AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of January 30, 2009 among TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC., as the Company THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS PARTY HERETO, as Lenders, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and Issuing Lender, WELLS FARGO...
EXECUTION
VERSION
AMENDED
AND RESTATED
dated
as of January 30, 2009
among
TITAN
INTERNATIONAL, INC.,
as
the Company
THE
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS PARTY HERETO,
as
Lenders,
BANK
OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as
Administrative Agent,
and
Issuing
Lender,
XXXXX
FARGO BANK, N.A.,
as
Syndication Agent,
THE
PRIVATEBANK AND TRUST COMPANY,
as
Documentation Agent
and
BANC
OF AMERICA SECURITIES, LLC
as
Lead Arranger
SECTION
1 DEFINITIONS.
|
2
|
1.1 Definitions
|
2
|
1.2 Other Interpretive
Provisions
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24
|
SECTION
2 COMMITMENTS OF THE LENDERS; BORROWING, CONVERSION AND LETTER OF CREDIT
PROCEDURES.
|
25
|
2.1 Commitments
|
25
|
2.1.1 Revolving
Commitment
|
25
|
2.1.2 Increase in
Commitments.
|
25
|
2.1.3 L/C
Commitment
|
27
|
2.2 Loan
Procedures.
|
27
|
2.2.1 Various Types of
Loans
|
27
|
2.2.2 Borrowing
Procedures
|
27
|
2.2.3 Conversion and Continuation
Procedures
|
28
|
2.3 Letter of Credit
Procedures.
|
29
|
2.3.1 L/C
Applications
|
29
|
2.3.2 Participations in Letters
of Credit
|
30
|
2.3.3 Reimbursement
Obligations
|
30
|
2.3.4 Funding by Lenders to
Issuing Lender
|
31
|
2.3.5 Existing Letters of
Credit
|
32
|
2.4 Letter of Credit
Amounts
|
32
|
2.5 Commitments
Several
|
32
|
2.6 Certain
Conditions
|
32
|
SECTION
3 EVIDENCING OF LOANS.
|
32
|
3.1 Notes
|
32
|
3.2 Recordkeeping
|
32
|
SECTION
4 INTEREST.
|
33
|
4.1 Interest
Rates
|
33
|
4.2 Interest Payment
Dates
|
33
|
4.3 Setting and Notice of LIBOR
Rates
|
33
|
4.4 Computation of
Interest
|
34
|
4.5 Interest under Existing
Credit Agreement
|
34
|
SECTION
5 FEES.
|
34
|
5.1 Non-Use Fee
|
34
|
5.2 Letter of Credit
Fees
|
34
|
5.3 Administrative Agent’s and
Lenders’ Fees
|
35
|
5.4 Fees, Charges and Expenses
under Existing Credit Agreement
|
35
|
SECTION
6 REDUCTION OR TERMINATION OF THE REVOLVING COMMITMENT;
PREPAYMENTS.
|
35
|
6.1 Reduction or Termination of
the Revolving Commitment.
|
35
|
6.1.1 Voluntary Reduction or
Termination of the Revolving Commitment
|
35
|
6.1.2 Mandatory Reductions of
Revolving Commitment
|
35
|
6.1.3 All Reductions of the
Revolving Commitment
|
36
|
6.2 Prepayments.
|
36
|
6.2.1 Voluntary
Prepayments
|
36
|
6.3 Manner of
Prepayments
|
37
|
6.3.1 All
Prepayments
|
37
|
6.4 Repayments.
|
37
|
6.4.1 Revolving
Loans
|
37
|
SECTION
7 MAKING AND PRORATION OF PAYMENTS; SETOFF; TAXES.
|
37
|
7.1 Making of
Payments
|
37
|
7.2 Application of Certain
Payments
|
38
|
7.3 Due Date
Extension
|
38
|
7.4 Setoff
|
38
|
7.5 Proration of
Payments
|
38
|
7.6 Taxes.
|
39
|
SECTION
8 INCREASED COSTS; SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR LIBOR LOANS.
|
41
|
8.1 Increased
Costs
|
41
|
8.2 Basis for Determining
Interest Rate Inadequate or Unfair
|
42
|
8.3 Changes in Law Rendering
LIBOR Loans Unlawful
|
42
|
8.4 Funding
Losses
|
43
|
8.5 Right of Lenders to Fund
through Other Offices
|
43
|
8.6 Discretion of Lenders as to
Manner of Funding
|
44
|
8.7 Mitigation of Circumstances;
Replacement of Lenders
|
44
|
8.8 Conclusiveness of Statements;
Survival of Provisions
|
44
|
SECTION
9 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.
|
45
|
9.1 Organization
|
45
|
9.2 Authorization; No
Conflict
|
45
|
9.3 Validity and Binding
Nature
|
45
|
9.4 Financial
Condition
|
45
|
9.5 No Material Adverse
Change
|
46
|
9.6 Litigation and Contingent
Liabilities
|
46
|
9.7 Ownership of Properties;
Liens
|
46
|
9.8 Equity Ownership;
Subsidiaries
|
46
|
9.9 Pension Plans
|
46
|
9.10 Investment Company
Act
|
47
|
9.11 Regulation U
|
47
|
9.12 Taxes
|
47
|
9.13 Solvency,
etc
|
48
|
9.14 Environmental
Matters
|
48
|
9.15 Insurance
|
48
|
9.16 Real
Property
|
49
|
9.17 Information
|
49
|
9.18 Intellectual
Property
|
49
|
9.19 Burdensome
Obligations
|
50
|
9.20 Labor
Matters
|
50
|
9.21 No Default
|
50
|
9.22 Subordinated
Debt
|
50
|
9.23 Subsidiary
Assets
|
50
|
SECTION
10 AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.
|
50
|
10.1 Reports, Certificates and
Other Information
|
50
|
10.1.1 Annual
Report
|
50
|
10.1.2 Interim
Reports
|
50
|
10.1.3 Compliance
Certificates
|
51
|
10.1.4 Notice of Default,
Litigation and ERISA Matters
|
51
|
10.1.5 Borrowing Base
Certificates
|
52
|
10.1.6 Management Recommendation
Reports
|
52
|
10.1.7 Budgets
|
52
|
10.1.8 Senior Notes, Subordinated
Debt and Other Material Debt Notices
|
53
|
10.1.9 Other
Information
|
53
|
10.2 Books, Records and
Inspections
|
53
|
10.3 Maintenance of Property;
Insurance.
|
53
|
10.4 Compliance with Laws;
Payment of Taxes and Liabilities
|
55
|
10.5 Maintenance of Existence,
etc
|
55
|
10.6 Use of
Proceeds
|
55
|
10.7 Employee Benefit
Plans.
|
55
|
10.8 Environmental
Matters
|
56
|
10.9 Further
Assurances
|
56
|
10.10 Deposit
Accounts
|
57
|
10.12 Syndication
|
57
|
10.13 Appraisals
|
57
|
10.14 Immaterial Subsidiaries’
Assets
|
58
|
10.15 Escrow
|
58
|
SECTION
11 NEGATIVE COVENANTS
|
58
|
11.1 Debt
|
58
|
11.2 Liens
|
59
|
11.3 Operating
Leases
|
60
|
11.4 Restricted
Payments
|
60
|
11.5 Mergers, Consolidations,
Sales
|
61
|
11.6 Modification of
Organizational Documents
|
62
|
11.7 Transactions with
Affiliates
|
62
|
11.8 Unconditional Purchase
Obligations
|
62
|
11.9 Inconsistent
Agreements
|
62
|
11.10 Business Activities;
Issuance of Equity
|
63
|
11.11 Investments
|
63
|
11.12 Restriction of Amendments
to Certain Documents
|
64
|
11.13 Fiscal Year
|
64
|
11.14 Financial
Covenants.
|
64
|
11.14.1 Intentionally
Omitted.
|
64
|
11.14.2 Fixed Charge Coverage
Ratio
|
64
|
11.14.3 Collateral
Coverage
|
64
|
11.14.4 Cancellation of
Debt
|
64
|
11.15 ERISA
|
65
|
11.16 Inventory
|
65
|
11.17 Restricted
Subsidiaries
|
65
|
SECTION
12 EFFECTIVENESS; CONDITIONS OF LENDING, ETC.
|
65
|
12.1
Effectiveness
|
65
|
12.1.1 Notes
|
65
|
12.1.2 Authorization
Documents
|
65
|
12.1.3 Consents,
etc
|
65
|
12.1.4
Reaffirmation
|
66
|
12.1.5
Assignments
|
66
|
12.1.6 Real Estate
Documents
|
66
|
12.1.7 Opinions of
Counsel
|
66
|
12.1.8 Insurance
|
66
|
12.1.9
Subordination
|
66
|
12.1.10 Payment of
Fees
|
66
|
12.1.11
Compliance
|
67
|
12.1.12 Search Results; Lien
Terminations
|
67
|
12.1.13 Filings, Registrations
and Recordings
|
67
|
12.1.14 Borrowing Base
Certificate
|
67
|
12.1.15 Closing
Certificate
|
67
|
12.1.16 Prior Lender
Consents
|
67
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12.1.17 Other
|
67
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12.2 Conditions
|
67
|
12.2.1 Compliance with
Warranties, No Default, etc
|
67
|
12.2.2 Confirmatory
Certificate
|
68
|
SECTION
13 EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND THEIR EFFECT.
|
68
|
13.1 Events of
Default
|
68
|
13.1.1 Non-Payment of the Loans,
etc
|
68
|
13.1.2 Non-Payment of Other
Debt
|
68
|
13.1.3 Other Material
Obligations
|
68
|
13.1.4 Bankruptcy, Insolvency,
etc
|
69
|
13.1.5 Non-Compliance with Loan
Documents
|
69
|
13.1.6 Representations;
Warranties
|
69
|
13.1.7 Pension
Plans
|
69
|
13.1.8 Judgments
|
69
|
13.1.9 Invalidity of Collateral
Documents, etc
|
69
|
13.1.10 Invalidity of
Subordination Provisions, etc
|
70
|
13.1.11 Change of
Control
|
70
|
13.1.12 Material Adverse
Effect
|
70
|
13.2 Effect of Event of
Default
|
70
|
SECTION
14 THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT.
|
71
|
14.1 Appointment and
Authorization
|
71
|
14.2 Issuing
Lender
|
71
|
14.3 Delegation of
Duties
|
71
|
14.4 Exculpation of
Administrative Agent
|
71
|
14.5 Reliance by Administrative
Agent
|
72
|
14.6 Notice of
Default
|
72
|
14.7 Credit
Decision
|
73
|
14.8
Indemnification
|
73
|
14.9 Administrative Agent in
Individual Capacity
|
74
|
14.10 Successor Administrative
Agent
|
74
|
14.11 Collateral
Matters
|
75
|
14.12 Administrative Agent May
File Proofs of Claim
|
75
|
14.13 Other Agents; Arrangers and
Managers
|
76
|
SECTION
15 GENERAL.
|
76
|
15.1 Waiver, Amendments and
Replacement of Lenders.
|
76
|
15.2
Confirmations
|
77
|
15.3 Notices
|
78
|
15.4 Computations
|
78
|
15.5 Costs, Expenses and
Taxes
|
78
|
15.6 Assignments;
Participations.
|
79
|
15.6.1
Assignments
|
79
|
15.6.2
Participations
|
80
|
15.7 Register
|
81
|
15.8 GOVERNING
LAW
|
81
|
15.9
Confidentiality
|
81
|
15.10
Severability
|
82
|
15.11 Nature of
Remedies
|
82
|
15.12 Entire
Agreement
|
82
|
15.13
Counterparts
|
83
|
15.14 Successors and
Assigns
|
83
|
15.15 Captions
|
83
|
15.16 Customer Identification -
USA Patriot Act Notice
|
83
|
15.17 INDEMNIFICATION BY THE
COMPANY
|
83
|
15.18 Nonliability of
Lenders
|
84
|
15.19 FORUM SELECTION AND CONSENT
TO JURISDICTION
|
85
|
15.20 WAIVER OF JURY
TRIAL
|
86
|
15.21 Return of Old
Notes
|
86
|
15.22 Amendment and
Restatement.
|
86
|
ANNEXES
ANNEX
A Lenders
and Pro Rata Shares
ANNEX
B Addresses
for Notices
ANNEX
C Prior
Lenders
SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE
1.1 Immaterial
Subsidiaries
SCHEDULE
2.3.5 Existing
Letters of Credit
SCHEDULE
9.6 Litigation
and Contingent Liabilities
SCHEDULE
9.8 Subsidiaries
SCHEDULE
9.13 Solvency
SCHEDULE
9.15 Insurance
SCHEDULE
9.16 Real
Property
SCHEDULE
9.20 Labor
Matters
SCHEDULE
9.23 Subsidiary
Assets
SCHEDULE
11.1 Existing
Debt
SCHEDULE
11.2 Existing
Liens
SCHEDULE
11.7 Affiliate
Transactions
SCHEDULE
11.11 Investments
EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT
A Form
of Amended and Restated Note (Section 3.1)
EXHIBIT
B Form
of Compliance Certificate (Section 10.1.3)
EXHIBIT
C Form
of Borrowing Base Certificate (Section 1.1)
EXHIBIT
D Form
of Assignment Agreement (Section 15.6.1)
EXHIBIT
E Form
of Notice of Borrowing (Section 2.2.2)
EXHIBIT
F Form
of Notice of Conversion/Continuation (Section 2.2.3)
AMENDED AND
RESTATED
THIS
AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) dated as
of January 30, 2009 is entered into among TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC. (the “Company”), the
financial institutions that are or may from time to time become parties hereto
(together with their respective successors and assigns, the “Lenders”) and BANK OF
AMERICA, N.A. (as successor by merger to LaSalle Bank National Association) (in
its individual capacity, “Bank of America” and
as administrative agent for the Lenders, “Administrative
Agent”).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Company, LaSalle Bank
National Association (“LaSalle”), General
Electric Capital Corporation (“GE Capital”) as
co-agents and certain financial institutions (the “Existing Lenders”)
entered into a certain Credit Agreement dated on or about July 23, 2004, as
amended (as in effect prior to giving effect to this Agreement, the “Existing Credit
Agreement”) and the Loan Documents (as defined in the Existing Credit
Agreement, the “Existing Loan
Documents”) pursuant to which the Existing Lenders made available to the
Company revolving loans (the “Existing Revolving
Loans”);
WHEREAS, the Company, the Existing
Lenders and LaSalle subsequently entered into five (5) amendments to the
Existing Credit Agreement whereby various terms and conditions of the Existing
Credit Agreement were amended and revised including, inter alia, removing GE
Capital as co-agent and increasing the Revolving Commitment from $100,000,000 to
$250,000,000 (collectively, the “Existing Credit Agreement
Amendments”);
WHEREAS, in order to secure all
Obligations (as hereinafter defined) under and as defined in the Existing Credit
Agreement, the Company and certain of its Subsidiaries have pledged and have
granted to Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and
the Lenders, a security interest in and lien upon certain of their personal and
real property as described in the Existing Loan Documents (the “Existing
Collateral”);
WHEREAS,
the Company, the Administrative Agent and the Existing Lenders (other than those
set forth on Annex
C) now desire to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement in its
entirety so as to (i) set forth in one document all of the terms and conditions
of the Existing Credit Agreement as modified by the Existing Credit Agreement
Amendments, and (ii) make some additional and further modifications thereto,
including, but not limited to, providing for an accordion feature to the
Revolving Commitment with a minimum amount of $150,000,000 and
a
maximum
amount of $250,000,000, to be increased in $50,000,000 increments, as provided
herein; and
WHEREAS,
Loan Parties, Lenders and Administrative Agent intend that (i) the Obligations
under and as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement shall continue to exist
under, and to be evidenced by, this Agreement, (ii) the Existing Revolving Loans
shall be Loans under and as defined in this Agreement, and (iii) the Existing
Collateral shall continue to secure the Obligations (as hereinafter
defined).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the
mutual covenants and obligations set out herein, and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the
Company, the Lenders and Administrative Agent agree that the Existing Credit
Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as
follows:
SECTION
1 DEFINITIONS.
1.1 Definitions. When
used herein the following terms shall have the following meanings:
Account Debtor is
defined in the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement.
Account or Accounts
is defined in the UCC.
Accumulated Net
Income means, as of any date of determination, the accumulated total (but
not less than zero) of the Company’s Consolidated Net Income for the period from
January 1, 2008 to the end of the most recently completed fiscal year of the
Company for which the financial statements described in Section 10.1.1 have
been delivered, treating such period as a single accounting period.
Acquisition means any
transaction or series of related transactions for the purpose of or resulting,
directly or indirectly, in (a) the acquisition of all or substantially all of
the assets of a Person, or of all or substantially all of any business or
division of a Person, (b) the acquisition of in excess of 50% of the Capital
Securities of any Person, or otherwise causing any Person to become a Subsidiary
or (c) a merger or consolidation or any other combination with another Person
(other than a Person that is already a Subsidiary).
Adjusted Borrowing
Base means the Borrowing Base less that portion thereof attributable to
the Orderly Liquidation Value of Equipment.
Administrative Agent
means Bank of America, as successor by merger to LaSalle, in its capacity as
administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder and any successor thereto in such
capacity.
2
Affected Loan - see
Section
8.3.
Affiliate of any
Person means (a) any other Person which, directly or indirectly, controls or is
controlled by or is under common control with such Person, (b) any officer or
director of such Person and (c) with respect to any Lender, any entity
administered or managed by such Lender or an Affiliate or investment advisor
thereof and which is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise
investing in commercial loans. A Person shall be deemed to be
“controlled by” any other Person if such Person possesses, directly or
indirectly, power to vote 10% or more of the securities (on a fully diluted
basis) having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or managers or
power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such
Person whether by contract or otherwise. Unless expressly stated
otherwise herein, neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall be
deemed an Affiliate of any Loan Party.
Agreement - see the
Preamble.
Applicable Margin
means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to: (i) for LIBOR Loans,
the LIBOR Margin and (ii) for Base Rate Loans, the Base Rate
Margin.
Asset Disposition
means the sale, lease, assignment or other transfer for value (each, a “Disposition”) by any
Loan Party to any Person (other than a Loan Party) of any asset or right of such
Loan Party (including, the loss, destruction or damage of any thereof or any
actual or threatened (in writing to any Loan Party) condemnation, confiscation,
requisition, seizure or taking thereof) other than (a) the Disposition of any
asset which is to be replaced, and is in fact replaced, within 180 days with
other like assets, and (b) the sale or lease of Inventory in the ordinary course
of business.
Assignee - see Section
15.6.1.
Assignment Agreement
- see Section
15.6.1.
Attorney Costs means,
with respect to any Person, all reasonable fees and charges of any counsel to
such Person, the reasonable allocable cost of internal legal services of such
Person, all reasonable disbursements of such internal counsel and all court
costs and similar legal expenses.
Available Amount
means, on any date of determination (a) the sum of (i) $50,000,000 plus (ii) fifty
percent (50%) of Accumulated Net Income on such date minus (b) the sum of
(i) all Permitted Redemptions made on or after January 1, 2008 plus (ii) all
Permitted Minority Investments made on or after January 1, 2008.
Availability
Percentage means the numerical percentage equivalent of the fraction, the
numerator of which is the Revolving Outstandings and the denominator of which is
the Adjusted Borrowing Base based upon, and determined as of the date of, the
most recent Borrowing Base
3
Certificate
furnished by the Company to the Administrative Agent from time to time and as of
the date of any request by Company for a Revolving Loan.
Bank of America – see
the Preamble.
Bank Product
Agreements means those certain cash management service agreements entered
into from time to time between any Loan Party and a Lender or its Affiliates in
connection with any of the Bank Products.
Bank Product
Obligations means all obligations, liabilities, contingent reimbursement
obligations, fees, and expenses owing by the Loan Parties to any Lender or its
Affiliates pursuant to or evidenced by the Bank Product Agreements and
irrespective of whether for the payment of money, whether direct or indirect,
absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising,
and including all such amounts that a Loan Party is obligated to reimburse to
the Administrative Agent or any Lender as a result of the Administrative Agent
or such Lender purchasing participations or executing indemnities or
reimbursement obligations with respect to the Bank Products provided to the Loan
Parties pursuant to the Bank Product Agreements.
Bank Products means
any service or facility extended to any Loan Party by any Lender or its
Affiliates including: (a) credit cards, (b) credit card processing
services, (c) debit cards, (d) purchase cards, (e) ACH Transactions, (f) cash
management, including controlled disbursement, accounts or services, or (g)
Hedging Agreements.
Base Rate means, for
any day, a rate per annum equal to the sum of (a) the highest of (i) the
Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%, (ii) the
Prime Rate; and (iii) except during a LIBOR Unavailability Period, the LIBOR
Rate plus
2.00%, plus (b)
the Market Disruption Spread, if any.
Base Rate Loan means
any Loan which bears interest at or by reference to the Base Rate.
Base Rate Margin
means the rate per annum in effect and subject to adjustment from time to time
as set forth in the Pricing Grid.
Borrowing Base means
an amount equal to the total of (a) 75% of the book value of
all Eligible Accounts plus (b) 50% of
the book value of all Eligible Inventory plus (c) 80% of the
Orderly Liquidation Value of Equipment. Upon the request of the
Company and the receipt by Lenders of acceptable field exams, Lenders may, in
their sole discretion, increase such advance rates.
Borrowing Base
Certificate means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit
C.
4
Brownsville Facility
means that facility currently owned and occupied by Titan Tire Corporation of
Texas as its principal place of business, located at 0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx.
Bryan Facility means
that facility currently owned and occupied by Titan Tire Corporation of Bryan as
its principal place of business located at 000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx,
Xxxx.
BSA - see Section
10.4.
Business Day means
any day on which Bank of America is open for commercial banking business in
Chicago, Illinois and, in the case of a Business Day which relates to a LIBOR
Loan or the LIBOR Rate, on which dealings are carried on in the London interbank
eurodollar market.
Capital Expenditures
means all expenditures which, in accordance with GAAP, would be required to be
capitalized and shown on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company,
including expenditures in respect of Capital Leases, but excluding expenditures
made in connection with (a) the Giant OTR Project and (b) the replacement,
substitution or restoration of assets to the extent financed (i) from insurance
proceeds (or other similar recoveries) paid on account of the loss of or damage
to the assets being replaced or restored or (ii) with awards of compensation
arising from the taking by eminent domain or condemnation of the assets being
replaced.
Capital Lease means,
with respect to any Person, any lease of (or other agreement conveying the right
to use) any real or personal property by such Person that, in conformity with
GAAP, is accounted for as a capital lease on the balance sheet of such
Person.
Capital Securities
means, with respect to any Person, all shares, interests, participations or
other equivalents (however designated, whether voting or non-voting) of such
Person’s capital, whether now outstanding or issued or acquired after the
Restatement Date, including common shares, preferred shares, membership
interests in a limited liability company, limited or general partnership
interests in a partnership, interests in a Trust, interests in other
unincorporated organizations or any other equivalent of such ownership
interest.
Cash Collateralize
means to deliver one hundred five percent (105%) of the L/C Obligations from
time to time outstanding to the Administrative Agent, to be held as cash
collateral for the L/C Obligations, pursuant to documentation satisfactory to
the Administrative Agent. Derivatives of such term have corresponding
meanings.
Change of Control
means any of the following: (a) any person or group of persons
(within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) shall
have acquired beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated
by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended) of 30% or more
5
of the
issued and outstanding shares of Capital Securities of the Company have the
right to vote for the election of directors of the Company under ordinary
circumstances; (b) during any period of twelve (12) consecutive calendar months,
individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the board of
directors of the Company (together with any new directors whose election by the
board of directors of the Company or whose nomination for election by the
stockholders of the Company was approved by a vote of a least two-thirds of the
directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of
such period or whose elections or nomination for election was previously so
approved) cease for any reason other than retirement, death or disability to
constitute a majority of the directors then in office, or (c) the Company shall
cease to own and control, directly or indirectly, all of the economic and voting
rights associated with all of the outstanding Capital Securities of any Domestic
Subsidiary.
Closing Date means
the closing date under the Existing Credit Agreement, which was July 23,
2004.
Code means the
Internal Revenue Code, as amended.
Collateral Access
Agreement means an agreement in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent pursuant to which a mortgagee or lessor
of real property on which collateral is stored or otherwise located, or a
warehouseman, processor or other bailee of Inventory or other property owned by
any Loan Party, acknowledges the Liens of the Administrative Agent and waives
any Liens held by such Person on such property, and, in the case of any such
agreement with a mortgagee or lessor, permits the Administrative Agent
reasonable access to and use of such real property following the occurrence and
during the continuance of an Event of Default to assemble, complete and sell any
collateral stored or otherwise located thereon.
Collateral Documents
means, collectively, the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement, each Mortgage, each
Collateral Access Agreement, each Perfection Certificate, each control agreement
and any other agreement or instrument pursuant to which the Company, any
Subsidiary or any other Person grants or purports to grant collateral to the
Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders or otherwise relates to such
collateral.
Commitment means, as
to any Lender, such Lender’s commitment to make Loans and to issue or
participate in Letters of Credit, under this Agreement. The amount of
each Lender’s Commitment to make Loans is set forth on Annex A attached
hereto as may be amended, if at all, and attached hereto from time to
time.
Common Stock means
the existing class of common stock of the Company.
Company - see the
Preamble.
6
Compliance
Certificate means a Compliance Certificate in substantially the form of
Exhibit
B.
Computation Period
means each period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending on the last day of
a Fiscal Quarter.
Consolidated Net
Income means, with respect to the Company for any period, as computed on
a consolidated basis, the net income (or loss) of the Loan Parties for such
period excluding any gains or losses from Asset Dispositions, any extraordinary
gains or losses and any gains or losses from discontinued
operations.
Contingent Liability
means, with respect to any Person, each obligation and liability of such Person
and all such obligations and liabilities of such Person incurred pursuant to any
agreement, undertaking or arrangement by which such Person: (a)
guarantees, endorses or otherwise becomes or is contingently liable upon (by
direct or indirect agreement, contingent or otherwise, to provide funds for
payment, to supply funds to, or otherwise to invest in, a debtor, or otherwise
to assure a creditor against loss) the indebtedness, dividend, obligation or
other liability of any other Person in any manner (other than by endorsement of
instruments in the course of collection), including any indebtedness, dividend
or other obligation which may be issued or incurred at some future time; (b)
guarantees the payment of dividends or other distributions upon the Capital
Securities of any other Person; (c) undertakes or agrees (whether contingently
or otherwise): (i) to purchase, repurchase, or otherwise acquire any
indebtedness, obligation or liability of any other Person or any property or
assets constituting security therefor, (ii) to advance or provide funds for the
payment or discharge of any indebtedness, obligation or liability of any other
Person (whether in the form of loans, advances, stock purchases, capital
contributions or otherwise), or to maintain solvency, assets, level of income,
working capital or other financial condition of any other Person, or (iii) to
make payment to any other Person other than for value received; (d) agrees to
lease property or to purchase securities, property or services from such other
Person with the purpose or intent of assuring the owner of such indebtedness or
obligation of the ability of such other Person to make payment of the
indebtedness or obligation; (e) to induce the issuance of, or in connection with
the issuance of, any letter of credit for the benefit of such other Person; or
(f) undertakes or agrees otherwise to assure a creditor against
loss. The amount of any Contingent Liability shall (subject to any
limitation set forth herein) be deemed to be the outstanding principal amount
(or maximum permitted principal amount, if larger) of the indebtedness,
obligation or other liability guaranteed or supported thereby.
Controlled Group
means all members of a controlled group of corporations, all members of a
controlled group of trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under
common control and all members of an affiliated service group which, together
with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, are treated as a single employer
under Section 414 of the Code or Section 4001 of ERISA.
7
Debt of any Loan
Party means, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of such Loan Party, (b)
all borrowed money of such Loan Party, whether or not evidenced by bonds,
debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Loan Party
as lessee under Capital Leases which have been or should be recorded as
liabilities on a balance sheet of such Loan Party in accordance with GAAP, (d)
all obligations of such Loan Party to pay the deferred purchase price of
property or services (excluding trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of
business), (e) all indebtedness secured by a Lien on the property of such Loan
Party, whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Loan
Party; provided
that if such Loan Party has not assumed or otherwise become liable for such
indebtedness, such indebtedness shall be measured at the fair market value of
such property securing such indebtedness at the time of determination, (f) all
obligations, contingent or otherwise, with respect to the face amount of all
letters of credit (whether or not drawn), bankers’ acceptances and similar
obligations issued for the account of such Loan Party (including the Letters of
Credit), (g) all Hedging Obligations of such Loan Party, (h) all Contingent
Liabilities of such Loan Party and (i) all Debt of any partnership of which such
Loan Party is a general partner.
Default means any
event that, if it continues uncured, will, with lapse of time or notice or both,
constitute an Event of Default.
Defaulting Lender
means any Lender that (a) has failed to fund any portion of the Loans or
participations in L/C 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 by the Administrative Agent which shall immediately notify the
Company upon making such determination, or become the subject of a bankruptcy or
insolvency proceeding.
Designated Proceeds -
see Section
6.2.2(a).
Domestic Subsidiaries
means any Subsidiary of the Company (excluding any Immaterial Subsidiary)
organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof, including,
but not limited to, Titan Tire Corporation, an Illinois corporation, Titan Tire
Corporation of Freeport, an Illinois corporation, Titan Tire Corporation of
Xxxxx, an Ohio corporation, Titan Wheel Corporation of Illinois, an Illinois
corporation and Titan Wheel Corporation of Virginia, a Virginia
corporation.
Dollar and the sign
“$” mean lawful
money of the United States of America.
EBIT means, for any
period, Consolidated Net Income for such period plus all amounts
deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income amount for such period for
Interest Expense and for foreign, federal, state and local income tax
expense.
8
EBITDA means, for any
period, Consolidated Net Income for such period plus, to the extent
deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income, Interest Expense, federal,
state and local income tax expense, depreciation and amortization for such
period.
Eligible Account
means an Account owing to the Company or any Domestic Subsidiary which meets
each of the following requirements:
(a) it
arises from the sale or lease of goods or the rendering of services which have
been fully performed by the Company or the applicable Domestic
Subsidiary;
(b) it
(i) is, subject to a perfected, first priority Lien in favor of the
Administrative Agent and (ii) is not subject to any other assignment, claim or
Lien;
(c) it
is a valid, legally enforceable and unconditional obligation of the Account
Debtor with respect thereto, and is not subject to the fulfillment of any
condition whatsoever or any counterclaim, set off, or adjustment by the Account
Debtor outside of the ordinary course of business with respect
thereto;
(d) there
is no bankruptcy, insolvency or liquidation proceeding pending by or against the
Account Debtor with respect thereto;
(e) the
Account Debtor (except for Titan Europe and its wholly-owned subsidiaries) with
respect thereto is a resident or citizen of, and is located within, the United
States, unless the sale of goods or services giving rise to such Account is on
letter of credit, banker’s acceptance or other credit terms reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(f) it
arises in the ordinary course of business of the Company or the applicable
Domestic Subsidiary;
(g) if
the Account Debtor is the United States or any department, agency or
instrumentality thereof, the Company or the applicable Domestic Subsidiary has assigned its right
to payment of such Account to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the
Assignment of Claims Act of 1940 (but which Assignment shall not be filed by the
Administrative Agent except upon the occurrence of an Event of
Default);
(h) if
the Account is evidenced by chattel paper or an instrument, the originals of
such chattel paper or instrument shall have been endorsed and/or assigned and
delivered to the Administrative Agent or, in the future case of electronic
chattel paper, shall be in the control of the Administrative Agent, in each
case in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative
Agent;
9
(i) the
Account Debtor with respect thereto is not the Company or an Affiliate (except
for Titan Europe and its wholly-owned subsidiaries) of the Company;
and
(j) all
of the applicable representations and warranties with respect to such Account
that are contained in any of the Loan Documents remain true and
correct.
An
Account which is at any time an Eligible Account, but which subsequently fails
to meet any of the foregoing requirements, shall forthwith cease to be an
Eligible Account.
Eligible Inventory
means Inventory of the Company or any Domestic Subsidiary which meets each of
the following requirements:
(a) it
(i) is subject to a perfected, first priority Lien in favor of the
Administrative Agent and (ii) is not subject to any other assignment, claim or
Lien;
(b) it
is salable and not obsolete or discontinued;
(c) it
is not Inventory produced in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act and
subject to the “hot goods” provisions contained in Title 29 U.S.C.
§215;
(d) it
is not subject to any agreement or license which would restrict the
Administrative Agent’s ability to sell or otherwise dispose of such
Inventory;
(e) it
is located in the United States or in any territory or possession of the United
States that has adopted Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code;
(f) it
does not materially breach any of the representations, warranties or covenants
pertaining to Inventory set forth in the Loan Documents; and
(g) it
has a value not in excess of $30,000,000 in the aggregate if it is stored
outside of the Mortgaged Real Property, the Freeport Facility, the Xxxxx
Facility, the Brownsville Facility and the Virginia Facility.
Inventory
which is at any time Eligible Inventory but which subsequently fails to meet any
of the foregoing requirements shall forthwith cease to be Eligible
Inventory.
Environmental Claims
means all claims, however asserted, by any governmental, regulatory or judicial
authority or other Person alleging potential liability or responsibility for
violation of any Environmental Law, or for release or injury to the
environment.
Environmental Laws
means all present or future federal, state or local laws, statutes, common law
duties, rules, regulations, ordinances and codes, together with all
administrative or judicial orders, consent agreements, directed duties,
requests, licenses, authorizations and
10
permits
of, and agreements with, any governmental authority, in each case relating to
any matter arising out of or relating to public health and safety, or pollution
or protection of the environment or workplace, including any of the foregoing
relating to the presence, use, production, generation, handling, transport,
treatment, storage, disposal, distribution, discharge, emission, release,
threatened release, control or cleanup of any Hazardous Substance.
Equipment shall mean
all machinery and equipment now owned or hereafter acquired by an Obligor and
located at the principal place of business of an Obligor, including all such
Obligor’s processing equipment, conveyors, machine tools and all engineering,
processing and manufacturing equipment, office machinery, furniture, tools,
attachments, accessories, molds, dies, stamps, and other machinery and
equipment, but not including any motor vehicles or other titled
assets.
ERISA means the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
Escrow Agent means
Attorney’s Title Guaranty Fund, Inc.
Escrow Agreement
means that certain Escrow Agreement dated as of August 31, 2005, as amended,
among the Administrative Agent, the Loan Parties and the Escrow
Agent.
Event of Default
means any of the events described in Section
13.1.
Excluded Taxes means
taxes based upon, or measured by, the Lender’s or the Administrative Agent’s (or
a branch of the Lender’s or the Administrative Agent’s) overall net income,
overall net receipts, or overall net profits (including franchise taxes imposed
in lieu of such taxes), but only to the extent such taxes are imposed by a
taxing authority (a) in a jurisdiction in which such Lender or the
Administrative Agent is organized, (b) in a jurisdiction which the Lender’s or
the Administrative Agent’s principal office is located, or (c) in a jurisdiction
in which such Lender’s or the Administrative Agent’s lending office (or branch)
in respect of which payments under this Agreement are made is
located.
Existing Credit
Agreement - see the Preamble.
Existing Lenders -
see the Preamble.
Existing Loan
Documents - see the Preamble.
Existing Revolving
Loans - see the Preamble.
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
11
Business
Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions
on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding
Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding
Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate
(rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to
Bank of America on such day on such transactions as determined by the
Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent’s determination of
such rate shall be binding and conclusive absent manifest error.
Fee Letter means the
fee letter dated November 25, 2008 between the Administrative Agent and the
Company.
Fiscal Quarter means
a fiscal quarter of a Fiscal Year.
Fiscal Year means the
fiscal year of the Company and its Subsidiaries, which period shall be the
12-month period ending on December 31st of
each year. References to a Fiscal Year with a number corresponding to
any calendar year (e.g., “Fiscal Year 2004”)
refer to the Fiscal Year ending on December 31st of
such calendar year.
Fixed Charge Coverage
Ratio means commencing January 1, 2004, for any Computation Period, the
ratio of (a) the total for such period of EBITDA of the Obligors minus the sum of
income taxes paid in cash by the Obligors and all unfinanced Capital
Expenditures of the Obligors to (b) the sum for
such period of (i) cash Interest Expense of the Obligors plus (ii) required
payments of principal of Funded Debt of the Obligors (excluding the Revolving
Loans) during such period.
Foreign Affiliate
Loans means the loans made by Titan Luxembourg S.A.R.L. and Titan
International Luxembourg S.A.R.L. to the Company in an aggregate principal
amount not to exceed $50,000,000.
Foreign Subsidiary
means any Subsidiaries organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside of the
United States of America.
Freeport Facility
means that facility currently owned and occupied by Titan Tire Corporation of
Freeport as its principal place of business located at 0000 Xxxxx 00 Xxxx,
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx.
FRB means the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any successor
thereto.
Funded Debt means, as
to any Loan Party, all Debt of such Loan Party that matures more than one year
from the date of its creation (or is renewable or extendible, at the option of
such Person, to a date more than one year from such date).
12
GAAP means generally
accepted accounting principles set forth from time to time in the opinions and
pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial
Accounting Standards Board (or agencies with similar functions of comparable
stature and authority within the U.S. accounting profession) and the SEC, which
are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination; provided, that the
Company may, upon not less than sixty (60) days prior written notice to the
Administrative Agent, make a one-time election to switch to IFRS, if permitted
to do so by the SEC in its filings with the SEC; and following such election,
“GAAP” shall mean IFRS; provided further,
however, that
(a) such notice of its change to IFRS shall be accompanied by a description in
reasonable detail of any material variation between the application of
accounting principles under GAAP and the application of accounting principles
under IFRS in calculating the financial covenants under Section 11.14 hereof
and the reasonable estimates of the difference between such calculations arising
as a consequence thereof, and (b) if such change is deemed by the Administrative
Agent to be material, such change shall not be effective for purposes of
calculating the financial covenants hereunder until the Company and the Required
Lenders have agreed upon amendments to the financial covenants contained herein
to reflect any change in such basis. After such election, the Company
cannot subsequently elect to report under U.S. generally accepted accounting
principles.
GE Capital - see the
Preamble.
Giant OTR Project
means the building and equipment expenditures for the Xxxxx Facility used for
the production of 57-inch and 63-inch giant radial tires.
Group - see Section
2.2.1.
Guaranty and Collateral
Agreement means the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement dated as of the
Closing Date executed and delivered by the Loan Parties, together with any
joinders and/or amendments thereto or reaffirmations thereof (including the
Reaffirmation Agreement) and any other guaranty and collateral agreement
executed by a Loan Party, in each case in form and substance satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent.
Hazardous Substances
means (a) any petroleum or petroleum products, radioactive materials,
asbestos in any form that is or could become friable, urea formaldehyde foam
insulation, dielectric fluid containing levels of polychlorinated biphenyls,
radon gas and mold; (b) any chemicals, materials, pollutant or substances
defined as or included in the definition of “hazardous substances”, “hazardous
waste”, “hazardous materials”, “extremely hazardous substances”, “restricted
hazardous waste”, “toxic substances”, “toxic pollutants”, “contaminants”,
“pollutants” or words of similar import, under any applicable Environmental Law;
and (c) any other chemical, material or substance, the exposure to, or
release of which is prohibited, limited or regulated by any governmental
authority or for which any duty or standard of care is imposed pursuant to, any
Environmental Law.
13
Hedging Agreement
means any interest rate, currency or commodity swap agreement, cap agreement or
collar agreement, and any other agreement or arrangement designed to protect a
Person against fluctuations in interest rates, currency exchange rates or
commodity prices.
Hedging Obligation
means, with respect to any Person, any liability of such Person under any
Hedging Agreement. The amount of any Person’s obligation in respect
of any Hedging Obligation shall be deemed to be the incremental obligation that
would be reflected in the financial statements of such Person in accordance with
GAAP.
IFRS means the
International Financial Reporting Standards issued and/or adopted by the
International Accounting Standards Board, as in effect from time to
time.
Immaterial Subsidiary
means any Domestic Subsidiary that as of the most recently ended fiscal quarter
has gross assets (excluding, in the case of Titan Tire Corporation of Texas, the
Brownsville Facility) of less than $10,000,000. As of the Restatement
Date, the only Immaterial Subsidiaries are listed on Schedule
1.1.
Increase Effective
Date - see Section
2.1.2(d).
Indemnified
Liabilities - see Section
15.17.
Interest Expense
means for any period the consolidated interest expense of the Company and its
Subsidiaries for such period (including all imputed interest on Capital
Leases).
Interest Period
means, as to any LIBOR Loan, the period commencing on the date such Loan is
borrowed or continued as, or converted into, a LIBOR Loan and ending on the date
one, two or three months thereafter as selected by the Company pursuant to Section 2.2.2 or
2.2.3, as the
case may be; provided
that:
(a) if
any Interest Period would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day,
such Interest Period shall be extended to the following Business Day unless the
result of such extension would be to carry such Interest Period into another
calendar month, in which event such Interest Period shall end on the preceding
Business Day;
(b) any
Interest Period that begins on a day for which there is no numerically
corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period shall
end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest
Period; and
(c) the
Company may not select any Interest Period for a Revolving Loan which
would extend beyond the scheduled Termination Date.
14
Inventory is defined
in the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement.
Investment means,
with respect to any Person, any investment in another Person, whether by
acquisition of any debt or Capital Security, by making any loan or advance, by
becoming obligated with respect to a Contingent Liability in respect of
obligations of such other Person (other than travel and similar advances to
employees in the ordinary course of business) or by making an
Acquisition.
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 L/C Application, and any other
document, agreement and instrument entered into by the Issuing Lender and the
Company (or any Subsidiary) or in favor of the Issuing Lender and relating to
such Letter of Credit.
Issuing Lender means
Bank of America, in its capacity as the issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder,
or any Affiliate of Bank of America that may from time to time issue Letters of
Credit, and their successors and assigns in such capacity, and includes Bank of
America, as successor by merger to LaSalle, with respect to the Existing Letters
of Credit.
LaSalle - see the
Preamble.
L/C Application
means, with respect to any request for the issuance of a Letter of Credit, a
letter of credit application in the form being used by the Issuing Lender at the
time of such request for the type of letter of credit requested.
L/C Fee Rate means
the rate per annum in effect and subject to adjustment from time to time as set
forth in the Pricing Grid.
L/C Obligations
means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount available to be
drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of
all unreimbursed payments and disbursements under such Letters of
Credit. For purposes of computing the amount available to be drawn
under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be
determined in accordance with Section
2.4. For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of
determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may
still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP,
such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so
remaining available to be drawn.
Lender - see the
Preamble. References
to the “Lenders” shall include the Issuing Lender; for purposes of clarification
only, to the extent that Bank of America (or any successor Issuing Lender) may
have any rights or obligations in addition to those of the other Lenders due to
its
15
status as
Issuing Lender, its status as such will be specifically
referenced. In addition to the foregoing, for the purpose of
identifying the Persons entitled to share in the collateral and the proceeds
thereof under, and in accordance with the provisions of, this Agreement and the
Collateral Documents, the term “Lender” shall include Affiliates of a Lender
providing a Bank Product.
Lender Party - see
Section
15.17.
Letter of Credit -
see Section
2.1.3.
Letter of Credit Expiration
Date means the day that is seven days prior to the Termination Date then
in effect (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business
Day).
LIBOR Loan means any
Loan which bears interest at a rate determined by reference to the LIBOR Rate
and that is not a Base Rate Loan.
LIBOR Margin means
the rate per annum in effect and subject to adjustment from time to time as set
forth in the Pricing Grid.
LIBOR Office means
with respect to any Lender the office or offices of such Lender which shall be
making or maintaining the LIBOR Loans of such Lender hereunder. A
LIBOR Office of any Lender may be, at the option of such Lender, either a
domestic or foreign office.
LIBOR Rate means (a)
for any Interest Period with respect to a LIBOR Loan, the sum of (i) the rate
per annum equal to the British Bankers Association LIBOR Rate (“BBA LIBOR”), as
published by Reuters (or other commercially available source providing
quotations of BBA LIBOR as designated by the Administrative Agent from time to
time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the
commencement of such Interest Period, for Dollar deposits (for delivery on the
first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest
Period, or if such rate is not available at such time for any reason, the rate
per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which
deposits in Dollars for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in
same day funds in the approximate amount of the LIBOR 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 plus
(ii) the Market Disruption Spread, if any, at the time of determination; and (b)
for any interest rate calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan, the rate per
annum equal to (i) BBA LIBOR, at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time on the
date of determination (provided that if such day is not a Business Day, the next
preceding Business Day) for Dollar deposits being delivered in the London
interbank market for a term of one month commencing in two Business Days or (ii)
if such published rate is not available at such time for any reason, the rate
determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which deposits in
Dollars for delivery in two Business
16
Days in
same day funds in the approximate amount of the Base Rate Loan being made,
continued or converted by Bank of America and with a term equal to one month
would be offered by Bank of America’s London Branch to major banks in the London
interbank Eurodollar market at their request at the date and time of
determination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the
LIBOR Rate be less than one and one half percent (1.50%) per annum.
LIBOR Unavailability
Period means any period of time during which a notice delivered to the
Company in accordance with Section 8.2(a) shall
remain in force and effect.
Lien means, with
respect to any Person, any interest granted by such Person in any real or
personal property, asset or other right owned or being purchased or acquired by
such Person (including an interest in respect of a Capital Lease) which secures
payment or performance of any obligation and shall include any mortgage, lien,
encumbrance, title retention lien, charge or other security interest of any
kind, whether arising by contract, as a matter of law, by judicial process or
otherwise.
Loan Documents means
this Agreement, the Notes, the Letters of Credit, the Letter of Credit
Applications, the Issuer Documents, the Fee Letter, the Collateral Documents,
the Subordination Agreements and all amendments, modifications, restatements,
replacements or substitutions thereof along with all documents, instruments and
agreements delivered in connection with any of the foregoing.
Loan Party means the
Company, each Domestic Subsidiary and any other entity that is required to
become a guarantor of the Obligations pursuant to the terms of Section
10.9.
Loan or Loans means,
as the context may require, Revolving Loans.
Mandatory Prepayment
Event - see Section
6.2.2(a).
Margin Stock means
any “margin stock” as defined in Regulation U.
Market Disruption
Spread means zero unless a notice delivered pursuant to Section 8.2(b) is in
effect, in which case, such spread shall be a rate per annum equal to
1.50%.
Material Adverse
Effect means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse
effect upon, the financial condition, operations, assets, business, properties
or prospects of the Obligors taken as a whole, (b) a material impairment of the
ability of any Obligor to perform any of the Obligations under any Loan Document
or (c) a material adverse effect upon any of the collateral under the Collateral
Documents or upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability
against any Loan Party of any Loan Document. Without limiting the
foregoing, any event or occurrence adverse to one or more Obligors which results
or could reasonably be expected to result in costs and/or liabilities and/or
loss of revenues, individually or in the
17
aggregate,
to any Obligor in any 30-day period in excess of 50% of the sum of (a) the net
amount available to be drawn on the date of determination under the Revolving
Credit Commitment, plus (b) the
available cash and unrestricted cash equivalents of Obligors on such date, shall
be deemed to have had a Material Adverse Effect.
Material Debt means
any Debt with an outstanding principal amount of greater than $25,000,000; provided that to the
extent such Debt is owed to suppliers of the Loan Parties and was incurred in
the ordinary course of business, such Debt shall not be deemed to be Material
Debt.
Mortgage means the
mortgages, deeds of trust, or similar instruments granting the Administrative
Agent a Lien on real property owned by the Company in Quincy, Illinois and by
Titan Tire Corporation in Des Moines, Iowa.
Mortgaged Real
Property means the real property of each of the Company and Titan Tire
Corporation identified in the Mortgages and located in Quincy, Illinois and Des
Moines, Iowa.
Multiemployer Pension
Plan means a multiemployer plan, as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of
ERISA, to which the Company or any other member of the Controlled Group may have
any liability.
Net Cash Proceeds
means:
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(a)
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with
respect to any Asset Disposition, the aggregate cash proceeds (including
cash proceeds received pursuant to policies of insurance or by way of
deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note, installment receivable
or otherwise, but only as and when received) received by any Loan Party
pursuant to such Asset Disposition net of (i) the direct costs relating to
such sale, transfer or other disposition (including sales commissions and
legal, accounting and investment banking fees), (ii) taxes paid or
reasonably estimated by the Company to be payable as a result thereof
(after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any
tax sharing arrangements) and (iii) amounts required to be applied to the
repayment of any Debt secured by a Lien on the asset subject to such Asset
Disposition (other than the Loans);
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(b)
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with
respect to any issuance of Capital Securities, the aggregate cash proceeds
received by any Loan Party pursuant to such issuance, net of the direct
costs relating to such issuance (including sales and underwriters’
commissions); and
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(c)
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with
respect to any issuance of Debt, the aggregate cash proceeds received by
any Loan Party pursuant to such issuance, net of the direct costs of such
issuance (including up-front, underwriters’ and placement
fees).
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18
Non-U.S. Participant
- see Section
7.6(d).
Non-Use Fee Rate
means one-half of one percent (0.50%).
Note means a
promissory note substantially in the form of Exhibit
A.
Notice of Borrowing -
see Section
2.2.2.
Notice of
Conversion/Continuation - see Section
2.2.3.
Obligors shall mean
the Company, its Domestic Subsidiaries and the Immaterial
Subsidiaries.
Obligations means all
obligations (monetary (including post-petition interest, allowed or not) or
otherwise) of any Loan Party under this Agreement and any other Loan Document
including Attorney Costs and any reimbursement obligations of each Loan Party in
respect of L/C Obligations and surety bonds, all Hedging Obligations permitted
hereunder which are owed to any Lender, and all Bank Products Obligations, all
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.
OFAC - see Section
10.4.
Orderly Liquidation
Value shall mean (a) the in place orderly liquidation value, as
determined by the most recent appraisal prepared for Lenders, or (b) in the case
of assets not subject to such appraisals, the book value of such
assets.
Outstanding Existing
Revolving Loan Balance – see Section
2.1.1.
Operating Lease means
any lease of (or other agreement conveying the right to use) any real or
personal property by any Loan Party, as lessee, other than any Capital
Lease.
PBGC means the
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and any entity succeeding to any or all of
its functions under ERISA.
Participant - see
Section
15.6.2.
Pension Plan means a
“pension plan”, as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA, which is
subject to Title IV of ERISA or the minimum funding standards of ERISA (other
than a Multiemployer Pension Plan), and as to which the Company or any member of
the Controlled Group may have any liability, including any liability by reason
of having been a substantial employer within the meaning of Section 4063 of
ERISA at any time during the preceding five years, or by reason of being deemed
to be a contributing sponsor under Section 4069 of ERISA.
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Perfection
Certificate means any UCC-1 financing statement or amendment thereto,
assignment, control agreement or other like instrument filed, signed or
delivered to a secured creditor to perfect a Lien or security interest in
personal property pledged as collateral pursuant to, and as required by, the
Illinois Commercial Code or other applicable law related thereto.
Permitted Lien means
a Lien expressly permitted hereunder pursuant to Section
11.2.
Permitted Minority
Investments means all investments, however so held, to acquire, purchase
or obtain interests of less than 50% in Persons engaged in the tire and/or wheel
business made by the Obligors pursuant to Section
11.11(c).
Permitted Redemptions
means all voluntary prepayments, purchases, repurchases and redemptions of the
Company’s Common Stock or Senior Notes made by the Company pursuant to Section
11.4(vi).
Permitted Refinancing
means any renewal, extension, refunding, refinancing, replacement, defeasance or
discharge of the Senior Notes or other Material Debt by the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries, so long as the principal amount thereof is not increased nor
the weighted average life to maturity thereof decreased.
Person means any
natural person, corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability company,
association, governmental authority or unit, or any other entity, whether acting
in an individual, fiduciary or other capacity.
Pricing Grid shall
mean the pricing set forth below based on the Availability
Percentage:
Availability Base
Rate LIBOR L/C
Percentage Margin Margin Fee Rate
Less than
or equal to
20% 0% 2.00% 2.00%
Greater
than 20% and less
than or
equal to
40% 0.25% 2.25% 2.25%
Greater
than 40% and less
than or
equal to
60% 0.50% 2.50% 2.50%
Greater
than 60% and less
than or
equal to
80% 0.75% 2.75% 2.75%
Greater than
80%
1.00% 3.00% 3.00%
Prime Rate means, for
any day, the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from
time to time by the Administrative Agent as its prime commercial rate (whether
or not such rate is actually charged by the Administrative Agent), which is not
intended to be the
20
Administrative
Agent’s lowest or most favorable rate of interest at any one
time. Any change in the Prime Rate announced by the Administrative
Agent shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the
public announcement of such change; provided that the
Administrative Agent shall not be obligated to give notice of any change in the
Prime Rate.
Pro Rata Share
means:
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(a)
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with
respect to a Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans, participate in
L/C Obligations, reimburse the Issuing Lender, and receive payments of
principal, interest, fees, costs, and expenses with respect thereto,
(x) prior to the Revolving Commitment being terminated or reduced to
zero, the percentage, carried out to nine decimal places, obtained by
dividing (i) such Lender’s Commitment, by (ii) the aggregate Revolving
Commitment of all Lenders and (y) from and after the time the Revolving
Commitment has been terminated or reduced to zero, the percentage, carried
out to nine decimal places, obtained by dividing (i) the aggregate unpaid
principal amount of such Lender’s Revolving Outstandings by (ii) the
aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Revolving
Outstandings;
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(b)
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with
respect to all other matters as to a particular Lender, the percentage,
carried out to nine decimal places, obtained by dividing (i) such
Lender’s Commitment, by (ii) the aggregate amount of Revolving Commitment
of all Lenders; provided that
in the event the Commitments have been terminated or reduced to zero, Pro
Rata Share shall be the percentage, carried out to nine decimal places,
obtained by dividing (A) the principal amount of such Lender’s Revolving
Outstandings by (B) the principal amount of all outstanding Revolving
Outstandings.
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Reaffirmation
Agreement means the Reaffirmation and Amendment to Guaranty and
Collateral Agreement dated as of the Restatement Date by and among the Loan
Parties and the Administrative Agent.
Regulation D means
Regulation D of the FRB.
Regulation U means
Regulation U of the FRB.
Reportable Event
means a reportable event as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations
issued thereunder as to which the PBGC has not waived the notification
requirement of Section 4043(a), or the failure of a Pension Plan to
meet the minimum funding standards of Section 412 of the Code (without regard to
whether the Pension Plan is a plan described in Section 4021(a)(2) of ERISA) or
under Section 302 of ERISA.
Required Lenders
means, at any time, Lenders whose Pro Rata Shares exceed 66⅔%; provided that the Pro
Rata Share held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for
purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.
21
Restatement Date -
see Section
12.1.
Revolving Commitment
means $150,000,000, as reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 6.1 or
increased from time to time pursuant to Section
2.1.2.
Revolving Loan - see
Section
2.1.1.
Revolving Loan
Availability means that the lesser of (i) the Revolving Commitment, and
(ii) the Borrowing Base.
Revolving Loan Excess
Availability means, at any time, the Revolving Loan Availability minus
Revolving Outstandings.
Revolving
Outstandings means, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate principal
amount of all outstanding Revolving Loans, plus (b) the L/C
Obligations.
SEC means the
Securities and Exchange Commission or any other governmental authority
succeeding to any of the principal functions thereof.
Senior Note Indenture
means the Indenture dated as of December 28, 2006 between the Company, each of
the guarantors party thereto, and U.S. Bank National Association, as
trustee.
Senior Notes means
the $200,000,000 Senior Unsecured Notes due 2012 issued by the Company in 2006
pursuant to the Senior Note Indenture.
Senior Officer means,
with respect to any Loan Party, any of the chief executive officer, the chief
financial officer, the chief operating officer, secretary or the treasurer of
such Loan Party.
Subordinated Debt
means the Foreign Affiliate Loans and any other unsecured consensual Debt of the
Company which has subordination terms, covenants, pricing and other terms which
have been approved in writing by the Required Lenders.
Subordinated Debt
Documents means all documents and instruments relating to the
Subordinated Debt and all amendments and modifications thereof.
Subordination
Agreements means all subordination agreements executed by a holder of
Subordinated Debt in favor of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders from time
to time on or after the Closing Date.
Subsidiary means,
with respect to any Person, a corporation, partnership, limited liability
company or other entity of which such Person owns, directly or indirectly, such
number of outstanding Capital Securities as have more than 50% of the ordinary
voting power for the
22
election
of directors or other managers of such corporation, partnership, limited
liability company or other entity. Unless the context otherwise
requires, each reference to Subsidiaries herein shall be a reference to
Subsidiaries of the Company.
Taxes means any and
all present and future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, assessments,
charges or withholdings, and any and all liabilities (including interest and
penalties and other additions to taxes) with respect to the foregoing, but
excluding Excluded Taxes.
Terminated Lender –
see Section
5.1.2.
Termination Date
means the earlier to occur of (a) January 30, 2012; or (b) such other date on
which the Commitment terminates pursuant to Section 6 or 13.
Termination Event
means, with respect to a Pension Plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA, (a)
a material Reportable Event, (b) the withdrawal of Company or any other member
of the Controlled Group from such Pension Plan during a plan year in which
Company or any other member of the Controlled Group was a “substantial employer”
as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA which has a Material Adverse Effect,
or was deemed such under Section 4068(f) of ERISA, (c) the termination of such
Pension Plan, the filing of a notice of intent to terminate the Pension Plan or
the treatment of an amendment of such Pension Plan as a termination under
Section 4041 of ERISA which has a Material Adverse Effect, (d) the institution
by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate such Pension Plan which has a Material
Adverse Effect or (e) any event or condition that might constitute grounds under
Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or appointment of a trustee to
administer, such Pension Plan which has a Material Adverse Effect.
Titan Europe means
Titan Europe Plc, a United Kingdom company, whose principal activity is
manufacturing and selling steel wheels, undercarriage components and assemblies
for tracked and wheeled “off road” vehicles in the agricultural, construction,
and mining industries.
Total Plan Liability
means, at any time, the present value of all vested and unvested accrued
benefits under all Pension Plans, determined as of the then most recent
valuation date for each Pension Plan, using PBGC actuarial assumptions for
single employer plan terminations.
Type - see Section
2.2.1.
UCC is defined in the
Guaranty and Collateral Agreement.
Unfunded Liability
means the amount (if any) by which the present value of all vested and unvested
accrued benefits under all Pension Plans exceeds the fair market value of all
assets allocable to those benefits, all determined as of the then most recent
valuation date for each Pension Plan, using PBGC actuarial assumptions for
single employer plan terminations.
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Virginia Facility
means that facility currently occupied by Titan Wheel Corporation
of Virginia as its principal place of business located at 220 Xxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx.
Withholding
Certificate - see Section
7.6(d).
Wholly-Owned
Subsidiary means, as to any Person, a Subsidiary all of the Capital
Securities of which (except directors’ qualifying Capital Securities) are at the
time directly or indirectly owned by such Person and/or another Wholly-Owned
Subsidiary of such Person.
1.2 Other Interpretive
Provisions. (a) The meanings of defined terms are
equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined
terms.
(b) Section, Annex,
Schedule and Exhibit references are to this Agreement unless otherwise
specified.
(c) The term
“including” is not limiting and means “including without
limitation.”
(d) In the
computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date,
the word “from” means “from and including”; the words “to” and “until” each mean
“to but excluding”, and the word “through” means “to and
including.”
(e) Unless
otherwise expressly provided herein, (i) references to agreements
(including this Agreement and the other Loan Documents) and other contractual
instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements,
supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent such
amendments, restatements, supplements and other modifications are not prohibited
by the terms of any Loan Document, and (ii) references to any statute or
regulation shall be construed as including all statutory and regulatory
provisions amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such statute or
regulation.
(f) This
Agreement and the other Loan Documents may use several different limitations,
tests or measurements to regulate the same or similar matters. All
such limitations, tests and measurements are cumulative and each shall be
performed in accordance with its terms.
(g) This
Agreement and the other Loan Documents are the result of negotiations among and
have been reviewed by counsel to the Administrative Agent, the Company, the
Lenders and the other parties thereto and are the products of all
parties. Accordingly, they shall not be construed against the
Administrative Agent or the Lenders merely because of the Administrative Agent’s
or Lenders’ involvement in their preparation.
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SECTION
2
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COMMITMENTS
OF THE LENDERS; BORROWING, CONVERSION AND LETTER OF CREDIT
PROCEDURES.
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2.1 Commitments. On
and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each of the Lenders,
severally and for itself alone, agrees to make loans to, and to issue or
participate in letters of credit for the account of, the Company as
follows:
2.1.1 Revolving
Commitment. Each Lender with a Revolving Commitment agrees to
make loans on a revolving basis (“Revolving Loans”)
from time to time until the Termination Date in such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of
such aggregate amounts as the Company may request from all Lenders; provided that the
Revolving Outstandings will not at any time exceed Revolving Loan
Availability. Each of the parties hereto acknowledges and agrees that
the Revolving Outstandings on the Restatement Date are equal to $30,000,000
consisting of $25,000,000 outstanding Revolving Loans and $5,000,000 L/C
Obligations (together, the "Outstanding Existing
Revolving Loan Balance"); provided, that on the
Restatement Date, the Company intends to repay all $25,000,000 of outstanding
Revolving Loans. Each of the parties hereto further acknowledges and
agrees that on the Restatement Date, the obligations of the Company with respect
to the "Revolving Commitment" and "Revolving Loans" under the Existing Credit
Agreement shall continue as the Revolving Commitment and the Revolving Loans,
respectively, hereunder. On the Restatement Date, each Revolving Lender will
make a Revolving Loan in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the
Outstanding Existing Revolving Loan Balance with the proceeds thereof being paid
on a pro rata revolving basis, to the extent necessary to properly reflect their
respective Revolving Commitments, to Lenders who were Revolving Lenders under
the Existing Credit Agreement and who remain Revolving Lenders on and after the
Restatement Date. Within the limits and provisions of this Agreement
Company may make such borrowings, repay such advances, and make additional
borrowing under the Loan.
2.1.2 Increase in
Commitments.
(a) Request for
Increase. Provided there exists no Default, upon notice to the
Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders), the Company may
from time to time, request an increase in the Revolving Commitment by an amount
(for all such requests) not exceeding $100,000,000; provided that (i) any such
request for an increase shall be in a minimum amount of $50,000,000, and (ii)
the Company may make a maximum of two such requests that are accepted by the
Lenders. At the time of sending such notice, the Company (in
consultation with the Administrative Agent) shall specify the time period within
which each Lender is requested to respond (which shall in no event be less than
ten Business Days from the date of delivery of such notice to the Administrative
Agent).
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(b) Lender Elections to
Increase. Each Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent
within such time period whether or not it agrees to increase its Revolving
Commitment and, if so, whether by an amount equal to, greater than, or less than
its Pro Rata Share of such requested increase. Any Lender not
responding within such time period shall be deemed to have declined to increase
its Revolving Commitment.
(c) Notification by
Administrative Agent; Additional Lenders. The Administrative
Agent shall notify the Company and each Lender of the Lenders’ responses to each
request made hereunder.
(d) Effective Date and
Allocations. If the Lenders by their collective responses
agree to increase their Revolving Commitments by not less than the amount the
Company has requested, then on the date that the Administrative Agent and the
Company shall agree upon (the “Increase Effective
Date”) the Revolving Commitment shall be increased in accordance with the
Company’s request, with the final allocation of such increase among the Lenders
as agreed by the Company and the Administrative Agent. The
Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Company and the Lenders of the
final allocation of such increase and the Increase Effective
Date. Conversely, if the Lenders do not agree, collectively, to
increase their Revolving Commitments in an amount equal to or greater than the
Company’s request, there will be no such increase and the Administrative Agent
shall so advise the Company.
(e) Conditions to Effectiveness
of Increase. As a condition precedent to such increase, the
Company shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of each Loan
Party dated as of the Increase Effective Date (in a sufficient number to provide
an original for each Lender) signed by a Senior Officer of such Loan Party (i)
certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Loan Party approving or
consenting to such increase, and (ii) in the case of the Company, certifying
that, before and after giving effect to such increase, (A) the representations
and warranties contained in Section 9 and the
other Loan Documents are true and correct on and as of the Increase Effective
Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically
refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct as of such
earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 2.1.2, the
representations and warranties contained in Section 9.4 shall be
deemed to refer to the most recent financial statements furnished pursuant to
Section 10.1.1
or 10.1.2, and
(B) no Default exists. The Company shall execute and deliver to the
Lenders as of the Increase Effective Date new Notes in the amount of the
increased Revolving Commitment with the Pro Rata Share for each Lender being
fixed in accordance with the final allocation as determined
above. Contemporaneously therewith, the Lender shall cancel and
return to the Company the Notes which were previously delivered to
them. Simultaneously with the Increase Effective Date, the Company
shall be deemed to have borrowed under the new Notes a sum equal to the amount
needed to pay off the old/prior notes (including any such due under Section 8.4 so as to
reallocate
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the
Revolving Outstandings prior to the increase, pro rata among the Lenders in
accordance with each Lender’s Revolving Commitment after the
increase.
(f) Conflicting
Provisions. This Section shall supersede any provisions in
Sections 2.3,
7.5, or 15.1 to the
contrary.
2.1.3 L/C
Commitment. (a) Subject to Section 2.1.3(b) and
Section 2.3.1,
the Issuing Lender agrees to issue letters of credit, in each case containing
such terms and conditions as are permitted by this Agreement and are reasonably
satisfactory to the Issuing Lender (each, a “Letter of Credit”),
at the request of and for the account of the Company from time to time before
the scheduled Termination Date and, as more fully set forth in Section 2.3.2,
each Lender agrees to purchase a participation in each such Letter of Credit;
provided that
(i) the L/C Obligations shall not at any time exceed $30,000,000, (ii) the
Revolving Outstandings shall not at any time exceed Revolving Loan Availability
and (iii) the Issuing Lender shall not be required to issue any Letter of Credit
at any time that a Defaulting Lender exists unless and until either (a) a New
Lender has replaced the Defaulting Lender in accordance with Section 15.1.2 or (b)
the Company has made arrangements satisfactory to the Issuing Lender to
eliminate any risk to the Issuing Lender from all Defaulting Lenders, including,
without limitation, by cash collateralizing the Defaulting Lenders’ Pro Rata
Share of all outstanding L/C Obligations.
(b) The
Issuing Lender 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
Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless all the Lenders have approved such
expiry date.
2.2 Loan
Procedures.
2.2.1 Various Types of
Loans. Each Revolving Loan shall be divided into tranches
which are either a Base Rate Loan or a LIBOR Loan (each a “Type” of Loan), as
the Company shall specify in the related notice of borrowing or conversion
pursuant to Section 2.2.2
or 2.2.3. LIBOR
Loans having the same Interest Period which expire on the same day are sometimes
called a “Group” or
collectively “Groups”. Base
Rate Loans and LIBOR Loans may be outstanding at the same time, provided that not
more than eight (8) different Groups of LIBOR Loans shall be outstanding at any
one time. All borrowings, conversions and repayments of Revolving
Loans shall be effected so that each Lender will have a ratable share (according
to its Pro Rata Share) of all Types and Groups of
Loans. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this
Agreement, the Company may not select any Interest Period for a LIBOR Loan which
is longer than the date or dates selected by the Administrative Agent from time
to time for any syndication of the Loans.
2.2.2 Borrowing
Procedures. The Company shall give written notice (each such
written notice, a “Notice of Borrowing”)
substantially in the form of Exhibit E or
telephonic
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notice
(followed immediately by a Notice of Borrowing) to the Administrative Agent of
each proposed borrowing not later than (a) in the case of a Base Rate
borrowing, 12:00 P.M., Chicago time, on the proposed date of such
borrowing, and (b) in the case of a LIBOR Rate borrowing, 12:00 P.M.,
Chicago time, at least three Business Days prior to the proposed date of such
borrowing. Each such notice shall be effective upon receipt by the
Administrative Agent, shall be irrevocable, and shall specify the date, amount
and Type of borrowing and, in the case of a LIBOR borrowing, the initial
Interest Period therefor. Promptly upon receipt of such notice, the
Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender thereof. Not later than
1:00 P.M., Chicago time, on the date of a proposed borrowing, each Lender shall
provide the Administrative Agent at the office specified by the Administrative
Agent with immediately available funds covering such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of
such borrowing and, so long as the Administrative Agent has not received written
notice that the conditions precedent set forth in Section 11 with
respect to such borrowing have not been satisfied, the Administrative Agent
shall pay over the funds received by the Administrative Agent to the Company on
the requested borrowing date. Each borrowing shall be on a Business
Day. Each Base Rate borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount of at
least Five Hundred Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($500,000.00) and an integral
multiple of One Hundred Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($100,000.00), and each
LIBOR borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount of at least One Million and
No/100 Dollars ($1,000,000.00) and an integral multiple of at least One Hundred
Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($100,000.00).
2.2.3 Conversion and Continuation
Procedures. (a) Subject to Section 2.2.1, the
Company may, upon irrevocable written notice to the Administrative Agent in
accordance with clause
(b) below:
(A) elect, as
of any Business Day, to convert any Loans (or any part thereof in an aggregate
amount not less than Five Hundred Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($500,000.00) or a
higher integral multiple of One Hundred Thousand and No/100 Dollars
($100,000.00) into Loans of the other Type; or
(B) elect, as
of the last day of the applicable Interest Period, to continue any LIBOR Loans
having Interest Periods expiring on such day (or any part thereof in an
aggregate amount not less than One Million and No/100 Dollars ($1,000,000.00) or
a higher integral multiple of One Hundred Thousand and No/100 Dollars
($100,000.00) for a new Interest Period;
provided that after
giving effect to any prepayment, conversion or continuation, the aggregate
principal amount of each Group of LIBOR Loans shall be at least One Million and
No/100 Dollars ($1,000,000.00) and an integral multiple of One Hundred Thousand
and No/100 Dollars ($100,000.00).
(b) The
Company shall give written notice (each such written notice, a “Notice of
Conversion/Continuation”) substantially in the form of Exhibit F or
telephonic notice (followed immediately by a Notice of Conversion/Continuation)
to the
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Administrative
Agent of each proposed conversion or continuation not later than (i) in the case
of conversion into Base Rate Loans, 12:00 P.M., Chicago time, on the proposed
date of such conversion and (ii) in the case of conversion into or continuation
of LIBOR Loans, 12:00 P.M., Chicago time, at least three Business Days prior to
the proposed date of such conversion or continuation, specifying in each
case:
(A) the
proposed date of conversion or continuation;
(B) the
aggregate amount of Loans to be converted or continued;
(C) the Type
of Loans resulting from the proposed conversion or continuation;
and
(D) in the
case of conversion into, or continuation of, LIBOR Loans, the duration of the
requested Interest Period therefor.
(c) If upon
the expiration of any Interest Period applicable to LIBOR Loans, the Company has
failed to select timely a new Interest Period to be applicable to such LIBOR
Loans, the Company shall be deemed to have elected to convert such LIBOR Loans
into Base Rate Loans effective on the last day of such Interest
Period.
(d) The
Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of a notice
of conversion or continuation pursuant to this Section 2.2.3 or, if
no timely notice is provided by the Company, of the details of any automatic
conversion.
(e) Any
conversion of a LIBOR Loan on a day other than the last day of an Interest
Period therefor shall be subject to Section
8.4.
2.3 Letter of Credit
Procedures.
2.3.1 L/C
Applications. The Company shall give notice to the
Administrative Agent and the Issuing Lender of the proposed issuance of each
Letter of Credit on a Business Day which is at least three Business Days (or
such lesser number of days as the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Lender
shall agree in any particular instance in their sole discretion) prior to the
proposed date of issuance of such Letter of Credit. Each such notice
shall be accompanied by an L/C Application, duly executed by the Company and in
all respects satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Lender,
together with such other documentation, including any Issuer Documents, as the
Administrative Agent or the Issuing Lender may request in support thereof, it
being understood that each L/C Application shall specify, among other things,
the date on which the proposed Letter of Credit is to be issued, the expiration
date of such Letter of Credit and if such Letter of Credit is to be
transferable. Any Letter of Credit outstanding after the scheduled
Termination Date which is Cash Collateralized for the benefit of the Issuing
Lender shall be the sole responsibility of the Issuing Lender. So
long as the Issuing Lender has
29
not
received written notice that the conditions precedent set forth in Section 12 with
respect to the issuance of such Letter of Credit have not been satisfied, the
Issuing Lender shall issue such Letter of Credit on the requested issuance
date. The Issuing Lender shall promptly advise the Administrative
Agent of the issuance of each Letter of Credit and of any amendment thereto,
extension thereof or event or circumstance changing the amount available for
drawing thereunder. In the event of any inconsistency between the
terms of the any L/C Application or Issuer Document and the terms of this
Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall control.
2.3.2 Participations in Letters of
Credit. Concurrently with the issuance of each Letter of
Credit, the Issuing Lender shall be deemed to have sold and transferred to each
Lender with a Revolving Commitment, and each such Lender shall be deemed
irrevocably and unconditionally to have purchased and received from the Issuing
Lender, without recourse or warranty, an undivided interest and participation,
to the extent of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share, in such L/C
Obligation. If the Company does not pay any L/C Obligation when due,
the Company shall be deemed to have immediately requested that the Lenders make
a Revolving Loan which is a Base Rate Loan in a principal amount equal to such
L/C Obligation. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify such
Lenders of such deemed request and, without the necessity of compliance with the
requirements of Section 2.2.2, 12.2 or otherwise
such Lender shall make available to the Administrative Agent its Pro Rata Share
of such Loan. The proceeds of such Loan shall be paid over by the
Administrative Agent to the Issuing Lender for the account of the Company in
satisfaction of such reimbursement obligations. For the purposes of
this Agreement, the unparticipated portion of each L/C Obligation shall be
deemed to be the Issuing Lender’s “participation” therein. The
Issuing Lender hereby agrees, upon request of the Administrative Agent to
deliver to the Administrative Agent a list of all outstanding Letters of Credit
issued by the Issuing Lender, together with such information related thereto as
the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.
2.3.3 Reimbursement
Obligations. (a) The Company hereby unconditionally and
irrevocably agrees to reimburse the Issuing Lender for each payment or
disbursement made by the Issuing Lender under any Letter of Credit honoring any
demand for payment made by the beneficiary thereunder, in each case on the date
that such payment or disbursement is made. Any amount not reimbursed
on the date of such payment or disbursement shall bear interest from the date of
such payment or disbursement to the date that the Issuing Lender is reimbursed
by the Company therefor, payable on demand, at a rate per annum equal to the
Base Rate from time to time in effect plus the Base Rate
Margin from time to time in effect plus, beginning on
the third Business Day after receipt of notice from the Issuing Lender of such
payment or disbursement, 2%. The Issuing Lender shall notify the
Company and the Administrative Agent whenever any demand for payment is made
under any Letter of Credit by the beneficiary thereunder; provided that the
failure of the Issuing Lender to so notify the Company or the Administrative
Agent shall not affect the rights of the Issuing Lender or the Lenders in any
manner whatsoever.
30
(b) The
Company’s reimbursement obligations hereunder shall be irrevocable and
unconditional under all circumstances, including (a) any lack of validity or
enforceability of any Letter of Credit, this Agreement or any other Loan
Document, (b) the existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other right which
any Loan Party may have at any time against a beneficiary named in a Letter of
Credit, any transferee of any Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such
transferee may be acting), the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender, any
Lender or any other Person, whether in connection with any Letter of Credit,
this Agreement, any other Loan Document, the transactions contemplated herein or
any unrelated transactions (including any underlying transaction between any
Loan Party and the beneficiary named in any Letter of Credit), (c) the validity,
sufficiency or genuineness of any document which the Issuing Lender has
determined complies on its face with the terms of the applicable Letter of
Credit, even if such document should later prove to have been forged,
fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein
shall have been untrue or inaccurate in any respect, or (d) the surrender or
impairment of any security for the performance or observance of any of the terms
hereof. Without limiting the foregoing, no action or omission
whatsoever by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (excluding any Lender in
its capacity as the Issuing Lender) under or in connection with any Letter of
Credit or any related matters shall result in any liability of the
Administrative Agent or any Lender to the Company, or relieve the Company of any
of its obligations hereunder to any such Person.
2.3.4 Funding by Lenders to
Issuing Lender. If the Issuing Lender makes any payment or
disbursement under any Letter of Credit and (a) the Company has not reimbursed
the Issuing Lender through the Administrative Agent in full for such payment or
disbursement by 12:00 P.M., Chicago time, on the date of such payment or
disbursement, (b) a Revolving Loan may not be made in accordance with Section 2.3.2 or (c)
any reimbursement received by the Issuing Lender from the Company is or must be
returned or rescinded upon or during any bankruptcy or reorganization of the
Company or otherwise, each other Lender with a Revolving Commitment shall be
obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing
Lender, its Pro Rata Share of such payment or disbursement (but no such payment
shall diminish the obligations of the Company under Section 2.3.3),
and, upon notice from the Issuing Lender, the Administrative Agent shall
promptly notify each other Lender thereof. Each Lender irrevocably
and unconditionally agrees to so pay to the Administrative Agent in immediately
available funds for the Issuing Lender’s account the amount of such other
Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such payment or disbursement. If and to
the extent any Lender shall not have made such amount available to the
Administrative Agent by 1:00 P.M., Chicago time, on the Business Day on which
such Lender receives notice from the Administrative Agent of such payment or
disbursement (it being understood that any such notice received after noon,
Chicago time, on any Business Day shall be deemed to have been received on the
next following Business Day), such Lender agrees to pay interest on such amount
to the Administrative Agent for the Issuing Lender’s account forthwith on
demand, for each day from the date such amount was to have been delivered to the
Administrative Agent to the date such amount is paid, at a rate per annum equal
to (a) for the first three days after demand, the Federal Funds Rate from time
to time in
31
effect
and (b) thereafter, the Base Rate from time to time in effect. Any
Lender’s failure to make available to the Administrative Agent its Pro Rata
Share of any such payment or disbursement shall not relieve any other Lender of
its obligation hereunder to make available to the Administrative Agent such
other Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such payment, but no Lender shall be
responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make available to the
Administrative Agent such other Lender’s Pro Rata Share of any such payment or
disbursement.
2.3.5 Existing Letters of
Credit. The Letters of Credit outstanding on the Restatement
Date and listed on Schedule 2.3.5 hereto
(the “Existing Letters
of Credit”) were issued pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement and
were the only letters of credit issued under the Existing Credit Agreement which
were outstanding as of the Restatement Date. The Company, Issuing
Lender and each of the Lenders hereby agree with respect to the Existing Letters
of Credit that such Existing Letters of Credit, for all purposes under this
Agreement, including, without limitation, Sections 2.1.3 and
2.3.3, shall be
deemed to be Letters of Credit governed by the terms and conditions of this
Agreement.
2.4 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 automatic increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect
at such time.
2.5 Commitments
Several. The failure of any Lender to make a requested Loan on
any date shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation (if any) to make a
Loan on such date, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any
other Lender to make any Loan to be made by such other Lender.
2.6 Certain
Conditions. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement no
Lender shall have an obligation to make any Loan, or to permit the continuation
of or any conversion into any LIBOR Loan, and the Issuing Lender shall not have
any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit, if an Event of Default or Default
exists.
SECTION
3 EVIDENCING
OF LOANS.
3.1 Notes. The
Loans of each Lender shall be evidenced by a Note, with appropriate insertions,
payable to the order of such Lender in a face principal amount equal to such
Lender’s Revolving Commitment.
3.2 Recordkeeping. The
Administrative Agent, on behalf of each Lender, shall record in its records, the
date and amount of each Loan made by each Lender, each repayment or conversion
thereof and, in the case of each LIBOR Loan, the dates on which each Interest
Period
32
for such
Loan shall begin and end. The aggregate unpaid principal amount so
recorded shall be rebuttably presumptive evidence of the principal amount of the
Loans owing and unpaid. The failure to so record any such amount or
any error in so recording any such amount shall not, however, limit or otherwise
affect the Obligations of the Company hereunder or under any Note to repay the
principal amount of the Loans hereunder, together with all interest accruing
thereon.
SECTION
4 INTEREST.
4.1 Interest
Rates. The Company promises to pay interest on the unpaid
principal amount of each Loan for the period commencing on the date of such Loan
until such Loan is paid in full as follows:
(a) at all
times while such Loan is a Base Rate Loan, at a rate per annum equal to the sum
of the Base Rate from time to time in effect plus the Base Rate
Margin from time to time in effect; and
(b) at all
times while such Loan is a LIBOR Loan, at a rate per annum equal to the sum of
the LIBOR Rate applicable to each Interest Period for such Loan plus the LIBOR Margin
from time to time in effect;
provided that at any
time an Event of Default exists, and only as long as it continues, unless the
Required Lenders otherwise consent, the interest rate applicable to each Loan
shall be increased by 2% (and, in the case of Obligations not bearing interest,
such Obligations shall bear interest at the Base Rate applicable to Revolving
Loans plus 2%),
provided further that such
increase may thereafter be rescinded by the Required Lenders, notwithstanding
Section
15.1. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the occurrence of an
Event of Default under Section 13.1.1 or 13.1.4, such increase
shall occur automatically.
4.2 Interest Payment
Dates. Accrued interest on each Base Rate Loan shall be
payable in arrears on the first day of each calendar month, upon a prepayment of
such Loan and at maturity. Accrued interest on each LIBOR Loan shall
be payable on the last day of each Interest Period relating to such Loan, upon a
prepayment of such Loan, and at maturity. After maturity, and at any
time an Event of Default exists, accrued interest on all Loans shall be payable
on demand.
4.3 Setting and Notice of LIBOR
Rates. The applicable LIBOR Rate for each Interest Period
shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and notice thereof shall be
given by the Administrative Agent promptly to the Company and each
Lender. Each determination of the applicable LIBOR Rate by the
Administrative Agent shall be conclusive and binding upon the parties hereto, in
the absence of demonstrable error. The Administrative Agent shall,
upon written request of the Company or any Lender, deliver to the Company or
such Lender a statement showing the computations used by the Administrative
Agent in determining any applicable LIBOR Rate hereunder.
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4.4 Computation of
Interest. Interest shall be computed for the actual number of
days elapsed on the basis of a year of 365/366 days for purposes of each Base
Rate Loan, and 360 days for each LIBOR Loan. The applicable interest
rate for each Base Rate Loan shall change simultaneously with each change in the
Base Rate.
4.5 Interest under Existing
Credit Agreement. The Company, Lenders and Administrative
Agent hereby agree that any and all accrued and unpaid interest on the “Loans”
under, and as such term is defined in, the Existing Credit Agreement shall be
due and payable, for the pro rata benefit of the Existing Lenders, on the
Restatement Date; provided, however, the Lenders agree to waive any fee due
pursuant to Section
8.4 arising from the prepayment of LIBOR Loans on the Restatement Date in
connection with the assumption and restatement of the Original Loans on the
Restatement Date.
SECTION
5 FEES.
5.1 Non-Use
Fee. The Company agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for
the account of each Lender a non-use fee (“Non-Use Fee”), for
the period from the Restatement Date to the Termination Date, at the Non-Use Fee
Rate of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share (as adjusted from time to time) of the
average daily unused amount of the Revolving Commitment calculated on a
quarterly basis. For purposes of calculating usage under this
Section, the Revolving Commitment shall be deemed used to the extent of
Revolving Outstandings. Such Non-Use Fee shall be payable in arrears
on the first day of each calendar quarter and on the Termination Date for any
period then ending for which such Non-Use Fee shall not have previously been
paid. The Non-Use Fee shall be computed for the actual number of days
elapsed on the basis of a year of 360 days.
5.2 Letter of Credit
Fees. (a) The Company agrees to pay to the
Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a letter of credit fee for
each Letter of Credit equal to the L/C Fee Rate of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share
(as adjusted from time to time) of the undrawn amount of such Letter of Credit
(computed for the actual number of days elapsed on the basis of a year of 360
days); provided
that, unless the Required Lenders otherwise consent, the rate applicable to each
Letter of Credit shall be increased by 2% at any time, but only for so long as,
that an Event of Default exists. Such letter of credit fee shall be
payable in arrears on the first day of each calendar quarter and on the
Termination Date (or such later date on which such Letter of Credit expires or
is terminated) for the period from the date of the issuance of each Letter of
Credit (or the last day on which the letter of credit fee was paid with respect
thereto) to the date such payment is due or, if earlier, the date on which such
Letter of Credit expired or was terminated.
(b) In
addition, with respect to each Letter of Credit, the Company agrees to pay to
the Issuing Lender, for its own account, (i) such fees and expenses as the
Issuing Lender customarily requires in connection with the issuance,
negotiation, processing
34
and/or
administration of letters of credit in similar situations and (ii) a letter of
credit fronting fee in the amount equal to .125% per annum for each Letter of
Credit, 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
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
2.4.
5.3 Administrative Agent’s and
Lenders’ Fees. The Company agrees to pay the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders the fees set forth in the Fee Letter.
5.4 Fees, Charges and Expenses
under Existing Credit Agreement. The Company, Lenders and
Administrative Agent hereby agree that any and all accrued and unpaid fees,
charges and expenses owing by any Loan Party to Administrative Agent or any
Lender under the Existing Credit Agreement or any of the agreements or documents
contemplated thereby shall be due and payable, for the pro rata benefit of the
Existing Lenders, on the Restatement Date.
SECTION
6
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REDUCTION
OR TERMINATION OF THE REVOLVING COMMITMENT;
PREPAYMENTS.
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6.1 Reduction or Termination of
the Revolving Commitment.
6.1.1 Voluntary Reduction or
Termination of the Revolving Commitment. The
Company may from time to time on at least five (5) Business Days’ prior written
notice received by the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly advise each
Lender thereof) permanently reduce the Revolving Commitment to an amount not
less than the Revolving Outstandings. Any such reduction shall be in
an amount not less than One Million and No/100 Dollars ($1,000,000.00) or a
higher integral multiple of One Hundred Thousand and No/100 Dollars
($100,000.00). Concurrently with any reduction of the Revolving
Commitment to zero, the Company shall pay all interest on the Revolving Loans,
all Non-Use Fees and all letter of credit fees and shall Cash Collateralize in
full all L/C Obligations.
6.1.2 Mandatory Reductions of
Revolving Commitment. On the date of a Mandatory Prepayment
Event under Section
6.2.2(a)(iii) hereof, the Revolving Commitment shall be reduced by the
amount of such mandatory prepayment; provided, however, such reduction shall not
exceed $100,000,000. In the event of a Mandatory Prepayment Event
under Section
6.2.2(a)(i) or (ii) hereof, the Revolving Commitment shall not be reduced
by any amount.
35
6.1.3 All Reductions of the
Revolving Commitment. All reductions of the Revolving
Commitment shall reduce the Commitments ratably among the Lenders according to
their respective Pro Rata Shares.
6.2 Prepayments.
6.2.1 Voluntary
Prepayments. The Company may from time to time prepay the
Loans in whole or in part; provided that the
Company shall give the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly advise each
Lender) notice thereof not later than (i) three Business Days prior to any date
of prepayment of LIBOR Loans and (ii) 12:00 P.M., Chicago time, on the day of
such prepayment (which shall be a Business Day), specifying the Loans to be
prepaid and the date and amount of prepayment. Any such partial
prepayment shall be in an amount equal to Five Hundred Thousand and No/100
Dollars ($500,000.00) or a higher integral multiple of One Hundred Thousand and
No/100 Dollars ($100,000.00) for Base Rate Loans and One Million and No/100
Dollars ($1,000,000.00) or a higher integral multiple of One Hundred Thousand
and No/100 Dollars ($100,000.00) for LIBOR Loans.
6.2.2 Mandatory
Prepayments.
(a) The
Company shall make a prepayment of the Loans until paid in full upon the
occurrence of any of the following (each a “Mandatory Prepayment
Event”) at the following times and in the following amounts (such
applicable amounts being referred to as “Designated
Proceeds”):
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(i)
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Concurrently
with the receipt by any Loan Party of any Net Cash Proceeds from any Asset
Disposition, in an amount equal to 100% of such Net Cash
Proceeds.
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(ii)
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Concurrently
with the receipt by any Loan Party of any Net Cash Proceeds from any
issuance of Capital Securities of any Loan Party (excluding (x) any
issuance of Capital Securities pursuant to any employee or director option
program, benefit plan or compensation program; (y) any issuance by a
Subsidiary to the Company or another Subsidiary to the Company or another
Subsidiary or (z) if waived by the Required Lenders, any issuance of
Capital Securities in connection with a Change of Control of any Loan
Party), in an amount equal to 100% of such Net Cash Proceeds (except to
the extent such proceeds are intended to be, and in fact are, reinvested
within 180 days from such date of
issuance).
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(iii)
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Concurrently
with the receipt by any Loan Party of any Net Cash Proceeds from any
issuance of any Debt of any Loan Party (excluding Debt permitted by Section 11.1(a)
through (i) hereof), in
an amount equal to
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36
100% of
such Net Cash Proceeds to the extent not used for acquisitions by a Loan Party
within one hundred eighty (180) days thereafter.
(b) If on any
day the Revolving Outstandings exceeds the Borrowing Base, the Company shall
immediately prepay Revolving Loans and/or Cash Collateralize the outstanding L/C
Obligations, or do a combination of the foregoing, in an amount sufficient to
eliminate such excess.
(c) If on any
day on which the Revolving Commitment is reduced pursuant to Section 6.1.2 the
Revolving Outstandings exceeds the Revolving Commitment, the Company shall
immediately prepay Revolving Loans or Cash Collateralize the outstanding L/C
Obligations, or do a combination of the foregoing, in an amount sufficient to
eliminate such excess.
6.3 Manner of
Prepayments.
6.3.1 All
Prepayments. Each voluntary partial prepayment shall be in a
principal amount of Five Hundred Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($500,000.00) or a
higher integral multiple of One Hundred Thousand and No/100 Dollars
($100,000.00) for Base Rate Loans and One Million and No/100 Dollars
($1,000,000.00) or a higher integral multiple of One Hundred Thousand and No/100
Dollars ($100,000.00) for LIBOR Loans. Any partial prepayment of a
Group of LIBOR Loans shall be subject to the proviso of Section
2.2.3(a). Any prepayment of a LIBOR Loan on a day other than
the last day of an Interest Period therefor shall include interest on the
principal amount being repaid and shall be subject to Section
8.4. Except as otherwise provided by this Agreement, all
principal payments in respect of the Loans shall be applied first, to repay
outstanding Base Rate Loans and then to repay outstanding LIBOR Rate Loans in
direct order of Interest Period maturities.
6.4 Repayments.
6.4.1 Revolving
Loans. The Revolving Loans of each Lender shall be paid in
full and the Revolving Commitment shall terminate on the Termination
Date.
SECTION
7 MAKING
AND PRORATION OF PAYMENTS; SETOFF; TAXES.
7.1 Making of
Payments. All payments of principal or interest on the Notes,
and of all fees, shall be made by the Company to the Administrative Agent in
immediately available funds at the office specified by the Administrative Agent
not later than 1:00 p.m., Chicago time, on the date due; and funds received
after that hour shall be deemed to have been received by the Administrative
Agent on the following Business Day. The Administrative Agent shall
promptly remit to each Lender its share of all such payments received in
collected funds by the Administrative Agent for the account of such
Lender. All payments under Section 8.1 shall be
37
made by
the Company directly to the Lender entitled thereto without setoff, counterclaim
or other defense.
7.2 Application of Certain
Payments. So long as no Default or Event of Default
has occurred and is continuing, (a) payments matching specific scheduled
payments then due shall be applied to those scheduled payments and (b) voluntary
and mandatory prepayments shall be applied as set forth in Sections 6.2 and
6.3. After
the occurrence and during the continuance of an Default or Event of Default, all
amounts collected or received by the Administrative Agent or any Lender as
proceeds from the sale of, or other realization upon, all or any part of the
collateral shall be applied as the Administrative Agent shall determine in their
discretion or, in the absence of a specific determination by the Administrative
Agent, as set forth in the Guaranty and Collateral
Agreement. Concurrently with each remittance to any Lender of its
share of any such payment, the Administrative Agent shall advise such Lender as
to the application of such payment.
7.3 Due Date
Extension. If any payment of principal or interest with
respect to any of the Loans, or of any fees, falls due on a day which is not a
Business Day, then such due date shall be extended to the immediately following
Business Day (unless, in the case of a LIBOR Loan, such immediately following
Business Day is the first Business Day of a calendar month, in which case such
due date shall be the immediately preceding Business Day) and, in the case of
principal, additional interest shall accrue and be payable for the period of any
such extension.
7.4 Setoff. The
Company agrees that the Administrative Agent and each Lender has all rights of
set-off and bankers’ lien provided by applicable law, and in addition thereto,
the Company agrees that at any time any Event of Default exists, the
Administrative Agent and each Lender may apply to the payment of any Obligations
of the Company hereunder, whether or not then due, any and all balances,
credits, deposits, accounts or moneys of the Company then or thereafter with the
Administrative Agent or such Lender.
7.5 Proration of
Payments. If any Lender shall obtain any payment or other
recovery (whether voluntary, involuntary, by application of offset or
otherwise), on account of (a) principal of or interest on any Loan, but
excluding (i) any payment pursuant to Section 5, Section 8.7 or 15.6, (ii) payments
of interest on any Affected Loan or (b) its participation in any L/C
Obligation in excess of its applicable Pro Rata Share of payments and other
recoveries obtained by all Lenders on account of principal of and interest on
the Loans (or such participation) then held by them, then such Lender shall
purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the Loans (or
sub-participations in L/C Obligations) held by them as shall be necessary to
cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment or other recovery
ratably with each of them; provided that if all
or any portion of the excess payment or other recovery is thereafter recovered
from such purchasing Lender, the purchase shall be rescinded and the purchase
price restored to the extent of such recovery.
38
7.6 Taxes.
(a) All
payments made by the Company hereunder or under any Loan Documents shall be made
without setoff, counterclaim, or other defense. To the extent
permitted by applicable law, all payments hereunder or under the Loan Documents
(including any payment of principal, interest, or fees) to, or for the benefit,
of any person shall be made by the Company free and clear of and without
deduction or withholding for, or account of, any Taxes now or hereinafter
imposed by any taxing authority.
(b) If the
Company makes any payment hereunder or under any Loan Document in respect of
which it is required by applicable law to deduct or withhold any Taxes, the
Company shall increase the payment hereunder or under any such Loan Document
such that after the reduction for the amount of Taxes withheld (and any taxes
withheld or imposed with respect to the additional payments required under this
Section
7.6(b)), the amount paid to the Lenders or the Administrative Agent
equals the amount that was payable hereunder or under any such Loan Document
without regard to this Section
7.6(b). To the extent the Company withholds any Taxes on
payments hereunder or under any Loan Document, the Company shall pay the full
amount deducted to the relevant taxing authority within the time allowed for
payment under applicable law and shall deliver to the Administrative Agent
within 30 days after it has made payment to such authority a receipt issued by
such authority (or other evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent)
evidencing the payment of all amounts so required to be deducted or withheld
from such payment.
(c) If any
Lender or the Administrative Agent is required by law to make any payments of
any Taxes on or in relation to any amounts received or receivable hereunder or
under any other Loan Document, or any Tax is assessed against a Lender or the
Administrative Agent with respect to amounts received or receivable hereunder or
under any other Loan Document, the Company will indemnify such person against
(i) such Tax (and any reasonable counsel fees and expenses associated with such
Tax) and (ii) any taxes imposed as a result of the receipt of the payment under
this Section
7.6(c). A certificate prepared in good faith as to the amount
of such payment by such Lender or the Administrative Agent shall, absent
manifest error, be final, conclusive, and binding on all parties.
(d) (i) 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.
Participant”) shall deliver to the Company and the Administrative Agent
on or prior to the Restatement Date (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
39
from, or
a reduced rate in, United States withholding tax on interest payments to be made
hereunder or any Loan. If a Lender that is a Non-U.S. Participant 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 the Administrative Agent (any such
certificate, a “Withholding
Certificate”). In addition, each Lender that is a Non-U.S.
Participant agrees that from time to time after the Restatement Date,
(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 the Company and the Administrative Agent two new and accurate
and complete original signed copies of an IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8ECI, 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. No Non-U.S. Participant shall become a Lender
if such Person fails to deliver a Withholding Certificate.
(ii) Each
Lender that is not a Non-U.S. Participant (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 the Company 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 7.6(d)(ii) 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 the Company 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.
(iii) The
Company shall not be required to pay additional amounts to a Lender, or
indemnify any Lender, under this Section 7.6 to the
extent that such obligations would not have arisen but for the failure of such
Lender to comply with Section
7.6(d).
(iv) 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 7.6) which
are imposed on or with respect to principal, interest or fees payable to such
Lender hereunder and which are not paid by the Company pursuant to this Section 7.6, 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.
40
SECTION
8
|
INCREASED
COSTS; SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR LIBOR
LOANS.
|
8.1 Increased
Costs. (a) If, after the date hereof, the adoption
of, or any change in, any applicable law, rule or regulation, or any change in
the interpretation or administration of any applicable law, rule or regulation
by any governmental authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with
the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any Lender with
any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any such
authority, central bank or comparable agency: (i) shall impose,
modify or deem applicable any reserve (including any reserve imposed by the FRB,
but excluding any reserve included in the determination of the LIBOR Rate
pursuant to Section
4), special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits
with or for the account of, or credit extended by any Lender; or (ii) shall
impose on any Lender any other condition affecting its LIBOR Loans, its Note or
its obligation to make LIBOR Loans; and the result of anything described in
clauses (i) and (ii) above is to increase the cost to (or to impose a cost on)
such Lender (or any LIBOR Office of such Lender) of making or maintaining any
LIBOR Loan, or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such
Lender (or its LIBOR Office) under this Agreement or under its Note with respect
thereto, then upon demand by such Lender (which demand shall be accompanied by a
statement setting forth the basis for such demand and a calculation of the
amount thereof in reasonable detail, a copy of which shall be furnished to the
Administrative Agent), the Company shall pay directly to such Lender such
additional amount as will compensate such Lender for such increased cost or such
reduction, so long as such amounts have accrued on or after the day which is 180
days prior to the date on which such Lender first made demand
therefor.
(b) If any
Lender shall reasonably determine that any change in, or the adoption or
phase-in of, any applicable law, rule or regulation regarding capital adequacy,
or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any
governmental authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the
interpretation or administration thereof, or the compliance by any Lender or any
Person controlling such Lender with any request or directive regarding capital
adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) of any such authority, central
bank or comparable agency, has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of
return on such Lender’s or such controlling Person’s capital as a consequence of
such Lender’s obligations hereunder or under any Letter of Credit to a level
below that which such Lender or such controlling Person could have achieved but
for such change, adoption, phase-in or compliance (taking into consideration
such Lender’s or such controlling Person’s policies with respect to capital
adequacy) by an amount deemed by such Lender or such controlling Person to be
material, then from time to time, upon demand by such Lender (which demand shall
be accompanied by a statement setting forth the basis for such demand and a
calculation of the amount thereof in reasonable detail, a copy of which shall be
furnished to the Administrative Agent), the Company shall pay to such Lender
such additional amount as will compensate such Lender or such
controlling
41
Person
for such reduction so long as such amounts have accrued on or after the day
which is 180 days prior to the date on which such Lender first made demand
therefor. Each Lender agrees that, a promptly as practicable after it
becomes aware of any circumstances referred to above which would result in any
such increased cost, the affected Lender shall, to the extent not inconsistent
with such Lender’s internal policies of general application, use reasonable
commercial efforts to minimize costs and expenses incurred by it and payable to
it by Company pursuant to this Section.
8.2 Basis for Determining
Interest Rate Inadequate or Unfair. (a) If (i) the
Administrative Agent reasonably determines (which determination shall be binding
and conclusive on the Company) that by reason of circumstances affecting the
interbank LIBOR market adequate and reasonable means do not exist for
ascertaining the applicable LIBOR Rate; or (ii) the Required Lenders advise the
Administrative Agent that (1) Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in
the London interbank eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest
Period of any requested LIBOR Loan or conversion to or continuation of any LIBOR
Loan, (2) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the LIBOR
Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed LIBOR Loan or
in connection with a Base Rate Loan or (3) the LIBOR Rate as determined by the
Administrative Agent will not adequately and fairly reflect the funding or
borrowing cost to such Lenders of maintaining or funding LIBOR Loans for such
Interest Period (taking into account any amount to which such Lenders may be
entitled under Section
8.1), then the
Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the other parties thereof and, so
long as such circumstances shall continue, (y) no Lender shall be under any
obligation to make any LIBOR Loans or Base Rate Loans as to which the interest
rate is determined with reference to the LIBOR Rate or convert any Base Rate
Loans into LIBOR Loans and (z) on the last day of the current Interest Period
for each LIBOR Loan, such Loan shall, unless then repaid in full, automatically
convert to a Base Rate Loan as to which the interest rate is not determined with
reference to the LIBOR Rate; or
(b) If the
Lenders having 50% or more of the Revolving Commitment determine (which
determination shall be conclusive and binding upon the Company) that the LIBOR
Rate or the Base Rate, as the case may be, will not adequately and fairly
reflect the funding or borrowing costs to such Lenders (as conclusively
certified by such Lenders) of making or maintaining their affected Loans, the
Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Company and the Lenders as
soon as practicable thereafter including with such notice, the Lenders’
certification as aforesaid and such notice shall remain in effect from the date
of such delivery until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the
such Lenders) revokes such notice. Each Lender shall instruct the
Administrative Agent to revoke the notice as soon as possible after the
circumstances initially giving rise to such notice shall cease or pass with
respect to such Lender.
8.3 Changes in Law Rendering
LIBOR Loans Unlawful. If any change in, or the adoption of any
new, law or regulation, or any change in the interpretation of any applicable
law
42
or
regulation by any governmental or other regulatory body charged with the
administration thereof, should make it (or in the good faith judgment of any
Lender cause a substantial question as to whether it is) unlawful for any Lender
to make, maintain or fund LIBOR Loans or to determine or change interest rates
based on the LIBOR Rate, then such Lender shall promptly notify each of the
other parties hereto and, so long as such circumstances shall continue, (a) such
Lender shall have no obligation to make or convert any Base Rate Loan into a
LIBOR Loan (but shall make Base Rate Loans as to which the interest rate is not
determined with reference to the LIBOR Rate concurrently with the making of or
conversion of Base Rate Loans into LIBOR Loans by the Lenders which are not so
affected, in each case in an amount equal to the amount of LIBOR Loans which
would be made or converted into by such Lender at such time in the absence of
such circumstances) or, if such notice relates to the unlawfulness or asserted
unlawfulness of charging interest based on the LIBOR Rate, to make Base Rate
Loans as to which the interest rate is determined with reference to the LIBOR
Rate (but shall convert such Base Rate Loans to Base Rate Loans as to which the
rate of interest is not determined with reference to the LIBOR Rate) and (b) on
the last day of the current Interest Period for each LIBOR Loan of such Lender
(or, in any event, on such earlier date as may be required by the
relevant law, regulation or interpretation), such LIBOR Loan shall, unless then
repaid in full, automatically convert to a Base Rate Loan. Each Base
Rate Loan made by a Lender which, but for the circumstances described in the
foregoing sentence, would be a LIBOR Loan (an “Affected Loan”) shall
remain outstanding for the period corresponding to the Group of LIBOR Loans of
which such Affected Loan would be a part absent such circumstances.
8.4 Funding
Losses. The Company hereby agrees that upon demand by any
Lender (which demand shall be accompanied by a statement setting forth the basis
for the amount being claimed, a copy of which shall be furnished to the
Administrative Agent), the Company will indemnify such Lender against any net
loss or expense which such Lender may sustain or incur (including any net loss
or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or
other funds acquired by such Lender to fund or maintain any LIBOR Loan), as
reasonably determined by such Lender, as a result of (a) any payment, prepayment
or conversion of any LIBOR Loan of such Lender on a date other than the last day
of an Interest Period for such Loan (including any conversion pursuant to Section 8.3) or (b)
any failure of the Company to borrow, convert or continue any Loan on a date
specified therefor in a notice of borrowing, conversion or continuation pursuant
to this Agreement. For this purpose, all notices to the
Administrative Agent pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be
irrevocable.
8.5 Right of Lenders to Fund
through Other Offices. Each Lender may, if it so elects,
fulfill its commitment as to any LIBOR Loan by causing a foreign branch or
Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that in such
event for the purposes of this Agreement such Loan shall be deemed to have been
made by such Lender and the obligation of the Company to repay such Loan shall
nevertheless be to such Lender and shall be deemed held by it, to the extent of
such Loan, for the account of such branch or Affiliate.
43
8.6 Discretion of Lenders as to
Manner of Funding. Notwithstanding any provision of this
Agreement to the contrary, each Lender shall be entitled to fund and maintain
its funding of all or any part of its Loans in any manner it sees fit, it being
understood, however, that for the purposes of this Agreement all determinations
hereunder shall be made as if such Lender had actually funded and maintained
each LIBOR Loan during each Interest Period for such Loan through the purchase
of deposits having a maturity corresponding to such Interest Period and bearing
an interest rate equal to the LIBOR Rate for such Interest Period.
8.7 Mitigation of Circumstances;
Replacement of Lenders. (a) Each Lender shall
promptly notify the Company and the Administrative Agent of any event of which
it has knowledge which will result in, and will use reasonable commercial
efforts available to it (and not, in such Lender’s sole judgment, otherwise
disadvantageous to such Lender) to mitigate or avoid, (i) any obligation by the
Company to pay any amount pursuant to Section 7.6 or 8.1 or (ii) the
occurrence of any circumstances described in Section 8.2 or 8.3 (and, if any
Lender has given notice of any such event described in clause (i) or (ii) above
and thereafter such event ceases to exist, such Lender shall promptly so notify
the Company and the Administrative Agent). Without limiting the
foregoing, each Lender will designate a different funding office if such
designation will avoid (or reduce the cost to the Company of) any event
described in clause (i) or (ii) above and such designation will not, in such
Lender’s sole judgment, be otherwise disadvantageous to such
Lender.
(b) If the
Company becomes obligated to pay additional amounts to any Lender pursuant to
Section 7.6 or
8.1, or any
Lender gives notice of the occurrence of any circumstances described in Section 8.2 or 8.3, the Company may
designate another bank which is acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the
Issuing Lender in their reasonable discretion (such other bank being called a
“Replacement
Lender”) to purchase the Loans of such Lender and such Lender’s rights
hereunder, without recourse to or warranty by, or expense to, such Lender, for a
purchase price equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Loans payable to
such Lender plus any accrued but
unpaid interest on such Loans and all accrued but unpaid fees owed to such
Lender and any other amounts payable to such Lender under this Agreement, and to
assume all the obligations of such Lender hereunder, and, upon such purchase and
assumption (pursuant to an Assignment Agreement), such Lender shall no longer be
a party hereto or have any rights hereunder (other than rights with respect to
indemnities and similar rights applicable to such Lender prior to the date of
such purchase and assumption) and shall be relieved from all obligations to the
Company hereunder, and the Replacement Lender shall succeed to the rights and
obligations of such Lender hereunder.
8.8 Conclusiveness of
Statements; Survival of Provisions. Determinations and
statements of any Lender pursuant to Section 8.1, 8.2, 8.3 or 8.4 shall be
conclusive absent demonstrable error. Lenders may use reasonable
averaging and attribution methods in determining compensation under Sections 8.1 and
8.4, and the
provisions of such Sections shall
44
survive
repayment of the Obligations, cancellation of any Notes, expiration or
termination of the Letters of Credit and termination of this
Agreement.
SECTION
9 REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES.
To induce
the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to
induce the Lenders to make Loans and issue and participate in Letters of Credit
hereunder, the Company represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and
the Lenders that:
9.1 Organization. Each
Loan Party is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of organization; and each Loan Party is duly qualified to do
business in each jurisdiction where, because of the nature of its activities or
properties, such qualification is required, except for such jurisdictions where
the failure to so qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
9.2 Authorization; No
Conflict. Each Loan Party is duly authorized to execute and
deliver each Loan Document to which it is a party, the Company is duly
authorized to borrow monies hereunder and each Loan Party is duly authorized to
perform its Obligations under each Loan Document to which it is a
party. The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of
each Loan Document to which it is a party, and the borrowings by the Company
hereunder, do not and will not (a) require any consent or approval of any
governmental agency or authority (other than any consent or approval which has
been obtained and is in full force and effect), (b) conflict with (i) any
provision of law, (ii) the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of
any Loan Party or (iii) any agreement, indenture, instrument or other document,
or any judgment, order or decree, which is binding upon any Loan Party or any of
their respective properties or (c) require, or result in, the creation or
imposition of any Lien on any asset of any Loan Party (other than Liens in favor
of the Administrative Agent created pursuant to the Collateral
Documents).
9.3 Validity and Binding
Nature. Each of this Agreement and each other Loan Document to
which any Loan Party is a party is the legal, valid and binding obligation of
such Person, enforceable against such Person in accordance with its terms,
subject to bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting the enforceability
of creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity.
9.4 Financial
Condition. The audited consolidated financial
statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at Company’s Fiscal Year 2007,
and the unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements of the Company and
the Subsidiaries as at September 30, 2008, copies of each of which have been
delivered to each Lender, were prepared in accordance with GAAP (subject, in the
case of such unaudited statements, to the absence of footnotes and to normal
year-end adjustments) and present fairly the consolidated financial condition of
the Company and its Subsidiaries as at such date(s) and the results of their
operations for the periods then ended.
45
9.5 No Material Adverse
Change. Since Company’s Fiscal Year 2007, there has been no
material adverse change in the financial condition, operations, assets,
business, properties or prospects of the Loan Parties taken as a
whole.
9.6 Litigation and Contingent
Liabilities. No litigation (including derivative actions),
arbitration proceeding or governmental investigation or proceeding is pending
or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against any Loan Party which might
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in
Schedule
9.6. Other than any liability incident to such litigation or
proceedings, no Loan Party has any material contingent liabilities not listed on
Schedule 9.6 or
permitted by Section
11.1.
9.7 Ownership of Properties;
Liens. Each Loan Party owns good and, in the case of real
property, marketable title to all of its properties and assets, real
and personal, tangible and intangible, of any nature whatsoever (including
patents, trademarks, trade names, service marks and copyrights), free and clear
of all Liens, charges and claims (including infringement claims with respect to
patents, trademarks, service marks, copyrights and the like) except as permitted
by Section
11.2.
9.8 Equity Ownership;
Subsidiaries. All issued and outstanding Capital Securities of
each Domestic Subsidiary are duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid,
non-assessable, and free and clear of all Liens other than those in favor of the
Administrative Agent, and such securities were issued in compliance with all
applicable state and federal laws concerning the issuance of
securities. Schedule 9.8 sets
forth the authorized Capital Securities of each Domestic Subsidiary as of the
Restatement Date and all of the issued and outstanding Capital Securities of
each Domestic Subsidiary is, directly or indirectly, owned by the
Company. As of the Restatement Date, except as set forth on Schedule 9.8, there
are no pre-emptive or other outstanding rights, options, warrants, conversion
rights or other similar agreements or understandings for the purchase or
acquisition of any Capital Securities of any Domestic Subsidiary.
9.9 Pension
Plans. (a) Each Pension Plan complies in all material
respects with all applicable requirements of law and regulations. No
contribution failure under Section 412 of the Code, Section 302 of ERISA or the
terms of any Pension Plan has occurred with respect to any Pension Plan,
sufficient to give rise to a Lien under Section 302(f) of ERISA, or otherwise to
have a Material Adverse Effect. There are no pending or, to the
knowledge of Company, threatened, claims, actions, investigations or lawsuits
against any Pension Plan, any fiduciary of any Pension Plan, or Company or other
any member of the Controlled Group with respect to a Pension Plan which could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the
Company nor any other member of the Controlled Group has engaged in any
prohibited transaction (as defined in Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of
ERISA) in connection with any Pension Plan which would subject that Person to
any material liability. Within the past five years, neither the
Company nor any other member of the Controlled Group has engaged in
a
46
transaction
which resulted in a Pension Plan with an Unfunded Liability being transferred
out of the Controlled Group, which could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect. No Termination Event has occurred or is
reasonably expected to occur with respect to any Pension Plan, which could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) All
contributions (if any) have been made to any Multiemployer Pension Plan that are
required to be made by the Company or any other member of the Controlled Group
under the terms of the plan or of any collective bargaining agreement or by
applicable law; neither the Company nor any other member of the Controlled Group
has withdrawn or partially withdrawn from any Multiemployer Pension Plan,
incurred any withdrawal liability with respect to any such plan or received
notice of any claim or demand for withdrawal liability or partial withdrawal
liability from any such plan, and no condition has occurred which, if continued,
could result in a withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any such plan which
would have a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Company nor any other
member of the Controlled Group has received any notice that any Multiemployer
Pension Plan is in reorganization, that increased contributions may be required
to avoid a reduction in plan benefits or the imposition of any excise tax, that
any such plan is or has been funded at a rate less than that required under
Section 412 of the Code, that any such plan is or may be terminated which could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or that any such plan
is or may become insolvent.
9.10 Investment Company
Act. No Loan Party is an “investment company” or a company
“controlled” by an “investment company” or a “subsidiary” of an “investment
company,” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
9.11 Regulation
U. The Company is not engaged principally, or as one of its
important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of
purchasing or carrying Margin Stock.
9.12 Taxes. Each Loan Party has
timely filed all tax returns and reports required by law to have been filed by
it and has paid all taxes and governmental charges due and payable with respect
to such return, except any such taxes or charges which are being diligently
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate
reserves in accordance with GAAP (subject, in the case of such unaudited
statements, to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end adjustments)
shall have been set aside on its books. The Loan Parties have made
adequate reserves on their books and records in accordance with GAAP (subject,
in the case of such unaudited statements, to the absence of footnotes and to
normal year-end adjustments) for all taxes that have accrued but which are not
yet due and payable. No Loan Party has participated in any
transaction that relates to a year of the taxpayer (which is still open under
the applicable statute of limitations) which is a “reportable transaction”
within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b)(2) (irrespective
of the date when the transaction was entered into).
47
9.13 Solvency,
etc. On the Restatement Date, and immediately prior to and
after giving effect to the issuance of each Letter of Credit and each borrowing
hereunder and the use of the proceeds thereof, with respect to each Loan Party
other than as set forth in Schedule 9.13 hereto,
individually, (a) the fair value of its assets is greater than the amount of its
liabilities (including disputed, contingent and unliquidated liabilities) as
such value is established and liabilities evaluated in accordance with GAAP, (b)
the present fair saleable value of its assets is not less than the amount that
will be required to pay the probable liability on its debts as they become
absolute and matured, (c) it is able to realize upon its assets and pay its
debts and other liabilities (including disputed, contingent and unliquidated
liabilities) as they mature in the normal course of business, (d) it does not
intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond
its ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature and (e) it is not
engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or
a transaction, for which its property would constitute unreasonably small
capital.
9.14 Environmental
Matters. The on-going operations of each Loan Party comply in
all respects with all Environmental Laws, except such non-compliance which could
not (if enforced in accordance with applicable law) reasonably be expected to
result, either individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse
Effect. Each Loan Party has obtained, and maintained in good
standing, all licenses, permits, authorizations, registrations and other
approvals required under any Environmental Law and required for their respective
ordinary course operations, and for their reasonably anticipated future
operations, and each Loan Party is in compliance with all terms and conditions
thereof, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to
result in material liability to any Loan Party and could not reasonably be
expected to result, either individually or in the aggregate, in a Material
Adverse Effect. No Loan Party or any of its properties or operations
is subject to, or reasonably anticipates the issuance of, any written order from
or agreement with any Federal, state or local governmental authority, nor
subject to any judicial or docketed administrative or other proceeding,
respecting any Environmental Law, Environmental Claim or Hazardous
Substance. There are no Hazardous Substances or other conditions or
circumstances existing with respect to any property, except for the Freeport
Facility, arising from operations prior to the Closing Date, or relating to any
waste disposal, of any Loan Party that would reasonably be expected to result,
either individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse
Effect. Except for Titan Tire Corporation (only with respect to the
Freeport Facility), no Loan Party has any underground storage tanks that are not
properly registered or permitted under applicable Environmental Laws or, to the
best of Company’s knowledge, have released, leaked, disposed of or otherwise
discharged Hazardous Substances.
9.15 Insurance. Set
forth on Schedule
9.15 is a complete and materially accurate summary of the property and
casualty insurance program of the Loan Parties as of the Restatement Date
(including the names of all insurers, policy numbers, expiration dates, amounts
and types of coverage, annual premiums, exclusions, deductibles, self-insured
retention, and a description in reasonable detail of any self-insurance program,
retrospective rating plan, fronting arrangement or other risk assumption
arrangement involving any Loan Party). Each Loan
Party
48
and its
properties are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies
which are not Affiliates of the Loan Parties, in such amounts, with such
deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies
engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where
such Loan Parties operate.
9.16 Real
Property. Set forth on Schedule 9.16 is a
complete and materially accurate list, as of the Restatement Date, of the
address of all real property owned or leased by any Loan Party, together with,
in the case of leased property, the name and mailing address of the lessor of
such property.
9.17 Information. All
information heretofore or contemporaneously herewith furnished in writing by any
Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of or in
connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby is, and
all written information hereafter furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party to
the Administrative Agent or any Lender pursuant hereto or in connection herewith
will be, true and accurate in every material respect on the date as of which
such information is dated or certified, and none of such information is or will
be incomplete by omitting to state any material fact necessary to make such
information not misleading in light of the circumstances under which made (it
being recognized by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that any
projections and forecasts provided by the Company are based on good faith
estimates and assumptions believed by the Company to be reasonable as of the
date of the applicable projections or assumptions and that actual results during
the period or periods covered by any such projections and forecasts may differ
from projected or forecasted results). The Lenders acknowledged that
these projections and forecasts are based on the Company’s expectations and are
subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the
Company’s control. Actual results could differ materially from these
projections and forecasts as a result of certain factors, including, (i) changes
in the Company’s end-user markets as a result of world economics or regulatory
influences, (ii) fluctuations in currency translations, (iii) changes in the
marketplace, including new products and pricing changes by the Company’s
competitors, (iv) availability and price of raw materials, (v) levels of
operating efficiencies, (vi) actions of domestic and foreign governments, (vii)
results of investments, and (viii) ability to secure financing at reasonable
terms. Any changes in such factors could lead to significantly
different results. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or
revise any such projections or forecasts, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise. In light of these risks and
uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the projections and forecasts
contained in this Agreement will in fact transpire.
9.18 Intellectual
Property. Each Loan Party owns and possesses or has a
license or other right to use all patents, patent rights, trademarks, trademark
rights, trade names, trade name rights, service marks, service xxxx rights and
copyrights as are necessary for the conduct of the businesses of the Loan
Parties, without any infringement upon rights of others which could reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
49
9.19 Burdensome
Obligations. No Loan Party is a party to any agreement or
contract or subject to any restriction contained in its organizational documents
which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
9.20 Labor
Matters. Except as set forth on Schedule 9.20, no
Loan Party is subject to any labor or collective bargaining
agreement. There are no existing or threatened strikes, lockouts or
other labor disputes involving any Loan Party that singly or in the aggregate
could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Hours
worked by and payment made to employees of the Loan Parties are not in violation
of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable law, rule or regulation
dealing with such matters which could reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
9.21 No
Default. No Event of Default or Default exists or would result
from the incurrence by any Loan Party of any Debt hereunder or under any other
Loan Document.
9.22 Subordinated
Debt. The subordination provisions of the Subordinated Debt
are enforceable against the holders of the Subordinated Debt by the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders.
9.23 Subsidiary
Assets. No Subsidiary, other than the Foreign Subsidiaries and
Domestic Subsidiaries, owns assets other than as disclosed on Schedule 9.23, which
Schedule describes both the type and approximate value of such
assets.
SECTION
10 AFFIRMATIVE
COVENANTS.
Until the
expiration or termination of the Commitments and thereafter until all
Obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are paid in full and
all Letters of Credit have been terminated, the Company agrees that, unless at
any time the Required Lenders shall otherwise expressly consent in writing, it
will:
10.1 Reports, Certificates and
Other Information. Except as such information is available to
the public by disclosures required by the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission, furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:
10.1.1 Annual
Report. Promptly when available and in any event within 90
days after the close of each Fiscal Year a copy of the annual audit report of
the Company for such Fiscal Year, including therein consolidated balance sheets
and statements of earnings and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries at
the end of such Fiscal Year, each certified without adverse reference to going
concern value and without qualification by independent auditors of recognized
standing selected by the Company and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative
Agent.
10.1.2 Interim
Reports. (a) Promptly when available and in any
event within 45 days after the end of each Fiscal Quarter, consolidated balance
sheets of each of (i) the Company and
50
(ii) the
Obligors as of the end of such Fiscal Quarter, together with consolidated
statements of earnings and cash flows for such Fiscal Quarter and for the period
beginning with the first day of such Fiscal Year and ending on the last day of
such Fiscal Quarter, certified by a Senior Officer of the Company; and if the
Administrative Agent requests, (b) promptly when available and in any event
within 30 days after the end of each month, consolidated balance sheets of each
of (i) the Company and (ii) the Obligors as of the end of such month, together
with consolidated statements of earnings and a consolidated statement of cash
flows for such month and for the period beginning with the first day of such
Fiscal Year and ending on the last day of such month, certified by a Senior
Officer of the Company.
10.1.3 Compliance
Certificates. Contemporaneously with the furnishing of a copy
of each annual audit report pursuant to Section 10.1.1 and
each set of quarterly statements pursuant to Section 10.1.2, a
duly completed compliance certificate in the form of Exhibit B, with
appropriate insertions, dated the date of such annual report or such quarterly
statements and signed by a Senior Officer of the Company, containing a
computation of each of the financial ratios and restrictions set forth in Section 11.14 and to
the effect that such officer has not become aware of any Event of Default or
Default that has occurred and is continuing or, if there is any such event,
describing it and the steps, if any, being taken to cure it.
10.1.4 Notice of Default,
Litigation and ERISA Matters. Promptly upon becoming aware of
any of the following, written notice describing the same and the steps being
taken by the Company or the Subsidiary affected thereby with respect
thereto:
(a) the
occurrence of an Event of Default or a Default;
(b) any
litigation, arbitration or governmental investigation or proceeding not
previously disclosed by the Company to the Lenders which has been instituted or,
to the knowledge of the Company, is threatened against any Loan Party or to
which any of the properties of any thereof is subject which might reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(c) the
institution of any steps by any member of the Controlled Group or any other
Person to terminate any Pension Plan, or the failure of any member of the
Controlled Group to make a required contribution to any Pension Plan (if such
failure is sufficient to give rise to a Lien under Section 302(f) of ERISA) or
to any Multiemployer Pension Plan, or the taking of any action with respect to a
Pension Plan which could result in the requirement that the Company furnish a
bond or other security to the PBGC or such Pension Plan, or the occurrence of
any event with respect to any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Pension Plan which
could result in the incurrence by any member of the Controlled Group of any
material liability, fine or penalty (including any claim or demand for
withdrawal liability or partial withdrawal from any Multiemployer Pension Plan),
or any material increase in the contingent liability of the Company with respect
to
51
any
post-retirement welfare benefit plan or other employee benefit plan of the
Company or another member of the Controlled Group, or any notice that any
Multiemployer Pension Plan is in reorganization, that increased contributions
may be required to avoid a reduction in plan benefits or the imposition of an
excise tax, that any such plan is or has been funded at a rate less than that
required under Section 412 of the Code, that any such plan is or may be
terminated, or that any such plan is or may become insolvent;
(d) any
cancellation or material change in any insurance maintained by any Loan Party;
or
(e) any other
event (including (i) any violation of any Environmental Law or the assertion of
any Environmental Claim or (ii) the enactment or effectiveness of any law, rule
or regulation) which might reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
10.1.5 Borrowing Base
Certificates. Within thirty (30) days of the end of each of
the first three Fiscal Quarters of each Fiscal Year and within sixty (60) days
of the end of the last Fiscal Quarter of each Fiscal Year, a
Borrowing Base Certificate dated as of the end of such Fiscal Quarter and
executed by a Senior Officer of the Company on behalf of the Company (provided
that (a) the Company shall deliver a Borrowing Base Certificate within
twenty-five (25) days after the end of each calendar month if during such month
the average daily balance of the Revolving Outstandings exceeded $125,000,000,
(b) at any time an Event of Default exists, the Administrative Agent may require
the Company to deliver Borrowing Base Certificates more frequently than
quarterly), (c) the Company may, but is not required to, deliver a Borrowing
Base Certificate as of the date of any request by Company for a Revolving Loan,
and (d) the Borrowing Base Certificate for each Fiscal Quarter shall be based on
the Company’s unaudited financial statements. In the event the
Company fails to timely deliver a Borrowing Base Certificate as set forth
hereinabove, then, in addition to all other remedies set forth herein, the Base
Rate Margin, LIBOR Margin and L/C Fee Rate shall be automatically adjusted at
the highest rates set forth in the Pricing Grid, until such Borrowing Base
Certificate is delivered.
10.1.6 Management Recommendation
Reports. If requested by the Administrative Agent and if not
otherwise prohibited, promptly upon receipt thereof, copies of all detailed
financial or management recommendation reports, if any, submitted to the Company
by independent auditors in connection with each annual audit made by such
auditors of the books of the Company.
10.1.7 Budgets. As
soon as practicable, and in any event not later than 30 days after the
commencement of each Fiscal Year, a consolidated financial budget for the
Company for such Fiscal Year (including annual operating and cash flow budgets)
prepared in a manner consistent with the budget delivered by the Company to the
Lenders prior to the Restatement
52
Date or
otherwise in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and
such budgets shall have been prepared by the Company in good faith.
10.1.8 Senior Notes, Subordinated
Debt and Other Material Debt Notices. Promptly following
receipt, copies of any notices (including notices of default or acceleration)
received from any holder or trustee of, under or with respect to the Senior
Notes, any Subordinated Debt with an original principal amount greater than
$10,000,000, or any other Material Debt.
10.1.9 Other
Information. Promptly from time to time, such other
information concerning the Loan Parties as any Lender or the Administrative
Agent may reasonably request.
10.2 Books, Records and
Inspections. Keep, and cause each other Loan Party to keep,
its books and records in accordance with sound business practices sufficient to
allow the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP; permit,
and cause each other Loan Party to permit, any Lender or the Administrative
Agent or any representative thereof to inspect the properties and operations of
the Loan Parties; and permit, and cause each other Loan Party to permit, at any
reasonable time and with reasonable notice (or at any time without notice if an
Event of Default exists), any Lender or the Administrative Agent or any
representative thereof to visit any or all of its offices, to discuss its
financial matters with its officers and its independent auditors (and after and
as long as an Event of Default continues the Company hereby authorizes such
independent auditors to discuss such financial matters with any Lender or the
Administrative Agent or any representative thereof), and to examine (and, at the
expense of the Loan Parties, photocopy extracts from) any of its books or other
records; and permit, and cause each other Loan Party to permit, the
Administrative Agent and its representatives to inspect the Inventory and other
tangible assets of the Loan Parties, to perform appraisals of the equipment of
the Loan Parties, and to inspect, audit, check and make copies of and extracts
from the books, records, computer data, computer programs, journals, orders,
receipts, correspondence and other data relating to Inventory, Accounts and any
other collateral, all at the expense of the Administrative Agent (except as set
out in this Agreement). If an Event of Default or Default exists, all
such inspections or audits by the Administrative Agent shall be at the Company’s
expense.
10.3 Maintenance of Property;
Insurance.
(a) Keep, and
cause each other Loan Party to keep, all property useful and necessary in the
business of the Loan Parties in normal working order and condition, ordinary
wear and tear excepted.
(b) Maintain,
and cause each other Loan Party to maintain, with responsible insurance
companies acceptable to the Administrative Agent, such insurance coverage as may
be required by any law or governmental regulation or court decree or order
applicable to it and such other insurance, to such extent and against such
hazards and liabilities, as is customarily maintained by companies similarly
situated, but which shall
53
insure
against all risks and liabilities of the type identified on Schedule 9.15 and
shall have insured amounts no less than, and deductibles no higher than, those
set forth on such schedule; and, upon request of the Administrative Agent or any
Lender, furnish to the Administrative Agent or such Lender annually or upon any
renewal of any policy a certificate setting forth in reasonable detail the
nature and extent of all insurance maintained by the Loan Parties and
delineating thereon the special provisions enumerated herein. The
Company shall cause each issuer of an insurance policy to provide the
Administrative Agent, for the benefit of any Lender, with an endorsement (i)
showing the Administrative Agent as additional insured and loss payee with
respect to each policy of property insurance and naming the Administrative Agent
on behalf of the Lenders as an additional insured with respect to each policy of
liability insurance, (ii) providing that 30 days’ notice will be given to the
Administrative Agent prior to any cancellation of, material reduction or change
in coverage provided by or other material modification to such policy, (iii)
providing breach of warranty coverage with respect to each policy of property
insurance, and (iv) providing a waiver of subrogation in favor of the
Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders. The Company shall
execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a collateral assignment, in form
and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, of each business
interruption insurance policy maintained by the Company.
(c) UNLESS THE COMPANY PROVIDES THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT WITH EVIDENCE OF THE INSURANCE COVERAGE REQUIRED BY THIS
AGREEMENT, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT MAY PURCHASE INSURANCE AT THE COMPANY’S
EXPENSE TO PROTECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S AND THE LENDERS’ INTERESTS IN THE
COLLATERAL. THIS INSURANCE MAY, BUT NEED NOT, PROTECT ANY LOAN
PARTY’S INTERESTS. THE COVERAGE THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
PURCHASES MAY NOT PAY ANY CLAIM THAT IS MADE AGAINST ANY LOAN PARTY IN
CONNECTION WITH THE COLLATERAL. THE COMPANY MAY LATER CANCEL ANY
INSURANCE PURCHASED BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, BUT ONLY AFTER PROVIDING THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT WITH EVIDENCE THAT THE COMPANY HAS OBTAINED INSURANCE AS
REQUIRED BY THIS AGREEMENT. IF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT PURCHASES
INSURANCE FOR THE COLLATERAL, THE COMPANY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COSTS OF
THAT INSURANCE, INCLUDING INTEREST AND ANY OTHER CHARGES THAT MAY BE IMPOSED
WITH THE PLACEMENT OF THE INSURANCE, UNTIL THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE
CANCELLATION OR EXPIRATION OF THE INSURANCE. THE COSTS OF THE
INSURANCE MAY BE ADDED TO THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THE LOANS OWING
HEREUNDER. THE COSTS OF THE INSURANCE MAY BE MORE THAN THE COST OF
THE INSURANCE THE LOAN PARTIES MAY BE ABLE TO OBTAIN ON THEIR
OWN.
54
10.4 Compliance with Laws;
Payment of Taxes and Liabilities. (a) Comply, and
cause each other Loan Party to comply, in all material respects with all
applicable laws, rules, regulations, decrees, orders, judgments, licenses and
permits, except where failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect; (b) without limiting clause (a) above,
ensure, and cause each other Loan Party to ensure, that no person who owns a
controlling interest in or otherwise controls a Loan Party 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,
comply, and cause each other Loan Party to comply, with all applicable Bank
Secrecy Act (“BSA”) and anti-money
laundering laws and regulations and (d) pay, and cause each other Loan Party to
pay, prior to delinquency, all taxes and other governmental charges against it
or any collateral, as well as claims of any kind which, if unpaid, could become
a Lien on any of its property; provided that the
foregoing shall not require any Loan Party to pay any such tax or charge so long
as it shall contest the validity thereof in good faith by appropriate
proceedings and shall set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect
thereto in accordance with GAAP and, in the case of a claim which could become a
Lien on any collateral, such contest proceedings shall stay the foreclosure of
such Lien or the sale of any portion of the collateral to satisfy such
claim.
10.5 Maintenance of Existence,
etc. Maintain and preserve, and (subject to Section 11.5)
cause each other Loan Party to maintain and preserve, (a) its existence and good
standing in the jurisdiction of its organization and (b) its qualification to do
business and good standing in each jurisdiction where the nature of its business
makes such qualification necessary (other than such jurisdictions in which the
failure to be qualified or in good standing could not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect).
10.6 Use of
Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Loans and the Letters of
Credit, solely to fund and pay for acquisitions approved by the Required
Lenders, for working capital purposes, for Capital Expenditures and for other
general business purposes; and not use or permit any proceeds of any Loan to be
used, either directly or indirectly, for the purpose, whether immediate,
incidental or ultimate, of ‘purchasing or carrying’ any Margin
Stock.
10.7 Employee Benefit
Plans.
(a) Unless
and to the extent any Pension Plan is terminated, maintain, and cause each other
member of the Controlled Group to maintain, each Pension Plan in substantial
compliance with all applicable requirements of law and
regulations.
55
(b) Make, and
cause each other member of the Controlled Group to make, on a timely basis, all
required contributions to any Multiemployer Pension Plan.
(c) Without
the Administrative Agent’s prior consent, not to be unreasonably withheld, not,
and not permit any other member of the Controlled Group to (i) seek a waiver of
the minimum funding standards of ERISA, (ii) terminate or withdraw from any
Pension Plan or Multiemployer Pension Plan or (iii) take any other action with
respect to any Pension Plan that would reasonably be expected to entitle the
PBGC to terminate, impose liability in respect of, or cause a trustee to be
appointed to administer, any Pension Plan, unless the actions or events
described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) individually or in the aggregate would
not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(d) If any
Person institutes steps to terminate a Pension Plan, and as a result of such
termination the Company or any member of the Controlled Group could be required
to make a contribution to such Pension Plan or otherwise incur a liability to
such Pension Plan, the Company shall promptly notify the Administrative
Agent.
10.8 Environmental
Matters. If any release or threatened release or other
disposal of Hazardous Substances shall occur or shall have occurred on any real
property or any other assets of any Loan Party, the Company shall, or shall
cause the applicable Loan Party to, cause the prompt containment and removal of
such Hazardous Substances and the remediation of such real property or other
assets as necessary to comply with all Environmental Laws and to preserve the
value of such real property or other assets. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the Company shall, and shall cause each other Loan
Party to, comply with any Federal or state judicial or administrative order
requiring the performance at any real property of any Loan Party of activities
in response to the release or threatened release of a Hazardous
Substance. To the extent that the transportation of Hazardous
Substances is permitted by this Agreement, the Company shall, and shall cause
its Subsidiaries to, dispose of such Hazardous Substances, or of any other
wastes, only at licensed disposal facilities operating in compliance with
Environmental Laws.
10.9 Further
Assurances. Take, and cause each other Loan Party to take,
such actions as are necessary or as the Administrative Agent or the Required
Lenders may reasonably request from time to time to ensure that the Obligations
of each Loan Party under the Loan Documents are (A) secured by the assets of the
type that the Loan Documents purport to grant a security interest in, including
all Capital Securities of each Domestic Subsidiary, of (i) the Company, (ii)
each Domestic Subsidiary and (iii) any Subsidiary that becomes a guarantor of
the Senior Notes or any other Material Debt, and (B) guaranteed by each Domestic
Subsidiary and any Subsidiary that becomes a guarantor of the Senior Notes or
any other Material Debt, in each case as the Administrative Agent may determine,
including (x) the execution and delivery of guaranties, security agreements,
pledge agreements, mortgages, deeds of trust, financing statements and other
documents, and the filing or recording of any of the foregoing, and (y) the
delivery of
56
certificated
securities and other collateral with respect to which perfection is obtained by
possession. If the Administrative Agent at any time has a reasonable
basis to believe that there may be a violation of any Environmental Laws by any
Loan Party, on, at, in, under, above, to, from or about any of its Mortgaged
Real Property, which, in each case, could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect then each Loan Party, with respect to such Mortgaged
Real Property, upon the Administrative Agent’s written request shall cause the
performance of such environmental audits, including subsurface sampling of soil
and groundwater, and preparation of such environmental reports, at the Company’s
expense, as the Administrative Agent and the Company may mutually agree, or, if
any Default or Event of Default then exists and is continuing, as the
environmental consulting firms reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent
suggest and shall be in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative
Agent.
10.10 Deposit
Accounts. Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise consents
in writing, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, in order to
facilitate the Administrative Agent’s and the Lenders’ maintenance and
monitoring of their security interests in the collateral, maintain its and all
of Domestic Subsidiaries’ principal deposit accounts with the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders; provided, that any
deposit account maintained with a Lender other than the Administrative Agent is
subject to a tri-party account control agreement with respect to each such
account on terms acceptable to the Administrative Agent.
10.11 Intentionally
omitted.
10.12 Syndication. Enter
into such modifications to the Loan Documents as the Administrative Agent may
reasonably request as necessary for the syndication of the Loans and the
Commitments.
10.13 Appraisals. Each
Loan Party shall, upon the Administrative Agent’s written request, (i) cause the
performance of such appraisals of the Collateral (excluding the Real Estate), at
Lenders’ expense (except with respect to the initial appraisals and any
appraisal undertaken after an Event of Default which shall be at Company’s
expense), as the Administrative Agent may from time to time reasonably request,
which shall be conducted by the prior appraisal firms or reputable firms
reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and shall be in form and
substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent, and (ii) permit the
Administrative Agent or its representatives to have access to all Real Estate
for the purpose of conducting such appraisals as the Administrative Agent deems
appropriate; provided that if an Event of Default shall not have occurred, the
Administrative Agent shall request such appraisals no more frequently than once
annually from and after the Restatement Date. Obligors shall
reimburse the Administrative Agent for the costs of such appraisals for which
they are responsible, and the same will constitute a part of the
Obligations secured hereunder. The Administrative Agent agrees to use
reasonable efforts to limit the costs of such appraisals to not more than
$75,000 per year without limiting the scope of any such
appraisal. The
57
Administrative
Agent agrees to notify Company if any such appraisal exceeds or is anticipated
to exceed such amount.
10.14 Immaterial Subsidiaries’
Assets. Not permit any Immaterial Subsidiary listed on Schedule 9.23 to own
assets (excluding, in the case of Titan Tire Corporation of Texas, the
Brownsville Facility) having an aggregate book value which is greater than 130%
of that aggregate amount expressed in Schedule
9.23.
10.15 Escrow. All
payment Assignments made by the Obligors to the Administrative Agent pursuant to
the Assignment of Claims Act of 1940 and all Pledged Equity (as defined in the
Guaranty and Collateral Agreement) and stock powers relating thereto shall be
deposited with the Escrow Agent pursuant to the terms of the Escrow
Agreement.
SECTION
11 NEGATIVE
COVENANTS
Until the
expiration or termination of the Commitments and thereafter until all
Obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are paid in full and
all Letters of Credit have been terminated, the Company agrees that, unless at
any time the Required Lenders shall otherwise expressly consent in writing, it
will:
11.1 Debt. Not,
and not permit any other Loan Party to, create, incur, guaranty, assume or
suffer to exist any Debt, except:
(a) Debt of
the Company and the Loan Parties in an aggregate outstanding amount not at any
time exceeding $50,000,000;
(b) Obligations
under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;
(c) Debt of
the Company to any Domestic Subsidiary or Debt of any Domestic Subsidiary to the
Company or another Domestic Subsidiary; provided that such
Debt shall be evidenced by a demand note in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and pledged and delivered to the
Administrative Agent pursuant to the Collateral Documents as additional
collateral security for the Obligations, and the obligations under such demand
note shall be subordinated to the Obligations of the Company hereunder in a
manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(d) Hedging
Obligations approved by the Administrative Agent and incurred in favor of a
Lender or an Affiliate thereof for bona fide hedging purposes and not for
speculation;
(e) Debt
described on Schedule
11.1 and any extension, renewal or refinancing thereof so long as the
principal amount thereof is not increased nor the amortization thereof
decreased;
58
(f) Unfunded
pension fund and other employee benefit plan obligations and liabilities to the
extent they are permitted to remain unfunded under applicable law;
(g) Debt in
respect of Taxes, assessments, governmental charges or levies and claims for
labor, materials, and supplies to the extent payment thereof shall not at the
time be required by Section 10.4;
(h) Contingent
Liabilities arising with respect to customary indemnification obligations in
favor of sellers in connection with Acquisitions permitted under Section 11.5 and
purchasers in connection with dispositions permitted under Section 11.5;
and
(i) the
Senior Notes.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, neither the Company nor any other Loan Party shall be permitted
to incur Debt hereunder to the extent the Company or any other Loan Party is
prohibited from incurring such Debt pursuant to the terms of the documents
governing any Material Debt.
11.2 Liens. Not,
and not permit any other Loan Party to, create or permit to exist any Lien on
any of its real or personal properties, assets or rights of whatsoever nature
(whether now owned or hereafter acquired) including without limitation the
Freeport Facility and the Xxxxx Facility, except:
(a) Liens for
taxes or other governmental charges not at the time delinquent or thereafter
payable without penalty or being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings and, in each case, for which it maintains adequate
reserves;
(b) Liens
arising in the ordinary course of business (such as (i) Liens of carriers,
warehousemen, mechanics and materialmen and other similar Liens imposed by law
and securing obligations not exceeding in the aggregate $20,000,000 at any time
and (ii) Liens in the form of deposits or pledges incurred in connection with
worker’s compensation, unemployment compensation and other types of social
security (excluding Liens arising under ERISA) or in connection with surety
bonds, bids, performance bonds and similar obligations) for sums not overdue or
being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and not involving any
advances or borrowed money or the deferred purchase price of property or
services and, in each case, for which it maintains adequate
reserves;
(c) Liens
described on Schedule
11.2 as of the Restatement Date;
(d) subject
to the limitation set forth in Section 11.1(a), (i)
Liens arising in connection with Capital Leases (and attaching only to the
property being leased), (ii) Liens existing on property at the time of the
acquisition thereof by any Loan Party
59
(and not
created in contemplation of such acquisition) and (iii) Liens that constitute
purchase money security interests on any property securing debt incurred for the
purpose of financing all or any part of the cost of acquiring such property,
provided that
any such Lien attaches to such property within 20 days of the acquisition
thereof and attaches solely to the property so acquired;
(e) attachments,
appeal bonds, judgments and other similar Liens, which would not be reasonably
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect arising in connection with court
proceedings, provided the
execution or other enforcement of such Liens is effectively stayed and the
claims secured thereby are being actively contested in good faith and by
appropriate proceedings;
(f) easements,
rights of way, restrictions, minor defects or irregularities in title and other
similar Liens not interfering in any material respect with the ordinary conduct
of the business of any Loan Party;
(g) Liens
arising under the Loan Documents; and
(h) the
replacement, extension or renewal of any Lien permitted by clause (c) above upon
or in the same property subject thereto arising out of the extension, renewal or
replacement of the Debt secured thereby (without increase in the amount
thereof).
11.3 Operating
Leases. Not permit the aggregate amount of all rental payments
under Operating Leases made (or scheduled to be made) by the Loan Parties (on a
consolidated basis) to exceed $15,000,000 in any Fiscal Year, except in any
Fiscal Year when prepayment described in Section 11.4(e)(vi)
may occur.
11.4 Restricted
Payments. Not, and not permit any other Loan Party to, (a)
make any distribution to any holders of its Capital Securities, (b) purchase or
redeem any of its Capital Securities in excess of $5,000,000 in the aggregate in
any Fiscal Year, (c) pay any management fees or similar fees to any of its
equityholders or any Affiliate thereof, (d) make any redemption, prepayment,
defeasance, repurchase or any other payment in respect of any Subordinated Debt,
(e) make any voluntary redemption, prepayment, defeasance, repurchase or any
other voluntary payment in respect of any Senior Notes or any other Material
Debt (other than a Debt secured by a Permitted Lien if the asset securing such
Debt is sold in accordance with Section 11.5); or (f)
set aside funds for any of the foregoing. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, (i) any Subsidiary may pay dividends or make other distributions to
the Company or to a Domestic Subsidiary; (ii) the Company may
make regularly scheduled payments of interest in respect of Subordinated Debt to
the extent permitted under the subordination provisions thereof; (iii) the Loan
Parties may make regularly scheduled principal and interest payments in respect
of, and may prepay with any Permitted Refinancing, the Senior Notes and any
other Material Debt; (iv) the Company may pay a cash dividend in any Fiscal
Quarter of not more than $1,000,000 in the aggregate; (v) the Company may pay
directors’ fees and reimbursable expenses; and (vi) in addition to
the
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purchase
or redemption of Capital Securities permitted pursuant to clause (b) of this
Section 11.4,
the Company may make Permitted Redemptions during the term of this Agreement on
any date, so long as, after giving effect thereto, tested only as of the date
thereof and not subject to a retest due to a change in any of the following at
any time thereafter: (A) the Company’s Revolving Loan Excess Availability is
equal to or greater than $100,000,000 (B) the Available Amount equals or exceeds
$0 and (C) no Event of Default or Default exists or would result
therefrom. For purposes of clarification, neither the Company nor any
other Loan Party shall make any payment otherwise permitted to be made under
this Section
11.4 to the extent such payment would be prohibited pursuant to the terms
of the documents governing any Material Debt.
11.5 Mergers, Consolidations,
Sales. Not, and not permit any other Loan Party to, (a) create
any Subsidiary; (b) without the Required Lenders’ prior written consent, not to
be unreasonably withheld, to consummate any merger or consolidation, or purchase
or otherwise acquire all or substantially all of the assets or any Capital
Securities of any class of, or any partnership or joint venture interest in, any
other Person, including, without limitation, Titan Europe, (c) sell, transfer,
convey or lease all or any substantial part of its assets or Capital Securities
(including the sale of Capital Securities of any Subsidiary) except for sales of
Inventory in the ordinary course of business or as otherwise allowed in this
Agreement, or (d) sell or assign with or without recourse any
receivables. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following shall be
permitted: (i) with Required Lenders’ prior written consent (such
consent not to be unreasonably withheld) the sale, transfer, conveyance or other
disposition by a Loan Party of machinery and equipment during the term of this
Agreement having an Orderly Liquidation Value not exceeding $50,000,000 in the
aggregate, provided however, no disposition may occur if and to the extent that
any such contemplated disposition is for a cash amount which is less than the
Orderly Liquidation Value of any such asset; (ii) transfers between Obligors
provided that the Administrative Agent maintains a first priority perfected
security interest in the asset transferred; (iii) sales of the Capital
Securities of any Foreign Subsidiary; and (iv) the sale, transfer, conveyance or
other disposition by a Loan Party of equipment or fixtures that are obsolete or
no longer used or useful in such Loan Party’s business and having a value not
exceeding $10,000,000 in the aggregate in any Fiscal Year, provided such
equipment or fixtures is replaced by equipment or fixtures of comparable value
or worth and provided further that the Administrative Agent maintains a first
priority perfected security interest in the replacement equipment or fixtures.
With respect to any disposition of assets or other properties permitted pursuant
to clause (i)
above, the Administrative Agent agrees, upon reasonable prior written notice, to
release the Lien on such assets or other properties in order to permit the
applicable Loan Party to effect such disposition and shall execute and deliver
to Company at Company’s expense, appropriate UCC-3 termination statements and
other releases as reasonably requested by Company.
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11.6 Modification of
Organizational Documents. Not permit the charter, by-laws or
other organizational documents of any Loan Party to be amended or modified in
any way which could reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the
interests of the Lenders.
11.7 Transactions with
Affiliates. Not, and not permit any other Loan Party to, enter
into, or cause, suffer or permit to exist any transaction, arrangement or
contract with any of its other Affiliates (other than the Loan Parties) other
than in the ordinary course of business and which is on fair and reasonable
terms which are no less favorable than are obtainable from any Person which is
not one of its Affiliates. In addition, if any such transaction or series of
related transactions involves payments in excess of $10,000,000 in the
aggregate, the terms of these transactions if not previously disclosed in Schedule 11.7 must be
disclosed in advance to the Administrative Agent. All such
transactions existing as of the date hereof are described on Schedule
11.7. No Loan Party shall enter into any lending or borrowing
transaction with any employees of any Loan Party, except loans to their
respective employees on an arm’s-length basis in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practices for travel expenses, relocation costs and similar
purposes and stock option financing up to a maximum of $500,000 in the aggregate
at any one time outstanding.
11.8 Unconditional Purchase
Obligations. Not, and not permit any other Loan Party to,
enter into or be a party to any contract for the purchase of materials, supplies
or other property or services if such contract requires that payment be made by
it regardless of whether delivery is ever made of such materials, supplies or
other property or services, which is outside of the ordinary course of business
and inconsistent with past practices.
11.9 Inconsistent
Agreements. Not, and not permit any other Loan Party to, enter
into any agreement containing any provision which would (a) be violated or
breached by any borrowing by the Company hereunder or by the performance by any
Loan Party of any of its Obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document,
(b) prohibit any Loan Party from granting to the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders, a Lien on any of its assets or (c) create or permit to exist or become
effective any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Subsidiary to (i)
pay dividends or make other distributions to the Company or any other
Subsidiary, or pay any indebtedness owed to the Company or any other Subsidiary,
(ii) make loans or advances to any Loan Party or (iii) transfer any of its
assets or properties to any Loan Party, other than (A) customary restrictions
and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of all or a
substantial part of the assets of any Subsidiary pending such sale, provided that such
restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary to be sold and such
sale is permitted hereunder (B) restrictions or conditions imposed by any
agreement relating to purchase money indebtedness, Capital Leases and other
secured indebtedness permitted by this Agreement if such restrictions or
conditions apply only to the property or assets securing such indebtedness and
(C) customary provisions in leases and other contracts restricting the
assignment thereof.
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11.10 Business Activities;
Issuance of Equity. Not, and not permit any other Loan Party
to, engage in any line of business other than the businesses engaged on the date
hereof and businesses reasonably related thereto and shall not and not permit
any other Loan Party to change its business objectives, purposes or operations
if such activities could in any way adversely effect the repayment of the Loans
or any other Debt or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect. Not, and not permit any other Loan Party to, issue
any Capital Securities other than (a) any issuance of shares of the Company’s
Common Stock pursuant to (i) a stock split approved by the Company’s board of
directors or (ii)
any employee or director option program, benefit plan or compensation program;
(b) any issuance by a Subsidiary to the Company or another Subsidiary in
accordance with Section 11.4; or (c)
for a merger or acquisition with the prior written consent of the Administrative
Agent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.
11.11 Investments. Except
as otherwise expressly permitted by this Section 11, no Loan
Party shall make or permit to exist any Investment in, any Person, except that
(a) Obligors may hold investments comprised of notes payable, or stock or other
securities issued by Account Debtors to any Obligor pursuant to negotiated
agreements with respect to settlement of such Account Debtor’s Accounts in the
ordinary course of business, so long as Obligors deliver physical possession of
such note payable, stock or other security to the Administrative Agent along
with all endorsements and stock powers requested by the Administrative Agent
with respect to any such note payable, stock or security that exceeds
$1,000,000; (b) each Loan Party may maintain its existing investments in its
Subsidiaries and in Titan Europe as of the Restatement Date as set forth on
Schedule 11.11;
(c) Obligors may on any date make Permitted Minority Investments (and once made,
such Investments may be maintained), so long as, after giving effect thereto,
tested only as of the date thereof and not subject to a retest due to a change
in any of the following at any time thereafter: (A) the Company’s Revolving Loan
Excess Availability is equal to or greater than $100,000,000, (B) the Available
Amount equals or exceeds $0 and (C) no Event of Default or Default exists or
would result therefrom; (d) so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, the Obligors’ may use available unrestricted cash
balances, subject to a perfected security interest in such investment in favor
of the Administrative Agent (provided that with respect to investments existing
on the Restatement Date, such security interest is not required to be perfected
prior March 31, 2009), to acquire (i) marketable direct obligations issued or
unconditionally guaranteed by the United States of America or any agency thereof
maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof, (ii) commercial
paper maturing no more than one year from the date of creation thereof and
currently having the highest rating obtainable from either Standard & Poor’s
Ratings Group or Xxxxx’x Investors Service, Inc., (iii) certificates of deposit,
maturing no more than one year from the date of creation thereof, issued by
commercial banks incorporated under the laws of the United States of America,
and either (A) such certificate of deposit is fully insured by the FDIC or (B)
is issued by such commercial banks, each having combined capital, surplus and
undivided profits of not less than $200,000,000 and having a senior unsecured
rating of “A” or better by a nationally recognized rating agency (an “A Rated Bank”), (iv)
interest or non-interest bearing
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deposits
and time deposits, maturing no more than 30 days from the date of creation
thereof, in each case with A Rated Banks or Lenders and (v) mutual funds that
invest solely in one or more of the investments described in clauses (i) through
(iv) above; and (e) Obligors may hold notes payable or other indebtedness from
any Foreign Subsidiary of any Loan Party, provided that (A)
each such Foreign Subsidiary shall have executed and delivered to each such
Obligor, a demand note (collectively, the “Intercompany Notes”)
to evidence any such intercompany Indebtedness owing at any time by such Foreign
Subsidiary to such Obligor, which Intercompany Notes shall be in form and
substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and shall be pledged and
delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to a pledge agreement or security
agreement in form and content satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its
sole discretion as additional collateral security for the Obligations, (B) each
Loan Party shall record all intercompany transactions on its books and records
in a manner consistent with past practices, (C) at the time any such
intercompany loan or advance is made by any Obligor to any Foreign Subsidiary
and after giving effect thereto, each such Obligor shall be Solvent, (D) no
Default or Event of Default exists or would occur and be continuing after giving
effect to any such proposed intercompany loan, (E) the recipient of such
intercompany loans shall be creditworthy as determined by the Administrative
Agent, (F) such foreign intercompany loans do not exceed at any time, in the
aggregate, the sum of $50,000,000; and (G) the Company’s Revolving Loan Excess
Availability is equal to or greater than $100,000,000 after giving effect to
such Investment.
11.12 Restriction of Amendments to
Certain Documents. Not amend or otherwise modify, or waive any
rights under, the Foreign Affiliate Loans, or Senior Notes if, in any case, such
amendment, modification or waiver could be adverse to the interests of the
Lenders.
11.13 Fiscal
Year. Not change its Fiscal Year.
11.14 Financial
Covenants.
11.14.1 Intentionally
Omitted.
11.14.2 Fixed Charge Coverage
Ratio. In the event the average daily balance of the Revolving
Outstandings exceed $125,000,000 during any 30 day period ending during any
Fiscal Quarter, not permit the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Computation
Period ending on the last day of such Fiscal Quarter to be less than 1.0 to
1.0.
11.14.3 Collateral
Coverage. Not permit (a) the sum of the Borrowing Base, plus the unrestricted
cash of all Obligors; divided by (b) the
Revolving Outstandings, to be less than one and one-fifth (1.20).
11.14.4 Cancellation of
Debt. Not, and not permit any other Loan Party to,
cancel any claim or debt owing to it, except for reasonable consideration
negotiated on an arms-length basis and in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practices and customary write downs and charge offs for bad
debts consistent with past practices.
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11.15 ERISA. No
Loan Party shall cause or permit to occur an event which could result in the
imposition of a Lien under Section 412 of the IRC or Section 302 or 4068 of
ERISA or cause or permit to occur a Termination Event to the extent such
Termination Event could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
11.16 Inventory. Not
permit Inventory of the Loan Parties having an aggregate book value exceeding
Sixty Million and No/100 Dollars ($60,000,000.00) at any time to be in a
location or locations other than the Mortgaged Real Property, the Brownsville
Facility, the Freeport Facility, the Xxxxx Facility, and that facility currently
occupied by Titan Wheel Corporation of Virginia as its principal place of
business.
11.17 Restricted
Subsidiaries. Neither Titan Luxembourg S.A.R.L., Titan Europe
nor any of their respective Subsidiaries shall (i) become Restricted
Subsidiaries (as defined in the Senior Note Indenture) under the Senior Note
Indenture or (ii) guaranty or directly or indirectly provide credit support for
any Material Debt.
SECTION
12 EFFECTIVENESS;
CONDITIONS OF LENDING, ETC.
The
effectiveness of this Agreement is subject to the following conditions
precedent:
12.1 Effectiveness. The
effectiveness of this Agreement is subject to the condition precedent that the
Administrative Agent shall have received all of the following, each duly
executed and dated the Restatement Date (or such earlier date as shall be
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent), in form and substance satisfactory to
the Administrative Agent (and the date on which all such conditions precedent
have been satisfied or waived in writing by the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders is called the “Restatement
Date”):
12.1.1 Notes. A
Note for each Lender.
12.1.2 Authorization
Documents. For each Loan Party, such Person’s (a) charter (or
similar formation document), certified by the secretary of each Loan Party; (b)
good standing certificates in its state of incorporation (or formation) and in
each other state requested by the Administrative Agent; (c) bylaws (or similar
governing document); (d) resolutions of its board of directors (or similar
governing body) approving and authorizing such Person’s execution, delivery and
performance of the Loan Documents to which it is party and the transactions
contemplated thereby; and (e) signature and incumbency certificates of its
officers executing any of the Loan Documents (it being understood that the
Administrative Agent and each Lender may conclusively rely on each such
certificate until formally advised by a like certificate of any changes
therein), all certified by its secretary or an assistant secretary (or similar
officer) as being in full force and effect without modification.
12.1.3 Consents,
etc. Certified copies of all documents evidencing any
necessary corporate or partnership action, consents and governmental approvals
(if any) required for the
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execution,
delivery and performance by the Loan Parties of the documents referred to in
this Section 12.
12.1.4 Reaffirmation. The
Reaffirmation Agreement, all other Collateral Documents, and all instruments,
documents, certificates and agreements executed or delivered pursuant thereto
(including intellectual property assignments and all pledged Collateral, with
undated irrevocable transfer powers executed in blank, which shall be executed
by each Loan Party).
12.1.5 Assignments. The
Escrow Agent shall have received all payment Assignments made by the Obligors to
the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Assignment of Claims Act of 1940 and
all Pledged Equity and stock powers required to be delivered to the
Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of the Guaranty and Collateral
Agreement.
12.1.6 Real Estate
Documents. With respect to each parcel of Mortgaged Real
Property, a duly executed amendment to the Mortgage, in form and substance
acceptable to the Administrative Agent, together with:
(a) a
date-down of the existing ALTA Loan Title Insurance Policy containing such
endorsements as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require;
and
(b) to the
extent necessary to obtain the date-down referenced in clause (a) of this
Section 12.1.6,
a survey certified to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders
meeting such standards as the Administrative Agent may reasonably
establish.
12.1.7 Opinions of
Counsel. Opinions of counsel for each Obligor covering the
laws of the state of Illinois.
12.1.8 Insurance. Evidence
of the existence of insurance required to be maintained pursuant to Section 10.3(b),
together with evidence that the Administrative Agent has been named as a
lender’s loss payee and an additional insured on all related insurance
policies.
12.1.9 Subordination. A
duly executed reaffirmation of the existing subordination letter with respect to
the Foreign Affiliate Loans.
12.1.10 Payment of
Fees. Evidence of payment by the Company of all accrued and
unpaid fees, costs and expenses to the extent then due and payable under the Fee
Letter on or before the Restatement Date, together with all Attorney Costs of
the Administrative Agent to the extent invoiced prior to the Restatement Date,
plus such
additional amounts of Attorney Costs as shall constitute the Administrative
Agent’s reasonable estimate of Attorney Costs incurred or to be incurred by the
Administrative Agent through the closing proceedings (provided that such
estimate shall not thereafter preclude final settling of accounts between the
Company and the Administrative Agent).
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12.1.11 Compliance. The
Obligors shall be in full compliance with the terms of this Agreement and other
Loan Documents and no Event of Default or Default shall have occurred or be
continuing.
12.1.12 Search Results; Lien
Terminations. Certified copies of Uniform Commercial Code
search reports dated a date reasonably near to the Restatement Date, listing all
effective financing statements which name any Obligor (under their present names
and any previous names) as debtors, together with (a) copies of such financing
statements and (b) such other Uniform Commercial Code termination statements as
the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.
12.1.13 Filings, Registrations and
Recordings. The Administrative Agent shall have received each
document (including Uniform Commercial Code financing statements) required by
the Collateral Documents or under law or reasonably requested by the
Administrative Agent to be filed, registered or recorded in order to create or
continue in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a
perfected Lien on the collateral described therein, prior to any other Liens
(subject only to Liens permitted pursuant to Section 11.2), in
proper form for filing, registration or recording.
12.1.14 Borrowing Base
Certificate. A Borrowing Base Certificate with an effective
date as of the end of the Company’s third 2008 Fiscal Quarter.
12.1.15 Closing
Certificate. A certificate executed by an officer of the
Company on behalf of the Company certifying the matters set forth in Section 12.2.1 as of
the Restatement Date.
12.1.16 Prior Lender
Consents. A consent from each Existing Lender set forth on
Annex C in form
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
12.1.17 Other. Such
other documents as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably
request.
12.2 Conditions. The
obligation (a) of each Lender to make each Loan and (b) of the Issuing
Lender to issue each Letter of Credit (including any such Loan or Letter of
Credit made or issued on the Restatement Date) is subject to the following
further conditions precedent that:
12.2.1 Compliance with Warranties,
No Default, etc. Both before and after giving effect to any
borrowing and the issuance of any Letter of Credit, the following statements
shall be true and correct:
(a) the
representations and warranties of each Loan Party set forth in this Agreement
and the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all respects with the
same effect as if then made (except to the extent stated to relate to a specific
earlier
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date, in
which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of
such earlier date); and
(b) no Event
of Default or Default shall have then occurred and be continuing.
12.2.2 Confirmatory
Certificate. If requested by the Administrative Agent or any
Lender, the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate dated
the date of such requested Loan or Letter of Credit and signed by a duly
authorized representative of the Company as to the matters set out in Section 12.2.1 (it
being understood that each request by the Company for the making of a Loan or
the issuance of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a
representation and warranty by the Company that the conditions precedent set
forth in Section
12.2.1 will be satisfied at the time of the making of such Loan or the
issuance of such Letter of Credit), together with such other documents as the
Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request in support
thereof.
SECTION
13 EVENTS OF
DEFAULT AND THEIR EFFECT.
13.1 Events of
Default. Each of the following shall constitute an Event
of Default under this Agreement:
13.1.1 Non-Payment of the Loans,
etc. Default in the payment when due of the principal of any
Loan; or default, and continuance thereof for five days, in the payment when due
of any interest, fee, reimbursement obligation with respect to any Letter of
Credit or other amount payable by the Company hereunder or under any other Loan
Document.
13.1.2 Non-Payment of Other
Debt. Any default shall occur which is not cured within any
applicable cure period under the terms applicable to any Debt of any Loan Party
in an aggregate amount (for all such Debt so affected and including undrawn
committed or available amounts and amounts owing to all creditors under any
combined or syndicated credit arrangement) exceeding Ten Million and No/100
Dollars ($10,000,000.00) and such default shall (a) consist of the failure to
pay such Debt when due, whether by acceleration or otherwise, or (b) accelerate
the maturity of such Debt or permit the holder or holders thereof, or any
trustee or agent for such holder or holders, to cause such Debt to become due
and payable (or require any Loan Party to purchase or redeem such Debt or post
cash collateral in respect thereof) prior to its expressed
maturity.
13.1.3 Other Material
Obligations. Default which is not cured within any applicable
cure period in the payment when due, or in the performance or observance of, any
material obligation of, or condition agreed to by, any Loan Party with respect
to any material purchase or lease of goods or services where such default,
singly or in the aggregate with all other such defaults, might reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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13.1.4 Bankruptcy, Insolvency,
etc. Any Loan Party becomes insolvent or generally fails to
pay, or admits in writing its inability or refusal to pay, debts as they become
due; or any Loan Party applies for, consents to, or acquiesces in the
appointment of a trustee, receiver or other custodian for such Loan Party or any
property thereof, or makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors;
or, in the absence of such application, consent or acquiescence, a trustee,
receiver or other custodian is appointed for any Loan Party or for a substantial
part of the property of any thereof and is not discharged within 60 days; or any
bankruptcy, reorganization, debt arrangement, or other case or proceeding under
any bankruptcy or insolvency law, or any dissolution or liquidation proceeding,
is commenced in respect of any Loan Party, and if such case or proceeding is not
commenced by such Loan Party, it is consented to or acquiesced in by such Loan
Party, or remains for 60 days undismissed; or any Loan Party takes any action to
authorize, or in furtherance of, any of the foregoing.
13.1.5 Non-Compliance with Loan
Documents. (a) Failure by any Loan Party to comply with or to
perform any covenant set forth in Section 10.1.5, 10.3(b),10.5
or 10.6 or Section 11; or
(b) failure by any Loan Party to comply with or to perform any other
provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (and not constituting an
Event of Default under any other provision of this Section 13) and
continuance of such failure described in this clause (b) for 30
days.
13.1.6 Representations;
Warranties. Any representation or warranty made by any Loan
Party herein or any other Loan Document is breached or is false or misleading in
any material respect, or any schedule, certificate, financial statement, report,
notice or other writing furnished by any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent
or any Lender in connection herewith is false or misleading in any material
respect on the date as of which the facts therein set forth are stated or
certified.
13.1.7 Pension
Plans. (a) any Loan Party does not materially comply
with ERISA and all other federal and local laws concerning benefit plans, or (b)
there shall occur any withdrawal or partial withdrawal from a Multiemployer
Pension Plan and the withdrawal liability (without unaccrued interest) to
Multiemployer Pension Plans as a result of such withdrawal (including any
outstanding withdrawal liability that the Company or any member of the
Controlled Group have incurred on the date of such withdrawal) is
material.
13.1.8 Judgments. Final
judgments which could result in a Material Adverse Effect rendered against any
Loan Party and shall not have been paid, discharged or vacated or had execution
thereof stayed pending appeal within 90 days after entry or filing of such
judgments, provided that the Party is diligently pursuing post-judgment
relief.
13.1.9 Invalidity of Collateral
Documents, etc. Any Collateral Document shall cease to be in
full force and effect; or any Loan Party (or any Person by, through or on behalf
of any
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Loan
Party) shall contest in any manner the validity, binding nature or
enforceability of any Collateral Document.
13.1.10 Invalidity of Subordination
Provisions, etc. Any subordination provision in any document
or instrument governing Subordinated Debt, or any subordination provision in any
guaranty by any Subsidiary of any Subordinated Debt, shall cease to be in full
force and effect, or any Loan Party or any other Person (including the holder of
any applicable Subordinated Debt) shall contest in any manner the validity,
binding nature or enforceability of any such provision.
13.1.11 Change of
Control. A Change of Control shall occur.
13.1.12 Material Adverse
Effect. The occurrence of any event having a Material Adverse
Effect, as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent.
13.1.13 Intentionally
Omitted.
13.2 Effect of
Event of Default. If any Event of Default described in
Section 13.1.4
shall occur in respect of the Company, the Commitments shall immediately
terminate and the Loans and all other Obligations hereunder shall become
immediately due and payable and the Company shall become immediately obligated
to Cash Collateralize all L/C Obligations, all without presentment, demand,
protest or notice of any kind; and, if any other Event of Default shall occur
and be continuing, the Administrative Agent may (and, upon the written request
of the Required Lenders shall) declare the Commitments to be terminated in whole
or in part and/or declare all or any part of the Loans and all other Obligations
hereunder to be due and payable and/or demand that the Company immediately Cash
Collateralize all or any L/C Obligations, whereupon the Commitments shall
immediately terminate (or be reduced, as applicable) and/or the Loans and other
Obligations hereunder shall become immediately due and payable (in whole or in
part, as applicable) and/or the Company shall immediately become obligated to
Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (all or any, as applicable), all without
presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind. The
Administrative Agent shall promptly advise the Company of any such declaration,
but failure to do so shall not impair the effect of such
declaration. Any cash collateral delivered hereunder shall be held by
the Administrative Agent (without liability for interest thereon) and applied to
the L/C Obligations as and to the extent due. After the expiration or
termination of all Letters of Credit, such cash collateral shall be applied by
the Administrative Agent to any remaining Obligations hereunder and any excess
shall be delivered to the Company or as a court of competent jurisdiction may
elect. During the existence of any Event of Default or Default the
Administrative Agent shall specifically be permitted to communicate directly
with the Company’s certified public accountants and Company hereby authorizes
and instructs those accountants to disclose such financial information as the
Administrative Agent shall request.
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SECTION
14 THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT.
14.1 Appointment and
Authorization. Each Lender hereby irrevocably (subject to
Section 14.10) appoints, designates and authorizes the Administrative Agent to
take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and each
other Loan Document and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are
expressly delegated to it by the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan
Document, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental
thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained
elsewhere in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, the Administrative
Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility except those expressly set forth
herein, nor shall the Administrative Agent have or be deemed to have any
fiduciary relationship with any Lender or participant, and no implied covenants,
functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read
into this Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise exist against the
Administrative Agent. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing sentence, the use of the term “agent” herein and in other Loan
Documents with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote
any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency
doctrine of any applicable law. Instead, such term is used merely as
a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an
administrative relationship between independent contracting
parties.
14.2 Issuing
Lender. The Issuing Lender shall act on behalf of the Lenders
(according to their Pro Rata Shares) with respect to any Letters of Credit
issued by it and the documents associated therewith. The Issuing
Lender shall have all of the benefits and immunities (a) provided to the
Administrative Agent in this Section 14 with
respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by the Issuing Lender in
connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it
and the Issuer Documents pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the
term “Administrative Agent”, as used in this Section 14, included
the Issuing Lender with respect to such acts or omissions and (b) as
additionally provided in this Agreement with respect to the Issuing
Lender.
14.3 Delegation of
Duties. The Administrative Agent may execute any of its duties
under this Agreement or any other Loan Document by or through agents, employees
or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel and other
consultants or experts concerning all matters pertaining to such
duties. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the
negligence or misconduct of any agent or attorney-in-fact that it selects in the
absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct. Any decision to
foreclose a Mortgaged Real Property shall require the consent of the
Administrative Agent.
14.4 Exculpation of
Administrative Agent. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any
of its directors, officers, employees or agents shall (a) be liable for any
action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them under or in connection with
this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated
hereby (except to the extent resulting from its own gross negligence or willful
misconduct in connection with its duties expressly set forth herein
as
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determined
by a final, nonappealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction), or (b)
be responsible in any manner to any Lender or participant for any recital,
statement, representation or warranty made by any Loan Party or Affiliate of the
Company, or any officer thereof, contained in this Agreement or in any other
Loan Document, or in any certificate, report, statement or other document
referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent under or
in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or the validity,
effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or
any other Loan Document (or the creation, perfection or priority of any Lien or
security interest therein), or for any failure of the Company or any other party
to any Loan Document to perform its Obligations hereunder or
thereunder. The Administrative Agent shall not be under any
obligation to any Lender to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or
performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this
Agreement or any other Loan Document, or to inspect the properties, books or
records of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries or
Affiliates.
14.5 Reliance by Administrative
Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely, and
shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing, communication, signature,
resolution, representation, notice, consent, certificate, electronic mail
message, affidavit, letter, telegram, facsimile, telex or telephone message,
statement or other document or conversation believed by it to be genuine and
correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons,
and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including counsel to the
Company), independent accountants and other experts selected by the
Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be fully
justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this Agreement or any
other Loan Document unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of
the Required Lenders as it deems appropriate and, if it so requests,
confirmation from the Lenders of their obligation to indemnify the
Administrative Agent against any and all liability and expense which may be
incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such
action. The Administrative Agent shall in all cases be fully
protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement or any
other Loan Document in accordance with a request or consent of the Required
Lenders and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto
shall be binding upon each Lender. For purposes of determining
compliance with the conditions specified in Section 12, 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
written notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Restatement Date
specifying its objection thereto.
14.6 Notice of
Default. The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have
knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Event of Default or Default except
with respect to defaults in the payment of principal, interest and fees required
to be paid to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders, unless
the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from a Lender or the
Company referring to this Agreement, describing such Event of Default or Default
and stating that such notice is a “notice of default”. The
Administrative
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Agent
will notify the Lenders of its receipt of any such notice. The
Administrative Agent shall take such action with respect to such Event of
Default or Default as may be requested by the Required Lenders in accordance
with Section
13; provided that unless
and until the Administrative Agent has received any such request, the
Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or
refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Event of Default or
Default as it shall deem advisable or in the best interest of the
Lenders.
14.7 Credit
Decision. Each Lender acknowledges that the Administrative
Agent has not made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by the
Administrative Agent hereafter taken, including any consent and acceptance of
any assignment or review of the affairs of the Loan Parties, shall be deemed to
constitute any representation or warranty by the Administrative Agent to any
Lender as to any matter, including whether the Administrative Agent has
disclosed material information in its possession. Each Lender
represents to the Administrative Agent that it has, independently and without
reliance upon the Administrative Agent and based on such documents and
information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and
investigation into the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and
other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties, and made its own
decision to enter into this Agreement and to extend credit to the Company
hereunder. Each Lender also represents that it will, independently
and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent and based on such documents
and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its
own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action
under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and to make such
investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business,
prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and
creditworthiness of the Company. Except for notices, reports and
other documents expressly herein required to be furnished to the Lenders by the
Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty or
responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information
concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial or other
condition or creditworthiness of the Company which may come into the possession
of the Administrative Agent.
14.8 Indemnification. Whether
or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, each Lender shall
indemnify upon demand the Administrative Agent and its directors, officers,
employees and agents (to the extent not reimbursed by or on behalf of the
Company and without limiting the obligation of the Company to do so), according
to its applicable Pro Rata Share, from and against any and all Indemnified
Liabilities (as hereinafter defined); provided that no
Lender shall be liable for any payment to any such Person of any portion of the
Indemnified Liabilities to the extent determined by a final, nonappealable
judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the
applicable Person’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct. No
action taken in accordance with the directions of the Required Lenders shall be
deemed to constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct for purposes of this
Section. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender shall
reimburse the Administrative Agent upon demand for its ratable share of any
costs or out-of-pocket expenses
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(including
Attorney Costs and Taxes) incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection
with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification,
amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or
otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under,
this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any document contemplated by or
referred to herein, to the extent that the Administrative Agent is not
reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of the Company. The
undertaking in this Section shall survive repayment of the Loans, cancellation
of the Notes, expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit, any
foreclosure under, or modification, release or discharge of, any or all of the
Collateral Documents, termination of this Agreement and the resignation or
replacement of the Administrative Agent.
14.9 Administrative Agent in
Individual Capacity. Bank of America and its Affiliates may
make loans to, issue letters of credit for the account of, accept deposits from,
acquire equity interests in and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust,
financial advisory, underwriting or other business with the Loan Parties and
Affiliates as though Bank of America was not the Administrative Agent hereunder
and without notice to or consent of any Lender. Each Lender
acknowledges that, pursuant to such activities, Bank of America or its
Affiliates may receive information regarding the Company or its Affiliates
(including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in
favor of the Company or such Affiliate) and acknowledge that the Administrative
Agent shall be under no obligation to provide such information to
them. With respect to its Loans (if any), Bank of America
and its Affiliates shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as
any other Lender and may exercise the same as though Bank of America was not the
Administrative Agent, and the terms “Lender” and “Lenders” include Bank of
America and its Affiliates, to the extent applicable, in their individual
capacities.
14.10 Successor Administrative
Agent. The Administrative Agent may resign upon 30 days’
notice to the Lenders. If the Administrative Agent resigns under this
Agreement, the Required Lenders, with (so long as no Event of Default exists)
the consent of the Company (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed), shall appoint from among the Lenders a successor agent for the
Lenders. If no successor agent is appointed prior to the effective
date of the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent
may appoint, after consulting with the Lenders and the Company, a successor
agent from among the Lenders. Upon the acceptance of its appointment
as successor agent hereunder, such successor agent shall succeed to all the
rights, powers and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent and the term
“Administrative Agent” shall mean such successor agent, and the retiring
Administrative Agent’s appointment, powers and duties as the Administrative
Agent shall be terminated. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation
hereunder as the Administrative Agent, the provisions of this Section 14 and Sections 15.5 and
15.16 shall
inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while
it was the Administrative Agent under this Agreement. If no successor
agent has accepted appointment as the Administrative Agent by the date which is
30 days following a retiring Administrative Agent’s notice of resignation, the
retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation shall nevertheless thereupon become
effective and
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the
Lenders shall perform all of the duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder
until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor agent as
provided for above.
14.11 Collateral
Matters. The Lenders irrevocably authorize the Administrative
Agent, at its option and in its discretion, (a) to release any Lien granted to
or held by the Administrative Agent under any Collateral Document (i) upon
termination of the Commitments and payment in full of all Loans and all other
obligations of the Company hereunder and the expiration or termination of all
Letters of Credit; (ii) constituting property sold or to be sold or disposed of
as part of or in connection with any disposition permitted hereunder; or (iii)
subject to Section
15.1, if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required
Lenders or (b) to subordinate its interest in any collateral to any holder of a
Lien on such collateral which is permitted by Section 11.2(d)(i) or
(d)(iii) (it
being understood that the Administrative Agent may conclusively rely on a
certificate from the Company in determining whether the Debt secured by any such
Lien is permitted by Section
11.1(a)). Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any
time, the Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority
to release, or subordinate its interest in, particular types or items of
collateral pursuant to this Section
14.11. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent
to give blockage notices in connection with any Subordinated Debt at the
direction of Required Lenders and agrees that it will not act unilaterally to
deliver such notices.
14.12 Administrative 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 any Loan Party,
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 the Company) 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 its respective agents and
counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under
Sections 5,
15.5 and 15.16) 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
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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 5, 15.5 and 15.16.
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.
14.13 Other Agents; Arrangers and
Managers. None of the Lenders or other Persons identified on
the facing page or signature pages of this Agreement as a “syndication agent,”
“documentation agent,” “co-agent,” “book manager,” “lead manager,” “arranger,”
“lead arranger” or “co-arranger”, if any, shall have any right, power,
obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement and, in the
case of such Lenders, those applicable to all Lenders as
such. Without limiting the foregoing, none of the Lenders or other
Persons so identified shall have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship
with any Lender. Each Lender acknowledges that it has not relied, and
will not rely, on any of the Lenders or other Persons so identified in deciding
to enter into this Agreement or in taking or not taking action
hereunder.
SECTION
15 GENERAL.
15.1 Waiver, Amendments and
Replacement of Lenders.
15.1.1 Waiver and
Amendments. No delay on the part of the Administrative Agent, or any
Lender in the exercise of any right, power or remedy shall operate as a waiver
thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise by any of them of any right,
power or remedy preclude other or further exercise thereof, or the exercise of
any other rights, power or remedy. No amendment, modification or
waiver of, or consent with respect to, any provision of this Agreement or the
other Loan Documents shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in
writing and acknowledged by Lenders having aggregate Pro Rata Shares of not less
than the aggregate Pro Rata Shares expressly designated herein with respect
thereto or, in the absence of such designation as to any provision of this
Agreement, by the Required Lenders, and then any such amendment, modification,
waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the
specific purpose for which given. No amendment, modification, waiver
or consent shall (a) extend or increase the Commitment or Pro Rata Share of any
Lender without the written consent of such Lender, (b) extend the date scheduled
for payment of any principal (excluding mandatory prepayments) of or interest on
the Loans or any fees payable hereunder without the written consent of each
Lender directly affected thereby, (c) reduce the principal amount of any Loan,
the rate of interest thereon or any fees payable hereunder, without the consent
of each Lender directly affected thereby; (d) change the definition of Required
Lenders, any provisions
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of this
Section 15.1 or reduce the aggregate Pro Rata Share required to effect an
amendment, modification, waiver or consent; or (e) release all or any
substantial part of any Accounts or Inventory which are included within the
collateral, without, in each case, the written consent of all
Lenders. No provision of Sections 6.2.2 or 6.3 with respect to the
timing or application of mandatory prepayments of the Loans shall be amended,
modified or waived without the consent of the Required Lenders. No
party may be released from its obligations under the Guaranty nor may all or any
substantial part of the collateral granted under the Collateral Documents (which
is not otherwise addressed by Section 15.1.1(e)
above) be released, without, in each case, the written consent of the Required
Lenders. No provision of Section 15 or other provision of this
Agreement affecting the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such shall be
amended, modified or waived without the consent of the Administrative
Agent. No provision of this Agreement or any Issuer Document relating
to the rights or duties of the Issuing Lender in its capacity as such shall be
amended, modified or waived without the consent of the Issuing
Lender. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no
Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment,
waiver or consent hereunder, except that the Commitment of such Lender may not
be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender.
15.1.2 Replacement of
Lenders. In the event any Lender does not agree to any
amendment, modification, waiver or consent that was otherwise duly approved
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement (the “Dissenting Lenders”)
or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, then, with respect to each such
Dissenting Lender or Defaulting Lender (the “Terminated Lender”),
the Company and/or the Administrative Agent may designate one or more financial
institution, which may or may not be a Lender, which is acceptable to the
Company, the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Lender in their reasonable
discretion (such other bank being called a “New Lender”) to
purchase the Loans of such Terminated Lenders and such Terminated Lender’s
rights hereunder, without recourse to or warranty by, or expense to, such
Terminated Lender, for a purchase price equal to the outstanding principal
amount of the Loans payable to such Terminated Lender plus any accrued but
unpaid interest on such Loans and all accrued but unpaid fees owed to such
Terminated Lenders and any other amounts payable to such Terminated Lenders
under this Agreement, and to assume all the obligations of such Terminated
Lenders hereunder, and, upon such purchase and assumption (pursuant to an
Assignment Agreement), such Terminated Lenders shall no longer be a party hereto
or have any rights hereunder (other than rights with respect to indemnities and
similar rights applicable to such Terminated Lenders prior to the date of such
purchase and assumption) and shall be relieved from all obligations to the
Company hereunder, and the New Lenders shall succeed to the rights and
obligations of such Terminated Lenders hereunder. Each Terminated
Lender shall sell its Loan as set forth in this Section 15.1 and use
reasonable efforts to cooperate therewith. An existing Lender who is
not a Terminated Lender shall be an acceptable New Lender.
15.2 Confirmations. The
Company and each holder of a Note agree from time to time, upon written request
received by it from the other, to confirm to the other in writing (with a
copy
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of each
such confirmation to the Administrative Agent) the aggregate unpaid principal
amount of the Loans then outstanding under such Note.
15.3 Notices. Except
as otherwise provided in Sections 2.2.2
and 2.2.3, all
notices hereunder shall be in writing (including facsimile transmission) and
shall be sent to the applicable party at its address shown on Annex B or at such
other address as such party may, by written notice received by the other
parties, have designated as its address for such purpose. Notices
sent by facsimile transmission shall be deemed to have been given when sent;
notices sent by mail shall be deemed to have been given three Business Days
after the date when sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid; and
notices sent by hand delivery or overnight courier service shall be deemed to
have been given when received. For purposes of Sections 2.2.2 and
2.2.3, the
Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely on telephonic instructions from
any person that the Administrative Agent in good faith believe is an authorized
officer or employee of the Company, and the Company shall hold the
Administrative Agent and each other Lender harmless from any loss, cost or
expense resulting from any such reliance.
15.4 Computations. Where
the character or amount of any asset or liability or item of income or
expense is required to be determined, or any consolidation or other accounting
computation is required to be made, for the purpose of this Agreement, such
determination or calculation shall, to the extent applicable and except as
otherwise specified in this Agreement, be made in accordance with GAAP,
consistently applied; provided that if the
Company notifies the Administrative Agent that the Company wishes to amend any
covenant in Section 10 (or any related definition) to eliminate or to take into
account the effect of any change in GAAP on the operation of such covenant (or
if the Administrative Agent notifies the Company that the Required Lenders wish
to amend Section 10 (or any related definition) for such purpose), then the
Company’s compliance with such covenant shall be determined on the basis of GAAP
in effect immediately before the relevant change in GAAP became effective, until
either such notice is withdrawn or such covenant (or related definition) is
amended in a manner satisfactory to the Company and the Required
Lenders.
15.5 Costs, Expenses and
Taxes. The Company agrees to pay on demand all reasonable
out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent (including Attorney
Costs and any Taxes) in connection with the preparation, execution, syndication,
delivery and administration (including perfection and protection of any
collateral and the costs of Intralinks (or other similar service), if
applicable) of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and all other documents
provided for herein or delivered or to be delivered hereunder or in connection
herewith (including any amendment, supplement or waiver to any Loan Document),
whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be
consummated, and all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including
Attorney Costs and any Taxes) incurred by the Administrative Agent and each
Lender after an Event of Default in connection with the collection of the
Obligations or the enforcement of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents or
any such other documents or during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in
respect thereof.
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In
addition, the Company agrees to pay, and to save the Administrative Agent and
the Lenders harmless from all liability for, any fees of the Company’s auditors
in connection with any reasonable exercise by the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders of their rights pursuant to Section
10.2. All Obligations provided for in this Section 15.5 shall
survive repayment of the Loans, cancellation of the Notes, expiration or
termination of the Letters of Credit and termination of this Agreement until
expiration of the applicable statute of limitations period.
15.6 Assignments;
Participations.
15.6.1 Assignments. (a) Any
Lender may at any time assign to one or more Persons (any such Person, an “Assignee”) all or any
portion of such Lender’s Loans and Commitments, with the prior written consent
of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender and, so long as no Event of
Default exists, the Company (which consents shall not be unreasonably withheld
or delayed and shall not be required for an assignment by a Lender to a Lender
or an Affiliate of a Lender). Except as the Administrative Agent may
otherwise agree, any such assignment shall be in a minimum aggregate amount
equal to $5,000,000 or, if less, the remaining Commitment and Loans held by the
assigning Lender. The Company and the Administrative Agent shall be
entitled to continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection
with the interests so assigned to an Assignee until the Administrative Agent
shall have received and accepted an effective assignment agreement in
substantially the form of Exhibit D hereto (an
“Assignment
Agreement”) executed, delivered and fully completed by the applicable
parties thereto and a processing fee of $3,500 payable by Assignor or
Assignee. No assignment may be made to any Person if at the time of
such assignment the Company would be obligated to pay any greater amount under
Section 7.6 or
8 to the
Assignee than the Company is then obligated to pay to the assigning Lender under
such Sections (and if any assignment is made in violation of the foregoing, the
Company will not be required to pay such greater amounts). Any
attempted assignment not made in accordance with this Section 15.6.1 shall
be treated as the sale of a participation under Section
15.6.2. The Company shall be deemed to have granted its
consent to any assignment requiring its consent hereunder unless the Company has
expressly objected to such assignment within three Business Days after notice
thereof.
(b) From
and after the date on which the conditions described above have been met, (i)
such Assignee shall be deemed automatically to have become a party hereto and,
to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned to such
Assignee pursuant to such Assignment Agreement, shall have the rights and
obligations of a Lender hereunder and (ii) the assigning Lender, to the
extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned by it pursuant
to such Assignment Agreement, shall be released from its rights (other than its
indemnification rights) and obligations hereunder. Upon the request
of the Assignee (and, as applicable, the assigning Lender) pursuant to an
effective Assignment Agreement, the Company shall execute and deliver to the
Administrative Agent for delivery to the Assignee (and, as applicable, the
assigning Lender) a Note in the principal amount of the Assignee’s Pro Rata
Share of the Revolving Commitment (and, as applicable, a Note in the principal
amount of the
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Pro Rata
Share of the Revolving Commitment retained by the assigning
Lender. Each such Note shall be dated the effective date of such
assignment. Upon receipt by the assigning Lender of such Note, the
assigning Lender shall return to the Company any prior Note held by
it.
(c) Any
Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any
portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender,
including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve
Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a
security interest; provided that no such
pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of
its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such
Lender as a party hereto.
(d) Notwithstanding
the foregoing provisions of this Section 15.6, any
lender (a “Granting
Lender”), may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle (an “SPC”), identified as
such in writing by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the
Company, the option to provide to the Company all or any part of any Loans that
such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make the Company pursuant
to this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a
commitment by any SPC to make any Loan; and (ii) if an SPC elects not
to exercise such option or otherwise fails to provide all or any part of such
Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Loan pursuant to the
terms hereof. The making of a Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize
the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if such Loan
were made by such Granting Lender. No SPC shall be liable for any
indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement (all liability for
which shall remain with the Granting Lender). Any SPC may (i) with
notice to, but without the prior written consent of, the Company and
the Administrative Agent and without paying any processing fee
therefore, assign all or a portion of its interests in any Loans to
the Granting Lender or to any financial institutions (consented to by the
Company and the Administrative Agent) providing liquidity and/or credit support
to or for the account of such SPC to support the funding or
maintenance of Loans and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public
information relating to its Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer
or provider of any surety, guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such
SPC. This Section 15.6.1(d) may
not be amended without the prior written consent of each Granting Lender, all or
any of whose Loans are being funded by an SPC at the time of such
amendment. For the avoidance of doubt, the Granting Lender shall for
all purposes, including without limitation, the approval of any amendment or
waiver of any provision of any Loan Document or the obligation to pay any amount
otherwise payable by the Granting Lender under the Loan Documents, continue to
be the Lender of record hereunder.
15.6.2 Participations. Any
Lender may at any time sell to one or more Persons participating interests in
its Loans, Commitments or other interests hereunder (any such Person, a “Participant”). In
the event of a sale by a Lender of a participating interest to a Participant,
(a) such Lender’s obligations hereunder shall remain unchanged for all purposes,
(b) the Company and the Administrative Agent shall continue to deal solely and
directly with such Lender in
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connection
with such Lender’s rights and obligations hereunder and (c) all amounts
payable by the Company shall be determined as if such Lender had not sold such
participation and shall be paid directly to such Lender. No
Participant shall have any direct or indirect voting rights hereunder except
with respect to any event described in Section 15.1
expressly requiring the unanimous vote of all Lenders or, as applicable, all
affected Lenders. Each Lender agrees to incorporate the requirements
of the preceding sentence into each participation agreement which such Lender
enters into with any Participant. The Company agrees that if amounts
outstanding under this Agreement are due and payable (as a result of
acceleration or otherwise), each Participant shall be deemed to have the right
of set-off in respect of its participating interest in amounts owing under this
Agreement and with respect to any Letter of Credit to the same extent as if the
amount of its participating interest were owing directly to it as a Lender under
this Agreement; provided that such
right of set-off shall be subject to the obligation of each Participant to share
with the Lenders, and the Lenders agree to share with each Participant, as
provided in Section
7.5. The Company also agrees that each Participant shall be
entitled to the benefits of Section 7.6 or 8 as if it were a
Lender (provided that on the
date of the participation no Participant shall be entitled to any greater
compensation pursuant to Section 7.6 or 8 than would have
been paid to the participating Lender on such date if no participation had been
sold and that each Participant complies with Section 7.6(d) as if
it were an Assignee).
15.7 Register. The
Administrative Agent shall maintain a copy of each Assignment Agreement
delivered and accepted by it and register (the “Register”) for the
recordation of names and addresses of the Lenders and the Commitment of each
Lender from time to time and whether such Lender is the original Lender or the
Assignee. No assignment shall be effective unless and until the
Assignment Agreement is accepted and registered in the Register. All records of
transfer of a Lender’s interest in the Register shall be conclusive, absent
manifest error, as to the ownership of the interests in the
Loans. The Administrative Agent shall not incur any liability of any
kind with respect to any Lender with respect to the maintenance of the
Register.
15.8 GOVERNING
LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH NOTE SHALL BE A CONTRACT
MADE UNDER AND GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS APPLICABLE
TO CONTRACTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN SUCH STATE, WITHOUT REGARD
TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES.
15.9 Confidentiality. As
required by federal law and the Administrative Agent’s policies and practices,
the Administrative Agent may need to obtain, verify, and record certain
customer identification information and documentation in connection with opening
or maintaining accounts, or establishing or continuing to provide
services. The Administrative Agent and each Lender agree to use
commercially reasonable efforts (equivalent to the efforts the Administrative
Agent or such Lender applies to maintain the confidentiality of its own
confidential information) to maintain as confidential all information provided
to them by any
81
Loan
Party and designated as confidential for a period of 5 years following receipt
thereof, except that the Administrative Agent and each Lender may disclose such
information (a) to Persons employed or engaged by the Administrative Agent or
such Lender in evaluating, approving, structuring or administering the Loans and
the Commitments; (b) to any assignee or participant or potential assignee or
participant that has agreed to comply with the covenant contained in this Section 15.9 (and any
such assignee or participant or potential assignee or participant may disclose
such information to Persons employed or engaged by them as described in clause
(a) above); (c) as required or requested by any federal or state regulatory
authority or examiner, or any insurance industry association, or as reasonably
believed by the Administrative Agent or such Lender to be compelled by any court
decree, subpoena or legal or administrative order or process; (d) as, on the
advice of the Administrative Agent’s or such Lender’s counsel, is required by
law; (e) in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy under the Loan
Documents or in connection with any litigation to which the Administrative Agent
or such Lender is a party; (f) to any nationally recognized rating agency that
requires access to information about a Lender’s investment portfolio in
connection with ratings issued with respect to such Lender; (g) to any Affiliate
of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender or any other Lender who may
provide Bank Products to the Loan Parties; or (h) that ceases to be confidential
through no fault of the Administrative Agent or any
Lender. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company consents to the
publication by the Administrative Agent or any Lender of a tombstone or similar
advertising material relating to the financing transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, and the Administrative Agent reserves the right to provide to
industry trade organizations information necessary and customary for inclusion
in league table measurements.
15.10 Severability. Whenever
possible each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as
to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this
Agreement shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision
shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without
invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this
Agreement. All obligations of the Company and rights of the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders expressed herein or in any other Loan
Document shall be in addition to and not in limitation of those provided by
applicable law.
15.11 Nature of
Remedies. All Obligations of the Company and rights of the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders expressed herein or in any other Loan
Document shall be in addition to and not in limitation of those provided by
applicable law. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on
the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any right, remedy, power or
privilege hereunder, shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or
partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any
other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy,
power or privilege.
15.12 Entire
Agreement. This Agreement, together with the other Loan
Documents, embodies the entire agreement and understanding among the parties
hereto and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous agreements and understandings
of such Persons, verbal or written,
82
relating
to the subject matter hereof and thereof (except as relates to the fees
described in Section
5.3) and any prior arrangements made with respect to the payment by the
Company of (or any indemnification for) any fees, costs or expenses payable to
or incurred (or to be incurred) by or on behalf of the Administrative Agent or
the Lenders.
15.13 Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the
different parties hereto on separate counterparts and each such counterpart
shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together
constitute but one and the same Agreement. Receipt of an executed
signature page to this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic transmission
shall constitute effective delivery thereof. Electronic records of
executed Loan Documents maintained by the Lenders shall be deemed to be
originals.
15.14 Successors and
Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the
Company, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective
successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of the Company, the
Lenders and the Administrative Agent and the successors and assigns of the
Lenders and the Administrative Agent. No other Person shall be a
direct or indirect legal beneficiary of, or have any direct or indirect cause of
action or claim in connection with, this Agreement or any of the other Loan
Documents. The Company may not assign or transfer any of its rights
or Obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the
Administrative Agent and each Lender.
15.15 Captions. Section
captions used in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not
affect the construction of this Agreement.
15.16 Customer Identification -
USA Patriot Act Notice. Each Lender and Bank of America (for
itself and not on behalf of any other party) hereby notifies the Loan Parties
that, pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act, Title III of Pub. L.
107-56, signed into law October 26, 2001 (the “Act”), it is required
to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Loan Parties, which
information includes the name and address of the Loan Parties and other
information that will allow such Lender or Bank of America, as applicable, to
identify the Loan Parties in accordance with the Act.
15.17 INDEMNIFICATION BY THE
COMPANY. IN CONSIDERATION OF THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF
THIS AGREEMENT BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THE LENDERS AND THE AGREEMENT TO
EXTEND THE COMMITMENTS PROVIDED HEREUNDER, THE COMPANY HEREBY AGREES TO
INDEMNIFY, EXONERATE AND HOLD THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, EACH LENDER AND EACH OF
THE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AFFILIATES AND AGENTS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENT AND EACH LENDER (EACH A “LENDER PARTY”) FREE
AND HARMLESS FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL ACTIONS, CAUSES OF ACTION, SUITS,
LOSSES, LIABILITIES, DAMAGES AND EXPENSES,
83
INCLUDING
ATTORNEY COSTS (COLLECTIVELY, THE “INDEMNIFIED
LIABILITIES”), INCURRED BY THE LENDER PARTIES OR ANY OF THEM AS A RESULT
OF, OR ARISING OUT OF, OR RELATING TO (A) ANY TENDER OFFER, MERGER, PURCHASE OF
CAPITAL SECURITIES, PURCHASE OF ASSETS OR OTHER SIMILAR TRANSACTION FINANCED OR
PROPOSED TO BE FINANCED IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, WITH THE
PROCEEDS OF ANY OF THE LOANS, (B) THE USE, HANDLING, RELEASE, EMISSION,
DISCHARGE, TRANSPORTATION, STORAGE, TREATMENT OR DISPOSAL OF ANY HAZARDOUS
SUBSTANCE AT ANY PROPERTY OWNED OR LEASED BY ANY LOAN PARTY, (C) ANY VIOLATION
OF ANY ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS WITH RESPECT TO CONDITIONS AT ANY PROPERTY OWNED OR
LEASED BY ANY LOAN PARTY OR THE OPERATIONS CONDUCTED THEREON, (D) THE
INVESTIGATION, CLEANUP OR REMEDIATION OF OFFSITE LOCATIONS AT WHICH ANY LOAN
PARTY OR THEIR RESPECTIVE PREDECESSORS ARE ALLEGED TO HAVE DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY DISPOSED OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES OR (E) THE EXECUTION, DELIVERY,
PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT BY ANY
OF THE LENDER PARTIES, EXCEPT FOR ANY SUCH INDEMNIFIED LIABILITIES ARISING ON
ACCOUNT OF CLAIMS AMONG OR BETWEEN THE LENDERS (EXCEPT UPON THE OCCURRENCE OF A
DEFAULT OR EVENT OF DEFAULT) OR THE APPLICABLE LENDER PARTY’S GROSS NEGLIGENCE
OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT AS DETERMINED BY A FINAL, NONAPPEALABLE JUDGMENT BY A
COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION. IF AND TO THE EXTENT THAT THE
FOREGOING UNDERTAKING MAY BE UNENFORCEABLE FOR ANY REASON, THE COMPANY HEREBY
AGREES TO MAKE THE MAXIMUM CONTRIBUTION TO THE PAYMENT AND SATISFACTION OF EACH
OF THE INDEMNIFIED LIABILITIES WHICH IS PERMISSIBLE UNDER APPLICABLE
LAW. ALL OBLIGATIONS PROVIDED FOR IN THIS SECTION 15.17 SHALL
SURVIVE REPAYMENT OF THE LOANS, CANCELLATION OF THE NOTES, EXPIRATION OR
TERMINATION OF THE LETTERS OF CREDIT, ANY FORECLOSURE UNDER, OR ANY
MODIFICATION, RELEASE OR DISCHARGE OF, ANY OR ALL OF THE COLLATERAL DOCUMENTS
AND TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT. UNTIL THE EXPIRATION OF THE
APPLICABLE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS PERIOD.
15.18 Nonliability of
Lenders. The relationship between the Company on the one hand
and the Lenders and Administrative Agent on the other hand shall be solely that
of borrower and lender. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any
Lender has any fiduciary relationship with or duty to any Loan Party arising out
of or in connection with this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, and
the relationship between the Loan Parties, on the one hand, and the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders, on the other hand, in connection herewith
or therewith is solely that of debtor and creditor. Neither the
Administrative Agent nor any Lender undertakes any responsibility to any Loan
Party to review or inform any Loan Party of any matter in
84
connection
with any phase of any Loan Party’s business or operations. The
Company agrees, on behalf of itself and each other Loan Party, that neither the
Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have liability to any Loan Party
(whether sounding in tort, contract or otherwise) for losses suffered by any
Loan Party 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. NO LENDER PARTY SHALL BE LIABLE FOR
ANY DAMAGES ARISING FROM THE USE BY OTHERS OF ANY INFORMATION OR OTHER MATERIALS
OBTAINED THROUGH INTRALINKS OR OTHER SIMILAR INFORMATION TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS IN
CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, NOR SHALL ANY LENDER PARTY HAVE ANY LIABILITY
WITH RESPECT TO, AND THE COMPANY ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY,
HEREBY WAIVES, RELEASES AND AGREES NOT TO XXX FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR
ARISING OUT OF ITS ACTIVITIES IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THEREWITH (WHETHER
BEFORE OR AFTER THE RESTATEMENT DATE). The Company
acknowledges that it has been advised by counsel in the negotiation, execution
and delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a
party. No joint venture is created hereby or by the other Loan
Documents or otherwise exists by virtue of the transactions contemplated hereby
among the Lenders or among the Loan Parties and the Lenders.
15.19 FORUM SELECTION AND CONSENT
TO JURISDICTION. ANY LITIGATION BASED HEREON, OR ARISING OUT
OF, UNDER, OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT,
SHALL BE BROUGHT AND MAINTAINED EXCLUSIVELY IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF XXXX COUNTY,
ILLINOIS OR IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF
ILLINOIS; PROVIDED THAT NOTHING
IN THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE DEEMED OR OPERATE TO PRECLUDE THE ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENT FROM BRINGING SUIT OR TAKING OTHER LEGAL ACTION IN ANY OTHER
JURISDICTION. THE COMPANY HEREBY EXPRESSLY AND IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO
THE JURISDICTION OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF XXXX COUNTY, ILLINOIS AND OF THE UNITED
STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS FOR THE PURPOSE OF
ANY SUCH LITIGATION AS SET FORTH ABOVE. THE COMPANY FURTHER
IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS BY REGISTERED MAIL, POSTAGE
PREPAID, OR BY PERSONAL SERVICE WITHIN OR WITHOUT THE STATE OF
ILLINOIS. THE COMPANY HEREBY EXPRESSLY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE
FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER
HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUCH LITIGATION BROUGHT IN
85
ANY
SUCH COURT REFERRED TO ABOVE AND ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH LITIGATION HAS BEEN
BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.
15.20 WAIVER OF JURY
TRIAL. EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH
LENDER HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING TO
ENFORCE OR DEFEND ANY RIGHTS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, ANY NOTE, ANY OTHER LOAN
DOCUMENT AND ANY AMENDMENT, INSTRUMENT, DOCUMENT OR AGREEMENT DELIVERED OR WHICH
MAY IN THE FUTURE BE DELIVERED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THEREWITH OR ARISING
FROM ANY LENDING RELATIONSHIP EXISTING IN CONNECTION WITH ANY OF THE FOREGOING,
AND AGREES THAT ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE TRIED BEFORE A COURT AND
NOT BEFORE A JURY.
15.21 Return of Old
Notes. Upon the Restatement Date, the Existing Lenders shall
cancel and return to the Company the notes which were originally delivered to
the Existing Lenders under the Existing Credit Agreement.
15.22 Amendment and
Restatement.
(a) On the
Restatement Date, the Existing Credit Agreement shall be amended, restated and
superseded in its entirety. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree
that (i) this Agreement, any Notes delivered pursuant to Section 3.1 and the
other Loan Documents executed and delivered in connection herewith do not
constitute a novation, payment and reborrowing, or termination of the
“Obligations” (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) under the Existing
Credit Agreement as in effect prior to the Restatement Date; (ii) such
“Obligations” are in all respects continuing with only the terms thereof being
modified as provided in this Agreement; (iii) the Liens as granted under the
Collateral Documents securing payment of such “Obligations” are in all respects
continuing and in full force and effect and secure the payment of the
Obligations (as defined in this Agreement) and are hereby fully ratified and
affirmed; and (iv) upon the effectiveness of this Agreement all loans and
letters of credit outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement immediately
before the effectiveness of this Agreement will be part of the Loans and Letters
of Credit hereunder on the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement. Without limitation of the foregoing, each of the Company
and each other Loan Party hereby fully and unconditionally ratifies and affirms
all Collateral Documents and agrees that all collateral granted thereunder shall
from and after the Restatement Date secure all Obligations
hereunder.
(b) On and
after the Restatement Date, (i) each reference in the Loan Documents to the
“Credit Agreement”, “thereunder”, “thereof” or similar words referring to the
Credit Agreement shall mean and be a reference to this Agreement and (ii)
each
86
reference
in the Loan Documents to a “Note” shall mean and be a Note as defined in this
Agreement.
(c) Each
Lender consents to the payment by the Company on the Restatement Date of all
outstanding Obligations owing to the Existing Lenders set forth on Annex C.
(d) Each
Lender represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Company that
such Lender is not a Defaulting Lender as of the Restatement Date.
[signature
pages follow]
87
The
parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by
their duly authorized officers as of the date first set forth
above.
TITAN
INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By: /s/ TITAN INTERNATIONAL,
INC.
BANK OF
AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent
By: /s/ BANK OF AMERICA,
N.A.
BANK OF
AMERICA, N.A., as Issuing Lender and as a Lender
By: /s/ BANK OF
AMERICA,
X.X.
XXXXX
FARGO BANK, N.A., as Lender
By: /s/ XXXXX FARGO BANK,
N.A.
THE
PRIVATEBANK AND TRUST COMPANY, as Lender
By: /s/ THE PRIVATEBANK AND
TRUST COMPANY
FIRST
BANK OF HIGHLAND PARK, as Lender
By: /s/ FIRST BANK OF HIGHLAND
PARK
FIRST
TENNESSEE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Lender
By: /s/ FIRST TENNESSEE BANK
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
BUSEY
BANK, as Lender
By: /s/ BUSEY
BANK
UMB BANK,
n.a., as Lender
By: /s/ UMB
BANK
ANNEX
A
LENDERS
AND PRO RATA SHARES
Lender
|
Revolving
Commitment Amount
|
Pro Rata Share
|
Bank
of America, N.A.
|
$55,000,000.00
|
36.666666667%
|
Xxxxx
Fargo Bank, N.A.
|
$30,000,000.00
|
20.000000000%
|
The
PrivateBank and Trust Company
|
$20,000,000.00
|
13.333333333%
|
First
Bank of Highland Park
|
$15,000,000.00
|
10.000000000%
|
First
Tennessee Bank National Association
|
$10,000,000.00
|
6.666666667%
|
Busey
Bank
|
$10,000,000.00
|
6.666666667%
|
UMB
Bank, n.a.
|
$10,000,000.00
|
6.666666667%
|
TOTALS
|
$150,000,000
|
100%
|
ANNEX
B
ADDRESSES
FOR NOTICES
TITAN
INTERNATIONAL, INC.
0000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Telephone:
000-000-0000
Facsimile:
000-000-0000
BANK OF AMERICA,
N.A., as Administrative Agent, Issuing Lender and a Lender
Notices of Borrowing ,
Conversion, Continuation and Letter of Credit Issuance
000 Xxxxx
XxXxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
000
Mail
Code: IL4-135-06-40
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
Email: xxxxx.x.xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Letter of Credit
Issuance
0000 X
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Mail
Code: CA9-705-07-05
Xxx
Xxxxxxx XX 00000-0000
Attention:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, AVP / Trade Finance Service Center Coordinator
Standby
L/C Dept., Los Angeles
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
Email:
xxxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Back-up
0000 X
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Mail
Code: CA9-705-07-05
Xxx
Xxxxxxx XX 00000-0000
Attention:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, AVP / Trade Finance Service Center Coordinator
Standby
L/C Dept., Los Angeles
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
Email:
xxxxxxx.xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
All Other
Notices
000 Xxxxx
XxXxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
0000
Mail
Code: IL1-231-10-41
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
Email:
xxxxx.x.xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
ANNEX
C
PRIOR
LENDERS
JPMorgan
Chase Bank, N.A.
First
Bank
CoBank,
ACB
Charter
One Bank, NA
SCHEDULE
1.1
IMMATERIAL
SUBSIDIARIES
·
|
Automation
International, Inc.
|
·
|
Automotive
Wheels, Inc.
|
·
|
Dico,
Inc.
|
·
|
Dyneer
Corporation
|
·
|
Xxxxxx’x,
Ltd.
|
·
|
Titan
Distribution, Inc.
|
·
|
Titan
Investment Corporation
|
·
|
Titan
Marketing Services, Inc.
|
·
|
Titan
Tire Corporation of Natchez
|
·
|
Titan
Tire Corporation of Texas
|
·
|
Titan
Wheel Corporation of Iowa
|
·
|
Titan
Wheel Corporation of South
Carolina
|
Schedule
2.3.5 Existing Letters of Credit
|
||||||
Titan
International, Inc.
|
||||||
As
of January 26, 2009
|
||||||
Beneficiary
|
Applicant
|
Letter of Credit - Type
|
Amount
|
|||
The
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
|
Titan
Tire Corporation
|
Irrevocable
Standby Letter of Credit
|
$ 5,000,000
|
|||
Total
|
$ 5,000,000
|
SCHEDULE
9.6
Litigation and Contingent
Liabilities
NONE
SCHEDULE
9.8
SUBSIDIARIES
Titan International,
Inc.
Outstanding
Stock:
Publicly traded on the NYSE under
symbol TWI
Subsidiaries:
Name of
Subsidiary %
of Ownership
1. Titan
Wheel Corporation of
Illinois 100%
2. Titan
Wheel Corporation of
Virginia 100%
3. Titan
Investment
Corporation 100%
Titan Wheel Corporation of
Illinois
Outstanding
Stock:
10,000
shares authorized – 1,000 shares issued to Titan International,
Inc.
Subsidiaries:
Name of
Subsidiary %
of Ownership
1. None N/A
Titan Wheel Corporation of
Virginia
Outstanding
Stock:
10,000
shares authorized – 1,000 shares issued to Titan International,
Inc.
Subsidiaries:
Name of
Subsidiary %
of Ownership
1. None N/A
Titan Investment
Corporation
Outstanding
Stock:
1,000,000
shares authorized – 1,000 shares issued to Titan International,
Inc.
Subsidiaries:
Name of
Subsidiary %
of Ownership
1. Titan
Tire
Corporation
100%
Titan Tire
Corporation
Outstanding
Stock:
10,000,000
shares authorized – 10,000 shares issued to Titan Investment
Corporation
Subsidiaries:
Name of
Subsidiary %
of Ownership
1. Titan
Tire Corporation of
Freeport 100%
2. Titan
Tire Corporation of
Bryan 100%
Titan Tire Corporation of
Freeport
Outstanding
Stock:
10,000
shares authorized – 1,000 shares issued to Titan Tire Corporation
Subsidiaries:
Name of
Subsidiary %
of Ownership
1. None N/A
Titan Tire Corporation of
Bryan
Outstanding
Stock:
1,000
shares authorized – 100 shares issued to Titan Tire Corporation
Subsidiaries:
Name of
Subsidiary %
of Ownership
1. None N/A
SCHEDULE
9.13
Solvency
NONE
Schedule
9.15
|
|||||||
Insurance
Renewal Information
|
|||||||
Line
of Coverage
|
Coverage
Period
|
Limit
|
Deductible/Retention
|
Carrier
|
Premium
|
||
Property
|
08/01/08
- 08/01/09
|
$250,000,000
|
$250,000
|
Starr
Tech
|
$1,002,380
|
||
Property
|
08/01/08
- 08/01/09
|
$200,000,000
|
Lloyd's,
IRI
|
$300,000
|
|||
General
Liability/Products Liability
|
07/01/08
- 07/01/09
|
$1,000,000
per occurrence
|
$250,000
|
Liberty
Surplus
|
$518,000
|
||
$2,000,000
General Aggregate
|
|||||||
$2,000,000
Products Aggregate
|
|||||||
Umbrella
- Including Products
|
07/01/08
- 07/01/09
|
$5,000,000
per occurrence/agg
|
$0
|
XX
Xxxxx
|
$265,000
|
||
Pollution
legal Liability
|
08/01/06
- 08/01/11
|
$5,000,000
|
$250,000
|
AIG
|
$148,860
|
||
$2,234,240
|
SCHEDULE
9.16
REAL
PROPERTY
Titan International,
Inc.
Owned: 0000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, XX 00000
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, XX
00000
Titan Tire
Corporation
Owned:
0000 X. Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Leased:
0000 Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Titan Wheel Corporation of
Illinois
Leased: 000
Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Titan Wheel Corporation of
Saltville
Owned: 000
Xxxxxxx Xxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 (building)
Leased: 000
Xxxxxxx Xxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 (land)
Titan Investment
Corporation
Owned: None
Leased: None
Titan Tire Corporation of
Freeport
Owned: 0000
Xxxxx 00 Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Leased: 000
Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Titan Tire Corporation of
Xxxxx
Owned: 000
Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx, XX 00000
SCHEDULE
9.20
LABOR
MATTERS
Collective
Bargaining Agreement between Titan Tire Corporation and United Steelworkers of
America Local 164
Collective
Bargaining Agreement between Titan Tire Corporation of Freeport and United
Steelworkers of America Local 745
Collective
Bargaining Agreement between Titan Tire Corporation of Bryan and United
Steelworkers of America Local 890L
SCHEDULE
9.23 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT
|
||||
TITAN
INTERNATIONAL, IINC.
|
||||
ASSETS
OF IMMATERIAL SUBSIDIARIES
|
||||
SEPTEMBER
30, 2008
|
||||
(Amounts
in thousands)
|
||||
Property,
|
||||
Plant
&
|
Other
|
|||
Equipment
|
Goodwill
|
Assets
|
Total
|
|
Dyneer
Corporation
|
$ -
|
$ 9,180
|
$ -
|
$ 9,180
|
Titan
Tire Corporation of Texas
|
5,344
|
-
|
-
|
5,344
|
Automotive
Wheels, Inc.
|
1,826
|
-
|
2,700
|
4,526
|
Xxxxxx'x,
Ltd.
|
-
|
2,522
|
876
|
3,398
|
Titan
Marketing Services, Inc.
|
1,329
|
-
|
1,676
|
3,005
|
Dico,
Inc.
|
1,621
|
-
|
539
|
2,160
|
Titan
Wheel Corporation of Iowa
|
1,910
|
-
|
-
|
1,910
|
Titan
Wheel Corporation of South Carolina
|
1,768
|
-
|
-
|
1,768
|
Titan
Tire Corporation of Natchez
|
1,165
|
-
|
-
|
1,165
|
Titan
Distribution, Inc.
|
-
|
-
|
25
|
25
|
Titan
Investment Corporation
|
-
|
-
|
20
|
20
|
Automation
International, Inc.
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
$
14,963
|
$
11,702
|
$ 5,836
|
$
32,501
|
|
SCHEDULE
11.1
TITAN
INTERNATIONAL, INC. & SUBSIDIARIES
LIST
OF OUTSTANDING DEBT
JANUARY
26, 2009
(Amounts
in US dollars)
Amount
|
Description
|
|
$200,000,000
|
Senior
unsecured notes due January 2012
|
|
25,000,000
|
Revolving
credit facility
|
|
$225,000,000
|
Total
Outstanding Debt
|
Schedule
11.2 to the
CREDIT
AGREEMENT
SEPTEMBER
30, 2008
UNAUDITED
Existing
Liens
1.
|
Lien
on various printers and multifunction copiers in favor of Ikon Office
Solutions
|
2.
|
Lien
on AS400 computers in favor of IBM
|
3.
|
Lien
on Falcon 10 airplanes in favor of AVN Air
LLC
|
4.
|
Lien
on building in Cartersville, GA, in favor of B & B Realty
LLC
|
5.
|
Lien
on building in Elko, NV, in favor of Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
|
6.
|
Lien
on building in Pendergrass, GA, in favor of Xxxxxx/Valentine
LLC
|
SCHEDULE
11.7
TITAN
INTERNATIONAL, INC.
TRANSACTIONS
WITH AFFILIATES
SEPTEMBER
30, 2008
(Amounts
in US dollars, rounded to nearest thousand)
Accounts
Receivable Due from Affiliates
Amount Due from
Titan Tire
Corporation
$4,105,000 Titan
Europe Plc subsidiaries
Titan Wheel Corporation of
Illinois
222,000 Titan
Europe Plc subsidiaries
Titan Wheel Corporation of
Virginia
1,014,000 Titan
Europe Plc subsidiaries
$5,341,000 Total
accounts receivable due from affiliates
SCHEDULE
11.11
TITAN
INTERNATIONAL, INC. & SUBSIDIARIES
INVESTMENTS
SEPTEMBER
30, 2008
(Amounts
in US dollars)
Investments
$11,623,000 Investment
in Titan Europe
$11,623,000 Total
Investments
Investments in
Subsidiaries
Note: All investments in
subsidiaries are eliminated in consolidation
Amount Investment
in
Titan
International
1,000 Titan
Investment Corporation
1,000 Titan
Wheel Corporation of Illinois
1,000 Titan
Wheel Corporation of Virginia
Titan Investment
Corporation
10,000 Titan
Tire Corporation
Titan Tire
Corporation
100 Titan
Tire Corporation of Xxxxx
1,000 Titan
Tire Corporation of Freeport
14,100 Subtotal
investment in subs
(14,100) Consolidating
entry to eliminate investment in subs
$ 0 Total
EXHIBIT
A
FORM
OF
NOTE
January
30, 0000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx
$_________________
The
undersigned, for value received, promises to pay to the order of ______________
(the “Lender”)
at the principal office of Bank of America, N.A. (the “Administrative
Agent”) in Chicago, Illinois the aggregate unpaid amount of all Loans
made to the undersigned by the Lender pursuant to the Credit Agreement referred
to below (as shown on the schedule attached hereto (and any continuation
thereof) or in the records of the Lender), such principal amount to be payable
on the dates set forth in the Credit Agreement.
The
undersigned further promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of
each Loan from the date of such Loan until such Loan is paid in full, payable at
the rate(s) and at the time(s) set forth in the Credit
Agreement. Payments of both principal and interest are to be made in
lawful money of the United States of America.
This Note
evidences indebtedness incurred under, and is subject to the terms and
provisions of, the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of January
30, 2009 (as further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time, the “Credit Agreement”;
terms not otherwise defined herein are used herein as defined in the Credit
Agreement), among the undersigned, certain financial institutions (including the
Lender) and the Administrative Agent, to which Credit Agreement reference is
hereby made for a statement of the terms and provisions under which this Note
may or must be paid prior to its due date or its due date
accelerated.
This Note
is made under and governed by the laws of the State of Illinois applicable to
contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State.
TITAN
INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By:_________________________
Title:________________________
EXHIBIT
B
FORM OF COMPLIANCE
CERTIFICATE
To: Bank
of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent
Please
refer to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of January 30, 2009
(as further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time, the “Credit
Agreement”) among Titan International, Inc. (the “Company”), various
financial institutions and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative
Agent. Terms used but not otherwise defined herein are used herein as
defined in the Credit Agreement.
I.
|
Reports. Enclosed
herewith is a copy of the [annual
audited/quarterly/monthly] report of the Company as at
_____________, ____ (the “Computation
Date”), which report fairly presents in all material respects the
financial condition and results of operations [(subject to the absence of
footnotes and to normal year-end adjustments)] of the Company as of
the Computation Date and has been prepared in accordance with GAAP
consistently applied.
|
II.
|
No
Default. The undersigned hereby certifies that he/she
has no knowledge of, the existence of any condition or event which
constitutes a Default or an Event of Default during or at the end of the
accounting period covered by the enclosed report or as of the date of this
Certificate, except [described in detail the nature of the condition or
event, the period during which it existed, and the action which Company
and its Subsidiaries have taken, are taking, or propose to take with
respect to each such condition or
event].
|
III.
|
Financial
Tests. The Company hereby certifies and warrants to you
that the following is an accurate computation, in accordance with the
terms of the Credit Agreement, as at the Computation Date, of the
following ratios and/or financial restrictions contained in the Credit
Agreement:
|
[REVISE
AS APPROPRIATE]
A. Intentionally Omitted.
B. Section
11.14.2 - Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio
1. Highest
Average Daily Balance of
Revolving
Outstandings $________
(if the
average daily balance of Revolving Outstandings is less than $125,000,000 during
all 30 day periods ending during the quarter, this calculation is not
needed)
2. EBITDA
$________
3. Income
taxes
paid $________
4. Capital
Expenditures $________
5. Sum
of (3) and
(4) $________
6. Remainder
of (2) minus
(5) $________
7. Interest
Expense $________
8. Required
payments of
principal
of Funded Debt
(excluding
Revolving
Loans) $________
9. Sum
of (7) and
(8) $________
10. Ratio
of (6) to
(9) ____
to 1
11. Minimum
Required 1.0
to 1.0
C. Section
11.14.3 - Minimum Collateral Coverage Ratio
1. Borrowing
Base
Amount $________
2. Unrestricted
Cash of
Obligors $________
3. Sum
of (1) and
(2) $________
4. Revolving
Outstandings $________
5. Ratio
of (3) to
(4) ____
to 1
4. Minimum
required 1.20
to 1
The
Company has caused this Certificate to be executed and delivered by its duly
authorized officer on _________________________, 20__.
TITAN
INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By: ________________________
Title: _______________________
EXHIBIT
C
FORM OF BORROWING BASE
CERTIFICATE
To: Bank
of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent
Please
refer to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of January 30, 2009
(as further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time, the “Credit
Agreement”) among Titan International, Inc. (the “Company”), various
financial institutions and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative
Agent. This certificate (this “Certificate”),
together with supporting calculations attached hereto, is delivered to you
pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement. Capitalized terms used
but not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings herein as in the
Credit Agreement.
The
Company hereby certifies and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders that (a) at the close of business on ______________, ____ (the “Calculation Date”),
the Borrowing Base was $_____________, computed as set forth on the schedule
attached hereto; (b) the information contained herein and on the schedule
attached hereto is true and correct in all material respects regarding the
status of Eligible Accounts and Eligible Inventory; (c) the amounts reflected
herein and on the schedule attached hereto are in compliance with the provisions
of the Credit Agreement; and (d) there is no Default or Event of Default and all
representations and warranties contained in the Credit Agreement and other Loan
Documents are true and correct in all material respects. The
undersigned understands that the Lenders will extend loans in reliance upon the
information contained herein. In the event of a conflict between the
summary of eligibility criteria on the attached schedule and the definitions of
Eligible Accounts and Eligible Inventory contained in the Credit Agreement, the
Credit Agreement shall govern.
The
Company has caused this Certificate to be executed and delivered by its officer
thereunto duly authorized on ___________,
______.
TITAN
INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By: _______________________
Title: _____________________
SCHEDULE
TO BORROWING BASE CERTIFICATE
Dated as
of
[_________________]
1. Gross
Accounts $_________
2. Less
Ineligibles
- Administrative
Agent’s Lien Not Perfected
$_________
- Subject
to other Lien $_________
- Subject
to Offset,
etc. $_________
- Non-permitted
Account Debtor not in
U.S. $_________
- Non-permitted
Affiliate
Receivables $_________
- Non-assignable $_________
- Other
$_________
- Total $_________
3. Eligible
Accounts [Item 1 minus Item
2] $_________
4. Item
3 times
75% $_________
5. Gross
Inventory
$_________
6. Less
Ineligibles
- Administrative
Agent’s Lien Not
Perfected $_________
- Subject
to other
Lien $_________
- Not
Salable $_________
- In
Excess of $30,000,000 Located
Off-Site $_________
- Reserve
for Amounts Due Third Parties
Holding Collateral
Off-Site $_________
- Not
located in
U.S. $_________
- Other
$_________
- Total $_________
7. Eligible
Inventory [Item 5 minus Item
6] $_________
8. Item
7 times
50%
$_________
9. Orderly
Liquidation Value of
Equipment $_________
10. Item
9 times
80%
$_________
11. Borrowing
Base
Item 4 plus Item
8 plus Item
10 $_________
12. Revolving
Loan Availability (lesser of Item 11 and
the
Revolving
Commitment) $_________
13. Revolving
Outstandings (includes L/C
Obligations) $_________
14. Availability
[Excess of Item 12
over Item 13] $_________
15. Required
Prepayment
[Excess of Item 13
over Item 12] $_________
Determination of
Availability Percentage
A. Borrowing
Base Amount (Item
11) $_________
B. Portion
of Borrowing Base attributable to Equipment (Item
10) $_________
C. Adjusted
Borrowing
Base $_________
(Item A minus Item B)
D. Revolving
Outstandings (Item
13) $_________
E. Availability
Percentage _________%
(Item D divided by Item C)
EXHIBIT
D
FORM
OF
ASSIGNMENT
AGREEMENT
Date:_________________
To: Titan
International, Inc.
and
Bank of
America, N.A. as Administrative Agent
Re: Assignment under the Credit
Agreement referred to below
Gentlemen
and Ladies:
Please
refer to Section 15.6.1 of the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of
January 30, 2009 (as further amended or otherwise modified from time to time,
the “Credit
Agreement”) among Titan International, Inc. (the “Company”), various
financial institutions and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent (in
such capacity, the “Administrative
Agent”). Unless otherwise defined herein or the context
otherwise requires, terms used herein have the meanings provided in the Credit
Agreement.
(the “Assignor”) hereby
sells and assigns, without recourse, to (the “Assignee”), and the
Assignee hereby purchases and assumes from the Assignor, that interest in and to
the Assignor’s rights and obligations under the Credit Agreement as of the date
hereof equal to % of all of the
Loans, of the participation interests in the L/C Obligations and of the
Commitments, such sale, purchase, assignment and assumption to be effective as
of , ___,
or such later date on which the Company and the Administrative Agent shall have
consented hereto (the “Effective
Date”). After giving effect to such sale, purchase, assignment
and assumption, the Assignee’s and the Assignor’s respective Pro Rata Shares for
purposes of the Credit Agreement will be as set forth opposite their names on
the signature pages hereof.
The
Assignor hereby instructs the Administrative Agent to make all payments from and
after the Effective Date in respect of the interest assigned hereby directly to
the Assignee. The Assignor and the Assignee agree that all interest
and fees accrued up to, but not including, the Effective Date are the property
of the Assignor, and not the Assignee. The Assignee agrees that, upon
receipt of any such interest or fees, the Assignee will promptly remit the same
to the Assignor.
The
Assignor represents and warrants that it is the legal and beneficial owner of
the interest being assigned by it hereunder and that such interest is free and
clear of any adverse claim.
The
Assignee represents and warrants to the Company and the Administrative Agent
that, as of the date hereof, the Company will not be obligated to pay any
greater amount under Section 7.6 or 8 of the Credit Agreement than the Company
is obligated to pay to the Assignor under such Section. The Assignee
has delivered, or is delivering concurrently herewith, to the Company and the
Administrative Agent the forms required by Section 7.6 of the Credit Agreement.
[INSERT IF ASSIGNEE IS ORGANIZED UNDER THE LAWS OF A JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR A STATE THEREOF.] The [Assignee/Assignor]
[Company] shall pay the fee payable to the Administrative Agent pursuant to
Section 15.6.1.
The
Assignee hereby confirms that it has received a copy of the Credit
Agreement. Except as otherwise provided in the Credit Agreement,
effective as of the Effective Date:
|
(a)
|
the
Assignee (i) shall be deemed automatically to have become a party to the
Credit Agreement and to have all the rights and obligations of a “Lender”
under the Credit Agreement as if it were an original signatory thereto to
the extent specified in the second paragraph hereof; and (ii) agrees to be
bound by the terms and conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement as if
it were an original signatory thereto;
and
|
(b)
|
the
Assignor shall be released from its obligations under the Credit Agreement
to the extent specified in the second paragraph
hereof.
|
The
Assignee hereby advises each of you of the following administrative details with
respect to the assigned Loans and Commitment:
(A) Institution
Name:
Address:
Attention:
Telephone:
Facsimile:
(B) Payment
Instructions:
This Assignment shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois.
Please
evidence your receipt hereof and your consent to the sale, assignment, purchase
and assumption set forth herein by signing and returning counterparts hereof to
the Assignor and the Assignee.
Percentage
=
___% [ASSIGNEE]
By: ______________________________
Title: ______________________________
Adjusted
Percentage =
___% [ASSIGNOR]
By: _____________________________
Title: _____________________________
ACKNOWLEDGED
AND CONSENTED TO
this ____
day of ________, ____
BANK OF
AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent
By: ______________________________
Title: ______________________________
ACKNOWLEDGED
AND CONSENTED TO
this
___ day of _________,
TITAN
INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By: ______________________________
Title: ______________________________
EXHIBIT
E
FORM OF
NOTICE OF BORROWING
To: Bank
of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent
Please
refer to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of January 30, 2009
(as further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time, the “Credit
Agreement”) among Titan International, Inc. (the “Company”), various
financial institutions and Bank of America, N.A., as the Administrative
Agent. Terms used but not otherwise defined herein are used herein as
defined in the Credit Agreement.
The
undersigned hereby gives irrevocable notice, pursuant to Section 2.2.2 of
the Credit Agreement, of a request hereby for a borrowing as
follows:
(i) The
requested borrowing date for the proposed borrowing (which is a Business Day) is
______________, ____.
(ii) The
aggregate amount of the proposed borrowing is $______________.
(iii) The
Type of Revolving Loans comprising the proposed borrowing are [Base Rate]
[LIBOR] Loans.
(iv) The
duration of the Interest Period for each LIBOR Loan made as part of the proposed
borrowing, if applicable, is ___________ months (which shall be 1, 2, or 3
months).
(v) The
Revolving Loan Availability less the Revolving Outstandings,
determined based upon the most recent Borrowing Base Certificate, is
$________________________.
The
undersigned hereby certifies that on the date hereof and on the date of
borrowing set forth above, and immediately after giving effect to the borrowing
requested hereby: (i) there exists and there shall exist no Default or Event of
Default under the Credit Agreement; and (ii) each of the representations and
warranties contained in the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents is
true and correct as of the date hereof, except to the extent that such
representation or warranty expressly relates to another date and except for
changes therein expressly permitted or expressly contemplated by the Credit
Agreement.
The
Company has caused this Notice of Borrowing to be executed and delivered by its
officer thereunto duly authorized on ___________, ______.
TITAN
INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By: ______________________
Title: _____________________
EXHIBIT
F
FORM OF
NOTICE OF CONVERSION/CONTINUATION
To: Bank
of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent
Please
refer to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of January 30, 2009
(as further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time, the “Credit
Agreement”) among Titan International, Inc. (the “Company”), various
financial institutions and Bank of America, N.A., as the Administrative
Agent. Terms used but not otherwise defined herein are used herein as
defined in the Credit Agreement.
The
undersigned hereby gives irrevocable notice, pursuant to Section 2.2.3 of the
Credit Agreement, of its request to:
(a) on
[ date ] convert $[________]of the
aggregate outstanding principal amount of the [_______] Loan, bearing interest
at the [________] Rate, into a(n) [________] Loan [and, in the case of a LIBOR
Loan, having an Interest Period of [_____] month(s)];
[(b) on
[ date ] continue $[________]of
the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the [_______] Loan, bearing
interest at the LIBOR Rate, as a LIBOR Loan having an Interest Period of [_____]
month(s)].
The
undersigned hereby represents and warrants that all of the conditions contained
in Section 12.2
of the Credit Agreement have been satisfied on and as of the date hereof,
and will continue to be satisfied on and as of the date of the
conversion/continuation requested hereby, before and after giving effect
thereto.
The
Company has caused this Notice of Conversion/Continuation to be executed and
delivered by its officer thereunto duly authorized on ___________,
______.
TITAN
INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By: ________________________
Title: _______________________