Exhibit 10.6
Dated as of February 9, 2009
among
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender
and
L/C Issuer,
and
The Other Lenders Party Hereto
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as
Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Book Manager
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Section |
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ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS |
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1 |
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1.01 Defined Terms |
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1 |
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1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions |
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18 |
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1.03 Accounting Terms |
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19 |
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1.04 Rounding |
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19 |
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1.05 Times of Day |
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19 |
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1.06 Letter of Credit Amounts |
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19 |
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ARTICLE II THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS |
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20 |
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2.01 Committed Loans |
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20 |
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2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans |
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20 |
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2.03 Letters of Credit |
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21 |
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2.04 Swing Line Loans |
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28 |
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2.05 Prepayments |
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31 |
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2.06 Termination or Reduction of Commitments |
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32 |
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2.07 Repayment of Loans |
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32 |
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2.08 Interest |
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32 |
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2.09 Fees |
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33 |
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2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate |
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34 |
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2.11 Evidence of Debt |
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34 |
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2.12 Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback |
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35 |
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2.13 Sharing of Payments by Lenders |
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37 |
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2.14 Increase in Commitments |
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37 |
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ARTICLE III TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY |
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38 |
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3.01 Taxes |
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38 |
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3.02 Illegality |
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40 |
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3.03 Inability to Determine Rates |
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40 |
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3.04 Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans |
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41 |
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3.05 Compensation for Losses |
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42 |
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3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders |
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43 |
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3.07 Requests for Compensation |
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43 |
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ARTICLE IV CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS |
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44 |
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4.01 Conditions of Initial Credit Extension |
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44 |
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4.02 Conditions to all Credit Extensions |
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46 |
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ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
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46 |
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5.01 Existence, Qualification and Power |
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46 |
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5.02 Authorization; No Contravention |
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47 |
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5.03 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents |
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47 |
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5.04 Binding Effect |
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47 |
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5.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect |
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47 |
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5.06 Litigation |
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47 |
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5.07 No Default |
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47 |
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5.08 Ownership of Property; Liens |
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48 |
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5.09 Environmental Compliance |
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48 |
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5.10 Insurance |
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48 |
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5.11 Taxes |
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48 |
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5.12 ERISA Compliance |
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48 |
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Section |
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5.13 Subsidiaries; Equity Interests |
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49 |
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5.14 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act |
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49 |
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5.15 Disclosure |
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49 |
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5.16 Compliance with Laws |
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49 |
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5.17 Taxpayer Identification Number |
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49 |
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5.18 Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc |
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50 |
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ARTICLE VI AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS |
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50 |
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6.01 Financial Statements |
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50 |
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6.02 Certificates; Other Information |
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51 |
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6.03 Notices |
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52 |
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6.04 Payment of Obligations |
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53 |
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6.05 Preservation of Existence, Etc |
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53 |
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6.06 Maintenance of Properties |
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53 |
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6.07 Maintenance of Insurance |
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53 |
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6.08 Compliance with Laws |
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53 |
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6.09 Books and Records |
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53 |
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6.10 Inspection Rights; Field Exam |
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53 |
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6.11 Use of Proceeds |
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53 |
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6.12 Additional Guarantors |
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54 |
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6.13 Dissolution or Joinder of Sports Supply Group Asia Limited |
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54 |
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6.14 Deposit Accounts |
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54 |
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6.15 Landlord Lien Waivers |
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54 |
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ARTICLE VII NEGATIVE COVENANTS |
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54 |
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7.01 Liens |
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54 |
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7.02 Investments |
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56 |
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7.03 Indebtedness |
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57 |
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7.04 Fundamental Changes |
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57 |
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7.05 Dispositions |
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58 |
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7.06 Restricted Payments |
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58 |
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7.07 Change in Nature of Business |
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58 |
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7.08 Transactions with Affiliates |
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59 |
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7.09 Burdensome Agreements |
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59 |
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7.10 Use of Proceeds |
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59 |
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7.11 Financial Covenants |
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59 |
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ARTICLE VIII EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES |
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59 |
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8.01 Events of Default |
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59 |
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8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default |
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61 |
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8.03 Application of Funds |
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61 |
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ARTICLE IX ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT |
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62 |
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9.01 Appointment and Authority |
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62 |
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9.02 Rights as a Lender |
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62 |
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9.03 Exculpatory Provisions |
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63 |
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9.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent |
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63 |
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9.05 Delegation of Duties |
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64 |
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9.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent |
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64 |
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9.07 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders |
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65 |
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9.08 No Other Duties, Etc |
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65 |
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9.09 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim |
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65 |
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9.10 Collateral and Guaranty Matters |
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66 |
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ii
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ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS |
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66 |
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10.01 Amendments, Etc |
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66 |
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10.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication |
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67 |
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10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies |
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69 |
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10.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver |
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69 |
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10.05 Payments Set Aside |
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71 |
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10.06 Successors and Assigns |
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71 |
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10.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality |
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74 |
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10.08 Right of Setoff |
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75 |
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10.09 Interest Rate Limitation |
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75 |
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10.10 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness |
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76 |
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10.11 Survival of Representations and Warranties |
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76 |
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10.12 Severability |
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76 |
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10.13 Replacement of Lenders |
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76 |
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10.14 Governing Law |
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77 |
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10.15 Dispute Resolution Provision |
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77 |
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10.16 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility |
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78 |
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10.17 USA PATRIOT Act Notice |
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79 |
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10.18 Time of the Essence |
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79 |
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10.19 ENTIRE AGREEMENT |
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79 |
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SIGNATURES |
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S-1 |
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iii
SCHEDULES
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2.01
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Commitments and Applicable Percentages |
5.06
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Litigation |
5.09
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Environmental Matters |
5.13
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Subsidiaries; Other Equity Investments |
6.15
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Landlord’s Lien Waivers |
7.01
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Existing Liens |
7.02
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Existing Investments |
7.03
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Existing Indebtedness |
10.02
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Administrative Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices |
EXHIBITS
Form of
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A
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Committed Loan Notice |
B
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Swing Line Loan Notice |
C
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Note |
D
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Compliance Certificate |
E
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Assignment and Assumption |
F
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Borrowing Base Certificate |
G
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Opinion Matters |
H
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Quick Ratio Certificate |
iv
This
CREDIT AGREEMENT (“
Agreement”) is entered into as of February 9, 2009, among
SPORT SUPPLY
GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “
Borrower”), each lender from time to time party hereto
(collectively, the “
Lenders” and individually, a “
Lender”), and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as
Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer.
The Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a revolving credit facility, and the
Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto
covenant and agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
1.01 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
meanings set forth below:
“
Accounts Receivable” means accounts (as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code — Secured
Transactions as adopted in
Texas), instruments, contract rights, chattel paper, documents, and
general intangibles arising from the sale or lease of goods and/or the rendition of services by a
Person in the ordinary course of business, and the proceeds thereof and all security and guaranties
therefor, whether now existing or hereafter created, and all returned, reclaimed or repossessed
goods, and all books and records pertaining to the foregoing.
“Acquisition” means any transaction, or any series of related transactions, consummated on or
after the date of this Agreement, by which any Loan Party (a) acquires any going concern business,
including, without limitation, a business unit or division, or all or substantially all of the
assets of any Person, whether through purchase of assets, merger or otherwise or (b) directly or
indirectly acquires (in one transaction or as the most recent transaction in a series of
transactions) at least a majority (in percentage of votes) of the Equity Interests in a Person
which has ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other similar management personnel
of a Person (other than Equity Interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a
contingency) or a majority of the outstanding Equity Interests in a Person.
“Administrative Agent” means Bank of America in its capacity as administrative agent under any
of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.
“Administrative Agent’s Office” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate,
account as set forth on Schedule 10.02, or such other address or account as the
Administrative Agent may from time to time notify to the Borrower and the Lenders.
“Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the
Administrative Agent.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly
through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with
the Person specified.
“Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all the Lenders.
Page 1
“Anniston Property” means that certain real property owned by the Borrower or one of its
Affiliates located at 000 Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000.
“Applicable Percentage” means with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage (carried
out to the ninth decimal place) of the Aggregate Commitments represented by such Lender’s
Commitment at such time. If the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of the
L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 or
if the Aggregate Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender shall be
determined based on the Applicable Percentage of such Lender most recently in effect, giving effect
to any subsequent assignments. The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth
opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption
pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.
“Applicable Rate” means the following percentages per annum, based upon the Consolidated
Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the
Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.02(b):
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Eurodollar Rate + |
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Eurodollar Daily |
Pricing |
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Consolidated |
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Commitment |
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Floating Rate |
Level |
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Leverage Ratio |
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Fee |
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+Letters of Credit |
1
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£ 1.00:1
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0.250%
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1.25% |
2
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> 1.00:1 but £
1.50:1
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0.250%
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1.50% |
3
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> 1.50:1 but £ 2.00:1
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0.375%
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2.00% |
4
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> 2.00:1 but £ 2.50:1
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0.375%
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2.50% |
5
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> 2.50:1
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0.375%
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3.00% |
Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated
Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date a
Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(b); provided,
however, that if a Compliance Certificate is not delivered when due in accordance with such
Section, then Pricing Level 5 shall apply as of the fifth Business Day after the date on which such
Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered and shall remain in effect until the
first Business Day after such Compliance Certificate is delivered. The Applicable Rate in effect
from the Closing Date until the earlier of (i) delivery of the initial Compliance Certificate
pursuant to Section 6.02(b) and (ii) delivery of an interim Compliance Certificate, shall
be determined based upon Pricing Level 3.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this definition, the determination of
the Applicable Rate for any period shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2.10(b).
“Approved Fund” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an
Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a
Lender.
“Arranger” means Bank of America, N.A., in its capacity as sole lead arranger and sole book
manager.
“Assignee Group” means two or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or
two or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.
Page 2
“Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an
assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.06(b)), and
accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit E or any other
form approved by the Administrative Agent.
“Attributable Indebtedness” means, on any date, (a) in respect of any capital lease of any
Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared
as of such date in accordance with GAAP, and (b) in respect of any Synthetic Lease Obligation, the
capitalized amount of the remaining lease payments under the relevant lease that would appear on a
balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP if such lease were
accounted for as a capital lease.
“Audited Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008, and the related consolidated
statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto.
“Availability Period” means the period from and including the Closing Date to the earliest of
(a) the Maturity Date, (b) the date of termination of all Aggregate Commitments pursuant to
Section 2.06, and (c) the date of termination of the commitment of each Lender to make
Loans and of the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions pursuant to Section
8.02.
“Bank of America” means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors.
“Borrower” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.
“Borrowing” means a Committed Borrowing or a Swing Line Borrowing, as the context may require.
“Borrowing Base” means, at any time the sum of the following (each determined pursuant to the
Borrowing Base Certificate most recently delivered to Administrative Agent in accordance with
Section 6.02(e)): (a) eighty-five percent (85%) of Eligible Accounts Receivable and
(b) sixty percent (60%) of Eligible Inventory.
“Borrowing Base Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit
F hereto.
“Borrowing Base Effectiveness Period” means the period beginning on the first day of any
calendar month during which the Borrower does not maintain a Quick Ratio of not less than 1.00 to
1.0 and continuing until the first day of any calendar month after the Borrower again maintains a
Quick Ratio of not less than 1.00 to 1.0.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial
banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where the
Administrative Agent’s Office is located and, if such day relates to any Eurodollar Rate Loan,
means any such day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the
London interbank eurodollar market.
“Cash Collateralize” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(g).
“Cash Flow” means, for any period, Consolidated EBITDA minus cash income taxes, and minus cash
dividends and other cash distributions with respect to any capital stock or other Equity Interest
of the Borrower.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 3
“Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the
following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change
in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation or application
thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, guideline or
directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority.
“Change of Control” means an event or series of events by which any “person” or “group” (as
such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but
excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its subsidiaries, and any person or entity
acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan)
becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all
securities that such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable
immediately or only after the passage of time (such right, an “option right”)), directly or
indirectly, of 50% or more of the equity securities of the Borrower entitled to vote for members of
the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Borrower on a fully-diluted basis (and
taking into account all such securities that such person or group has the right to acquire pursuant
to any option right);
“Closing Date” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are
satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 10.01.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
“Commitment” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to (a) make Committed Loans to the
Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01, (b) purchase participations in L/C Obligations, and
(c) purchase participations in Swing Line Loans, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time
outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01
or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as
applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.
“Committed Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Committed Loans of the same
Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the
Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01.
“Committed Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.
“Committed Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Committed Borrowing, (b) a conversion of
Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans,
pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of
Exhibit A.
“Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D.
“Consolidated Debt Service Coverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination with respect
to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the ratio of Cash Flow to the sum of
the current portion of long term Indebtedness (excluding Senior Convertible Subordinated Notes and
any Outstanding Amount that may, as of such date of determination, be classified as current) and
the current portion of capitalized lease obligations plus interest expense on all Indebtedness.
This ratio will be calculated at the end of each reporting period for which the Administrative
Agent requires financial statements from the Borrower, using the results of the twelve-month period
ending with that reporting period. The current portion of long-term liabilities will be measured as
of the last day of the calculation period.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 4
“Consolidated EBITDA” means Consolidated Net Income, less income or plus loss from
discontinued operations and extraordinary items, plus income, franchise and margin taxes, plus
interest expense, plus depreciation, depletion, and amortization, plus compensation expense
recognized pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R, including in respect
of the grant and/or vesting of stock-based compensation. This ratio will be calculated at the end
of each reporting period for which the Administrative Agent requires financial statements, using
the results of the twelve-month period ending with that reporting period.
“Consolidated Funded Indebtedness” means all outstanding liabilities for borrowed money and
other interest-bearing liabilities, including the current portion of long term Indebtedness that
may, as of such date of determination, be deemed as current, less the non-current portion of
Consolidated Subordinated Liabilities (other than Senior Convertible Subordinated Notes).
“Consolidated Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a)
Consolidated Funded Indebtedness as of such date to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of the
four fiscal quarters most recently ended.
“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis, the net income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (excluding extraordinary
gains and extraordinary losses) for that period.
“Consolidated Subordinated Liabilities” means liabilities subordinated to the Obligations in a
manner no less favorable in any material respects to the Lenders than the terms of the Senior
Convertible Subordinated Notes or otherwise on terms acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its
reasonable discretion.
“Contractual Obligation” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such
Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by
which it or any of its property is bound.
“Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting
power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings
correlative thereto.
“Credit Extension” means each of the following: (a) a Borrowing and (b) an L/C Credit
Extension.
“Current Liabilities” means current liabilities in accordance with GAAP plus Total
Outstandings.
“Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other
liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium,
rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the
United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the
rights of creditors generally.
“Default” means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the
giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.
“Default Rate” means (a) when used with respect to Obligations other than Letter of Credit
Fees, an interest rate equal to (i) the Eurodollar Daily Floating Rate plus (ii) the
Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Eurodollar Daily Floating Rate Loans plus (iii) 2%
per annum; provided, however, that with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the
Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate
(including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per annum, and
(b) when used with respect to Letter of Credit Fees, a rate equal to the Applicable Rate
plus 2% per annum.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 5
“Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that (a) has failed to fund any portion of the Committed
Loans, participations in L/C Obligations or participations in Swing Line Loans required to be
funded by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date required to be funded by it hereunder
unless such failure has been cured, (b) has otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative
Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within one Business
Day of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute or unless such failure has
been cured, or (c) has been deemed insolvent or become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency
proceeding.
“Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition
(including any sale and leaseback transaction) of any property by any Person, including any sale,
assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts
receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith.
“Dollar” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.
“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of any political
subdivision of the United States.
“Eligible Accounts Receivable” means all Accounts Receivable of the Borrower and each
Subsidiary Guarantor which (a) have been created in the ordinary course of business, (b) are
subject to a perfected first priority Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent as security for the
Obligations and (c) upon which the right of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor, as
applicable, to receive payment is absolute and not contingent upon the fulfillment of any condition
whatsoever, and shall NOT include:
(a) that portion of any account which is unpaid more than ninety (90) days from the
invoice date thereof, provided the entire account shall be excluded if fifty percent (50%)
or more of such account is unpaid more than ninety (90) days from the invoice date thereof;
(b) any account against which there exists a right of setoff, defense or discount
(including offsets for “contra accounts”), except regular discounts allowed in the ordinary
course of business to promote prompt payment (and for which no defense or counterclaim has
been asserted), but only to the extent of any such right of setoff, defense or discount;
(c) that portion of any account from a customer which equals the amount of a payable
owed by the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, to the same customer, but
only to the extent of such payable;
(d) the portion of any account in excess of $2,000,000 which represents an obligation
of any federal governmental agency or entity unless the Federal Assignment of Claims Act of
1940, as amended (31 X.X.X. §0000 et seq. and 41 X.X.X. §00 et seq.) or the
Federal Administration Act (Canada), and any other steps necessary to perfect the Lien of
the Administrative Agent in such account have been complied with;
(e) any account arising from a “sale on approval,” “sale or return,” “consignment,”
“ledger balance transaction,” or subject to any other repurchase or return agreement;
(f)
any account which represents an obligation to a customer which is not a resident of
the United States or Canada unless such account is supported by a letter of credit in form
and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent;
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 6
(g) any account which arises from the sale or lease to or performance of services for,
or represents an obligation of, any employee, affiliate, partner, parent or subsidiary of
the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor;
(h) that portion of any account from a customer of the Borrower or a Subsidiary
Guarantor which represents the amount by which the total accounts from such customer exceeds
twenty percent (20%) of the total accounts which would otherwise be Eligible Accounts
Receivable; and
(i) any account on which Administrative Agent is not or does not continue to be, in the
Administrative Agent’s Permitted Discretion satisfied with the credit standing of the
customer in relation to the amount of the credit extended based upon information or
circumstances arising after the Closing Date.
“Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under
Section 10.06(b)(iii), (v) and (vi) (subject to such consents, if any, as
may be required under Section 10.06(b)(iii)).
“Eligible Inventory” means all of the Borrower’s and each Subsidiary Guarantor’s Inventory
(excluding Inventory owned by third parties that is warehoused by any Credit Party) which is
subject to a perfected first priority Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent as security for the
Obligations other than (a) work-in-process and packaging and shipping materials, (b) the
portion of Inventory in transit in excess of $300,000 (unless in transit from a location of the
Borrower or Subsidiary Guarantor to another location of the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor or
to a third party processor on behalf of the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor), (c) slow moving or
obsolete Inventory held for more than fourteen (14) months, (d) defective Inventory, (e) Inventory
that is not in good condition or fails to meet government standards, (f) branded Inventory subject
to a trademark or licensing agreement that would restrict the Administrative Agent’s ability to
sell such Inventory (other than Inventory subject to the Licensor Consents), (g) Inventory that the
Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion determines to be ineligible based upon information
or circumstances arising after the Closing Date and (h) Inventory held at a third party owned
location of the Borrower or Subsidiary Guarantor unless (i) appropriate lien releases and waivers
have not been obtained by the Administrative Agent within 90 days after Closing Date or (ii) at the
Borrower’s election, a reserve in reduction of the Borrowing Base has been established by the
Administrative Agent, which as to any leased, warehouse, processor or bailee location shall be in
the amount of four months of rental obligations, with respect to which the applicable landlord,
warehouseman or bailee has not provided an appropriate lien release and waiver. Inventory will be
valued based upon book value determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Environmental Laws” means any and all Federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, laws,
regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants,
franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the
protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including those
related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.
“Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any
liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the
Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries directly or indirectly
resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use,
handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure
to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into
the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which
liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
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“Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of
(or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other
rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other
ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or
exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person
(other than the Senior Convertible Subordinated Notes) or warrants, rights or options for the
purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the
other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust
interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options,
rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common
control with the Borrower within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections
414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).
“ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by
the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a
plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a
cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a
complete or partial withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or
notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (d) the filing of a notice of intent
to terminate, the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of
ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer
Plan; (e) an event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the
termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer
Plan; or (f) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums
due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.
“Eurodollar Daily Floating Rate” means the fluctuating rate of interest equal to 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 selected by the
Administrative Agent from time to time) as determined for each banking day at approximately 11:00
a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the date in question, for Dollar deposits (for
delivery on the first day of such interest period) with a one month term. If such rate is not
available at such time for any reason, then the rate for that interest period will be determined by
such alternate method as reasonably selected by the Administrative Agent.
“Eurodollar Daily Floating Rate Committed Loan” means a Committed Loan that is a Eurodollar
Daily Floating Rate Loan.
“Eurodollar Daily Floating Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest based on the Eurodollar
Daily Floating Rate.
“Eurodollar Rate” means, for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the
rate per annum set forth on the Reuters Screen LIBOR01 page, at approximately 11:00 a.m., London
time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for Dollar deposits (for
delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period.
If such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the “Eurodollar Rate” for such
Interest Period shall be the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate
at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in same day
funds in the approximate amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loan being made, continued or converted by
Bank of America and with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered by Bank of
America’s London Branch to major banks in the London
interbank eurodollar market at their request at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two
Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 8
“Eurodollar Rate Loan” means a Committed Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the
Eurodollar Rate.
“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.
“Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the L/C Issuer
or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower
hereunder, (a) taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income (however denominated), and
franchise taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income taxes), by the jurisdiction (or any political
subdivision thereof) under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal
office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable Lending Office is located,
(b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States or any similar tax imposed by any other
jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located and (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than
an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 10.13), any withholding tax
that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a
party hereto (or designates a new Lending Office) or is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s
failure or inability (other than as a result of a Change in Law) to comply with Section
3.01(e), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled,
at the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts
from the Borrower with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 3.01(a).
“Existing Credit Agreement” means that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as
of October 30, 2007, among the Borrower, Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Business Financial Services Inc., as agent,
and a syndicate of lenders.
“Federal
Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted
average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve
System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of
New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not
a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the
next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such
rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day
shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%)
charged to Bank of America on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative
Agent.
“Fee Letter” means that certain fee letter dated of even date herewith between the
Administrative Agent and the Borrower, as amended from time to time.
“Foreign Lender” means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other
than that in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes. For purposes of this definition, the
United States, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a
single jurisdiction.
“FRB” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.
“Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) acceptable to the Borrower that is (or
will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and
similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities, that is adequately
capitalized to perform its funding obligations with respect to its Commitments hereunder.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
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“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the
opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of
Certified
Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards
Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting
profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of
determination, consistently applied.
“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of
any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority,
instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive,
legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to
government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central
Bank).
“Guarantee” means, as to any Person, any (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such
Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other
obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether
directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to
purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or
other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of
assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or
performance of such Indebtedness or other obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity
capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of
the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other
obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in
respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to
protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any
assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person, whether or
not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or
otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Lien). The amount of any
Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related
primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not
stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as
determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith. The term “Guarantee” as a verb has a
corresponding meaning.
“Guarantors” means (a) each Subsidiary other than Sports Supply Group Asia Limited and (b) any
other Person that becomes a guarantor of all or a portion of the Obligations.
“Guaranty” means the Guaranty Agreement of even date herewith made by the Guarantors in favor
of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time.
“Hazardous Materials” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all
hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum
distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas,
infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to
any Environmental Law.
“Increase Effective Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(d).
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 10
“Indebtedness” means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the
following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:
(a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such
Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments;
(b) all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit
(including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and
similar instruments;
(c) net obligations of such Person under any Swap Contract;
(d) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or
services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business;
(e) indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property
owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional
sales or other title retention agreements), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been
assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;
(f) capital leases and Synthetic Lease Obligations;
(g) all obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise
make any payment in respect of any Equity Interest in such Person or any other Person,
valued, in the case of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary or
involuntary liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends; and
(h) all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing.
For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any
partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited
liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, unless such
Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person. The amount of any net obligation under
any Swap Contract on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such
date. The amount of any capital lease or Synthetic Lease Obligation as of any date shall be deemed
to be the amount of Attributable Indebtedness in respect thereof as of such date.
“Indemnified Taxes” means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.
“Indemnitees” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(b).
“Information” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07.
“Interest Payment Date” means, (a) as to any Loan other than a Eurodollar Daily Floating Rate
Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan (other than with respect to an
Interest Period of one day) and the Maturity Date; provided, however, that if any
Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Loan is daily floating or exceeds three months, the
respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall
also be Interest Payment Dates; and (b) as to any Eurodollar Daily Floating Rate Loan (including a
Swing Line Loan), the last Business Day of each calendar month and the Maturity Date.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
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“Interest Period” means, as to each Eurodollar Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date
such Eurodollar Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Rate Loan and
ending on the date one day or one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower
in its Committed Loan Notice; provided that:
(i) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a
Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such
Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest
Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;
(ii) any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar
month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the
calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business
Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and
(iii) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date.
“
Inventory” means inventory (as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code — Secured Transactions
as adopted in
Texas), including raw materials, work-in-progress and finished goods.
“Investment” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such
Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of capital stock or other
securities of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or
assumption of debt of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or equity participation
or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other
Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the investor Guarantees Indebtedness of such other
Person, or (c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions)
of assets of another Person that constitute a business unit. For purposes of covenant compliance,
the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested, without adjustment for
subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment.
“IP Rights” has the meaning specified in Section 5.18.
“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
“ISP” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the “International Standby Practices 1998”
published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, Inc. (or such later version
thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).
“Issuer Documents” means with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit
Application, and any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by the L/C Issuer and
the Borrower (or any Subsidiary) or in favor of the L/C Issuer and relating to such Letter of
Credit.
“Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local statutes,
treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial
precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any
Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and
all applicable administrative orders, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and
agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of law.
“L/C Advance” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s funding of its participation
in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.
“L/C Borrowing” means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of
Credit which has not been reimbursed on the date when made or refinanced as a Committed Borrowing.
“L/C Credit Extension” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or
extension of the expiry date thereof, or the increase of the amount thereof.
“L/C Issuer” means Bank of America in its capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder,
or any successor issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
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“L/C Obligations’ means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate amount available to be
drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed
Amounts, including all L/C Borrowings. For purposes of computing the amount available to be drawn
under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance
with Section 1.06. For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a
Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of
the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in
the amount so remaining available to be drawn.
“Lender” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto and, as the context
requires, includes the Swing Line Lender.
“Lending Office” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as
such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may
from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
“Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued hereunder. A Letter of Credit may be a
commercial letter of credit or a standby letter of credit.
“Letter of Credit Application” means an application and agreement for the issuance or
amendment of a Letter of Credit in the form from time to time in use by the L/C Issuer.
“Letter of Credit Expiration Date” means the day that is seven days prior to the Maturity Date
then in effect (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).
“Letter of Credit Fee” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(i).
“Letter of Credit Sublimit” means an amount equal to $5,000,000. The Letter of Credit
Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments.
“Licensor Consents” means, (a) that certain Licensor Agreement dated as of February 9, 2009
among the Administrative Agent, the Borrower, MacMark Corporation and Equilink Licensing
Corporation, and (b) that certain Licensor Agreement dated as of February 9, 2009 among the
Administrative Agent, the Borrower and Xxxx Corporation, as each may be amended, restated
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, encumbrance, lien (statutory or
other), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement in
the nature of a security interest of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale
or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to
real property, and any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the
foregoing).
“Loan” means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under Article II in
the form of a Committed Loan or a Swing Line Loan.
“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, each Note, each Issuer Document, the Security
Agreements, the Guaranty, the Licensor Consents, any Swap Contract with any Lender and each other
document, instrument, certificate and agreement executed and delivered by the Borrower or any
Subsidiary to the Administrative Agent in connection with this Agreement or otherwise referred to
herein and contemplated hereby, all as may be amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise
modified from time to time.
“Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Borrower and each Guarantor.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 13
“Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect
upon, the operations, business, properties, liabilities (actual or contingent), or condition
(financial or otherwise) of the Borrower or the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (b)
a material impairment of the ability of any Loan Party to perform its obligations under any Loan
Document to which it is a party; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity,
binding effect or enforceability against any Loan Party of any Loan Document to which it is a
party.
“Maturity Date” means February 9, 2012; provided, however, that if such date
is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.
“Multiemployer Plan” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in
Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to
make contributions, or during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make
contributions.
“Note” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of a Lender evidencing Loans made
by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit C.
“Obligations” means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties
of, any Loan Party arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or Letter
of Credit, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and
including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party or any
Affiliate thereof of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor
in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such
proceeding.
“Organization Documents” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or
articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with
respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the
certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect
to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint
venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument,
filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with
the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if
applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.
“Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or
property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or under any
other Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect
to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
“Outstanding Amount” means (i) with respect to Committed Loans and Swing Line Loans on any
date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and
prepayments or repayments of Committed Loans and Swing Line Loans, as the case may be, occurring on
such date; and (ii) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the amount of such L/C
Obligations on such date after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and
any other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a
result of any reimbursements by the Borrower of Unreimbursed Amounts.
“Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 14
“Pension Plan” means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section
3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA and is
sponsored or maintained by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or to which the Borrower or any
ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple
employer or other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time
during the immediately preceding five plan years.
“Permitted Acquisition” means, any Acquisition by the Borrower or any Guarantor in a
transaction that satisfies each of the following requirements:
(a) if such Acquisition is an Acquisition of Equity Interests of a Person, such
newly-created or acquired Subsidiary shall comply with the requirements of Section
6.12;
(b) such Acquisition shall not include or result in any contingent liabilities that
could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(c) the target of such Acquisition shall not have had an operating loss for the period
of 12 consecutive months ending on the date of the acquisition (the calculation of such
operation gain or loss in each case shall include such adjustments as may be reasonable to
reflect items not reflective of the target or assets to be acquired, and non-recurring
items, which calculations shall be in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the
Administrative Agent);
(d) immediately after giving effect to such Acquisition, the Consolidated Leverage
Ratio would not exceed 2.50 to 1.0;
(e) (A) immediately before and immediately after giving pro forma effect to any such
Acquisition, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (B) immediately
after giving effect to such Acquisition, the Companies shall be in pro forma compliance with
all of the Financial Covenants, such compliance to be determined on the basis of the
financial information most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
pursuant to Section 6.01 as though such Acquisition had been consummated as of the
first day of the fiscal period covered thereby;
(f) the Senior Convertible Subordinated Notes shall have been repaid in full prior to
such Acquisition; and
(g) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent and each Lender such
other information concerning the Acquisition as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably
request.
“Permitted Discretion” means a determination made in good faith and in the exercise of
reasonable (from the perspective of a secured asset-based lender) business judgment.
“Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint
venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
“Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA)
established by the Borrower or, with respect to any such plan that is subject to Section 412 of the
Code or Title IV of ERISA, any ERISA Affiliate.
“Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.
“Public Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 15
“Quick Assets” means, as of any date of determination with respect to the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, cash, cash equivalents, short-term cash investments, net
trade receivables and marketable securities not classified as long-term investments.
“Quick Ratio” means, as of any date of determination with respect to the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the ratio of Quick Assets to Current Liabilities.
“Quick Ratio Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H
hereto.
“Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(c).
“Related Parties” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the
partners, directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and of such Person’s
Affiliates.
“Reportable Event” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than
events for which the 30 day notice period has been waived.
“Request for Credit Extension” means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or
continuation of Committed Loans, a Committed Loan Notice, (b) with respect to an L/C Credit
Extension, a Letter of Credit Application, and (c) with respect to a Swing Line Loan, a Swing Line
Loan Notice.
“Required Lenders” means, (a) as of any date of determination when there are not more than two
Lenders, Lenders having 100% of the Aggregate Commitments or, if the commitment of each Lender to
make Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated
pursuant to Section 8.02, Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 100% of the Total
Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded
participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Lender for
purposes of this definition), and (b) as of any date of determination when there are more than two
Lenders, Lenders having at least 66-2/3% of the Aggregate Commitments or, if the commitment of each
Lender to make Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been
terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, Lenders holding in the aggregate at least 66-2/3% of
the Total Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded
participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Lender for
purposes of this definition); provided that, in either case the Commitment of, and the
portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded
for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.
“Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer,
treasurer, assistant treasurer or controller of a Loan Party and, solely for purposes of notices
given pursuant to Article II, any other officer or employee of the applicable Loan Party so
designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent. Any document
delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively
presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the
part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted
on behalf of such Loan Party.
“Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or
other property) with respect to any capital stock or other Equity Interest of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking
fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition,
cancellation or termination of any such capital stock or other Equity Interest, or on account of
any return of capital to the Borrower’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Person
thereof).
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 16
“Revolver Availability” means, for any date of determination, (a) during any period other than
a Borrowing Base Effectiveness Period, the amount by which the Aggregate Commitments exceeds (i)
the
Outstanding Amount of Committed Loans plus (ii) the Outstanding Amount of L/C
Obligations, and (b) during any Borrowing Base Effectiveness Period, the amount by which the lesser
of (i) the Aggregate Commitments and (ii) the Borrowing Base, exceeds (A) the Outstanding Amount of
Committed Loans plus (B) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding
to any of its principal functions.
“Security Agreements” means the collective reference to each Security Agreement executed by
each Loan Party in favor of the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, dated
as of even date herewith, as they may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time.
“Senior Convertible Subordinated Notes” means those certain 5.75% Convertible Senior
Subordinated Notes due 2009 payable by the Borrower to the holders thereof.
“Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability
company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of securities or other interests
having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than
securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at
the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise
specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary
or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.
“Swap Contract” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative
transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity
contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or
options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate
options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar
transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options,
spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing
(including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is
governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and
the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any
form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc.,
any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master
agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such
obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.
“Swap Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking
into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap
Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and
termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any
date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the xxxx-to-market
value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily
available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts (which may include a
Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).
“Swing Line Borrowing” means a borrowing of a Swing Line Loan pursuant to
Section 2.04.
“Swing Line Lender” means Bank of America in its capacity as provider of Swing Line Loans, or
any successor swing line lender hereunder.
“Swing Line Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a).
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 17
“Swing Line Loan Notice” means a notice of a Swing Line Borrowing pursuant to Section
2.04(b), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B.
“Swing Line Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $3,000,000 and (b) the
Aggregate Commitments. The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate
Commitments.
“Synthetic Lease Obligation” means the monetary obligation of a Person under (a) a so-called
synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease, or (b) an agreement for the use or possession
of property creating obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet of such Person but which,
upon the insolvency or bankruptcy of such Person, would be characterized as the indebtedness of
such Person (without regard to accounting treatment).
“Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings,
assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest,
additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
“Threshold Amount” means $1,000,000.
“Total Outstandings” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans and all L/C
Obligations.
“Type” means, with respect to a Committed Loan, its character as a Eurodollar Daily Floating
Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Rate Loan.
“Unfunded Pension Liability” means the excess of a Pension Plan’s benefit liabilities under
Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA, over the current value of that Pension Plan’s assets, determined in
accordance with the assumptions used for funding the Pension Plan pursuant to Section 412 of the
Code for the applicable plan year.
“United States” and “U.S.” mean the United States of America.
“Unreimbursed Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(c)(i).
1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and each other
Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:
(a) The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural
forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the
corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,”
“includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase
“without limitation.” The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning
and effect as the word “shall.” Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any
definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document (including any
Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or
other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to
any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any
other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include
such Person’s successors and assigns, (iii) the words “herein,” “hereof” and
“hereunder,” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall be
construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision
thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and
Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and
Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any
law shall
include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or
interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise
specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to
time, and (vi) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have
the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and
properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 18
(b) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified
date, the word “from” means “from and including;” the words “to” and
“until” each mean “to but excluding;” and the word “through” means
“to and including.”
(c) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for
convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or
any other Loan Document.
1.03 Accounting Terms.
(a) Generally. All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined
herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial
ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement
shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from
time to time, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Audited
Financial Statements, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein.
(b) Changes in GAAP. If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the
computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either
the Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders
and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to
preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the
approval of the Required Lenders); provided that, until so amended, (i) such
ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such
change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as
reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such
ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.
1.04 Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower
pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other
component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is
expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if
there is no nearest number).
1.05 Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day
shall be references to Central time (daylight or standard, as applicable).
1.06 Letter of Credit Amounts. Unless otherwise specified 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 after giving effect to all increases or reductions thereof contemplated by such
Letter of Credit or Issuer Documents related thereto; provided, however, that with
respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Issuer Document related
thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of
such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit
after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect
at such time.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 19
ARTICLE II
THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS
2.01 Committed Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each
Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a “Committed Loan”) to the Borrower from
time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period, in an aggregate amount not to
exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Commitment; provided,
however, that after giving effect to any Committed Borrowing, (i) the Total Outstandings
shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the
Committed Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding
Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding
Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment. Further, during any
Borrowing Base Effectiveness Period, the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Borrowing Base.
Within the limits of each Lender’s Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions
hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01, prepay under Section 2.05,
and reborrow under this Section 2.01. Committed Loans may be Eurodollar Daily Floating
Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein.
2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans.
(a) Each Committed Borrowing, each conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the
other, and each continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s
irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such
notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) three
Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation
of Eurodollar Rate Loans or of any conversion of Eurodollar Rate Loans to Eurodollar Daily
Floating Rate Committed Loans, and (ii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Eurodollar
Daily Floating Rate Committed Loans. Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to
this Section 2.02(a) must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative
Agent of a written Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a
Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of
Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of
$500,000 in excess thereof. Except as provided in Sections 2.03(c) and
2.04(c), each Borrowing of or conversion to Eurodollar Daily Floating Rate Committed
Loans shall be in a principal amount of $100,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess
thereof. Each Committed Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i)
whether the Borrower is requesting a Committed Borrowing, a conversion of Committed Loans
from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, (ii) the requested
date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a
Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Committed Loans to be borrowed, converted or
continued, (iv) the Type of Committed Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Committed
Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with
respect thereto. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Committed Loan in a Committed
Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or
continuation, then the applicable Committed Loans shall be made as, or converted to,
Eurodollar Daily Floating Rate Loans. Any such automatic conversion to Eurodollar Daily
Floating Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in
effect with respect to the applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans. If the Borrower requests a
Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans in any such Committed
Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an
Interest Period of one month.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 20
(b) Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall
promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable
Committed Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the
Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any
automatic conversion to Eurodollar Daily Floating Rate Loans described in the preceding
subsection. In the case of a Committed Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its
Committed Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the
Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the
applicable Committed Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth
in Section 4.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section
4.01), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the
Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the
account of the Borrower on the books of Bank of America with the amount of such funds or
(ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to
(and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Borrower; provided,
however, that if, on the date the Committed Loan Notice with respect to such
Borrowing is given by the Borrower, there are L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds
of such Borrowing, first, shall be applied to the payment in full of any such L/C
Borrowings, and second, shall be made available to the Borrower as provided above.
(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurodollar Rate Loan may be continued or
converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Loan. During
the existence of a Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as
Eurodollar Rate Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders.
(d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the
interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurodollar Rate Loans upon determination
of such interest rate.
(e) After giving effect to all Committed Borrowings, all conversions of Committed Loans
from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Committed Loans as the same Type, there
shall not be more than five (5) Interest Periods in effect with respect to Committed Loans.
2.03 Letters of Credit.
(a) The Letter of Credit Commitment.
(i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (A) the L/C Issuer
agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the Lenders set forth in this Section
2.03, (1) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the
Closing Date until the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, to issue Letters of Credit
for the account of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, and to amend Letters of Credit
previously issued by it, in accordance with subsection (b) below, and (2) to honor
drawings under the Letters of Credit; and (B) the Lenders severally agree to
participate in Letters of Credit issued for the account of the Borrower or its
Subsidiaries and any drawings thereunder; provided that after giving effect
to any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit, (x) the Total
Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, (y) the aggregate
Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s
Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus
such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line
Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment, and (z) the Outstanding Amount of
the L/C Obligations shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit. Each request by
the Borrower for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to
be a
representation by the Borrower that the L/C Credit Extension so requested
complies with the conditions set forth in the proviso to the preceding sentence.
Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the
Borrower’s ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and
accordingly the Borrower may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit
to replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and
reimbursed.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 21
(ii) The L/C Issuer shall not issue any Letter of Credit, if:
(A) the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur more
than three hundred sixty five (365) days after the date of issuance, unless
the Required Lenders have approved such expiry date; or
(B) the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur
after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless the Required Lenders have
approved such expiry date.
(iii) The L/C Issuer shall not be under any obligation to issue any Letter of
Credit if:
(A) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or
arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain the L/C Issuer
from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Law applicable to the L/C Issuer
or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from
any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the L/C Issuer shall
prohibit, or request that the L/C Issuer refrain from, the issuance of
letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall
impose upon the L/C Issuer with respect to such Letter of Credit any
restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which the L/C Issuer is not
otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall
impose upon the L/C Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was
not applicable on the Closing Date and which the L/C Issuer in good xxxxx
xxxxx material to it;
(B) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more
policies of the L/C Issuer applicable to letters of credit generally;
(C) except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the L/C
Issuer, such Letter of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than
$50,000, in the case of a commercial Letter of Credit, or $200,000, in the
case of a standby Letter of Credit;
(D) such Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than
Dollars;
(E) such Letter of Credit contains any provisions for automatic
reinstatement of the stated amount after any drawing thereunder; or
(F) a default of any Lender’s obligations to fund under Section
2.03(c) exists or any Lender is at such time a Defaulting Lender
hereunder, unless the L/C Issuer has entered into satisfactory arrangements
with the Borrower or such Lender to eliminate the L/C Issuer’s risk with
respect to such Lender; provided that, at any time that
there shall be a Defaulting Lender, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders hereby
agree that it shall be a satisfactory arrangement for
the Borrower to provide the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer with
Cash Collateral in an amount equal to the Defaulting Lender’s Applicable
Percentage of the L/C Obligations outstanding at such time, which Cash
Collateral shall promptly be returned to the Borrower in the event there is
no longer a Defaulting Lender.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 22
(iv) The L/C Issuer shall not amend any Letter of Credit if the L/C Issuer
would not be permitted at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended
form under the terms hereof.
(v) The L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit
if (A) the L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of
Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof, or (B) the beneficiary of such
Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit.
(vi) The L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any
Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and the L/C
Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (A) provided to the
Administrative Agent in Article IX with respect to any acts taken or
omissions suffered by the L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by
it or proposed to be issued by it and Issuer Documents pertaining to such Letters of
Credit as fully as if the term “Administrative Agent” as used in Article IX
included the L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (B) as
additionally provided herein with respect to the L/C Issuer.
(b) Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit.
(i) Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon
the request of the Borrower delivered to the L/C Issuer (with a copy to the
Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately
completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Such Letter of
Credit Application must be received by the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent
not later than 11:00 a.m. at least two Business Days (or such later date and time as
the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in
their sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as
the case may be. In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of
Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail
satisfactory to the L/C Issuer: (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested
Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount thereof; (C) the
expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (E) the
documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (F)
the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any
drawing thereunder; (G) the purpose and nature of the requested Letter of Credit;
and (H) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may require. In the case of a request
for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit
Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the L/C Issuer (A) the
Letter of Credit to be amended; (B) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which
shall be a Business Day); (C) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (D) such
other matters as the L/C Issuer may require. Additionally, the Borrower shall
furnish to the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent such other documents and
information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment,
including any Issuer Documents, as the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent may
reasonably require.
(ii) Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer
will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the
Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from
the
Borrower and, if not, the L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with
a copy thereof. Unless the L/C Issuer has received written notice from any Lender,
the Administrative Agent or any Loan Party, at least one Business Day prior to the
requested date of issuance or amendment of the applicable Letter of Credit, that one
or more applicable conditions contained in Article IV shall not then be
satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the L/C Issuer shall,
on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower (or
the applicable Subsidiary) or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may
be, in each case in accordance with the L/C Issuer’s usual and customary business
practices. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Lender
shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase
from the L/C Issuer a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal
to the product of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage times the amount of
such Letter of Credit.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 23
(iii) Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a
Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary
thereof, the L/C Issuer will also deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.
(c) Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations.
(i) Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of
a drawing under such Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall notify the Borrower and
the Administrative Agent thereof. Not later than 11:00 a.m. on the date of any
payment by the L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit (each such date, an “Honor
Date”), the Borrower shall reimburse the L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent
in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing. If the Borrower fails to so
reimburse the L/C Issuer by such time, the Administrative Agent shall promptly
notify each Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (the
“Unreimbursed Amount”), and the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage
thereof. In such event, the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Committed
Borrowing of Eurodollar Daily Floating Rate Loans to be disbursed on the Honor Date
in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and
multiples specified in Section 2.02 for the principal amount of Eurodollar
Daily Floating Rate Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of
the Aggregate Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02
(other than the delivery of a Committed Loan Notice). Any notice given by the L/C
Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.03(c)(i) may
be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the
lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or
binding effect of such notice.
(ii) Each Lender shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i)
make funds available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer
at the Administrative Agent’s Office in an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage
of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in
such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of
Section 2.03(c)(iii), each Lender that so makes funds available shall be
deemed to have made a Eurodollar Daily Floating Rate Committed Loan to the Borrower
in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the
L/C Issuer.
(iii) With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a
Committed Borrowing of Eurodollar Daily Floating Rate Loans because the conditions
set forth in Section 4.02 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, the
Borrower shall be
deemed to have incurred from the L/C Issuer an L/C Borrowing in the amount of
the Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due
and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the
Default Rate. In such event, each Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for
the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(ii) shall be
deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall
constitute an L/C Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation
obligation under this Section 2.03.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 24
(iv) Until each Lender funds its Committed Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this
Section 2.03(c) to reimburse the L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any
Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such
amount shall be solely for the account of the L/C Issuer.
(v) Each Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans or L/C Advances to
reimburse the L/C Issuer for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated
by this Section 2.03(c), shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not
be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment,
defense or other right which such Lender may have against the L/C Issuer, the
Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or
continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether
or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided, however, that each
Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans pursuant to this Section 2.03(c)
is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than delivery
by the Borrower of a Committed Loan Notice). No such making of an L/C Advance shall
relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the L/C
Issuer for the amount of any payment made by the L/C Issuer under any Letter of
Credit, together with interest as provided herein.
(vi) If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the
account of the L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to
the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03(c) by the time specified in
Section 2.03(c)(ii), the L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such
Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with
interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date
on which such payment is immediately available to the L/C Issuer at a rate per annum
equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the L/C
Issuer in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any
administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the L/C Issuer in
connection with the foregoing. If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and
fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan
included in the relevant Committed Borrowing or L/C Advance in respect of the
relevant L/C Borrowing, as the case may be. A certificate of the L/C Issuer
submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any
amounts owing under this clause (vi) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(d) Repayment of Participations.
(i) At any time after the L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of
Credit and has received from any Lender such Lender’s L/C Advance in respect of such
payment in accordance with Section 2.03(c), if the Administrative Agent
receives for the account of the L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the related
Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly from the Borrower or
otherwise, including proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the
Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to such Lender its
Applicable Percentage thereof in the same funds as those received by the
Administrative Agent.
(ii) If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of the
L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) is required to be returned under
any of the circumstances described in Section 10.05 (including pursuant to
any settlement entered into by the L/C Issuer in its discretion), each Lender shall
pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer its Applicable
Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from
the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a
rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. The
obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of
the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 25
(e) Obligations Absolute. The obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the L/C
Issuer for each drawing under each Letter of Credit and to repay each L/C Borrowing shall be
absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement under all circumstances, including the following:
(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this
Agreement, or any other Loan Document;
(ii) the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right
that the Borrower or any Subsidiary may have at any time against any beneficiary or
any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary
or any such transferee may be acting), the L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether
in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such
Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated
transaction;
(iii) any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented under such
Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any
respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any
loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to
make a drawing under such Letter of Credit;
(iv) any payment by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against
presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms
of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of
Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession,
assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative
of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit,
including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law;
or
(v) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to
any of the foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise
constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Borrower or any
Subsidiary.
The Borrower shall promptly examine a copy of each Letter of Credit and each amendment
thereto that is delivered to it and, in the event of any claim of noncompliance with the
Borrower’s instructions or other irregularity, the Borrower will immediately notify the L/C
Issuer. The Borrower shall be conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against the
L/C Issuer and its correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid.
(f) Role of L/C Issuer. Each Lender and the Borrower agree that, in paying any
drawing under a Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall not have any responsibility to obtain
any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by
the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such
document or the
authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document. None of the L/C
Issuer, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any
correspondent, participant or assignee of the L/C Issuer shall be liable to any Lender for
(i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval
of the Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable; (ii) any action taken or omitted in
the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct; or (iii) the due execution,
effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any
Letter of Credit or Issuer Document. The Borrower hereby assumes all risks of the acts or
omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of Credit;
provided, however, that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not,
preclude the Borrower’s pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the
beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement. None of the L/C Issuer, the
Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent,
participant or assignee of the L/C Issuer shall be liable or responsible for any of the
matters described in clauses (i) through (v) of Section 2.03(e); provided,
however, that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower
may have a claim against the L/C Issuer, and the L/C Issuer may be liable to the Borrower,
to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or
exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrower which the Borrower proves were caused by the L/C
Issuer’s willful misconduct or gross negligence or the L/C Issuer’s willful failure to pay
under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft
and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit.
In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the L/C Issuer may accept documents
that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation,
regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and the L/C Issuer shall not be
responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or
purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or
proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any
reason.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 26
(g) Cash Collateral. Upon the request of the Administrative Agent, (i) if the
L/C Issuer has honored any full or partial drawing request under any Letter of Credit and
such drawing has resulted in an L/C Borrowing, or (ii) if, as of the Letter of Credit
Expiration Date, any L/C Obligation for any reason remains outstanding, the Borrower shall,
in each case, immediately Cash Collateralize the then Outstanding Amount of all L/C
Obligations. Sections 2.05 and 8.02(c) set forth certain additional
requirements to deliver Cash Collateral hereunder. For purposes of this Section
2.03, Section 2.05 and Section 8.02(c), “Cash Collateralize” means to
pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the L/C
Issuer and the Lenders, as collateral for the L/C Obligations, cash or deposit account
balances pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative
Agent and the L/C Issuer (which documents are hereby consented to by the Lenders).
Derivatives of such term have corresponding meanings. The Borrower hereby grants to the
Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the L/C Issuer and the Lenders, a security interest
in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein and all proceeds of the
foregoing (collectively, “Cash Collateral”). Cash Collateral shall be maintained in
blocked, interest bearing deposit accounts at Bank of America (provided that: (A) except as
otherwise provided herein, any interest accrued on any such deposit account shall be payable
to the applicable Borrower only upon the full and final payment of the Obligations; and
(B) upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, any such interest accrued to the date
thereof shall be applied to reduce the Principal Obligation). Upon the repayment of all L/C
Borrowings, and if Cash Collateral is not otherwise required to be delivered pursuant to
this Credit Agreement, then the Administrative Agent shall promptly return to the Borrower
all cash then held as Cash Collateral hereunder. Upon the indefeasible payment in full in
cash of the Obligations, the Administrative Agent shall immediately release the security
interest in the cash, deposit accounts and balances therein and proceeds thereof maintained
as Cash Collateral.
(h) Applicability of ISP and UCP. Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the L/C
Issuer and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued, (i) the rules of the ISP shall
apply to each standby Letter of Credit, and (ii) the rules of the Uniform Customs and
Practice for Documentary Credits, as most recently published by the International Chamber of
Commerce at the time of issuance shall apply to each commercial Letter of Credit.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 27
(i) Letter of Credit Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent
for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage a Letter of
Credit fee (the “Letter of Credit Fee”) for each Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable
Rate times the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. For
purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the
amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06.
Letter of Credit Fees shall be (i) due and payable on the first Business Day after the end
of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur
after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and
thereafter on demand and (ii) computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. If there is any
change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily amount available to be drawn
under each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate
separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, upon the request of the Required
Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, all Letter of Credit Fees shall accrue at the
Default Rate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall not be obligated to pay the
Administrative Agent any Defaulting Lender’s ratable share of the fees described in this
Section 2.03(i) for the period commencing on the day such Defaulting Lender becomes
a Defaulting Lender and continuing for so long as such Lender continues to be a Defaulting
Lender. Lenders acknowledge and agree that no Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to any
fees relating to any issuance of any Letter of Credit for so long as it is a Defaulting
Lender hereunder.
(j) Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuer.
The Borrower shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account a fronting fee with
respect to each Letter of Credit, at the rate per annum specified in the Fee Letter,
computed on the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit on a
quarterly basis in arrears. Such fronting fee shall be due and payable on the tenth
Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December in respect of the
most recently-ended quarterly period (or portion thereof, in the case of the first payment),
commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on
the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. For purposes of computing
the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter
of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06. In addition, the
Borrower shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account the customary issuance,
presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of
the L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect. Such customary
fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable on demand and are nonrefundable.
(k) Conflict with Issuer Documents. In the event of any conflict between the
terms hereof and the terms of any Issuer Document, the terms hereof shall control.
(l) Letters of Credit Issued for Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding that a Letter
of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of, or is for the
account of, a Subsidiary, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the L/C Issuer
hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit. The Borrower hereby
acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of Subsidiaries inures
to the benefit of the Borrower, and that the Borrower’s business derives substantial
benefits from the businesses of such Subsidiaries.
2.04 Swing Line Loans.
(a) The Swing Line. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the
Swing Line Lender agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in
this Section 2.04, to make loans (each such loan, a “Swing Line Loan”) to the
Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the period beginning on the earlier of
(i) Increase Effective Date and (ii) the date Bank of America is no longer the sole Lender
hereunder, and ending on the last day of the Availability Period in an aggregate amount not
to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Swing Line Sublimit, notwithstanding the
fact that such Swing Line Loans, when aggregated with the Applicable Percentage of the
Outstanding Amount of Committed Loans and L/C Obligations of the Lender acting as Swing Line
Lender, may exceed the amount of such Lender’s Commitment; provided,
however, that after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan, (A) the Total Outstandings
shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (B) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the
Committed Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the
Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage
of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment,
and provided, further, that the Borrower shall not use the proceeds of any
Swing Line Loan to refinance any outstanding Swing Line Loan. In addition, during any
Borrowing Base Effectiveness Period, after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan, the Total
Outstandings may not exceed the Borrowing Base. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to
the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section
2.04, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.04.
Each Swing Line Loan shall be a Eurodollar Daily Floating Rate Loan. Immediately upon the
making of a Swing Line Loan, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Swing Line Lender a risk participation in such
Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage
times the amount of such Swing Line Loan.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 28
(b) Borrowing Procedures. Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be made upon the
Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent, which
may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and
the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the requested borrowing date, and shall
specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be a minimum of $100,000, and (ii) the
requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day. Each such telephonic notice must
be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent of a
written Swing Line Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer
of the Borrower. Promptly after receipt by the Swing Line Lender of any telephonic Swing
Line Loan Notice, the Swing Line Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by
telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has also received such Swing Line
Loan Notice and, if not, the Swing Line Lender will notify the Administrative Agent (by
telephone or in writing) of the contents thereof. Unless the Swing Line Lender has received
notice (by telephone or in writing) from the Administrative Agent (including at the request
of any Lender) prior to 2:00 p.m. on the date of the proposed Swing Line Borrowing (A)
directing the Swing Line Lender not to make such Swing Line Loan as a result of the
limitations set forth in the first proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.04(a),
or (B) that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Article IV is not
then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swing Line Lender
will, not later than 3:00 p.m. on the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan
Notice, make the amount of its Swing Line Loan available to the Borrower at its office by
crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of the Swing Line Lender in immediately
available funds.
(c) Refinancing of Swing Line Loans.
(i) The Swing Line Lender at any time in its sole and absolute discretion may
request, on behalf of the Borrower (which hereby irrevocably authorizes the Swing
Line Lender to so request on its behalf), that each Lender make a Eurodollar
Daily Floating Rate Committed Loan in an amount equal to such Lender’s Applicable
Percentage of the amount of Swing Line Loans then outstanding. Such request shall
be made in writing (which written request shall be deemed to be a Committed Loan
Notice for purposes hereof) and in accordance with the requirements of Section
2.02, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the
principal amount of Eurodollar Daily Floating Rate Loans, but subject to the
unutilized portion of the Aggregate Commitments and the conditions set forth in
Section 4.02. The Swing Line Lender shall furnish the Borrower with a copy
of the applicable Committed Loan Notice promptly after delivering such notice to the
Administrative Agent. Each Lender shall make an amount equal to its Applicable
Percentage of the amount specified in such Committed Loan Notice available to the
Administrative Agent in immediately available funds for the account of the Swing
Line Lender at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the day
specified in such Committed Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section
2.04(c)(ii), each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have
made a Eurodollar Daily Floating Rate Committed Loan to the Borrower in such amount.
The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Swing Line
Lender.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 29
(ii) If for any reason any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a
Committed Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04(c)(i), the request for
Eurodollar Daily Floating Rate Committed Loans submitted by the Swing Line Lender as
set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request by the Swing Line Lender that each
of the Lenders fund its risk participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan and each
Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line
Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i) shall be deemed payment in respect of
such participation.
(iii) If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the
account of the Swing Line Lender any amount required to be paid by such Lender
pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.04(c) by the time
specified in Section 2.04(c)(i), the Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to
recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such
amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required
to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Swing Line Lender
at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate
determined by the Swing Line Lender in accordance with banking industry rules on
interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees
customarily charged by the Swing Line Lender in connection with the foregoing. If
such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so
paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in the relevant
Committed Borrowing or funded participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan, as the
case may be. A certificate of the Swing Line Lender submitted to any Lender
(through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this
clause (iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(iv) Each Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans or to purchase and fund
risk participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c)
shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance,
including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which
such Lender may have against the Swing Line Lender, the Borrower or any other Person
for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C)
any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the
foregoing; provided, however, that each Lender’s obligation to make
Committed Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) is subject to the
conditions set forth in Section 4.02. No such funding of risk
participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower
to repay Swing Line Loans, together with interest as provided herein.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 30
(d) Repayment of Participations.
(i) At any time after any Lender has purchased and funded a risk participation
in a Swing Line Loan, if the Swing Line Lender receives any payment on account of
such Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Lender will distribute to such Lender its
Applicable Percentage thereof in the same funds as those received by the Swing Line
Lender.
(ii) If any payment received by the Swing Line Lender in respect of principal
or interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by the Swing Line
Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.05 (including
pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Swing Line Lender in its discretion),
each Lender shall pay to the Swing Line Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof on
demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such
demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal
Funds Rate. The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the
Swing Line Lender. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive
the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
(e) Interest for Account of Swing Line Lender. The Swing Line Lender shall be
responsible for invoicing the Borrower for interest on the Swing Line Loans. Until each
Lender funds its Eurodollar Daily Floating Rate Committed Loan or risk participation
pursuant to this Section 2.04 to refinance such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of
any Swing Line Loan, interest in respect of such Applicable Percentage shall be solely for
the account of the Swing Line Lender.
(f) Payments Directly to Swing Line Lender. The Borrower shall make all
payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swing Line Loans directly to the Swing
Line Lender.
2.05 Prepayments.
(a) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time
to time voluntarily prepay Committed Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty;
provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later
than 11:00 a.m. (A) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate
Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Eurodollar Daily Floating Rate Committed Loans;
(ii) any prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or
a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of Eurodollar Daily
Floating Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $100,000 or a whole multiple
of $100,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof
then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and
the Type(s) of Committed Loans to be prepaid and, if Eurodollar Rate Loans are to be
prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans. The Administrative Agent will promptly
notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s
Applicable Percentage of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the
Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be
due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan
shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any
additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Each such prepayment shall be
applied to the Committed Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable
Percentages.
(b) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Swing Line Lender (with a copy to the
Administrative Agent), at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay Swing Line Loans
in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must
be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m.
on the date of the prepayment, and (ii) any such prepayment shall be in a minimum principal
amount of $100,000. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment.
If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the
payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified
therein.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 31
(c) If for any reason the Total Outstandings at any time exceed the Aggregate
Commitments then in effect, or during any Borrowing Base Effectiveness Period the Total
Outstandings exceed the Borrowing Base, the Borrower shall immediately prepay Loans and/or
Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount equal to such excess;
provided, however, that the Borrower shall not be required to Cash
Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section 2.05(c) unless after the
prepayment in full of the Loans the Total Outstandings exceed the Aggregate Commitments then
in effect.
2.06 Termination or Reduction of Commitments. The Borrower may, upon notice to the
Administrative Agent, terminate the Aggregate Commitments, or from time to time permanently reduce
the Aggregate Commitments; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the
Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. two (2) Business Days prior to the date of
termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of
$2,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (iii) the Borrower shall not
terminate or reduce the Aggregate Commitments if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent
prepayments hereunder, the Total Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (iv) if,
after giving effect to any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or
the Swing Line Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Aggregate Commitments, such Sublimit shall be
automatically reduced by the amount of such excess. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify
the Lenders of any such notice of termination or reduction of the Aggregate Commitments. Any
reduction of the Aggregate Commitments shall be applied to the Commitment of each Lender according
to its Applicable Percentage. All fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the
Aggregate Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.
2.07 Repayment of Loans.
(a) The Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate
principal amount of Committed Loans outstanding on such date.
(b) The Borrower shall repay each Swing Line Loan on the earlier to occur of (i) the
date ten Business Days after such Loan is made and (ii) the Maturity Date.
2.08 Interest.
(a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) below, (i) each Eurodollar Rate Loan
shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at
a rate per annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus the
Applicable Rate; (ii) each Eurodollar Daily Floating Rate Committed Loan shall bear interest
on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per
annum equal to the Eurodollar Daily Floating Rate plus the Applicable Rate; and
(iii) each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof
from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Eurodollar Daily
Floating Rate plus the Applicable Rate.
(b) (i) If any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when due (after giving
effect to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or
otherwise, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per
annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable
Laws.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 32
(ii) If any amount (other than principal of any Loan) payable by the Borrower
under any Loan Document is not paid when due (after giving effect to any applicable
grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, then upon
the request of the Required Lenders, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a
fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
(iii) Upon the request of the Required Lenders (and effective as of the date of
such request), while any Event of Default exists, the Borrower shall pay interest on
the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations hereunder at a fluctuating
interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable Laws.
(iv) Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on
past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.
(c) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment
Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest
hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after
judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief
Law.
2.09 Fees. In addition to certain fees described in subsections (i) and (j) of
Section 2.03:
(a) Commitment Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the
account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a commitment fee equal
to the Applicable Rate times the actual daily amount by which the Aggregate
Commitments exceed the sum of (i) the Outstanding Amount of Committed Loans and (ii) the
Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations. The commitment fee shall accrue at all times during
the Availability Period, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in
Article IV is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last
Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such
date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the last day of the Availability Period. The
commitment fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the
Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied
by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable
Rate was in effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall not be obligated to
pay the Administrative Agent any Defaulting Lender’s ratable share of the fees described in
this Section 2.09(a) for the period commencing on the day such Defaulting Lender
becomes a Defaulting Lender and continuing for so long as such Lender continues to be a
Defaulting Lender. Lenders acknowledge and agree that no Defaulting Lender shall be
entitled to any commitment fee for so long as it is a Defaulting Lender hereunder.
(b) Upfront Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the
account of all Lenders party hereto as of the Closing Date in accordance with its Applicable
Percentage, an upfront fee in an aggregate amount equal to $50,000. Such fee shall be
deemed fully earned when received and is non-refundable.
(c) Other Fees. (i) The Borrower shall pay to the Arranger and the
Administrative Agent for their own respective accounts fees in the amounts and at the times
specified in any fee letters to be entered into from time to time. Such fees shall be fully
earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.
(ii) The Borrower shall pay to the Lenders such fees, if any, as shall have been
separately agreed upon by the Borrower in writing in the amounts and at the times so
specified. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable
for any reason whatsoever.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 33
2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate.
(a) All computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year
and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid
than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year). Interest shall accrue on each Loan for
the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof,
for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid, provided that any Loan that
is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a),
bear interest for one day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest
rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest
error.
(b) If, as a result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial
statements of the Borrower or for any other reason, the Borrower or the Lenders determine
that (i) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as calculated by the Borrower as of any applicable
date was inaccurate and (ii) a proper calculation of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio would
have resulted in higher pricing for such period, the Borrower shall immediately and
retroactively be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the
applicable Lenders, promptly on demand by the Administrative Agent (or, after the occurrence
of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the
Bankruptcy Code of the United States, automatically and without further action by the
Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer), an amount equal to the excess of the
amount of interest and fees that should have been paid for such period over the amount of
interest and fees actually paid for such period. This paragraph shall not limit the rights
of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, under Section
2.03(c)(iii), 2.03(i) or 2.08(b) or under Article VIII. The
Borrower’s obligations under this paragraph shall survive the termination of the Aggregate
Commitments and the repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.
2.11 Evidence of Debt.
(a) The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more
accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the
ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent
and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit
Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrower and the interest and payments thereon. Any
failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect
the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the
Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by
any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such
matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence
of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent,
the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a
Note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition
to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse
thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with
respect thereto.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 34
(b) In addition to the accounts and records referred to in subsection (a), each Lender
and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts
or records evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Letters of
Credit and Swing Line Loans. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records
maintained by the Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect
of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the
absence of manifest error.
2.12 Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback.
(a) General. All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without
condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as
otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made to
the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is
owed, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds not
later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly
distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share as provided
herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending
Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 2:00 p.m. shall be deemed
received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall
continue to accrue. If any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other
than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such
extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.
(b) (i) Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent. Unless the
Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of
any Committed Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans (or, in the case of any Committed Borrowing
of Eurodollar Daily Floating Rate Loans, prior to 12:00 noon on the date of such Committed
Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such
Lender’s share of such Committed Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such
Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02
(or, in the case of a Committed Borrowing of Eurodollar Daily Floating Rate Loans, that such
Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by
Section 2.02) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the
Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share
of the applicable Committed Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the
applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent
forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in immediately available funds with interest
thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the
Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the
case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a
rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on
interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily
charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of
a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Eurodollar Daily
Floating Rate Loans. If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the
Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall
promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such
period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing to the
Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan
included in such Committed Borrowing. Any payment
by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a
Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 35
(ii) Payments by the Borrower; Presumptions by Administrative Agent.
Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior
to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account
of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer hereunder that the Borrower will not make such
payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment
on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption,
distribute to the Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount due. In
such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the
Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the
Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or
the L/C Issuer, in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day
from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the
date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds
Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking
industry rules on interbank compensation.
A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any
amount owing under this subsection (b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
(c) Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent. If any Lender makes available to
the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the
foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to
the Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit
Extension set forth in Article IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the
terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received
from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.
(d) Obligations of Lenders Several. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder
to make Committed Loans, to fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans
and to make payments pursuant to Section 10.04(c) are several and not joint. The
failure of any Lender to make any Committed Loan, to fund any such participation or to make
any payment under Section 10.04(c) on any date required hereunder shall not relieve
any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall
be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Committed Loan, to
purchase its participation or to make its payment under Section 10.04(c).
(e) Funding Source. Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to
obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a
representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in
any particular place or manner.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 36
2.13 Sharing of Payments by Lenders. If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of
setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on
any of the Committed Loans made by it, or the participations in L/C Obligations or in Swing Line
Loans held by it resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate
amount of such Committed Loans or participations and accrued interest thereon greater than its
pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater
proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at
face value) participations in the Committed Loans and subparticipations in L/C Obligations and
Swing Line Loans of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so
that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance
with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Committed
Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that:
(i) if any such participations or subparticipations are purchased and all or
any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations or
subparticipations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent
of such recovery, without interest; and
(ii) the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (x) any
payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of
this Agreement or (y) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the
assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Committed Loans or
subparticipations in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans to any assignee or
participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the
provisions of this Section shall apply).
The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so
under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing
arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to
such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount
of such participation.
2.14 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 Borrower may request one
or more increases in the Aggregate Commitments by an aggregate amount not exceeding
$20,000,000; provided that any such request for an increase shall be in a minimum
amount of $5,000,000. At the time of sending such notice, the Borrower (in consultation
with the Administrative Agent) shall specify the time period within which each Lender is
requested to respond (which shall in no event be more than ten (10) Business Days from the
date of delivery of such notice to the Lenders).
(b) Lender Elections to Increase. Each Lender shall notify the Administrative
Agent within such time period whether or not it agrees to increase its Commitment and, if
so, whether by an amount equal to, greater than, or less than its Applicable Percentage of
such requested increase. Any Lender not responding within such time period shall be deemed
to have declined to increase its Commitment.
(c) Notification by Administrative Agent; Additional Lenders. The
Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and each Lender of the Lenders’ responses to
each request made hereunder. To achieve the full amount of a requested increase and subject
to the approval of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender (which
approvals shall not be unreasonably withheld), the Borrower may also invite additional
Eligible Assignees to become Lenders pursuant to a joinder agreement in form and substance
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.
(d) Effective Date and Allocations. If the Aggregate Commitments are increased
in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall determine
the effective date (the “Increase Effective Date”) and the final allocation of such
increase. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of
the final allocation of such increase and the Increase Effective Date.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 37
(e) Conditions to Effectiveness of Increase. As a condition precedent to such
increase, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of each Loan
Party dated as of the Increase Effective Date (in sufficient copies for each Lender) signed
by a Responsible Officer of such Loan Party (i) certifying and attaching the resolutions
adopted by such Loan Party approving or consenting to such increase (which may be the same
resolutions entered into in connection with this Agreement and delivered on the Closing
Date), and (ii) in the case of the Borrower, certifying that, before and after giving effect
to such increase, (A) the representations and warranties contained in Article V and
the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects 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 2.15, the representations
and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed
to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b),
respectively, of Section 6.01, and (B) no Default exists. The Borrower shall prepay
any Committed Loans outstanding on the Increase Effective Date (and, unless waived, pay any
additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05) to the extent necessary to
keep the outstanding Committed Loans ratable with any revised Applicable Percentages arising
from any nonratable increase in the Commitments under this Section.
(f) Conflicting Provisions. This Section shall supersede any provisions in
Section 2.13 or 10.01 to the contrary.
ARTICLE III
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
3.01 Taxes.
(a) Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any
obligation of the Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made free and
clear of and without reduction or withholding for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes,
provided that if the Borrower shall be required by applicable law to deduct any
Indemnified Taxes (including any Other Taxes) from such payments, then (i) the sum payable
shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including
deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative
Agent, Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, receives an amount equal to the sum it
would have received had no such deductions been made, provided, however,
that the Borrower shall be entitled to deduct and withhold any Taxes and shall not be
required to increase any such amounts payable to any Lender that is not organized under the
laws of the United States of America or any state thereof (or whose “lending office” is
located in a jurisdiction outside the United States of America) if such Lender fails to
comply with the requirements of Section 4.6(e) whenever any Taxes are payable by the
Borrower, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall timely
pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with
applicable law.
(b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower. Without limiting the provisions of
subsection (a) above, the Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant
Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.
(c) Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the
Administrative Agent, each Lender and the L/C Issuer, within 10 days after demand therefor,
for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or
Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section)
paid by the
Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, and any
penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto,
whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or
asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such
payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender or the L/C Issuer (with a copy to
the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of
a Lender or the L/C Issuer, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 38
(d) Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of
Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower
shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt
issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return
reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent.
(e) Status of Lenders. Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption
from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower
is resident for tax purposes, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with
respect to payments hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower
(with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law
or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed
and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law as will permit such payments to be
made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if
requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other
documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the
Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine
whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting
requirements.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is
resident for tax purposes in the United States, any Foreign Lender shall deliver to the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the
recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this
Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the request of the Borrower or the
Administrative Agent, but only if such Foreign Lender is legally entitled to do so),
whichever of the following is applicable:
(i) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN claiming
eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a
party,
(ii) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI,
(iii) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption
for portfolio interest under section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate to the
effect that such Foreign Lender is not (A) a “bank” within the meaning of section
881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (B) a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the
meaning of section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (C) a “controlled foreign
corporation” described in section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and (y) duly completed
copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, or
(iv) any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming
exemption from or a reduction in United States Federal withholding tax duly
completed together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by
applicable law to permit the Borrower to determine the withholding or deduction
required to be made.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 39
(f) Treatment of Certain Refunds. If the Administrative Agent, any Lender or
the L/C Issuer determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any
Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to
which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section, it shall pay to the
Borrower an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made,
or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section with respect to the Taxes or
Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the
Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, and without
interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect
to such refund), provided that the Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative
Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower
(plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental
Authority) to the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer in the event the
Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer is required to repay such refund to such
Governmental Authority. This subsection shall not be construed to require the
Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer to make available its tax returns (or any
other information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any
other Person.
3.02 Illegality. If any Lender reasonably determines in good faith that any Law
adopted after the date hereof or after such later date on which such Lender may have become a
Lender hereunder has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is
unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Eurodollar Rate
Loans, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, or any Governmental
Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or
to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender
to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, any obligation of such Lender to make or continue
Eurodollar Rate Loans or to convert Eurodollar Daily Floating Rate Committed Loans to Eurodollar
Rate Loans shall be suspended until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower
that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such
notice, the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent),
prepay or, if applicable, convert all Eurodollar Rate Loans of such Lender to Eurodollar Daily
Floating Rate Loans, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may
lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such
Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans; provided,
that, in connection with any such immediate forced prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans, the
Borrower shall not be required to pay any associated breakage fees resulting therefrom, which fees
would otherwise be due and payable hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing and despite the
illegality for such a Lender to make, maintain or fund Eurodollar Rate Loans as to which the
interest rate is determined with reference to the Eurodollar Rate, that Lender shall remain
committed to make Eurodollar Daily Floating Rate Loans and shall be entitled to recover interest at
the Eurodollar Daily Floating Rate. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall
also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted; provided that in
connection with any prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans, the Borrower shall only be required to
compensate Lenders under Section 3.05 with respect to breakage fees resulting therefrom for
Eurodollar Rate Loans which such Lenders have funded by a matching deposit or other borrowing in
the applicable offshore Dollar interbank market. Each Lender agrees to designate a different
Lending Office if such designation will avoid the need for such notice and will not, in the good
faith judgment of such Lender, otherwise be materially disadvantageous to such Lender.
3.03 Inability to Determine Rates. If the Required Lenders reasonably determine in
good faith that for any reason in connection with any request for a Eurodollar Rate Loan or a
conversion to or continuation thereof that (a) Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in
the London interbank eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such
Eurodollar Rate Loan, (b) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurodollar
Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan , or (c) the
Eurodollar Rate for any
requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan does not adequately
and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative Agent will
promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, the obligation of the Lenders to make
or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent (upon the
instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the
Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of
Eurodollar Rate Loans or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a
request for a Committed Borrowing of Eurodollar Daily Floating Rate Loans in the amount specified
therein. Each of the Lenders that has notified Administrative Agent that it has made one or more
of the determinations described in clauses (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 3.03 agrees to
promptly notify Administrative Agent of any change in circumstance that cause it to reasonably
determine that such condition(s) no longer exist.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 40
3.04 Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans.
(a) Increased Costs Generally. If any Change in Law shall:
(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory
loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or
for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any
reserve requirement contemplated by Section 3.04(e)) or the L/C Issuer;
(ii) subject any Lender or the L/C Issuer to any tax of any kind whatsoever
with respect to this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, any participation in a Letter
of Credit or any Eurodollar Rate Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of
payments to such Lender or the L/C Issuer in respect thereof (except for Indemnified
Taxes or Other Taxes covered by Section 3.01 and the imposition of, or any
change in the rate of, any Excluded Tax payable by such Lender or the L/C Issuer);
or
(iii) impose on any Lender or the L/C Issuer or the London interbank market any
other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Rate Loans
made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of
making or maintaining any Eurodollar Rate Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any
such Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender or the L/C Issuer of participating in,
issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate
in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or
receivable by such Lender or the L/C Issuer hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any
other amount) then, upon request of such Lender or the L/C Issuer, the Borrower will pay to
such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will
compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, for such additional costs
incurred or reduction suffered.
(b) Capital Requirements. If any Lender or the L/C Issuer determines that any
Change in Law affecting such Lender or the L/C Issuer or any Lending Office of such Lender
or such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, regarding capital requirements
has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or the L/C
Issuer’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company, if
any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made
by, or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit
issued by the L/C Issuer, to a level below that which such Lender or the L/C Issuer or such
Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law
(taking into consideration such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s policies and the policies of
such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then
from time to time the Borrower will pay to such
Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will
compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding
company for any such reduction suffered.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 41
(c) Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender or the L/C
Issuer setting forth in reasonable detail the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such
Lender or the L/C Issuer or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in
subsection (a) or (b) of this Section and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive
absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case
may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt
thereof.
(d) Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the L/C
Issuer to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section
3.04 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s right to demand
such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a
Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section for any
increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than six months prior to the date that
such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in
Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or the L/C
Issuer’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving
rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the six-month period
referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).
(e) Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans. The Borrower shall pay to each Lender,
as long as such Lender shall be required to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or
assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency funds or deposits (currently known as
“Eurocurrency liabilities”), additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each
Eurodollar Rate Loan equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Loan by
such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be
conclusive), which shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on
such Loan, provided the Borrower shall have received at least 10 days’ prior notice
(with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest from such Lender. If
a Lender fails to give notice 10 days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such
additional interest shall be due and payable 10 days from receipt of such notice.
3.05 Compensation for Losses. Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the
Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and
hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:
(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan other than a
Eurodollar Daily Floating Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period
for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or
otherwise);
(b) any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to
make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan other than a Eurodollar Daily
Floating Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower; or
(c) any assignment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the
Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to
Section 10.13;
including any loss of anticipated profits and any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or
reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the
deposits from which such funds were obtained. The Borrower shall also pay any customary
administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 42
For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this
Section 3.05, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurodollar Rate Loan made by
it at the Eurodollar Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London
interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not
such Eurodollar Rate Loan was in fact so funded.
3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.
(a) Designation of a Different Lending Office. If any Lender requests
compensation under Section 3.04, or the Borrower is required to pay any additional
amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to
Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then
such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding
or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another
of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation
or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01
or 3.04, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice
pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject
such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous
to such Lender.
(b) Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under
Section 3.04, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any
Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section
3.01, the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.13.
3.07 Requests for Compensation.
(a) Certificate. If requested by the Borrower in connection with any demand
for payment under this Article III, a Lender shall provide to the Borrower, with a
copy to the Administrative Agent, a certificate setting forth in reasonable detail the basis
for such demand, the amount required to be paid by the Borrower to such Lender, the
computations made by such lender to determine such amount and satisfaction of the condition
set forth in Section 3.07(b) below and stating that such actions are being taken by
such Lender with respect to all such Lender’s similarly situated borrowers.
(b) No Duplication. Any amount payable by the Borrower on account of this
Article III shall not be duplicative of any amount paid under any other such
sections.
(c) Refund. Any amount determined to be paid by the Borrower in error pursuant
to this Article III shall be, if no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing,
promptly refunded to the Borrower, or applied to amounts owing hereunder, as the Borrower
may elect.
(d) Survival. Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of the
Borrower hereunder, all of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall
survive the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations
hereunder.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 43
ARTICLE IV
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS
4.01 Conditions of Initial Credit Extension. The obligation of the L/C Issuer and
each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the
following conditions precedent:
(a) The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be
originals or telecopies (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each
properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party, each dated the Closing
Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the
Closing Date) and each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and
each of the Lenders:
(i) executed counterparts of this Agreement, the Guaranty and the Licensor
Consents, sufficient in number for distribution to the Administrative Agent, each
Lender and the Borrower;
(ii) a Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note;
(iii) such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates
and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as the
Administrative Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of
each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in
connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party
is a party;
(iv) such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may
reasonably require to evidence that each Loan Party is duly organized or formed, and
that each Loan Party is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage
in business in each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of
properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the
extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect;
(v) a favorable opinion of Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx, LLP, counsel to the Loan Parties,
addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, as to the matters set forth
in Exhibit G and such other matters concerning the Loan Parties and the Loan
Documents as the Required Lenders may reasonably request;
(vi) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party either
(A) attaching copies of all consents, licenses and approvals required under
Section 5.03 in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by
such Loan Party and the validity against such Loan Party of the Loan Documents to
which it is a party, and such consents, licenses and approvals shall be in full
force and effect, or (B) stating that no such consents, licenses or approvals are so
required;
(vii) a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying
(A) that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have
been satisfied or waived, (B) that there has been no event or circumstance since the
date of the Audited Financial Statements that has had or could be reasonably
expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect; and (C) a calculation of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as of the last day
of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower most recently ended prior to the Closing Date;
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 44
(viii) a duly completed Compliance Certificate as of the Closing Date, signed
by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower;
(ix) evidence that all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the Loan
Documents has been obtained and is in effect; and
(x) evidence that the Existing Credit Agreement has been or concurrently with
the Closing Date is being terminated and all Liens securing obligations under the
Existing Credit Agreement have been or concurrently with the Closing Date are being
released.
(xi) The Security Agreements, in each case together with:
(A) (i) UCC searches on all assets and properties of the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries which are Guarantors, such searches showing no Liens except
(x) Liens securing the Obligations, (y) Liens permitted to exist hereunder
and (z) Liens securing the Existing Credit Agreement with respect to which
termination statements have been delivered or are being delivered
concurrently on the Closing Date, (ii) proper Financing Statements in form
appropriate for filing under the Uniform Commercial Code of all
jurisdictions that the Administrative Agent may deem necessary or desirable
in order to perfect the Liens created under the Security Agreements,
covering the Collateral described in the Security Agreements and
(iii) proper termination statements in form appropriate for filing under the
Uniform Commercial Code in all jurisdictions to terminate all Financing
Statements reflecting liens and security interests securing all Indebtedness
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries other than (x) Indebtedness
constituting all or any part of the Obligations hereunder and (y) secured
Indebtedness permitted under the terms of this Agreement (but only to the
extent such secured Indebtedness is permitted to be secured by the assets
evidenced by such Financing Statement),
(B) evidence of the completion of all other actions, recordings and
filings of or with respect to the Security Agreements that the
Administrative Agent may deem necessary or desirable in order to perfect the
Liens created thereby,
(C) any account control agreements and securities account control
agreements necessary in order to have a perfected first and prior lien on
all the deposit accounts and securities accounts of each of the Loan Parties
held by Bank of America, in each case on terms and conditions, and pursuant
to documentation, acceptable to the Administrative Agent, duly executed by
the appropriate parties, and
(D) evidence that all other action that the Administrative Agent may
deem necessary or desirable in order to perfect the Liens created under the
Security Agreement has been taken (including receipt of duly executed payoff
letters and all UCC-3 termination statements);
(b) Any fees required to be paid on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid.
(c) Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have paid all
reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly
to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced prior to
or on the Closing Date.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 45
Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 9.03,
for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01,
each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or
accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented
to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall
have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection
thereto.
4.02 Conditions to all Credit Extensions. The obligation of each Lender to honor any
Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of
Committed Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans) is subject to the
following conditions precedent:
(a) The representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Loan Party
contained in Article V or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any
document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true
and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except
to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier
date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date, and except that
for purposes of this Section 4.02, the representations and warranties contained in
subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent
statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01.
(b) No Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Credit Extension or from
the application of the proceeds thereof.
(c) The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line
Lender shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the
requirements hereof.
Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a
conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans)
submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions
specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied on and as of the date of
the applicable Credit Extension.
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:
5.01 Existence, Qualification and Power. Each Loan Party (a) is duly organized or
formed, validly existing and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of
its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority and all requisite
governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to (i) own or lease its assets and
carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan
Documents to which it is a party, and (c) is duly qualified and is licensed and, as applicable, in
good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of
properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license; except in each
case referred to in clause (b)(i) or (c), to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 46
5.02 Authorization; No Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by each
Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is party, have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (a) contravene the
terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result in any breach or
contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under, or require any payment to be made under (i)
any material Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party or affecting such Person or the
properties of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree
of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is
subject; or (c) violate any Law to which such Person or its property is subject; except in each
case referred to in clauses (b) and (c), to the extent such conflict, breach or violation, as
applicable, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.03 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents. No approval, consent, exemption,
authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any
other Person is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by,
or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document except such as
have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect and except for filings necessary to
perfect Liens created pursuant to the Loan Documents.
5.04 Binding Effect. This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document, when
delivered hereunder, will have been, duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is party
thereto. This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document when so delivered will
constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan
Party that is party thereto in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and
subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity
or at law.
5.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.
(a) The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP
consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly
noted therein; (ii) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the
period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period
covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) show all material
Indebtedness and other material liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments
and Indebtedness.
(b) Since the date of the Audited Financial Statements, there has been no event or
circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.06 Litigation. There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending
or, to the knowledge of the Borrower after due and diligent investigation, threatened as of the
Closing Date, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or against any of their properties or revenues as of the
Closing Date that (a) purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or
(b) except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.06, either individually or in the
aggregate, as to which there is a reasonable possibility of adverse determination and that, if
determined adversely, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.07 No Default. Neither any Loan Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is in default
under or with respect to any material Contractual Obligation that could, either individually or in
the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Default has occurred
and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any
other Loan Document.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 47
5.08 Ownership of Property; Liens. Each of the Borrower and each Subsidiary has good
record and indefeasible title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all real property
necessary or used in the ordinary conduct of its business, except for such defects in title as
could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. The property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is subject to no Liens on the date
hereof, other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01.
5.09 Environmental Compliance. Except as specifically disclosed in Schedule
5.09, the Borrower is in compliance with existing Environmental Laws except for such claims
arising thereunder that could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect.
5.10 Insurance. The properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are insured with
financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrower, 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 the Borrower or the
applicable Subsidiary operates.
5.11 Taxes. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have filed all Federal, state and other
material tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all Federal, state and other
material taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or
their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except those which are being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate
reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP. There is no proposed tax assessment against
the Borrower or any Subsidiary that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither any
Loan Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is party to any tax sharing agreement with any Person that is
not a Loan Party.
5.12 ERISA Compliance.
(a) Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions
of ERISA, the Code and other Federal or state Laws. Each Plan that is intended to qualify
under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS
or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the IRS with respect
thereto and, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, nothing has occurred which would
prevent, or cause the loss of, such qualification. The Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate
have made all required contributions to each Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, and no
application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to
Section 412 of the Code has been made with respect to any Plan.
(b) There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened claims,
actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that
could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There has been no
prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to
any Plan that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
(c) (i) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (ii) no Pension
Plan has any Unfunded Pension Liability; (iii) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate
has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA with
respect to any Pension Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007
of ERISA); (iv) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably
expects to incur, any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice
under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Section 4201 or 4243 of
ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan; and (v) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has
engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 48
5.13 Subsidiaries; Equity Interests. The Borrower has no Subsidiaries on the date
hereof other than those specifically disclosed in Part (a) of Schedule 5.13, and all of the
outstanding Equity Interests in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and
nonassessable and are owned by a Loan Party in the amounts specified on Part (a) of
Schedule 5.13 free and clear of all Liens. The Borrower has no equity investments in any
other corporation or entity on the date hereof other than those specifically disclosed in Part(b)
of Schedule 5.13. All of the outstanding Equity Interests in the Borrower have been
validly issued, and are fully paid and nonassessable.
5.14 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.
(a) The Borrower is not engaged and will not engage, principally or as one of its
important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the
meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of
purchasing or carrying margin stock. Following the application of the proceeds of each
Borrowing or drawing under each Letter of Credit, not more than 25% of the value of the
assets (either of the Borrower only or of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis) subject to the provisions of Section 7.01 or Section
7.05 or subject to any restriction contained in any agreement or instrument between the
Borrower and any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender relating to Indebtedness and within
the scope of Section 8.01(e) will be margin stock.
(b) None of the Borrower, any Person Controlling the Borrower, or any Subsidiary is or
is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of
1940.
5.15 Disclosure. The Borrower has disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any of its
Subsidiaries is subject on the date hereof, and all other matters known to it on the date hereof,
that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect. No report, financial statement, certificate or other information furnished in
writing by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection
with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered
hereunder or under any other Loan Document (in each case, as modified or supplemented by other
information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material
fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information,
the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon
assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time.
5.16 Compliance with Laws. Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary thereof is in
compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs,
injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except in such instances in which
(a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith
by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted or (b) the failure to comply therewith, either
individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
5.17 Taxpayer Identification Number. The Borrower’s true and correct U.S. taxpayer
identification number is set forth on Schedule 10.02.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
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5.18 Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries own, or
possess the right to use, all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patents,
patent rights, franchises, licenses and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “IP
Rights”) that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, without conflict with the rights
of any other Person. To the best knowledge of the Borrower, no slogan or other advertising device,
product, process, method, substance, part or other material now employed, or now contemplated to be
employed, by the Borrower or any Subsidiary infringes upon any rights held by any other Person.
Except as disclosed in Schedule 5.06, no claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing
is pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened, which, either individually or in the
aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
ARTICLE VI
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation
hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, the
Borrower shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01,
6.02, and 6.03) cause each Subsidiary to:
6.01 Financial Statements. Deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:
(a) as soon as available, but in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal
year of the Borrower (commencing with the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009, a consolidated
and consolidating balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such
fiscal year, and the related consolidated and consolidating statements of income or
operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each
case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail
and prepared in accordance with GAAP, such consolidated statements to be audited and
accompanied by a report and opinion of Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP or such other independent
certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the
Required Lenders, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally
accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like
qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit,
except for a “going concern” or like qualification or exception that is solely a result of
uncertainty about the Borrower’s ability to refinance or renew debt maturing within the next
365 days; and
(b) as soon as available, but in any event within 45 days after the end of each of the
first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower (commencing with the fiscal
quarter ended March 31, 2009), a consolidated and consolidating balance sheet of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, and the related
consolidated and consolidating statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and
cash flows for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Borrower’s fiscal year then
ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding
fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous
fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, such consolidated statements to be certified by a
Responsible Officer of the Borrower to the effect that such statements are fairly stated in
all material respects when considered in relation to the consolidated financial statements
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.
As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 6.02(f),
the Borrower shall not be separately required to furnish such information under clause (a) or
(b) above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Borrower to
furnish the information and materials described in clauses (a) and (b) above at the times specified
therein.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
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6.02 Certificates; Other Information. Deliver to the Administrative Agent and each
Lender, in form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:
(a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in
Sections 6.01(a) and (b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by
a Responsible Officer of the Borrower;
(b) as soon as available, but in any event within (i) 20 days after the end of each
calendar month during a Borrowing Base Effectiveness Period in which the Borrower’s
Consolidated Leverage Ratio is greater than or equal to 2.25 to 1.0, and (ii) 30 days after
the end of each March, June, September and December during a Borrowing Base Effectiveness
Period in which the Borrower’s Consolidated Leverage Ratio is less than 2.25 to 1.0, a duly
completed Borrowing Base Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower;
(c) as soon as available, but in any event within 20 days after the end of each
calendar month, a duly completed Quick Ratio Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of
the Borrower;
(d) as soon as available, but in any event within 60 days after the beginning of each
fiscal year of the Borrower, copies of the Borrower’s annual consolidated and consolidating
operating plans, operating and capital expenditure budgets, and financial forecasts,
including cash flow projections covering proposed fundings, repayments, additional advances,
investments and other cash receipts and disbursements, for the following three (3) fiscal
years of the Borrower, such projections to be presented on a quarterly basis for the
subsequent fiscal year of the Borrower and annually for the next two (2) subsequent fiscal
years;
(e) promptly after any request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, copies of any
detailed audit reports, management letters or recommendations submitted to the board of
directors (or the audit committee of the board of directors) of the Borrower by independent
accountants in connection with the accounts or books of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or
any audit of any of them;
(f) promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or
financial statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the
Borrower, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration
statements which the Borrower may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13
or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and not otherwise required to be delivered
to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto; and
(g) promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or
corporate affairs of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the
Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent may from time to time reasonably request.
Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) or
Section 6.02(f) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed
with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been
delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on
the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02; or
(ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or intranet
website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a
commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided
that: (i) the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent or
any Lender that requests the Borrower to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease
delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and (ii) the Borrower
shall notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender (by telecopier or electronic mail) of the
posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic
versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. Notwithstanding anything contained herein,
in every instance the Borrower shall be required to provide paper copies of the Compliance
Certificates required by Section 6.02(b) to the Administrative Agent. Except for such
Compliance Certificates, the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery
or to maintain copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no
responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request for delivery, and each
Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such
documents.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 51
The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Arranger may
make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer materials and/or information provided by or on
behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower
Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of
the Lenders (each, a “Public Lender”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material
non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its Affiliates, or the respective securities
of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities
with respect to such Persons’ securities. The Borrower hereby agrees that (w) all Borrower
Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked
“PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the
first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower shall be deemed to
have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Arranger, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders to treat
such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the
Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws
(provided, however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute
Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 10.07); (y) all Borrower
Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform
designated “Public Investor;” and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger shall be entitled
to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on
a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Investor.” Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Borrower shall be under no obligation to xxxx any Borrower Materials “PUBLIC.”
6.03 Notices. Promptly notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender:
(a) of the occurrence of any Default;
(b) of any matter that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect, including a Material Adverse Effect arising as a result of (i)
breach or non-performance of, or any default under, a Contractual Obligation of the Borrower
or any Subsidiary; (ii) any dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension
between the Borrower or any Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority; or (iii) the
commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting the
Borrower or any Subsidiary, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws;
(c) of the occurrence of any ERISA Event; and
(d) of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by
the Borrower or any Subsidiary, including any determination by the Borrower referred to in
Section 2.10(b).
Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.03 shall be accompanied by a statement of a
Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and
stating what action the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto. Each notice
pursuant to Section 6.03(a) shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of
this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
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6.04 Payment of Obligations. Pay and discharge as the same shall become due and
payable, all its obligations and liabilities, including (a) all tax liabilities, assessments and
governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets, unless the same are being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in
accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Borrower or such Subsidiary; (b) all lawful claims
which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its property; and (c) all Indebtedness, as and
when due and payable, but subject to any subordination provisions contained in any instrument or
agreement evidencing such Indebtedness.
6.05 Preservation of Existence, Etc. (a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force
and effect its legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its
organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.04 or 7.05; (b) take
all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises
necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except to the extent that failure to
do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew
all of its registered patents, trademarks, trade names and service marks, the non-preservation of
which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.06 Maintenance of Properties. (a) Maintain, preserve and protect all of its
material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order
and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted; and (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and
renewals and replacements thereof except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.07 Maintenance of Insurance. Maintain with financially sound and reputable
insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrower, insurance with respect to its properties and
business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the
same or similar business, of such types and in such amounts as are customarily carried under
similar circumstances by such other Persons and providing for not less than 30 days’ prior notice
to the Administrative Agent of termination, lapse or cancellation of such insurance.
6.08 Compliance with Laws. Comply in all material respects with the requirements of
all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or
property, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction
or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or (b)
the failure to comply therewith could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.09 Books and Records. Maintain proper books of record and account, in which full,
true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all
financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Borrower or such
Subsidiary, as the case may be.
6.10 Inspection Rights; Field Exam. Permit representatives and independent
contractors of the Administrative Agent to visit and inspect any of its properties, conduct field
examinations of Inventory, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make
copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its
directors, officers, and independent public accountants, all at the expense of the Borrower and at
such reasonable times during normal business hours, but not more than one time during each calendar
year, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower; provided, however, that when
an Event of Default exists the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective
representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the
Borrower at any time during normal business hours, as often as required and without advance notice.
6.11 Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions for (a) working
capital, capital expenditures, and to refinance existing Indebtedness, (b) to provide funds for
Permitted Acquisitions, (c) to refinance the Senior Convertible Subordinated Notes and purchase
shares of the Borrower’s common stock; provided that, at the time of any proposed
refinancing of the Senior Convertible Subordinated Notes or any purchase of common stock, no
Default exists or would result therefrom and Revolver Availability is at least $10,000,000.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
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6.12 Additional Guarantors. Notify the Administrative Agent at the time that any
Person becomes a Domestic Subsidiary, and promptly thereafter (and in any event within 30 days),
cause such Person to (a) become a Guarantor by executing and delivering to the Administrative Agent
a counterpart of the Guaranty or such other document as the Administrative Agent shall deem
appropriate for such purpose and (b) deliver to the Administrative Agent documents of the types
referred to in clauses (iii) and (iv) of Section 4.01(a) and favorable opinions of counsel
to such Person (which shall cover, among other things, the legality, validity, binding effect and
enforceability of the documentation referred to in clause (a)), all in form, content and scope
reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
6.13 Dissolution or Joinder of Sports Supply Group Asia Limited. Not later than 180
days after the Closing Date, cause Sports Supply Group Asia Limited to be dissolved or become a
Guarantor hereunder.
6.14 Deposit Accounts. Not later than 90 days after the Closing Date, the Borrower
will maintain all of its deposit accounts of any type (whether for working capital, payroll or
other purposes, and whether held jointly or individually) with the Administrative Agent or one or
more Affiliates of the Administrative Agent or if not maintained with the Administrative Agent, to
be subject to an account control agreement in form and substance reasonably acceptable to
Administrative Agent, except for deposit accounts which in no event contain more than $150,000
individually at any time or $1,000,000 in the aggregate at any time.
6.15 Landlord Lien Waivers. Not later than 90 days after the Closing Date, the
Borrower will deliver fully executed landlord’s lien waiver agreements for each of the property
locations leased pursuant to the lease agreements set forth on Schedule 6.15 hereto;
provided that failure to comply with this Section 6.15 shall not result in a
Default or Event of Default but rather result in the establishment of reserves on the Borrowing
Base in the amount of four (4) months of rental expenses for each applicable landlord that has not
provided an executed landlord’s lien waiver agreement, which reserves shall remain in effect until
such time as such applicable landlord’s lien waiver agreement is delivered to the Administrative
Agent.
ARTICLE VII
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation
hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, the
Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:
7.01 Liens. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its
property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following:
(a) Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;
(b) Liens existing on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.01 and any
renewals or extensions thereof, provided that (i) the property covered thereby is
not changed, (ii) the amount secured or benefited thereby is not increased except as
contemplated by Section 7.03(b), (iii) the direct or any contingent obligor with
respect thereto is not changed, and (iv) any renewal or extension of the obligations secured
or benefited thereby is permitted by Section 7.03(b);
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 54
(c) Liens for taxes not yet due or which are being contested in good faith and by
appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are
maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with GAAP;
(d) carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other like
Liens arising in the ordinary course of business which are not overdue for a period of more
than 30 days or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings
diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books
of the applicable Person;
(e) pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’
compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation, other than any
Lien imposed by ERISA;
(f) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts and leases (other than
Indebtedness), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other
obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(g) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances affecting
real property which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and which do not in
any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially
interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person;
(h) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of
Default under Section 8.01(h);
(i) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(e);
provided that (i) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the
property financed by such Indebtedness and (ii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not
exceed the cost or fair market value, whichever is lower, of the property being acquired on
the date of acquisition;
(j) pledges and deposits securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification
obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or
similar instruments for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or
liability insurance to any Loan Party;
(k) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off (i) relating to the establishment of
depository accounts with banks not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, or
(ii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers in
ordinary course of business;
(l) Liens arising from precautionary UCC financing statements regarding operating
leases;
(m) any Lien existing on any property or asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the
Borrower or any Subsidiary or existing on any property or asset of any Person that becomes a
Loan Party after the date hereof and prior to the time such Person becomes a Loan Party;
provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in
connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Loan Party, as the case may be,
(ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Loan Party and (iii)
such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date of such
acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Loan Party, as the case may be, and
extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal
amount thereof;
CREDIT AGREEMENT
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(n) Liens on the Anniston Property to the extent securing Indebtedness permitted by
Section 7.03(f); and
(o) Liens of a collecting bank arising in the ordinary course of business under Section
4.208 of the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the relevant jurisdiction covering only
the items being collected.
7.02 Investments. Make any Investments, except:
(a) Investments held by the Borrower or such Subsidiary in the form of cash
equivalents;
(b) advances to officers, directors and employees of the Borrower and Subsidiaries in
an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000 at any time outstanding, for travel,
entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes;
(c) Investments of the Borrower in any Guarantor and Investments of any Subsidiary in
the Borrower or in a Guarantor;
(d) Investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable
or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of
business, and Investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from
financially troubled account debtors to the extent reasonably necessary in order to prevent
or limit loss;
(e) Guarantees permitted by Section 7.03;
(f) Permitted Acquisitions in a cumulative amount not to exceed $25,000,000 or such
greater amount approved with the prior written consent of the Required Lenders;
(g) Purchases by the Borrower of shares of its common stock in an aggregate amount not
to exceed $5,000,000, so long as at the time of such purchase, (i) no Default or Event of
Default exists or would result therefrom and (ii) Revolver Availability is at least
$10,000,000;
(h) Investments existing on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 7.02;
(i) Investments by the Borrower in Swap Contracts permitted under Section
7.03(d);
(j) Investments of any Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of
the Borrower or consolidates or merges with the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries
(including in connection with an acquisition permitted hereunder) so long as such
investments were not made in contemplation of such Person becoming a subsidiary of such
merger;
(k) Investments constituting deposits described in clauses (e) and (f) of
Section 7.01;
(l) Investments received in satisfaction of judgments, settlements of debt or
compromises of obligations or as consideration for the settlement, release or surrender of a
contract, tort or other litigation claims, in each case in the ordinary course of business,
including, without limitation, pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement
upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor or customer; and
(m) other Investments not exceeding $500,000 in the aggregate in any fiscal year of the
Borrower.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Page 56
7.03 Indebtedness. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:
(a) Indebtedness under the Loan Documents;
(b) Indebtedness outstanding on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.03 and
any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that the
principal amount of such Indebtedness is not increased at the time of such refinancing,
refunding, renewal or extension except by an amount equal to a reasonable premium or other
reasonable amount paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such
refinancing and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder;
(c) Guarantees of the Borrower or any Guarantor in respect of Indebtedness otherwise
permitted hereunder of the Borrower or any other Guarantor;
(d) obligations (contingent or otherwise) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary existing or
arising under any Swap Contract, provided that (i) such obligations are (or were)
entered into by such Person in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of directly
mitigating risks associated with liabilities, commitments, investments, assets, or property
held or reasonably anticipated by such Person, or changes in the value of securities issued
by such Person, and not for purposes of speculation or taking a “market view;” and (ii) such
Swap Contract does not contain any provision exonerating the non-defaulting party from its
obligation to make payments on outstanding transactions to the defaulting party;
(e) unsecured Indebtedness or Indebtedness in respect of capital leases, Synthetic
Lease Obligations and purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets within the
limitations set forth in Section 7.01(i); provided, however, that
the aggregate amount of all such Indebtedness at any one time outstanding shall not exceed
$1,000,000;
(f) Indebtedness secured by the Anniston Property in an aggregate amount not to exceed
$350,000 at any one time outstanding; and
(g) unsecured Indebtedness, which is subordinated to the Obligations in a manner no
less favorable in any material respects to the Lenders than the terms of the Senior
Convertible Subordinated Notes or otherwise on terms acceptable to the Administrative Agent
in its reasonable discretion, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $5,000,000 at
any time outstanding.
7.04 Fundamental Changes. Merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into
another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or
substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any
Person, except that, so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom:
(a) any Subsidiary may merge with (i) the Borrower, provided that the Borrower
shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or (ii) any one or more other Subsidiaries,
provided that when any Guarantor is merging with another Subsidiary, the Guarantor
shall be the continuing or surviving Person; and
(b) any Subsidiary may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon
voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Borrower or to another Subsidiary;
provided that if the transferor in such a transaction is a Guarantor, then the
transferee must either be the Borrower or a Guarantor.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
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7.05 Dispositions. Make any Disposition or enter into any agreement to make any
Disposition, except:
(a) Dispositions of excess, obsolete or worn out property, whether now owned or
hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business;
(b) Dispositions of inventory in the ordinary course of business;
(c) Dispositions of equipment or real property to the extent that (i) such property is
exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property or (ii) the
proceeds of such Disposition are reasonably promptly applied to the purchase price of such
replacement property;
(d) Dispositions of property by any Subsidiary to the Borrower or to a wholly-owned
Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor of such property is a Guarantor, the
transferee thereof must either be the Borrower or a Guarantor;
(e) Disposition of the Anniston Property; and
(f) Dispositions permitted by Section 7.04.
7.06 Restricted Payments. Declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted
Payment, or incur any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to do so, except that, so long as no
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of any action described below or
would result therefrom:
(a) each Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to the Borrower, the Guarantors and
any other Person that owns an Equity Interest in such Subsidiary, ratably according to their
respective holdings of the type of Equity Interest in respect of which such Restricted
Payment is being made;
(b) the Borrower and each Subsidiary may declare and make dividend payments or other
distributions payable (i) in the common stock or other common Equity Interests of such
Person and (ii) in Cash to its stockholders in amounts and otherwise substantially
consistent with past practice;
(c) the Borrower and each Subsidiary may purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire Equity
Interests issued by it with the proceeds received from the substantially concurrent issue of
new shares of its common stock or other common Equity Interests;
(d) the Borrower may purchase, redeem, retire, defease, surrender, cancel, terminate or
acquire shares of its common stock in an aggregate amount not to exceed $5,000,000 so long
as Revolver Availability is at least $10,000,000;
(e) the Borrower may make regularly scheduled interest and principal payments and
mandatory prepayments as and when due in respect of any Indebtedness permitted by
Section 7.03; and
(f) the Borrower may make optional prepayments of any Indebtedness permitted by
Section 7.03 so long as Revolver Availability is at least $10,000,000.
7.07 Change in Nature of Business. Engage in any material line of business
substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
on the date hereof or any business substantially related or incidental thereto.
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7.08 Transactions with Affiliates. Enter into any transaction of any kind with any
Affiliate of the Borrower, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than on fair
and reasonable terms substantially as favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary as would be
obtainable by the Borrower or such Subsidiary at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction
with a Person other than an Affiliate.
7.09 Burdensome Agreements. Enter into any Contractual Obligation (other than this
Agreement or any other Loan Document) that (a) limits the ability (i) of any Subsidiary to make
Restricted Payments to the Borrower or any Guarantor or to otherwise transfer property to the
Borrower or any Guarantor, (ii) of any Subsidiary to Guarantee the Indebtedness of the Borrower or
(iii) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens to secure
the Obligations on property of such Person; provided, however, that this clause
(iii) shall not prohibit any negative pledge incurred or provided in favor of any holder of
Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(e), (f) or (g) solely to the extent any such
negative pledge relates to the property financed by or the subject of such Indebtedness; or (b)
requires the grant of a Lien to secure an obligation of such Person if a Lien is granted to secure
another obligation of such Person.
7.10 Use of Proceeds. Except as permitted under Section 6.11 and Section
7.06(d), use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, whether directly or indirectly, and whether
immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of
Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying
margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose.
7.11 Financial Covenants.
(a) Consolidated Debt Service Coverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Debt
Service Coverage Ratio as of the last day of each fiscal quarter to be less than 1.25 to
1.0.
(b) Consolidated Leverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as of
the last day of each fiscal quarter to exceed 2.75 to 1.0.
ARTICLE VIII
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
8.01 Events of Default. Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:
(a) Non-Payment. The Borrower or any other Loan Party fails to pay (i) when
and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan or any L/C
Obligation, or (ii) within three Business Days after the same becomes due, any interest on
any Loan or on any L/C Obligation, or any fee due hereunder, or (iii) within five Business
Days after the same becomes due, any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan
Document; or
(b) Specific Covenants. The Borrower fails to perform or observe any term,
covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 6.01, 6.02, 6.03,
6.05, 6.11 or 6.12 or Article VII; or
(c) Other Defaults. Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other
covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan
Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for 30 days
after notice thereof from the Administrative Agent; or
(d) Representations and Warranties. Any representation, warranty,
certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or
any other Loan Party herein or in any other Loan Document or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading in
any material respect when made or deemed made; or
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(e) Cross-Default. (i) The Borrower or any Subsidiary (A) fails to make any
payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand,
or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than Indebtedness hereunder
and Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including
undrawn committed or available amounts and including amounts owing to all creditors under
any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than the Threshold Amount, or (B)
fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such
Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing
or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event
is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or
beneficiaries of such Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders
or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such
Indebtedness to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or
redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem
such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become
payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; or (ii) there occurs under any
Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from
(A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary
is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) any Termination Event (as
so defined) under such Swap Contract as to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is an
Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by the
Borrower or such Subsidiary as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount; or
(f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. Any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries
institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or
makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the
appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or
similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver,
trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed
without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged
or unstayed for 60 calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to
any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the
consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for 60 calendar days, or an
order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or
(g) Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment. (i) The Borrower or any Subsidiary
becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as
they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process
is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Person and
is not released, vacated or fully bonded within 30 days after its issue or levy; or
(h) Judgments. There is entered against the Borrower or any Subsidiary (i) one
or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all
such judgments or orders) exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by
independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage), or
(ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or could reasonably be expected
to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case,
(A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or
(B) there is a period of 30 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such
judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or
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(i) ERISA. (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or
Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability
of the Borrower under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC
in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount, or (ii) the Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any
installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA
under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; or
(j) Invalidity of Loan Documents. Any material provision of any Loan Document,
at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly
permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to
be in full force and effect; or any Loan Party contests in any manner the validity or
enforceability of any material provision of any Loan Document; or any Loan Party denies that
it has any or further liability or obligation under any material provision of any Loan
Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any Loan Document; or
(k) Change of Control. There occurs any Change of Control.
8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default. If any Event of Default occurs and is
continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the
Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:
(a) declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C
Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and
obligation shall be terminated;
(b) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued
and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan
Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other
notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower;
(c) require that the Borrower Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount
equal to the then Outstanding Amount thereof); and
(d) exercise on behalf of itself, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer all rights and
remedies available to it, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer under the Loan Documents;
provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an
order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the
obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit
Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and
all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, and the
obligation of the Borrower to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall
automatically become effective, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any
Lender.
8.03 Application of Funds. After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section
8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the L/C
Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the proviso
to Section 8.02), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by
the Administrative Agent in the following order:
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First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities,
expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the
Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Administrative
Agent in its capacity as such;
Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities
and other amounts (other than principal, interest and Letter of Credit Fees) payable to the Lenders
and the L/C Issuer (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders
and the L/C Issuer and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion
to the respective amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;
Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid
Letter of Credit Fees and interest on the Loans, L/C Borrowings and other Obligations (including,
if applicable, under Swap Contracts with any Lender or an Affiliate of any Lender), ratably among
the Lenders and the L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause
Third payable to them;
Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of
the Loans and L/C Borrowings (including obligations under Swap Contracts with any Lender or an
Affiliate of any Lender), ratably among the Lenders and the L/C Issuer in proportion to the
respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;
Fifth, to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer, to Cash
Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters
of Credit; and
Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in
full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.
Subject to Section 2.03(c), amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount
of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fifth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings
under such Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral
after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be
applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above.
ARTICLE IX
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
9.01 Appointment and Authority. Each of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer hereby
irrevocably appoints Bank of America to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and
under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its
behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof
or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The
provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and
the L/C Issuer, and neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third
party beneficiary of any of such provisions.
9.02 Rights as a Lender. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder
shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may
exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders”
shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the
Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and
its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any
other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any
Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder
and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.
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9.03 Exculpatory Provisions. The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or
obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:
(a) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of
whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;
(b) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any
discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby
or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as
directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the
Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents),
provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action
that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to
liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law; and
(c) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents,
have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any
information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or
obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any
capacity.
The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with
the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the
Lenders as shall be necessary, or, if not required herein, as the Administrative Agent shall
believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections
10.01 and 8.02) and (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default
unless and until notice describing such Default is given to the Administrative Agent by the
Borrower, a Lender or the L/C Issuer.
The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire
into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or
any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered
hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance
of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the
occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this
Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the
satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to
confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.
9.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to
rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate,
consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message,
Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to
have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent
also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been
made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining
compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of
Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, the
Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or the L/C
Issuer unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender
or the L/C Issuer prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. The
Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower),
independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action
taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.
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9.05 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its
duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through
any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any
such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or
through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply
to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such
sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the
credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.
9.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may at any time
give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Borrower. Upon receipt of
any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders and, unless an Event of Default exists at the
time of any such resignation and appointment, the Borrower, to appoint a successor, which shall be
a commercial bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such commercial bank
with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the
Required Lenders and, unless an Event of Default exists at the time of any such resignation and
appointment, the Borrower, and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the
retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative
Agent may on behalf of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, appoint a successor Administrative Agent
(subject, except when an Event of Default exists, to the consent of the Borrower, not to be
unreasonably withheld) meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that if the
Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has
accepted such appointment, then (a) the Lenders shall perform all obligations of the retiring
Administrative Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as a successor Administrative Agent shall
have been appointed and shall have accepted such appointment as provided for above, (b) such
resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice, (c) the retiring
Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the
other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative
Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring
Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor
Administrative Agent is appointed) and (d) all payments, communications and determinations provided
to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender
and the L/C Issuer directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor
Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s
appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested
with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative
Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and
obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as
provided above in this Section). The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative
Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the
Borrower and such successor. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder and
under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall
continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their
respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them
while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.
Any resignation by Bank of America as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section shall also
constitute its resignation as L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender. Upon the acceptance of a
successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, (a) such successor shall succeed to and
become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer and
Swing Line Lender, (b) the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender shall be discharged from all
of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, and (c) the
successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if
any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to the retiring L/C Issuer to effectively assume the
obligations of the retiring L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.
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9.07 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender and the L/C
Issuer acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent
or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as
it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement.
Each Lender and the L/C Issuer also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance
upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such
documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own
decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan
Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.
9.08 No Other Duties, Etc. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Arranger listed on the cover page hereof shall not have any powers, duties or responsibilities
under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as
the Administrative Agent, a Lender or the L/C Issuer hereunder.
9.09 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any
proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party,
the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation shall
then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of
whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and
empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing
and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations and all other Obligations that are owing
and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to
have the claims of the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent (including any
claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders,
the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all
other amounts due the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent under
Sections 2.03(i) and (j), 2.09 and 10.04) allowed in such
judicial proceeding; and
(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any
such claims and to distribute the same;
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official
in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and the L/C Issuer to make such
payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent
to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, to pay to the
Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and
advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the
Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 10.04.
Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or
consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or the L/C Issuer any plan of reorganization,
arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or the
L/C Issuer to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or
the L/C Issuer in any such proceeding.
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9.10 Collateral and Guaranty Matters. The Lenders and the L/C Issuer irrevocably
authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its
discretion:
(a) to release any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent
under any Loan Document (i) upon termination of the Aggregate Commitments and payment in
full of all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations) and the
expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit (other than Letters of Credit for which
cash collateral has been posted to fully secure the Letter of Credit Liability with respect
thereto), (ii) that is sold or to be sold as part of or in connection with any sale
permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document, or (iii) subject to Section
10.01, if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders;
(b) to subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative
Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted
by Section 7.01(i); and
(c) to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty if such Person
ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder.
Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in
writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular
types or items of property, or to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty
pursuant to this Section 9.10.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
10.01 Amendments, Etc. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or
any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower or any other Loan Party
therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower or
the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and
each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific
purpose for which given; provided, however, that no such amendment, waiver or
consent shall:
(a) waive any condition set forth in Section 4.01(a) without the written
consent of each Lender;
(b) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment
terminated pursuant to Section 8.02) without the written consent of such Lender;
(c) postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any
payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) or
any scheduled or mandatory reduction of the Aggregate Commitments hereunder or under any
other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;
(d) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or
L/C Borrowing, or (subject to clause (iv) of the second proviso to this
Section 10.01) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan
Document, or change the manner of computation of any financial ratio (including any change
in any applicable defined term) used in determining the Applicable Rate that would result in
a reduction of any interest rate on any Loan or any fee payable hereunder without the
written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided, however,
that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of
“Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest or Letter of
Credit Fees at the Default Rate;
CREDIT AGREEMENT
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(e) change Section 2.13 or Section 8.03 in a manner that would alter
the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each
Lender;
(f) change any provision of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any
other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend,
waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any
consent hereunder without the written consent of each Lender; or
(g) release any Guarantor from the Guaranty without the written consent of each Lender,
except to the extent the release of any Guarantor is permitted pursuant to Section
9.10 (in which case such release may be made by the Administrative Agent acting alone);
and, provided further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in
writing and signed by the L/C Issuer in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights
or duties of the L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Issuer Document relating to any Letter of
Credit issued or to be issued by it; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing
and signed by the Swing Line Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or
duties of the Swing Line Lender under this Agreement; (iii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall,
unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above,
affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan
Document; and (iv) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a
writing executed only by the parties thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no
Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent
hereunder, except that the Commitment of such Lender may not be increased or extended without the
consent of such Lender.
10.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.
(a) Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications
expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b)
below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and
shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered
mail or sent by telecopier as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly
permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone
number, as follows:
(i) if to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing
Line Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone
number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02; and
(ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail
address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire.
Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered
mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by telecopier shall be
deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours
for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next
business day for the recipient). Notices delivered through electronic communications to the
extent provided in subsection (b) below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection
(b).
(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders
and the L/C Issuer hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication
(including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the
Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any
Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to Article II if such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as
applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by
electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion,
agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic
communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such
procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.
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Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications
sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an
acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested”
function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided
that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of
the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening
of business on the next business day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications
posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt
by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of
notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website
address therefor.
(c) The Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE
AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER
MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR
OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR
STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE,
NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS
MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no
event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent
Parties”) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other Person
for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract
or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of
Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a
final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of such Agent Party; provided, however, that in no event shall
any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other
Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to
direct or actual damages).
(d) Change of Address, Etc. Each of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent,
the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone
number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.
Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and
other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C
Issuer and the Swing Line Lender. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the
Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record
(i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, telecopier number and electronic
mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire
instructions for such Lender. Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one
individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private
Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform
in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public
Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable Law, including United States Federal and state
securities Laws, to make reference to the Borrower Materials that are not made available
through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to the
Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
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(e) Reliance by Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Lenders. The
Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon
any notices (including telephonic Committed Loan Notices and Swing Line Loan Notices)
purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in
a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other
form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient,
varied from any confirmation thereof. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative
Agent, the L/C Issuer, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses,
costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice
purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower.
10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure by any Lender, the L/C Issuer or the
Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy,
power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial
exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise
thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies,
powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies,
powers and privileges provided by law.
10.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.
(a) Costs and Expenses. The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including
the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent), in
connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the
provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby
shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the L/C Issuer
in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or
any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the
Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer (including the fees, charges and
disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer), in
connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in
connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such
out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect
of such Loans or Letters of Credit.
(b) Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the
Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and the L/C Issuer, and each
Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an
“Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of
any counsel for any Indemnitee), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any
Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party arising out of, in
connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any
other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the
performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder,
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the
Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the
administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) any Loan or Letter of
Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the
L/C Issuer to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with
the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of
Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its
CREDIT AGREEMENT
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Subsidiaries,
or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or
proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other
theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, and
regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, IN ALL CASES, WHETHER OR NOT CAUSED
BY OR ARISING, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, OUT OF THE COMPARATIVE, CONTRIBUTORY OR SOLE NEGLIGENCE
OF THE INDEMNITEE; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be
available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses
(x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment
to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or
(y) result from a claim brought by the Borrower or any other Loan Party against an
Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any
other Loan Document, if the Borrower or such Loan Party has obtained a final and
nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction.
(c) Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Borrower for any reason
fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section to
be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), the L/C Issuer or any
Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the
Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), the L/C Issuer or such Related Party, as the
case may be, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the
applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount,
provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability
or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the
Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or the L/C Issuer in its capacity as such, or
against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or
any such sub-agent) or L/C Issuer in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the
Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(d).
(d) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any
Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive
damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a
result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument
contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of
Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b)
above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any
information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee
through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in
connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and
nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.
(e) Payments. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later
than ten Business Days after demand therefor.
(f) Survival. The agreements in this Section shall survive the resignation of
the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender, the replacement of any
Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or
discharge of all the other Obligations.
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10.05 Payments Set Aside. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the
Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender, or the Administrative
Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds
of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or
preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the
Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee,
receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or
otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally
intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment
had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender and the L/C Issuer severally
agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of
any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the
date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds
Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer under clause
(b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the
termination of this Agreement.
10.06 Successors and Assigns.
(a) Successors and Assigns Generally. The provisions of this Agreement shall
be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not assign or
otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written
consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise
transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance
with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in
accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section, or (iii) by way of pledge
or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (f) of this
Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null
and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer
upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns
permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this Section and,
to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the
Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy
or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
(b) Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more
assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all
or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this subsection (b),
participations in L/C Obligations and in Swing Line Loans) at the time owing to it);
provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:
(i) Minimum Amounts.
(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the
assigning Lender’s Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or in
the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an
Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and
(B) in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A) of this Section,
the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes
Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect,
the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender
subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment
and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the
Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade
Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the Administrative
Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing,
the Borrower otherwise consents; provided, however, that
concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent
assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single Eligible Assignee
(or to an Eligible Assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be
treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such
minimum amount has been met.
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(ii) Proportionate Amounts. Each partial assignment shall be made as
an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and
obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitment
assigned, except that this clause (ii) shall not apply to the Swing Line Lender’s
rights and obligations in respect of Swing Line Loans;
(iii) Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any
assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section
and, in addition:
(A) the consent of the Borrower shall be required unless (1) an Event
of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or
(2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved
Fund;
(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be
unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required if such assignment is to
a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved
Fund with respect to such Lender;
(C) the consent of the L/C Issuer (such consent not to be unreasonably
withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment that increases the
obligation of the assignee to participate in exposure under one or more
Letters of Credit (whether or not then outstanding); and
(D) the consent of the Swing Line Lender (such consent not to be
unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment.
(iv) Assignment and Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall
execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption,
together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500;
provided, however, that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole
discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any
assignment. The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the
Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.
(v) No Assignment to the Borrower. No such assignment shall be made to
the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries.
(vi) No Assignment to Natural Persons. No such assignment shall be
made to a natural person.
Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to
subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each
Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and,
to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights
and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall,
to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under
this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the
assigning
Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to
be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections
3.01, 3.04, 3.05, and 10.04 with respect to facts and
circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment. Upon request, the
Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any
assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does
not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by
such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection
(d) of this Section.
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(c) Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an
agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each
Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names
and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts of the Loans and
L/C Obligations owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the
“Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the
Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this
Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for
inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon
reasonable prior notice.
(d) Participations. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or
notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person
(other than a natural person or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or
Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or
obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the
Loans (including such Lender’s participations in L/C Obligations and/or Swing Line Loans)
owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall
remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties
hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative
Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer shall continue to deal solely and directly with such
Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.
Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall
provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to
approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement;
provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not,
without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification
described in the first proviso to Section 10.01 that affects such Participant.
Subject to subsection (e) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall
be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 to the
same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to
subsection (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall
be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.08 as though it were a Lender,
provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it
were a Lender.
(e) Limitations upon Participant Rights. A Participant shall not be entitled
to receive any greater payment under Section 3.01 or 3.04 than the
applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold
to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with
the Borrower’s prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it
were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.01 unless the
Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section
3.01(e) as though it were a Lender.
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(f) Certain Pledges. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security
interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note,
if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure
obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment
shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such
pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
(g) Electronic Execution of Assignments. The words “execution,” “signed,”
“signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption shall be deemed to
include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which
shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed
signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the
extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic
Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and
Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions
Act.
(h) Resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender after Assignment.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time Bank of America
assigns all of its Commitment and Loans pursuant to subsection (b) above, Bank of America
may, (i) upon 30 days’ notice to the Borrower and the Lenders, resign as L/C Issuer and/or
(ii) upon 30 days’ notice to the Borrower, resign as Swing Line Lender. In the event of any
such resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, the Borrower shall be entitled to
appoint from among the Lenders a successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder;
provided, however, that no failure by the Borrower to appoint any such
successor shall affect the resignation of Bank of America as L/C Issuer or Swing Line
Lender, as the case may be. If Bank of America resigns as L/C Issuer, it shall retain all
the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all
Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as L/C Issuer and
all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make
Eurodollar Daily Floating Rate Committed Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed
Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c)). If Bank of America resigns as Swing Line
Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with
respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such
resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Eurodollar Daily Floating
Rate Committed Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to
Section 2.04(c). Upon the appointment of a successor L/C Issuer and/or Swing Line
Lender, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights,
powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case
may be, and (b) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for
the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other
arrangements satisfactory to Bank of America to effectively assume the obligations of Bank
of America with respect to such Letters of Credit.
10.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative
Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as
defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its
Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors and
representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be
informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information
confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have
jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of
Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any
subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection
with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or
proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights
hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same
as those
of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of
or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or any Eligible Assignee
invited to be a Lender pursuant to Section 2.14(c) or (ii) any actual or prospective
counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower and
its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (x)
becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes
available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any of their respective
Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
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For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower
or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses,
other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the
L/C Issuer on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any Subsidiary. Any
Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be
considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same
degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to
its own confidential information.
Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer acknowledges that (a) the
Information may include material non-public information concerning the Borrower or a Subsidiary, as
the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material
non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance
with applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws.
10.08 Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
each Lender, the L/C Issuer and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any
time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply
any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever
currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such
Lender, the L/C Issuer or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower
against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this
Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, irrespective of whether or
not such Lender or the L/C Issuer shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan
Document and although such obligations of the Borrower may be contingent or unmatured or are owed
to a branch or office of such Lender or the L/C Issuer different from the branch or office holding
such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness. The rights of each Lender, the L/C Issuer and
their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies
(including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, the L/C Issuer or their respective Affiliates
may have. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give
such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.
10.09 Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in
any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed
the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “Maximum Rate”).
If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the
Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds
such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower. In determining whether the interest contracted
for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such
Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not
principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments
and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts
the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
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10.10 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in
counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall
constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.
This Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire contract among the parties
relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and
understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in
Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the
Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof
that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an
executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy shall be effective as
delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
10.11 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties
made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or
thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and
thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the
Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative
Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any
Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and
shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall
remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding.
10.12 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is
held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the
remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or
impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the
illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which
comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The
invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable
such provision in any other jurisdiction.
10.13 Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under
Section 3.04, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or
any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if
any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon
notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate,
without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents
required by, Section 10.06), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this
Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which
assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:
(a) the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee
specified in Section 10.06(b);
(b) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding
principal of its Loans and L/C Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all
other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any
amounts under Section 3.05) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding
principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);
(c) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under
Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, such
assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter; and
(d) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws.
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A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as
a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to
require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
10.14
Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF
TEXAS, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CHOICE OF LAW PRINCIPLES THAT MIGHT
OTHERWISE APPLY, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION GOVERN THE CREATION,
PERFECTION, VALIDITY, OR ENFORCEMENT OF LIENS UNDER THE LOAN DOCUMENTS, AND THE APPLICABLE FEDERAL
LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, SHALL GOVERN THE VALIDITY, CONSTRUCTION, ENFORCEMENT AND
INTERPRETATION OF THIS AGREEMENT AND ALL OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS.
10.15 Dispute Resolution Provision.
(a) This Dispute Resolution Provision concerns the resolution of any controversies or
claims between the parties, whether arising in contract, tort or by statute, including but
not limited to controversies or claims that arise out of or relate to: (i) this agreement
(including any renewals, extensions or modifications); or (ii) any document related to this
agreement (collectively a “Claim”). For the purposes of this Dispute Resolution Provision
only, the term “parties” shall include any parent corporation, subsidiary or affiliate of a
Lender involved in the servicing, management or administration of any obligation described
or evidenced by this agreement.
(b) At the request of any party to this agreement, any Claim shall be resolved by
binding arbitration in accordance with the Federal Arbitration Act (Title 9, U.S. Code) (the
“Act”). The Act will apply even though this agreement provides that it is governed by the
law of a specified state.
(c) Arbitration proceedings will be determined in accordance with the Act, the
then-current rules and procedures for the arbitration of financial services disputes of the
American Arbitration Association or any successor thereof (“AAA”), and the terms of this
Dispute Resolution Provision. In the event of any inconsistency, the terms of this Dispute
Resolution Provision shall control. If AAA is unwilling or unable to (i) serve as the
provider of arbitration or (ii) enforce any provision of this arbitration clause, the
Administration Agent may designate another arbitration organization with similar procedures
to serve as the provider of arbitration.
(d) The arbitration shall be administered by AAA and conducted, unless otherwise
required by law, in any U.S. state where real or tangible personal property collateral for
this credit is located or if there is no such collateral, in the state specified in the
governing law section of this agreement. All Claims shall be determined by one arbitrator;
however, if Claims exceed Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000), upon the request of any party,
the Claims shall be decided by three arbitrators. All arbitration hearings shall commence
within ninety (90) days of the demand for arbitration and close within ninety (90) days of
commencement and the award of the arbitrator(s) shall be issued within thirty (30) days of
the close of the hearing. However, the arbitrator(s), upon a showing of good cause, may
extend the commencement of the hearing for up to an additional sixty (60) days. The
arbitrator(s) shall provide a concise written statement of reasons for the award. The
arbitration award may be submitted to any court having jurisdiction to be confirmed and have
judgment entered and enforced.
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(e) The arbitrator(s) will give effect to statutes of limitation in determining any
Claim and may dismiss the arbitration on the basis that the Claim is barred. For purposes
of the application of any statutes of limitation, the service on AAA under applicable AAA
rules of a notice of Claim is the equivalent of the filing of a lawsuit. Any dispute concerning
this arbitration provision or whether a Claim is arbitrable shall be determined by the
arbitrator(s), except as set forth at subparagraph (h) of this Dispute Resolution Provision.
The arbitrator(s) shall have the power to award legal fees pursuant to the terms of this
agreement.
(f) This paragraph does not limit the right of any party to: (i) exercise self-help
remedies, such as but not limited to, setoff; (ii) initiate judicial or non-judicial
foreclosure against any real or personal property collateral; (iii) exercise any judicial or
power of sale rights, or (iv) act in a court of law to obtain an interim remedy, such as but
not limited to, injunctive relief, writ of possession or appointment of a receiver, or
additional or supplementary remedies.
(g) The filing of a court action is not intended to constitute a waiver of the right of
any party, including the using party, thereafter to require submittal of the Claim to
arbitration.
(h) Any arbitration or trial by a judge of any Claim will take place on an individual
basis without resort to any form of class or representative action (the “Class action
Waiver”). Regardless of anything else in this Dispute Resolution Provision, the validity
and effect of the Class Action Waiver may be determined only by a court and not by an
arbitrator. The parties to this Agreement acknowledge that the Class Action Waiver is
material and essential to the arbitration of any disputes between the parties and is
nonseverable from the agreement to arbitrate Claims. If the Class Action waiver is limited,
voided or found unenforceable, then the parties’ agreement to arbitrate shall be null and
void with respect to such proceeding, subject to the right to appeal the limitation or
invalidation of the Class Action Waiver. The Parties acknowledge and agree that under no
circumstances will a class action be arbitrated.
(i) By agreeing to binding arbitration, the parties irrevocably and voluntarily waive
any right they may have to a trial by jury in respect of any Claim. Furthermore, without
intending in any way to limit this agreement to arbitrate, to the extent any Claim is not
arbitrated, the parties irrevocably and voluntarily waive any right they may have to a trial
by jury in respect of such Claim. This waiver of jury trial shall remain in effect even if
the Class Action Waiver is limited, voided or found unenforceable. WHETHER THE CLAIM IS
DECIDED BY ARBITRATION OR BY TRIAL BY A JUDGE, THE PARTIES AGREE AND UNDERSTAND THAT THE
EFFECT OF THIS AGREEMENT IS THAT THEY ARE GIVING UP THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY TO THE EXTENT
PERMITTED BY LAW.
10.16 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each
transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other
modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Borrower acknowledges and agrees, and
acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services
regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent and the Arranger are arm’s-length
commercial transactions between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the
Administrative Agent and the Arranger, on the other hand, (B) the Borrower has consulted its own
legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the
Borrower is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of
the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) the Administrative
Agent and the Arranger each is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly
agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an
advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, or any other Person and (B)
neither the Administrative Agent nor the Arranger has any obligation to the Borrower or any of its
Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly
set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent and the
Arranger and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that
involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and neither the
Administrative Agent nor the Arranger has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower or
its Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Borrower hereby waives and releases
any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent and the Arranger with respect to any
breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any
transaction contemplated hereby.
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10.17 USA PATRIOT Act Notice. Each Lender that is subject to the Act (as hereinafter
defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies
the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56
(signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and
record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of
the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as
applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Act.
10.18 Time of the Essence. Time is of the essence of the Loan Documents.
10.19 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents represent the
final agreement among the parties and may not be contradicted by evidence of prior,
contemporaneous, or subsequent oral agreements of the parties. There are no unwritten oral
agreements among the parties.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank; Signatures Begin on Next Page]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of
the date first above written.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page 1
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BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
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CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page 2
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BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
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CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page 3