Published CUSIP Number: ___________________ CREDIT AGREEMENT among VECTREN CAPITAL, CORP., as Borrower, VECTREN CORPORATION, as Guarantor, THE LENDERS SIGNATORY HERETO, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Co-Syndication Agent UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A.,...
Exhibit
10.1
Published
CUSIP Number: ___________________
among
VECTREN
CAPITAL, CORP.,
as
Borrower,
VECTREN
CORPORATION,
as
Guarantor,
THE
LENDERS SIGNATORY HERETO,
JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as
Co-Syndication Agent
UNION
BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A.,
as
Co-Syndication Agent,
and
BANK
OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as
Administrative Agent and LC Issuer
Dated
as of September 11, 0000
XXXX
XX XXXXXXX SECURITIES LLC
LEAD
ARRANGER AND BOOK RUNNER
|
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE
I DEFINITIONS
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1
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||
ARTICLE
II THE CREDITS
|
14
|
||
2.1.
|
Commitments
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14
|
|
2.2.
|
Required
Payments; Termination
|
14
|
|
2.3.
|
Ratable
Loans
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14
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|
2.4.
|
Types
of Advances
|
14
|
|
2.5.
|
Facility
Fee; Reductions in Aggregate Commitment
|
14
|
|
2.6.
|
Minimum
Amount of Each Advance
|
15
|
|
2.7.
|
Optional
Principal Payments
|
15
|
|
2.8.
|
Method
of Selecting Types and Interest Periods for New Advances
|
15
|
|
2.9.
|
Conversion
and Continuation of Outstanding Advances
|
16
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|
2.10.
|
Changes
in Interest Rate, etc
|
16
|
|
2.11.
|
Rates
Applicable After Default
|
16
|
|
2.12.
|
Payments
Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback
|
17
|
|
2.13.
|
Notes;
Telephonic Notices
|
18
|
|
2.14.
|
Interest
Payment Dates; Interest and Fee Basis
|
18
|
|
2.15.
|
Notification
of Advances, Interest Rates, Prepayments and Commitment
Reductions
|
19
|
|
2.16.
|
Lending
Installations
|
19
|
|
2.17.
|
Issuance
of Letters of Credit
|
19
|
|
2.18.
|
Use
of Proceeds
|
27
|
|
2.19.
|
Increases
in Aggregate Commitment
|
27
|
|
ARTICLE
III YIELD PROTECTION; TAXES
|
28
|
||
3.1.
|
Yield
Protection
|
28
|
|
3.2.
|
Changes
in Capital Adequacy Regulations
|
29
|
|
3.3.
|
Availability
of Types of Advances
|
29
|
|
3.4.
|
Funding
Indemnification
|
29
|
|
3.5.
|
Taxes
|
30
|
|
3.6.
|
Lender
Statements; Survival of Indemnity
|
32
|
|
3.7.
|
Replacement
of Lenders
|
33
|
- i
-
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
ARTICLE
IV CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
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33
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||
4.1.
|
Initial
Credit Extension
|
33
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|
4.2.
|
Each
Credit Extension
|
34
|
|
ARTICLE
V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
|
35
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||
5.1.
|
Existence
and Standing
|
35
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|
5.2.
|
Authorization
and Validity
|
35
|
|
5.3.
|
No
Conflict; Government Consent
|
35
|
|
5.4.
|
Financial
Statements
|
36
|
|
5.5.
|
Material
Adverse Change
|
36
|
|
5.6.
|
Taxes
|
36
|
|
5.7.
|
Litigation
and Contingent Obligations
|
36
|
|
5.8.
|
Subsidiaries
|
37
|
|
5.9.
|
ERISA
|
37
|
|
5.10.
|
Accuracy
of Information
|
37
|
|
5.11.
|
Regulation
U
|
37
|
|
5.12.
|
Material
Agreements
|
37
|
|
5.13.
|
Compliance
With Laws
|
37
|
|
5.14.
|
Ownership
of Properties
|
37
|
|
5.15.
|
Plan
Assets; Prohibited Transactions
|
38
|
|
5.16.
|
Environmental
Matters
|
38
|
|
5.17.
|
Investment
Company Act
|
38
|
|
5.18.
|
Insurance
|
38
|
|
5.19.
|
Solvency
|
38
|
|
5.20.
|
Reportable
Transaction
|
39
|
|
ARTICLE
VI COVENANTS
|
39
|
||
6.1.
|
Financial
Reporting
|
39
|
|
6.2.
|
Use
of Proceeds
|
41
|
|
6.3.
|
Notice
of Default
|
41
|
|
6.4.
|
Conduct
of Business
|
42
|
|
6.5.
|
Taxes
|
42
|
- ii
-
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
6.6.
|
Insurance
|
42
|
|
6.7.
|
Compliance
with Laws
|
42
|
|
6.8.
|
Maintenance
of Properties
|
43
|
|
6.9.
|
Inspection
|
43
|
|
6.10.
|
Dividends
|
43
|
|
6.11.
|
Indebtedness
|
43
|
|
6.12.
|
Merger
|
44
|
|
6.13.
|
Sale
of Assets
|
45
|
|
6.14.
|
Investments
and Acquisitions
|
45
|
|
6.15.
|
Liens
|
45
|
|
6.16.
|
Affiliates
|
46
|
|
6.17.
|
Leverage
Ratio
|
47
|
|
6.18.
|
Certain
Restrictions
|
47
|
|
ARTICLE
VII DEFAULTS
|
47
|
||
ARTICLE
VIII ACCELERATION, WAIVERS, AMENDMENTS AND
REMEDIES
|
49
|
||
8.1.
|
Acceleration
|
49
|
|
8.2.
|
Remedies
Not Exclusive
|
50
|
|
8.3.
|
Deposit
to Secure Reimbursement Obligations
|
50
|
|
8.4.
|
Subrogation
|
51
|
|
8.5.
|
Amendments
|
51
|
|
8.6.
|
Preservation
of Rights
|
51
|
|
ARTICLE
IX GENERAL PROVISIONS
|
52
|
||
9.1.
|
Survival
of Representations
|
52
|
|
9.2.
|
Governmental
Regulation
|
52
|
|
9.3.
|
Headings
|
53
|
|
9.4.
|
Entire
Agreement
|
53
|
|
9.5.
|
Several
Obligations; Benefits of this Agreement
|
53
|
|
9.6.
|
Expenses;
Indemnification
|
53
|
|
9.7.
|
Numbers
of Documents
|
55
|
|
9.8.
|
Accounting
|
55
|
- iii
-
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
9.9.
|
Severability
of Provisions
|
55
|
|
9.10.
|
Nonliability
of Lenders
|
55
|
|
9.11.
|
Treatment
of Certain Information; Confidentiality
|
56
|
|
9.12.
|
Nonreliance
|
57
|
|
9.13.
|
Disclosure
|
57
|
|
9.14.
|
USA
PATRIOT Act
|
57
|
|
9.15.
|
Letter
of Credit Amounts
|
57
|
|
9.16.
|
No
Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility
|
57
|
|
ARTICLE
X THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
|
58
|
||
10.1.
|
Appointment
and Authority
|
58
|
|
10.2.
|
Rights
as a Lender
|
58
|
|
10.3.
|
Exculpatory
Provisions
|
58
|
|
10.4.
|
Reliance
by Administrative Agent
|
59
|
|
10.5.
|
Delegation
of Duties
|
60
|
|
10.6.
|
Resignation
of Administrative Agent
|
60
|
|
10.7.
|
Non-Reliance
on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders
|
61
|
|
10.8.
|
Agent
May File Proofs of Claim
|
61
|
|
10.9.
|
No
Other Duties, Etc
|
61
|
|
ARTICLE
XI SETOFF; RATABLE PAYMENTS
|
62
|
||
11.1.
|
Setoff
|
62
|
|
11.2.
|
Ratable
Payments
|
62
|
|
ARTICLE
XII BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS;
PARTICIPATIONS
|
62
|
||
12.1.
|
Successors
and Assigns Generally
|
62
|
|
12.2.
|
Assignments
by Lenders
|
63
|
|
12.3.
|
Register
|
64
|
|
12.4.
|
Participations
|
64
|
|
12.5.
|
Limitations
upon Participant Rights
|
65
|
|
12.6.
|
Certain
Pledges
|
65
|
|
12.7.
|
Resignation
as LC Issuer after Assignment
|
65
|
|
ARTICLE
XIII GUARANTY
|
66
|
- iv
-
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
13.1.
|
GUARANTY
|
66
|
|
13.2.
|
Waivers
|
66
|
|
13.3.
|
Guaranty
Absolute
|
66
|
|
13.4.
|
Acceleration
|
67
|
|
13.5.
|
Marshaling;
Reinstatement
|
67
|
|
13.6.
|
Delay
of Subrogation
|
68
|
|
ARTICLE
XIV NOTICES
|
68
|
||
14.1.
|
Notices;
Effectiveness; Electronic Communication
|
68
|
|
14.2.
|
Change
of Address
|
70
|
|
ARTICLE
XV COUNTERPARTS
|
70
|
||
ARTICLE
XVI CHOICE OF LAW; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF
JURY TRIAL
|
71
|
||
16.1.
|
CHOICE
OF LAW
|
71
|
|
16.2.
|
CONSENT
TO JURISDICTION
|
71
|
|
16.3.
|
WAIVER
OF JURY TRIAL
|
71
|
- v
-
PRICING
SCHEDULE
|
|
Schedule
I
|
Commitments
|
Schedule
5.7
|
Litigation
|
Schedule
5.8
|
Subsidiaries
and Other Investments
|
Schedule
5.14
|
Indebtedness
and Liens
|
Schedule
5.16
|
Environmental
Matters
|
Schedule
6.18
|
Certain
Restrictions
|
Schedule
14.1
|
Notice
Information
|
Exhibit
A
|
Form
of Revolving Credit Note
|
Exhibit
B
|
Form
of Borrowing Notice
|
Exhibit
C
|
Form
of Compliance Certificate
|
Exhibit
D
|
[intentionally
omitted]
|
Exhibit
E
|
Form
of Assignment and Assumption
|
Exhibit
F
|
Form
of Increase Request
|
- vi
-
This
Agreement, dated as of September 11, 2008, is among VECTREN CAPITAL, CORP.,
VECTREN CORPORATION, the Lenders party hereto, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as
Co-Syndication Agent, UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A., as Co-Syndication Agent
(such institutions, the “Syndication Agents”)
and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as LC Issuer and as Administrative
Agent. The parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
As used
in this Agreement:
“Acquisition” means
any transaction, or any series of related transactions, consummated on or after
the date of this Agreement, by which Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (i)
acquires any going business or all or substantially all of the assets of any
firm, corporation or limited liability company, or division thereof, whether
through purchase of assets, merger or otherwise or (ii) directly or indirectly
acquires (in one transaction or as the most recent transaction in a series of
transactions) at least a majority (in number of votes) of the securities of a
corporation which have ordinary voting power for the election of directors
(other than securities having such power only by reason of the happening of a
contingency) or a majority (by percentage or voting power) of the outstanding
ownership interests of a partnership or limited liability company.
“Additional Lender”
has the meaning specified in Section
2.19.
“Administrative Agent”
means Bank of America, N.A., in its capacity as contractual representative of
the Lenders pursuant to Article X, and not in
its individual capacity as a Lender, and any successor Administrative Agent
appointed pursuant to Article
X.
“Administrative
Agent’s Office” means the
Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on
Schedule 14.1,
or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to
time notify Borrower and the Lenders.
“Administrative
Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form approved
by the Administrative Agent.
“Advance” means a
borrowing hereunder (or conversion or continuation thereof) consisting of the
aggregate amount of the several Loans made on the same Borrowing Date (or date
of conversion or continuation) by the Lenders to Borrower of the same Type and,
in the case of Eurodollar Advances, for the same Interest Period.
“Affiliate” of any
Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by
or under common control with such Person. A Person shall be deemed to
control another Person if the controlling Person owns 10% or more of any class
of voting securities (or other ownership interests) of the controlled Person or
possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of
the management or policies of the controlled Person, whether through ownership
of stock, by contract or otherwise.
“Aggregate Commitment”
means the aggregate of the Commitments of all the Lenders, as changed from time
to time pursuant to the terms hereof. On the date hereof, the amount
of the Aggregate Commitment is $120,000,000.
“Aggregate Outstanding Credit
Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of (i) the aggregate principal
amount of the Advances at such time plus (ii) the LC Obligations at such
time.
“Agreement” means this
Credit Agreement, as it may be amended or modified and in effect from time to
time.
“Agreement Accounting
Principles” means generally accepted accounting principles as in effect
from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing
the financial statements referred to in Section 5.4.
“Alternate 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, without limitation, 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.
“Applicable Fee Rate”
means, at any time, the percentage rate per annum at which facility fees are
accruing on the Aggregate Commitment (without regard to usage) and Letter of
Credit fees at such time as set forth in the Pricing Schedule.
“Applicable Margin”
means, at any time, with respect to Advances of any Type at any time, the
percentage rate per annum which is applicable at such time with respect to
Advances of such Type, as set forth in the Pricing Schedule.
“Approved Fund” means
any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a
Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages
a Lender.
“Arranger” means Banc
of America Securities LLC, as Lead Arranger and Book Runner.
“Article” means an
article of this Agreement unless another document is specifically
referenced.
“Assignee Group” means
two or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two or more
Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.
“Assignment and
Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender
and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by
Section 12.2),
and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit E or any
other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
2
“Authorized Officer”
means any Vice President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, the Assistant Secretary
and Assistant Treasurer of Borrower, acting singly.
“Bank of America”
means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors.
“Borrower” means
Vectren Capital, Corp., an Indiana corporation, and its successors and
assigns.
“Borrower Materials”
has the meaning specified in Section
6.1.
“Borrowing Date” means
a date on which a Credit Extension is made hereunder.
“Borrowing Notice” has
the meaning specified in Section 2.8.
“BSA” has the meaning
specified in Section
6.7.
“Business Day” means
(i) with respect to any borrowing, payment or rate selection of Eurodollar
Advances, a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks generally are
open in Chicago, New York and Indianapolis for the conduct of substantially all
of their commercial lending activities and on which dealings in United States
dollars are carried on in the London interbank market and (ii) for all other
purposes, a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks generally are
open in Chicago and Indianapolis for the conduct of substantially all of their
commercial lending activities.
“Capitalized Lease” of
a Person means any lease of Property by such Person as lessee which would be
capitalized on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with
Agreement Accounting Principles.
“Capitalized Lease
Obligations” of a Person means the amount of the obligations of such
Person under Capitalized Leases which would be shown as a liability on a balance
sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with Agreement Accounting
Principles.
“Cash Collateralize”
has the meaning specified in Section
2.17.7.
“Cash Equivalent
Investments” means (i) short-term obligations of, or fully guaranteed by,
the United States of America, (ii) commercial paper rated A-1 or better by
S&P or P-1 or better by Moody’s, (iii) demand deposit accounts maintained in
the ordinary course of business, and (iv) certificates of deposit issued by and
time deposits with commercial banks (whether domestic or foreign) having capital
and surplus in excess of $100,000,000; provided in each case
that the same provides for payment of both principal and interest (and not
principal alone or interest alone) and is not subject to any contingency
regarding the payment of principal or interest.
“Change in Control”
means (i) the acquisition by any Person, or two or more Persons acting in
concert, of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of
30% or more of the outstanding shares of voting stock of Guarantor, (ii) the
occurrence during any period of twelve (12) consecutive months, commencing
before or after the date of this Agreement, pursuant to
3
which
individuals who on the first day of such period were directors of Guarantor
(together with any replacement or additional directors who were nominated or
elected by a majority of directors then in office) cease to constitute a
majority of the Board of Directors of Guarantor or (iii) Guarantor shall cease
to own, free and clear of any Lien, 100% of the issued and outstanding capital
stock of Borrower.
“Closing Date” means
the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 4.1 are
satisfied or waived in accordance with Section
8.5.
“Code” means the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, reformed or otherwise modified from
time to time.
“Commitment” means,
for each Lender, the obligation of such Lender to make Loans to, and participate
in Letters of Credit issued upon the application of, Borrower in an aggregate
amount not exceeding the amount set forth opposite its name on Schedule I or as set
forth in any Assignment and Assumption relating to any assignment that has
become effective pursuant to Section 12.2.4, as
such amount may be modified from time to time pursuant to the terms
hereof.
“Commitment Termination
Date” means September 10, 2009, or any earlier date on which the
Aggregate Commitment is reduced to zero or otherwise terminated pursuant to the
terms hereof.
“Consolidated
Indebtedness” means at any time the Indebtedness of a Person and its
Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis as of such time.
“Consolidated Net
Worth” means at any time the consolidated stockholders’ equity of a
Person and its Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis as of such
time.
“Contingent
Obligation” of a Person means any agreement, undertaking or arrangement
by which such Person assumes, guarantees, endorses, contingently agrees to
purchase or provide funds for the payment of, or otherwise becomes or is
contingently liable upon, the obligation or liability of any other Person (other
than accounts payable of such Person’s Subsidiary arising in the ordinary course
of such Subsidiary’s business payable on terms customary in the trade), or
agrees to maintain the net worth or working capital or other financial condition
of any other Person, or otherwise assures any creditor of such other Person
against loss, including, without limitation, any comfort letter, operating
agreement or take-or-pay contract.
“Conversion/Continuation
Notice” has the meaning specified in
Section 2.9.
“Controlled Group”
means all members of a controlled group of corporations or other business
entities and all trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common
control which, together with Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries, are treated
as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.
“Credit Extension”
means the making of an Advance or the issuance of or participation in a Letter
of Credit hereunder.
“Default” means an
event described in Article
VII.
4
“Defaulting Lender”
means any Lender that (a) has failed to fund any portion of the Loans or
participations in LC Obligations required to be funded by it hereunder within
one Business Day of the date required to be funded by it hereunder unless such
failure has been cured, (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 unless such failure has been cured, or (c) has been
deemed insolvent or become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency
proceeding.
“Eligible Assignee”
means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Sections 12.2.3,
12.2.5 and
12.2.6 (subject
to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section
12.2.6).
“Environmental Laws”
means any and all federal, state, local and foreign statutes, laws, judicial
decisions, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, plans,
injunctions, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements and
other governmental restrictions relating to (i) the protection of the
environment, (ii) the effect of the environment on human health, (iii)
emissions, discharges or releases of pollutants, contaminants, hazardous
substances or wastes into surface water, ground water or land, or (iv) the
manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal,
transport or handling of pollutants, contaminants, hazardous substances or
wastes or the clean-up or other remediation thereof.
“Environmental
Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including,
without limitation, any liability for damages, costs of environmental
remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of Borrower, Guarantor or any of
their respective 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.
“ERISA” means the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time,
and any rule or regulation issued thereunder.
“Eurodollar Advance”
means an Advance which bears interest by reference to the applicable Eurodollar
Rate.
“Eurodollar Rate”
means for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, a rate per
annum determined by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the following
formula:
Eurodollar
Rate =
|
Eurodollar
Base Rate
|
||
1.00
– Eurodollar Reserve Percentage
|
Where,
“Eurodollar Base Rate”
means, for such Interest Period, the rate per annum equal to the British Bankers
Association LIBOR Rate (“BBA LIBOR”), as
published by Reuters (or
5
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
United States 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 “Eurodollar Base Rate”
for such Interest Period shall be the rate per annum determined by the
Administrative Agent to be the rate at which deposits in United States Dollars
for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in same day funds in the
approximate amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loan being made, continued or
converted 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.
“Eurodollar Reserve
Percentage” means, for any day during any Interest Period, the reserve
percentage (expressed as a decimal, carried out to five decimal places) in
effect on such day, whether or not applicable to any Lender, under regulations
issued from time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including, without limitation,
any emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) with respect
to Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency
liabilities”). The Eurodollar Rate for each outstanding
Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be adjusted automatically as of the effective date of
any change in the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage.
“Eurodollar Loan”
means a Loan which bears interest by reference to the applicable Eurodollar
Rate.
“Excluded Taxes”
means, in the case of each Lender or applicable Lending Installation and the
Administrative Agent, taxes imposed on its overall net income, and franchise
taxes imposed on it, by (i) the jurisdiction under the laws of which such Lender
or the Administrative Agent is incorporated or organized or (ii) the
jurisdiction in which the Administrative Agent’s or such Lender’s principal
executive office or such Lender’s applicable Lending Installation is
located.
“Exhibit” refers to an
exhibit to this Agreement, unless another document is specifically
referenced.
“Existing
Indebtedness” has the meaning specified in Section
6.11.
“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
6
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
that certain letter agreement dated August 26, 2008 among Borrower,
Guarantor, the Administrative Agent and the Arranger.
“Financial Contract”
of a Person means (i) any exchange-traded or over-the-counter futures, forward,
swap or option contract or other financial instrument with similar
characteristics, (ii) any agreements, devices or arrangements providing for
payments related to fluctuations of interest rates, exchange rates or forward
rates, including, but not limited to, interest rate exchange agreements, forward
currency exchange agreements, interest rate cap or collar protection agreements,
forward rate currency or interest rate options or (iii) to the extent not
otherwise included in the foregoing, any Rate Hedging Agreement.
“Floating Rate” means,
for any day, a rate per annum equal to (i) the Alternate Base Rate for such day
plus (ii) the
Applicable Margin for Floating Rate Advances, in each case changing when and as
the Alternate Base Rate changes.
“Floating Rate
Advance” means an Advance which bears interest at the Floating
Rate.
“Floating Rate Loan”
means a Loan which bears interest at the Floating Rate.
“Fund” means any
Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making,
purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar
extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities.
“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,
without limitation, any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the
European Central Bank).
“Guaranteed
Obligations” has the meaning specified in Section
13.1.
“Guarantor” means
Vectren Corporation, and its successors and assigns.
“Hazardous Materials”
means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or
toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including, without limitation,
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.
“Honor Date” has the
meaning specified in Section
2.17.3.
“Indebtedness” of a
Person means such Person’s (i) obligations for borrowed money, (ii) obligations
representing the deferred purchase price of Property or services (other than
accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of such Person’s business
payable on terms customary in
7
the
trade), (iii) obligations, whether or not assumed, secured by Liens or payable
out of the proceeds or production from property now or hereafter owned or
acquired by such Person, (iv) obligations which are evidenced by notes,
acceptances or other instruments, (v) obligations of such Person to purchase
securities or other property arising out of or in connection with the sale of
the same or substantially similar securities or property, (vi) Capitalized Lease
Obligations, (vii) Contingent Obligations (other than Contingent Obligations
with respect to primary obligations (other than Indebtedness) of Subsidiaries,
which primary obligations are not prohibited by this Agreement), (viii)
reimbursement and other obligations in connection with letters of credit, (ix)
Net Xxxx-to-Market Exposure of Rate Hedging Agreements and other Financial
Contracts, (x) Synthetic Lease Obligations and (xi) any other obligation for
borrowed money or other financial accommodation which in accordance with
Agreement Accounting Principles would be shown as a liability on the
consolidated balance sheet of such Person.
“Intercompany
Indebtedness” has the meaning specified in Section
6.11(iv).
“Interest Period”
means, with respect to any Eurodollar Advance, a period of one, two, three or
six months commencing on a Business Day selected by Borrower pursuant to this
Agreement. Such Interest Period shall end on the day which
corresponds numerically to such date one, two, three or six months thereafter,
provided, however, that if there is no such
numerically corresponding day in such next, second, third or sixth succeeding
month, such Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day of such next,
second, third or sixth succeeding month. If an Interest Period would
otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall
end on the next succeeding Business Day, provided, however, that if said
next succeeding Business Day falls in a new calendar month, such Interest Period
shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day.
“Investment” of a
Person means any loan, advance (other than commission, travel and similar
advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business),
extension of credit (other than accounts receivable arising in the ordinary
course of business on terms customary in the trade) or contribution of capital
by such Person; stocks, bonds, mutual funds, partnership interests, notes,
debentures or other securities owned by such Person; any deposit accounts and
certificate of deposit owned by such Person; and structured notes, derivative
financial instruments and other similar instruments or contracts owned by such
Person.
“ISP” means, with
respect to any Letter of Credit, the “International Standby Practices 1998”
published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, Inc. (or
such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of
issuance).
“Issuer Documents”
means with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Application,
and any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by the LC Issuer
and Borrower (or any Subsidiary) or in favor of the LC Issuer and relating to
such Letter of Credit.
“LC Advance” means,
with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s funding of its participation in any
LC Borrowing in accordance with its Pro Rata Share.
“LC 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 an
Advance.
8
“LC 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.
“LC Issuer” means Bank
of America in its capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit
hereunder.
“LC Obligations”
means, at any time, the sum, without duplication, of (i) the aggregate undrawn
stated amount of all Letters of Credit outstanding at such time plus (ii) the
aggregate unpaid amount at such time of all reimbursement obligations in respect
of the Letters of Credit.
“Lenders” means the
lending institutions listed on the signature pages of this Agreement and their
respective successors and assigns.
“Lending Installation”
means, with respect to a Lender or the Administrative Agent, the office, branch,
subsidiary or affiliate of such Lender or the Administrative Agent listed on
Schedule 14.1
hereof or otherwise selected by such Lender or the Administrative Agent pursuant
to Section 2.16.
“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 LC
Issuer.
“Letter of Credit
Sublimit” means an amount equal to $40,000,000. The Letter of
Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate
Commitment.
“Letters of Credit”
means standby and commercial letters of credit now or hereafter issued by the LC
Issuer from time to time at the request of, and for the account of, Borrower
issued pursuant to this Agreement.
“Letter of Credit Fee”
has the meaning specified in Section
2.17.9.
“Lien” means any lien
(statutory or other), security interest, mortgage, pledge, hypothecation,
assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance or preference, priority or other
security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever
(including, without limitation, the interest of a vendor or lessor under any
conditional sale, Capitalized Lease or other title retention
agreement).
“Loan” means, with
respect to a Lender, such Lender’s loan made pursuant to Article II (or any
conversion or continuation thereof).
“Loan Documents” means
this Agreement, the Fee Letter, the Notes, any Letter of Credit Application and
any other documents or instruments now or hereafter executed and delivered by or
on behalf of Borrower to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders to further
evidence or govern the Obligations.
“Material Adverse
Effect” means a material adverse effect on (i) the business, Property,
condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of Guarantor and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (ii) the ability of Borrower or Guarantor to
perform its obligations under the Loan
9
Documents,
or (iii) the validity or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents or the
rights or remedies of the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer or the Lenders
thereunder.
“Material
Indebtedness” has the meaning specified in Section 7.5.
“Moody’s” means
Xxxxx’x Investors Service, Inc.
“Mortgage Indenture”
means the Mortgage and Deed of Trust, dated as of April 1, 1932, between
Southern Indiana Gas and Electric Company and Bankers Trust Company (as
supplemented from time to time before or after the date hereof by various
supplemental indentures thereto).
“Multiemployer Plan”
means a Plan maintained pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement or any
other arrangement to which Borrower or any member of the Controlled Group is a
party to which more than one employer is obligated to make
contributions.
“Net Xxxx-to-Market
Exposure” of a Person means, as of any date of determination, the excess
(if any) of all unrealized losses over all unrealized profits of such Person
arising from Rate Hedging Agreements or other Financial
Contracts. “Unrealized losses” means the fair market value of the
cost to such Person of replacing such Rate Hedging Agreement or other Financial
Contract as of the date of determination (assuming the Rate Hedging Agreement or
other Financial Contract were to be terminated as of that date), and “unrealized
profits” means the fair market value of the gain to such Person of replacing
such Rate Hedging Agreement or other Financial Contract as of the date of
determination (assuming such Rate Hedging Agreement or other Financial Contract
were to be terminated as of that date).
“Non-U.S. Lender” has
the meaning specified in Section 3.5(iv).
“Notes” means the
Revolving Credit Notes.
“Obligations” means
all unpaid principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans,
reimbursement obligations under the Letters of Credit, all accrued and unpaid
fees and all expenses, reimbursements, indemnities and other obligations of
Borrower to the Lenders or to any Lender, the LC Issuer, the Administrative
Agent or any indemnified party arising under the Loan Documents.
“OFAC” has the meaning
specified in Section
6.7.
“Other Taxes” has the
meaning specified in Section 3.5(ii).
“Participants” has the
meaning specified in Section 12.4.
“Payment Date” means
the last Business Day of each month.
“PBGC” means the
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, or any successor thereto.
10
“Person” means any
natural person, corporation, firm, joint venture, partnership, limited liability
company, association, enterprise, trust or other entity or organization, or any
government or political subdivision or any agency, department or instrumentality
thereof.
“Plan” means an
employee pension benefit plan which is covered by Title IV of ERISA or subject
to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code as to which
Borrower or any member of the Controlled Group may have any
liability.
“Platform” has the
meaning specified in Section
6.1.
“Pro Rata Share”
means, as to any Lender, when used with reference to an aggregate or total
amount, an amount equal to the product of (a) such aggregate or total amount,
multiplied by
(b) a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the sum of such Lender’s
Commitment (or, if the Commitments have been terminated, the sum of such
Lender’s outstanding Revolving Loans and participations in outstanding Letters
of Credit) and the denominator of which shall be the Aggregate Commitment (or,
if the Commitments have been terminated, the sum of the total outstanding
Revolving Loan Advances and the aggregate face amount of outstanding Letters of
Credit).
“Property” of a Person
means any and all property, whether real, personal, tangible, intangible, or
mixed, of such Person, or other assets owned, leased or operated by such
Person.
“Public Lender” has
the meaning specified in Section
6.1.
“Rate Hedging
Agreement” means an agreement, device or arrangement providing for
payments which are related to fluctuations of interest rates, exchange rates or
forward rates, including, but not limited to, dollar-denominated or
cross-currency interest rate exchange agreements, forward currency exchange
agreements, interest rate cap or collar protection agreements, forward rate
currency or interest rate options, puts and warrants.
“Rate Hedging
Obligations” of a Person means any and all obligations of such Person,
whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising,
evidenced or acquired (including, without limitation, all renewals, extensions
and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor), under (i) any and all
Rate Hedging Agreements, and (ii) any and all cancellations, buy backs,
reversals, terminations or assignments of any Rate Hedging
Agreement.
“Register” has the
meaning specified in Section 12.3.
“Regulation D” means
Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as from
time to time in effect and any successor thereto or other regulation or official
interpretation of said Board of Governors relating to reserve requirements
applicable to member banks of the Federal Reserve System.
“Regulation U” means
Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as from
time to time in effect and any successor or other regulation or official
interpretation of said Board of Governors relating to the extension of credit by
banks for the
11
purpose
of purchasing or carrying margin stocks applicable to member banks of the
Federal Reserve System.
“Related Parties”
means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners,
directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees and advisors of such Person and
of such Person’s Affiliates.
“Reportable Event”
means a reportable event as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA and the
regulations issued under such section, with respect to a Plan, excluding,
however, such events as to which the PBGC has by regulation waived the
requirement of Section 4043(a) of ERISA that it be notified within 30 days
of the occurrence of such event, provided, however, that a failure to meet
the minimum funding standard of Section 412 of the Code and of
Section 302 of ERISA shall be a Reportable Event regardless of the issuance
of any such waiver of the notice requirement in accordance with either
Section 4043(a) of ERISA or Section 412(d) of the Code.
“Required Lenders”
means Lenders in the aggregate having more than 50% of the Aggregate Commitment
or, if the Aggregate Commitment has been terminated, Lenders in the aggregate
holding more than 50% of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the
outstanding Advances and participations in outstanding Letters of
Credit.
“Revolving Credit
Notes” means the Revolving Credit Notes, each substantially in the form
of Exhibit A
hereto, duly executed by Borrower to the respective Lenders to evidence the
Revolving Loans, including any and all renewals, extensions, replacements and
modifications thereof.
“Revolving Loan” has
the meaning specified in Section
2.1.
“Revolving Loan
Advance” means an Advance under the Commitments.
“Risk-Based Capital
Guidelines” has the meaning specified in Section
3.2.
“S&P” means
Standard and Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw Hill Companies,
Inc.
“Schedule” refers to a
specific schedule to this Agreement, unless another document is specifically
referenced.
“Section” means a
numbered section of this Agreement, unless another document is specifically
referenced.
“Single Employer Plan”
means a Plan maintained by Borrower or any member of the Controlled Group for
employees of Borrower or any member of the Controlled Group.
“Subsidiary” of a
Person means (i) any corporation more than 50% of the outstanding securities
having ordinary voting power of which shall at the time be owned or controlled,
directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries or
by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries or (ii) any partnership,
limited liability company, association, joint venture or similar business
organization more than 50% of the ownership interests having
12
ordinary
voting power of which shall at the time be so owned or
controlled. Unless otherwise expressly provided, all references
herein to a “Subsidiary” shall mean a Subsidiary of Borrower.
“Subsidiary Existing
Indebtedness” has the meaning specified in Section
6.11(vi).
“Substantial Portion”
means, with respect to the Property of Borrower and its Subsidiaries, Property
which (i) represents more than 10% of the consolidated assets of Borrower and
its Subsidiaries as would be shown in the consolidated financial statements of
Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the beginning of the twelve-month period
ending with the month in which such determination is made or (ii) is responsible
for more than 10% of the consolidated net sales or of the consolidated net
income of Borrower and its Subsidiaries as reflected in the financial statements
referred to in clause
(i) above.
“Synthetic Lease
Obligation” means the monetary obligation of a Person under (i) a
so-called synthetic or off-balance sheet or tax retention lease or (ii) an
agreement for the use or possession of property creating obligations that do not
appear on the balance sheet of such Person but which, upon the insolvency or
bankruptcy of such Person, would be characterized as indebtedness of such Person
(without regard to accounting treatment). The amount of Synthetic
Lease Obligations of any Person under any such lease or agreement shall be the
amount which would be shown as a liability on a balance sheet of such Person
prepared in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles if such lease or
agreement were accounted for as a Capitalized Lease.
“Taxes” means any and
all present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or
withholdings, and any and all liabilities with respect to the foregoing, but
excluding Excluded
Taxes.
“Type” means, with
respect to any Revolving Loan Advance, its nature as a Floating Rate Advance or
a Eurodollar Advance.
“Unfunded Liabilities”
means the amount (if any) by which the present value of all vested and unvested
accrued benefits under all Single Employer Plans exceeds the fair market value
of all such Plan assets allocable to such benefits, all determined as of the
then most recent valuation date for such Plans using PBGC actuarial assumptions
for single employer plan terminations.
“Unmatured Default”
means an event which but for the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both,
would constitute a Default.
“Unreimbursed Amount”
has the meaning specified in Section
2.17.3.
“Wholly-Owned
Subsidiary” of a Person means (i) any Subsidiary all of the outstanding
voting securities of which shall at the time be owned or controlled, directly or
indirectly, by such Person or one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such
Person, or by such Person and one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such
Person, or (ii) any partnership, limited liability company, association, joint
venture or similar business organization 100% of the ownership interests having
ordinary voting power of which shall at the time be so owned or
controlled.
13
“Withholding
Certificate” has the meaning specified in Section 3.5(iv).
The
foregoing definitions shall be equally applicable to both the singular and
plural forms of the defined terms.
ARTICLE
II
THE
CREDITS
2.1. Commitments. Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and prior to the Commitment
Termination Date, each Lender severally agrees, on the terms and conditions set
forth in this Agreement, to make loans (“Revolving Loans”) to
Borrower and participate in Letters of Credit issued upon the request of
Borrower from time to time in amounts not to exceed in the aggregate at any one
time outstanding the amount of its Commitment. No requested Revolving
Loan Advance shall cause the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the
Revolving Loan Advances plus the outstanding LC Obligations to exceed the
Aggregate Commitment. Subject to the terms of this Agreement,
Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow such available amount under the
Commitments at any time prior to the Commitment Termination Date. The
Commitments to lend hereunder shall expire on the Commitment Termination
Date. The Revolving Loans made by the Lenders pursuant hereto shall
be evidenced by the Revolving Credit Notes.
2.2. Required Payments;
Termination. Any outstanding Advances and all other unpaid
Obligations shall be paid in full by Borrower on the Commitment Termination
Date.
2.3. Ratable
Loans. With respect to the Commitments, each Advance
thereunder shall consist of Revolving Loans made from the several Lenders in
accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares.
2.4. Types of
Advances. The Revolving Loan Advances may be Floating Rate
Advances or Eurodollar Advances, or a combination thereof, selected by Borrower
in accordance with Sections 2.8 and
2.9.
2.5. Facility Fee; Reductions in
Aggregate Commitment.
2.5.1. Borrower
agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender
according to its Pro Rata Share a facility fee at a per annum rate equal to the
Applicable Fee Rate from and after the date hereof to and including the
Commitment Termination Date on such Lender’s Commitment (regardless of usage) in
effect from time to time. Such facility fees shall be payable in
arrears on the last Business Day of each quarter and on the Commitment
Termination Date.
2.5.2. Borrower
may permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitment in whole, or in part ratably
among the Lenders in integral multiples of $5,000,000, upon at least three
Business Days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, which notice
shall specify the amount of any such reduction, provided, however, that (i) the amount of
the Aggregate Commitment may not be reduced below the Aggregate Outstanding
Credit Exposure and (ii) if, after giving effect to any reduction of the
Aggregate Commitment, the Letter of Credit Sublimit
14
exceeds
the amount of the Aggregate Commitment, the Letter of Credit Sublimit shall be
automatically reduced by the amount of such excess. All accrued
facility fees shall be payable on the effective date of any termination of the
obligations of the Lenders to make Credit Extensions hereunder.
2.6. Minimum Amount of Each
Advance. Each Eurodollar Advance shall be in the minimum
amount of $5,000,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000,000 (if in excess
thereof), and each Floating Rate Advance may be in the amount of $1,000,000 or
an integral multiple thereof. Borrower shall not request a Eurodollar
Advance if, after giving effect thereto, more than ten separate Eurodollar
Advances would be outstanding.
2.7. Optional Principal
Payments. Borrower may from time to time pay, without penalty
or premium, all outstanding Floating Rate Advances, or, in a minimum aggregate
amount of $1,000,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof,
any portion of the outstanding Floating Rate Advances upon one Business Day’s
prior notice to the Administrative Agent. Borrower may from time to
time pay, subject to the payment of any funding indemnification amounts required
by Section 3.4 but
without penalty or premium, all outstanding Eurodollar Advances, or, in a
minimum aggregate amount of $5,000,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000,000 in
excess thereof, any portion of the outstanding Eurodollar Advances upon three
Business Days’ prior notice to the Administrative Agent. Each
prepayment pursuant to this Section shall be made together with accrued and
unpaid interest to the date of such prepayment on the principal amount
paid.
2.8. Method of Selecting Types
and Interest Periods for New Advances. Borrower shall select
the Type of Advance and, in the case of each Eurodollar Advance, the Interest
Period applicable thereto from time to time. Borrower shall give the
Administrative Agent irrevocable notice in the form of Exhibit B (a “Borrowing Notice”)
not later than 10:00 a.m. (Chicago time) on the proposed Borrowing Date of each
Floating Rate Advance and three Business Days before the Borrowing Date for each
Eurodollar Advance, specifying:
|
(i)
|
the
Borrowing Date, which shall be a Business Day, of such
Advance,
|
|
(ii)
|
the
aggregate amount of such Advance,
|
|
(iii)
|
the
Type of Advance selected, and
|
|
(iv)
|
in
the case of each Eurodollar Advance, the Interest Period applicable
thereto.
|
Any
notice received later than 10:00 a.m. (Chicago time) on any day shall be deemed
to be received on the following Business Day. The Administrative
Agent shall notify the Lenders of Borrower’s intent to borrow by 12:00 p.m.
(Chicago time) on the date it receives a timely Borrowing Notice from
Borrower. Not later than 2:00 p.m. (Chicago time) on each Borrowing
Date, each Lender shall make available its Loan or Loans in immediately
available funds to the Administrative Agent at its address specified pursuant to
Article
XIV. The Administrative Agent will make the funds so received
from the Lenders available to Borrower at the Administrative Agent’s aforesaid
address.
15
2.9. Conversion and Continuation
of Outstanding Advances. Floating Rate Advances shall continue
as Floating Rate Advances unless and until such Floating Rate Advances are
converted into Eurodollar Advances pursuant to this Section 2.9 or
are repaid in accordance with Section 2.7. Each
Eurodollar Advance shall continue as a Eurodollar Advance until the end of the
then applicable Interest Period therefor, at which time such Eurodollar Advance
shall be automatically converted into a Floating Rate Advance unless (x) such
Eurodollar Advance is or was repaid in accordance with Section 2.7 or (y)
Borrower shall have given the Administrative Agent a Conversion/Continuation
Notice (as defined below) requesting that, at the end of such Interest Period,
such Eurodollar Advance continue as a Eurodollar Advance for the same or another
Interest Period. Subject to the terms of Section 2.6,
Borrower may elect from time to time to convert all or any part of a Floating
Rate Advance into a Eurodollar Advance. Borrower shall give the
Administrative Agent irrevocable notice (a “Conversion/Continuation
Notice”) of each conversion of a Floating Rate Advance into a Eurodollar
Advance or continuation of a Eurodollar Advance not later than 10:00 a.m.
(Chicago time) at least three Business Days prior to the date of the requested
conversion or continuation, specifying:
|
(i)
|
the
requested date, which shall be a Business Day, of such conversion or
continuation,
|
|
(ii)
|
the
aggregate amount and Type of the Advance which is to be converted or
continued, and
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(iii)
|
the
amount of such Advance which is to be converted into or continued as a
Eurodollar Advance and the duration of the Interest Period applicable
thereto.
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2.10. Changes in Interest Rate,
etc. Each Floating Rate Advance shall bear interest on the
outstanding principal amount thereof, for each day from and including the date
such Advance is made or is automatically converted from a Eurodollar Advance
into a Floating Rate Advance pursuant to Section 2.9, to but
excluding the date it is paid or is converted into a Eurodollar Advance pursuant
to Section 2.9,
at a rate per annum equal to the Floating Rate for such day. Changes
in the rate of interest on that portion of any Advance maintained as a Floating
Rate Advance will take effect simultaneously with each change in the Alternate
Base Rate. Each Eurodollar Advance shall bear interest on the
outstanding principal amount thereof from and including the first day of each
Interest Period applicable thereto to (but not including) the last day of such
Interest Period at the Eurodollar Rate determined by the Administrative Agent as
applicable to such Eurodollar Advance based upon Borrower’s selections under
Sections 2.8
and 2.9, plus
the Applicable Margin from time to time in effect, and otherwise in accordance
with the terms hereof. No Interest Period may end after the
Commitment Termination Date.
2.11. Rates Applicable After
Default. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in
Section 2.8 or
2.9, during the
continuance of a Default or Unmatured Default the Required Lenders may, at their
option, by notice to Borrower (which notice may be revoked at the option of the
Required Lenders notwithstanding any provision of Section 8.5 requiring
unanimous consent of the Lenders to changes in interest rates), declare that no
Advance may be made as, converted into or continued as a Eurodollar
Advance. During the continuance of a Default the Required Lenders
may, at their option, by notice to Borrower (which notice may be
16
revoked
at the option of the Required Lenders notwithstanding any provision of Section 8.5 requiring
unanimous consent of the Lenders to changes in interest rates), declare that (i)
each Eurodollar Advance shall bear interest for the remainder of the applicable
Interest Period at the Eurodollar Rate otherwise applicable to such Interest
Period plus the Applicable Margin from time to time in effect plus 2% per annum
and (ii) each Floating Rate Advance shall bear interest at a rate per annum
equal to the Floating Rate in effect from time to time plus 2% per annum and
(iii) each of the Letter of Credit fees described in Section 2.17.9 shall
be increased by 2% per annum, provided that, during
the continuance of a Default under Section 7.6 or 7.7, the interest
rates set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) above and the
increase in the Letter of Credit fees set forth in clause (iii) above
shall be applicable to all Advances without any election or action on the part
of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.
2.12. Payments Generally;
Administrative Agent’s Clawback.
2.12.1. Method of Payment.
All payments to be made by Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction
for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff, in immediately available
funds to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s address
specified pursuant to Article XIV, or at
any other Lending Installation of the Administrative Agent specified in writing
by the Administrative Agent to Borrower, by noon (Chicago time) on the date when
due and shall (except in the case of reimbursement obligations in respect of
Letters of Credit for which the LC Issuer has not been fully indemnified by the
Lenders, or as otherwise specifically required hereunder) be applied ratably by
the Administrative Agent among the Lenders. Each payment delivered to
the Administrative Agent for the account of any Lender shall be delivered
promptly by the Administrative Agent to such Lender in the same type of funds
that the Administrative Agent received at its address specified pursuant to
Article XIV or
at any Lending Installation specified in a notice received by the Administrative
Agent from such Lender. The Administrative Agent is hereby authorized
to charge the account of Borrower maintained with Bank of America for each
payment of principal, interest and fees as it becomes due
hereunder.
2.12.2. 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
Eurodollar Rate Advance (or, in the case of any Floating Rate Advance, prior to
12:00 p.m. (Chicago time) on the date of such Advance) that such Lender will not
make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Advance,
the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share
available on such date in accordance with Section 2.1 (or, in
the case of a Floating Rate Advance, that such Lender has made such share
available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.1) and may,
in reliance upon such assumption, make available to Borrower a corresponding
amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of
the applicable Advance available to the Administrative Agent, then the
applicable Lender and 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 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
17
in
connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by
Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Floating Rate Loans. If
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 Borrower the amount of such interest paid by Borrower for such
period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Advance to
the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s
Loan included in such Advance. Any payment by Borrower shall be
without prejudice to any claim Borrower may have against a Lender that shall
have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.
2.12.3. Payments by Borrower;
Presumptions by Administrative Agent. Unless the
Administrative Agent shall have received notice from Borrower prior to the date
on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the
Lenders or the LC Issuer hereunder that Borrower will not make such payment, the
Administrative Agent may assume that Borrower has made such payment on such date
in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to
the Lenders or the LC Issuer, as the case may be, the amount due. In
such event, if Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the
Lenders or the LC 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 LC 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 Borrower with respect to any
amount owing under this Section 2.12.3 shall
be conclusive, absent manifest error.
2.13. Notes; Telephonic
Notices. Each Lender is hereby authorized to record the
principal amount of each of its Loans and each repayment on any schedule
attached to its Note, provided, however, that neither
the failure to so record nor any error in such recordation shall affect
Borrower’s obligations under such Note. Borrower hereby authorizes
the Lenders and the Administrative Agent to extend, convert or continue
Advances, effect selections of Types of Advances and to transfer funds based on
telephonic notices made by an Authorized Officer. The Administrative
Agent and any Lender may rely, without further inquiry, on all such requests
which shall have been received by it in good faith by anyone reasonably believed
to be an Authorized Officer. Borrower agrees to deliver promptly to
the Administrative Agent a written confirmation, if such confirmation is
requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, of each telephonic notice
signed by an Authorized Officer. If the written confirmation differs
in any material respect from the action taken by the Administrative Agent and
the Lenders, the records of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall
govern absent manifest error.
2.14. Interest Payment Dates;
Interest and Fee Basis. Interest accrued on each Floating Rate
Advance shall be payable on each Payment Date, commencing with the first such
date to occur after the date hereof, on any date on which such Advance is
prepaid, whether due to acceleration or otherwise, and at
maturity. Interest accrued on each Eurodollar Advance shall be
payable on the last day of its applicable Interest Period, or any date on which
the Eurodollar Advance is prepaid, whether by acceleration or otherwise, and on
the Commitment Termination Date. Interest accrued on each Eurodollar
Advance having an Interest Period longer than three months shall also be payable
on the last day of each three month interval during such Interest
18
Period. Interest
and facility fees shall be calculated for actual days elapsed on the basis of a
360-day year. Interest shall be payable for the day an Advance is
made but not for the day of any payment on the amount paid if payment is
received prior to noon (local time) at the place of payment. If any
payment of principal of or interest on an Advance shall become due on a day
which is not a Business Day, then (subject to the second proviso of the
definition of “Interest Period”) such payment shall be made on the next
succeeding Business Day and, in the case of a principal payment, such extension
of time shall be included in computing interest in connection with such
payment.
2.15. Notification of Advances,
Interest Rates, Prepayments and Commitment
Reductions. Promptly after receipt thereof, the Administrative
Agent will notify each Lender of the contents of each Aggregate Commitment
reduction notice, Borrowing Notice, Conversion/Continuation Notice and repayment
notice received by it hereunder. The Administrative Agent will notify
each Lender of the interest rate applicable to each Eurodollar Advance promptly
upon determination of such interest rate and will give each Lender prompt notice
of each change in the Alternate Base Rate. Each determination by the
Administrative Agent of the applicable interest rate shall be binding and
conclusive absent manifest error.
2.16. Lending
Installations. Each Lender may book its Loans and its
participation in any LC Obligations and the LC Issuer may book the Letters of
Credit at any Lending Installation selected by such Lender or the LC Issuer, as
the case may be, and may change its Lending Installation from time to
time. All terms of this Agreement shall apply to any such Lending
Installation and the Loans, Letters of Credit, participations in LC Obligations
and any Notes issued hereunder shall be deemed held by each Lender or the LC
Issuer, as the case may be, for the benefit of such Lending
Installation. Each Lender and the LC Issuer may, by written notice to
the Administrative Agent and Borrower in accordance with Article XIV,
designate replacement or additional Lending Installations through which Loans
will be made by it and its participation in any LC Obligations and the LC Issuer
may book the Letters of Credit or Letters of Credit will be issued by it and for
whose account Loan payments or payments with respect to Letters of Credit are to
be made.
2.17. Issuance of Letters of
Credit.
2.17.1. The Letter of Credit
Commitment.
(a) Subject
to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (i) the LC Issuer agrees, in
reliance upon the agreements of the Lenders set forth in this Section 2.17, (A)
from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date
until the date that is 30 days prior to the Commitment Termination Date, to
issue Letters of Credit for the account of Borrower, and to amend Letters of
Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with Section 2.17.2
below, and (B) to honor drawings under the Letters of Credit; and (ii) the
Lenders severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit issued for the
account of Borrower and any drawings thereunder; provided that after
giving effect to any LC Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit,
(x) the Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure shall not exceed the Aggregate
Commitment, (y) the aggregate amount of the Revolving Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s
Pro Rata Share of all LC Obligations, shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment
and (z) the
19
outstanding
amount of the LC Obligations at any time shall not exceed the Letter of Credit
Sublimit. Each request by Borrower for the issuance or amendment of a
Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be a representation by Borrower that the LC
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, Borrower’s ability to obtain Letters of Credit
shall be fully revolving, and accordingly 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.
(b) The
LC Issuer shall not issue any Letter of Credit, if:
|
(i)
|
the
expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur more than
twelve months after the date of issuance, unless the Required Lenders have
approved such expiry date; or
|
|
(ii)
|
the
expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur after the
Commitment Termination Date, unless all the Lenders have approved such
expiry date.
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(c) The
LC Issuer shall not be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit
if:
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(i)
|
any
order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator
shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain the LC Issuer from
issuing such Letter of Credit, or any law applicable to the LC Issuer or
any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any
Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the LC Issuer shall
prohibit, or request that the LC Issuer refrain from, the issuance of
letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or
shall impose upon the LC Issuer with respect to such Letter of Credit any
restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which the LC Issuer is
not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or
shall impose upon the LC Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense
which was not applicable on the Closing Date and which the LC Issuer in
good xxxxx xxxxx material to it;
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(ii)
|
the
issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of
the LC Issuer applicable to letters of credit
generally;
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(iii)
|
except
as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the LC Issuer, such
Letter of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than $100,000, in the
case of a commercial Letter of Credit, or $500,000, in the case of a
standby Letter of Credit;
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(iv)
|
such
Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than United
States Dollars;
|
20
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(v)
|
such
Letter of Credit contains any provisions for automatic reinstatement of
the stated amount after any drawing thereunder;
or
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(vi)
|
a
default of any Lender’s obligations to fund under Section 2.17.3
exists or any Lender is at such time a Defaulting Lender hereunder, unless
the LC Issuer has entered into reasonably satisfactory arrangements with
Borrower or such Lender to eliminate the LC Issuer’s risk with respect to
such Lender.
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(d) The
LC Issuer shall not amend any Letter of Credit if the LC Issuer would not be
permitted at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under
the terms hereof.
(e) The
LC Issuer shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (i) the
LC Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit
in its amended form under the terms hereof or (ii) the beneficiary of such
Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to such Letter of
Credit.
(f) The
LC 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 LC Issuer
shall have all of the benefits and immunities (i) provided to the Administrative
Agent in Article
X with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by the LC Issuer
in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it
and Issuer Documents pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the
term “Administrative Agent” as used in Article X included
the LC Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (ii) as additionally
provided herein with respect to the LC Issuer.
2.17.2. Procedures for Issuance and
Amendment of Letters of Credit.
(a) Each
Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the
request of Borrower delivered to the LC Issuer (with a copy to the
Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application,
appropriately completed and signed by an Authorized Officer of
Borrower. Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the
LC Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (Chicago time)
at least two Business Days (or such later date and time as the Administrative
Agent and the LC 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 LC Issuer: (i) the proposed issuance date of the
requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (ii) the amount
thereof; (iii) the expiry date thereof; (iv) the name and address of the
beneficiary thereof; (v) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in
case of any drawing thereunder; (vi) the full text of any certificate to be
presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (vii) the
purpose and nature of the requested Letter of Credit; and (viii) such other
matters as the LC 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 LC Issuer (i) the Letter of
Credit to be
21
amended;
(ii) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day);
(iii) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (iv) such other matters as the
LC Issuer may require. Additionally, Borrower shall furnish to the LC
Issuer and the Administrative Agent such other documents and information
pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, including,
without limitation, any Issuer Documents, as the LC Issuer or the Administrative
Agent may require.
(b) Promptly
after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the LC 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 Borrower and, if not, the LC Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent
with a copy thereof. Unless the LC Issuer has received written notice
from any Lender, the Administrative Agent, Borrower or Guarantor, 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 LC Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the
account of Borrower or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be,
in each case in accordance with the LC Issuer’s usual and customary business
practices. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit,
each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
agrees to, purchase from the LC Issuer a risk participation in such Letter of
Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share times the amount of
such Letter of Credit.
(c) 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 LC Issuer will also deliver to Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true
and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.
2.17.3. Drawings and Reimbursements;
Funding of Participations.
(a) Upon
receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a drawing
under such Letter of Credit, the LC Issuer shall notify Borrower and the
Administrative Agent thereof. Not later than 11:00 a.m. (Chicago
time) on the date of any payment by the LC Issuer under a Letter of Credit (each
such date, an “Honor
Date”), Borrower shall reimburse the LC Issuer through the Administrative
Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing. If Borrower
fails to so reimburse the LC 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 Pro Rata Share
thereof. In such event, Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a
Floating Rate Advance 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 2.6
for the principal amount of Floating Rate Loans, but subject to the amount of
the unutilized portion of the Aggregate Commitment and the conditions set forth
in Section 4.2
(other than the delivery of a Borrowing Notice). Any notice given by
the LC Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.17.3(a) may
be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided
that
22
the lack
of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding
effect of such notice.
(b) Each
Lender shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.17.3(a)
make funds available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the LC
Issuer at the Administrative Agent’s Office in an amount equal to its Pro Rata
Share of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 1:00 p.m. (Chicago time) on the
Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon,
subject to the provisions of Section 2.17.3(c),
each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a
Floating Rate Loan to Borrower in such amount. The Administrative
Agent shall remit the funds so received to the LC Issuer.
(c) With
respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a Floating
Rate Advance because the conditions set forth in Section 4.2 cannot be
satisfied or for any other reason, Borrower shall be deemed to have incurred
from the LC Issuer an LC Borrowing in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount that
is not so refinanced, which LC Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand
(together with interest) and shall bear interest at the rate specified in Section 2.11
applicable to Floating Rate Advances after Default. In such event,
each Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the LC
Issuer pursuant to Section 2.13.3(b)
shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such LC Borrowing and
shall constitute an LC Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its
participation obligation under this Section
2.17.3.
(d) Until
each Lender funds its Loan or LC Advance pursuant to this Section 2.17.3 to
reimburse the LC Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit,
interest in respect of such Lender’s Pro rata Share of such amount shall be
solely for the account of the LC Issuer.
(e) Each
Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans or LC Advances to reimburse the LC
Issuer for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.17.3, shall
be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance,
including, without limitation, (i) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense
or other right which such Lender may have against the LC Issuer, Borrower or any
other Person for any reason whatsoever; (ii) the occurrence or continuance of a
Default or Unmatured Default, or (iii) any other occurrence, event or condition,
whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided, however, that each
Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans pursuant to this Section 2.17.3 is
subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.2 (other
than delivery by Borrower of a Borrowing Notice). No such making of
an LC Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of Borrower to
reimburse the LC Issuer for the amount of any payment made by the LC Issuer
under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided
herein.
(f) If
any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account
of the LC Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the
foregoing provisions of this Section 2.17.3 by the
time specified in Section 2.17.3(b),
the LC Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through
the
23
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 LC Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the
Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the LC Issuer in accordance with
banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative,
processing or similar fees customarily charged by the LC 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 Loan
included in the relevant Advance or LC Advance in respect of the relevant LC
Borrowing, as the case may be. A certificate of the LC Issuer
submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any
amounts owing under this Section 2.17.3(f)
shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
2.17.4. Repayment of
Participations.
(a) At
any time after the LC Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit and
has received from any Lender such Lender’s LC Advance in respect of such payment
in accordance with Section 2.17.3, if
the Administrative Agent receives for the account of the LC Issuer any payment
in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether
directly from Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of Cash Collateral
applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will
distribute to such Lender its Pro Rata Share thereof in the same funds as those
received by the Administrative Agent.
(b) If
any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of the LC
Issuer pursuant to Section 2.17.3(a) is
required to be returned for any reason (including, without limitation, pursuant
to any invalidation, set aside or settlement entered into by the LC Issuer in
its discretion), each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the
account of the LC Issuer its Pro Rata Share 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.
2.17.5. Obligations
Absolute. The obligation of
Borrower to reimburse the LC Issuer for each drawing under each Letter of Credit
and to repay each LC Borrowing shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable,
and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under
all circumstances, including, without limitation, the following:
(a) any
lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Agreement or
any other Loan Document;
(b) the
existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that
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 LC Issuer or any other Person,
whether in connection
24
with this
Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or
any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated
transaction;
(c) 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;
(d) any
payment by the LC 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 LC 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, without limitation, any arising in connection with
any proceeding under any bankruptcy or insolvency law; or
(e) any
other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the
foregoing, including, without limitation, any other circumstance that might
otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, Borrower or any
Subsidiary.
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 Borrower’s instructions or other irregularity, Borrower will immediately
notify the LC Issuer. Borrower shall be conclusively deemed to have
waived any such claim against the LC Issuer and its correspondents unless such
notice is given as aforesaid.
2.17.6. Role of LC
Issuer. Each
Lender and Borrower agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit,
the LC 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 LC Issuer, the Administrative Agent, any
of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or
assignee of the LC Issuer shall be liable to any Lender for (a) any action taken
or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the
Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable; (b) any action taken or omitted
in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct; or (c) the due
execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or
instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Issuer
Document. 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 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 LC Issuer, the
Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any
correspondent, participant or assignee of the LC Issuer shall be liable or
responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (a)
through (e) of
Section 2.17.5;
provided, however, that
anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, Borrower may have a
claim against the LC Issuer, and the LC Issuer may be liable to Borrower, to the
extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to
25
consequential
or exemplary, damages suffered by Borrower which Borrower proves were caused by
the LC Issuer’s willful misconduct or gross negligence or the LC 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 LC Issuer may accept documents that appear
on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation,
regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and the LC 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.
2.17.7. Cash
Collateral. Upon the request of the Administrative Agent, (i)
if the LC Issuer has honored any full or partial drawing request under any
Letter of Credit and such drawing has resulted in an LC Borrowing, or (ii) if,
as of the Commitment Termination Date, any LC Obligation for any reason remains
outstanding, Borrower shall, in each case, immediately Cash Collateralize the
then outstanding amount of all LC Obligations. Section 8.3 sets
forth certain additional requirements to deliver Cash Collateral
hereunder. For purposes of this Section 2.17, “Cash Collateralize”
means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the
benefit of the LC Issuer and the Lenders, as collateral for the LC Obligations,
cash or deposit account balances pursuant to documentation in form and substance
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the LC Issuer (which documents are
hereby consented to by the Lenders). Derivatives of such term have
corresponding meanings. Borrower hereby grants to the Administrative
Agent, for the benefit of the LC Issuer and the Lenders, a security interest in
all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein, if any, and all
proceeds of the foregoing. Cash Collateral shall be maintained in
blocked, non-interest bearing deposit accounts at Bank of America.
2.17.8. Applicability of ISP and
UCP. Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the LC Issuer and
Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued, (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.
2.17.9. Letter of Credit
Fees. Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the
account of each Lender in accordance with its Pro Rata Share a Letter of Credit
fee (the “Letter of
Credit Fee”) for each Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable Fee Rate
times the daily
amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. For
purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of
Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance
with Section
9.15. Letter of Credit Fees shall be (i) due and payable on
the first Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and
December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of
such Letter of Credit, on the Commitment Termination Date and thereafter on
demand and (ii) computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. If there is
any change in the Applicable Fee Rate during any quarter, the daily amount
available to be drawn under each Letter of Credit shall be computed and
multiplied by the Applicable Fee Rate separately for each period during such
quarter that such Applicable Fee Rate was in effect. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, upon the request
26
of the
Required Lenders, while any Default exists, all Letter of Credit Fees shall
accrue at a rate which is 2% per annum higher than the rate otherwise applicable
thereto.
2.17.10. Fronting Fee and Documentary
and Processing Charges Payable to LC Issuer. Borrower shall
pay directly to the LC Issuer for its own account a fronting fee of 1/8%,
computed on the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit
on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such fronting fee shall be due and
payable on the tenth Business Day after the end of each March, June, September
and December in respect of the most recently-ended quarterly period (or portion
thereof, in the case of the first payment), commencing with the first such date
to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Commitment
Termination Date and thereafter on demand. For purposes of computing
the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of
such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section
9.15. In addition, Borrower shall pay directly to the LC
Issuer for its own account the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and
other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of the LC 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.
2.17.11. 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.
2.18. Use of
Proceeds. The proceeds of Advances under the Revolving Loans
shall be used for general corporate purposes not prohibited by this
Agreement.
2.19. Increases in Aggregate
Commitment. So long as no Default or Unmatured Default exists
or would result therefrom, Borrower may, from time to time, by means of a letter
delivered to the Administrative Agent substantially in the form of Exhibit F, and
acknowledged by Guarantor, request that the Aggregate Commitment be increased to
up to $200,000,000 (less the amount of any previous reductions of the Aggregate
Commitment pursuant to Section 2.5 above) by
(a) increasing the Commitment of one or more Lenders that have agreed to such
increase and/or (b) adding one or more commercial banks or other Persons as a
party hereto (each, an “Additional Lender”)
with a Commitment in an amount agreed to by any such Additional Lender; provided that no
Additional Lender shall be added as a party hereto without the written consent
of the Administrative Agent (which shall not be unreasonably
withheld). Any increase in the Aggregate Commitment pursuant to this
Section 2.19
shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent referred to
below, be effective three Business Days after the date on which the
Administrative Agent has received and accepted the applicable increase letter in
the form of Annex 1 to Exhibit F (in the
case of an increase in the Commitment of an existing Lender) or assumption
letter in the form of Annex 2 to Exhibit F (in the
case of the addition of an Additional Lender). The effectiveness of
each such increase to the Aggregate Commitment shall be subject to the
conditions precedent that the Administrative Agent shall have received each of
the following documents, each dated the effective date of such increase (or such
other date as shall be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent): (a)
certified copies of resolutions of the board of directors of Borrower approving
such increase to the Aggregate Commitment, in form and substance reasonably
acceptable to the Administrative Agent, and (b) such other documents, opinions
of counsel and certificates as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request,
each in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the
27
Administrative
Agent. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify Borrower and
the Lenders of the effectiveness of any increase in the amount of the Aggregate
Commitment pursuant to this Section 2.19 and of
the Commitment of each Lender after giving effect thereto. Borrower
acknowledges that, in order to maintain Advances in accordance with each
Lender’s pro rata share of all outstanding Advances prior to any increase in the
Aggregate Commitment pursuant to this Section 2.19, a
reallocation of the Commitments as a result of a non-pro-rata increase in the
Aggregate Commitment may require prepayment of all or portions of certain
Advances on the date of such increase (and any such prepayment shall be subject
to the provisions of Section
3.4).
ARTICLE
III
YIELD PROTECTION;
TAXES
3.1. Yield
Protection. If, on or after the date of this Agreement, the
adoption of any law or any governmental or quasi-governmental rule, regulation,
policy, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law), or any
change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any governmental or
quasi-governmental authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the
interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any Lender or the LC
Issuer or applicable Lending Installation with any request or directive (whether
or not having the force of law) of any such authority, central bank or
comparable agency:
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(i)
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subjects
any Lender or any applicable Lending Installation or the LC Issuer to any
Taxes, or changes the basis of taxation of payments (other than with
respect to Excluded Taxes) to any Lender or the LC Issuer in respect of
its Eurodollar Loans, Letters of Credit or participations therein,
or
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(ii)
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imposes
or increases or deems applicable any reserve, assessment, insurance
charge, special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits
with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender or any
applicable Lending Installation or the LC Issuer (other than reserves and
assessments taken into account in determining the interest rate applicable
to Eurodollar Advances), or
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(iii)
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imposes
any other condition the result of which is to increase the cost to any
Lender or any applicable Lending Installation or the LC Issuer of making,
funding or maintaining its Eurodollar Loans, or of issuing or
participating in Letters of Credit, or reduces any amount receivable by
any Lender or any applicable Lending Installation or the LC Issuer in
connection with its Eurodollar Loans, Letters of Credit or participations
therein, or requires any Lender or any applicable Lending Installation or
the LC Issuer to make any payment calculated by reference to the amount of
Eurodollar Loans, Letters of Credit or participations therein held or
interest or fees received by it, by an amount deemed material by such
Lender, or the LC Issuer, as the case may
be,
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28
and the
result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender or
applicable Lending Installation or the LC Issuer, as the case may be, of making
or maintaining its Eurodollar Loans or Commitment, or of issuing or
participating in Letters of Credit, or to reduce the return received by such
Lender or applicable Lending Installation or the LC Issuer, as the case may be,
in connection with such Eurodollar Loans, Commitment or Letters of Credit or
participations therein, then, within 15 days of demand by such Lender or the LC
Issuer, as the case may be, Borrower shall pay such Lender or the LC Issuer, as
the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such
Lender or the LC Issuer, as the case may be, for such increased cost or
reduction in amount received.
3.2. Changes in Capital Adequacy
Regulations. If a Lender or the LC Issuer determines the
amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by such Lender or the LC
Issuer, any Lending Installation of such Lender or the LC Issuer or any
corporation controlling such Lender or the LC Issuer is increased as a result of
a Change, then, within 15 days of demand by such Lender or the LC Issuer,
Borrower shall pay such Lender or the LC Issuer the amount necessary to
compensate for any shortfall in the rate of return on the portion of such
increased capital which such Lender or the LC Issuer determines is attributable
to this Agreement, its Loans, Letters of Credit (or participations therein) or
its Commitment to make Loans and issue or participate in Letters of Credit, as
the case may be, hereunder (after taking into account such Lender’s or the LC
Issuer’s policies as to capital adequacy). “Change” means (i) any
change after the date of this Agreement in the Risk-Based Capital Guidelines or
(ii) any adoption of or change in any other law, governmental or
quasi-governmental rule, regulation, policy, guideline, interpretation or
directive (whether or not having the force of law) after the date of this
Agreement which affects the amount of capital required or expected to be
maintained by any Lender or the LC Issuer or any Lending Installation or any
corporation controlling any Lender or the LC Issuer. “Risk-Based Capital
Guidelines” means (i) the risk-based capital guidelines in effect in the
United States on the date of this Agreement, including transition rules, and
(ii) the corresponding capital regulations promulgated by regulatory authorities
outside the United States implementing the July 1988 report of the Basle
Committee on Banking Regulation and Supervisory Practices entitled
“International Convergence of Capital Measurements and Capital Standards,”
including transition rules, and any amendments to such regulations adopted prior
to the date of this Agreement.
3.3. Availability of Types of
Advances. If (i) any Lender determines that maintenance of its
Eurodollar Loans at a suitable Lending Installation would violate any applicable
law, rule, regulation, or directive, whether or not having the force of law, or
(ii) the Required Lenders determine that (a) deposits of a type and maturity
appropriate to match fund Eurodollar Advances are not available or (b) the
interest rate applicable to a Type of Advance does not accurately reflect the
cost of making or maintaining such Advance, then the Administrative Agent shall
suspend the availability of the affected Type of Advance and, in the case of
clause (i),
require any affected Eurodollar Advances to be repaid or converted to Floating
Rate Advances, subject to the payment of any funding indemnification amounts
required by Section 3.4.
3.4. Funding
Indemnification. If any payment of a Eurodollar Advance occurs
on a date which is not the last day of the applicable Interest Period, whether
because of acceleration, prepayment or otherwise, or a Eurodollar Advance is not
made on the date specified by Borrower
29
for any
reason other than default by the Lenders, Borrower will indemnify each Lender
for any loss or cost incurred by it resulting therefrom, including, without
limitation, any loss or cost in liquidating or employing deposits acquired to
fund or maintain such Eurodollar Advance.
3.5. Taxes.
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(i)
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All
payments by Borrower to or for the account of any Lender, the LC Issuer or
the Administrative Agent hereunder or under any Note or Letter of Credit
Application shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any
and all Taxes. If Borrower shall be required by law to deduct
any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder to any Lender,
the LC Issuer or the Administrative Agent, (a) 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 3.5)
such Lender, the LC Issuer or the Administrative Agent (as the case may
be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such
deductions been made, (b) Borrower shall make such deductions, (c)
Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant authority in
accordance with applicable law and (d) Borrower shall furnish to the
Administrative Agent the original copy of a receipt evidencing payment
thereof within 30 days after such payment is
made.
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(ii)
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In
addition, Borrower hereby agrees to pay any present or future stamp or
documentary taxes and any other excise or property taxes, charges or
similar levies which arise from any payment made hereunder or under any
Note or Letter of Credit Application or from the execution or delivery of,
or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any Note or Letter of
Credit Application (“Other
Taxes”).
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(iii)
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Borrower
hereby agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer and
each Lender for the full amount of Taxes or Other Taxes (including,
without limitation, any Taxes or Other Taxes imposed on amounts payable
under this Section 3.5)
paid by the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer or such Lender and any
liability (including penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom
or with respect thereto. Payments due under this
indemnification shall be made within 30 days of the date the
Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer or such Lender makes demand therefor
pursuant to Section 3.6.
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(iv)
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To
the extent permitted by applicable law, each Lender that is not a United
States person within the meaning of Code section 7701(a)(30) (a “Non-U.S.
Lender”) shall deliver to Borrower and the Administrative Agent on
or prior to the date hereof (or in the case of a Lender that is an
assignee, on the date of such assignment to such Lender) two accurate and
complete original signed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8ECI, or W-8IMY (or
any successor or other applicable form prescribed by the IRS) certifying
to such Lender’s entitlement to a complete exemption from, or a reduced
rate
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30
in,
United States withholding tax on interest payments to be made hereunder or any
Loan. If a Lender that is a Non-U.S. Lender is claiming a complete
exemption from withholding on interest pursuant to Sections 871(h) or 881(c) of
the Code, the Lender shall deliver (along with two accurate and complete
original signed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN) a certificate in form and substance
reasonably acceptable to Agent (any such certificate, a “Withholding
Certificate”). In addition, each Lender that is a Non-U.S.
Lender agrees that from time to time after the date hereof (or in the case of a
Lender that is an assignee, after the date of the assignment to such Lender),
when a lapse in time (or change in circumstances occurs) renders the prior
certificates hereunder obsolete or inaccurate in any material respect, such
Lender shall, to the extent permitted under applicable law, deliver to Borrower
and the Administrative Agent two new and accurate and complete original signed
copies of an IRS Form X-0XXX, X-0XXX or W-8IMY (or any successor or other
applicable forms prescribed by the IRS), and if applicable, a new Withholding
Certificate, to confirm or establish the entitlement of such Lender or the
Administrative Agent to an exemption from, or reduction in, United States
withholding tax on interest payments to be made hereunder or any
Loan.
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(v)
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Each
Lender that is not a Non-U.S. Lender (other than any such Lender which is
taxed as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) shall provide
two properly completed and duly executed copies of IRS Form W-9 (or any
successor or other applicable form) to Borrower and the Administrative
Agent certifying that such Lender is exempt from United States backup
withholding tax. To the extent that a form provided pursuant to
this Section
3.5(v) is rendered obsolete or inaccurate in any material respects
as result of change in circumstances with respect to the status of a
Lender, such Lender shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law,
deliver to Borrower and the Administrative Agent revised forms necessary
to confirm or establish the entitlement to such Lender’s or the
Administrative Agent’s exemption from United States backup withholding
tax.
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(vi)
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For
any period during which a Lender has failed to provide Borrower with an
appropriate form pursuant to clause (iv) or
(v),
above (unless such failure is due to a change in treaty, law or
regulation, or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof
by any governmental authority, occurring subsequent to the date on which a
form originally was required to be provided), such Lender shall not be
entitled to indemnification under this Section 3.5
with respect to Taxes imposed by the United States; provided that, should a
Lender which is otherwise exempt from or subject to a reduced rate of
withholding tax become subject to Taxes because of its failure to deliver
a form required under clause (iv) or
(v),
above, Borrower shall take such steps as such Lender shall reasonably
request to assist such Lender to recover such
Taxes.
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31
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(vii)
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Any
Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding
tax with respect to payments under this Agreement or any Note pursuant to
the law of any relevant jurisdiction or any treaty shall deliver to
Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times
prescribed by applicable law, 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.
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(viii) | Each Lender agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent and hold the Administrative Agent harmless for the full amount of any and all present or future Taxes and related liabilities (including penalties, interest, additions to tax and expenses, and any Taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on amounts payable to the Administrative Agent under this Section 3.5) which are imposed on or with respect to principal, interest or fees payable to such Lender hereunder and which are not paid by Borrower pursuant to this Section 3.5, whether or not such Taxes or related liabilities were correctly or legally asserted. This indemnification shall be made within 30 days from the date the Administrative Agent makes written demand therefor. |
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(ix)
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If
the IRS or any other governmental authority of the United States or any
other country or any political subdivision thereof asserts a claim that
the Administrative Agent did not properly withhold tax from amounts paid
to or for the account of any Lender (because the appropriate form was not
delivered or properly completed, because such Lender failed to notify the
Administrative Agent of a change in circumstances which rendered its
exemption from withholding ineffective, or for any other reason), such
Lender shall indemnify the Administrative Agent fully for all amounts
paid, directly or indirectly, by the Administrative Agent as tax,
withholding therefor, or otherwise, including penalties and interest, and
including taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on amounts payable to the
Administrative Agent under this subsection, together with all costs and
expenses related thereto (including attorneys’ fees and time charges of
attorneys for the Administrative Agent, which attorneys may be employees
of the Administrative Agent). The obligations of the Lenders
under this Section 3.5(ix)
shall survive the payment of the Obligations and termination of this
Agreement.
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3.6. Lender Statements; Survival
of Indemnity. To the extent reasonably possible and upon the
request of Borrower, each Lender shall designate an alternate Lending
Installation with respect to its Eurodollar Loans to reduce any liability of
Borrower to such Lender under Sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.5 or to avoid the
unavailability of Eurodollar Advances under Section 3.3, so
long as such designation is not, in the judgment of such Lender, disadvantageous
to such Lender. Each Lender shall deliver a written statement of such
Lender to Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) as to the amount
due, if any, under Section 3.1,
3.2, 3.4 or 3.5. Such
written statement shall set forth in reasonable detail the calculations upon
which such Lender determined such amount and shall be final, conclusive and
binding on Borrower in the absence
32
of
manifest error. Determination of amounts payable under such Sections
in connection with a Eurodollar Loan shall be calculated as though each Lender
funded its Eurodollar Loan through the purchase of a deposit of the type and
maturity corresponding to the deposit used as a reference in determining the
Eurodollar Rate applicable to such Loan, whether in fact that is the case or
not. Unless otherwise provided herein, the amount specified in the
written statement of any Lender shall be payable on demand after receipt by
Borrower of such written statement. The obligations of Borrower under
Sections 3.1,
3.2, 3.4 and 3.5 shall survive
payment of the Obligations and termination of this Agreement.
3.7. Replacement of
Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.1 or 3.2, or if Borrower
is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental
Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.5, then
Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the
Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without
recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and
consents required by, Section 12.2), all of
its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan
Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may
be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided
that:
(a) Borrower
shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in
Section
12.2.4;
(b) such
Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding
principal of its Loans and LC 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 3.4) from the
assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and
fees) or Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);
(c) in
the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under
Section 3.1 or
3.2 or payments
required to be made pursuant to Section 3.5, such
assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments
thereafter; and
(d) such
assignment does not conflict with applicable law.
A Lender
shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior
thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances
entitling Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to
apply.
ARTICLE
IV
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT
4.1. Initial Credit
Extension. The Lenders and the LC Issuer shall not be required
to make the initial Credit Extension hereunder unless Borrower has furnished the
following to the
33
Administrative
Agent (with sufficient copies for the Lenders, in the case of all documents),
each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each of
the Lenders:
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(i)
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Copies
of the articles or certificate of incorporation of Borrower and Guarantor,
together with all amendments, and a certificate of existence, each
certified by the appropriate governmental officer in its jurisdiction of
incorporation.
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(ii)
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Copies,
certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of Borrower and
Guarantor, of its by-laws and of its Board of Directors’ resolutions and
of resolutions or actions of any other body authorizing the execution of
the Loan Documents.
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(iii)
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An
incumbency certificate, executed by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary
of Borrower and Guarantor, which shall identify by name and title and bear
the signatures of the Authorized Officers and any other officers of
Borrower and Guarantor authorized to sign the Loan Documents, upon which
certificate the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to
rely until informed of any change in writing by Borrower or
Guarantor.
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(iv)
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A
certificate, signed by the chief financial officer or treasurer of
Borrower, stating that on the initial Borrowing Date no Default or
Unmatured Default has occurred and is
continuing.
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(v)
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A
written opinion of Borrower’s and Guarantor’s counsel, addressed to the
Administrative Agent, the Lenders and LC Issuer in the form approved by
the Administrative Agent.
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(vi)
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Revolving
Credit Notes payable to the order of each of the
Lenders.
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(vii)
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The
insurance certificate described in Section
5.18.
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(viii) | The fees due and payable in accordance with the Fee Letter. |
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(ix)
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Such
other documents as any Lender or its counsel may have reasonably
requested.
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Without
limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.3, for
purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.1, 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.
4.2. Each Credit
Extension. The Lenders and the LC Issuer shall not be required
to make any Credit Extension, unless on the applicable Borrowing
Date:
34
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(i)
|
There
exists no Default or Unmatured
Default.
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(ii)
|
The
representations and warranties contained in Article V are
true and correct as of such Borrowing Date except to the extent any such
representation or warranty is stated to relate solely to an earlier date,
in which case such representation or warranty shall have been true and
correct on and as of such earlier date; provided that
this Section
4.2(ii) shall not apply to the representations and warranties set
forth in Section
5.5, clause (i) of
the first sentence of Section 5.7,
the second sentence of Section 5.7 and
Section
5.16.
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Each
Borrowing Notice or Letter of Credit Application with respect to each such
Credit Extension shall constitute a representation and warranty by Borrower that
the conditions contained in Sections 4.2(i) and
(ii) have been
satisfied. Any Lender or the LC Issuer may require a duly completed
compliance certificate in substantially the form of Exhibit C as a
condition to making a Credit Extension.
ARTICLE
V
REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES
Each of
Borrower and Guarantor represents and warrants to the Lenders that:
5.1. Existence and
Standing. Each of Guarantor, Borrower and each Subsidiary of
Borrower is a corporation, partnership (in the case of Subsidiaries only) or
limited liability company duly incorporated or organized, as the case may be,
validly existing and (to the extent such concept applies to such entity) in good
standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization and
has all requisite authority to conduct its business in each jurisdiction in
which its business is conducted.
5.2. Authorization and
Validity. Each of Borrower and Guarantor has the power and
authority and legal right to execute and deliver the Loan Documents to which it
is a party and to perform its obligations thereunder. The execution
and delivery by each of Borrower and Guarantor of the Loan Documents to which it
is a party and the performance of its obligations thereunder have been duly
authorized by proper corporate proceedings, and the Loan Documents to which each
of Borrower and Guarantor is a party constitute legal, valid and binding
obligations of Borrower and Guarantor enforceable against Borrower and Guarantor
in accordance with their terms, except as enforceability may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’
rights generally.
5.3. No Conflict; Government
Consent. Neither the execution or delivery by Borrower and
Guarantor of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, nor the consummation of
the transactions therein contemplated, nor compliance with the provisions
thereof will violate (i) any law, rule, regulation, order, writ, judgment,
injunction, decree or award binding on Borrower, Guarantor or any of their
Subsidiaries, (ii) Borrower’s, Guarantor’s or any of their Subsidiary’s articles
or certificate of incorporation, partnership agreement, certificate of
partnership, articles or certificate of organization, by-laws, or operating or
other management
35
agreement,
as the case may be, or (iii) the provisions of any indenture, instrument or
agreement to which Borrower, Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries is a party
or is subject, or by which it, or its Property, is bound, or conflict with or
constitute a default thereunder, or result in, or require, the creation or
imposition of any Lien in, of or on the Property of Borrower, Guarantor or a
Subsidiary pursuant to the terms of any such indenture, instrument or
agreement. No order, consent, adjudication, approval, license,
authorization, or validation of, or filing, recording or registration with, or
exemption by, or other action in respect of any governmental or public body or
authority, or any subdivision thereof, which has not been obtained by Borrower,
Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries, is required to be obtained by Borrower,
Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries in connection with the execution and
delivery of the Loan Documents, the borrowings under this Agreement, the payment
and performance by Borrower of the Obligations or the legality, validity,
binding effect or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents.
5.4. Financial
Statements. The consolidated financial statements dated
December 31, 2007 and June 30, 2008 of Guarantor and its Subsidiaries heretofore
delivered to the Lenders were prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles in effect on the dates such statements were prepared and
fairly present the consolidated financial condition and operations of Guarantor
and its Subsidiaries at such date and the consolidated results of their
operations for the periods then ended.
5.5. Material Adverse
Change. Since June 30, 2008 there has been no change in the
business, Property, prospects, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of
operations of Guarantor and its Subsidiaries which could reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.6. Taxes. Guarantor
and its Subsidiaries have filed all United States federal tax returns and all
other tax returns which are required to be filed and have paid all taxes due
pursuant to said returns or pursuant to any assessment received by Guarantor or
any of its Subsidiaries, except such taxes, if any, as are being contested in
good faith and as to which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance
with Agreement Accounting Principles and as to which no Lien
exists. The Federal income tax liabilities of Guarantor and its
Subsidiaries have been finally determined (whether by reason of completed audits
or the statute of limitations having run) for all fiscal years up to and
including the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002. No tax Liens have
been filed and no claims are being asserted with respect to any such
taxes. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of Guarantor
and its Subsidiaries in respect of any taxes or other governmental charges are
adequate.
5.7. Litigation and Contingent
Obligations. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.7, there
is no litigation, arbitration, governmental investigation, proceeding or inquiry
pending or, to the knowledge of any of their officers, threatened against or
affecting Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries which (i) could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) seeks to prevent, enjoin or
delay the making of any Credit Extension. Other than any liability
incident to any litigation, arbitration or proceeding which (i) could not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) is
disclosed in the Form 10-K of Guarantor for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2007 or (iii) is permitted by Section 6.11 or (iv)
is set forth on Schedule 5.7 or Schedule 5.14,
Guarantor has no material Contingent Obligations (other than
36
guarantees
of obligations (other than Indebtedness) of Subsidiaries, which obligations are
not prohibited by this Agreement).
5.8. Subsidiaries. Schedule 5.8 contains
an accurate list of all Subsidiaries of Borrower as of the date of this
Agreement, setting forth their respective jurisdictions of organization and the
percentage of their respective capital stock or other ownership interests owned
by Borrower or other Subsidiaries. All of the issued and outstanding
shares of capital stock or other ownership interests of such Subsidiaries have
been (to the extent such concepts are relevant with respect to such ownership
interests) duly authorized and issued and are fully paid and
non-assessable.
5.9. ERISA. Neither
Guarantor nor any other member of the Controlled Group has incurred, or is
reasonably expected to incur, any withdrawal liability to Multiemployer Plans
that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. Each Plan complies in all material respects with all
applicable requirements of law and regulations, no Reportable Event has occurred
with respect to any Plan, neither Guarantor nor any other member of the
Controlled Group has withdrawn from any Plan or initiated steps to do so, and no
steps have been taken to reorganize or terminate any Plan.
5.10. Accuracy of
Information. No information, exhibit or report furnished by
Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries to the Administrative Agent or to any
Lender in connection with the negotiation of, or compliance with, the Loan
Documents contained any material misstatement of fact or omitted to state a
material fact or any fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not
misleading.
5.11. Regulation
U. Margin stock (as defined in Regulation U) constitutes less
than 25% of the value of those assets of Guarantor and its Subsidiaries which
are subject to any limitation on sale, pledge, or other restriction
hereunder.
5.12. Material
Agreements. Neither Guarantor nor any Subsidiary is a party to
any agreement or instrument or subject to any charter or other corporate
restriction which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. Neither Guarantor nor any Subsidiary thereof is in default in
the performance, observance or fulfillment of any of the obligations, covenants
or conditions contained in (i) any agreement to which it is a party, which
default could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii)
any agreement or instrument evidencing or governing Indebtedness.
5.13. Compliance With
Laws. Guarantor and its Subsidiaries have complied with all
applicable statutes, rules, regulations, orders and restrictions of any domestic
or foreign government or any instrumentality or agency thereof having
jurisdiction over the conduct of their respective businesses or the ownership of
their respective Property except for any failure to comply with any of the
foregoing which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
5.14. Ownership of
Properties. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.14, on the
date of this Agreement, Guarantor and its Subsidiaries will have good title,
free of all Liens other than those permitted by Section 6.15, to
all of the Property and assets reflected in Guarantor’s most recent
37
consolidated
financial statements provided to the Administrative Agent as owned by Guarantor
and its Subsidiaries.
5.15. Plan Assets; Prohibited
Transactions. Borrower is not an entity deemed to hold “plan
assets” within the meaning of 29 C.F.R. § 2510.3-101 of an employee benefit plan
(as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) which is subject to Title I of ERISA or
any plan (within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code), and neither the
execution of this Agreement nor the making of Credit Extensions hereunder gives
rise to a prohibited transaction within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or
Section 4975 of the Code.
5.16. Environmental
Matters. In the ordinary course of its business, the officers
of Guarantor consider the effect of Environmental Laws on the business of
Guarantor and its Subsidiaries, in the course of which they identify and
evaluate potential risks and liabilities accruing to Guarantor due to
Environmental Laws. On the basis of this consideration, Guarantor has
concluded that, except as set forth on Schedule 5.16,
Environmental Laws cannot reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.16,
neither Guarantor nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice to the
effect that its operations are not in material compliance with any of the
requirements of applicable Environmental Laws or are the subject of any federal
or state investigation evaluating whether any remedial action is needed to
respond to a release of any toxic or hazardous waste or substance into the
environment, which non-compliance or remedial action could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.17. Investment Company
Act. Neither Guarantor nor any Subsidiary is an “investment
company” or a company “controlled” by an “investment company”, within the
meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
5.18. Insurance. The
certificate signed by the President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary or
Treasurer of Borrower, that attests to the existence and adequacy of, and
summarizes, the property and casualty insurance program carried by Borrower with
respect to itself and its Subsidiaries and that has been furnished by Borrower
to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, is complete and
accurate. This summary includes the insurer’s or insurers’ name(s),
policy number(s), expiration date(s), amount(s) of coverage, type(s) of
coverage, exclusion(s), and deductibles. This summary also includes
similar information, and describes any reserves, relating to any self-insurance
program that is in effect.
5.19. Solvency.
(a) Immediately
after the consummation of the transactions to occur on the date hereof and
immediately following the making of each Loan, if any, made on the date hereof
and after giving effect to the application of the proceeds of such Loans, (a)
the fair value of the assets of Guarantor and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated
basis, at a fair valuation, will exceed the debts and liabilities, subordinated,
contingent or otherwise, of Guarantor and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated
basis; (b) the present fair saleable value of the property of Guarantor and its
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will be greater than the amount that will
be required to pay the probable liability of Guarantor and its Subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis on their debts and other liabilities,
subordinated,
38
continent
or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured;
(c) Guarantor and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will be able to pay
their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such
debts and liabilities become absolute and matured; and (d) Guarantor and its
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will not have unreasonably small capital
with which to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged as such
businesses are now conducted and are proposed to be conducted after the date
hereof.
(b) Guarantor
does not intend to, or to permit any of its Subsidiaries to, and does not
believe that it or any of its Subsidiaries will, incur debts beyond its ability
to pay such debts as they mature, taking into account the timing of and amounts
of cash to be received by it or any such Subsidiary and the timing of the
amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its Indebtedness or the
Indebtedness of any such Subsidiary.
5.20. Reportable
Transaction. Borrower does not intend to treat the Advances
and related transactions as being a “reportable transaction” (within the meaning
of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4). In the event Borrower
determines to take any action inconsistent with such intention, it will promptly
notify the Administrative Agent thereof.
ARTICLE
VI
COVENANTS
Until the
Obligations are paid in full, and so long as any Commitment is outstanding,
unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing:
6.1. Financial
Reporting. Guarantor will maintain, for itself and each
Subsidiary, a system of accounting established and administered in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles, and Guarantor and/or Borrower
will furnish to the Lenders:
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(i)
|
Within
90 days after the close of each of its fiscal years, (a) an unqualified
audit report certified by independent certified public accountants
acceptable to the Lenders, prepared in accordance with Agreement
Accounting Principles on a consolidated basis for Guarantor and its
Subsidiaries, including balance sheets as of the end of such period,
related statements of income and retained earnings, and a statement of
cash flows, accompanied by any management letter prepared by said
accountants and (b) unaudited financial statements for Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, prepared in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles
on a consolidated basis for Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including
balance sheets as of the end of such period, related profit and loss and
reconciliation of surplus statements and a statement of cash
flows.
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(ii)
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Within
45 days after the close of the first three quarterly periods of each of
its fiscal years, for Guarantor and its Subsidiaries either (i) a
consolidated unaudited balance sheet as at the close of each such period
and consolidated statements of income and retained earnings and a
statement
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39
of cash
flows for the period from the beginning of such fiscal year to the end of such
quarter, all certified by Guarantor’s chief financial officer or (ii) if
Guarantor is then a “registrant” within the meaning of Rule 1-01 of Regulation
S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission and required to file a report on
Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission, a copy of Guarantor’s
report on Form 10-Q for such quarterly period.
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(iii)
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Together
with the financial statements required under Sections 6.1(i)
and (ii),
a compliance certificate in substantially the form of Exhibit C
signed by its Chief Financial Officer or Treasurer showing the
calculations necessary to determine compliance with this Agreement and
stating that No Default or Unmatured Default exists, or if any Default or
Unmatured Default exists, stating the nature and status
thereof.
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(iv)
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As
soon as possible and in any event within 10 days after Borrower knows that
any Reportable Event has occurred with respect to any Plan, a statement,
signed by the chief financial officer of Borrower, describing said
Reportable Event and the action which Borrower proposes to take with
respect thereto.
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(v)
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As
soon as possible and in any event within 10 days after receipt by
Borrower, a copy of (a) any notice or claim to the effect that Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries is or may be liable to any Person as a result of
the release by Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or any other Person of
any toxic or hazardous waste or substance into the environment, and (b)
any notice alleging any violation of any federal, state or local
environmental, health or safety law or regulation by Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries, which, in either case, could reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(vi)
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Promptly
upon the furnishing thereof to the shareholders of Guarantor, copies of
all financial statements, reports and proxy statements so
furnished.
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(vii)
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Promptly
upon the filing thereof, copies of all registration statements (other than
registration statements on Form S-8 or any successor form thereto and
other than registration statements relating to shares to be issued under a
dividend reinvestment plan) and annual, quarterly, monthly or other
regular reports which Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries files with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
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(viii) | Such other information (including non-financial information) as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request. |
40
Documents
required to be delivered pursuant to clause (i), (ii), (vi) or (vii) above may be
delivered electronically and, if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been
delivered on the date (i) on which Borrower posts such documents, or provides a
link thereto, on a website on the internet at a website address previously
specified to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders; or (ii) on which such
documents are posted on Borrower’s behalf on IntraLinks or another relevant
website, if any, to which each of the Administrative Agent and each Lender has
access; provided that (x)
upon request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, Borrower shall deliver
paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent or such Lender (until
a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the
Administrative Agent or such Lender) and (y) Borrower shall notify (which may be
by facsimile or electronic mail) the Administrative Agent and each Lender of the
posting of any documents. The Administrative Agent shall have no
obligation to request the delivery of, or to maintain copies of, the documents
referred to above or to monitor compliance by 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.
Borrower
hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Arranger will
make available to the Lenders and the LC Issuer materials and/or information
provided by or on behalf of Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”)
by posting Borrower Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system
(the “Platform”) and (b)
certain of the Lenders (each, a “Public Lender”) may
have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with
respect to Borrower or its Affiliates, or the respective securities of any of
the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related
activities with respect to such Persons’ securities. Borrower hereby
agrees that, so long as Borrower is the issuer of any outstanding debt or equity
securities that are registered or issued pursuant to a private offering or is
actively contemplating issuing any such securities, (w) all Borrower Materials
that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and
conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word
“PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking
Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the
Administrative Agent, the Arranger, the LC Issuer and the Lenders to treat such
Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with
respect to 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
9.11); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be
made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side
Information;” and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger 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
Side Information.”
6.2. Use of
Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Advances solely for the
purposes herein described. Each of Borrower and Guarantor will not,
nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, use any of the proceeds of the Credit
Extensions to purchase or carry any “margin stock” (as defined in Regulation U)
which is subject to any limitation on sale, pledge, or other restriction
hereunder.
6.3. Notice of
Default. Each of Borrower and Guarantor will, and will cause
each Subsidiary to, give notice in writing to the Lenders of the occurrence of
any Default or Unmatured Default and of any other development, financial or
otherwise, which could
41
reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, in each case promptly after any
officer of Borrower or Guarantor obtains knowledge thereof.
6.4. Conduct of
Business. Each of Borrower and Guarantor will, and will cause
each Subsidiary to, carry on and conduct its business in substantially the same
manner and in substantially the same or reasonably related fields of enterprise
as it is presently conducted and do all things necessary to remain duly
incorporated or organized, validly existing and (to the extent such concept
applies to such entity) in good standing as a domestic corporation, partnership
or limited liability company in its jurisdiction of incorporation or
organization, as the case may be, and maintain all requisite authority to
conduct its business in each jurisdiction in which its business is
conducted.
6.5. Taxes. Each
of Borrower and Guarantor will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, timely file
complete and correct United States federal and applicable foreign, state and
local tax returns required by law and pay when due all taxes, assessments and
governmental charges and levies upon it or its income, profits or Property,
except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings
and with respect to which adequate reserves have been set aside in accordance
with Agreement Accounting Principles.
6.6. Insurance. Each
of Borrower and Guarantor will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, maintain with
financially sound and reputable insurance companies insurance on all their
Property in such amounts and covering such risks as is consistent with sound
business practice, and Borrower will furnish to any Lender upon request full
information as to the insurance carried.
6.7. Compliance with
Laws.
(a) Each
of Borrower and Guarantor will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, comply with
all laws, rules, regulations, orders, writs, judgments, injunctions, decrees or
awards to which it may be subject including, without limitation, all
Environmental Laws, except where such noncompliance, singly or in the aggregate,
could not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Without
limiting clause
(a) above, each of Borrower and Guarantor will, and will cause each
Subsidiary to, ensure that no person who owns a controlling interest in or
otherwise controls Borrower, Guarantor or a Subsidiary is or shall be (i) listed
on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Person List maintained by the
Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), Department of
the Treasury, and/or any other similar lists maintained by OFAC pursuant to any
authorizing statute, Executive Order or regulation or (ii) a person designated
under Section 1(b), (c) or (d) of Executive Order No. 13224 (September 23,
2001), any related enabling legislation or any other similar Executive
Orders.
(c) Without
limiting clause
(a) above, each of Borrower and Guarantor will, and will cause each
Subsidiary to, comply with the Bank Secrecy Act (“BSA”) and all other
applicable anti-money laundering laws and regulations.
42
6.8. Maintenance of
Properties. Each of Borrower and Guarantor will, and will
cause each Subsidiary to, do all things necessary to maintain, preserve, protect
and keep its Property in good repair, working order and condition, and make all
necessary and proper repairs, renewals and replacements so that its business
carried on in connection therewith may be properly conducted at all times,
except where such failure, to maintain, singly or in the aggregate, could not
have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.9. Inspection. Each
of Borrower and Guarantor will, and will cause each of their respective
Subsidiaries to, permit the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, by their
respective representatives and agents, to inspect any of the Property, books and
financial records of Borrower, Guarantor and each Subsidiary, to examine and
make copies of the books of accounts and other financial records of Borrower,
Guarantor and each Subsidiary, and to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts
of Borrower, Guarantor and each Subsidiary with, and to be advised as to the
same by, their respective officers at such reasonable times and intervals as the
Administrative Agent or any Lender may designate.
6.10. Dividends. Borrower
will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, declare or pay any dividends or
make any distributions on its capital stock (other than dividends payable in its
own capital stock) or redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire or retire any of
its capital stock at any time outstanding; except that any Subsidiary may
declare and pay dividends or make distributions to Borrower or to a Wholly-Owned
Subsidiary of Borrower.
6.11. Indebtedness. Each
of Borrower and Guarantor will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary (excluding
Vectren Utility Holdings, Inc. and its Subsidiaries on the date hereof) to,
create, incur or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:
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(i)
|
The
Obligations.
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(ii)
|
Indebtedness
existing on the date hereof and (A) disclosed in the Form 10-Q of
Guarantor for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2008 or (B) described on
Schedule
5.14 (including, but not limited to, amounts available under
commitments related thereto but not yet drawn upon) (the “Existing
Indebtedness”) and any Indebtedness extending the maturity of, or
refunding or refinancing, such Existing Indebtedness, provided that
the principal amount of such Existing Indebtedness shall not be increased
above the amount thereof immediately prior to such extension, refunding or
refinancing (including, but not limited to, amounts available under
commitments related thereto but not yet drawn upon), and the direct and
contingent obligors therefor shall not be changed, as a result of or in
connection with such extension, refunding or
refinancing.
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(iii)
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Indebtedness
not exceeding $300,000,000 in the aggregate outstanding at any
time.
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(iv)
|
Indebtedness
of (a) Guarantor or Borrower owing to any Subsidiary of Guarantor or
Subsidiary of Borrower or (b) any Subsidiary of
Guarantor
|
43
or
Borrower owing to Guarantor or Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries
(collectively, “Intercompany
Indebtedness”).
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(v)
|
Indebtedness
incurred with respect to Financial Contracts that are (A) entered into by
Borrower, Guarantor or a Subsidiary of Borrower or Guarantor consistent
with such Person’s past practices and in the ordinary course of such
Person’s business and (B) not entered into for speculative
purposes.
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|
(vi)
|
Indebtedness
of a Person existing on the date the Person becomes a Subsidiary of
Guarantor or Borrower, provided such
Indebtedness was not incurred in contemplation of such Person becoming a
Subsidiary (“Subsidiary Existing
Indebtedness”) and any Indebtedness extending the maturity of, or
refunding or refinancing, such Subsidiary Existing Indebtedness, provided that
the principal amount of such extension, refunding or refinancing
Indebtedness shall not be increased above the amount thereof immediately
prior to such extension, refunding or refinancing and there shall not be
any change in the direct and indirect obligors
thereunder.
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(vii)
|
Indebtedness
assumed by a new Subsidiary of Guarantor (which Indebtedness is
non-recourse to Guarantor and its other Subsidiaries), in connection with
the Acquisition of assets of a Person that had theretofore been obligated
on such Indebtedness, provided such
Indebtedness was not incurred by such other Person in contemplation of
such Acquisition and any Indebtedness extending the maturity of, or
refunding or refinancing, such Indebtedness, provided that
the principal amount of such extension, refunding or refinancing
Indebtedness shall not be increased above the amount thereof immediately
prior to such extension, refunding or refinancing and there shall not be
any change in the direct and indirect obligors
thereunder.
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|
(viii)
|
Indebtedness
of any Subsidiary of Guarantor (other than Borrower) which Indebtedness is
non-recourse to Guarantor and its other
Subsidiaries.
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6.12. Merger. Each
of Borrower and Guarantor will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, merge
or consolidate with or into any other Person, except (i) a Subsidiary of
Guarantor may merge into Guarantor or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Guarantor and
(ii) provided
that, both prior to and immediately after giving effect to such merger or
consolidation, no Default or Unmatured Default exists, Borrower and Guarantor
may enter into mergers (provided that (a)
Borrower, or Guarantor, as the case may be, is the surviving corporation of any
such merger or consolidation to which such Person is a party or (b) if Borrower
or Guarantor is not the surviving entity of such merger or consolidation, (x)
the Person into which Borrower or Guarantor, as the case may be, shall be merged
or formed by any such consolidation (1) shall be a corporation organized and
validly existing under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the
District of Columbia and (2) shall assume Borrower’s or Guarantor’s, as
applicable, obligations hereunder and under the Notes in an agreement or
instrument satisfactory
44
in form
and substance to the Administrative Agent and (y) the Xxxxx’x Rating and the
S&P Rating (each as defined in the Pricing Schedule) of the surviving
corporation in effect immediately after giving effect to such merger or
consolidation shall not be less than “Baa3” (in the case of the Xxxxx’x Rating)
and “BBB-” (in the case of the S&P Rating)).
6.13. Sale of
Assets. Guarantor will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary
of Guarantor to, lease, sell or otherwise dispose of its Property to any other
Person, except:
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(i)
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Sales
of inventory in the ordinary course of
business.
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(ii)
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Leases,
sales or other dispositions of its Property that, together with all other
Property of Guarantor and its Subsidiaries previously leased, sold or
disposed of (other than inventory in the ordinary course of business) as
permitted by this Section during the twelve-month period ending with the
month in which any such lease, sale or other disposition occurs, do not
constitute all or substantially all of the Property of Guarantor and its
Subsidiaries.
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6.14. Investments and
Acquisitions. Borrower will not, nor will it permit any
Subsidiary to, make or suffer to exist any Investments (including without
limitation, loans and advances to, and other Investments in, Subsidiaries), or
commitments therefor, or to create any Subsidiary or to become or remain a
partner in any partnership or joint venture, or to make any Acquisition of any
Person, except:
|
(i)
|
Cash
Equivalent Investments.
|
|
(ii)
|
Investments
in Subsidiaries and other Investments, in each case in existence on the
date hereof and described in Schedule
5.8.
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|
(iii)
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Loans
and advances by Borrower to Guarantor and Guarantor’s
Subsidiaries.
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6.15. Liens. Each
of Borrower and Guarantor will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to,
create, incur, or suffer to exist any Lien in, of or on the Property of
Borrower, Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries, except:
|
(i)
|
Liens
for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies on its Property
if the same shall not at the time be delinquent or thereafter can be paid
without penalty, or are being contested in good faith and by appropriate
proceedings and for which adequate reserves in accordance with Agreement
Accounting Principles shall have been set aside on its
books.
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(ii)
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Liens
imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ liens and
other similar liens arising in the ordinary course of business which
secure payment of obligations not more than 60 days past due, and such
other carriers’ warehousemen’s and mechanics’ liens that are being
contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and for
which
|
45
adequate
reserves in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles shall have been set
aside on its books.
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(iii)
|
Liens
arising out of pledges or deposits under worker’s compensation laws,
unemployment insurance, old age pensions, or other social security or
retirement benefits, or similar
legislation.
|
|
(iv)
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Utility
easements, building restrictions and such other encumbrances or charges
against real property as are of a nature generally existing with respect
to properties of a similar character and which do not in any material way
affect the marketability of the same or interfere with the use thereof in
the business of Guarantor or its
Subsidiaries.
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|
(v)
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Liens
existing on the date hereof and described in Schedule 5.14,
including extensions, renewals or replacements of any such Liens in
connection with the extension, renewal or replacement of any related
Existing Indebtedness (without any increase in the amount thereof or any
change in the direct and contingent obligors thereof); provided that
in connection with the refinancing of any such Existing Indebtedness such
Liens shall extend only to the property covered by such Liens immediately
prior to such extension, renewal or
replacement.
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(vi)
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Liens
securing Indebtedness of a Person existing on the date the Person becomes
a Subsidiary of Guarantor or Liens on assets securing Indebtedness assumed
by Guarantor or a Subsidiary of Guarantor when such assets are acquired by
Guarantor or a Subsidiary of Guarantor, including extensions, renewals or
replacements of any such Liens, provided, however, that
(i) such Liens were not created in contemplation of such Person becoming a
Subsidiary or the acquisition of such assets and (ii) such Liens may not
extend to any other Property owned by Guarantor or any of its
Subsidiaries.
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|
(vii)
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Liens
under the Mortgage Indenture on the property of Southern Indiana Gas and
Electric Company that is subject to the Mortgage Indenture (without giving
effect to any amendments thereto after the date hereof that would expand
the description of the collateral subject to the lien
thereof).
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(viii) | Liens securing Intercompany Indebtedness owing to Borrower. |
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(ix)
|
Liens
securing Indebtedness not exceeding 10% of Guarantor’s Consolidated Net
Worth in the aggregate outstanding at any
time.
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6.16. Affiliates. Except
as permitted by Section 6.14(iii),
Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any
transaction (including, without limitation, the purchase or sale of any Property
or service) with, or make any payment or transfer to, any Affiliate except in
the ordinary course of business and pursuant to the reasonable requirements of
Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s business and upon fair and reasonable terms no
less favorable to Borrower or such Subsidiary than Borrower or such Subsidiary
would obtain in a comparable
46
arms’-length
transaction; provided that in a
transaction between Borrower and a Subsidiary, the transaction need only be
arm’s length with respect to Borrower.
6.17. Leverage
Ratio. Guarantor will not permit the ratio, determined as of
the end of each of its fiscal quarters, of (i) Guarantor’s Consolidated
Indebtedness to (ii) Guarantor’s Consolidated Indebtedness plus Guarantor’s
Consolidated Net Worth to be greater than .65 to 1.0.
6.18. Certain
Restrictions. Guarantor shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to
exist or become effective any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any
Subsidiary to (a) pay dividends or make other distributions on its capital stock
owned by Guarantor or any Subsidiary, or pay any Indebtedness owed to Guarantor
or any Subsidiary (other than as described on Schedule 6.18 and
other customary limits imposed by corporate law and fraudulent conveyance
statutes and applicable restrictions contained in section 305(a) of the Federal
Power Act, as amended), (b) make loans or advances to Guarantor or Borrower or
(c) transfer any of its assets or properties to Guarantor or Borrower, except
for such encumbrances or restrictions existing by reason of or under (i)
applicable law, (ii) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (iii)
customary restrictions with respect to a Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement
that has been entered into for the sale or disposition of all or substantially
all of the capital stock of such Subsidiaries, (iv) restrictions binding on any
Subsidiary on the date it becomes a Subsidiary, provided such
restrictions were not created in contemplation of such Person becoming a
Subsidiary or (v) restrictions set forth on Schedule
6.18.
ARTICLE
VII
DEFAULTS
The
occurrence of any one or more of the following events shall constitute a
Default:
7.1. Any
representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of Borrower,
Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries to the Lenders or the Administrative Agent
under or in connection with this Agreement, any Credit Extension, any other Loan
Document or any certificate or information delivered in connection with this
Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be materially false on the date as of
which made.
7.2. Nonpayment
of principal of any Loan or reimbursement obligation in respect of any Letter of
Credit when due, or nonpayment of interest upon any Loan or of any facility fee,
Letter of Credit fee or other obligation under any of the Loan Documents within
five days after the same becomes due.
7.3. The
breach by Borrower or Guarantor of any of the terms or provisions of Section 6.2, 6.3, 6.10, 6.11, 6.12, 6.13, 6.14, 6.15, 6.16, 6.17 or 6.18.
7.4. The
breach by Borrower or Guarantor (other than a breach which constitutes a Default
under another Section of this Article VII) of any
of the terms or provisions of this Agreement which is not remedied within thirty
days.
47
7.5. Failure
of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Guarantor to pay when due (whether at
stated maturity, on the date fixed for prepayment, by acceleration or otherwise)
any Indebtedness aggregating in excess of $50,000,000 (“Material
Indebtedness”); or the default by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or
Guarantor in the performance (beyond the applicable grace period with respect
thereto, if any) of any term, provision or condition contained in any agreement
under which any such Material Indebtedness was created or is governed, or any
other event shall occur or condition exist, the effect of which default or event
is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Material Indebtedness to
cause, such Material Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity; or
any Material Indebtedness of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Guarantor
shall be declared to be due and payable or required to be prepaid or repurchased
(other than by a regularly scheduled payment) prior to the stated maturity
thereof; or Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Guarantor shall not pay, or
admit in writing its inability to pay, its debts generally as they become
due.
7.6. Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries or Guarantor shall (i) have an order for relief
entered with respect to it under the Federal bankruptcy laws as now or hereafter
in effect, (ii) make an assignment for the benefit of creditors, (iii) apply
for, seek, consent to, or acquiesce in, the appointment of a receiver,
custodian, trustee, examiner, liquidator or similar official for it or any
Substantial Portion of its Property, (iv) institute any proceeding seeking an
order for relief under the Federal bankruptcy laws as now or hereafter in effect
or seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking dissolution,
winding up, liquidation, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition
of it or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization or relief of debtors or fail to file an answer or other pleading
denying the material allegations of any such proceeding filed against it, (v)
take any corporate or other organizational action to authorize or effect any of
the foregoing actions set forth in this Section 7.6 or (vi)
fail to contest in good faith any appointment or proceeding described in Section
7.7.
7.7. Without
the application, approval or consent of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or
Guarantor, a receiver, trustee, examiner, liquidator or similar official shall
be appointed for Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Guarantor or any
Substantial Portion of its Property, or a proceeding described in Section 7.6(iv) shall
be instituted against Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Guarantor and such
appointment continues undischarged or such proceeding continues undismissed or
unstayed for a period of 60 consecutive days.
7.8. Any
court, government or governmental agency shall condemn, seize or otherwise
appropriate, or take custody or control of, all or any portion of the Property
of Borrower and its Subsidiaries or Guarantor which, when taken together with
all other Property of Borrower and its Subsidiaries or Guarantor so condemned,
seized, appropriated, or taken custody or control of, during the twelve-month
period ending with the month in which any such action occurs, constitutes a
Substantial Portion.
7.9. Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries or any Guarantor shall fail within 30 days to pay,
bond or otherwise discharge any judgment or order for the payment of money in
excess of $50,000,000, which is not stayed on appeal or otherwise being
appropriately contested in good faith.
48
7.10. The
Unfunded Liabilities of all Single Employer Plans shall have a Material Adverse
Effect or be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect or any
Reportable Event shall occur in connection with any Plan.
7.11. Borrower
or any other member of the Controlled Group shall have been notified by the
sponsor of a Multiemployer Plan that it has incurred withdrawal liability to
such Multiemployer Plan in an amount which, when aggregated with all other
amounts required to be paid to Multiemployer Plans by Borrower or any other
member of the Controlled Group as withdrawal liability (determined as of the
date of such notification), shall have a Material Adverse Effect or be
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
7.12. Borrower
or any other member of the Controlled Group shall have been notified by the
sponsor of a Multiemployer Plan that such Multiemployer Plan is in
reorganization or is being terminated, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA,
if such reorganization or termination shall have a Material Adverse Effect or be
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
7.13. Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries shall (i) be the subject of any proceeding or
investigation pertaining to the release by Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or
any other Person of any toxic or hazardous waste or substance into the
environment, or (ii) violate any Environmental Law, which, in the case of an
event described in clause (i) or clause (ii), has a
Material Adverse Effect.
7.14. Any
Change in Control shall occur.
7.15. The
occurrence of any “default”, as defined in any Loan Document (other than this
Agreement) or the breach of any of the terms or provisions of any Loan Document
(other than this Agreement), which default or breach continues beyond any period
of grace therein provided.
7.16. The
obligations of Guarantor under Article XIII hereof
shall fail to remain in full force or effect or any action shall be taken to
discontinue or to assert the invalidity or unenforceability of any of such
obligations, or Guarantor shall deny that it has any further liability under
such Article
XIII, or shall give notice to such effect.
ARTICLE
VIII
ACCELERATION, WAIVERS,
AMENDMENTS AND REMEDIES
8.1. Acceleration. If
any Default described in Section 7.6 or
7.7 occurs with
respect to Borrower, Guarantor or any of Borrower’s Subsidiaries, the
commitments of the Lenders to make, renew or convert Advances and to participate
in Letters of Credit, and the obligation and power of the LC Issuer to issue
Letters of Credit hereunder shall automatically terminate and the Obligations
(including, without limitation, the obligation to deposit with the
Administrative Agent a sum equal to the aggregate face amount of the outstanding
Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 8.3
hereof) shall immediately become due and payable without any election or action
on the part of the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer or any
Lender. If any other Default occurs, then upon the declaration of the
Required Lenders or the Administrative Agent at the direction of the Required
Lenders, the obligations of the Lenders to make, renew or convert Advances and
to
49
participate
in Letters of Credit, and the obligation and power of the LC Issuer to issue
Letters of Credit under this Agreement shall terminate and the Obligations
(including, without limitation, the obligation to deposit with the
Administrative Agent a sum equal to the aggregate face amount of the outstanding
Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 8.3
hereof) shall immediately become due and payable. In either event,
the Obligations shall become immediately due and payable without presentment,
demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which Borrower hereby expressly
waives.
If,
within 30 days after acceleration of the maturity of the Obligations or
termination of the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and to participate
in Letters of Credit and the obligation and power of the LC Issuer to issue
Letters of Credit hereunder as a result of any Default (other than any Default
as described in Section 7.6 or
7.7 with
respect to Borrower, Guarantor or any of Borrower’s Subsidiaries) and before any
judgment or decree for the payment of the Obligations due shall have been
obtained or entered, the Required Lenders (in their sole discretion) shall so
direct, the Administrative Agent shall, by notice to Borrower, rescind and annul
such acceleration and/or termination.
8.2. Remedies Not
Exclusive. The remedies of the Lenders specified in this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be exclusive and the Lenders
may avail themselves of any of the remedies provided by law as well as any
equitable remedies available to the Lenders, and each and every remedy shall be
cumulative and concurrent and shall be in addition to every other remedy now or
hereafter existing at law or in equity.
8.3. Deposit to Secure
Reimbursement Obligations. When any Default or Unmatured
Default has occurred and is continuing, the Required Lenders or the
Administrative Agent at the direction of the Required Lenders may demand that
Borrower immediately pay to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to the
aggregate outstanding amount of the Letters of Credit and Borrower shall
immediately upon any such demand make such payment. Borrower hereby
irrevocably grants to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders a
security interest in all funds deposited to the credit of or in transit to any
deposit account or fund established pursuant to this Section 8.3 (the
“LC Collateral
Account”), including, without limitation, any investment of such
fund. Borrower hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Administrative
Agent and the LC Issuer would not have an adequate remedy at law for failure by
Borrower to honor any demand made under this Section 8.3 and
that the Administrative Agent and the LC Issuer shall have the right to require
Borrower specifically to perform its undertakings in this Section 8.3
whether or not any draws have been made under any Letter of
Credit. In the event the Administrative Agent or the LC Issuer makes
a demand pursuant to this Section 8.3, and
Borrower makes the payment demanded, the Administrative Agent agrees to invest
the amount of such payment for the account of Borrower and at Borrower’s risk
and direction in short-term Investments acceptable to the Administrative
Agent. The Administrative Agent may at any time or from time to time
after funds are deposited in the LC Collateral Account, apply such funds to the
payment of Obligations and any other amounts as shall from time to time have
become due and payable by Borrower to the Lenders or the LC Issuer under the
Loan Documents. At any time while any Default is continuing, neither
Borrower nor any Person claiming on behalf of or through Borrower shall have a
right to withdraw any of the funds held in the LC Collateral
Account. After all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in
full and the Commitments have been terminated, any funds remaining on the LC
Collateral
50
Account
shall be returned by the Administrative Agent to Borrower or paid to whomever
may be legally entitled thereto at such time.
8.4. Subrogation. The
LC Issuer shall, to the extent of any payments made by the LC Issuer under any
Letter of Credit, be subrogated to all rights of the beneficiary of such Letter
of Credit as to all obligations of Borrower and its Subsidiaries with respect to
which such payment shall have been made by the LC Issuer.
8.5. Amendments. Subject
to the provisions of this Article VIII, the
Required Lenders (or the Administrative Agent with the consent in writing of the
Required Lenders) and Borrower may enter into agreements supplemental hereto for
the purpose of adding or modifying any provisions to the Loan Documents or
changing in any manner the rights of the Lenders or Borrower hereunder or
waiving any Default or failure to fulfill any condition under Article IV hereunder;
provided, however, that no such
supplemental agreement shall, without the consent of each Lender:
|
(i)
|
Extend
the final maturity of any Loan, or extend the expiry date of any Letter of
Credit to a date after the Commitment Termination Date or postpone any
regularly scheduled payment of principal of any Loan or forgive all or any
portion of the principal amount thereof or any reimbursement obligation in
respect of any Letter of Credit, or reduce the rate or extend the time of
payment of interest or fees thereon or any reimbursement obligation in
respect of any Letter of Credit.
|
|
(ii)
|
Reduce
the percentage specified in the definition of Required
Lenders.
|
|
(iii)
|
Extend
the Commitment Termination Date or increase the amount of the Commitment
of any Lender hereunder or the commitment of the LC Issuer to issue
Letters of Credit or permit Borrower to assign its rights under this
Agreement.
|
|
(iv)
|
Amend
this Section
8.5.
|
|
(v)
|
Amend,
modify or waive Article XIII or
release Guarantor from its obligations
thereunder.
|
|
(vi)
|
Waive
compliance with the conditions set forth in Section
4.1.
|
No
amendment of any provision of this Agreement relating to the Administrative
Agent shall be effective without the written consent of the Administrative
Agent. No amendment to any provision relating to the LC Issuer shall
be effective without the written consent of the LC Issuer. The
Administrative Agent may waive payment of the fee required under Section 12.2.4
without obtaining the consent of any other party to this
Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary
herein, the Fee Letters may be amended or otherwise modified with the consent of
the parties thereto, without requiring the consent of any other
Lender.
8.6. Preservation of
Rights. No delay or omission of the Administrative Agent, the
LC Issuer or any Lender to exercise any power or right under the Loan Documents
shall impair
51
such
power or right or be construed to be a waiver of any Default or an acquiescence
therein, and any single or partial exercise of any power or right shall not
preclude other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other power or
right. No Credit Extension hereunder shall constitute a waiver of any
of the conditions of any Lender’s or the LC Issuer’s obligation to make further
Credit Extensions, nor, in the event Borrower is unable to satisfy any such
condition, shall a waiver of such condition in any one instance have the effect
of precluding any Lender or the LC Issuer from thereafter declaring such
inability to be a Default hereunder. No course of dealing shall be
binding upon the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer or any
Lender. No waiver, amendment or other variation of the terms,
conditions or provisions of the Loan Documents shall be valid unless in writing
and signed by the Persons required pursuant to Section 8.5, and then
only to the extent in such writing specifically set
forth. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or
in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies
hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against Borrower or Guarantor or
any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at
law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained
exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with this Article VIII for the
benefit of all the Lenders and the LC Issuer; provided, however, that the
foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its
own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its
capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents,
(b) the LC Issuer from exercising the rights and remedies that inure to its
benefit (solely in its capacity as LC Issuer) hereunder and under the other Loan
Documents, (c) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 11.1 (subject
to the terms of Section 11.2) or (d)
any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its
own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to Borrower or Guarantor
under any bankruptcy or insolvency; and provided, further, that if at
any time there is no Person acting as Administrative Agent hereunder and under
the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights
otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.1 and (ii)
in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b), (c) and (d) of the preceding
proviso and
subject to Section
11.2, any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce
any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required
Lenders.
ARTICLE
IX
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
9.1. Survival of
Representations. All representations and warranties made
hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant
hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the
execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and
warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each
Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any
Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or
any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or Unmatured 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.
9.2. Governmental
Regulation. Anything contained in this Agreement to the
contrary notwithstanding, neither the LC Issuer nor any Lender shall be
obligated to extend credit to
52
Borrower
in violation of any limitation or prohibition provided by any applicable statute
or regulation.
9.3. Headings. Section
headings in the Loan Documents are for convenience of reference only, and shall
not govern the interpretation of any of the provisions of the Loan
Documents.
9.4. Entire
Agreement. The Loan Documents embody the entire agreement and
understanding among Borrower, Guarantor, the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer
and the Lenders and supersede all prior agreements and understandings among
Borrower, Guarantor, the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer and the Lenders
relating to the subject matter thereof other than the Fee Letter.
9.5. Several Obligations;
Benefits of this Agreement. The obligations of the Lenders
hereunder to make Revolving Loans, to fund participations in Letters of Credit
and to make payments pursuant to Section 9.6(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 9.6(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 9.6(c). This
Agreement shall not be construed so as to confer any right or benefit upon any
Person other than the parties to this Agreement and their respective successors
and assigns; provided, however, that the
parties hereto expressly agree that the Arrangers shall enjoy the benefits of
Sections 9.1,
9.6, 9.10 and 9.16 to the extent
specifically set forth therein and each Arranger shall have the right to enforce
such provisions on its own behalf and in its own name to the same extent as if
it were a party to this Agreement.
9.6. Expenses;
Indemnification.
(a) Costs and
Expenses. Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates
(including, without limitation, the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements
of counsel for the Administrative Agent), in connection with the syndication of
the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation,
execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof
or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall
be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the LC
Issuer in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any
Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the
LC Issuer (including, without limitation, the fees, charges and disbursements of
any counsel for the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the LC Issuer), and
shall pay all fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of the
Administrative Agent, any Lender or the LC Issuer, in connection with the
enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including, without limitation, its
rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made or
Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including, without limitation, all such
out-of-pocket
53
expenses
incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such
Loans or Letters of Credit.
(b) Indemnification by
Borrower. Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent
(and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and the LC Issuer, and each Related
Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against,
and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities and related expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements
of any counsel for any Indemnitee), and shall indemnify and hold harmless each
Indemnitee from all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who
may be employees of any Indemnitee, incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted
against any Indemnitee by any third party or by Borrower or Guarantor 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, the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the
Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only,
the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including,
without limitation, in respect of any matters addressed in Section 3.5),
(ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the
proceeds therefrom (including, without limitation, any refusal by the LC 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 Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective
claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing,
whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third
party or by Borrower or Guarantor, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a
party thereto; provided that such
indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined
by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have
resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or
(y) result from a claim brought by Borrower or Guarantor against an
Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or
under any other Loan Document, if Borrower or Guarantor 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 Borrower for any reason fails to
indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a)
or (b) of
this Section to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent
thereof), the LC Issuer or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each
Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such
sub-agent), the LC Issuer or such Related Party, as the case may be, such
Lender’s Pro Rata Share (determined as of the time that the applicable
unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount,
provided that
the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or
related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the
Administrative
54
Agent (or
any such sub-agent) or the LC Issuer in its capacity as such, or against any
Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or
any such sub-agent) or LC Issuer in connection with such
capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c)
are subject to the provisions of Section 9.5.
(d) Waiver of Consequential
Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable
law, Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any
Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or
punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in
connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or
any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds
thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b) above
shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of
any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by
such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information
transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan
Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than for
direct or actual damages resulting from the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and nonappealable
judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.
(e) Payments. All
amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten Business Days
after demand therefor.
(f) Survival. The
agreements in this Section shall survive the resignation of the Administrative
Agent and the LC Issuer, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the
Aggregate Commitment and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the
other Obligations.
9.7. Numbers of
Documents. All statements, notices, closing documents, and
requests hereunder shall be furnished to the Administrative Agent with
sufficient counterparts so that the Administrative Agent may furnish one to each
of the Lenders.
9.8. Accounting. Except
as provided to the contrary herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be
interpreted and all accounting determinations hereunder shall be made in
accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles.
9.9. Severability of
Provisions. Any provision in any Loan Document that is held to
be inoperative, unenforceable or invalid in any jurisdiction shall, as to that
jurisdiction, be inoperative, unenforceable or invalid without affecting the
remaining provisions in that jurisdiction or the operation, enforceability or
validity of that provision in any other jurisdiction, and to this end the
provisions of all Loan Documents are declared to be severable.
9.10. Nonliability of
Lenders. The relationship between Borrower on the one hand and
the Lenders, the LC Issuer and the Administrative Agent on the other hand shall
be solely that of borrower and lender. Neither the Administrative
Agent, any Arranger, the LC Issuer nor any Lender shall have any fiduciary
responsibility to Borrower. Neither the Administrative Agent, any
Arranger, the LC Issuer nor any Lender undertakes any responsibility to Borrower
to review
55
or inform
Borrower of any matter in connection with any phase of Borrower’s business or
operations. Borrower agrees that neither the Administrative Agent,
any Arranger, the LC Issuer nor any Lender shall have liability to Borrower
(whether sounding in tort, contract or otherwise) for losses suffered by
Borrower in connection with, arising out of, or in any way related to, the
transactions contemplated and the relationship established by the Loan
Documents, or any act, omission or event occurring in connection therewith,
unless it is determined in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of
competent jurisdiction that such losses resulted from the gross negligence or
willful misconduct of the party from which recovery is
sought. Neither the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, the LC Issuer
nor any Lender shall have any liability with respect to, and Borrower hereby
waives, releases and agrees not to xxx for, any special, indirect or
consequential damages suffered by Borrower in connection with, arising out of,
or in any way related to the Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated
thereby.
9.11. Treatment of Certain
Information; Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative
Agent, the Lenders and the LC Issuer agrees to maintain the confidentiality of
the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a)
to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors,
officers, employees, agents, trustees, advisors and representatives (it being
understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of
the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such
Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory
authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including, without
limitation, any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of
Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or
regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party
hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under
any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement
or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder,
(f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as
those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any
prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations
under this Agreement or any assignee invited to be a Lender under Section 2.19 or (ii)
any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or
derivative transaction relating to Borrower and its obligations, (g) with the
consent of Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly
available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes
available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the LC Issuer or any of their
respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than
Borrower. For purposes of this Section, “Information” means
all information received from Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to Borrower or
any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such
information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the LC
Issuer on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by Borrower or any
Subsidiary, provided that, in the
case of information received from 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
Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the LC Issuer acknowledges that (a) the
Information may include material non-public information concerning 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-
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public
information in accordance with applicable law, including, without limitation,
United States Federal and state securities laws.
9.12. Nonreliance. Each
Lender hereby represents that it is not relying on or looking to any margin
stock (as defined in Regulation U) for the repayment of the Credit Extensions
provided for herein.
9.13. Disclosure. The
Lenders hereby (i) acknowledge and agree that Bank of America and/or its
Affiliates from time to time may hold investments in, make other loans to or
have other relationships with Borrower and its Affiliates, and (ii) waive any
liability of Bank of America or such Affiliate of Bank of America to Borrower or
any Lender, respectively, arising out of or resulting from such investments,
loans or relationships other than liabilities arising out of the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of Bank of America or its
Affiliates.
9.14. USA PATRIOT
Act. 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 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 Borrower,
which information includes the name and address of Borrower and other
information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as
applicable, to identify Borrower in accordance with the Act. Borrower
shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender,
provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or
such Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under
applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations,
including the Act.
9.15. Letter of Credit
Amounts. Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a
Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the stated amount of such
Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided, however, that with
respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Issuer
Document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the
stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be
the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all
such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such
time.
9.16. No Advisory or Fiduciary
Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each
transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment,
waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), each of
Borrower and Guarantor acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’
understanding, that: (a) (i) the arranging and other services regarding this
Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent and the Arranger are arm’s-length
commercial transactions between Borrower, Guarantor and their respective
Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Arranger, on
the other hand, (ii) each of Borrower and Guarantor has consulted its own legal,
accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate,
and (iii) Borrower and Guarantor is capable of evaluating, and understands and
accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby
and by the other Loan Documents; (b) (i) the Administrative Agent and the
Arranger each is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as
expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and
will not be
57
acting as
an advisor, agent or fiduciary for Borrower, Guarantor or any of their
respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (ii) neither the Administrative
Agent nor the Arranger has any obligation to Borrower, Guarantor or any of their
respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby
except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan
Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger and their
respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that
involve interests that differ from those of Borrower, Guarantor and their
respective Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent nor the Arranger has
any obligation to disclose any of such interests to Borrower, Guarantor or any
of their respective Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by
law, each of Borrower and Guarantor hereby waives and releases any claims that
it may have against the Administrative Agent and the Arranger with respect to
any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any
aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.
ARTICLE
X
THE ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENT
10.1. Appointment and
Authority. Each of the Lenders and the LC 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 LC Issuer, and neither Borrower
nor Guarantor shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such
provisions.
10.2. Rights as a
Lender. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent
hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as
any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the
Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise
expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person
serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual
capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from,
lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity
for and generally engage in any kind of business with Borrower or any Subsidiary
or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent
hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.
10.3. Exculpatory
Provisions. The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties
or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan
Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
Administrative Agent:
(a) shall
not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a
Default or Unmatured Default has occurred and is continuing;
(b) shall
not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary
powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or
by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to
exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number
or
58
percentage
of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan
Documents), provided that the
Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its
opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to
liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law;
and
(c) shall
not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have
any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any
information relating to Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated
to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its
Affiliates in any capacity.
The
Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it
(i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other
number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the
Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the
circumstances as provided in Sections 8.5 and
8.1) or (ii) in
the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The
Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default or
Unmatured Default unless and until notice describing such Default or Unmatured
Default is given to the Administrative Agent by Borrower, a Lender or the LC
Issuer.
The
Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain
or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in
connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of
any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or
in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of
any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein
or therein or the occurrence of any Default or Unmatured Default, (iv) the
validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any
other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the
satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or
elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to
be delivered to the Administrative Agent.
10.4. Reliance by Administrative
Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely
upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request,
certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing
(including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other
distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or
otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative
Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and
believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any
liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any
condition hereunder to the making of 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 LC Issuer, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is
satisfactory to such Lender or the LC Issuer unless the Administrative Agent
shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or the LC Issuer
prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of
Credit. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who
may be counsel for 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.
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10.5. Delegation of
Duties. The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of
its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan
Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the
Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent
may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or
through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions
of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of
the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their
respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit
facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative
Agent.
10.6. Resignation of
Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may at any time
give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the LC Issuer and
Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the
Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with Borrower, to appoint
a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an
Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States. If no
such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall
have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring
Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring
Administrative Agent may on behalf of the Lenders and the LC Issuer, appoint a
successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that if the
Administrative Agent shall notify 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
Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations
hereunder and under the other Loan Documents 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 LC
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 hereunder, such
successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers,
privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent, and the
retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and
obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already
discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section). The fees
payable by Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as
those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between Borrower and
such successor. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation
hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and
Section 9.6
shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent,
its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions
taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative
Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.
Any
resignation by Bank of America as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section
shall also constitute its resignation as LC Issuer. 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 LC Issuer, (b) the retiring LC
Issuer shall be
discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or
under the other Loan Documents and (c) the successor LC 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 LC Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring LC
Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.
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10.7. Non-Reliance on
Administrative Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender and the LC
Issuer acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the
Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and
based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its
own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each
Lender and the LC Issuer also acknowledges that it will, independently and
without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of
their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall
from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking
or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document
or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or
thereunder.
10.8. Agent May File Proofs of
Claim. In case of the pendency of any receivership,
insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment,
composition or other judicial proceeding relative to Borrower, Guarantor or any
Subsidiary, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of
any Loan 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 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, 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 and the Administrative Agent (including
any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances
of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and
counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under
Sections 2.5,
2.17 and 9.6) allowed in such
judicial proceedings; 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 to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that
the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly
to the Lenders, 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 2.5, 2.17 and 9.6.
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 any plan of
reorganization,
arrangement,
adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender
or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any
Lender in any such proceeding.
10.9. No Other Duties,
Etc. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of
the Bookrunners, Arrangers or Co-Syndication Agents listed on the cover page
hereof shall have
61
any
powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan
Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a
Lender or the LC Issuer hereunder.
ARTICLE
XI
SETOFF; RATABLE
PAYMENTS
11.1. Setoff. In
addition to, and without limitation of, any rights of the Lenders under
applicable law, if Borrower becomes insolvent, however evidenced, or any Default
occurs, any and all deposits (including all account balances, whether
provisional or final and whether or not collected or available) and any other
Indebtedness at any time held or owing by any Lender or any Affiliate of any
Lender to or for the credit or account of Borrower may be offset and applied
toward the payment of the Obligations owing to such Lender, whether or not the
Obligations, or any part hereof, shall then be due.
11.2. Ratable
Payments. If any Lender, whether by setoff or otherwise, has
payment made to it upon its Loans and other credit exposure hereunder (other
than payments received pursuant to Section 3.1,
3.2, 3.4 or 3.5) in a greater
proportion than that received by any other Lender, such Lender agrees, promptly
upon demand, to purchase a portion of the Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure
held by the other Lenders so that after such purchase each Lender will hold its
Pro Rata Share of the Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure. If any
Lender, whether in connection with setoff or amounts which might be subject to
setoff or otherwise, receives collateral or other protection for its Obligations
or such amounts which may be subject to setoff, such Lender agrees, promptly
upon demand, to take such action necessary such that all Lenders share in the
benefits of such collateral ratably in proportion to their respective Pro Rata
Shares of the Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure. In case any such
payment is disturbed by legal process, or otherwise, appropriate further
adjustments shall be made.
ARTICLE
XII
BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT;
ASSIGNMENTS; PARTICIPATIONS
12.1. Successors and Assigns
Generally. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that neither Borrower nor
Guarantor may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations
hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each
Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or
obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the
provisions of Section
12.2, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of
Section 12.4 or
(iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the
restrictions of Section 12.6 (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 Section
12.4 and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related
Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer and the Lenders) any
legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this
Agreement.
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12.2. Assignments by
Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more
assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement
(including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans (including, without
limitation, for purposes of this Section 12.2,
participations in LC Obligations) at the time owing to it); provided that any
such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:
12.2.1. Minimum
Amounts.
(a) in
the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning
Lender’s Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or in the case of an
assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum
amount need be assigned; and
(b) in
any case not described in Section 12.2.1(a),
the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans
outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the
principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to
each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption
with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if
“Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade
Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the
Administrative Agent and, so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing,
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.
12.2.2. 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 Commitment
assigned.
12.2.3. Required
Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment
except to the extent required by Section 12.2.1(b)
and, in addition:
(a) the
consent of Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed)
shall be required unless (i) a Default has occurred and is continuing at the
time of such assignment or (ii) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of
a Lender or an Approved Fund;
(b) the
consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably
withheld or delayed) shall be required 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 LC 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).
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12.2.4. Assignment and
Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall execute and
deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with
a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500; provided, however, that the
Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing
and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The assignee, if
it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative
Questionnaire.
12.2.5. No Assignment to
Borrower. No such assignment shall be made to Borrower or any
of Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries.
12.2.6. No Assignment to Natural
Persons. No such assignment shall be made to a natural
person.
Subject
to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to
Section 12.3
below, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and
Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to
the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the
rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning
Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such
Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement
(and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning
Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to
be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 3.5 and 9.6 with respect to
facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such
assignment. Upon request, 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 12.4.
12.3. Register. The
Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of 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 Commitments of, and principal amounts of
the Loans and LC Obligations owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof
from time to time (the “Register”). The
entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and 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 Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable
time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
12.4. Participations. Any
Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, Borrower or the
Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural
person or Borrower or any of Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a
“Participant”)
in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this
Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans
(including such Lender’s participations in LC Obligations) 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) Borrower, the
Administrative Agent, the Lenders
64
and the
LC Issuer shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in
connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this
Agreement.
Any
agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation
shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this
Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of
any provision of this Agreement; provided that such
agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the
consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification
described in the proviso to Section 8.5 that
affects such Participant. Subject to Section 12.5,
Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.4 and 3.5 to the same extent as
if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to
Section
12.2. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also
shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 11.1 as though it were a
Lender, provided such
Participant agrees to be subject to Section 11.2 as
though it were a Lender.
12.5. Limitations upon Participant
Rights. A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any
greater payment under Section 3.1, 3.2 or 3.5 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 Borrower’s prior written consent. A
Participant that would be a Non-U.S. Lender if it were a Lender shall not be
entitled to the benefits of Section 3.5
unless Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and
such Participant agrees, for the benefit of Borrower, to comply with Sections 3.5(iv) and
(v) as though
it were a Lender.
12.6. 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.
12.7. Resignation as LC Issuer
after Assignment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, if at any time Bank of America assigns all of its Commitment
and Loans pursuant to Section 12.2
above, Bank of America may, upon 30 days’ notice to Borrower and the
Lenders, resign as LC Issuer. In the event of any such resignation as
LC Issuer, Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a
successor LC Issuer hereunder; provided, however, that no
failure by Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation
of Bank of America as LC Issuer. If Bank of America resigns as LC
Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the LC
Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the
effective date of its resignation as LC Issuer and all LC Obligations with
respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Loans or
fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section
2.17.3. Upon the appointment of a successor LC Issuer, (a)
such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights,
powers, privileges and duties of the retiring LC Issuer and (b) the successor LC
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
reasonably satisfactory to Bank of
65
America
to effectively assume the obligations of Bank of America with respect to such
Letters of Credit.
ARTICLE
XIII
GUARANTY
13.1. Guaranty. For
valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, and to
induce the Lenders to make advances to Borrower and to participate in Letters of
Credit and to induce the LC Issuer to issue Letters of Credit, Guarantor hereby
absolutely and unconditionally guarantees prompt payment when due, whether at
stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, and at all times thereafter, of
any and all Obligations of Borrower to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders,
the LC Issuer and any holder of a Note, or any of them, under or with respect to
the Loan Documents, whether for principal, interest, fees, expenses or
otherwise, in each case howsoever created, arising or evidenced, whether direct
or indirect, absolute or contingent, now or hereafter existing, or due or to
become due (collectively, the “Guaranteed
Obligations”). Additionally, Guarantor agrees to reimburse the
Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the LC Issuer for any costs incurred in
enforcing this Article
XIII against Guarantor. Any term or provision of this Article XIII to the
contrary notwithstanding, the aggregate maximum amount of the Guaranteed
Obligations for which Guarantor shall be liable shall not exceed the maximum
amount for which Guarantor can be liable without rendering this Agreement or any
other Loan Document as it relates to Guarantor, voidable under applicable law
relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer.
13.2. Waivers. Guarantor
waives notice of the acceptance of this guaranty and of the extension or
continuation of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part
thereof. Guarantor further waives presentment, protest, notice of
notices delivered or demand made on Borrower or action or delinquency in respect
of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof, including any right to
require the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to xxx Borrower, any other
guarantor or any other Person obligated with respect to the Guaranteed
Obligations or any part thereof, or otherwise to enforce payment thereof against
any collateral securing the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof, and
provided
further that if at any time any payment of any portion of the Guaranteed
Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned upon the
insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of Borrower or otherwise, Guarantor’s
obligations hereunder with respect to such payment shall be reinstated at such
time as though such payment had not been made and whether or not the
Administrative Agent or the Lenders are in possession of this
guaranty. The Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer and the Lenders
shall have no obligation to disclose or discuss with Guarantor their assessments
of the financial condition of Borrower.
13.3. Guaranty
Absolute. This guaranty is a guaranty of payment and not of
collection, is a primary obligation of Guarantor and not merely one of surety,
and the validity and enforceability of this guaranty shall be absolute and
unconditional irrespective of, and shall not be impaired or affected by any of
the following: (a) any extension, modification or renewal of, or indulgence with
respect to, or substitutions for, the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof
or any agreement relating thereto at any time; (b) any failure or omission to
enforce any right, power or remedy with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations or
any part thereof or any
66
agreement
relating thereto, or any collateral; (c) any waiver of any right, power or
remedy with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof or any
agreement relating thereto or with respect to any collateral; (d) any release,
surrender, compromise, settlement, waiver, subordination or modification, with
or without consideration, of any collateral, any other guaranties with respect
to the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof, or any other obligation of
any Person with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof; (e)
the enforceability or validity of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof
or the genuineness, enforceability or validity of any agreement relating thereto
or with respect to any collateral; (f) the application of payments received from
any source to the payment of obligations other than the Guaranteed Obligations,
any part thereof or amounts which are not covered by this guaranty even though
the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer and the Lenders might lawfully have
elected to apply such payments to any part or all of the Guaranteed Obligations
or to amounts which are not covered by this guaranty; (g) any change in the
ownership of Borrower or the insolvency, bankruptcy or any other change in the
legal status of Borrower; (h) the change in or the imposition of any law,
decree, regulation or other governmental act which does or might impair, delay
or in any way affect the validity, enforceability or the payment when due of the
Guaranteed Obligations; (i) the failure of Guarantor or Borrower to maintain in
full force, validity or effect or to obtain or renew when required all
governmental and other approvals, licenses or consents required in connection
with the Guaranteed Obligations or this guaranty, or to take any other action
required in connection with the performance of all obligations pursuant to the
Guaranteed Obligations or this guaranty; (j) the existence of any claim, setoff
or other rights which Guarantor may have at any time against Borrower or any
other Person in connection herewith or an unrelated transaction; or (k) any
other circumstance, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, which could
constitute a defense to a guarantor, including without limitation all defenses
based on suretyship or impairment of collateral; all whether or not Guarantor
shall have had notice or knowledge of any act or omission referred to in the
foregoing clauses
(a) through (k) of this
Section. It is agreed that Guarantor’s liability hereunder is several
and independent of any other guaranties or other obligations at any time in
effect with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof and that
Guarantor’s liability hereunder may be enforced regardless of the existence,
validity, enforcement or non-enforcement of any such other guaranties or other
obligations or any provision of any applicable law or regulation purporting to
prohibit payment by Borrower of the Guaranteed Obligations in the manner agreed
upon by Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer and the
Lenders.
13.4. Acceleration. Guarantor
agrees that, as between Guarantor on the one hand, and the Lenders, the LC
Issuer and the Administrative Agent, on the other hand, the obligations of
Borrower guaranteed under this Article XIII may be
declared to be forthwith due and payable, or may be deemed automatically to have
been accelerated, as provided in Section 8.1 hereof
for purposes of this Article XIII,
notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition (whether in a
bankruptcy proceeding affecting Borrower or otherwise) preventing such
declaration as against Borrower and that, in the event of such declaration or
automatic acceleration, such obligations (whether or not due and payable by
Borrower) shall forthwith become due and payable by Guarantor for purposes of
this Article
XIII.
13.5. Marshaling;
Reinstatement. None of the Lenders nor the LC Issuer nor the
Administrative Agent nor any Person acting for or on behalf of the Lenders, the
LC Issuer or the Administrative Agent shall have any obligation to marshal any
assets in favor of Guarantor or
67
against
or in payment of any or all of the Guaranteed Obligations. If
Guarantor, Borrower or any other guarantor of all or any part of the Guaranteed
Obligations makes a payment or payments to any Lender, the LC Issuer or the
Administrative Agent, or any Lender, the LC Issuer or the Administrative Agent
receives any proceeds of collateral, which payment or payments or any part
thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential,
set aside and/or required to be repaid to Borrower, Guarantor, such other
guarantor or any other Person, or their respective estates, trustees, receivers
or any other party, including, without limitation, Guarantor, under any
bankruptcy law, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause, then, to
the extent of such payment or repayment, the part of the Guaranteed Obligations
which has been paid, reduced or satisfied by such amount shall be reinstated and
continued in full force and effect as of the time immediately preceding such
initial payment, reduction or satisfaction.
13.6. Delay of
Subrogation. Notwithstanding any payment made by or for the
account of Guarantor pursuant to this Article XIII,
Guarantor shall not be subrogated to any right of the Administrative Agent or
any Lender, or have any right to obtain reimbursement from Borrower, until such
time as the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall have received final
payment in cash of the full amount of the Guaranteed Obligations.
ARTICLE
XIV
NOTICES
14.1. Notices; Effectiveness;
Electronic Communication.
14.1.1. Notices
Generally. Except in the case of notices and other
communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as
provided in Section
14.1.2 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:
(a) if
to Borrower, the Administrative Agent or the LC Issuer, to the address,
telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for
such Person on Schedule 14.1;
and
(b) if
to any other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address
or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire.
Notices
and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by
certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received;
notices and other communications sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been
given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the
recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the
next business day for the recipient). Notices and other
communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent
provided in Section
14.1.2 below, shall be effective as provided in Section
14.1.2.
68
14.1.2. Electronic
Communications. Notices and other communications to the
Lenders and the LC 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 LC Issuer pursuant to
Article II if
such Lender or the LC 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 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.
14.1.3. 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 BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM,
AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM 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 BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE
PLATFORM.
In no
event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties
(collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have
any liability to Borrower, any Lender, the LC Issuer or any other Person for
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort,
contract or otherwise) arising out of 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 Borrower, any Lender, the LC
Issuer or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or
punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).
14.1.4. Change of Address,
Etc. Each of Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the LC
Issuer 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
69
its
address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications
hereunder by notice to Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the LC
Issuer. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative
Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record
(i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, telecopier number and
electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent
and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender. Furthermore,
each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of
such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information”
or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in
order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such
Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable law, including United
States Federal and state securities laws, to make reference to Borrower
Materials that are not made available through the “Public Side Information”
portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information
with respect to Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal
or state securities laws.
14.1.5. Reliance by Administrative
Agent, LC Issuer and Lenders. The Administrative
Agent, the LC Issuer and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any
notices (including telephonic Borrowing Notices) purportedly given by or on
behalf of 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. Borrower shall
indemnify the Administrative Agent, the LC 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 Borrower. All telephonic notices to and other
telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the
Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such
recording.
14.2. Change of
Address. Borrower, the Administrative Agent and any Lender may
each change the address for service of notice upon it by a notice in writing to
the other parties hereto.
ARTICLE
XV
COUNTERPARTS
This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which taken
together shall constitute one agreement, and any of the parties hereto may
execute this Agreement by signing any such counterpart. This
Agreement shall be effective when it has been executed by Borrower, Guarantor,
the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer and the Lenders and each party has
notified the Administrative Agent by facsimile transmission or telephone that it
has taken such action. Electronic records of executed Loan Documents
maintained by the Lenders shall deemed to be originals.
70
ARTICLE
XVI
CHOICE OF LAW; CONSENT TO
JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
16.1. CHOICE OF
LAW. THE LOAN
DOCUMENTS (OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINING A CONTRARY EXPRESS CHOICE OF LAW
PROVISION) SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS (AND NOT THE
LAW OF CONFLICTS) OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, BUT GIVING EFFECT TO FEDERAL LAWS
APPLICABLE TO NATIONAL BANKS.
16.2. CONSENT
TO JURISDICTION. EACH OF BORROWER AND
GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY
UNITED STATES FEDERAL OR ILLINOIS STATE COURT SITTING IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS IN
ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENTS AND
EACH OF BORROWER AND GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN
RESPECT OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN ANY SUCH
COURT AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE AS TO
THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT OR THAT
SUCH COURT IS AN INCONVENIENT FORUM. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL LIMIT THE
RIGHT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, THE LC ISSUER OR ANY LENDER TO BRING
PROCEEDINGS AGAINST BORROWER OR GUARANTOR IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER
JURISDICTION. ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING BY BORROWER OR GUARANTOR
AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, THE LC ISSUER OR ANY LENDER OR ANY AFFILIATE
OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, THE LC ISSUER OR ANY LENDER INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH
ANY LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL BE BROUGHT ONLY IN A COURT IN CHICAGO,
ILLINOIS.
16.3. 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.
71
[Signatures
Follow]
72
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, Borrower, Guarantor, the Lenders, the LC Issuer, the
Syndication Agents and the Administrative Agent have executed this Agreement as
of the date first above written.
BORROWER:
|
||||
VECTREN
CAPITAL, CORP.
|
||||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
|
|||
Name:
|
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
|
|||
Title:
|
Vice
President and Treasurer
|
|||
GUARANTOR:
|
||||
VECTREN
CORPORATION
|
||||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
|
|||
Name:
|
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
|
|||
Title:
|
Vice
President and Treasurer
|
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
|
|
Name:
|
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
|
|
Title:
|
Vice
President
|
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as the LC Issuer
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
|
|
Name:
|
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
|
|
Title:
|
Vice
President
|
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as a Lender
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
|
|
Name:
|
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
|
|
Title:
|
Vice
President
|
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK,
N.A., Individually and as Co-Syndication Agent
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
|
|
Name:
|
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx
|
|
Title:
|
Associate
|
UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA,
N.A., Individually and as Co-Syndication Agent
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
|
|
Name:
|
Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
|
|
Title:
|
Vice
President
|
MIZUHO
CORPORATE BANK (USA)
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxx Mo
|
|
Name:
|
Xxxx
Mo
|
|
Title:
|
Senior
Vice President
|
FIFTH
THIRD BANK
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
|
|
Name:
|
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx
|
|
Title:
|
Sr.
Vice President
|
NATIONAL
CITY BANK
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
|
|
Name:
|
Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
|
|
Title:
|
Senior
Vice President
|
OLD
NATIONAL BANK
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
|
|
Name:
|
Xxxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
|
|
Title:
|
Assistant
Vice President
|
PRICING
SCHEDULE
Pricing
|
Level
I Status
|
Level
II Status
|
Level
III Status
|
Level
IV Status
|
Level
V Status
|
Level
VI Status
|
Applicable
Margin for Eurodollar Advances
|
0.545%
|
0.650%
|
0.750%
|
1.100%
|
1.300%
|
1.700%
|
Applicable
Margin for Floating Rate Advances
|
0.00%
|
0.00%
|
0.00%
|
0.00%
|
0.00%
|
0.00%
|
Applicable
Fee Rate
(Facility
Fee)
|
0.08%
|
0.10%
|
0.125%
|
0.150%
|
0.20%
|
0.30%
|
Applicable
Fee Rate
(LC
Fee)
|
0.545%
|
0.650%
|
0.750%
|
1.100%
|
1.300%
|
1.700%
|
For the
purposes of this Schedule, the following terms have the following meanings,
subject to the final paragraph of this Schedule:
“Level I
Status” exists at any date if, on such date, Guarantor’s Xxxxx’x Rating is A2 or
better or Guarantor’s S&P Rating is A or better.
“Level II
Status” exists at any date if, on such date, (i) Guarantor has not qualified for
Level I Status and (ii) Guarantor’s Xxxxx’x Rating is A3 or better or
Guarantor’s S&P Rating is A- or better.
“Level
III Status” exists at any date if, on such date (i) Guarantor has not qualified
for Level I Status or Level II Status and (ii) Guarantor’s Xxxxx’x Rating is
Baa1 or better and Guarantor’s S&P Rating is BBB+ or better.
“Level IV
Status” exists at any date if, on such date (i) Guarantor has not qualified for
Level I Status, Level II Status or Level III Status and (ii) Guarantor’s Xxxxx’x
Rating is Baa2 or better and Guarantor’s S&P Rating is BBB or
better.
“Level V
Status” exists at any date if, on such date (i) Guarantor has not qualified for
Level I Status, Level II Status, Level III Status or Level IV Status and (ii)
Guarantor’s Xxxxx’x Rating is Baa3 or better and Guarantor’s S&P Rating is
BBB- or better.
“Level VI
Status” exists at any date if, on such date, Guarantor has not qualified for
Level I Status, Level II Status, Level III Status, Level IV Status or Level V
Status.
“Xxxxx’x
Rating” means, at any time, the corporate credit rating (without third-party
credit enhancement) issued by Xxxxx’x and then in effect or the issuer’s rating
issued by Xxxxx’x and then in effect with respect to Guarantor.
“Rating”
means the S&P Rating or the Xxxxx’x Rating.
“S&P
Rating” means, at any time, the corporate credit rating (without third-party
credit enhancement) issued by S&P and then in effect or the issuer’s rating
issued by S&P and then in effect with respect to Guarantor.
“Status”
means either Level I Status, Level II Status, Level III Status, Level IV Status,
Level V Status or Level VI Status.
On the
date hereof, Guarantor has qualified for Level II Status.
The
Applicable Margin and Applicable Fee Rate shall be determined in accordance with
the foregoing table based on Guarantor’s Status as determined from its
then-current Xxxxx’x and S&P Ratings. The credit rating in effect
on any date for the purposes of this Schedule is that in effect at the close of
business on such date. If at any time Guarantor has no Xxxxx’x Rating
or no S&P Rating, but has a Rating, the Status shall be determined based on
the Rating that is then in effect. If at any time Guarantor has no
Xxxxx’x Rating and has no S&P Rating, Level VI Status shall
exist. If Guarantor is split rated and the rating differential is two
credit rating levels or more, then the intermediate credit rating at the
midpoint (or, if there is no midpoint, the higher of the two credit ratings)
shall apply.
SCHEDULE
I
COMMITMENTS
Lender
|
Commitment
|
||||
Bank
of America, N.A.
|
$ | 25,000,000.00 | |||
JPMorgan
Chase Bank, N.A.
|
$ | 25,000,000.00 | |||
Union
Bank of California, N.A.
|
$ | 25,000,000.00 | |||
Mizuho
Corporate Bank (USA)
|
$ | 15,000,000.00 | |||
Fifth
Third Bank
|
$ | 10,000,000.00 | |||
National
City Bank
|
$ | 10,000,000.00 | |||
Old
National Bank
|
$ | 10,000,000.00 | |||
Total
|
$ | 120,000,000.00 |
I-1
SCHEDULE
5.7
LITIGATION
Environmental
Matters
Clean
Air Act Initiatives
In March
of 2005 USEPA finalized two new air emission reduction regulations. The Clean
Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) is an allowance cap and trade program requiring
further reductions in Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) and Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) emissions
from coal-burning power plants. The Clean Air Mercury Rule (CAMR) is an
allowance cap and trade program requiring further reductions in mercury
emissions from coal-burning power plants. However, on February 8, 2008, the US
Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia vacated the federal CAMR
regulations and on July 11, 2008, the same court vacated the federal CAIR
regulations. At this time it is uncertain how this decision will affect
Indiana's implementation plans for those regulations. Utilization of the
Guarantor's inventory of NOx and SO2 allowances may also be impacted by these
decisions; however, most of these allowances were granted to the Guarantor at
zero cost, so a reduction in carrying value is not expected.
To comply
with Indiana's implementation plan of the Clean Air Act of 1990 and to comply
with potential future regulations of mercury and further NOx and SO2,
reductions, Guarantor's utility subsidiary, Southern Indiana Gas and Electric
Company (“SIGECO”) has the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (“IURC”)
authority to invest in clean coal technology. Using this authorization, SIGECO
has invested approximately $307 million in pollution control equipment,
including Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems and fabric filters. SCR
technology is the most effective method of reducing NOx emissions where high
removal efficiencies are required and fabric filters control particulate matter
emissions. These investments were included in rate base for purposes of
determining new base rates that went into effect on August 15, 2007. Prior to
being included in base rates, return on investments made and recovery of related
operating expenses were recovered through a rider mechanism.
Further,
the IURC granted SIGECO authority to invest in an SO2 scrubber at its generating
facility that is jointly owned with ALCOA (SIGECO's portion is 150 MW). The
order, as updated with an increased spending level, allows SIGECO to recover an
approximate 8 percent return on up to $92 million, excluding AFUDC, in capital
investments through a rider mechanism which is updated every six months for
actual costs incurred. SIGECO may file periodic updates with the IURC requesting
modification to the spending authority. As of June 30, 2008, SIGECO has invested
approximately $73 million in this project. SIGECO expects the SO2 scrubber will
be operational by early 2009. At that time, operating expenses including
depreciation expense associated with the scrubber are expected to be recovered
through a rider mechanism.
Once the
SO2 scrubber is operational, SIGECO’s coal fired generating fleet will be 100
percent scrubbed for SO2 and 90 percent controlled for NOx. SIGECO’s investments
in scrubber, SCR and fabric filter technology allows for compliance with
existing regulations that are unaffected by these recent court decisions and
should position it to comply with future
reasonable
pollution control legislation, if and when, reductions in mercury and further
reductions in NOx and SO2, are promulgated by USEPA and/or the District of
Columbia US Court of Appeals rulings are overturned. It is also possible that
CAMR and CAIR regulations being vacated will lead to increased support for the
passage of a multi-pollutant xxxx in Congress.
Legislative
Actions and Other Climate Change Initiatives Regarding Climate
Change
There are
currently several forms of legislation being circulated at the federal level
addressing the climate change issue. The most prominent of these proposals is
the Xxxxxxxxx-Xxxxxx climate change xxxx, which mandates a cap on greenhouse gas
emissions beginning in 2012 and the auctioning and subsequent trading of
allowances among those that emit greenhouse gases. The Senate was unable to end
debate of Xxxxxxxxx-Xxxxxx xxxx, and therefore it was removed from the 2008
calendar. Guarantor anticipates continuing federal legislative efforts modeled
on either the Xxxxxxxxx-Xxxxxx cap and trade proposal or a carbon
tax.
In the
absence of federal legislation, several regional initiatives throughout the
United States are in the process of establishing regional cap and trade
programs. While no climate change legislation is pending in the State of
Indiana, the State is an observer of the Midwestern Regional Greenhouse Gas
Reduction Accord, and its legislature debated, but did not pass, renewable
energy portfolio standards in 2007.
In April
of 2007, the US Supreme Court determined that greenhouse gases meet the
definition of “air pollutant” under the Clean Air Act and ordered the USEPA to
determine whether greenhouse gas emissions from new motor vehicles cause or
contribute to air pollution that may reasonably be anticipated to endanger
public health or welfare. Should the USEPA find such endangerment, it is likely
that major stationary sources will be subject to regulation under the Act. USEPA
has recently released its Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in which the
agency is soliciting comment as to whether it is appropriate or effective to
regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Act.
Impact
of Legislative Actions and Other Initiatives is Unknown
If
legislation requiring reductions in CO2, and other greenhouse gases or
legislation mandating a renewable energy portfolio standard is adopted, such
regulation could substantially affect both the costs and operating
characteristics of Guarantor's fossil fuel generating plants and nonutility coal
mining operations. At this time and in the absence of final legislation,
compliance costs and other effects associated with reductions in greenhouse gas
emissions or obtaining renewable energy sources remain uncertain. Guarantor has
gathered preliminary estimates of the costs to comply with the Xxxxxxxxx-Xxxxxx
climate change xxxx. A preliminary investigation demonstrated costs to comply
would be significant, first to operating expenses for the purchase of
allowances, and later to capital expenditures as technology becomes available to
control greenhouse gas emissions. However, these compliance costs estimates are
very sensitive to highly uncertain assumptions, including allowance prices.
Costs to purchase allowances that cap greenhouse gas emissions should be
considered a cost of providing electricity, and as such, Guarantor believes
recovery should be timely reflected in rates charged to customers. Approximately
20 percent of electric volumes sold in 2007 were delivered to municipal and
other wholesale customers. As such, Guarantor has some flexibility to modify the
level of these
transactions
to reduce overall emissions and reduce costs associated with complying with new
environmental regulations.
Environmental
Remediation Efforts
In the
past, Indiana Gas Company, Inc., a subsidiary of Guarantor (“Indiana Gas”),
SIGECO, and others operated facilities for the manufacture of gas. Given the
availability of natural gas transported by pipelines, these facilities have not
been operated for many years. Under currently applicable environmental laws and
regulations, those that operated these facilities may now be required to take
remedial action if certain contaminants are found above the regulatory
thresholds at these sites.
Indiana
Gas identified the existence, location, and certain general characteristics of
26 gas manufacturing and storage sites for which it may have some remedial
responsibility. Indiana Gas completed a remedial investigation/feasibility study
(RIFS) at one of the sites under an agreed order between Indiana Gas and the
Indiana Department of Environmental Management (“IDEM”), and a Record of
Decision was issued by the IDEM in January 2000. Indiana Gas submitted the
remainder of the sites to the IDEM's Voluntary Remediation Program (VRP) and is
currently conducting some level of remedial activities, including groundwater
monitoring at certain sites, where deemed appropriate, and will continue
remedial activities at the sites as appropriate and necessary.
Indiana
Gas accrued the estimated costs for further investigation, remediation,
groundwater monitoring, and related costs for the sites. While the total costs
that may be incurred in connection with addressing these sites cannot be
determined at this time, Indiana Gas has recorded costs that it reasonably
expects to incur totaling approximately $21 million.
The
estimated accrued costs are limited to Indiana Gas' share of the remediation
efforts. Indiana Gas has arrangements in place for 19 of the 26 sites with other
potentially responsible parties (PRP), which serve to limit Indiana Gas' share
of response costs at these 19 sites to between 20 percent and 50 percent. With
respect to insurance coverage, Indiana Gas has received and recorded settlements
from all known insurance carriers under insurance policies in effect when these
plants were in operation in an aggregate amount approximating $20
million.
In
October 2002, SIGECO received a formal information request letter from the IDEM
regarding five manufactured gas plants that it owned and/or operated and were
not enrolled in the IDEM's VRP. In October 2003, SIGECO filed applications to
enter four of the manufactured gas plant sites in IDEM's VRP. The remaining site
is currently being addressed in the VRP by another Indiana utility. SIGECO added
those four sites into the renewal of the global Voluntary Remediation Agreement
that Indiana Gas has in place with IDEM for its manufactured gas plant sites.
That renewal was approved by the IDEM in February 2004. SIGECO is also named in
a lawsuit filed in federal district court in May 2007, involving another site
subject to potential environmental remediation efforts.
SIGECO
has filed a declaratory judgment action against its insurance carriers seeking a
judgment finding its carriers liable under the policies for coverage of further
investigation and any necessary remediation costs that SIGECO may accrue under
the VRP program and/or related
to the
site subject to the May 2007 lawsuit. While the total costs that may be incurred
in connection with addressing these sites cannot be determined at this time,
SIGECO has recorded costs that it reasonably expects to incur totaling
approximately $8 million. With respect to insurance coverage, SIGECO has
received and recorded settlements from insurance carriers under insurance
policies in effect when these sites were in operation in an aggregate amount
approximating the costs it expects to incur.
Environmental
remediation costs related to Indiana Gas' and SIGECO's manufactured gas plants
and other sites have had no material impact on results of operations or
financial condition since costs recorded to date approximate PRP and insurance
settlement recoveries. While Guarantor's utilities have recorded all costs which
they presently expect to incur in connection with activities at these sites, it
is possible that future events may require some level of additional remedial
activities which are not presently foreseen and those costs may not be subject
to PRP or insurance recovery.
5.7-1
SCHEDULE
5.8
SUBSIDIARIES
AND OTHER INVESTMENTS
Investment
In
|
Jurisdiction
of
Organization
|
Owned
By
|
Percent
Ownership
|
|||
IEI
Capital Corp.
|
Indiana
|
Vectren
Capital, Corp.
|
100%
|
|||
5.8-1
SCHEDULE
5.14
INDEBTEDNESS
AND LIENS
(A) Liens
None.
(B) Existing
Indebtedness
1.
|
Reimbursement
Obligations of Vectren Corporation in connection with a letter of credit
issued by Old National Bank in favor of Black Panther Mining, LLC in the
amount of $2,280,000.
|
|
2.
|
Reimbursement
Obligations of Vectren Corporation in connection with a letter of credit
issued by Old National Bank in favor of Black Panther Mining, LLC in the
amount of $2,890,000.
|
|
3.
|
Reimbursement
Obligations of Vectren Corporation in connection with a letter of credit
issued by Old National Bank in favor of Vigo Coal in the amount of
$1,500,000.
|
|
4.
|
Reimbursement
Obligations of Xxxxxx Pipeline, a subsidiary of Vectren Corporation, in
connection with a letter of credit issued by Bank of America in favor of
Zurich Insurance in the amount of
$2,700,000.
|
|
5.
|
Reimbursement
Obligations of Xxxxxx Pipeline, a subsidiary of Vectren Corporation, in
connection with a letter of credit issued by Bank of America in favor of
Liberty Insurance in the amount of
$2,800,000.
|
|
6.
|
Reimbursement
Obligations of Vectren Corporation in connection with a letter of credit
issued by Fifth Third Bank in favor of Liberty Insurance in the amount of
$25,000.
|
|
7.
|
Reimbursement
Obligations of Vectren Corporation in connection with a letter of credit
issued by Fifth Third Bank in favor of Zurich Insurance in the amount of
$1,565,602.
|
5.14-1
SCHEDULE
5.16
ENVIRONMENTAL
MATTERS
See Schedule 5.7, which
Schedule is incorporated herein by this reference.
5.16-1
SCHEDULE
6.18
CERTAIN
RESTRICTIONS
1.
|
The
payment of cash dividends on SIGECO's common stock to VUHI is, in effect,
restricted by SIGECO's First Mortgage Indenture (the "Mortgage"). The
Mortgage restricts dividends to accumulated surplus available for
distribution to common stock earned subsequent to December 31, 1947 if
amounts deducted from earnings for current repairs and maintenance and
provisions for renewals, replacements and depreciation of all the property
of SIGECO are less than amounts specified in the Mortgage. (Section 1.02
of the Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 1, 1948, as supplemented.)
No amount was restricted against cash dividends on common stock as of
December 31, 2007 under this
restriction.
|
6.18-1
SCHEDULE
14.1
NOTICE
INFORMATION
VECTREN CAPITAL,
CORP.
Xxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Telephone: (000)
000-0000
FAX: (000)
000-0000
VECTREN
CORPORATION
Xxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Telephone: (000)
000-0000
FAX: (000)
000-0000
BANK OF AMERICA,
N.A.,
as
Administrative Agent
daily borrowing, conversions
and continuations:
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxx
BANK OF
AMERICA PLAZA
000 XXXX
XX
XXXXXX XX
00000
Telephone: (000)-000-0000
Fax: (000)-000-0000
Xxxxxxxx.xxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Other Notices—Financials
& Compliance Certificate
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
Agency
Officer
Bank of
America
000 Xxxxx
XxXxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000
Mail
Code: IL1-231-10-41
Telephone: (000)
000-0000
Fax: (000)
000-0000
Email:
xxxxxx.xxxxxxxx@XxxxxxXxxxxxx.xxx
14.1-1
BANK OF AMERICA,
N.A.,
as LC
Issuer
Issuing Standby Letters of
Credit
Tai Xxx
Xx
Bank of
America, N.A.
Trade
Operations – Los Angeles
0000 X.
Xxxxxx Xx.
Mail
Code: CA9-705-07-05
Xxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
Email: xxx_xxx.xx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Issuing Commercial Letters
of Credit
Xxxxxx
Bellevue
Bank of
America, N.A.
Trade
Operations – Los Angeles
0000 X.
Xxxxxx Xx.
Mail
Code: CA9-705-07-05
Xxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
Email:
xxxxxx.xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
BANK OF AMERICA,
N.A.,
as a
Lender
000 X.
XxXxxxx Xxxxxx
XX
000-00-00
Xxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
email:
xxxxxx.x.xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK,
N.A.,
Individually
and as Co-Syndication Agent
Notices
(other than Borrowing Notices):
000
Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
XX 00000
14.1-2
Attention: Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
FAX:
(000) 000-0000
Email:
xxxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
Borrowing
Notices:
Loan
& Agency Services
0000
Xxxxxx 00XX
Xxxxxxx
XX, 00000
Telephone: (000)
000-0000
FAX: (000)
000-0000
UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA,
N.A.,
Individually
and as Co-Syndication Agent
Energy
Capital Services
000 X.
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Telephone
(000) 000-0000
FAX:
(000) 000-0000
E-mail:
xxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx
MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK
(USA)
0000
Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
FAX:
(000) 000-0000
E-mail:
xxxxxx.xxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx
FIFTH THIRD
BANK
00 XX
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
FAX:
(000) 000-0000
E-mail:
Xxxxxx.Xxxxxxxx@00.xxx
NATIONAL CITY
BANK
000 X.
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
14.1-3
FAX:
(000) 000-0000
E-mail:
xxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
OLD NATIONAL
BANK
Xxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
FAX:
(000) 000-0000
Email: xxxxxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
14.1-4
EXHIBIT
A
FORM OF REVOLVING CREDIT
NOTE
$________________________
|
Date:
_________________, 200____
|
Chicago,
Illinois
|
FOR VALUE
RECEIVED, VECTREN CAPITAL, CORP., an Indiana corporation (“Borrower”), hereby
promises to pay to the order of
(the “Lender”),
or its assigns, at the main office of BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. (the “Administrative
Agent”), as Administrative Agent under the Agreement (hereinafter
defined) in Chicago, Illinois, or at such other place as the holder hereof may
designate in writing, the principal sum of __________ Dollars ($), or the
aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Revolving Loans made by the Lender to
Borrower pursuant to Article II of the Agreement, in lawful money of the United
States of America and in immediately available funds, together with interest on
the unpaid principal balance existing from time to time at the per annum rates
and on the dates set forth in the Agreement. Borrower shall pay the
principal and accrued and unpaid interest on the Revolving Loans in full on the
Commitment Termination Date and shall make such mandatory payments as are
required to be made under the terms of Article II of the Agreement.
The
Lender shall, and is hereby authorized to, record on any schedule attached
hereto, or to otherwise record in accordance with its usual practice, the date
and amount of each Revolving Loan under this Note and the date and amount of
each principal payment hereunder.
This Note
is issued pursuant to, is entitled to the benefit of, and is subject to the
provisions of that certain Credit Agreement dated as of September 11, 2008
among Borrower, Vectren Corporation, the lenders party thereto, including the
Lender, and Bank of America, N.A., as the Administrative Agent for the Lenders
(as the same may be amended from time to time, the “Agreement”), to which
Agreement reference is hereby made for a statement of the terms and conditions
governing this Note, including, without limitation, the terms and conditions
under which this Note may be prepaid or its maturity date
accelerated. This Note is guaranteed, as more specifically described
in the Agreement, and reference is made thereto for a statement of the terms and
provisions thereof. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise
defined herein are used with the meanings attributed to them in the
Agreement.
Subject
to any applicable grace or cure period set forth in the Agreement, if Borrower
fails to make the payment of any installment of principal or interest, as
provided in the Agreement, or upon the occurrence of any other Default, then in
any of such events, or at any time thereafter prior to such Default being cured,
the entire principal balance of this Note, and all accrued and unpaid interest
thereon, irrespective of the maturity date specified herein or in the Agreement,
together with reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs incurred in collecting
or enforcing payment or performance hereof and with interest from the date of
Default on the unpaid principal balance hereof at the Default rate specified in
Section 2.11 of the Agreement, shall, at the election of the Required
Lenders (except as otherwise provided for automatic acceleration on the
occurrence of certain Defaults specified in the Agreement), and without relief
from valuation and appraisement laws, become immediately due and
payable.
A-1
Borrower
and all endorsers, guarantors, sureties, accommodation parties hereof and all
other parties liable or to become liable for all or any part of this
indebtedness, severally waive demand, presentment for payment, notice of
dishonor, protest and notice of protest and expressly agree that this Note and
any payment coming due under it may be extended or otherwise modified from time
to time without in any way affecting their liability hereunder.
Notice of
acceptance of this Note by the Lender is hereby waived.
BORROWER,
AFTER CONSULTING OR HAVING HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSULT WITH COUNSEL,
KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL
BY JURY IN ANY LITIGATION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS NOTE OR ANY OTHER
LOAN DOCUMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS NOTE OR ANY COURSE
OF CONDUCT, DEALING, STATEMENTS, WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN, OR ACTIONS OF BORROWER
OR ANY OF THE LENDERS. BORROWER SHALL NOT SEEK TO CONSOLIDATE, BY
COUNTERCLAIM OR OTHERWISE, ANY ACTION IN WHICH A JURY TRIAL HAS BEEN WAIVED WITH
ANY OTHER ACTION IN WHICH A JURY TRIAL CANNOT BE OR HAS NOT BEEN
WAIVED. THESE PROVISIONS SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN MODIFIED IN
ANY RESPECT OR RELINQUISHED BY THE LENDERS EXCEPT BY WRITTEN INSTRUMENT EXECUTED
BY BORROWER, THE LENDER AND THE OTHER LENDERS.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, Borrower has caused this Note to be executed by its duly
authorized officer as of the day and year first hereinabove
written.
VECTREN
CAPITAL, CORP.
|
By:
|
Its:
|
A-2
SCHEDULE OF REVOLVING
LOANS
AND PAYMENTS OF
PRINCIPAL
BORROWER: VECTREN
CAPITAL, CORP.
NOTE
DATED: _________,
200_
Date
|
Principal
Amount
of
Loan
|
Type
of
Loan
|
Maturity
of
Interest
Period
|
Amount
of
Principal
Repaid
|
Unpaid
Balance
|
Maturity
|
A-3
EXHIBIT
B
FORM OF BORROWING
NOTICE
Date: ___________,
_____
To:
|
Bank
of America, N.A., as Administrative
Agent
|
|
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
|
Reference
is made to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of September 11, 2008 (as amended, restated,
extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the
“Agreement;”
the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among Vectren
Capital, Corp. (the “Borrower”), Vectren
Corporation (the “Guarantor”), the
Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as
Administrative Agent and LC Issuer.
The
undersigned hereby requests (select one):
o A
conversion or continuation of an
Advance
|
1.
|
On
|
(a Business Day).
|
||||
2.
|
In
the amount of $
|
.
|
||||
3.
|
Comprised
of
|
.
|
||||
[Type
of Advance requested]
|
||||||
4.
|
For
Eurodollar Advances: with an Interest Period of ______
months.
|
The
Advance requested herein complies with the limitations contained in the second
sentence of Section
2.1 of the Agreement.
VECTREN
CAPITAL, CORP.
|
||
By:
|
||
Name:
|
||
Title:
|
B-1
EXHIBIT
C
FORM OF COMPLIANCE
CERTIFICATE
To: The
Lenders parties to the
Credit Agreement Described
Below
This
Compliance Certificate is furnished pursuant to that certain Credit Agreement
dated as of September 11, 2008 (as amended, modified, renewed or extended
from time to time, the “Agreement”) among
VECTREN CAPITAL, CORP. (“Borrower”), VECTREN
CORPORATION, the lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as
Administrative Agent for the Lenders. Unless otherwise defined
herein, capitalized terms used in this Compliance Certificate have the meanings
ascribed thereto in the Agreement.
THE
UNDERSIGNED HEREBY CERTIFIES THAT:
1.
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I
am the duly elected _____________ of Borrower;
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2.
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I
have reviewed the terms of the Agreement and I have made, or have caused
to be made under my supervision, a detailed review of the transactions and
conditions of Borrower and its Subsidiaries during the accounting period
covered by the attached financial statements;
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3.
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The
examinations described in paragraph 2 did not disclose, and I have no
knowledge of, the existence of any condition or event which constitutes a
Default or Unmatured Default during or at the end of the accounting period
covered by the attached financial statements or as of the date of this
Certificate, except as set forth below; and
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4.
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Schedule
I attached hereto sets forth financial data and computations evidencing
compliance with certain covenants of the Agreement, all of which data and
computations are true, complete and
correct.
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Described
below are the exceptions, if any, to paragraph 3 by listing, in detail, the
nature of the condition or event, the period during which it has existed and the
action which Borrower has taken, is taking, or proposes to take with respect to
each such condition or event:
The
foregoing certifications, together with the computations set forth in Schedule I
hereto and the financial statements delivered with this Certificate in support
hereof, are made and delivered this day
of_________, _____.
VECTREN
CAPITAL, CORP.
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By:
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Its:
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C-1
SCHEDULE
I TO COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
Compliance
as of ______, ____ with
Provisions
of ____and ____ of
the
Agreement
C-2
EXHIBIT
D
[INTENTIONALLY
OMITTED]
D-1
EXHIBIT
E
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND
ASSUMPTION
This
Assignment and Assumption (this “Assignment and
Assumption”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is
entered into by and between [the][each]1 Assignor identified in item 1 below
([the][each, an] “Assignor”) and
[the][each]2 Assignee identified in item 2 below
([the][each, an] “Assignee”). [It
is understood and agreed that the rights and obligations of [the Assignors][the
Assignees]3 hereunder are several and not joint.]4 Capitalized terms used but not
defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement
identified below (the “Credit Agreement”),
receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the
Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1
attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and
made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in
full.
For an
agreed consideration, [the][each] Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns
to [the Assignee][the respective Assignees], and [the][each] Assignee hereby
irrevocably purchases and assumes from [the Assignor][the respective Assignors],
subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the
Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Administrative Agent
as contemplated below (i) all of [the Assignor’s][the respective Assignors’]
rights and obligations in [its capacity as a Lender][their respective capacities
as Lenders] under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments
delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage
interest identified below of all of such outstanding rights and obligations of
[the Assignor][the respective Assignors] under the respective facilities
identified below (including, without limitation, the Letters of Credit included
in such facilities5) and (ii) to the extent permitted to be
assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other
right of [the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender)][the respective Assignors
(in their respective capacities as Lenders)] against any Person, whether known
or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement, any other
documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions
governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing,
including, but not limited to, contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims,
statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights
and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (i) above (the
rights and obligations sold and assigned by [the][any] Assignor to [the][any]
Assignee pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above being
referred to herein collectively as [the][an] “Assigned
Interest”). Each such sale and assignment is without recourse
to [the][any] Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and
Assumption, without representation or warranty by [the][any]
Assignor.
1. Assignor[s]: ______________________________
5 Include all applicable
subfacilities.
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2.
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Assignee[s]:
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[for
each Assignee, indicate [Affiliate][Approved Fund] of [identify
Lender]]
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3.
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Borrower(s):
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4.
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Administrative Agent: Bank of America,
N.A., as the administrative agent under the Credit
Agreement
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5.
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Credit Agreement:
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Credit
Agreement, dated as of September 11, 2008, among Vectren Capital, Corp.,
Vectren Corporation, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank
of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent and LC Issuer
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6.
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Assigned Interest[s]:
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Assignor[s]6
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Assignee[s]7
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Facility
Assigned8
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Aggregate
Amount
of
Commitment/Loans
for all Lenders9
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Amount
of
Commitment/Loans
Assigned
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Percentage
Assigned
of
Commitment/
Loans10
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CUSIP
Number
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____________
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$________________
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$_________
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____________%
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____________
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$________________
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$_________
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____________%
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____________
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$________________
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$_________
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____________%
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[7. Trade
Date: __________________]11
Effective
Date: __________________, 20__ [TO BE INSERTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH
SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER
THEREFOR.]
The terms
set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:
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ASSIGNOR
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[NAME
OF ASSIGNOR]
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By:
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Title:
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ASSIGNEE
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11 To be completed if the Assignor and
the Assignee intend that the minimum assignment amount is to be determined as of
the Trade Date.
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[NAME
OF ASSIGNEE]
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By:
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Title:
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[Consented
to and]12 Accepted:
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BANK
OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent
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By:
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Title:
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[Consented
to:]13
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By:
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Title:
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13 To be added only if the consent of
Borrower and/or other parties (e.g. LC Issuer) is required by the terms of the
Credit Agreement.
ANNEX
1 TO ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
[___________________]14
STANDARD
TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR
ASSIGNMENT
AND ASSUMPTION
1. Representations and
Warranties.
1.1. Assignor. [The][Each]
Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial
owner of [the][[the relevant] Assigned Interest, (ii) [the][such] Assigned
Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and
(iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to
execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect
to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection
with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the execution,
legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the
Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of
Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in
respect of any Loan Document or (iv) the performance or observance by Borrower,
any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their
respective obligations under any Loan Document.
1.2. Assignee. [The][Each]
Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority,
and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and
Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become
a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it meets all the requirements to be an
assignee under Sections 12.2.3,
12.2.5 and
12.2.6 of the
Credit Agreement (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under
Section 12.2.6
of the Credit Agreement), (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be
bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to
the extent of [the][the relevant] Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations
of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to
acquire assets of the type represented by [the][such] Assigned Interest and
either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to acquire
[the][such] Assigned Interest, is experienced in acquiring assets of such type,
(v) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, and has received or has been
accorded the opportunity to receive copies of the most recent financial
statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.1 thereof,
as applicable, and such other documents and information as it deems appropriate
to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and
Assumption and to purchase [the][such] Assigned Interest, (vi) it has,
independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other
Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate,
made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and
Assumption and to purchase [the][such] Assigned Interest, and (vii) if it is a
Foreign Lender, attached hereto is any documentation required to be delivered by
it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by
[the][such] Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without
reliance upon the Administrative Agent, [the][any] Assignor or any other Lender,
and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the
time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not
14 Describe Credit Agreement
at option of Administrative Agent.
taking
action under the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with
their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are
required to be performed by it as a Lender.
2. Payments. From
and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments
in respect of [the][each] Assigned Interest (including payments of principal,
interest, fees and other amounts) to [the][the relevant] Assignor for amounts
which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to [the][the
relevant] Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective
Date.
3. General
Provisions. This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding
upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective
successors and assigns. This Assignment and Assumption may be
executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one
instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page
of this Assignment and Assumption by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of
a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and
Assumption. This Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the law of the State of Illinois.
EXHIBIT
F
FORM OF INCREASE
REQUEST
__________________,
200____
Bank of
America, N.A., as Administrative Agent
under the
Credit Agreement referred to below
Ladies/Gentlemen:
Please
refer to the Credit Agreement dated as of September 11, 2008 among Vectren
Capital, Corp. (“Borrower”), Vectren
Corporation, as Guarantor, various financial institutions and Bank of America,
N.A., as Administrative Agent (as amended, modified, extended or restated from
time to time, the “Credit
Agreement”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein
have the respective meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement.
In
accordance with Section 2.19 of the Credit Agreement, Borrower hereby requests
an increase in the Aggregate Commitment from $__________ to
$__________. Such increase shall be made by [increasing the
Commitment of ____________ from $________ to $________] [adding _____________ as
a Lender under the Credit Agreement with a Commitment of $____________] as set
forth in the letter attached hereto. Such increase shall be effective
three Business Days after the date that the Administrative Agent accepts the
letter attached hereto or such other date as is agreed among Borrower, the
Administrative Agent and the [increasing] [new] Lender.
Very
truly yours,
VECTREN
CAPITAL, CORP.
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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F-1
Acknowledged. The
obligations of the
undersigned
under the Credit Agreement
(including
Article XIII
thereof) shall remain
in full
force and effect after the effectiveness
of the
foregoing increase in the Aggregate
Commitment.
VECTREN
CORPORATION, as Guarantor
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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F-2
ANNEX I
TO EXHIBIT F
_____,
200__
Bank of
America, N.A., as Administrative Agent
under the
Credit Agreement referred to below
Ladies/Gentlemen:
Please
refer to the letter dated __________, 200__ from Vectren Capital, Corp. (“Borrower”) requesting
an increase in the Aggregate Commitment from $__________ to $__________ pursuant
to Section 2.19 of the Credit Agreement dated as of September 11, 2008
among Borrower, Vectren Corporation, as Guarantor, various financial
institutions and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent (as amended,
modified, extended or restated from time to time, the “Credit
Agreement”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein
have the respective meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement.
The
undersigned hereby confirms that it has agreed to increase its Commitment under
the Credit Agreement from $__________ to $__________ effective on the date which
is three Business Days after the acceptance hereof by the Administrative Agent
or on such other date as may be agreed among Borrower, the Administrative Agent
and the undersigned.
Very
truly yours,
[NAME
OF INCREASING LENDER]
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By:
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Title:
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Accepted
as of
_________,
200__
BANK
OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as
Administrative Agent
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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F-3
ANNEX II
TO EXHIBIT F
_____,
200__
Bank of
America, N.A., as Administrative Agent
under the
Credit Agreement referred to below
Ladies/Gentlemen:
Please
refer to the letter dated __________, 200__ from Vectren Capital, Corp. (“Borrower”) requesting
an increase in the Aggregate Commitment from $__________ to $__________ pursuant
to Section 2.19 of the Credit Agreement dated as of September 11, 2008
among Borrower, various financial institutions and Bank of America, N.A., as
Administrative Agent (as amended, modified, extended or restated from time to
time, the “Credit
Agreement”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein
have the respective meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement.
The
undersigned hereby confirms that it has agreed to become a Lender under the
Credit Agreement with a Commitment of $__________ effective on the date which is
three Business Days after the acceptance hereof, and consent hereto, by the
Administrative Agent or on such other date as may be agreed among Borrower, the
Administrative Agent and the undersigned.
The
undersigned (a) acknowledges that it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement
and the Schedules and Exhibits thereto, together with copies of the most recent
financial statements delivered by Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement, and
such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its
own credit and legal analysis and decision to become a Lender under the Credit
Agreement; and (b) agrees that it will, independently and without reliance upon
the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and
information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own
credit and legal decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit
Agreement.
The
undersigned represents and warrants that (i) it is duly organized and existing
and it has full power and authority to take, and has taken, all action necessary
to execute and deliver this letter and to become a Lender under the Credit
Agreement; and (ii) no notice to, or consent, authorization or approval of, any
Person is required (other than any already given or obtained) for its due
execution and delivery of this letter and the performance of its obligations as
a Lender under the Credit Agreement.
The
undersigned agrees to execute and deliver such other instruments, and take such
other actions, as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this letter.
F-4
The
following administrative details apply to the undersigned:
(A)
|
Notice
Address:
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Legal
name:
|
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Address:
|
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Attention:
|
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Telephone:
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( )
|
||
Facsimile:
|
( )
|
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(B)
|
Payment
Instructions:
|
||
Account
No.:
|
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At:
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Reference:
|
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Attention:
|
The
undersigned acknowledges and agrees that, on the date on which the undersigned
becomes a Lender under the Credit Agreement as set forth in the second paragraph
hereof, the undersigned will be bound by the terms of the Credit Agreement as
fully and to the same extent as if the undersigned were an original Lender under
the Credit Agreement.
Very
truly yours,
[NAME
OF NEW LENDER]
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By:
|
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Title:
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F-5
Accepted
and consented to as of
______________,
200___
BANK
OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as
Administrative Agent
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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F-6