit G (a “Borrowing Base
Certificate”) showing the Borrowing Base as of the close of business as
of the last day of the immediately preceding Fiscal Month, each Borrowing Base
Certificate to be certified as complete and correct by a Responsible Officer of
the Borrower; provided that at any
time that a Reporting Activation Event has occurred and is continuing, such
Borrowing Base Certificate shall be delivered on Wednesday of each week (or, if
Wednesday is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day), as of the
close of business on the immediately preceding Sunday;
(d) promptly
upon receipt, copies of any detailed audit reports, management letters or
recommendations submitted to the board of directors (or the audit committee of
the board of directors) of the Borrower by its Registered Public Accounting Firm
in connection with the accounts or books of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or
any audit of any of them, including, without limitation, specifying any Internal
Control Event;
(e) promptly
after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial
statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the
Borrower, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and
registration statements which the Borrower may file or be required to file with
the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or with
any national securities exchange, and in any case not otherwise required to be
delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;
(f) The
financial and collateral reports described on Schedule 6.02 hereto,
at the times set forth in such Schedule;
(g) promptly
after the furnishing thereof, copies of any statement or report furnished to any
holder of debt securities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof pursuant to
the terms of any indenture, loan or credit or similar agreement and not
otherwise required to be furnished to the Lenders pursuant to Section 6.01 or any other clause of this Section 6.02;
(h) as soon
as available, but in any event within 45 days after the end of each fiscal year
of the Borrower, a report summarizing the insurance coverage (specifying type,
amount and carrier) in effect for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and
containing such additional information as the Administrative Agent, or any
Lender through the Administrative Agent, may reasonably specify;
(i) promptly,
and in any event within five Business Days after receipt thereof by the Borrower
or any Subsidiary thereof, copies of each notice or other correspondence
received from any Governmental Authority (including, without limitation, the SEC
(or comparable agency in any applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction)) concerning any
proceeding with, or investigation or possible investigation or other inquiry by
such Governmental Authority regarding financial or other operational results of
the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof or any other matter which, if adversely
determined, could reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
and
(j) promptly,
such additional information regarding the business affairs, financial condition
or operations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of
the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may from time to
time reasonably request.
Documents
required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a), (b), or Section 6.02(d) (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 10.02; 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 that requests 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 and each Lender (by telecopier or electronic mail) of the
posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by
electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of
such documents. The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to
request the delivery or to maintain 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 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 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 may be “public-side” Lenders (i.e., Lenders that do
not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower
or their securities) (each, a “Public
Lender”). The Borrower hereby agrees that it will use
commercially reasonable efforts to identify that portion of the Borrower
Materials that may be distributed to the Public Lenders and that (w) all such
Borrower Materials 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, the L/C Issuer and
the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material
non-public information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) 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
10.07); (y) all
Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a
portion of the Platform designated “Public Investor”; and (z) the Administrative
Agent 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 not
designated “Public Investor.”
6.03 Notices»
. Promptly notify
the Administrative Agent:
(a) of the
occurrence of any Default;
(b) of any
matter that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect, including (i) breach or non-performance of, or any default
under, a Material Contract or with respect to Material Indebtedness of the
Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof; (ii) any dispute, litigation, investigation,
proceeding (other than the Strongbow Filing) or suspension between the Borrower
or any Subsidiary thereof and any Governmental Authority; or (iii) the
commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding
affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof, including pursuant to any
applicable Environmental Laws;
(c) of the
occurrence of any ERISA Event;
(d) of any
material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by the
Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof;
(e) of any
change in the Borrower’s senior executive officers;
(f) of the
discharge by the Borrower of its present Registered Public Accounting Firm or
any withdrawal or resignation by such Registered Public Accounting
Firm;
(g) of any
collective bargaining agreement or other labor contract to which the Borrower
becomes a party, or the application for the certification of a collective
bargaining agent;
(h) of the
filing of any Lien for unpaid Taxes against the Borrower;
(i) 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 interest in a
material portion of the Collateral under power of eminent domain or by
condemnation or similar proceeding or if any material portion of the Collateral
is damaged or destroyed; and
(j) of any
failure by the Borrower to pay rent at (i) five percent (5%) or more of the
Borrower’s locations or (ii) any of the Borrower’s locations if such failure
continues for more than ten (10) days following the day on which such rent first
came due and such failure would be reasonably likely to result in a Material
Adverse Effect.
Each
notice pursuant to this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a
Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence
referred to therein and stating what action the Borrower has taken and proposes
to take with respect thereto. Each notice pursuant to Section 6.03(a) shall
describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any
other Loan Document that have been breached.
6.04 Payment
of Obligations. »
Pay and
discharge as the same shall become due and payable, all its obligations and
liabilities, including (a) all tax liabilities, assessments and governmental
charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets, (b) all lawful claims
(including, without limitation, claims of landlords, warehousemen, customs
brokers, and carriers) which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its
property; and (c) all Indebtedness, as and when due and payable, but subject to
any subordination provisions contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing
such Indebtedness, except, in each case, where (a) the validity or amount
thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) the
Borrower has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in
accordance with GAAP, (c) such contest effectively suspends collection of the
contested obligation and enforcement of any Lien securing such obligation, (d)
no Lien has been filed with respect thereto and (e) the failure to make payment
pending such contest could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit the rights of
the Agents with respect to determining Reserves pursuant to this
Agreement..
6.05 Preservation
of Existence, Etc.
(a) Preserve,
renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good
standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization or formation
except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.04 or 7.05; (b) take
all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and
franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except
to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its Intellectual
Property, except to the extent such Intellectual Property is no longer used or
useful in the conduct of the business of the Borrower.
6.06 Maintenance of
Properties. (a)
(a) Maintain,
preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in
the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear
and tear excepted; and (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and
replacements thereof except in each case where the failure to do so could not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.07 Maintenance
of Insurance»
. Maintain with
financially sound and reputable insurance companies reasonably acceptable to the
Administrative Agent not Affiliates of the Borrower, insurance with respect to
its properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily
insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business and operating
in the same or similar locations or as is required by applicable Law, of such
types and in such amounts as are customarily carried under similar circumstances
by such other Persons and as are reasonably acceptable to the Administrative
Agent.
(a) Fire and
extended coverage policies maintained with respect to any Collateral shall be
endorsed or otherwise amended to include (i) a non-contributing mortgage clause
(regarding improvements to real property) and lenders’ loss payable clause
(regarding personal property), in form and substance satisfactory to the
Collateral Agent, which endorsements or amendments shall provide that the
insurer shall pay all proceeds otherwise payable to the Borrower under the
policies directly to the Collateral Agent, (ii) a provision to the effect that
none of the Borrower, Credit Parties or any other Person shall be a co-insurer
and (iii) such other provisions as the Collateral Agent may reasonably require
from time to time to protect the interests of the Credit Parties. Commercial
general liability policies shall be endorsed to name the Collateral Agent as an
additional insured. Business interruption policies shall name the Collateral
Agent as a loss payee and shall be endorsed or amended to include (i) a
provision that, from and after the Closing Date, the insurer shall pay all
proceeds otherwise payable to the Borrower under the policies directly to the
Collateral Agent, (ii) a provision to the effect that none of the Borrower, the
Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any other party shall be a
co-insurer and (iii) such other provisions as the Collateral Agent may
reasonably require from time to time to protect the interests of the Credit
Parties. Each such policy referred to in this Section 6.07(b) shall also provide that it shall
not be canceled, modified or not renewed (i) by reason of nonpayment of premium
except upon not less than thirty (30) days’ prior written notice thereof by the
insurer to the Collateral Agent (giving the Collateral Agent the right to cure
defaults in the payment of premiums) or (ii) for any other reason except upon
not less than thirty (30) days’ prior written notice thereof by the insurer to
the Collateral Agent. The Borrower shall deliver to the Collateral Agent, prior
to the cancellation, modification or non-renewal of any such policy of
insurance, a copy of a renewal or replacement policy (or other evidence of
renewal of a policy previously delivered to the Collateral Agent, including an
insurance binder) together with evidence satisfactory to the Collateral Agent of
payment of the premium therefor.
(b) None of
the Credit Parties, or their agents or employees shall be liable for any loss or
damage insured by the insurance policies required to be maintained under this
Section 6.07. The Borrower
shall look solely to its insurance companies or any other parties other than the
Credit Parties for the recovery of such loss or damage and such insurance
companies shall have no rights of subrogation against any Credit Party or its
agents or employees. If, however, the insurance policies do not
provide waiver of subrogation rights against such parties, as required above,
then the Borrower hereby agrees, to the extent permitted by law, to waive its
right of recovery, if any, against the Credit Parties and their agents and
employees. The designation of any form, type or amount of insurance
coverage by the any Credit Party under this Section 6.07 shall in no event be deemed a
representation, warranty or advice by such Credit Party that such insurance is
adequate for the purposes of the business of the Borrower or the protection of
its properties.
(c) Permit
any representatives that are designated by the Collateral Agent to inspect the
insurance policies maintained by or on behalf of the Borrower and to inspect
books and records related thereto and any properties covered thereby. The
Borrower shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of any representatives
retained by the Collateral Agent to conduct any such inspection.
6.08 Compliance
with Laws»
. Comply in all
material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs,
injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except
in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ,
injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings
diligently conducted and with respect to which adequate reserves have been set
aside and maintained by the Borrower in accordance with GAAP; (b) such contest
effectively suspends enforcement of the contested Laws, and (c) the failure to
comply therewith could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
6.09 Books
and Records; Accountants.
(a) Maintain
proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in
conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all financial
transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Borrower or
such Subsidiary, as the case may be; and (ii) maintain such books of record and
account in material conformity with all applicable requirements of any
Governmental Authority having regulatory jurisdiction over the Borrower or such
Subsidiary, as the case may be.
(b) at all
times retain a Registered Public Accounting Firm which is are reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and shall instruct such Registered
Public Accounting Firm to cooperate with, and be available to, the
Administrative Agent or its representatives to discuss the Borrower’s financial
performance, financial condition, operating results, controls, and such other
matters, within the scope of the retention of such Registered Public Accounting
Firm, as may be raised by the Administrative Agent.
6.10 Inspection
Rights.
(a) Permit
representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent to visit
and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and
operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to
discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and
Registered Public Accounting Firm, all at the expense of the Borrower and at
such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be
reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower; provided, however, that when an
Event of Default exists the Administrative Agent (or any of its representatives
or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the
Borrower at any time during normal business hours and without advance
notice.
(b) Upon the
request of the Administrative Agent after reasonable prior notice, permit the
Administrative Agent or professionals (including investment bankers,
consultants, accountants, lawyers and appraisers) retained by the Administrative
Agent to conduct appraisals, commercial finance examinations and other
evaluations, including, without limitation, evaluations of (i) the Borrower’s
practices in the computation of the Borrowing Base and (ii) the assets included
in the Borrowing Base and related financial information such as, but not limited
to, sales, gross margins, payables, accruals and reserves. The
Borrower shall pay the fees and expenses of the Administrative Agent or such
professionals with respect to such evaluations, appraisals and
assessments. Without limiting the foregoing, the Borrower
acknowledges that the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion, undertake up
to one (1) inventory appraisal and one (1) commercial finance examination each
Fiscal Year at the Borrower’s expense; provided that, if
Excess Availability at any time is less than ten (10%) of the Borrowing Base,
the Borrower shall pay for additional appraisals and commercial finance
examinations undertaken by the Administrative Agent or such professionals
pursuant to this Section 6.10, which
appraisals and commercial finance examinations may be conducted by the
Administrative Agent or such professionals as frequently as desired by the
Administrative Agent, in its discretion. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Administrative Agent may cause additional appraisals and
commercial finance examinations to be undertaken (i) as it in its discretion
deems necessary or appropriate, at its own expense or, (ii) if required by
applicable Law or if a Default shall have occurred and be continuing, at the
expense of the Borrower.
6.11 Use
of Proceeds. »
Use the
proceeds of the Credit Extensions (a) to finance the acquisition of working
capital assets of the Borrower, including the purchase of inventory and
equipment, in each case in the ordinary course of business, (b) to finance
Capital Expenditures of the Borrower, and (c) for general corporate purposes of
the Borrower, in each case to the extent expressly permitted under applicable
Law and the Loan Document.
6.12 Additional
Loan Parties»
.
(a) Notify
the Administrative Agent at the time that any Person becomes a Subsidiary, and
promptly thereafter (and in any event within fifteen (15) days), cause any such
Person (a) which is not a CFC, to (i) become a Borrower or a Guarantor
hereunder, as determined by the Administrative Agent in its discretion, by
executing and delivering to the Administrative Agent a Joinder to this Agreement
or a Guarantee or such other document as the Administrative Agent shall deem
appropriate for such purpose, (ii) xxxxx x Xxxx to the Collateral Agent on such
Person’s assets to secure the Obligations, and (iii deliver to the
Administrative Agent documents of the types referred to in clauses (iii) and
(iv) of Section
4.01(a) and favorable opinions of counsel to such Person (which shall
cover, among other things, the legality, validity, binding effect and
enforceability of the documentation referred to in clause (a)), and (b) if any
Equity Interests or Indebtedness of such Person are owned by or on behalf of the
Borrower, to pledge such Equity Interests and promissory notes evidencing such
Indebtedness (except that, if such Subsidiary is a CFC, the Equity Interests of
such Subsidiary to be pledged may be limited to 65% of the outstanding Equity
Interests of such Subsidiary and such time period may be extended based on local
law or practice), in each case in form, content and scope reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. In no event shall
compliance with this Section 6.12 waive
or be deemed a waiver or Consent to any transaction giving rise to the need to
comply with this Section 6.12 if such
transaction was not otherwise expressly permitted by this Agreement or
constitute or be deemed to constitute, with respect to any Subsidiary, an
approval of such Person as a Borrower or permit the inclusion of any acquired
assets in the computation of the Borrowing Base.
(b) In the
event that the Borrower has not dissolved each of SPD Truck Line, Inc., DA Good
Buys, Inc. and Xxxxxxxx-Alco Holdings, L.L.C. and transferred the assets of such
Subsidiaries to the Borrower, or caused such Subsidiaries to be merged with and
into the Borrower, with the Borrower as the surviving entity, on or before
January 31, 2008, then the Borrower shall cause each such Subsidiary to become a
Borrower or a Guarantor hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, as
determined by the Administrative Agent in its discretion, as set forth in
Section 6.12(a) above.
6.13 Cash Management.
(a) On or
prior to the Closing Date:
(i) deliver
to the Administrative Agent copies of notifications (each, a “DDA Notification”)
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit H which have
been executed on behalf of the Borrower and delivered to each depository
institution listed on Schedule
5.21(a);
(ii) deliver
to the Administrative Agent copies of notifications (each, a “Credit Card
Notification”) substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit I which have
been executed on behalf of the Borrower and delivered to the Borrower’s credit
card clearinghouses and processors listed on Schedule 5.21(b);
and
(iii) enter
into a blocked account agreement (each, a “Blocked Account
Agreement”) satisfactory in form and substance to the Agents with each
Blocked Account Bank (collectively, the “Blocked
Accounts”).
(b) Each DDA
Notification and Credit Card Notification shall require the ACH or wire transfer
no less frequently than daily (and whether or not there are then any outstanding
Obligations) to a Blocked Account of all amounts on deposit in each such DDA
(net of any minimum balance, not to exceed $2,500.00, as may be required to be
kept in the subject DDA by the depository institution at which such DDA is
maintained) and all payments due from credit card processors.
(c) Each
Blocked Account Agreement shall require after the occurrence and during the
continuance of a Cash Dominion Event the ACH or wire transfer no less frequently
than daily (and whether or not there are then any outstanding Obligations) to
the concentration account maintained by the Collateral Agent at Bank of America
(the “Concentration
Account”), of all cash receipts and collections, including, without
limitation, the following:
(i) all
available cash receipts from the sale of Inventory and other
assets;
(ii) all
proceeds of collections of Accounts;
(iii) all Net
Proceeds, and all other cash payments received by the Borrower from any Person
or from any source or on account of any sale or other transaction or
event;
(iv) the then
contents of each DDA (net of any minimum balance, not to exceed $2,500.00, as
may be required to be kept in the subject DDA by the depository institution at
which such DDA is maintained);
(v) the then
entire ledger balance of each Blocked Account (net of any minimum balance, not
to exceed $2,500.00, as may be required to be kept in the subject Blocked
Account by the Blocked Account Bank); and
(vi) the
proceeds of all credit card charges.
(d) The
Concentration Account shall at all times be under the sole dominion and control
of the Collateral Agent. The Borrower hereby acknowledges and agrees
that (i) the Borrower has no right of withdrawal from the Concentration Account,
(ii) the funds on deposit in the Concentration Account shall at all times be
collateral security for all of the Obligations and (iii) the funds on deposit in
the Concentration Account shall be applied as provided in this
Agreement. In the event that, notwithstanding the provisions of this
Section 6.13, the Borrower receives or
otherwise has dominion and control of any such proceeds or collections, such
proceeds and collections shall be held in trust by the Borrower for the
Administrative Agent, shall not be commingled with any of the Borrower’s other
funds or deposited in any account of the Borrower and shall, not later than the
Business Day after receipt thereof, be deposited into the Concentration Account
or dealt with in such other fashion as the Borrower may be instructed by the
Administrative Agent.
(e) Upon the
request of the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall cause bank statements
and/or other reports to be delivered to the Administrative Agent not less often
than monthly, accurately setting forth all amounts deposited in each Blocked
Account to ensure the proper transfer of funds as set forth above.
6.14 Information Regarding the
Collateral.
(a) Furnish
to the Administrative Agent at least thirty (30) days prior written notice of
any change in: (i) the Borrower’s name or in any trade name used to
identify it in the conduct of its business or in the ownership of its
properties; (ii) the location of the Borrower’s chief executive office, its
principal place of business, any office in which it maintains books or records
relating to Collateral owned by it or any office or facility at which Collateral
owned by it is located (including the establishment of any such new office or
facility); (iii) the Borrower’s organizational structure or jurisdiction of
incorporation or formation; or (iv) the Borrower’s Federal Taxpayer
Identification Number or organizational identification number assigned to it by
its state of organization. The Borrower agrees not to effect or permit any
change referred to in the preceding sentence unless all filings have been made
under the UCC or otherwise that are required in order for the Collateral Agent
to continue at all times following such change to have a valid, legal and
perfected first priority security interest in all the Collateral for its own
benefit and the benefit of the other Credit Parties.
(b) Should
any of the information on any of the Schedules hereto become inaccurate or
misleading in any material respect as a result of changes after the Closing
Date, the Borrower shall advise the Administrative Agent in writing of such
revisions or updates as may be necessary or appropriate to update or correct the
same. From time to time as may be reasonably requested by the
Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall supplement each Schedule hereto, or any
representation herein or in any other Loan Document, with respect to any matter
arising after the Closing Date that, if existing or occurring on the Closing
Date, would have been required to be set forth or described in such Schedule or
as an exception to such representation or that is necessary to correct any
information in such Schedule or representation which has been rendered
inaccurate thereby (and, in the case of any supplements to any Schedule, such
Schedule shall be appropriately marked to show the changes made
therein). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no supplement or revision to
any Schedule or representation shall be deemed the Credit Parties’ consent to
the matters reflected in such updated Schedules or revised representations nor
permit the Borrower to undertake any actions otherwise prohibited hereunder or
fail to undertake any action required hereunder from the restrictions and
requirements in existence prior to the delivery of such updated Schedules or
such revision of a representation; nor shall any such supplement or revision to
any Schedule or representation be deemed the Credit Parties’ waiver of any
Default resulting from the matters disclosed therein.
6.15 Physical
Inventories.
(a) Cause not
less than one (1) physical inventory to be undertaken, at the expense of the
Borrower, in each twelve (12) month period conducted by such inventory takers as
are satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and following such methodology as is
consistent with the methodology used in the immediately preceding inventory or
as otherwise may be satisfactory to the Collateral Agent. The Collateral Agent,
at the expense of the Borrower, may participate in and/or observe each scheduled
physical count of Inventory which is undertaken on behalf of the
Borrower. The Borrower, within 30 days following the completion
of such inventory, shall provide the Collateral Agent with a summary
reconciliation of the results of such inventory (as well as of any other
physical inventory undertaken by the Borrower) and shall post such results to
the Borrower’s stock ledger and general ledger, as applicable.
(b) The
Collateral Agent, in its discretion, if any Default exists, may cause additional
such inventories to be taken as the Collateral Agent determines (each, at the
expense of the Borrower).
6.16 Environmental
Laws.
(a) Conduct
its operations and keep and maintain its Real Estate in material compliance with
all Environmental Laws; (b) obtain and renew all environmental permits necessary
for its operations and properties; and (c) implement any and all investigation,
remediation, removal and response actions that are appropriate or necessary to
maintain the value and marketability of the Real Estate or to otherwise comply
with Environmental Laws pertaining to the presence, generation, treatment,
storage, use, disposal, transportation or release of any Hazardous Materials on,
at, in, under, above, to, from or about any of its Real Estate, provided, however, that neither
the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to undertake any such
cleanup, removal, remedial or other action to the extent that its obligation to
do so is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and adequate
reserves have been set aside and are being maintained by the Borrower with
respect to such circumstances in accordance with GAAP.
6.17 Further
Assurances.
(a) Execute
any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements and instruments,
and take all such further actions (including the filing and recording of
financing statements and other documents), that may be required under any
applicable Law, or which any Agent may request, to effectuate the transactions
contemplated by the Loan Documents or to grant, preserve, protect or perfect the
Liens created or intended to be created by the Security Documents or the
validity or priority of any such Lien, all at the expense of the Borrower. The
Borrower also agrees to provide to the Agents, from time to time upon request,
evidence satisfactory to the Agents as to the perfection and priority of the
Liens created or intended to be created by the Security Documents.
(b) If any
material assets are acquired by the Borrower 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
Agents thereof, and the Borrower will cause such assets to be subjected to a
Lien securing the Obligations and will take such actions as shall be necessary
or shall be requested by any Agent to grant and perfect such Liens, including
actions described in paragraph (a) of this Section 6.17, all at the
expense of the Borrower. In no event shall compliance with this Section 6.17(b) waive or
be deemed a waiver or Consent to any transaction giving rise to the need to
comply with this Section 6.17(b) if such
transaction was not otherwise expressly permitted by this Agreement or
constitute or be deemed to constitute Consent to the inclusion of any acquired
assets in the computation of the Borrowing Base.
(c) Upon the
request of the Collateral Agent, cause each of its customs brokers to deliver an
agreement (including, without limitation, a Customs Broker Agreement) to the
Collateral Agent covering such matters and in such form as the Collateral Agent
may reasonably require.
6.18 Compliance
with Terms of Leaseholds. »
Except
as otherwise expressly permitted hereunder, make all payments and otherwise
perform all obligations in respect of all Leases of real property to which the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, keep such Leases in full force
and effect and not allow such Leases to lapse or be terminated or any rights to
renew such leases to be forfeited or cancelled, notify the Administrative Agent
of any default by any party with respect to such Leases and cooperate with the
Administrative Agent in all respects to cure any such default, and cause each of
its Subsidiaries to do so, except, in any case, where the failure to do so,
either individually or in the aggregate, could not be reasonably likely to have
a Material Adverse Effect.
6.19 Material
Contracts. »
. Perform
and observe all the terms and provisions of each Material Contract to be
performed or observed by it, maintain each such Material Contract in full force
and effect, enforce each such Material Contract in accordance with its terms,
take all such action to such end as may be from time to time requested by the
Administrative Agent and, upon request of the Administrative Agent, make to each
other party to each such Material Contract such demands and requests for
information and reports or for action as the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
is entitled to make under such Material Contract, and cause each of its
Subsidiaries to do so, except, in any case, where the failure to do so, either
individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
ARTICLE
VII.
NEGATIVE
COVENANTS
So long
as any Lender shall have any Revolving Credit Commitment hereunder, any Loan or
other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of
Credit shall remain outstanding, the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any
Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:
7.01 Liens»
. Create, incur, assume or
suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether
now owned or hereafter acquired or sign or file or suffer to exist under the UCC
or any similar Law or statute of any jurisdiction a financing statement that
names the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof as debtor; sign or suffer to exist
any security agreement authorizing any Person thereunder to file such financing
statement; sell any of its property or assets subject to an understanding or
agreement (contingent or otherwise) to repurchase such property or assets with
recourse to it or any of its Subsidiaries; or assign or otherwise transfer any
accounts or other rights to receive income, other than, as to all of the above,
Permitted Encumbrances.
7.02 Investments»
. Make any
Investments, except Permitted Investments.
7.03 Indebtedness.
(a) Create,
incur, assume, guarantee, suffer to exist or otherwise become or remain liable
with respect to, any Indebtedness, except Permitted Indebtedness;
or
(b) Make or
agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any payment or other distribution
(whether in cash securities or other property) of or in respect of principal of
or interest on any Indebtedness, or any payment or other distribution (whether
in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar
deposit, on account of the purchase, prepayment, redemption, retirement,
defeasance, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any Indebtedness, except
(i) mandatory payments as and when due in respect of any Permitted Indebtedness,
and refinancings of such Indebtedness permitted hereunder, and (ii) payments on
account of the Obligations.
7.04 Fundamental
Changes»
. Merge, dissolve,
liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, (or agree to do any of the
foregoing), except that, so long as the Payment Conditions have been satisfied
after giving effect to any action described below:
(a) any
Subsidiary may merge with (i) the Borrower, provided that the
Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or (ii) any one or more
other Subsidiaries, provided that when
any wholly-owned Subsidiary is merging with another Subsidiary, the wholly-owned
Subsidiary shall be the continuing or surviving Person; and
(b) in
connection with a Permitted Acquisition, any Subsidiary of the Borrower may
merge with or into or consolidate with any other Person or permit any other
Person to merge with or into or consolidate with it; provided that (i) the
Person surviving such merger shall be a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower
and (ii) in the case of any such merger to which the Borrower is a party, the
Borrower is the surviving Person.
7.05 Dispositions. »
Make any
Disposition or enter into any agreement to make any Disposition, except
Permitted Dispositions.
7.06 Restricted
Payments. »
Declare
or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, or incur any obligation
(contingent or otherwise) to do so, except that, so long as no Default shall
have occurred and be continuing prior to or immediately after giving
effect to any action described below or would result
therefrom:
(a) each
Subsidiary of the Borrower may make Restricted Payments to the
Borrower;
(b) the
Borrower and each Subsidiary may declare and make dividend payments or other
distributions payable solely in the common stock or other common Equity
Interests of such Person;
(c) if the
Payment Conditions are satisfied, the Borrower and each Subsidiary may purchase,
redeem or otherwise acquire Equity Interests issued by it (provided that, for
purposes of this clause (c), the percentage set forth in the definition of Pro
Forma Availability Condition shall be deemed to be twenty (20%)
percent);
(d) if the
Payment Conditions are satisfied, the Borrower may declare or pay cash dividends
to its stockholders (provided that, for
purposes of this clause (c), the percentage set forth in the definition of Pro
Forma Availability Condition shall be deemed to be twenty (20%) percent);
and
(e) the
Borrower may issue and sell Equity Interests provided that (i) (A) with respect
to any Equity Interests, all dividends in respect of which are to be paid (and
all other payments in respect of which are to be made) shall be in additional
shares of such Equity Interests, in lieu of cash (other than as permitted in
clause (d) above), (B) such Equity Interests shall not be subject to redemption
other than redemption at the option of the Borrower issuing such Equity
Interests, and (C) all payments in respect of such Equity Interests are
expressly subordinated to the Obligations, and (ii) the Borrower shall not issue
any additional Equity Interests in a Subsidiary.
7.07 Prepayments
of Indebtedness.»
. Prepay,
redeem, purchase, defease or otherwise satisfy prior to the scheduled maturity
thereof in any manner any Indebtedness, or make any payment in violation of any
subordination terms of any Subordinated Indebtedness, except (a) as long as no
Event of Default then exists, regularly scheduled or mandatory repayments or
redemptions of Permitted Indebtedness, (b) so long as the Payment Conditions
have been met, prepayments of Permitted Indebtedness (but excluding on account
of any Subordinated Indebtedness), and (c) refinancings and refundings of such
Indebtedness in compliance with the definition of Permitted
Indebtedness.
7.08 Change
in Nature of Business. »
(a) Engage in
any line of business substantially different from the business conducted by the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the date hereof or any business substantially
related or incidental thereto.
7.09 Transactions
with Affiliates»
. Enter into, renew,
extend or be a party to any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of the
Borrower, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than on fair
and reasonable terms substantially as favorable to the Borrower or such
Subsidiary as would be obtainable by the Borrower or such Subsidiary at the time
in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate,
provided that
the foregoing restriction shall not apply to a transaction between or among the
Borrower.
7.10 Burdensome
Agreements»
. Enter into or permit to
exist any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Loan
Document) that (a) limits the ability (i) of any Subsidiary to make Restricted
Payments or other distributions to the Borrower or to otherwise transfer
property to the Borrower, (ii) of any Subsidiary to Guarantee the Obligations,
(iii) of any Subsidiary to make or repay loans to the Borrower, or (iv) of the
Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on
property of such Person in favor of the Collateral Agent; provided, however, that this
clause (iv) shall not prohibit any negative pledge incurred or provided in favor
of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03 solely to
the extent any such negative pledge relates to the property financed by or the
subject of such Indebtedness; or (b) requires the grant of a Lien to secure an
obligation of such Person if a Lien is granted to secure another obligation of
such Person.
7.11 Use
of Proceeds»
. Use the proceeds
of any Credit Extension, whether directly or indirectly, and whether
immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock
(within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to others
for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund Indebtedness
originally incurred for such purpose.
7.12 Amendment of Material
Documents. »
. Amend,
modify or waive any of the Borrower’s rights under (a) its Organization
Documents or (b) any Material Contract or Material Indebtedness (other than on
account of any refinancing thereof otherwise permitted hereunder), in each case
to the extent that such amendment, modification or waiver would be reasonably
likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
7.13 Corporate Name; Fiscal
Year.
(a) Change
the Fiscal Year of the Borrower, or the accounting policies or reporting
practices of the Borrower, except as required by GAAP.
(b) Change
its name as it appears in official filings in the state of its incorporation or
other organization (b) change its chief executive office, principal place of
business, corporate offices or warehouses or locations at which Collateral is
held or stored, or the location of its records concerning the Collateral, (c)
change the type of entity that it is, (d) change its organization identification
number, if any, issued by its state of incorporation or other organization, or
(e) change its state of incorporation or organization, in each case without at
least thirty (30) days prior written notice to the Collateral Agent and after
the Collateral Agent’s written acknowledgment, which acknowledgment shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed, that any reasonable action requested by the
Collateral Agent in connection therewith, including to continue the perfection
of any Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent, in any Collateral, has been
completed or taken, and provided that any
such new location shall be in the continental United States.
7.14 Deposit Accounts; Credit Card
Processors. »
Not open
new DDAs or Blocked Accounts unless the Borrower shall have delivered to the
Collateral Agent appropriate DDA Notifications or Blocked Account Agreements
consistent with the provisions of Section 6.13 and
otherwise satisfactory to the Collateral Agent. The Borrower shall
not maintain any bank accounts or enter into any agreements with credit card
processors other than the ones expressly contemplated herein or in Section 6.13
hereof.
7.15 Excess
Availability. »
Permit
Excess Availability at any time to be less than (a) at any time prior to the
exercise of any increase option pursuant to Section 2.15 hereof,
$10,000,000, and (b) at any time after the exercise of any increase option
pursuant to Section 2.15 hereof, the
greater of (x) $10,000,000 or (y) 10% of the Borrowing Base.
7.16 Store Openings or
Closings. »
Commit
to, or open or close any Store or any other location where the Borrower
maintains or store any Collateral without the Lenders’ prior written consent,
which shall not be unreasonably withheld, provided, that, (i)
the Borrower may conduct Store openings and closings in connection with a store
opening and closure program previously provided to the Agents, and (ii) if the
Payment Conditions have been satisfied, without the Lenders’ prior consent, the
Borrower may open up to fifteen (15) additional Stores and close up to fifteen
(15) additional Stores during each Fiscal Year of the Borrower.
ARTICLE
VIII.
EVENTS
OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
8.01 Events
of Default»
. Any of the
following shall constitute an Event of Default:
(a) Non-Payment. The
Borrower or any other Person who becomes party hereto as a Borrower or Guarantor
fails to pay when and as required to be paid herein, (i) any amount of principal
of any Loan or any L/C Obligation, or deposit any funds as Cash Collateral in
respect of L/C Obligations, or (ii) any interest on any Loan or on any L/C
Obligation, or any fee due hereunder, or (iii) any other amount payable
hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or
(b) Specific
Covenants. The Borrower or any other Person who becomes party hereto
as a Borrower or Guarantor fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or
agreement contained in any of Section 6.01, 6.02, 6.03, 6.05, 6.07, 6.10, 6.11, 6.12, 6.13 or 6.14 or Article VII; or
(c) Other
Defaults. The Borrower or any other Person who becomes party
hereto as a Borrower or Guarantor 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 10 days; or
(d) Representations and
Warranties. Any representation, warranty, certification or
statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any
other Person who becomes party hereto as a Borrower or Guarantor herein, in any
other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or
therewith (including, without limitation, any Borrowing Base Certificate) shall
be incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed made;
or
(e) Cross-Default. (i)
The Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (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 $500,000, 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; 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 the
Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof 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 the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof is an Affected Party
(as so defined) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by the
Borrower or such Subsidiary as a result thereof is greater than $500,000;
or
(f) Insolvency Proceedings,
Etc. The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries 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 a proceeding shall be commenced or a petition filed, without the
application or consent of such Person, seeking or requesting the appointment of
any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or
similar officer is appointed and the appointment continues undischarged,
undismissed or unstayed for 60 calendar days or an order or decree approving or
ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered; 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 60 calendar days, or an order for relief is entered
in any such proceeding; or
(g) Inability to Pay Debts;
Attachment. (i) The Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof becomes
unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as
they become due in the ordinary course of business, 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; or
(h) Judgments. There
is entered against the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (i) one or more
judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all
such judgments and orders) exceeding $500,000 (to the extent not covered by
independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer is rated at least “A”
by A.M. Best Company, has been notified of the potential claim and does not
dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary 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 10 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or
order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect;
or
(i) ERISA. (i)
An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which
has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the
Borrower under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or
the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of $500,000, or (ii) the Borrower or
any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any
applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal
liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate
amount in excess of $500,000; or
(j) Invalidity of Loan
Documents. (i) Any provision of any Loan Document,
at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as
expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the
Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or the Borrower or any other
Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any provision of
any Loan Document; or the Borrower denies that it has any or further liability
or obligation under any provision of any Loan Document, or purports to revoke,
terminate or rescind any provision of any Loan Document or seeks to avoid, limit
or otherwise adversely affect any Lien purported to be created under any
Security Document; or (ii) any Lien purported to be created under any Security
Document shall cease to be, or shall be asserted by the Borrower or any other
Person not to be, a valid and perfected Lien on any Collateral, with the
priority required by the applicable Security Document; or
(k) Change of
Control. There occurs any Change of Control; or
(l) Cessation of
Business. Except as otherwise expressly permitted hereunder,
the Borrower shall take any action to suspend the operation of its business in
the ordinary course, liquidate all or a material portion of its assets or Store
locations, or employ an agent or other third party to conduct a program of
closings, liquidations or “Going-Out-Of-Business” sales of any material portion
of its business; or
(m) Loss of
Collateral. There occurs any uninsured loss to any material
portion of the Collateral; or
(n) Breach of Contractual
Obligation. The Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof fails to
make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment,
acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Material Contract or fails
to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such
Material Contract 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 counterparty to such
Material Contract to terminate such Material Contract; or
(o) Indictment. The
indictment or institution of any legal process or proceeding against, the
Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof, under any federal, state, municipal, and
other criminal statute, rule, regulation, order, or other requirement having the
force of law for a felony;
(p) Guaranty. The
termination or attempted termination of any Guarantee of the Obligations
hereunder;
(q) Subordination. (i) The
subordination provisions of the documents evidencing or governing any
Subordinated Indebtedness (the “Subordinated
Provisions”) shall, in whole or in part, terminate, cease to be effective
or cease to be legally valid, binding and enforceable against any holder of the
applicable Subordinated Indebtedness; or (ii) the Borrower shall, directly or
indirectly, disavow or contest in any manner (A) the effectiveness, validity or
enforceability of any of the Subordination Provisions, (B) that the
Subordination Provisions exist for the benefit of the Credit Parties, or (C)
that all payments of principal of or premium and interest on the applicable
Subordinated Indebtedness, or realized from the liquidation of any property of
the Borrower, shall be subject to any of the Subordination
Provisions.
8.02 Remedies
Upon Event of Default»
. If any Event of
Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent may, or, at the
request of the Required Lenders shall, 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; and
(d) whether
or not the maturity of the Obligations shall have been accelerated pursuant
hereto, may (and at the direction of the Required Lenders, shall) proceed to
protect, enforce and exercise all rights and remedies of the Credit Parties
under this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents or applicable Law,
including, but not limited to, by suit in equity, action at law or other
appropriate proceeding, whether for the specific performance of any covenant or
agreement contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any
instrument pursuant to which the Obligations are evidenced, and, if such amount
shall have become due, by declaration or otherwise, proceed to enforce the
payment thereof or any other legal or equitable right of the Credit
Parties;
provided, however, that upon
the entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower or any Subsidiary
thereof 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.
No remedy
herein is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy and each and every remedy
shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other remedy given
hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute or any
other provision of Law.
8.03 Application
of Funds»
. After the
exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (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 8.02), 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, Credit Party
Expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel
to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent and amounts payable under
Article III) payable to
the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, each in its capacity as
such;
Second, to payment of
that portion of the Obligations constituting indemnities, Credit Party Expenses,
and other amounts (other than principal, interest and 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 amounts described in this clause Second payable to
them;
Third, to the extent
not previously reimbursed by the Lenders, to payment to the Lenders of that
portion of the Obligations constituting principal and accrued and unpaid
interest on any Permitted Overadvances, ratably among the Lenders in proportion
to the amounts described in this clause Third payable to
them;
Fourth, to the extent
that Swing Line Loans have not been refinanced by a Revolving Credit Loan,
payment to the Swing Line Lender of that portion of the Obligations constituting
accrued and unpaid interest on the Swing Line Loans;
Fifth, to payment of
that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the
Revolving Credit Loans, L/C Borrowings and other Obligations, and fees
(including commitment fees and Letter of Credit Fees), ratably among the Lenders
and the L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this
clause Fifth
payable to them;
Sixth, to the extent
that Swing Line Loans have not been refinanced by a Revolving Credit Loan, to
payment to the Swing Line Lender of that portion of the Obligations constituting
unpaid principal of the Swing Line Loans;
Seventh, to payment
of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the
Revolving Credit Loans and L/C Borrowings, ratably among the Lenders and the L/C
Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Seventh held by
them;
Eighth, to the
Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer, to Cash Collateralize
that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of
Letters of Credit;
Ninth, to payment of
all other Obligations (including without limitation the cash collateralization
of unliquidated indemnification obligations as provided in Section 10.04(g), but
excluding any Other Liabilities), ratably among the Credit Parties in proportion
to the respective amounts described in this clause Ninth held by
them;
Tenth, to payment of
that portion of the Obligations arising from Cash Management Services to the
extent secured under the Security Documents, ratably among the Credit Parties in
proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Tenth held by
them;
Eleventh, to payment
of all other Obligations arising from Bank Products to the extent secured under
the Security Documents, ratably among the Credit Parties in proportion to the
respective amounts described in this clause Eleventh held by
them; and
Last, the balance, if
any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the
Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.
Subject
to Section 2.04(c), amounts
used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit
pursuant to clause Eighth 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
IX.
ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENT
9.01 Appointment and
Authority.
(a) 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 neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary thereof shall have rights as
a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.
(b) Each of
the Lenders (in its capacities as a Lender), Swing Line Lender and the L/C
Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints Bank of America as Collateral Agent and
authorizes the Collateral Agent to act as the agent of such Lender and the L/C
Issuer for purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on
Collateral granted by the Borrower to secure any of the Obligations, together
with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental
thereto. In this connection, the Collateral Agent, as “collateral
agent” and any co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact appointed by the
Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 9.05 for purposes
of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof)
granted under the Collateral Documents, or for exercising any rights and
remedies thereunder at the direction of the Collateral Agent), shall be entitled
to the benefits of all provisions of this Article IX and Article XI (including
Section 10.04(c)), as though such
co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact were the “collateral agent” under
the Loan Documents, as if set forth in full herein with respect
thereto.
9.02 Rights
as a Lender»
. The Persons
serving as the Agents hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in their
capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though
they were not the Administrative Agent or the Collateral 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 or the Collateral Agent hereunder in its individual
capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from,
lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity
for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any
Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the
Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent hereunder and without any duty to
account therefor to the Lenders.
9.03 Exculpatory
Provisions»
. The Agents 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 Agents:
(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 or the Collateral
Agent, as applicable, 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 no
Agent shall be required to take any action that, in its respective opinion or
the opinion of its counsel, may expose such Agent to liability or that is
contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law; and
(c) shall
not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have
any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any
information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is
communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent,
the Collateral Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.
No Agent
shall 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 such Agent shall believe in good faith
shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 10.01 and 8.02) or (ii) in
the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a
final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent
jurisdiction. The Agents shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any
Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given to such Agent
by the Borrower, a Lender or the L/C Issuer.
The
Agents 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 Security Documents, (v) the value or
the sufficiency of any Collateral, or (vi) the satisfaction of any condition set
forth in Article
IV or elsewhere
herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be
delivered to the Agents.
9.04 Reliance by Agents. »
. Each
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, but not limited to, 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. Each 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 written 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. Each Agent may consult with legal counsel
(who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts
selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it
in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or
experts.
9.05 Delegation
of Duties»
. Each 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 such Agent. Each 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 Agents 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 such Agent.
9.06 Resignation
of Agents»
. Either Agent may
at any time give written 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 Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Agent may
on behalf of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, appoint a successor Administrative
Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable, meeting the qualifications set forth
above; provided
that if the Administrative Agent or the Collateral 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 (1) the retiring Agent shall be discharged
from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents
(except that in the case of any Collateral held by the Collateral Agent on
behalf of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer under any of the Loan Documents, the
retiring Collateral Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until
such time as a successor Collateral Agent is appointed) and (2) 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 appoint a
successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this
Section. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as
Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable, hereunder, such
successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers,
privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Agent, and the retiring 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 Agent’s resignation hereunder and under
the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall
continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring 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 Agent was acting as Administrative
Agent or Collateral Agent hereunder.
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, (a) 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, (b) 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 (c) 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.
9.07 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 Agents 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 Agents 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. Except
as provided in Section 9.12, the Agents
shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Credit Party with any
other credit or other information concerning the affairs, financial condition or
business of the Borrower that may come into the possession of the
Agents.
9.08 No
Other Duties, Etc.»
Anything herein to
the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Documentation Agent nor any other
Person listed on the cover page hereof 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, Collateral Agent, a
Lender or the L/C Issuer hereunder.
9.09 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 the Borrower, 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:
(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 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, the
Administrative Agent and the other Credit Parties (including any claim for the
reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders,
the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent, such Credit Parties and their
respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the L/C
Issuer the Administrative Agent and such Credit Parties under Sections 2.04(i), 2.04(j), 2.10 and 10.04) 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 2.10 and 10.04.
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 or to
authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender
or the L/C Issuer in any such proceeding.
9.10 Collateral
and Guaranty Matters»
. The Credit
Parties irrevocably authorize the Agents, at their option and in their
discretion,
(a) to
release any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Collateral Agent
under any Loan Document (i) upon termination of the Aggregate Commitments and
payment in full of all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification
obligations for which no claim has been asserted) and the expiration or
termination of all Letters of Credit, (ii) that is sold or to be sold as part of
or in connection with any sale permitted hereunder or under any other Loan
Document, or (iii) if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the
Required Lenders in accordance with Section 10.01;
(b) to
subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Collateral Agent
under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is
permitted by clause (h) of the definition of Permitted Encumbrances;
and
(c) to
release any Guarantor from its obligations under any Guarantee of the
Obligations hereunder if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a
transaction permitted hereunder.
Upon
request by any Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing
such 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 any Guarantee of the Obligations hereunder pursuant to this Section 9.10. In
each case as specified in this Section 9.10, the Agents
will, at the Borrower’s expense, execute and deliver to the Borrower such
documents as the Borrower may reasonably request to evidence the release of such
item of Collateral from the assignment and security interest granted under the
Security Documents or to subordinate its interest in such item, or to release
such Guarantor from its obligations under any Guarantee of the Obligations
hereunder, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and
this Section 9.10.
9.11 Notice
of Transfer»
. The
Agents may deem and treat a Lender party to this Agreement as the owner of such
Lender’s portion of the Obligations for all purposes, unless and until, and
except to the extent, an Assignment and Acceptance shall have become effective
as set forth in Section 10.06.
9.12 Reports
and Financial Statements»
. By
signing this Agreement, each Lender:
(a) agrees to
furnish the Administrative Agent on the first day of each month with a summary
of all Other Liabilities due or to become due to such Lender;
(b) is deemed
to have requested that the Administrative Agent furnish such Lender, promptly
after they become available, copies of all financial statements required to be
delivered by the Borrower hereunder and all commercial finance examinations and
appraisals of the Collateral received by the Agents (collectively, the “Reports”);
(c) expressly
agrees and acknowledges that the Administrative Agent makes no representation or
warranty as to the accuracy of the Reports, and shall not be liable for any
information contained in any Report;
(d) expressly
agrees and acknowledges that the Reports are not comprehensive audits or
examinations, that the Agents or any other party performing any audit or
examination will inspect only specific information regarding the Borrower and
will rely significantly upon the Borrower’s books and records, as well as on
representations of the Borrower’s personnel;
(e) agrees to
keep all Reports confidential in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07 hereof;
and
(f) without
limiting the generality of any other indemnification provision contained in this
Agreement, agrees: (i) to hold the Agents and any such other Lender preparing a
Report harmless from any action the indemnifying Lender may take or conclusion
the indemnifying Lender may reach or draw from any Report in connection with any
Credit Extensions that the indemnifying Lender has made or may make to the
Borrower, or the indemnifying Lender's participation in, or the indemnifying
Lender's purchase of, a Loan or Loans; and (ii) to pay and protect, and
indemnify, defend, and hold the Agents and any such other Lender preparing a
Report harmless from and against, the claims, actions, proceedings, damages,
costs, expenses, and other amounts (including attorney costs) incurred by the
Agents and any such other Lender preparing a Report as the direct or indirect
result of any third parties who might obtain all or part of any Report through
the indemnifying Lender.
9.13 Agency for Perfection.»
. Each
Lender hereby appoints each other Lender as agent for the purpose of perfecting
Liens for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders, in assets which, in
accordance with Article 9 of the UCC or any other Applicable Law of the United
States can be perfected only by possession. Should any Lender (other
than the Agents) obtain possession of any such Collateral, such Lender shall
notify the Agents thereof, and, promptly upon the Collateral Agent's request
therefor shall deliver such Collateral to the Collateral Agent or otherwise deal
with such Collateral in accordance with the Collateral Agent's
instructions.
9.14 Indemnification
of Agents »
. The
Lenders agree to indemnify the Agents (to the extent not reimbursed by the
Borrower and without limiting the obligations of the Borrower hereunder),
ratably according to their respective pro rata shares, from and against any and
all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments,
suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever that
may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against any Agent in any way
relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any
action taken or omitted to be taken by any Agent in connection therewith; provided, that no
Lender shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses,
damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements
resulting from such Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined
by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent
jurisdiction.
9.15 Relation
among Lenders. »
The
Lenders are not partners or co-venturers, and no Lender shall be liable for the
acts or omissions of, or (except as otherwise set forth herein in case of the
Agents) authorized to act for, any other Lender.
ARTICLE
X.
MISCELLANEOUS
10.01 Amendments,
Etc.»
No amendment or
waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no
Consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, shall be effective unless in
writing signed by the Administrative Agent, with the Consent of the Required
Lenders, and the Borrower, 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, however, that no such
amendment, waiver or consent shall:
(a) extend
or, increase the Revolving Credit Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any
Revolving Credit Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02) without the
written Consent of such Lender;
(b) postpone
any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for (i) any payment
or mandatory prepayment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the
Lenders (or any of them) hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents
without the written Consent of each Lender entitled to such payment, or (ii) any
scheduled or mandatory reduction of the Aggregate Commitments hereunder or under
any other Loan Document without the written Consent of each Lender;
(c) reduce
the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or L/C
Borrowing, or (subject to clause (iv) of the second proviso to this Section 10.01) any fees
or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document, without the
written Consent of each Lender entitled to such amount; provided, however, that only
the Consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition
of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest or
Letter of Credit Fees at the Default Rate;
(d) change
any provision of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders”, or any
other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required
to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any
determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written Consent of
each Lender;
(e) except
for Permitted Dispositions, release more than a de minimus portion of the
Collateral from the Liens of the Security Documents without the written Consent
of each Lender;
(f) change
the definition of the term “Borrowing Base” or any component definition thereof
if as a result thereof the amounts available to be borrowed by the Borrower
would be increased without the written Consent of each Lender, provided that the foregoing
shall not limit the discretion of the Administrative Agent to change, establish
or eliminate any Reserves;
(g) except as
expressly permitted herein or in any other Loan Document, subordinate the Liens
granted hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, to any other Lien on more
than a de minimus portion of the Collateral, without the written Consent of each
Lender;
and,
provided further, that (i) no
amendment, waiver or Consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the L/C
Issuer in addition to the Lenders required above, 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; (ii) no amendment, waiver or
Consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Swing Line Lender in addition
to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Swing Line
Lender under this Agreement; (iii) no amendment, waiver or Consent shall, unless
in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders
required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under
this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (iv) no amendment, waiver or Consent
shall, unless in writing and signed by the Collateral Agent in addition to the
Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Collateral Agent
under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and (v) the Fee Letter may be
amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only
by the parties thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any
amendment, waiver or Consent hereunder, except that the Revolving Credit
Commitment of such Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent
of such Lender.
If any Lender does not Consent (a
“Non-Consenting
Lender”) to a proposed amendment, waiver, consent or release with respect
to any Loan Document that requires the Consent of each Lender and that has been
approved by the Required Lenders, the Borrower may replace such Non-Consenting
Lender in accordance with Section 10.13; provided that such
amendment, waiver, consent or release can be effected as a result of the
assignment contemplated by such Section (together with all other such
assignments required by the Borrower to be made pursuant to this
paragraph).
10.02 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 the
Borrower, the Agents, 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 10.02;
and
(ii) if to any
other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or
telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire.
Notices
sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered
mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by
telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not
given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have
been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the
recipient). Notices delivered through electronic communications to
the extent provided in subsection (b) below, shall be effective as provided in
such subsection (b).
(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 Agents or any of
their 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 Agents, 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 Agents, 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.
(e) Reliance by Agents, L/C
Issuer and Lenders. The Agents, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders
shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic
Revolving Credit Loan Notices and Swing Line Loan Notices) purportedly given by
or on behalf of the Borrower 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 Borrower shall
indemnify the Agents, 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 the
Borrower. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic
communications with the Agents may be recorded by the Agents, and each of the
parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.
10.03 No
Waiver; Cumulative Remedies»
. No failure by any
Credit Party 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 provided
herein and in the other Loan Documents are cumulative and not exclusive of any
rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or issuance of a
Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless
of whether any Credit Party may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at
the time.
10.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage
Waiver.
(a) Costs and
Expenses. The Borrower shall pay all Credit Party
Expenses.
(b) Indemnification by the
Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the Agents (and any
sub-agent thereof), each other Credit Party, 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 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 the Borrower 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 Agents (and any
sub-agents thereof) and their Related Parties only, the administration of this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (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
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related
in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (iv) any claims of, or
amounts paid by any Credit Party to, a Blocked Account Bank or other Person
which has entered into a control agreement with any Credit Party hereunder, or
(v) 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 the Borrower or any of the
Borrower’s directors, shareholders or creditors, and regardless of whether any
Indemnitee is a party thereto, in all cases, whether or not caused by or
arising, in whole or in part, out of the comparative, contributory or sole
negligence of the Indemnitee; 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 the Borrower against an Indemnitee for
breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee's obligations hereunder or under any
other Loan Document, if the Borrower has obtained a final and nonappealable
judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction.
(c) Reimbursement by
Lenders. To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fail
to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of
this Section to be paid by it, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Agents
(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 Agents (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 Agents (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 2.13(d).
(d) Waiver of Consequential
Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable
Law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waive, 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 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 any Agent and the
L/C Issuer, the assignment of any Revolving Credit Commitment or Loan by any
Lender, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate
Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other
Obligations.
10.05 Payments
Set Aside»
. To the extent
that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to any Credit Party, or
any Credit Party 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 such Credit Party 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 Agents upon demand its applicable share (without
duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Agents, 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.
10.06 Successors and
Assigns.
(a) Successors and Assigns
Generally. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not assign
or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder or under any
other Loan Document without the prior written Consent of the Administrative
Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its
rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an Eligible Assignee in accordance
with the provisions of Section 10.06(b), (ii) by
way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection Section 10.06(d), or
(iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the
restrictions of Section 10.06(f) (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 Credit Parties) any
legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this
Agreement.
(b) Assignments by
Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more
Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this
Agreement (including all or a portion of its Revolving Credit Commitment and the
Loans (including for purposes of this Section 10.06(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
Revolving Credit Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or in the case
of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund
with respect to a Lender, 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 Revolving Credit Commitment (which for this purpose includes Revolving
Credit Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Revolving Credit Commitment is
not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Revolving Credit
Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of
the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is
delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the
Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than
$5,000,000, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Default
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 Eligible Assignee (or
to an Eligible 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 rights and
obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Revolving
Credit Commitment 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 or
delayed) shall be required unless (1) a 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; and
(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 Credit 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 the assignment of
any Revolving Credit Commitment.
(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 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.
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 Eligible Assignee thereunder shall be a
party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such
Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under
this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the
interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its
obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and
Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender's rights and obligations under
this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue
to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, and 10.04 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 Section 10.06(d).
(c) Register. The
Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the
Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each
Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of
the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Revolving Credit 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, absent manifest error, and the
Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose
name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender
hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the
contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the
Borrower and any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon
reasonable prior notice.
(d) Participations. Any
Lender may at any time, 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 Revolving Credit 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
Agents, the 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 Participant shall agree in
writing to comply with all confidentiality obligations set forth in Section 10.07 as if such
Participant was a Lender hereunder.
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 the first proviso to Section 10.01 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
Section 10.06(b). To
the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the
benefits of Section
10.08 as though it were a
Lender, provided such
Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.14 as though it
were a Lender.
(e) Limitations upon 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.
(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) Electronic Execution of
Assignments. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and
words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption 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.
(h) 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 Credit Commitment and Loans pursuant to subsection (b) above, Bank
of America may, (i) upon 30 days’ notice to the Borrower and the Lenders, resign
as L/C Issuer and/or (ii) upon 30 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 2.04(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 2.05(c). Upon
the appointment of a successor L/C Issuer and/or Swing Line Lender, (a) 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 (b) 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.
10.07 Treatment
of Certain Information; Confidentiality»
. Each of the Credit
Parties agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined
below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to
its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees,
agents, advisors and representatives (it being understood that the Persons to
whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such
Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the
extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction
over it (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National
Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by
applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d)
to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies
hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating
to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights
hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions
substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or
Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its
rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective
counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to
the Borrower and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower or (h) to
the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a
result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to any Credit Party
or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source
other than the Borrower.
For
purposes of this Section, “Information” means
all information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof relating to
the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof or their respective businesses, other
than any such information that is available to any Credit Party on a
nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any Subsidiary
thereof, provided that, in the
case of information received from the Borrower 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 Credit Parties acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material
non-public information concerning the Borrower 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 Federal and state
securities Laws.
10.08 Right
of Setoff»
. If an Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing or if any Lender shall have been
served with a trustee process or similar attachment relating to property of the
Borrower, 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 or the Required Lenders, 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 the Borrower against any and all of the Obligations 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 the Borrower 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. 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.
10.09 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.
10.10 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 4.01, 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 shall be as effective as delivery
of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
10.11 Survival»
. 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 Credit Parties, regardless of any investigation made by any
Credit Party or on their behalf and notwithstanding that any Credit Party may
have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension,
and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other
Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit
shall remain outstanding. Further, the provisions of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05 and 10.04 and Article IX shall survive and
remain in full force and effect regardless of the repayment of the Obligations,
the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the Revolving Credit
Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision
hereof. In connection with the termination of this Agreement and the
release and termination of the security interests in the Collateral, the Agents
may require such indemnities and collateral security as they shall reasonably
deem necessary or appropriate to protect the Credit Parties against (x) loss on
account of credits previously applied to the Obligations that may subsequently
be reversed or revoked, and (y) any obligations that may thereafter arise with
respect to the Other Liabilities.
10.12 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.
10.13 Replacement
of Lenders»
(a) . 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, or if any
Lender is a Defaulting Lender or a Non-Consenting Lender, then the Borrower may,
at their 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 10.06), 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:
(b) the
Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee
specified in Section
10.06(b);
(c) 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);
(d) 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; and
(e) such
assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws.
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.
10.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction;
Etc.
(a) GOVERNING
LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
(b) SUBMISSION TO
JURISDICTION. THE BORROWER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY
SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE
COURTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS SITTING IN SUFFOLK COUNTY AND OF THE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, 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 THE BORROWER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT
ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND
DETERMINED IN SUCH MASSACHUSETTS STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED
BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. THE BORROWER 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 ANY CREDIT PARTY MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO
BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN
DOCUMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY
JURISDICTION.
(c) WAIVER OF
VENUE. THE BORROWER 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. THE BORROWER 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 10.02. NOTHING
IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN
ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
(e) ACTIONS COMMENCED BY LOAN
PARIES. THE BORROWER AGREES THAT ANY ACTION COMMENCED BY THE BORROWER
ASSERTING ANY CLAIM OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS
AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL BE BROUGHT SOLELY IN A COURT OF THE
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS SITTING IN SUFFOLK COUNTY OR ANY FEDERAL COURT
SITTING THEREIN AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT MAY ELECT IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION AND
CONSENTS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS WITH RESPECT TO ANY SUCH
ACTION.
10.15 Waiver
of Jury Trial»
. 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.
10.16 No
Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. »
In
connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby, the
Borrower acknowledges and agrees that: (i) the credit facility provided for
hereunder and any related arranging or other services in connection therewith
(including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof
or of any other Loan Document) are an arm’s-length commercial transaction
between the Borrower, on the one hand, and the Credit Parties, on the other
hand, and the Borrower is capable of evaluating and understanding and
understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions
contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents (including any amendment,
waiver or other modification hereof or thereof); (ii) in connection with the
process leading to such transaction, the each Credit Party is and has been
acting solely as a principal and is not the financial advisor, agent or
fiduciary, for the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, stockholders, creditors or
employees or any other Person; (iii) none of the Credit Parties has assumed or
will assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the
Borrower with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the
process leading thereto, including with respect to any amendment, waiver or
other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document (irrespective of whether
any of the Credit Parties has advised or is currently advising the Borrower or
any of its Affiliates on other matters) and none of the Credit Parties has any
obligation to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the
transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth
herein and in the other Loan Documents; (iv) the Credit Parties and their
respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that
involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and
none of the Credit Parties has any obligation to disclose any of such interests
by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary relationship; and (v) the Credit
Parties have not provided and will not provide any legal, accounting, regulatory
or tax advice with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby
(including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other
Loan Document) and the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting,
regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed
appropriate. The Borrower hereby waives and releases, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, any claims that it may have against each of the Credit
Parties with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary
duty.
10.17 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 is in compliance,
in all material respects, with the Patriot Act. No part of the
proceeds of the Loans will be used by the Borrower, directly or indirectly, for
any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official
of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in
an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain
any improper advantage, in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
10.18 Time
of the Essence»
. Time is of the
essence of the Loan Documents.
10.19 Press
Releases »
. Each
Credit Party executing this Agreement agrees that neither it nor its Affiliates
will in the future issue any press releases or other public disclosure using the
name of Administrative Agent or its Affiliates or referring to this Agreement or
the other Loan Documents without at least two (2) Business Days’ prior notice to
Administrative Agent and without the prior written consent of Administrative
Agent unless (and only to the extent that) such Credit Party or Affiliate is
required to do so under Applicable Law and then, in any event, such Credit Party
or Affiliate will consult with Administrative Agent before issuing such press
release or other public disclosure. The Borrower consents to the
publication by Administrative Agent or any Lender of advertising material
relating to the financing transactions contemplated by this Agreement using the
Borrower’s name, product photographs, logo or
trademark. Administrative Agent or such Lender shall provide a draft
reasonably in advance of any advertising material to the Borrower for review and
comment prior to the publication thereof. Administrative Agent
reserves the right to provide to industry trade organizations information
necessary and customary for inclusion in league table measurements.
10.20 Additional
Waivers.
(a) The
obligations of the Borrower shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation,
impairment or termination for any reason (other than the indefeasible payment in
full in cash of the Obligations after the termination of the Revolving Credit
Commitments), including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or
compromise of any of the Obligations, and shall not be subject to any defense or
setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever by reason of the
invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of any of the Obligations or
otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of
the Borrower hereunder shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected
by the failure of any Agent or any other Credit Party to assert any claim or
demand or to enforce any remedy under this Agreement, any other Loan Document or
any other agreement, by any waiver or modification of any provision of any
thereof, any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance
of any of the Obligations, or by any other act or omission that may or might in
any manner or to any extent vary the risk of the Borrower or that would
otherwise operate as a discharge of the Borrower as a matter of law or equity
(other than the indefeasible payment in full in cash of all the Obligations
after the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments).
(b) To the
fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Borrower waives any defense
based on or arising out of the unenforceability of the Obligations or any part
thereof from any cause, other than the indefeasible payment in full in cash of
all the Obligations and the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments. The
Collateral Agent and the other Credit Parties may, at their election, foreclose
on any security held by one or more of them by one or more judicial or
nonjudicial sales, accept an assignment of any such security in lieu of
foreclosure, compromise or adjust any part of the Obligations, or exercise any
other right or remedy available to them, without affecting or impairing in any
way the liability of the Borrower hereunder except to the extent that all the
Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full in cash and the Revolving Credit
Commitments have been terminated.
10.21 No
Strict Construction »
. The
parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this
Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or
interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly
by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring
or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provisions of this
Agreement.
10.22 Attachments »
. The
exhibits, schedules and annexes attached to this Agreement are incorporated
herein and shall be considered a part of this Agreement for the purposes stated
herein, except that in the event of any conflict between any of the provisions
of such exhibits and the provisions of this Agreement, the provisions of this
Agreement shall prevail.
10.23 Amendment
and Restatement. »
This
Agreement, together with the Security Agreement, shall amend and restate the
Existing Credit Agreement and the Agency Agreement in their entirety, with the
parties hereby agreeing that there is no novation of the Existing Credit
Agreement or the Agency Agreement. On the Closing Date, the rights
and obligations of the parties under the Existing Credit Agreement and the
Agency Agreement shall be subsumed within and be governed by this Agreement;
provided, however, that each of the “Revolving Credit Loans”, including the
“SwingLine Loans” (as such terms are defined in the Existing Credit Agreement)
outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement on the Closing Date shall, for
purposes of this Agreement, be included as Loans hereunder and each of the
“L/C’s” (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) outstanding under the
Existing Credit Agreement on the Closing Date shall be Letters of Credit
hereunder.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the
parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date
first above written.
XXXXXXXX-ALCO
STORES, INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
S-
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as
Administrative Agent and as Collateral Agent
By:
Name:
Title:
S-
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a
Lender, L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender
By:
Name:
Title:
S-
XXXXX FARGO RETAIL FINANCE,
LLC, as Documentation Agent and as a Lender
By:
Name:
Title:
1047566.9
S-