CREDIT AGREEMENT Dated as of June 29, 2004 among POTLATCH CORPORATION as Borrower Certain Material Subsidiaries of the Borrower from time to time party hereto as Guarantors BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and an L/C...
Exhibit 1
EXECUTION COPY
[Published CUSIP Number: ]
Dated as of June 29, 2004
among
POTLATCH CORPORATION
as Borrower
Certain Material Subsidiaries of the Borrower
from time to time party hereto
as Guarantors
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer
and
THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
as Joint Lead Arranger and Sole Book Manager
WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
as Joint Lead Arranger
and
WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Syndication Agent
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section |
Page | |||
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS |
1 | |||
1.01 |
Defined Terms. |
1 | ||
1.02 |
Other Interpretive Provisions. |
27 | ||
1.03 |
Accounting Terms. |
27 | ||
1.04 |
Rounding. |
28 | ||
1.05 |
References to Agreements and Laws. |
28 | ||
1.06 |
Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents. |
29 | ||
1.07 |
Additional Alternative Currencies. |
29 | ||
1.08 |
Change of Currency. |
30 | ||
1.09 |
Times of Day. |
30 | ||
1.10 |
Letter of Credit Amounts. |
30 | ||
ARTICLE II COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS |
31 | |||
2.01 |
Committed Loans. |
31 | ||
2.02 |
Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans. |
31 | ||
2.03 |
Letters of Credit. |
33 | ||
2.04 |
Swing Line Loans. |
43 | ||
2.05 |
Prepayments. |
45 | ||
2.06 |
Termination or Reduction of Commitments. |
46 | ||
2.07 |
Repayment of Loans. |
46 | ||
2.08 |
Interest |
46 | ||
2.09 |
Fees. |
47 | ||
2.10 |
Computation of Interest and Fees. |
47 | ||
2.11 |
Evidence of Debt. |
48 | ||
2.12 |
Payments Generally. |
48 | ||
2.13 |
Sharing of Payments. |
50 | ||
2.14 |
Increase in Aggregate Commitments. |
51 | ||
2.15 |
Extension Option. |
52 | ||
ARTICLE III TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY |
52 | |||
3.01 |
Taxes. |
52 | ||
3.02 |
Illegality. |
53 | ||
3.03 |
Inability to Determine Rates. |
53 | ||
3.04 |
Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans. |
54 | ||
3.05 |
Funding Losses. |
55 | ||
3.06 |
Matters Applicable to all Requests for Compensation. |
55 | ||
3.07 |
Survival. |
55 | ||
ARTICLE IV CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS |
56 | |||
4.01 |
Conditions of Initial Credit Extension. |
56 | ||
4.02 |
Conditions to all Credit Extensions. |
58 | ||
ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
59 | |||
5.01 |
Financial Condition. |
59 | ||
5.02 |
No Material Change. |
59 | ||
5.03 |
Organization and Good Standing. |
60 | ||
5.04 |
Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations. |
60 |
5.05 |
No Conflicts. |
60 | ||
5.06 |
No Default. |
61 | ||
5.07 |
Ownership. |
61 | ||
5.08 |
Indebtedness. |
61 | ||
5.09 |
Litigation. |
61 | ||
5.10 |
Taxes. |
61 | ||
5.11 |
Compliance with Law. |
61 | ||
5.12 |
ERISA. |
62 | ||
5.13 |
Corporate Structure; Capital Stock, Etc. |
63 | ||
5.14 |
Governmental Regulations, Etc. |
63 | ||
5.15 |
Purpose of Loans and Letters of Credit. |
64 | ||
5.16 |
Environmental Matters. |
64 | ||
5.17 |
Solvency. |
65 | ||
5.18 |
Investments. |
65 | ||
5.19 |
Disclosure. |
65 | ||
5.20 |
No Burdensome Restrictions. |
65 | ||
5.21 |
Brokers’ Fees. |
65 | ||
5.22 |
Labor Matters. |
65 | ||
ARTICLE VI AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS |
66 | |||
6.01 |
Information Covenants. |
66 | ||
6.02 |
Preservation of Existence and Franchises. |
69 | ||
6.03 |
Books and Records. |
69 | ||
6.04 |
Compliance with Law. |
69 | ||
6.05 |
Payment of Taxes and Other Claims. |
69 | ||
6.06 |
Insurance. |
70 | ||
6.07 |
Maintenance of Property; Management of Timberlands. |
70 | ||
6.08 |
Use of Proceeds. |
70 | ||
6.09 |
Audits/Inspections. |
70 | ||
6.10 |
Financial Covenants. |
70 | ||
6.11 |
Additional Guarantors. |
71 | ||
6.12 |
Performance of Obligations. |
71 | ||
ARTICLE VII NEGATIVE COVENANTS |
71 | |||
7.01 |
Indebtedness. |
71 | ||
7.02 |
Liens. |
72 | ||
7.03 |
Nature of Business. |
74 | ||
7.04 |
Consolidation, Merger, Dissolution, etc. |
74 | ||
7.05 |
Asset Dispositions |
75 | ||
7.06 |
Investments. |
76 | ||
7.07 |
Restricted Payments. |
77 | ||
7.08 |
Limitation on Actions with Respect to Other Indebtedness. |
78 | ||
7.09 |
Transactions with Affiliates. |
78 | ||
7.10 |
Fiscal Year; Organizational Documents. |
79 | ||
7.11 |
Limitation on Restricted Actions. |
79 | ||
7.12 |
Ownership of Subsidiaries. |
79 | ||
7.13 |
Sale Leasebacks. |
80 | ||
7.14 |
No Further Negative Pledges. |
80 | ||
7.15 |
Subsidiaries. |
80 | ||
ARTICLE VIII EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES |
80 | |||
8.01 |
Events of Default. |
80 |
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8.02 |
Remedies Upon Event of Default. |
83 | ||
8.03 |
Application of Funds. |
84 | ||
ARTICLE IX ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT |
85 | |||
9.01 |
Appointment and Authorization of Administrative Agent. |
85 | ||
9.02 |
Delegation of Duties. |
85 | ||
9.03 |
Liability of Administrative Agent. |
85 | ||
9.04 |
Reliance by Administrative Agent. |
86 | ||
9.05 |
Notice of Default. |
86 | ||
9.06 |
Credit Decision; Disclosure of Information by Administrative Agent. |
87 | ||
9.07 |
Indemnification of Administrative Agent. |
87 | ||
9.08 |
Administrative Agent in its Individual Capacity. |
88 | ||
9.09 |
Successor Administrative Agent. |
88 | ||
9.10 |
Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim. |
89 | ||
9.11 |
Guaranty Matters. |
90 | ||
9.12 |
Other Agents; Arrangers and Managers. |
90 | ||
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS |
90 | |||
10.01 |
Amendments, Etc. |
90 | ||
10.02 |
Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies. |
91 | ||
10.03 |
No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. |
93 | ||
10.04 |
Attorney Costs, Expenses and Taxes. |
93 | ||
10.05 |
Indemnification by the Borrower. |
93 | ||
10.06 |
Payments Set Aside. |
94 | ||
10.07 |
Successors and Assigns. |
94 | ||
10.08 |
Confidentiality. |
99 | ||
10.09 |
Set-off. |
99 | ||
10.10 |
Interest Rate Limitation. |
100 | ||
10.11 |
Counterparts. |
100 | ||
10.12 |
Integration. |
100 | ||
10.13 |
Survival of Representations and Warranties. |
100 | ||
10.14 |
Severability. |
101 | ||
10.15 |
Tax Forms. |
101 | ||
10.16 |
Replacement of Lenders. |
103 | ||
10.17 |
Governing Law. |
103 | ||
10.18 |
Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury. |
104 | ||
10.19 |
USA Patriot Act Notice. |
104 | ||
10.20 |
Judgment Currency. |
104 | ||
ARTICLE XI GUARANTY |
105 | |||
11.01 |
The Guaranty. |
105 | ||
11.02 |
Obligations Unconditional. |
105 | ||
11.03 |
Reinstatement. |
106 | ||
11.04 |
Certain Additional Waivers. |
106 | ||
11.05 |
Remedies. |
107 | ||
11.06 |
Rights of Contribution. |
107 | ||
11.07 |
Guarantee of Payment; Continuing Guarantee. |
107 |
iii
SCHEDULES
1.01 |
Existing Letters of Credit | |
2.01 |
Commitments and Pro Rata Shares | |
5.04 |
Required Consents, Authorizations, Notices and Filings | |
5.09 |
Litigation | |
5.12 |
ERISA | |
5.13 |
Subsidiaries | |
5.16 |
Environmental Disclosures | |
7.01 |
Existing Indebtedness | |
7.02 |
Existing Liens | |
7.06 |
Existing Investments | |
10.02 |
Administrative Agent’s Office, Certain Addresses for Notices |
EXHIBITS
Form of | ||
A |
Committed Loan Notice | |
B |
Swing Line Loan Notice | |
C |
Note | |
D |
Compliance Certificate | |
E |
Assignment and Assumption | |
F |
Joinder Agreement | |
G |
Notice of Prepayment |
iv
This CREDIT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is entered into as of June 29, 2004, among Potlatch Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), certain Material Subsidiaries of the Borrower from time to time party hereto as guarantors (the “Guarantors”), 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 an 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:
“Acquisition”, by any Person, means the acquisition by such Person of all of the Capital Stock or all or substantially all of the Property of another Person or a division or business unit thereof, whether or not involving a merger or consolidation with such other 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 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. “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. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Person shall be deemed to be Controlled by another Person if such other Person possesses, directly or indirectly, power to vote 10% or more of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors, managing general partners or the equivalent.
“Agent-Related Persons” means the Administrative Agent, together with its Affiliates (including, in the case of Bank of America in its capacity as the Administrative Agent, the Arranger), and the officers, directors, employees, agents and attorneys-in-fact of such Persons and Affiliates.
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“Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all the Lenders, as such amount may be reduced or increased as set forth herein. The Aggregate Commitments as of the Closing Date shall be ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ($125,000,000).
“Agreement” means this Credit Agreement.
“Agreement Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 10.20.
“Alternative Currency” means Euro and each other currency (other than Dollars) that is approved in accordance with Section 1.07.
“Alternative Currency Equivalent” means, at any time, with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the equivalent amount thereof in the applicable Alternative Currency as determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate (determined in respect of the most recent Revaluation Date) for the purchase of such Alternative Currency with Dollars.
“Applicable Rate” means, from time to time, for the purposes of calculating (a) the commitment fee for the purposes of Section 2.09(a), (b) the interest rate applicable to Eurodollar Rate Loans for the purposes of Section 2.08, (c) the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans for the purposes of Section 2.08 or (d) the Letter of Credit Fee for the purposes of Section 2.03(i), the following percentages per annum, based upon the Funded Indebtedness to Capitalization Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.01(c):
Applicable Rate
Pricing |
Funded Indebtedness to Capitalization Ratio |
Eurodollar Loans |
Base Rate Loans |
Letter of Credit Fee |
Commitment Fee |
|||||||||
I |
Less than 37.5% | 0.875 | % | 0 | % | 0.875 | % | 0.200 | % | |||||
II |
Greater than or equal to 37.5% but less than 45.0% | 1.125 | % | 0.125 | % | 1.125 | % | 0.250 | % | |||||
III |
Greater than or equal to 45% but less than 52.5% | 1.375 | % | 0.375 | % | 1.375 | % | 0.300 | % | |||||
IV |
Greater than or equal to 52.5% | 1.625 | % | 0.625 | % | 1.625 | % | 0.350 | % |
2
Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Funded Indebtedness to Capitalization Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(c); provided, however, that if a Compliance Certificate is not delivered when due in accordance with such Section, then Pricing Level IV shall apply as of the first Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered until such Compliance Certificate is actually delivered. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Applicable Rate shall initially be set at Pricing Level III in the table above and will remain at Pricing Level III until the first Business Day immediately following the date on which the Borrower has delivered the Compliance Certificate for the fiscal quarter ending on June 30, 2004.
“Applicable Time” means, with respect to any borrowings and payments in any Alternative Currency, the local time in the place of settlement for such Alternative Currency as may be determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to be necessary for timely settlement on the relevant date in accordance with normal banking procedures in the place of payment.
“Arranger” means Banc of America Securities LLC, in its capacity as joint lead arranger and sole book manager.
“Asset Disposition” means any disposition (including pursuant to a Sale and Leaseback Transaction) of any or all of the Property (including without limitation the Capital Stock of a Subsidiary) of any Consolidated Party whether by sale, lease, licensing, transfer or otherwise, but other than pursuant to any casualty or condemnation event; provided, however, that (i) the term
3
“Asset Disposition” shall be deemed to include any “Asset Sale” (or any comparable term) under, and as defined in, the Senior Subordinated Note Indenture or the documents evidencing or governing any Subordinated Indebtedness, (ii) an Equity Issuance shall not constitute an Asset Disposition and (iii) the sale of conservation easements on timberlands or the sale of inventory, electricity, timber or other assets in the ordinary course of business (other than a sale of a fee interest in timberlands) shall not constitute an Asset Disposition.
“Assignment and Assumption” means an Assignment and Assumption substantially in the form of Exhibit E.
“Attorney Costs” means and includes all reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of any law firm or other external counsel and, without duplication, the allocated cost of internal legal services and all out-of-pocket expenses and disbursements of internal counsel.
“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 December 31, 2003, 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 the 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.
“Bankruptcy Code” means the Bankruptcy Code in Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended, modified, succeeded or replaced from time to time.
“Base Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the higher of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1% and (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America as its “prime rate.” The “prime rate” is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors including Bank of America’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in such rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.
“Base Rate Committed Loan” means a Committed Loan that is a Base Rate Loan.
4
“Base Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.
“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.
“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.
“Capital Lease” means, as applied to any Person, any lease of any Property (whether real, personal or mixed) by that Person as lessee which, in accordance with GAAP, is required to be accounted for as a capital lease on the balance sheet of that Person.
“Capital Stock” means (i) in the case of a corporation, capital stock, (ii) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock, (iii) in the case of a partnership, partnership interests (whether general or limited), (iv) in the case of a limited liability company, membership interests and (v) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.
“Cash Collateralize” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(g).
“Cash Equivalents” means, as at any date, (a) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof) having maturities of not more than twelve months from the date of acquisition, (b) Dollar denominated time deposits and certificates of deposit of (i) any Lender, (ii) any domestic commercial bank of recognized standing having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000 or (iii) any bank whose short-term commercial paper rating from S&P is at least A-1 or the equivalent thereof or from Xxxxx’x is at least P-1 or the equivalent thereof (any such bank being an “Approved Bank”), in each case with maturities of not more than 270 days from the date of acquisition, (c) commercial paper and variable or fixed rate notes issued by any Approved Bank (or by the parent company thereof) or any variable rate notes issued by, or guaranteed by, any domestic corporation rated A-1 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or P-1 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s and maturing within six months of the date of acquisition, (d) repurchase agreements entered into by any Person with a bank or trust company (including any of the Lenders) or recognized securities dealer having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000 for direct obligations issued by or fully guaranteed by the United States in which such Person shall have a perfected first priority security interest (subject to no other Liens) and having, on the date of purchase thereof, a fair market value of at least 100% of the amount of the repurchase obligations and (e) Investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets, in money market investment programs registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, which are administered by reputable financial institutions having capital of at least $500,000,000 and the portfolios of which are limited to Investments of the character described in the foregoing subdivisions (a) through (d).
5
“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following: (i) any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule l3d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of more than 35% of then outstanding Voting Stock of the Borrower, measured by voting power rather than the number of shares; provided, however, that for the purposes hereof any Person shall not be deemed to be a “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule l3d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of shares tendered pursuant to a tender offer or exchange offer paid by or on behalf of that Person or any Affiliate of that Person until the tendered shares are accepted for purchase or exchange and, provided further, however, that no Person who is a “beneficial owner” of Voting Stock of the Borrower as of the Closing Date (an “Existing Holder”) or a Permitted Transferee (as hereinafter defined) (collectively a “Permitted Holder”) shall be deemed to have become the “beneficial owner” of Voting Stock of the Borrower as a result of the formation of a “syndicate” or “group” (each within the meaning of Section l3d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) with one or more other Permitted Holders to the extent of the Voting Stock of the Borrower as to which such other Permitted Holder or Permitted Holders is a “beneficial owner” as of the Closing Date; (ii) the Borrower shall merge or consolidate with any Person other than in a transaction permitted under Section 7.04; (iii) Continuing Directors shall fail to constitute a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Borrower; (iv) any Asset Disposition shall be made that (of itself or when combined with any or all other Asset Dispositions) constitutes a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (v) any event shall occur that constitutes a “Change of Control” (or any comparable term) under, and as defined in, the documents evidencing or governing any Subordinated Indebtedness; or (vi) any event shall occur that requires the Borrower or any Subsidiary to repay, redeem, or repurchase (or to offer to repay, redeem or repurchase) any Indebtedness outstanding in a principal amount in excess of $50,000,000 by reason of any change of ownership or control affecting the Borrower or such Subsidiary. For the purposes hereof, “Permitted Transferee” shall mean any direct or indirect transferee of Voting Stock of the Borrower from an Existing Holder (1) by gift, bequest, distribution from (or deposit into) a trust or other transfer without consideration, (2) by succession or testamentary disposition upon death or (3) to a spouse or former spouse pursuant to an agreement for division of community property or other property settlement agreement in connection with a marital dissolution or legal separation. A Permitted Transferee shall be deemed to be the “beneficial owner” of any such Voting Stock as of the Closing Date.
“Closing Date” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are satisfied in accordance with Section 4.01 (or, in the case of Section 4.01(d), satisfied or waived by the Person entitled to receive the applicable payment).
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“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
6
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 Capital Expenditures” means, as of any date for the four fiscal quarter period ending on such date with respect to the Consolidated Parties on a consolidated basis, all capital expenditures, as determined in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that Consolidated Capital Expenditures shall not include Eligible Reinvestments made with proceeds of any Involuntary Disposition but shall include those capital expenditures related to timberland operations.
“Consolidated EBITDDA” means, as of any date for the four fiscal quarter period ending on such date with respect to the Consolidated Parties on a consolidated basis, the sum of (i) Consolidated Net Income, plus (ii) an amount which, in the determination of Consolidated Net Income, has been deducted for (A) Consolidated Interest Expense, (B) income taxes, (C) depreciation, depletion and amortization expense and (D) any prepayment penalty, make-whole premium or loss associated with the Repayment of any Indebtedness permitted hereunder.
“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, as of any date for the four fiscal quarter period ending on such date with respect to the Consolidated Parties on a consolidated basis, interest expense (including the amortization of debt discount and premium, the interest component under Capital Leases and the implied interest component under Synthetic Lease Obligations), all as determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated Net Income” means, as of any date for the four fiscal quarter period ending on such date with respect to the Consolidated Parties on a consolidated basis, net income (excluding non-cash, non-recurring extraordinary items) after interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, all as determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated Net Worth” means, as of any date, shareholders’ equity or net worth of the Consolidated Parties on a consolidated basis, as of such date, as determined in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that (i) for the purpose of the calculation of the Funded Indebtedness to Capitalization Ratio, such calculation shall exclude (i.e., there will be added back to Consolidated Net Worth) the after-tax charge taken by the Borrower in the first quarter of its 2002 fiscal year to cover costs associated with the write-down of the book value of assets and
7
closure costs in connection with the Borrower’s closure of its remaining printing papers mill in Brainerd, Minnesota, and its exit from the coated printing papers business, as more fully described in the press release issued by the Borrower on March 18, 2002 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in a filing on Form 8-K on March 18, 2002, in an aggregate amount for all charges taken by the Borrower with respect thereto since March 31, 2002 not to exceed $150,000,000 and (ii) for the purpose of calculating Consolidated Net Worth with respect to Section 6.10(b) and the calculation of the Funded Indebtedness to Capitalization Ratio, such calculation shall exclude (i.e., there will be added back to Consolidated Net Worth) any year-end non-cash adjustment (on an after-tax basis) to other comprehensive income to reflect any Additional Minimum Liability; provided, however, the aggregate incremental amount of all such charges added back to Consolidated Net Worth pursuant to clause (ii) hereof after the 2001 fiscal year (i.e. excluding any such charges for fiscal year 2001 and prior years) shall not exceed $50,000,000. For purposes hereof, “Additional Minimum Liability” means, as of any date, with respect to any Pension Plan, the sum of the absolute values of (x) the unfunded accumulated benefit obligation existing as of the end of the fiscal year then ending or the most recently ended fiscal year, as applicable, plus (y) the Borrower’s prepaid pension asset position existing as of the end of the fiscal year then ending or the most recently ended fiscal year, as applicable.
“Consolidated Parties” means a collective reference to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and “Consolidated Party” means any one of them.
“Consolidated Total Capitalization” means, as of any date of determination, (i) Funded Indebtedness of the Consolidated Parties on a consolidated basis as of such date plus (ii) Consolidated Net Worth as of such date.
“Control” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Affiliate.”
“Credit Extension” means each of the following: (a) a Borrowing and (b) an L/C Credit Extension.
“Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.
“Default” means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.
“Default Rate” means (a) when used with respect to Obligations other than Letter of Credit Fees, an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (iii) 2% per annum; provided, however, that with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per annum, and (b) when used with respect to Letter of Credit Fees, a rate equal to the Applicable Rate plus 2% per annum.
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“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, (b) has otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute, or (c) has been deemed insolvent or become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding.
“Discretionary L/C Issuer” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b)(v).
“Dollar” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.
“Dollar Equivalent” means, at any time, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, such amount, and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in any Alternative Currency, the equivalent amount thereof in Dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate (determined in respect of the most recent Revaluation Date) for the purchase of Dollars with such Alternative Currency.
“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of any political subdivision of the United States.
“Eligible Assignee” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(g).
“Eligible Reinvestment” means (i) any acquisition (whether or not constituting a capital expenditure, but not constituting an Acquisition) of assets or any business (or any substantial part thereof) used or useful in the same or a similar line of business as the Borrower and its Subsidiaries were engaged in on the Closing Date (or any reasonable extensions or expansions thereof) and (ii) any Permitted Acquisition. The term “Eligible Reinvestment” shall not include any item which is not a permitted application of proceeds of an “Asset Sale” (or any comparable term) under, and as defined in the documents evidencing or governing any Subordinated Indebtedness.
“EMU” means the economic and monetary union in accordance with the Treaty of Rome 1957, as amended by the Single Xxxxxxxx Xxx 0000, the Maastricht Treaty of 1992 and the Amsterdam Treaty of 1998.
“EMU Legislation” means the legislative measures of the European Council for the introduction of, changeover to or operation of a single or unified European currency.
“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.
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“Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.
“Equity Issuance” means any issuance by any Consolidated Party to any Person of (a) shares of its Capital Stock, (b) any shares of its Capital Stock pursuant to the exercise of options or warrants, (c) any shares of its Capital Stock pursuant to the conversion of any debt securities to equity or (d) any options or warrants relating to its Capital Stock. The term “Equity Issuance” shall not be deemed to include (a) any Asset Disposition or (b) issuances pursuant to (x) employee plans of the Borrower that are in place as of the Closing Date to the extent such issuances are permitted pursuant to the documentation governing those plans as in effect as of the Closing Date or (y) new employee plans of the Borrower to the extent such issuances are consistent with past practices of the Borrower.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with the Borrower within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).
“ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a plan amendment as a termination under Sections 4041 or 4041A of ERISA with respect to, 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.
“Euro” and “EUR” mean the lawful currency of the Participating Member States in accordance with the EMU Legislation.
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“Eurodollar Rate” means for any Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Loan:
(a) the rate per annum equal to the rate determined by the Administrative Agent to be the offered rate that appears on the page of the Telerate screen (or any successor thereto) that displays an average British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate for deposits in Dollars (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period, determined as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, or
(b) if the rate referenced in the preceding clause (a) does not appear on such page or service or such page or service shall not be available, the rate per annum equal to the rate determined by the Administrative Agent to be the offered rate on such other page or other service that displays an average British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate for deposits in Dollars (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period, determined as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, or
(c) if the rates referenced in the preceding clauses (a) and (b) are not available, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent as the rate of interest 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 4:00 p.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period.
“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.
“Existing Credit Agreement” means that certain Credit Agreement dated as of June 29, 2001 (as amended or modified prior to the Closing Date) among the Borrower, the guarantors party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and a syndicate of lenders.
“Existing Letters of Credit” means the letters of credit outstanding on the Closing Date and identified on Schedule 1.01.
“Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) 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 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 charged to Bank of America on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.
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“Fee Letter” means the letter agreement, dated April 2, 2004, among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Arranger.
“Foreign Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 10.15(a)(i).
“Fully Satisfied” means, with respect to the Obligations as of any date, that, as of such date, (a) all principal of and interest accrued to such date which constitute Obligations shall have been irrevocably paid in full in cash, (b) all fees, expenses and other amounts then due and payable which constitute Obligations shall have been irrevocably paid in cash, and (c) the Commitments shall have been expired or terminated in full.
“Funded Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, or upon which interest payments are customarily made, (c) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to Property purchased by such Person (other than customary reservations or retentions of title under agreements with suppliers entered into in the ordinary course of business), (d) all obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of Property or services purchased by such Person (other than trade debt incurred in the ordinary course of business and due within six months of the incurrence thereof) which would appear as liabilities on a balance sheet of such Person, (e) the implied principal component of all obligations of such Person under Capital Leases, (f) the maximum amount of all performance and standby letters of credit issued or bankers’ acceptances facilities created for the account of such Person and, without duplication, all drafts drawn thereunder (to the extent unreimbursed), (g) all preferred Capital Stock issued by such Person and which by the terms thereof could be (at the request of the holders thereof or otherwise) subject to mandatory sinking fund payments, redemption or other acceleration (other than as a result of a Change of Control or an Asset Disposition that does not in fact result in a redemption of such preferred Capital Stock) at any time prior to the Maturity Date, (h) the principal portion of all obligations of such Person under Synthetic Lease Obligations, (i) all obligations of such Person to repurchase any securities issued by such Person at any time prior to the Maturity Date which repurchase obligations are related to the issuance thereof, including, without limitation, obligations commonly known as residual equity appreciation potential shares, (j) the aggregate amount of uncollected accounts receivable of such Person subject at such time to a sale of receivables (or similar transaction) (whether or not such transaction would be reflected on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP), (k) all Funded Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Funded Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on, or payable out of the proceeds of production from, Property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the obligations secured thereby have been assumed, (l) all Guarantees of such Person with respect to Funded Indebtedness of another Person and (m) the Funded Indebtedness of any partnership or unincorporated joint venture in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer to the extent such Indebtedness is recourse to such Person.
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“Funded Indebtedness to Capitalization Ratio” means, as of the end of any fiscal quarter, the ratio of (a) Funded Indebtedness of the Consolidated Parties on a consolidated basis on the last day of such period to (b) Consolidated Total Capitalization on the last day of such period.
“FRB” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.
“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 any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof, any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, administrative tribunal, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.
“Granting Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(h).
“Guarantee” means, as to any Person, (a) any obligation (other than endorsements in the ordinary course of business of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection), 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 uncontested 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. 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, collectively, each Person that subsequently becomes a Guarantor hereunder pursuant to Section 6.11 by executing a Joinder Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit F, and “Guarantor” means any one of them. As of the Closing Date there are no Guarantors party hereto.
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“Guaranty” means the Guaranty made by the Guarantors in favor of the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, pursuant to Article XI hereof.
“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 set forth in Section 2.14.
“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person either evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, or upon which interest payments are customarily made, (c) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to Property purchased by such Person (other than customary reservations or retentions of title under agreements with suppliers entered into in the ordinary course of business), (d) all obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of Property or services purchased by such Person (other than trade debt incurred in the ordinary course of business and due within six months of the incurrence thereof) which would appear as liabilities on a balance sheet of such Person, (e) all obligations of such Person under take-or-pay or similar arrangements or under commodities agreements under which such Person must make payments notwithstanding the failure of the counter-party to deliver the goods or services which such counter-party is required to deliver thereunder (and, for the avoidance of doubt shall not include arrangements under which such Person must pay for capacity or availability that must be delivered or made available to entitle the counter-party to payment, notwithstanding that such Person may not use such capacity or availability), (f) the implied principal component of all obligations of such Person under Capital Leases, (g) all net obligations of such Person under Swap Contracts, (h) the maximum amount of all performance and standby letters of credit issued or bankers’ acceptances facilities created for the account of such Person and, without duplication, all drafts drawn thereunder (to the extent unreimbursed), (i) all preferred Capital Stock issued by such Person and which by the terms thereof could be (at the request of the holders thereof or otherwise) subject to mandatory sinking fund payments, redemption or other acceleration (other than as a result of a Change of Control or an Asset Disposition that does not in fact result in a redemption of such preferred Capital Stock) at any time prior to the Maturity Date, (j) the principal portion of all obligations of such Person under Synthetic Lease Obligations and other Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities (excluding Operating Leases to the extent they would otherwise be included), (k) all obligations of such Person to repurchase any securities issued by such Person at any time prior to the Maturity Date which repurchase obligations are related to the issuance thereof, including, without limitation, obligations commonly known as residual equity appreciation potential shares, (l) the aggregate amount of uncollected accounts receivable of such Person subject at such time to a sale of receivables (or similar transaction) (whether or not such transaction would be reflected on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP), (m) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on, or payable out of the proceeds of production from, Property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the obligations secured thereby have been assumed, (n) all Guarantees of such Person with respect to Indebtedness of another Person and (o) the Indebtedness of any partnership
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or unincorporated joint venture in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer to the extent such Indebtedness is 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 Liabilities” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.05.
“Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.05.
“Interest Coverage Ratio” means, as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Consolidated Parties, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDDA as of such date to (b) Consolidated Interest Expense as of such date.
“Interest Payment Date” means, (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date; provided, however, that if any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates; and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan (including a Swing Line Loan), the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date.
“Interest Period” means, as to each Eurodollar Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurodollar Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Rate Loan and ending on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Committed Loan Notice; provided further 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.
“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, 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 or product line (other than (i) equipment, timber, timberlands, inventory and supplies in the ordinary course of business and (ii) any acquisition of assets constituting Consolidated Capital Expenditures). 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.
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“Involuntary Disposition” means any loss of, damage to or destruction of, or any condemnation or other taking for public use of, any Property of any Consolidated Party.
“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
“Joinder Agreement” means a Joinder Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto, executed and delivered by a new Guarantor in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.11.
“Judgment Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 10.20.
“Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of law.
“L/C Advance” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Pro Rata Share. All L/C Advances shall be denominated in Dollars.
“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. All L/C Borrowings shall be denominated in Dollars.
“L/C Credit Extension” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the renewal or increase of the amount thereof.
“L/C Documents” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit, any amendments thereto, any documents delivered in connection therewith, any application therefor, and any agreements, instruments, guarantees or other documents (whether general in application or applicable only to such Letter of Credit) governing or providing for (i) the rights and obligations of the parties concerned or at risk or (ii) any collateral security for such obligations.
“L/C Issuer” means Bank of America in its capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, any Discretionary L/C Issuer, any Lender that has issued an Existing Letter of Credit, or any successor issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder.
“L/C Obligations” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts, including all L/C Borrowings. For purposes of computing the amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.10.
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“Lender” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto and, as the context requires, includes the L/C Issuer and 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 standby or sight-draft commercial letter of credit issued (or deemed issued) hereunder and shall include the Existing Letters of Credit. Letters of Credit may be issued in Dollars or in an Alternative Currency.
“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 thirty (30) 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 Sublimit” means an amount equal to THIRTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ($35,000,000). The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments.
“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), other security interest or charge (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, and any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing, but excluding operating leases).
“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 Joinder Agreement and the Fee Letter.
“Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Borrower and each Guarantor.
“Mandatory Cash Collateralization Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b)(vi).
“Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, assets, properties, liabilities (actual or contingent), condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Borrower or the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of the Borrower or the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to perform its material obligations under any Loan Document to which it is a party; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the material rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under the Loan Documents.
“Material Domestic Subsidiary” means any Domestic Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary.
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“Material Foreign Subsidiary” means any foreign Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary.
“Material Subsidiary” means as of any date of determination any Subsidiary, that together with its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, accounts for (or to which may be attributed) 5% or more of the net assets (determined on a consolidated basis) of the Consolidated Parties. As of the Closing Date the Borrower has no Material Subsidiaries.
“Maturity Date” means the later of (a) June 29, 2007 and (b) if maturity is extended pursuant to Section 2.15, such extended maturity date as determined pursuant to such Section.
“Moody’s” means Xxxxx’x Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.
“Multiemployer Plan” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA and subject to Title IV 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.
“Multiple Employer Plan” means a Plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) which any Consolidated Party or any ERISA Affiliate and at least one employer other than the Consolidated Parties or any ERISA Affiliate are contributing sponsors.
“Net Cash Proceeds” means the aggregate cash or Cash Equivalents proceeds received by any Consolidated Party in respect of any Asset Disposition, Equity Issuance or Involuntary Disposition, net of (a) direct costs (including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions), (b) taxes paid or payable as a result thereof and (c) in the case of any Asset Disposition, the amount necessary to Repay any Indebtedness either secured by a Permitted Lien on the related Property or incurred in connection with the Property that is included in such Asset Disposition; it being understood that “Net Cash Proceeds” shall include, without limitation, any cash or Cash Equivalents received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received by any such Consolidated Party in any Asset Disposition, Equity Issuance or Involuntary Disposition. In addition, the “Net Cash Proceeds” of any Asset Disposition shall include any other amounts which constitute “Net Proceeds” (or any comparable term) of such transaction under, and as defined in the documents evidencing or governing any Subordinated Indebtedness.
“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.
“Notice of Prepayment” means a notice of prepayment of Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(a), which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit G.
“Obligations” means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including (i) 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
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debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding and (ii) any Swap Contract of any Loan Party to which a Lender or any Affiliate of such Lender is a party (determined at the time such Swap Contract was entered into).
“Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities” means, with respect to any Person as of any date of determination thereof, without duplication and to the extent not included as a liability on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP: (a) with respect to any asset securitization or similar transaction (including any accounts receivable purchase facility) (i) the unrecovered investment of purchasers or transferees of assets so transferred and (ii) any other payment, recourse, repurchase, hold harmless, indemnity or similar obligation of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of assets transferred or payments made in respect thereof, other than limited recourse provisions that are customary for transactions of such type and that neither (x) have the effect of limiting the loss or credit risk of such purchasers or transferees with respect to payment or performance by the obligors of the assets so transferred nor (y) impair the characterization of the transaction as a true sale under applicable Laws (including Debtor Relief Laws); or (b) the monetary obligations under any financing lease (excluding any operating lease) or so-called “synthetic,” tax retention or off-balance sheet lease transaction which, upon the application of any Debtor Relief Law to such Person or any of its Subsidiaries, would be characterized as indebtedness; or (c) the monetary obligations under any sale and leaseback transaction which does not create a liability on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries; or (d) any other monetary obligation arising with respect to any other transaction which (i) upon the application of any Debtor Relief Law to such Person or any of its Subsidiaries, would be characterized as indebtedness or (ii) is the functional equivalent of or takes the place of borrowing but which does not constitute a liability on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries (for purposes of this clause (d), any transaction structured to provide tax deductibility as interest expense of any dividend, coupon or other periodic payment will be deemed to be the functional equivalent of a borrowing).
“Operating Lease” means, as applied to any Person, any lease (including, without limitation, leases which may be terminated by the lessee at any time) of any Property (whether real, personal or mixed) which is not a Capital Lease other than any such lease in which that Person is the lessor.
“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.
“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
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case may be, occurring on such date; and (ii) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate outstanding 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 of outstanding unpaid drawings under any Letters of Credit or any reductions in the maximum amount available for drawing under Letters of Credit taking effect on such date.
“Overnight Rate” means, for any day, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the Federal Funds Rate for that day, and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in an Alternative Currency, the rate of interest per annum at which overnight deposits in the applicable Alternative Currency, in an amount approximately equal to the amount with respect to which such rate is being determined, would be offered for such day by a branch or Affiliate of Bank of America in the applicable offshore interbank market for such currency to major banks in such interbank market.
“Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(d).
“Participating Member State” means each state so described in any EMU Legislation.
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
“Pension Plan” means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA and is sponsored or maintained by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple employer or other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding five plan years.
“Permitted Acquisition” means an Acquisition by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower permitted pursuant to the terms of Section 7.06(g).
“Permitted Asset Disposition” means any Asset Disposition permitted by Section 7.05.
“Permitted Investments” means, at any time, Investments by the Consolidated Parties permitted to exist at such time pursuant to the terms of Section 7.06.
“Permitted Liens” means, at any time, Liens in respect of Property of the Consolidated Parties permitted to exist at such time pursuant to the terms of Section 7.02.
“Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
“Plan” means any “employee 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.
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“Pro Forma Basis” means, for purposes of calculating (utilizing the principles set forth in the second paragraph of Section 1.03) compliance with each of the financial covenants set forth in Section 6.10(a)-(c) in respect of a proposed transaction, that such transaction shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the four fiscal-quarter period ending as of the most recent fiscal quarter end preceding the date of such transaction with respect to which the Administrative Agent has received the Required Financial Information. As used herein, “transaction” shall mean (i) any incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness as referred to in Section 7.01(f), (ii) any Asset Disposition as referred to in Section 7.05, (iii) any Acquisition as referred to in Section 7.06(g) or (iv) any Restricted Payment as referred to in Section 7.07(e). In connection with any calculation of the financial covenants set forth in Section 6.10(a)-(c) upon giving effect to a transaction on a Pro Forma Basis:
(A) for purposes of any such calculation in respect of any incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness as referred to in Section 7.01(f), any Indebtedness which is retired in connection with such transaction shall be excluded and deemed to have been retired as of the first day of the applicable period;
(B) for purposes of any such calculation in respect of any Asset Disposition as referred to in Section 7.05, (1) income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the Property disposed of shall be excluded and (2) any Indebtedness which is retired in connection with such transaction shall be excluded and deemed to have been retired as of the first day of the applicable period; and
(C) for purposes of any such calculation in respect of any Acquisition as referred to in Section 7.06(g), (1) any Indebtedness incurred by any Consolidated Party in connection with such transaction (x) shall be deemed to have been incurred as of the first day of the applicable period and (y) if such Indebtedness has a floating or formula rate, shall have an implied rate of interest for the applicable period for purposes of this definition determined by utilizing the rate which is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as at the relevant date of determination, (2) income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the Person or Property acquired shall be included beginning as of the first day of the applicable period and (3) pro forma adjustments may be included to the extent that such adjustments would be permitted under GAAP and give effect to events that are (x) directly attributable to such transaction, (y) expected to have a continuing impact on the Consolidated Parties and (z) factually supportable.
(D) for purposes of any such calculation in connection with the making of any Restricted Payment referred to in Section 7.07(e), any Indebtedness incurred (or to be incurred) by any Consolidated Party in connection with such payment or repurchases shall be deemed to have been incurred as of the first day of the applicable period.
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“Pro Forma Compliance Certificate” means a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower delivered to the Administrative Agent in connection with (i) any incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness as referred to in Section 7.01(f), (ii) any Asset Disposition as referred to in Section 7.05, (iii) any Acquisition as referred to in Section 7.06(g) and (iv) any Restricted Payment made pursuant to Section 7.07(e), as applicable, and containing reasonably detailed calculations, upon giving effect to the applicable transaction on a Pro Forma Basis, of the Funded Indebtedness to Capitalization Ratio, the Interest Coverage Ratio and Consolidated Net Worth as of the most recent fiscal quarter end preceding the date of the applicable transaction with respect to which the Administrative Agent shall have received the Required Financial Information.
“Pro Rata Share” means, with respect to each Lender at any time, a fraction (expressed as a percentage, carried out to the ninth decimal place), the numerator of which is the amount of the Commitment of such Lender at such time and the denominator of which is the amount of the Aggregate Commitments at such time; provided that 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, then the Pro Rata Share of each Lender shall be determined based on the Pro Rata Share of such Lender immediately prior to such termination and after giving effect to any subsequent assignments made pursuant to the terms hereof. The initial Pro Rata Share 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.
“Property” means any interest in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible.
“Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(c).
“Reimbursement Agreement” shall mean any agreement set forth on Schedule 2.03 hereto.
“Repay” or “Repayment” means with respect to Indebtedness, to permanently redeem, repurchase, retire or defease (including by way of depositing money or securities with the trustee with respect thereto before due for the purpose of paying when due) or acquire for value.
“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 Financial Information” means, with respect to each fiscal period or quarter of the Borrower, (a) the financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) for such fiscal period or quarter, and (b) the certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower required by Section 6.01(c) to be delivered with the financial statements described in clause (a) above.
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“Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more than 50% of the Aggregate Commitments or, if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of the Total Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition); provided that the 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” of any Person means any of the chief executive officer, chief operating officer, president, vice president, chief financial officer, treasurer or other duly elected officer of such Person. 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 (i) any dividend or other payment or distribution, direct or indirect, on account of any shares of any class of Capital Stock of any Consolidated Party, now or hereafter outstanding (including without limitation any payment in connection with any dissolution, merger, consolidation or disposition involving any Consolidated Party), or to the holders, in their capacity as such, of any shares of any class of Capital Stock of any Consolidated Party, now or hereafter outstanding (other than dividends or distributions payable in Capital Stock of the applicable Person and dividends or distributions payable (directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries) to the Borrower), (ii) any redemption, retirement, sinking fund or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value, direct or indirect, of any shares of any class of Capital Stock of any Consolidated Party, now or hereafter outstanding, (iii) any payment made to retire, or to obtain the surrender of, any outstanding warrants, options or other rights to acquire shares of any class of Capital Stock of any Consolidated Party, now or hereafter outstanding, and (iv) any payment or prepayment of principal of, or premium, if any, on (including any redemption, purchase, retirement, defeasance, sinking fund or similar payment with respect to) the Senior Subordinated Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term Restricted Payment shall not include any redemption of share purchase rights issued pursuant to any customary shareholder rights plan implemented by the Borrower from time to time (as the same may be amended from time to time), for a redemption price not to exceed $0.01 per share purchase right.
“Revaluation Date” means with respect to any Letter of Credit, each of the following: (a) each date of issuance of any Letter of Credit, (b) each date of an amendment of any Letter of Credit having the effect of increasing the amount thereof (solely with respect to the increased amount), (c) each date of any payment by the L/C Issuer of any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, (d) the last Business Day of each calendar month and (e) such additional dates as the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer shall require.
“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The XxXxxx-Xxxx Companies, Inc. and any successor thereto.
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“Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means any arrangement pursuant to which any Consolidated Party, directly or indirectly, becomes liable as lessee, guarantor or other surety with respect to any lease, whether an Operating Lease or a Capital Lease, of any Property (a) which such Consolidated Party has sold or transferred (or is to sell or transfer) to a Person which is not a Consolidated Party or (b) which such Consolidated Party intends to use for substantially the same purpose as any other Property which has been sold or transferred (or is to be sold or transferred) by such Consolidated Party to another Person which is not a Consolidated Party in connection with such lease, provided that any transaction that satisfies the conditions in preceding subsection (a) or (b) shall not constitute a “Sale and Leaseback Transaction” where lessor under such lease is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside of the United States, the Property is located in the United States and the obligations in respect of the lease or incurred in connection therewith for which the Consolidated Party is liable have been defeased.
“Same Day Funds” means (a) with respect to disbursements and payments in Dollars, immediately available funds, and (b) with respect to disbursements and payments in an Alternative Currency, same day or other funds as may be determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, to be customary in the place of disbursement or payment for the settlement of international banking transactions in the relevant Alternative Currency.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all regulations issued pursuant thereto.
“Senior Subordinated Note” means any one of the 10.0% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2011, issued by the Borrower in favor of the Senior Subordinated Noteholders pursuant to the Senior Subordinated Note Indenture, as such Senior Subordinated Notes may be amended, exchanged, modified, restated or supplemented and in effect from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.
“Senior Subordinated Note Indenture” means the Indenture, dated as of June 29, 2001, by and among the Borrower and the Trustee for the Senior Subordinated Noteholders, as the same may be amended, modified, restated or supplemented and in effect from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.
“Senior Subordinated Noteholder” means any one of the holders from time to time of the Senior Subordinated Notes.
“Single Employer Plan” means any Plan which is covered by Title IV of ERISA, but which is not a Multiemployer Plan or a Multiple Employer Plan.
“Solvent” or “Solvency” means, with respect to any Person as of a particular date, that on such date (i) such Person is able to pay its debts and other liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they mature in the normal course of business, (ii) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature in their ordinary course, (iii) such Person is not engaged in a business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in a business or a transaction, for which such
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Person’s Property would constitute unreasonably small capital after giving due consideration to the prevailing practice in the industry in which such Person is engaged or is to engage, (iv) the fair market value of the Property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including, without limitation, contingent liabilities, of such Person and (v) the present fair market value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured. In computing the amount of contingent liabilities at any time, it is intended that such liabilities will be computed at the amount which, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.
“SPC” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(h).
“Spot Rate” for a currency means the rate determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, to be the rate quoted by the Person acting in such capacity as the spot rate for the purchase by such Person of such currency with another currency through its principal foreign exchange trading office at approximately 11:00 a.m. on the date two Business Days prior to the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made; provided that the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer may obtain such spot rate from another financial institution designated by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer if the Person acting in such capacity does not have as of the date of determination a spot buying rate for any such currency; and provided further that the L/C Issuer may use such spot rate quoted on the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made in the case of any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency.
“Subordinated Indebtedness” means Indebtedness outstanding under the Senior Subordinated Note Indenture and the Senior Subordinated Notes and any other Indebtedness of the Borrower which by its terms is subordinated to the Obligations in a manner and to an extent acceptable to the Required Lenders.
“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)
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any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.
“Swap Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the xxxx-to-market value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).
“Swing Line” means the revolving credit facility made available by the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04.
“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).
“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) TEN MILLION DOLLARS ($10,000,000) 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). In no event shall any Operating Lease be construed as a Synthetic Lease Obligation.
“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 Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Rate Loan.
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“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 set forth 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 meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.
(b) (i) The words “herein,” “hereto,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document shall refer to such Loan Document as a whole and not to any particular provision thereof.
(ii) Article, Section, Exhibit and Schedule references are to the Loan Document in which such reference appears.
(iii) The term “including” is by way of example and not limitation.
(iv) The term “documents” includes any and all instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, notices, reports, financial statements and other writings, however evidenced, whether in physical or electronic form.
(c) 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.”
(d) 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) 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.
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(b) 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.
(c) Notwithstanding the above, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that, for purposes of all calculations made under the financial covenants set forth in Section 6.10 (including without limitation for purposes of the definitions of “Applicable Rate” and “Pro Forma Basis” set forth in Section 1.01), (i) after consummation of any Asset Disposition for consideration (cash and non-cash) in excess of $50,000,000 (A) income statement items (whether positive or negative) and capital expenditures attributable to the Property disposed of shall be excluded to the extent relating to any period occurring prior to the date of such transaction and (B) Indebtedness which is retired shall be excluded and deemed to have been retired as of the first day of the applicable period and (ii) after consummation of any Acquisition for an Investment for consideration (cash and non-cash) in excess of $50,000,000 (A) income statement items (whether positive or negative) and capital expenditures attributable to the Person or Property acquired shall, to the extent not otherwise included in such income statement items for the Consolidated Parties in accordance with GAAP or in accordance with any defined terms set forth in Section 1.01, be included to the extent relating to any period applicable in such calculations, (B) to the extent not retired in connection with such Acquisition, Indebtedness of the Person or Property acquired shall be deemed to have been incurred as of the first day of the applicable period and (C) pro forma adjustments may be included to the extent that such adjustments would be permitted under GAAP and give effect to items that are (x) directly attributable to such transaction, (y) expected to have a continuing impact on the Consolidated Parties and (z) factually supportable.
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 References to Agreements and Laws.
Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) references to Organization Documents, agreements (including the Loan Documents) and other contractual instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications are not prohibited by any Loan Document; and (b) references to any Law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Law.
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1.06 Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents.
(a) The Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, shall determine the Spot Rates as of each Revaluation Date to be used for calculating Dollar Equivalent amounts of Credit Extensions and Outstanding Amounts denominated in Alternative Currencies. Such Spot Rates shall become effective as of such Revaluation Date and shall be the Spot Rates employed in converting any amounts between the applicable currencies until the next Revaluation Date to occur. Except for purposes of financial statements delivered by Loan Parties hereunder or calculating financial covenants hereunder or except as otherwise provided herein, the applicable amount of any currency (other than Dollars) for purposes of the Loan Documents shall be such Dollar Equivalent amount as so determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as applicable.
(b) Wherever in this Agreement in connection with the issuance, amendment or extension of a Letter of Credit, an amount, such as a required minimum or multiple amount, is expressed in Dollars, but such Letter of Credit is denominated in an Alternative Currency, such amount shall be the relevant Alternative Currency Equivalent of such Dollar amount (rounded to the nearest unit of such Alternative Currency, with 0.5 of a unit being rounded upward), as determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as applicable.
1.07 Additional Alternative Currencies.
(a) The Borrower may from time to time request that Letters of Credit be issued in a currency other than those specifically listed in the definition of “Alternative Currency;” provided that such requested currency is a lawful currency (other than Dollars) that is readily available and freely transferable and convertible into Dollars. Such request shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer. Any such request shall be made to the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m., twenty (20) Business Days prior to the date of the desired Credit Extension (or such other time or date as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer, in their sole discretion). The L/C Issuer shall notify the Administrative Agent, not later than 11:00 a.m., ten (10) Business Days after receipt of such request whether it consents, in its sole discretion, to the issuance of Letters of Credit in such requested currency. Any failure by the L/C Issuer to respond to such request within the time period specified in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be a refusal by the L/C Issuer to permit Letters of Credit to be issued in such requested currency. If the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer consent to the issuance of Letters of Credit in such requested currency, the Administrative Agent shall so notify the Borrower and such currency shall thereupon be deemed for all purposes to be an Alternative Currency hereunder for purposes of any Letter of Credit issuances. If the Administrative Agent shall fail to obtain consent to any request for an additional currency under this Section 1.07, the Administrative Agent shall promptly so notify the Borrower.
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1.08 Change of Currency.
(a) Each obligation of the Borrower to make a payment denominated in the national currency unit of any member state of the European Union that adopts the Euro as its lawful currency after the date hereof shall be redenominated into Euro at the time of such adoption (in accordance with the EMU Legislation). If, in relation to the currency of any such member state, the basis of accrual of interest expressed in this Agreement in respect of that currency shall be inconsistent with any convention or practice in the London interbank market for the basis of accrual of interest in respect of the Euro, such expressed basis shall be replaced by such convention or practice with effect from the date on which such member state adopts the Euro as its lawful currency; provided that if any Credit Extension in the currency of such member state is outstanding immediately prior to such date, such replacement shall take effect, with respect to such Credit Extension, at the end of the then current Interest Period.
(b) Each provision of this Agreement shall, upon written notice to the Borrower explaining the basis for such construction, be subject to such reasonable changes of construction as the Administrative Agent may from time to time specify to be appropriate to reflect the adoption of the Euro by any member state of the European Union and any relevant market conventions or practices relating to the Euro.
(c) Each provision of this Agreement also shall, upon written notice to the Borrower explaining the basis for such construction, be subject to such reasonable changes of construction as the Administrative Agent may from time to time specify to be appropriate to reflect a change in currency of any other country and any relevant market conventions or practices relating to the change in currency.
1.09 Times of Day.
Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Pacific time (daylight or standard, as applicable).
1.10 Letter of Credit Amounts.
Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent of the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time (after giving effect to any permanent reductions that have been effected with respect thereto); provided, however, that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Letter of Credit Application 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 Dollar Equivalent of 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.
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ARTICLE II
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 Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment. 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 Base 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 irrevocable notice from the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone (provided that such telephonic notice complies with the information requirements of the form of Committed Loan Notice attached hereto). Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m. (i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, and (ii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base 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 $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Except as provided in Sections 2.03(c) and 2.04(c), each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 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, Base Rate Loans. Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans. If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month.
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(b) Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Pro Rata Share 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 Base 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 12:00 noon 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 Swing Line Loans or L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such Borrowing shall be applied, first, to the payment in full of any such L/C Borrowings, second, to the payment in full of any such Swing Line Loans, and third, 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. The determination of the Eurodollar Rate by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any change in Bank of America’s prime rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the public announcement of such change.
(e) After giving effect to all Committed Borrowings, all conversions of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, all continuations of Committed Loans as the same Type and all Swing Line Loans, the sum of (i) the number of Interest Periods in effect with respect to Committed Loans and (ii) Swing Line Loans shall not exceed ten (10) at any one time.
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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 other 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 denominated in Dollars or in one or more Alternative Currencies for the account of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, and to amend or renew Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with subsection (b) below, and (2) to honor drafts under the Letters of Credit; and (B) the Lenders severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit issued for the account of the Borrower; provided that the L/C Issuer shall not be obligated to make any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit, and no Lender shall be obligated to participate in any Letter of Credit if as of the date of such L/C Credit Extension, (x) the Total Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate Commitments, (y) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans would exceed such Lender’s Commitment or (z) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations would exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower’s ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the Borrower may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and reimbursed. All Existing Letters of Credit shall be deemed to have been issued pursuant hereto, and from and after the Closing Date shall be subject to and governed by the terms and conditions hereof. Each Letter of Credit Application shall be prepared and signed by the Borrower; provided, however, that the Borrower shall be permitted to designate any Subsidiary or other third party as the account party for the requested Letter of Credit, although, notwithstanding such designation, the Company shall be the actual account party for all purposes of this Agreement for such Letters of Credit and such designation shall not affect the Borrower’s reimbursement obligations hereunder with respect to such Letter of Credit.
(ii) The L/C Issuer shall be under no 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;
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(B) subject to Section 2.03(b)(iii), the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur more than twenty (20) months from the date of issuance, unless the Required Lenders have approved such expiry date;
(C) subject to Section 2.03(b)(vi), the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date;
(D) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of the L/C Issuer applicable to all applicants for letters of credit of the L/C Issuer generally; or
(E) such Letter of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than $25,000 (or such lesser amount as may be agreed to by the Borrower, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent), or is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars or an Alternative Currency.
(iii) 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.
(b) Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit; Auto-Renewal 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 (A) not later than 11:00 a.m. at least two Business Days (or such later date and time as the L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in its sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be, of any Letter of Credit denominated in Dollars and (B) not later than 11:00 a.m. at least ten Business Days (or such later date and time as the L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in its sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be, of any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency. In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the L/C Issuer: (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount thereof; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; and (G) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may require. In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall
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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.
(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 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 Pro Rata Share times the amount of such Letter of Credit. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of the issuance or amendment of any Letter of Credit.
(iii) If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer may, in its sole and absolute discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic renewal provisions (each, an “Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit”); provided that any such Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit must permit the L/C Issuer to prevent any such renewal at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “Nonrenewal Notice Date”) in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by the L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the L/C Issuer for any such renewal. Once an Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit has been issued, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the L/C Issuer to permit the renewal of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided, however, that the L/C Issuer shall not permit any such renewal if (A) the L/C Issuer has determined that it would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its renewed form under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of Section 2.03(a)(ii) or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is five Business Days before the Nonrenewal Notice Date (1) from the Administrative Agent that the Required Lenders have elected not to permit such renewal or (2) from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied.
(iv) Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the L/C Issuer will also deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.
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(v) Any Lender with a Commitment (in such capacity, a “Discretionary L/C Issuer”) may from time to time, at the written request of the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) and with the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), and in such Lender’s sole discretion, agree to issue one or more Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower on the same terms and conditions in all respects as are applicable to the Letters of Credit issued by the L/C Issuer hereunder by executing and delivering to the Administrative Agent a written agreement to such effect, among (and in form and substance satisfactory to) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and such Discretionary L/C Issuer. With respect to each of the Letters of Credit issued (or to be issued) thereby, each of the Discretionary L/C Issuers shall have all of the same rights and obligations under and in respect of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and shall be entitled to all of the same benefits (including, without limitation, the rights, obligations and benefits set forth in Sections 2.03, 9.07 and 10.01), as are afforded to the L/C Issuer hereunder and thereunder. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each of the Lenders with a Commitment of the appointment of any Discretionary L/C Issuer. Each Discretionary L/C Issuer shall provide to the Administrative Agent, on a monthly basis, a report that details the activity with respect to each Letter of Credit issued by such Discretionary L/C Issuer (including an indication of the maximum amount then in effect with respect to each such Letter of Credit).
(vi) The L/C Issuer may, in its sole discretion, issue one or more Letters of Credit hereunder, with expiry dates that would occur after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date (and after the Maturity Date), to the extent the Borrower has agreed to fully Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations relating to such Letters of Credit on the date that is five (5) Business Days prior to the Maturity Date (the “Mandatory Cash Collateralization Date”) in accordance with the terms of Section 2.03(g). In the event the Borrower fails to Cash Collateralize the outstanding L/C Obligations on the Mandatory Cash Collateralization Date, each outstanding Letter of Credit shall automatically be deemed to be drawn in full and the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Base Rate Committed Loan to be funded by the Lenders on the Mandatory Cash Collateralization Date to reimburse such drawing (with the proceeds of such Loan being used to Cash Collateralize outstanding L/C Obligations as set forth in Section 2.03(g)) in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.03(c). If a Base Rate Committed Loan cannot be made 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 an L/C Borrowing from the L/C Issuer and each Lender shall be obligated to fund its Pro Rata Share of such L/C Borrowing in the form of an L/C Advance in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.03(c) (with the proceeds of such L/C Advance being used to Cash Collateralize outstanding L/C Obligations as set forth in Section 2.03(g)). The funding by a Lender of its Pro Rata Share of such Base Rate Committed Loan or such L/C Advance, as applicable, to Cash Collateralize the outstanding L/C Obligations on the Mandatory Cash Collateralization Date shall be deemed payment by such Lender in respect of its participation interest in such L/C Obligations.
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(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 to be reimbursed in Dollars, or the Applicable Time on the date of any payment by the L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit to be reimbursed in an Alternative Currency (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. In the case of a Letter of Credit denominated in Dollars, the Borrower shall reimburse the L/C Issuer in Dollars. In the case of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, the Borrower shall reimburse the L/C Issuer in Dollars unless the L/C Issuer (at its option) shall specify in such notice that it will require payment in the currency in which the drawing is made. In the case of any such reimbursement in Dollars of a drawing under a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, the L/C Issuer shall notify the Borrower of the Dollar Equivalent of the amount of the drawing promptly following the determination thereof. 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 Pro Rata Share thereof. In such event, the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Committed Loans to be disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.02 for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Aggregate Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than the delivery of a 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 (including the Lender acting as L/C Issuer) 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 Dollars in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 11:00 a.m. on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(c)(iii), each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Committed Loan to the Borrower in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the L/C Issuer in Dollars, or if requested by the L/C Issuer, the equivalent amount thereof in an Alternative Currency as determined by the Administrative Agent at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate (determined as of such funding date) for the purchase of such Alternative Currency with Dollars.
(iii) With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans because the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, the Borrower shall be deemed to have
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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.
(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 Pro Rata Share 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 set-off, 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; (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; or (D) with respect to the obligation of each Lender to fund and satisfy its participation in an L/C Borrowing in accordance with this Section 2.03, the occurrence of the Letter of Credit Expiration Date or the Maturity Date or the termination of the Commitments hereunder; 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 Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. 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
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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 Pro Rata Share thereof (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lender’s L/C Advance was outstanding) in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.
(ii) If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.06 (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 Pro Rata Share thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect.
(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 agreement or instrument relating thereto;
(ii) the existence of any claim, counterclaim, set-off, defense or other right that the Borrower 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;
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(v) any adverse change in the relevant exchange rates or in the availability of the relevant Alternative Currency to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or in the relevant currency markets generally; or
(vi) 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.
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, any Agent-Related Person nor any of the respective correspondents, participants or assignees 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 Letter of Credit Application. 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, any Agent-Related Person, nor any of the respective correspondents, participants or assignees of the L/C Issuer, shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i) through (v) of Section 2.03(e); provided, however, that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower may have a claim against the L/C Issuer, and the L/C Issuer may be liable to the Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrower which the Borrower proves were caused by the L/C Issuer’s willful misconduct or gross negligence or the L/C Issuer’s willful failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the L/C Issuer may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and the L/C Issuer shall not be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.
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(g) Cash Collateral.
(i) Upon the request of the Administrative Agent, (A) 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 (B) if, as of the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, any Letter of Credit may for any reason remain outstanding and partially or wholly undrawn, the Borrower shall immediately Cash Collateralize the then Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to such Outstanding Amount determined as of the date of such L/C Borrowing or the Mandatory Cash Collateralization Date, as the case may be).
(ii) In addition, if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower at any time that the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations at such time exceeds the Letter of Credit Sublimit then in effect, then, within two Business Days after receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an amount equal to the amount by which the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations exceeds the Letter of Credit Sublimit.
(iii) The Administrative Agent may, at any time and from time to time after the initial deposit of Cash Collateral, request that additional Cash Collateral be provided in order to protect against the results of exchange rate fluctuations.
For purposes hereof, “Cash Collateralize” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, until the cause for such cash collateral no longer exists, for the benefit of the L/C Issuer and the Lenders, as collateral for the outstanding L/C Obligations, cash or deposit account balances in an amount equivalent to the outstanding L/C Obligations pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer. 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. Cash collateral shall be maintained in blocked, non-interest bearing deposit accounts at Bank of America.
(h) Applicability of ISP98 and UCP. Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the L/C Issuer and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued (including any such agreement applicable to an Existing Letter of Credit), (i) the rules of the “International Standby Practices 1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance) 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 or Credit.
(i) Letter of Credit Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Pro Rata Share in Dollars a Letter of Credit fee for each Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable Rate times the Dollar Equivalent of 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
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shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.10. Such letter of credit fees shall be computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such letter of credit fees shall be 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. 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.
(j) Fronting Fee 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 in Dollars or such Alternative Currency as shall be separately agreed, for each Letter of Credit equal to 0.125% times the Dollar Equivalent of 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 1.10. Such letter of credit fees shall be computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such fronting fee for each Letter of Credit shall be 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. 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 in Dollars or such Alternative Currency as shall be separately agreed. Such customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable on demand and are nonrefundable.
(k) Conflict with L/C Documents. In the event of any conflict between this Agreement and any L/C Document (including any Letter of Credit Application), this Agreement shall control with respect to the Persons who are parties to this Agreement and such L/C Document. Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, each of the Reimbursement Agreements set forth on Schedule 2.03 is and shall be deemed amended such that the representations and warranties, covenants and events of default (and definitions related thereto) set out in such Reimbursement Agreements (the “Existing Provisions”), except to the extent they relate specifically to the relevant bonds or relevant remarketing program, conform with the representations and warranties, covenants and events of default (and definitions related thereto) set out in this Agreement (the “Incorporated Provisions”). Such amendments shall survive (i) the payment in full of all obligations due the Lenders by the Borrower under this Agreement, (ii) the termination (for any reason) of this Agreement, (iii) the sale or participation (in whole or in part) of a Lender’s interest in this Agreement, or (iv) any other event which has the effect of terminating the obligations of the Borrower to the Lenders under this Agreement. Upon the happening of one of the events set forth in the immediately preceding sentence, the Borrower agrees to promptly execute a modification of the relevant Reimbursement Agreement(s) to confirm such amendment. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence or the failure of any such modification to be executed, the Borrower must remain in compliance with the Incorporated Provisions as if set forth in the relevant Reimbursement Agreement(s). Any future modification of or amendment to the Incorporated Provisions shall be a modification of or amendment to the relevant Reimbursement Agreement(s) for purposes of compliance with such agreements. Likewise, if the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders grant a waiver of compliance of the Incorporated Provisions for any period, such waiver shall be deemed to be a waiver of compliance of the relevant Reimbursement Agreement(s) for the limited period of time for which the waiver was granted.
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2.04 Swing Line Loans.
(a) The Swing Line. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swing Line Lender agrees to make loans (each such loan, a “Swing Line Loan”) to the Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Swing Line Sublimit, notwithstanding the fact that such Swing Line Loans, when aggregated with the Pro Rata Share 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, (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 Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment. 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. 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 Pro Rata Share times the amount of such Swing Line Loan.
(b) Borrowing Procedures. Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone (provided that such telephonic notice complies with the informational requirements of the form of Swing Line Loan Notice attached hereto). Each such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be a minimum of $100,000 (and in integral multiples 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 12:00 noon on the date of the proposed Swing Line Borrowing (A) directing the Swing Line Lender not to make such Swing Line Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.04(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 2:30 p.m. on the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan Notice, make the amount of its Swing Line Loan available to the Borrower.
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(c) Refinancing of Swing Line Loans.
(i) The Swing Line Lender at any time in its sole and absolute discretion may request, on behalf of the Borrower (which hereby irrevocably authorizes the Swing Line Lender to so request on its behalf), that each Lender make a Base Rate Committed Loan in an amount equal to such Lender’s Pro Rata Share 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 Base 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 Pro Rata Share 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 11:00 a.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 Base Rate Committed Loan to the Borrower in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Swing Line Lender.
(ii) If for any reason any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Committed Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04(c)(i), the request for Base 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 Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. 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 set-off, 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,
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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.
(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 Pro Rata Share of such payment (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lender’s risk participation was funded) in the same funds as those received by the Swing Line Lender.
(ii) If any payment received by the Swing Line Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by the Swing Line Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.06 (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 Pro Rata Share thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, 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.
(e) Interest for Account of Swing Line Lender. The Swing Line Lender shall be responsible for invoicing the Borrower for interest on the Swing Line Loans. Until each Lender funds its Base Rate Committed Loan or risk participation pursuant to this Section 2.04 to refinance such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of any Swing Line Loan, interest in respect of such Pro Rata Share shall be solely for the account of the Swing Line Lender.
(f) Payments Directly to Swing Line Lender. The Borrower shall make all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swing Line Loans directly to the Swing Line Lender.
2.05 Prepayments.
(a) Voluntary Prepayments. The Borrower shall have the right to prepay Loans in whole or in part from time to time; provided, however, that (i) a Notice of Prepayment must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 9:00 a.m. (A) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans and (ii) each partial prepayment of (A) Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount of $5,000,000 and integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (or, the then remaining principal balance of the Committed Loans, if less) and (B) Base Rate Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount of $500,000 and integral multiples of $100,000 in excess thereof (or, the then remaining principal balance of the Committed Loans, if less) or, in the case of Swing Line Loans, in a minimum principal amount of $500,000 and multiples of $100,000 in excess thereof. Subject to the foregoing terms, amounts prepaid under this Section 2.05(a) shall be applied as the Borrower may elect; provided that if the Borrower shall fail to specify its elected application with respect to any voluntary prepayment in the Notice of Prepayment, such voluntary prepayment
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shall be applied first to Swing Line Loans and then to Committed Loans, and with respect to Committed Loans first to Base Rate Loans and then to Eurodollar Loans in direct order of Interest Period maturities. All prepayments under this Section 2.05(a) shall be subject to Section 3.05, but otherwise without premium or penalty and shall be accompanied by interest on the principal amount prepaid through the date of prepayment.
(b) If for any reason the Total Outstandings at any time exceed the Aggregate Commitments then in effect, 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(b) 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 9:00 a.m. five (5) Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $5,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (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 Commitment, the Letter of Credit Sublimit and/or the Swing Line Sublimit, as applicable, 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 Pro Rata Share. All commitment 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 seven 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 Base 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 Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate; and (iii) each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal
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amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to, at the Borrower’s option, (x) the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate or (y) such other rate mutually agreed to by the Borrower and the Swing Line Lender at the time of the borrowing of such Swing Line Loan.
(b) If any amount payable by the Borrower under any Loan Document is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, 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. Furthermore, unless otherwise agreed to by the Required Lenders while any Event of Default exists, the Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws. 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 Pro Rata Share, 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 Maturity Date. 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.
(b) Other Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Arranger and the Administrative Agent for their own respective accounts fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letter. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.
2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees.
All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans when the Base Rate is determined by Bank of America’s “prime rate” shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest,
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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.
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.
(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.
(a) 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 Same Day Funds not later than 12:00 noon on the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Pro Rata Share (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 (i) after 2:00 p.m., in the case of payments in Dollars, or (ii) after the Applicable Time specified by the Administrative Agent in the case of payments in an Alternative Currency, shall in each case be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.
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(b) 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.
(c) Unless the Borrower or any Lender has notified the Administrative Agent, prior to the date any payment is required to be made by it to the Administrative Agent hereunder, that the Borrower or such Lender, as the case may be, will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower or such Lender, as the case may be, has timely made such payment and may (but shall not be so required to), in reliance thereon, make available a corresponding amount to the Person entitled thereto. If and to the extent that such payment was not in fact made to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds, then:
(i) if the Borrower failed to make such payment, each Lender shall forthwith on demand repay to the Administrative Agent the portion of such assumed payment that was made available to such Lender in immediately available funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect; and
(ii) if any Lender failed to make such payment, such Lender shall forthwith on demand pay to the Administrative Agent the amount thereof in immediately available funds, together with interest thereon for the period from the date such amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower to the date such amount is recovered by the Administrative Agent (the “Compensation Period”) at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in the applicable Borrowing. If such Lender does not pay such amount forthwith upon the Administrative Agent’s demand therefor, the Administrative Agent may make a demand therefor upon the Borrower, and the Borrower shall pay such amount to the Administrative Agent, together with interest thereon for the Compensation Period at a rate per annum equal to the rate of interest applicable to the applicable Borrowing. Nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Commitment or to prejudice any rights which the Administrative Agent or the Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder.
A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this subsection (c) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
(d) 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; provided that if such funds are not returned by the Administrative Agent to the applicable Lender within one Business Day of receipt thereof by the Administrative Agent, the funds shall be returned with interest at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect.
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(e) The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Committed Loans and to fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Committed Loan or to fund any such participation 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 or purchase its participation.
(f) Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.
2.13 Sharing of Payments.
If, other than as expressly provided elsewhere herein, any Lender shall obtain on account of the Committed Loans made by it, or the participations in L/C Obligations or in Swing Line Loans held by it, any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of set-off, or otherwise) in excess of its ratable share (or other share contemplated hereunder) thereof, such Lender shall immediately (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the Committed Loans made by them and/or such subparticipations in the participations in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans held by them, as the case may be, as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment in respect of such Committed Loans or such participations, as the case may be, pro rata with each of them; provided, however, that if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from the purchasing Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the purchasing Lender in its discretion), such purchase shall to that extent be rescinded and each other Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price paid therefor, together with an amount equal to such paying Lender’s ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such paying Lender’s required repayment to (ii) the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender) of any interest or other amount paid or payable by the purchasing Lender in respect of the total amount so recovered, without further interest thereon. The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all its rights of payment (including the right of set-off, but subject to Section 10.09) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation. The Administrative Agent will keep records (which shall be conclusive and binding in the absence of manifest error) of participations purchased under this Section and will in each case notify the Lenders following any such purchases or repayments. Each Lender that purchases a participation pursuant to this Section shall from and after such purchase have the right to give all notices, requests, demands, directions and other communications under this Agreement with respect to the portion of the Obligations purchased to the same extent as though the purchasing Lender were the original owner of the Obligations purchased.
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2.14 Increase in Aggregate Commitments.
(a) Provided there exists no Default, upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders), the Borrower may from time to time, request an increase in the Aggregate Commitments in an aggregate amount for all such increases not to exceed $75,000,000; provided, however, that (i) the maximum amount of the Aggregate Commitments after giving effect to any such increase shall not exceed $200,000,000 and (ii) the Borrower may make a maximum of three such requests. The aggregate amount of any individual increase hereunder shall be in a minimum amount of $5,000,000 (and in integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof). To achieve the full amount of a requested increase, the Borrower may solicit increased commitments from existing Lenders and also invite additional Eligible Assignees to become Lenders; provided, however, that no existing Lender shall be obligated and/or required to accept an increase in its Commitment pursuant to this Section 2.14 unless it specifically consents to such increase in writing. Any Lender or Eligible Assignee agreeing to increase its Commitment or provide a new Commitment pursuant to this Section 2.14 shall, in connection therewith, deliver to the Administrative Agent a new commitment agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.
(b) 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 and Schedule 2.01 hereto shall be deemed amended to reflect such increase and final allocation. As a condition precedent to such increase, in addition to any deliveries pursuant to subsection (a) above, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent each of the following in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent: (1) 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, and (ii) 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 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 2.14, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.01 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to subsections (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01, and (B) no Default exists; (2) a statement of reaffirmation from each Loan Party pursuant to which each such Loan Party ratifies this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and acknowledges and reaffirms that, after giving effect to such increase, it is bound by all terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; (3) if the increase is being provided by an existing Lender, and such Lender is then in possession of a Committed Note, a revised Committed Note in favor of such Lender reflecting such Lender’s Commitment after giving effect to such increase; and (4) if the increase is being provided by a new Lender, a Committed Note in favor of such Lender if so requested by such Lender. The Borrower shall prepay any Committed Loans outstanding on the Increase Effective Date (and pay any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05) to the extent necessary to keep the outstanding Committed Loans ratable with any revised Pro Rata Shares arising from any nonratable increase in the Commitments under this Section.
(c) This Section shall supersede any provisions in Sections 2.12 or 10.01 to the contrary.
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2.15 Extension Option.
Upon the written request of the Borrower, which request shall be delivered to the Administrative Agent not more than 120 days, and not less than 90 days, prior to the then existing Maturity Date, the Lenders shall have the option, in each Lender’s sole and absolute discretion (without any obligation whatsoever so to do) of extending the Maturity Date for an additional one year period. Each Lender shall notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent not less than 45 days prior to the then existing Maturity Date whether or not it chooses to extend the Maturity Date for such an additional one year period (but any Lender which fails to give such notice within such period shall be deemed not to have extended). The Maturity Date shall only be so extended to the first anniversary thereof if all of the then current Lenders consent to such extension in writing in accordance with the terms hereof.
ARTICLE III
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
3.01 Taxes.
(a) Any and all payments by the Borrower to or for the account of the Administrative Agent or any Lender under any Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, assessments, fees, withholdings or similar charges, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding, in the case of the Administrative Agent and each Lender, taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income, 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 the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, is organized or maintains a lending office (all such non-excluded taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, assessments, fees, withholdings or similar charges, and liabilities being hereinafter referred to as “Taxes”). If the Borrower shall be required by any Laws to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable under any Loan Document to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, (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), each of the Administrative Agent and such Lender receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions, (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with applicable Laws, and (iv) within 30 days after the date of such payment, the Borrower shall furnish to the Administrative Agent (which shall forward the same to such Lender) the original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof.
(b) In addition, the Borrower agrees to pay any and all present or future stamp, court or documentary taxes and any other excise or property taxes or charges or similar levies which arise from any payment made under any Loan Document or from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document (hereinafter referred to as “Other Taxes”).
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(c) If the Borrower shall be required to deduct or pay any Taxes or Other Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable under any Loan Document to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, the Borrower shall also pay to the Administrative Agent or to such Lender, as the case may be, at the time interest is paid, such additional amount that the Administrative Agent or such Lender specifies is necessary to preserve the after-tax yield (after factoring in all taxes, including taxes imposed on or measured by net income) that the Administrative Agent or such Lender would have received if such Taxes or Other Taxes had not been imposed.
(d) The Borrower agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender for (i) the full amount of Taxes and Other Taxes (including any Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section) paid by the Administrative Agent and such Lender, (ii) amounts payable under Section 3.01(c) and (iii) any liability (including additions to tax, penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto, in each case whether or not such Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. Payment under this subsection (d) shall be made within 30 days after the date the Lender or the Administrative Agent makes a demand therefor.
(e) If any Loan Party is required to pay additional amounts to or for the account of any Lender pursuant to this Section 3.01, then such Lender will agree to use reasonable efforts to change the jurisdiction of its applicable Lending Office so as to eliminate or reduce any such additional payment which may thereafter accrue if such change, in the judgment of such Lender, is not otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender.
3.02 Illegality.
If any Lender reasonably determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Eurodollar Rate Loans, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, 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 Base 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, which such Lender agrees to do promptly after permitted by applicable Laws. 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 Base 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. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted. 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 that by reason of circumstances affecting the relevant market adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurodollar
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Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan, or that 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 Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein.
3.04 Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans.
(a) If any Lender reasonably determines that as a result of the introduction of or any change in or in the interpretation of any Law, or such Lender’s compliance therewith, there shall be any increase in the cost to such Lender of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining Eurodollar Rate Loans or (as the case may be) issuing or participating in Letters of Credit, or a reduction in the amount received or receivable by such Lender in connection with any of the foregoing (excluding for purposes of this subsection (a) any such increased costs or reduction in amount resulting from (i) Taxes or Other Taxes (as to which Section 3.01 shall govern), (ii) changes in the basis of taxation of overall net income or overall gross income by the United States or any foreign jurisdiction or any political subdivision of either thereof under the Laws of which such Lender is organized or has its Lending Office, and (iii) reserve requirements contemplated by Section 3.04(c)), then from time to time upon demand of such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender for such increased cost or reduction.
(b) If any Lender determines that the introduction of any Law regarding capital adequacy or any change therein or in the interpretation thereof, or compliance by such Lender (or its Lending Office) therewith, has the effect of reducing the rate of return on the capital of such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender as a consequence of such Lender’s obligations hereunder (taking into consideration its policies with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time upon demand of such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender for such reduction.
(c) 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 absent manifest error), 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 15 days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest from such Lender. If a Lender fails to give notice 15 days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest shall be due and payable 15 days from receipt of such notice.
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3.05 Funding Losses.
Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:
(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise);
(b) any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower; or
(c) any failure by the Borrower to make payment of any Loan or drawing under any Letter of Credit (or interest due thereon) denominated in an Alternative Currency on its scheduled due date or any payment thereof in a different currency; or
(d) 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 10.16;
including any loss of anticipated profits, any foreign currency exchange losses 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 or from the performance of any foreign currency exchange contract. The Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.
For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.05, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurodollar Rate Loan made by it at the Eurodollar 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 Matters Applicable to all Requests for Compensation.
(a) A certificate of the Administrative Agent or any Lender claiming compensation under this Article III and setting forth the additional amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. In determining such amount, the Administrative Agent or such Lender may use any reasonable averaging and attribution methods.
(b) Upon any Lender’s making a claim for compensation under Section 3.01 or 3.04, the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.16.
3.07 Survival.
All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.
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ARTICLE IV
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS
4.01 Conditions of Initial Credit Extension.
The occurrence of the Closing Date, the effectiveness of this Agreement and the obligation of each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:
(a) Loan Documents, Organization Documents, Etc. The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or facsimiles (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, its legal counsel and each of the Lenders:
(i) executed counterparts of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;
(ii) a Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note;
(iii) copies of the Organization Documents of each Loan Party certified by a secretary or assistant secretary of such Loan Party to be true and correct as of the Closing Date;
(iv) such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party; and
(v) such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each Loan Party is duly organized or formed, and is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in (A) the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization and (B) 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.
(b) Opinion of Counsel. The Administrative Agent shall have received a legal opinion of Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Vice President and General Counsel of the Borrower dated as of the Closing Date and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(c) Officer’s Certificates. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate or certificates executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as of the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, stating that (A) the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied as of the Closing Date, (B) the Borrower is in compliance with all existing material financial obligations, (C) all governmental, shareholder and
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third party consents and approvals, if any, with respect to the Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby have been obtained (and attaching copies thereof), (D) no action, suit, investigation or proceeding is pending or threatened in any court or before any arbitrator or governmental instrumentality that purports to affect the Borrower or any transaction contemplated by the Loan Documents, if such action, suit, investigation or proceeding could have a Material Adverse Effect, and (E) immediately after giving effect to the initial Loans hereunder, (1) no Default or Event of Default exists and (2) all representations and warranties contained herein and in the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects.
(d) Fees. Any fees required to be paid on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid.
(e) Attorney Costs. The Borrower shall have paid all Attorney Costs of the Administrative Agent to the extent invoiced prior to or on the Closing Date.
(f) No Material Adverse Change. There shall not have occurred a material adverse change since December 31, 2003 in the business, assets, liabilities (actual or contingent), operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or in the facts and information regarding such entities as represented to date.
(g) Existing Credit Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, that the Existing Credit Agreement has been, or concurrently with the Closing Date is being, terminated and all obligations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries under the Existing Credit Agreement have been, or concurrently with the Closing Date are being, paid and fully satisfied and any liens thereunder shall have been released.
(h) Accuracy of Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Loan Parties contained in Article V or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date.
(i) No Default. No Default shall exist and be continuing as of the Closing Date.
(j) Other. Receipt by the Lenders of such other documents, instruments, agreements or information as reasonably requested by any Lender, including, but not limited to, information regarding litigation, tax, accounting, labor, insurance, pension liabilities (actual or contingent), real estate leases, material contracts, debt agreements, property ownership and contingent liabilities of the Consolidated Parties.
Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 9.04, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.
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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 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 Section 5.01(a) 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.
(c) There shall not have been commenced against any Consolidated Party an involuntary case under any applicable Debtor Relief Law, now or hereafter in effect, or any case, proceeding or other action for the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of such Person or for any substantial part of its Property or for the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and such involuntary case or other case, proceeding or other action shall remain undismissed.
(d) The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the L/C Issuer shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.
(e) In the case of a Credit Extension to be denominated in an Alternative Currency, there shall not have occurred any change in national or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls which in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer (in the case of any Letter of Credit to be denominated in an Alternative Currency) would make it impracticable for such Credit Extension to be denominated in the relevant Alternative Currency.
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), (b) and (c) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.
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ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
The Loan Parties, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:
5.01 Financial Condition.
(a) The audited consolidated balance sheets and income statements of the Consolidated Parties for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2001, December 31, 2002 and December 31, 2003 (including the notes thereto) (i) have been audited by KPMG LLP, (ii) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein and (iii) present fairly (on the basis disclosed in the footnotes to such financial statements) in all material respects the consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Consolidated Parties as of such date and for such periods. The unaudited interim balance sheets of the Consolidated Parties as at the end of, and the related unaudited interim statements of earnings and of cash flows for, each quarterly period ended after December 31, 2003 and prior to the Closing Date (i) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein and (ii) present fairly (on the basis disclosed in the footnotes to such financial statements) in all material respects the consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Consolidated Parties as of such date and for such periods. During the period from December 31, 2003 to and including the Closing Date, there has been no sale, transfer or other disposition by any Consolidated Party of any material part of the business or property of the Consolidated Parties, taken as a whole, and no purchase or other acquisition by any of them of any business or property (including any Capital Stock of any other Person) material in relation to the consolidated financial condition of the Consolidated Parties, taken as a whole, in each case, which is not reflected in the foregoing financial statements or in the notes thereto and has not otherwise been disclosed in writing to the Lenders on or prior to the Closing Date. As of the Closing Date, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have no material liabilities (contingent or otherwise) that are not reflected in the foregoing financial statements or in the notes thereto.
(b) The financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) and (b) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP (except as may otherwise be permitted under Section 6.01(a) and (b)) and present fairly (on the basis disclosed in the footnotes to such financial statements) the consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Consolidated Parties as of such date and for such periods.
5.02 No Material Change.
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 other than facts, circumstances, changes or events which, as of the Closing Date, have been disclosed in the Borrower’s public filings with the SEC (to the extent so disclosed).
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5.03 Organization and Good Standing.
Each of the Consolidated Parties (a) is duly organized, validly existing and is in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has the corporate or other necessary power and authority, and the legal right, to own and operate its property, to lease the property it operates as lessee and to conduct the business in which it is currently engaged and (c) is duly qualified as a foreign entity and in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, other than in such jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified and in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.04 Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations.
Each of the Loan Parties has the corporate or other necessary power and authority, and the legal right, to make, deliver and perform the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and in the case of the Borrower, to obtain extensions of credit hereunder, and has taken all necessary corporate or other necessary action to authorize the borrowings and other extensions of credit on the terms and conditions of this Agreement and to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is a party. No consent or authorization of, filing with, notice to or other similar act by or in respect of, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required to be obtained or made by or on behalf of any Loan Party in connection with the borrowings or other extensions of credit hereunder or with the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of the Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party, except for consents, authorizations, notices and filings described in Schedule 5.04, all of which have been obtained or made or have the status described in such Schedule 5.04. This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document to which any Loan Party is a party will be, duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Loan Parties. This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document to which any Loan Party is a party when executed and delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles (whether enforcement is sought by proceedings in equity or at law).
5.05 No Conflicts.
Neither the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated therein, nor performance of and compliance with the terms and provisions thereof by such Loan Party will (a) violate or conflict with any provision of its articles or certificate of incorporation or bylaws or other organizational or governing documents of such Person, (b) violate, contravene or materially conflict with any Law or any other law, regulation (including, without limitation, Regulation U or Regulation X), order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree or permit applicable to it, (c) violate, contravene or conflict with contractual provisions of, or cause an event of default under, any material indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, deed of trust, contract or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it may be bound or (d) result in or require the creation of any Lien upon or with respect to its properties.
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5.06 No Default.
No Consolidated Party is in default in any respect under any contract, lease, loan agreement, indenture, mortgage, security agreement or other agreement or obligation to which it is a party or by which any of its properties is bound which default could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Default or Event of Default has occurred or exists except as previously disclosed in writing to the Lenders.
5.07 Ownership.
Each Consolidated Party is the owner of, and has good and marketable title to, all of its respective assets except for 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 not subject to any Lien other than Permitted Liens.
5.08 Indebtedness.
Except as otherwise permitted under Section 7.01, the Consolidated Parties have no Indebtedness.
5.09 Litigation.
Except as disclosed on Schedule 5.09, there does not exist any pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened action, suit or legal, equitable, arbitration or administrative proceeding against any Consolidated Party which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.10 Taxes.
Each Consolidated Party has filed, or caused to be filed, all material tax returns (Federal, state, local and foreign) required to be filed and paid (a) all amounts of material taxes shown thereon to be due (including interest and penalties) and (b) all other material taxes, fees, assessments and other governmental charges (including mortgage recording taxes, documentary stamp taxes and intangibles taxes) owing by it, except for such taxes (i) which are not yet delinquent or (ii) that are being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings, and against which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP. No Loan Party is aware as of the Closing Date of any proposed material tax assessments against it or any other Consolidated Party.
5.11 Compliance with Law.
Each Consolidated Party is in compliance with all Laws and all other laws, rules, regulations, orders and decrees (including without limitation Environmental Laws) applicable to it, or to its properties, unless such failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Law could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect.
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5.12 ERISA.
Except as disclosed and described in Schedule 5.12 attached hereto:
(a) During the five-year period prior to the date on which this representation is made or deemed made: (i) no ERISA Event has occurred, and, to the best knowledge of the Responsible Officers of the Loan Parties, no event or condition has occurred or exists as a result of which any ERISA Event could reasonably be expected to occur, with respect to any Plan; (ii) no “accumulated funding deficiency,” as such term is defined in Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, whether or not waived, has occurred with respect to any Plan; (iii) each Plan has been maintained, operated, and funded in compliance with its own terms and in material compliance with the provisions of ERISA, the Code, and any other applicable Federal or state laws; and (iv) no Lien in favor of the PBGC or a Plan has arisen or is reasonably likely to arise on account of any Plan.
(b) The actuarial present value of all “benefit liabilities” (as defined in Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA), whether or not vested, under each Single Employer Plan, as of the last annual valuation date prior to the date on which this representation is made or deemed made (determined, in each case, in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement 87, utilizing the actuarial assumptions used in such Plan’s most recent actuarial valuation report), did not exceed as of such valuation date the fair market value of the assets of such Plan.
(c) Neither any Consolidated Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or, to the best knowledge of the Responsible Officers of the Loan Parties, could be reasonably expected to incur, any withdrawal liability under ERISA to any Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan. Neither any Consolidated Party nor any ERISA Affiliate would become subject to any withdrawal liability under ERISA if any Consolidated Party or any ERISA Affiliate were to withdraw completely from all Multiemployer Plans and Multiple Employer Plans as of the valuation date most closely preceding the date on which this representation is made or deemed made. Neither any Consolidated Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has received any notification that any Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization (within the meaning of Section 4241 of ERISA), is insolvent (within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA), or has been terminated (within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA), and no Multiemployer Plan is, to the best knowledge of the Responsible Officers of the Loan Parties, reasonably expected to be in reorganization, insolvent, or terminated.
(d) No prohibited transaction (within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) other than as exempted under Section 408 of ERISA or breach of fiduciary responsibility has occurred with respect to a Plan which has subjected or may subject any Consolidated Party or any ERISA Affiliate to any liability under Sections 406, 409, 502(i), or 502(l) of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, or under any agreement or other instrument pursuant to which any Consolidated Party or any ERISA Affiliate has agreed or is required to indemnify any Person against any such liability.
(e) Neither any Consolidated Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has any material liability with respect to “expected post-retirement benefit obligations” within the meaning of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement 106. Each Plan which is a welfare plan (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) to which Sections 601-609 of ERISA and Section 4980B of the Code apply has been administered in compliance in all material respects of such sections.
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(f) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the financing transactions contemplated hereunder will involve any transaction which is subject to the prohibitions of Sections 404, 406 or 407 of ERISA or in connection with which a tax could be imposed pursuant to Section 4975 of the Code. The representation by the Loan Parties in the preceding sentence is subject, in the event that the source of the funds used by the Lenders in connection with this transaction is an insurance company’s general asset account, to the application of Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption 95-60, 60 Fed. Reg. 35,925 (1995), compliance with the regulations issued under Section 401(c)(1)(A) of ERISA, or the issuance of any other prohibited transaction exemption or similar relief, to the effect that assets in an insurance company’s general asset account do not constitute assets of an “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA or a “plan” within the meaning of Section 4975(e)(1) of the Code.
5.13 Corporate Structure; Capital Stock, Etc.
The corporate capital and ownership structure of the Consolidated Parties as of the Closing Date is as described on Schedule 5.13. Set forth on Schedule 5.13 is a complete and accurate list as of the Closing Date with respect to each of the Borrower’s direct and indirect Subsidiaries of (i) jurisdiction of incorporation, (ii) number of shares of each class of Capital Stock outstanding, (iii) number and percentage of outstanding shares of each class owned (directly or indirectly) by the Consolidated Parties and (iv) number and effect, if exercised, of all outstanding options, warrants, rights of conversion or purchase and all other similar rights with respect thereto as of the Closing Date. The outstanding Capital Stock of all such Persons is validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and is owned by the Consolidated Parties, directly or indirectly, in the manner set forth on Schedule 5.13, free and clear of all Liens. Other than as set forth in Schedule 5.13, none of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries has outstanding any securities convertible into or exchangeable for its Capital Stock nor does any such Person have outstanding any rights to subscribe for or to purchase or any options for the purchase of, or any agreements providing for the issuance (contingent or otherwise) of, or any calls, commitments or claims of any character relating to its Capital Stock.
5.14 Governmental Regulations, Etc.
(a) None of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including, without limitation, the direct or indirect use of the proceeds of the Loans) will violate or result in a violation of the Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any of Regulations U and X. If requested by any Lender or the Administrative Agent, the Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender a statement, in conformity with the requirements of FR Form U-1 referred to in Regulation U, that no part of the Letters of Credit or proceeds of the Loans will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of “buying” or “carrying” any “margin stock” within the meaning of Regulations U and X, or for the purpose of purchasing or carrying or trading in any securities.
(b) None of the Consolidated Parties is (i) an “investment company”, or a company “controlled” by an “investment company”, within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (ii) a “holding company” as defined in, or otherwise subject to regulation under, the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended or (iii) subject to regulation under any other Federal or state statute or regulation which limits its ability to incur Indebtedness.
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5.15 Purpose of Loans and Letters of Credit.
The proceeds of the Loans hereunder shall be used solely by the Borrower to provide for working capital, capital expenditures and any other lawful corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, Permitted Acquisitions). The Letters of Credit shall be used only for or in connection with credit support required for bonds issued in respect of financings for which a Loan Party is responsible for, directly or indirectly, repayment, appeal bonds, reimbursement obligations arising in connection with surety and reclamation bonds, reinsurance and obligations not otherwise aforementioned relating to transactions entered into by the applicable account party in the ordinary course of business.
5.16 Environmental Matters.
Except as disclosed and described on Schedule 5.16 or except as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect:
(a) Each of the real Properties and all operations at the real Properties are in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws, there is no violation of any Environmental Law with respect to the real Properties or the businesses, and to the best knowledge of the Responsible Officers of the Loan Parties, there are no conditions relating to the real Properties or the businesses that could give rise to liability under any applicable Environmental Laws.
(b) None of the real Properties contains, or to the best knowledge of the Responsible Officers of the Loan Parties, has previously contained, any Hazardous Materials at, on or under the real Properties in amounts or concentrations that constitute or constituted a violation of, or could give rise to liability under, Environmental Laws.
(c) No Consolidated Party has received any written or verbal notice of, or inquiry from any Governmental Authority alleging any violation, non-compliance, liability or potential liability pursuant to, or regarding compliance with, Environmental Laws with regard to any of the real Properties or the businesses, nor does any Responsible Officer of any Loan Party have knowledge or reason to believe that any such notice will be received or is being threatened.
(d) Hazardous Materials have not been transported or disposed of from the real Properties, or generated, treated, stored or disposed of at, on or under any of the real Properties or any other location, in each case by or on behalf of any Consolidated Party in violation of, or in a manner that to the best knowledge of the Responsible Officers of the Loan Parties could give rise to liability under, any applicable Environmental Law.
(e) No judicial proceeding or governmental or administrative action is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Responsible Officers of the Loan Parties, threatened, under any Environmental Law to which any Consolidated Party is or will be named as a party, nor are there any consent decrees or other decrees, consent orders, administrative orders or other orders, or other administrative or judicial requirements outstanding under any Environmental Law with respect to the Consolidated Parties, the real Properties or the businesses.
(f) There has been no release, or threat of release, of Hazardous Materials at or from the real Properties, or arising from or related to the operations (including, without limitation, disposal)
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of any Consolidated Party in connection with the real Properties or otherwise in connection with the businesses, in violation of or in amounts or in a manner that to the best knowledge of the Responsible Officers of the Loan Parties could give rise to liability under Environmental Laws.
5.17 Solvency.
The Loan Parties are Solvent on a consolidated basis.
5.18 Investments.
All Investments of each Consolidated Party are Permitted Investments.
5.19 Disclosure.
Neither this Agreement nor any financial statements delivered to the Lenders nor any other document, certificate or statement furnished to the Lenders by or on behalf of any Consolidated Party in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein or herein not misleading.
5.20 No Burdensome Restrictions.
No Consolidated Party is a party to any agreement or instrument or subject to any other obligation or any charter or corporate restriction or any provision of any applicable law, rule or regulation which, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.21 Brokers’ Fees.
No Consolidated Party has any obligation to any Person in respect of any finder’s, broker’s, investment banking or other similar fee in connection with any of the transactions contemplated under the Loan Documents.
5.22 Labor Matters.
None of the Consolidated Parties has suffered any strikes, walkouts, work stoppages or other material labor difficulty within the last five years which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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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, each Loan Party hereby covenants and agrees to the following:
6.01 Information Covenants.
The Loan Parties will furnish, or cause to be furnished, to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:
(a) Annual Financial Statements. As soon as available, but in any event no later than the earlier of (i) the 90th day after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower and (ii) the day that is three (3) Business Days after the date the Borrower’s annual report on Form 10-K is required to be filed with the SEC (commencing with the 2004 fiscal year), a consolidated balance sheet and income statement of the Consolidated Parties as of the end of such fiscal year, together with related consolidated statements of retained earnings and cash flows for such fiscal year, in each case setting forth in comparative form consolidated figures for the preceding fiscal year, all such financial information described above to be in reasonable form and detail and audited by independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and whose opinion shall be to the effect that such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP (except for changes with which such accountants concur) and shall not be limited as to the scope of the audit or qualified as to the status of the Consolidated Parties as a going concern or any other material qualifications or exceptions.
(b) Quarterly Financial Statements. As soon as available, but in any event no later than the earlier of (i) the 45th day after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower and (ii) the day that is three (3) Business Days after the date the Borrower’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q is required to be filed with the SEC (commencing with the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2004), a consolidated balance sheet and income statement of the Consolidated Parties as of the end of such fiscal quarter, together with related consolidated statements of cash flows for such fiscal quarter, in each case setting forth in comparative form consolidated figures for (x) the corresponding period of the preceding fiscal year with respect to the income and cash flow statements of the Consolidated Parties and (y) the end of the preceding fiscal year with respect to the balance sheet of the Consolidated Parties, all such financial information described above to be in reasonable form and detail and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, and accompanied by a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower to the effect that such quarterly financial statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Consolidated Parties and have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, subject to changes resulting from audit and normal year-end audit adjustments.
(c) Officer’s Compliance Certificate. At the time of delivery of the financial statements provided for in Sections 6.01(a) and 6.01(b) above, a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower substantially in the form of Exhibit D (i) demonstrating compliance with the financial covenants contained in Section 6.10 by calculation thereof as of the end of each such fiscal period, (ii) stating that no Default or Event of Default exists, or if any
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Default or Event of Default does exist, specifying the nature and extent thereof and what action the Loan Parties propose to take with respect thereto, (iii) demonstrating pursuant to a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate, that upon giving effect on a Pro Forma Basis to each Asset Disposition for Net Cash Proceeds in excess of $50,000,000 consummated in the applicable period, the Loan Parties would be in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 6.10(a)-(c).
(d) Annual Budgets. Within 60 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, beginning with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004, an annual budget of the Consolidated Parties containing, among other things, pro forma financial statements (including income statement, balance sheet and statement of cash flows) for the next fiscal year.
(e) Accountant’s Certificate. Within the period for delivery of the annual financial statements provided in Section 6.01(a), a certificate of the accountants conducting the annual audit stating that they have reviewed this Agreement as it relates to accounting and other financial matters and stating further whether, in the course of their audit, they have become aware of any Default or Event of Default and, if any such Default or Event of Default exists, specifying the nature and extent thereof, provided that such accountants shall not be liable by reason of any failure to obtain knowledge of any such Default or Event of Default that would not be disclosed in the course of their audit examination.
(f) Auditor’s Reports. Promptly upon receipt thereof, a copy of any other report or “management letter” submitted by independent accountants to any Consolidated Party in connection with any annual, interim or special audit of the books of such Person.
(g) Reports. Promptly upon transmission or receipt thereof, (i) copies of any filings and registrations with, and reports to or from, the SEC, or any successor agency, and copies of all financial statements, proxy statements, notices and reports as any Consolidated Party shall send to its shareholders or to a holder of any Indebtedness owed by any Consolidated Party in its capacity as such a holder and (ii) upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent, all reports and material written information to and from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, or any state or local agency responsible for environmental matters, the United States Occupational Health and Safety Administration, or any state or local agency responsible for health and safety matters, or any successor agencies or authorities concerning environmental, health or safety matters.
(h) Notices. Upon any Responsible Officer of a Loan Party obtaining knowledge thereof, the Loan Parties will give written notice to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders immediately of (i) the occurrence of an event or condition consisting of a Default or Event of Default, specifying the nature and existence thereof and what action the Loan Parties propose to take with respect thereto, and (ii) the occurrence of any of the following with respect to any Consolidated Party: (A) the pendency or commencement of any litigation, arbitral or governmental proceeding against such Person which if adversely determined is likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, (B) the institution of any proceedings against such Person with respect to, or the receipt of notice by such Person of potential liability or responsibility for violation, or alleged violation of any Federal, state or local law, rule or regulation, including but not limited to, Environmental Laws, the violation of which could have a Material Adverse Effect or (C) any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by such Person.
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(i) ERISA. Upon any Responsible Officer of a Loan Party obtaining knowledge thereof, the Loan Parties will give written notice to the Administrative Agent promptly (and in any event within fifteen Business Days) of: (i) any event or condition, including, but not limited to, any Reportable Event, that constitutes, or might reasonably lead to, an ERISA Event; (ii) with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, the receipt of notice as prescribed in ERISA or otherwise of any withdrawal liability assessed against the Loan Parties or any ERISA Affiliates, or of a determination that any Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization or insolvent (both within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA); (iii) the failure to make full payment on or before the due date (including extensions) thereof of all amounts which any Consolidated Party or any ERISA Affiliate is required to contribute to each Plan pursuant to its terms and as required to meet the minimum funding standard set forth in ERISA and the Code with respect thereto; or (iv) any change in the funding status of any Plan, in each case that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, together with a description of any such event or condition or a copy of any such notice and a statement by an Responsible Officer of the Borrower briefly setting forth the details regarding such event, condition, or notice, and the action, if any, which has been or is being taken or is proposed to be taken by the Loan Parties with respect thereto. Promptly upon request, the Loan Parties shall furnish the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with such additional information concerning any Plan as may be reasonably requested, including, but not limited to, copies of each annual report/return (Form 5500 series), as well as all schedules and attachments thereto required to be filed with the Department of Labor and/or the IRS pursuant to ERISA and the Code, respectively, for each “plan year” (within the meaning of Section 3(39) of ERISA).
(j) Environmental. Upon the reasonable written request of the Administrative Agent following the occurrence of any event or the discovery of any condition which the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders reasonably believe has caused (or could be reasonably expected to cause) the representations and warranties set forth in Section 5.16 to be untrue in any material respect, the Loan Parties will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Administrative Agent, at the Loan Parties’ expense, a report of an environmental assessment of reasonable scope, form and depth, (including, where appropriate, invasive soil or groundwater sampling) by a consultant reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent as to the nature and extent of the presence of any Hazardous Materials on any real Properties and as to the compliance by any Consolidated Party with Environmental Laws at such real Properties. If the Loan Parties fail to deliver such an environmental report within seventy-five (75) days after receipt of such written request then the Administrative Agent may arrange for same, and the Consolidated Parties hereby grant to the Administrative Agent and their representatives access to the real Properties to reasonably undertake such an assessment (including, where appropriate, invasive soil or groundwater sampling). The reasonable cost of any assessment arranged for by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this provision will be payable by the Loan Parties on demand.
(k) Other Information. With reasonable promptness upon any such request, such other information regarding the business, properties or financial condition of any Consolidated Party as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.
The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Arranger will make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the
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“Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders may be “public-side” Lenders (i.e., Lenders that do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities) (each, a “Public Lender”). 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 either publicly available information or not material information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws; (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.”
6.02 Preservation of Existence and Franchises.
Except as a result of or in connection with a dissolution, merger or disposition of a Subsidiary not prohibited by Section 7.04 or Section 7.05, each Loan Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, do all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence, and, where failure to do so could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, its rights, franchises and authority.
6.03 Books and Records.
Each Loan Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, keep complete and accurate books and records of its transactions in accordance with good accounting practices on the basis of GAAP (including the establishment and maintenance of appropriate reserves).
6.04 Compliance with Law.
Each Loan Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws, rules, regulations and orders, and all applicable restrictions imposed by all Governmental Authorities, applicable to it and its Property if noncompliance with any such law, rule, regulation, order or restriction could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.05 Payment of Taxes and Other Claims.
Each Loan Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay and discharge (a) all taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it, or upon its income or profits, or upon any of its properties, before they shall become delinquent and (b) all lawful claims (including claims for labor, materials and supplies) which, if unpaid, might give rise to a Lien upon any of its properties; provided, however, that no Consolidated Party shall be required to pay any such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and as to which adequate reserves therefor have been established in accordance with GAAP, unless the failure to make any such payment (i) could give rise to an immediate right to foreclose on a Lien securing such amounts or (ii) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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6.06 Insurance.
Each Loan Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, at all times maintain in full force and effect insurance (including worker’s compensation insurance, liability insurance, casualty insurance and business interruption insurance) in such amounts, covering such risks and liabilities and with such deductibles or self-insurance retentions as are in accordance with normal industry practice.
6.07 Maintenance of Property; Management of Timberlands.
Each Loan Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain and preserve its properties and equipment material to the conduct of its business in good repair, working order and condition, normal wear and tear and Involuntary Dispositions excepted, and will make, or cause to be made, in such properties and equipment from time to time all repairs, renewals, replacements, extensions, additions, betterments and improvements thereto as may be needed or proper, to the extent and in the manner customary for companies in similar businesses. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, manage its timberlands in accordance with the guidelines established by either the American Forest & Paper Association’s Sustainable Forestry Initiative or the Forest Stewardship Council.
6.08 Use of Proceeds.
The Borrower will use the proceeds of the Loans and will use the Letters of Credit solely for the purposes set forth in Section 5.15.
6.09 Audits/Inspections.
Upon reasonable notice and during normal business hours, each Loan Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, permit representatives appointed by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, including, without limitation, independent accountants, agents, attorneys, and appraisers to visit and inspect its property, including its books and records, its accounts receivable and inventory, its facilities and its other business assets, and to make photocopies or photographs thereof and to write down and record any information such representative obtains and shall permit the Administrative Agent or its representatives to investigate and verify the accuracy of information provided to the Lenders and to discuss all such matters with the officers, employees and representatives of such Person; provided, however, that when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, 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 and, to the extent commercially practicable, with advance notice.
6.10 Financial Covenants.
(a) Funded Indebtedness to Capitalization Ratio. At all times the Funded Indebtedness to Capitalization Ratio shall be less than or equal to 55.00%.
(b) Consolidated Net Worth. At all times the Consolidated Net Worth of the Borrower shall be greater than or equal to $432,000,000 (i.e., 85% of Consolidated Net Worth as of March 31, 2004) increased on a cumulative basis as of the end of each fiscal quarter of the Consolidated
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Parties, commencing with the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2004, by an amount equal to (x) 50% of Consolidated Net Income (to the extent positive) for such fiscal quarter and (y) 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds of any Equity Issuances consummated during such fiscal quarter.
(c) Interest Coverage Ratio. The Interest Coverage Ratio, as of the last day of each fiscal quarter of the Consolidated Parties, shall be greater than or equal to 2.75 to 1.00.
6.11 Additional Guarantors.
Notify the Administrative Agent at the time that any Person becomes a Material Subsidiary and promptly thereafter (and in any event within 30 days), cause each such Person (other than any Foreign Subsidiary to the extent the joinder as a Guarantor by such Foreign Subsidiary could reasonably be expected to (1) cause the undistributed earnings of such Foreign Subsidiary as determined for United States federal income tax purposes to be treated as a deemed dividend to such Foreign Subsidiary’s United States parent or (2) result in any material adverse tax consequences) to (i) become a Guarantor by executing and delivering to the Administrative Agent a Joinder Agreement, and (ii) 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 herein), all in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
6.12 Performance of Obligations.
Each of the Loan Parties will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, perform in all material respects in accordance with customary trade practices all of its obligations under the terms of all material agreements, indentures, mortgages, security agreements or other debt instruments to which it is a party or by which it is bound; provided, however, that such Loan Party or Subsidiary may contest any such obligation in good faith and by proper proceedings so long as adequate reserves are maintained with respect thereto to the extent required by GAAP.
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 (to the extent such Letter of Credit is not fully Cash Collateralized in accordance with Section 2.03(g)), each Loan Party hereby covenants and agrees to the following:
7.01 Indebtedness.
The Loan Parties will not permit any Consolidated Party to contract, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, except:
(a) Indebtedness arising under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;
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(b) Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries set forth in Schedule 7.01 (and renewals, refinancings and extensions thereof on terms and conditions no less favorable to such Person than such existing Indebtedness);
(c) purchase money Indebtedness (including obligations in respect of Capital Leases or Synthetic Lease Obligations) hereafter incurred by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to finance the purchase of fixed assets provided that (i) the total of all such Indebtedness for all such Persons taken together shall not exceed an aggregate principal amount of $30,000,000 at any one time outstanding; (ii) such Indebtedness when incurred shall not exceed the purchase price of the asset(s) financed; and (iii) no such Indebtedness shall be refinanced for a principal amount in excess of the principal balance outstanding thereon at the time of such refinancing;
(d) obligations of the Borrower in respect of Swap Contracts entered into in order to manage existing or anticipated interest rate or exchange rate risks and not for speculative purposes;
(e) intercompany Indebtedness and Guarantees permitted under Section 7.06;
(f) in addition to the Indebtedness otherwise permitted by this Section 7.01, other Indebtedness hereafter incurred by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, provided that (i) with respect to any Indebtedness that exceeds $1,000,000 in principal amount such Indebtedness shall be unsecured, (ii) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate demonstrating that, upon giving effect on a Pro Forma Basis to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and to the concurrent retirement of any other Indebtedness of any Consolidated Party, the Loan Parties would be in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 6.10(a)-(c), (iii) the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness shall not exceed $150,000,000 at any time and (iv) such Indebtedness is permitted under the Senior Subordinated Note Indenture.
7.02 Liens.
The Loan Parties will not permit any Consolidated Party to contract, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien with respect to any of its Property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except for:
(a) Liens (other than Liens created or imposed under ERISA) for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies not yet due or Liens for taxes being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves determined in accordance with GAAP have been established (and as to which the Property subject to any such Lien is not yet subject to foreclosure, sale or loss on account thereof);
(b) statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen and suppliers and other Liens imposed by law or pursuant to customary reservations or retentions of title arising in the ordinary course of business, provided that such Liens secure only amounts not yet due and payable or, if due and payable, are unfiled and no other action has been taken to enforce the same or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves determined in accordance with GAAP have been established (and as to which the Property subject to any such Lien is not yet subject to foreclosure, sale or loss on account thereof);
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(c) Liens (other than Liens created or imposed under ERISA) incurred or deposits made by any Consolidated Party in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security, or to secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, bids, leases, government contracts, performance and return-of-money bonds and other similar obligations (exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money);
(d) Liens in connection with attachments or judgments (including judgment or appeal bonds) provided that the judgments secured shall, within 30 days after the entry thereof, have been discharged or execution thereof stayed pending appeal, or shall have been discharged within 30 days after the expiration of any such stay;
(e) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions (including zoning restrictions), minor defects or irregularities in title and other similar charges or encumbrances not, in any material respect, impairing the use of the encumbered Property for its intended purposes;
(f) Liens on Property of any Person securing purchase money Indebtedness (including Capital Leases and Synthetic Lease Obligations) of such Person permitted under Section 7.01(c), provided that any such Lien attaches to such Property concurrently with or within 90 days after the acquisition thereof;
(g) leases or subleases granted to others not interfering in any material respect with the business of any Consolidated Party;
(h) any interest of title of a lessor under, and Liens arising from UCC financing statements (or equivalent filings, registrations or agreements in foreign jurisdictions) relating to, leases permitted by this Agreement;
(i) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods;
(j) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements permitted under Section 7.06;
(k) normal and customary rights of setoff upon deposits of cash in favor of banks or other depository institutions;
(l) Liens of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection;
(m) Liens of sellers of goods to the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries arising under Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code or similar provisions of applicable law in the ordinary course of business, covering only the goods sold and securing only the unpaid purchase price for such goods and related expenses;
(n) any interest of title of a buyer in connection with, and Liens arising from UCC financing statements relating to, a sale of receivables permitted by this Agreement;
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(o) Liens existing as of the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 7.02;
(p) Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged with or into or consolidated with the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower; provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such merger or consolidation and do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or the Subsidiary;
(q) Liens on property existing at the time of acquisition of the property by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower, provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such acquisition;
(r) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Loan Parties which are permitted under the Senior Subordinated Note Indenture with respect to obligations that do not exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding;
(s) Liens created or assumed in the ordinary course of business of exploring for, developing or producing oil, gas or other minerals (including borrowings in connection therewith) on, or any interest in, or on any proceeds from the sale of, property acquired for such purposes, production therefrom (including the proceeds thereof), or material or equipment located thereon;
(t) Liens arising from the pledge of any bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments which are purchased and held by any remarketing agent for the account of, or as agent for, the Borrower;
(u) conservation easements on timberlands; and
(v) any extension, renewal or replacement, in whole or in part, of any Lien described in the foregoing clauses (a) through (u); provided that any such extension, renewal or replacement shall be no more restrictive in any material respect than the Lien extended, renewed or replaced and shall not extend to any other Property of the Loan Parties other than such item of Property originally covered by such Lien or by improvement thereof or additions or accessions thereto.
7.03 Nature of Business.
The Loan Parties will not permit any Consolidated Party to substantively alter the character or conduct of the business conducted by such Person as of the Closing Date.
7.04 Consolidation, Merger, Dissolution, etc.
Except in connection with a Permitted Asset Disposition, the Loan Parties will not permit any Consolidated Party to enter into any transaction of merger or consolidation or liquidate, wind up or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution); provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.04 but subject to the terms of Sections 7.11 and 7.12, (a) the Borrower may merge or consolidate with any of its Subsidiaries, provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving corporation, (b) any Loan Party other than the Borrower may merge or consolidate with any other Loan Party other than the Borrower, (c) any Consolidated Party which
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is not a Loan Party may be merged or consolidated with or into any Loan Party other than the Borrower, provided that such Loan Party shall be the continuing or surviving corporation, (d) any Consolidated Party which is not a Loan Party may be merged or consolidated with or into any other Consolidated Party which is not a Loan Party, (e) any Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge with any Person that is not a Loan Party in connection with an Asset Disposition permitted under Section 7.05, (f) the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge with any Person other than a Consolidated Party in connection with a Permitted Acquisition, provided that, if such transaction involves the Borrower, the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving corporation and (g) any wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrower may dissolve, liquidate or wind up its affairs at any time provided that such dissolution, liquidation or winding up, as applicable, could not have a Material Adverse Effect.
7.05 Asset Dispositions
The Loan Parties will not permit any Consolidated Party to make any Asset Disposition or enter into any agreement to make any Asset Disposition, except, so long as such Asset Disposition is permitted under the Senior Subordinated Note Indenture:
(a) any Consolidated Party may sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose 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 any such transaction are reasonably promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property;
(b) any Subsidiary may sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of Property 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;
(c) Asset Dispositions permitted by Section 7.04
(d) Asset Dispositions by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries of Property pursuant to sale-leaseback transactions to the extent such disposition is permitted by Section 7.13;
(e) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of assets, to the extent not otherwise permitted under this Section 7.05; provided that (i) at the time of such Asset Disposition, no Default shall exist or would result therefrom, (ii) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate demonstrating that, upon giving effect to such Asset Disposition on a Pro Forma Basis, the Loan Parties would be in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 6.10(a)-(c) and (iii) the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds of all fee interests in timberlands (i.e., excluding ordinary course sales of timber) sold, leased, transferred or otherwise disposed of pursuant to this clause (e) over the term of this Agreement shall not exceed $150,000,000;
provided, however, that any Asset Disposition pursuant to clauses (a) through (e) shall be for fair market value.
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7.06 Investments.
The Loan Parties will not permit any Consolidated Party to make any Investments, except for:
(a) Investments consisting of cash and Cash Equivalents;
(b) Investments consisting of accounts receivable created, acquired or made by any Consolidated Party in the ordinary course of business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with customary trade terms;
(c) Investments consisting of Capital Stock, obligations, securities or other property received by any Consolidated Party in settlement of accounts receivable (created in the ordinary course of business) from bankrupt obligors;
(d) Investments existing as of the Closing Date and set forth in Schedule 7.06;
(e) Investments consisting of advances or loans to directors, officers, employees, agents, customers or suppliers that do not exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding; provided that all such advances must be in compliance with applicable Laws, including, but not limited to, the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002;
(f) Investments in any Loan Party;
(g) Investments consisting of an Acquisition by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower, provided that (i) the Property acquired (or the Property of the Person acquired) in such Acquisition is used or useful in the same or a similar line of business as the Borrower and its Subsidiaries were engaged in on the Closing Date (or any reasonable extensions or expansions thereof), (ii) in the case of an Acquisition of the Capital Stock of another Person, the board of directors (or other comparable governing body) of such other Person shall have duly approved such Acquisition, (iii) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent, to the extent the aggregate consideration paid in connection with such Acquisition is equal to or greater than $50,000,000, (A) a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate demonstrating that, upon giving effect to such Acquisition on a Pro Forma Basis, the Loan Parties would be in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 6.10(a)-(c) and (B) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower (1) demonstrating that, upon giving effect to such Acquisition, at least 90% of Consolidated EBITDDA for the most recently ended fiscal year period for each of the Consolidated Parties and the acquired Person or Property preceding the date of such Acquisition with respect to which the Administrative Agent shall have received the Required Financial Information has been audited in accordance with GAAP, in the case of the Borrower, as required by Section 6.01(a) and, in the case of the acquired Person or Property, by an independent certified public accountant of recognized national standing reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (whose opinion shall not be limited as to the scope or qualified as to going concern status or any other material qualifications or exceptions) and (2) to the extent that audited financial information for the acquired Person or Property is required under the terms of the foregoing clause (1), certifying that the quarterly financial statements with respect to the Person or Property acquired for each fiscal quarter period ending after the date of the last audit and immediately prior to the date of such Acquisition have been prepared in accordance with GAAP (subject to audit adjustments and
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the absence of footnotes) and reviewed by independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, (iv) the representations and warranties made by the Loan Parties in any Loan Document shall be true and correct in all material respects at and as if made as of the date of such Acquisition (after giving effect thereto) except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, (v) if such transaction involves the purchase of an interest in a partnership between the Borrower (or a Subsidiary of the Borrower) as a general partner and entities unaffiliated with the Borrower or such Subsidiary as the other partners, such transaction shall be effected by having such equity interest acquired by a corporate holding company directly or indirectly wholly-owned by the Borrower newly formed for the sole purpose of effecting such transaction, (vi) after giving effect to such Acquisition, there shall be at least $50,000,000 of availability existing under the Aggregate Commitments and (vii) the aggregate consideration (including cash and non-cash consideration and any assumption of Indebtedness, but excluding consideration consisting of any Capital Stock of the Borrower issued to the seller of the Capital Stock or Property acquired in such Acquisition and consideration consisting of the Net Cash Proceeds of any Equity Issuance by the Borrower consummated subsequent to the Closing Date and the proceeds of any Asset Disposition, or Involuntary Disposition, consummated subsequent to the Closing Date) paid by the Consolidated Parties for all such Acquisitions occurring after the Closing Date, together with Investments made pursuant clause (i) of this Section, shall not exceed $150,000,000;
(h) Investments by a Loan Party in Potlatch Employee Benefits Organization, Inc., Potlatch Foundation II and Potlatch Foundation for Higher Education, in each case in accordance with past practices of such Loan Party; or
(i) other Investments which, together with Investments made pursuant to clause (g) of this Section, shall not exceed $150,000,000 in the aggregate over the term of this Agreement.
7.07 Restricted Payments.
The Loan Parties will not permit any Consolidated Party to, directly or indirectly, declare, order, make or set apart any sum for or pay any Restricted Payment, except (a) to make dividends or other distributions payable to any Loan Party (directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries), (b) as permitted by Section 7.06, Section 7.08 or Section 7.09, (c) so long as such payments are permitted under the Senior Subordinated Note Indenture, the Borrower shall be permitted to pay dividends to its shareholders in an amount not to exceed $60,000,000 in any consecutive twelve month period; and (d) so long as no Default or Event of Default exists or would otherwise result therefrom and the Borrower can demonstrate (i) availability under the Aggregate Commitments of at least $50,000,000 and (ii) pursuant to a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate, compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 6.10(a)-(c), in each case on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect thereto, the Borrower shall be permitted to Repay from time to time all or any portion of the principal amount, together with any required or market premium and any other costs, of the Senior Subordinated Notes to the extent not prohibited under the Senior Subordinated Note Indenture.
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7.08 Limitation on Actions with Respect to Other Indebtedness.
No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to:
(a) (i) amend or modify any of the terms of any Indebtedness of such Person (other than Indebtedness arising under the Loan Documents) if such amendment or modification would add or change any terms in a manner materially adverse to the Lenders, or (ii) materially shorten the final maturity or average life to maturity thereof or require any payment thereon to be made sooner than originally scheduled or increase the interest rate or fees applicable thereto, or (iii) make (or give any notice with respect thereto) any voluntary or optional payment or prepayment thereof, or make (or give any notice with respect thereto) any redemption or acquisition for value or defeasance (including without limitation, by way of depositing money or securities with the trustee with respect thereto before due for the purpose of paying when due), refund, refinance or exchange with respect thereto; provided, however that the Borrower may Repay Indebtedness in accordance with Section 7.07;
(b) after the issuance thereof, amend or modify any of the terms of any Subordinated Indebtedness of such Person if such amendment or modification would (i) add or change any terms in a manner materially adverse to such Person or to the Lenders, (ii) materially shorten the final maturity or average life to maturity thereof, (iii) require any payment thereon to be made sooner than originally scheduled, (iv) increase the interest rate or fees applicable thereto or (v) change any subordination provision thereof in a manner adverse to the Lenders;
(c) make interest payments in respect of any Subordinated Indebtedness in violation of the applicable subordination provisions;
(d) make (or give any notice with respect thereto) any voluntary or optional payment or prepayment in respect of any Subordinated Indebtedness;
(e) make (or give any notice with respect thereto) any redemption, acquisition for value or defeasance (including without limitation, by way of depositing money or securities with the trustee with respect thereto before due for the purpose of paying when due), refund, refinance or exchange of any Subordinated Indebtedness; or
(f) designate any other Indebtedness of such Person as “Designated Senior Debt” (as such term is used in the Senior Subordinated Note Indenture) other than Indebtedness designated as “Designated Senior Debt” as of the Closing Date and identified as such on Schedule 7.01.
7.09 Transactions with Affiliates.
The Loan Parties will not permit any Consolidated Party to enter into or permit to exist any transaction or series of transactions with any officer, director, shareholder, Subsidiary or Affiliate of such Person other than (a) advances of working capital to any Loan Party, (b) transfers of cash and assets to any Loan Party, (c) intercompany transactions expressly permitted by Section 7.01, Section 7.04, Section 7.05, Section 7.06, or Section 7.07, (d) normal compensation and reimbursement of expenses of officers and directors, (e) agreements and arrangements entered into with employees of the Loan Parties in connection with termination of their employment therewith, and (f) except as otherwise specifically limited in this Agreement, other transactions which are
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entered into in the ordinary course of such Person’s business on terms and conditions substantially as favorable to such Person as would be obtainable by it in a comparable arms-length transaction with a Person other than an officer, director, shareholder, Subsidiary or Affiliate.
7.10 Fiscal Year; Organizational Documents.
The Loan Parties will not permit any Consolidated Party to (a) change its fiscal year or (b) amend, modify or change its articles of incorporation (or corporate charter or other similar organizational document) or bylaws (or other similar document) to the extent such change, amendment or modification could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
7.11 Limitation on Restricted Actions.
The Loan Parties will not permit any Consolidated Party to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any such Person to (a) pay dividends or make any other distributions to any Loan Party on its Capital Stock or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, (b) pay any Indebtedness or other obligation owed to any Loan Party, (c) make loans or advances to any Loan Party, (d) sell, lease or transfer any of its Property to any Loan Party, or (e) act as a Loan Party and pledge its assets pursuant to the Loan Documents or any renewals, refinancings, exchanges, refundings or extension thereof, except (in respect of any of the matters referred to in clauses (a)-(d) above) for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of (i) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) the Senior Subordinated Note Indenture and the Senior Subordinated Notes, in each case as in effect as of the Closing Date, (iii) applicable law, (iv) any document or instrument governing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.01(c), provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets constructed or acquired in connection therewith, (v) any Permitted Lien or any document or instrument governing any Permitted Lien, provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets subject to such Permitted Lien or (vi) customary restrictions and conditions contained in any agreement relating to the sale of any Property permitted under Section 7.05 pending the consummation of such sale.
7.12 Ownership of Subsidiaries.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, the Loan Parties will not permit any Consolidated Party to (i) permit any Person (other than the Borrower or any wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrower) to own any Capital Stock of any Subsidiary of the Borrower, except (A) to qualify directors where required by applicable law or to satisfy other requirements of applicable law with respect to the ownership of Capital Stock of Foreign Subsidiaries or (B) as a result of or in connection with a dissolution, merger, consolidation or disposition of a Subsidiary not prohibited by Section 7.04 or Section 7.05, (ii) permit any Subsidiary of the Borrower to issue or have outstanding any shares of preferred Capital Stock or (iii) permit, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any Capital Stock of any Subsidiary of the Borrower, except for Permitted Liens.
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7.13 Sale Leasebacks.
The Loan Parties will not permit any Consolidated Party to enter into any Sale and Leaseback Transaction, except to the extent the aggregate net book value of the Property sold or transferred (or to be sold or transferred) in connection with all such Sale and Leaseback Transactions does not exceed $25,000,000.
7.14 No Further Negative Pledges.
The Loan Parties will not permit any Consolidated Party to enter into, assume or become subject to any agreement prohibiting or otherwise restricting the existence of any Lien upon any of its Property in favor of the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Lenders) for the purpose of securing the Obligations, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or requiring the grant of any security for any obligation if such Property is given as security for the Obligations, except (a) in connection with any document or instrument governing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.01(c), provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets constructed or acquired in connection therewith, (b) in connection with any Permitted Lien or any document or instrument governing any Permitted Lien, provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets subject to such Permitted Lien and (c) pursuant to customary restrictions and conditions contained in any agreement relating to the sale of any Property permitted under Section 7.05, pending the consummation of such sale.
7.15 Subsidiaries.
The Loan Parties will not create, acquire or permit to exist any (a) new Subsidiaries unless Section 6.11 hereof, if applicable, has been, or will be concurrently complied with, or (b) Foreign Subsidiaries to the extent that the revenue, assets and cash flows of the Foreign Subsidiaries would exceed in the aggregate 15% of the revenue, assets and cash flows of the Consolidated Parties on a consolidated basis.
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 and in the currency required hereunder, any amount of principal of any Loan or any L/C Obligation, or (ii) within five Business Days after the same becomes due and in the currency required hereunder, any interest on any Loan or on any L/C Obligation, or any commitment or other fee due hereunder, or (iii) within five Business Days after the same becomes due and in the currency required hereunder, any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or
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(b) Specific Covenants. The Borrower shall
(i) default in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or agreement contained in Sections 6.02, 6.08, 6.10, 6.11 or Article VII;
(ii) default in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or agreement contained in Section 6.01(a), (b), (c) or (d) and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of at least 5 Business Days after the earlier of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower becoming aware of such default or written notice thereof by the Administrative Agent or any Lender; 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 the earlier of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower becoming aware of such default or written notice thereof by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or, if such failure cannot reasonably be cured within such 30-day period, 60 days (but only to the extent such failure can reasonably be cured within such 60-day period) so long as the Borrower has diligently commenced such cure and is diligently prosecuting the completion thereof; 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, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall prove untrue in any material respect on the date as of which it was deemed to have been made; or
(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 beyond the applicable grace period with respect thereto) 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 $12,500,000, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto beyond the applicable grace period with respect 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 $12,500,000; or
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(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) a final judgment or order for the payment of money in an aggregate amount exceeding $12,500,000 (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
(i) ERISA. Any of the following events or conditions, if such event or condition could reasonably be expected to result in taxes, penalties, and other liabilities to any Consolidated Party in an aggregate amount greater than $12,500,000: (i) any “accumulated funding deficiency,” as such term is defined in Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, whether or not waived, shall exist with respect to any Plan, or any lien shall arise on the assets of any Consolidated Party or any ERISA Affiliate in favor of the PBGC or a Plan; (ii) an ERISA Event shall occur with respect to a Single Employer Plan, which is, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, likely to result in the termination of such Plan for purposes of Title IV of ERISA; (iii) an ERISA Event shall occur with respect to a Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan, which is, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, likely to result in (A) the termination of such Plan for purposes of Title IV of ERISA, or (B) any Consolidated Party or any ERISA Affiliate incurring any liability in connection with a withdrawal from, reorganization of (within the meaning of Section 4241 of ERISA), or insolvency (within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA) of such Plan; or (iv) any prohibited transaction (within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) or breach of fiduciary responsibility shall occur which may subject any Consolidated Party or any ERISA Affiliate to any liability under Sections 406, 409, 502(i), or 502(l) of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, or under any agreement or other instrument pursuant to which any Consolidated Party or any ERISA Affiliate has agreed or is required to indemnify any person against any such liability; or
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(j) Invalidity of Loan Documents. Any Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or 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 Loan Document; or any Loan Party denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any Loan Document;
(k) Change of Control. There occurs any Change of Control with respect to the Borrower; or
(l) Senior Subordinated Debt Documentation. (i) There shall occur and be continuing any “Event of Default” (or any comparable term) under, and as defined in the documents evidencing or governing any Subordinated Debt, (ii) any of the Obligations for any reason shall cease to be “Designated Senior Debt” (or any comparable term) under, and as defined in the documents evidencing or governing any Subordinated Indebtedness, (iii) any Indebtedness other than the Obligations shall constitute “Designated Senior Indebtedness” (or any comparable term) under, and as defined in, the Senior Subordinated Note Indenture or any other documents evidencing or governing any Subordinated Indebtedness or (iv) the subordination provisions of the documents evidencing or governing any Subordinated Indebtedness shall, in whole or in part, terminate, cease to be effective or cease to be legally valid, binding and enforceable against any holder of the applicable Subordinated Indebtedness.
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 and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents or applicable law;
provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, and the
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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:
First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including Attorney Costs 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 and interest) payable to the Lenders (including Attorney Costs and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;
Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans and L/C Borrowings, ratably among the Lenders 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, L/C Borrowings and Swap Contracts between any Loan Party and any Lender or Affiliate of any Lender and to Cash Collateralize the undrawn amounts of Letters of Credit, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them; and
Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been 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 Fourth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as cash collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above.
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ARTICLE IX
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
9.01 Appointment and Authorization of Administrative Agent.
(a) Each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints, designates and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and each other Loan Document and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to it by the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere herein or in any other Loan Document, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein, nor shall the Administrative Agent have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender or participant, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise exist against the Administrative Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the use of the term “agent” herein and in the other Loan Documents with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties.
(b) 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 (i) provided to the Administrative Agent in this 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 the applications and agreements for letters of credit pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Administrative Agent” as used in this Article IX and in the definition of “Agent-Related Person” included the L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (ii) as additionally provided herein with respect to the L/C Issuer.
9.02 Delegation of Duties.
The Administrative Agent may execute any of its duties under this Agreement or any other Loan Document by or through agents, employees or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel and other consultants or experts concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agent or attorney-in-fact that it selects in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct.
9.03 Liability of Administrative Agent.
No Agent-Related Person shall (a) be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby (except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with its duties expressly set forth herein), or (b) be responsible in any manner to any
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Lender or participant for any recital, statement, representation or warranty made by any Loan Party or any officer thereof, contained herein or in any other Loan Document, or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or the validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or for any failure of any Loan Party or any other party to any Loan Document to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. No Agent-Related Person shall be under any obligation to any Lender or participant to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or to inspect the properties, books or records of any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof.
9.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent.
(a) The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing, communication, signature, resolution, representation, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram, facsimile, telex or telephone message, electronic mail message, statement or other document or conversation believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including counsel to any Loan Party), independent accountants and other experts selected by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under any Loan Document unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Required Lenders as it deems appropriate and, if it so requests, it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. The Administrative Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document in accordance with a request or consent of the Required Lenders (or such greater number of Lenders as may be expressly required hereby in any instance) and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Lenders.
(b) For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in 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.
9.05 Notice of Default.
The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default, except with respect to defaults in the payment of principal, interest and fees required to be paid to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders, unless the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from a Lender or the Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default.” The Administrative Agent will notify the Lenders of its receipt of any such notice. The Administrative Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default as may be directed by
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the Required Lenders in accordance with Article VIII; provided, however, that unless and until the Administrative Agent has received any such direction, the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Default as it shall deem advisable or in the best interest of the Lenders.
9.06 Credit Decision; Disclosure of Information by Administrative Agent.
Each Lender acknowledges that no Agent-Related Person has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by the Administrative Agent hereafter taken, including any consent to and acceptance of any assignment or review of the affairs of any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by any Agent-Related Person to any Lender as to any matter, including whether Agent-Related Persons have disclosed material information in their possession. Each Lender represents to the Administrative Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties and their respective Subsidiaries, and all applicable bank or other regulatory Laws relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, and made its own decision to enter into this Agreement and to extend credit to the Borrower and the other Loan Parties hereunder. Each Lender also represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and to make such investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent herein, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of any of the Loan Parties or any of their respective Affiliates which may come into the possession of any Agent-Related Person.
9.07 Indemnification of Administrative Agent.
Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Lenders shall indemnify upon demand each Agent-Related Person (to the extent not reimbursed by or on behalf of any Loan Party and without limiting the obligation of any Loan Party to do so), pro rata, and hold harmless each Agent-Related Person from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities incurred by it; provided, however, (a) that no Lender shall be liable for the payment to any Agent-Related Person of any portion of such Indemnified Liabilities to the extent determined in a final, nonappealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Agent-Related Person’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct and (b) no Lender shall be liable for the payment of any portion of an Indemnified Liability pursuant to this Section 9.07 unless such Indemnified Liability was incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender or the L/C Issuer in their respective capacity as such or by another person acting for them in such capacity; provided, however, that no action taken in accordance with the directions of the Required Lenders shall be deemed to constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct for
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purposes of this Section. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender shall reimburse the Administrative Agent upon demand for its ratable share of any costs or out-of-pocket expenses (including Attorney Costs) incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any document contemplated by or referred to herein, to the extent that the Administrative Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of the Borrower. The undertaking in this Section shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, the payment of all other Obligations and the resignation of the Administrative Agent.
9.08 Administrative Agent in its Individual Capacity.
Bank of America and its Affiliates may make loans to, issue letters of credit for the account of, accept deposits from, acquire equity interests in and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory, underwriting or other business with each of the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates as though Bank of America were not the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer hereunder and without notice to or consent of the Lenders. The Lenders acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, Bank of America or its Affiliates may receive information regarding any Loan Party or its Affiliates (including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of such Loan Party or such Affiliate) and acknowledge that the Administrative Agent shall be under no obligation to provide such information to them. With respect to its Loans, Bank of America shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other Lender and may exercise such rights and powers as though it were not the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, and the terms “Lender” and “Lenders” include Bank of America in its individual capacity.
9.09 Successor Administrative Agent.
The Administrative Agent may resign as Administrative Agent upon 30 days’ notice to the Lenders; provided that any such resignation by Bank of America shall also constitute its resignation as L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender. If the Administrative Agent resigns under this Agreement, the Required Lenders shall appoint from among the Lenders a successor administrative agent for the Lenders, which successor administrative agent shall be consented to by the Borrower at all times other than during the existence of an Event of Default (which consent of the Borrower shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). If no successor administrative agent is appointed prior to the effective date of the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may appoint, after consulting with the Lenders and the Borrower, a successor administrative agent from among the Lenders. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor administrative agent hereunder, the Person acting as such successor administrative agent shall succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender and the respective terms “Administrative Agent,” “L/C Issuer” and “Swing Line Lender” shall mean such successor administrative agent, Letter of Credit issuer and swing line lender, and the retiring Administrative Agent’s appointment, powers and duties as Administrative Agent shall be terminated and the retiring L/C Issuer’s and Swing Line Lender’s rights, powers and duties as such shall be terminated, without any other or further act or deed on the part of such retiring L/C
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Issuer or Swing Line Lender or any other Lender, other than the obligation of the successor L/C Issuer to issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or to 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. After any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder as Administrative Agent, the provisions of this Article IX and Sections 10.04 and 10.05 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender under this Agreement. If no successor administrative agent has accepted appointment as Administrative Agent by the date which is 30 days following a retiring Administrative Agent’s notice of resignation, the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation shall nevertheless thereupon become effective and the Lenders shall perform all of the duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor agent as provided for above.
9.10 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim.
In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan 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 and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.03(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 to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 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 any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.
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9.11 Guaranty Matters.
The Lenders irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion 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 any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty pursuant to this Section 9.11.
9.12 Other Agents; Arrangers and Managers.
None of the Lenders or other Persons identified on the facing page or signature pages of this Agreement as a “syndication agent,” “documentation agent,” “co-agent,” “book manager,” “lead manager,” “arranger,” “lead arranger” or “co-arranger” shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other than, in the case of such Lenders, those applicable to all Lenders as such. Without limiting the foregoing, none of the Lenders or other Persons so identified shall have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender. Each Lender acknowledges that it has not relied, and will not rely, on any of the Lenders or other Persons so identified in deciding to enter into this Agreement or in taking or not taking action hereunder.
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) 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;
(b) postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment (excluding mandatory prepayments) of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;
(c) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or L/C Borrowing, or (subject to clause (v) 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
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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 at the Default Rate;
(d) 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;
(e) 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
(f) release a material portion of the value of the Guarantees given by the Guarantors without the written consent of each Lender;
and, provided further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the L/C Issuer in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Letter of Credit Application relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Swing Line Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Swing Line Lender under this Agreement; (iii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (iv) Section 10.07(h) may not be amended, waived or otherwise modified without the consent of each Granting Lender all or any part of whose Loans are being funded by an SPC at the time of such amendment, waiver or other modification; and (v) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except that the Commitment of such Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender.
10.02 Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies.
(a) General. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing (including by facsimile transmission). All such written notices shall be mailed, faxed or delivered to the applicable address, facsimile number or (subject to subsection (c) below) electronic mail address, 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, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02 or to such other address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number as shall be designated by such party in a notice to the other parties; and
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(ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire or to such other address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number as shall be designated by such party in a notice to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender.
All such notices and other communications shall be deemed to be given or made upon the earlier to occur of (i) actual receipt by the relevant party hereto and (ii) (A) if delivered by hand or by courier, when signed for by or on behalf of the relevant party hereto; (B) if delivered by mail, four Business Days after deposit in the mails, postage prepaid; (C) if delivered by facsimile, when sent and receipt has been confirmed by telephone; and (D) if delivered by electronic mail (which form of delivery is subject to the provisions of subsection (c) below), when delivered; provided, however, that notices and other communications to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Article II shall not be effective until actually received by such Person. In no event shall a voicemail message be effective as a notice, communication or confirmation hereunder.
(b) Effectiveness of Facsimile Documents and Signatures. Loan Documents may be transmitted and/or signed by facsimile. The effectiveness of any such documents and signatures shall, subject to applicable Law, have the same force and effect as manually-signed originals and shall be binding on all Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders. The Administrative Agent may also require that any such documents and signatures be confirmed by a manually-signed original thereof; provided, however, that the failure to request or deliver the same shall not limit the effectiveness of any facsimile document or signature.
(c) Limited Use of Electronic Mail. Electronic mail and Internet and intranet websites may be used only to distribute routine communications, such as financial statements and other information as provided in Section 6.02, and to distribute Loan Documents for execution by the parties thereto, and may not be used for any other purpose.
(d) Reliance by Administrative Agent and Lenders. The Administrative Agent 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 each Agent-Related Person and each Lender 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, except to the extent any such losses, costs, expenses or liabilities were caused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any Agent-Related Person or any Lender. All telephonic notices to and other communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.
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10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies.
No failure by any Lender 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 Attorney Costs, Expenses and Taxes.
The Borrower agrees (a) to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent for all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the development, preparation, negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any amendment, waiver, consent or other modification of the provisions hereof and thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby are consummated), and the consummation and administration of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including all Attorney Costs, and (b) to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent and each Lender for all reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement, attempted enforcement, or preservation of any rights or remedies under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (including all such costs and expenses incurred during any “workout” or restructuring in respect of the Obligations and during any legal proceeding, including any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law), including all Attorney Costs. The foregoing costs and expenses shall include all search, filing, recording, title insurance and appraisal charges and fees and taxes related thereto, and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and the cost of independent public accountants and other outside experts retained by the Administrative Agent or any Lender. All amounts due under this Section 10.04 shall be payable within ten Business Days after demand therefor. The agreements in this Section shall survive the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations.
10.05 Indemnification by the Borrower.
Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Borrower shall indemnify and hold harmless each Agent-Related Person, each Lender and their respective Affiliates, directors, officers, employees, counsel, agents and attorneys-in-fact (collectively the “Indemnitees”) from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses and disbursements (including Attorney Costs) of any kind or nature whatsoever which may at any time be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any such Indemnitee in any way relating to or arising out of or in connection with (a) the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance or administration of any Loan Document or any other agreement, letter or instrument delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated thereby or the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby; provided that only the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to reimbursement for Attorney Costs in connection with the actions described in Section 10.04(a), (b) any Commitment, 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
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of such Letter of Credit), or (c) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property currently or formerly owned or operated by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other Loan Party, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other Loan Party, or (d) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory (including any investigation of, preparation for, or defense of any pending or threatened claim, investigation, litigation or proceeding) and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto (all the foregoing, collectively, the “Indemnified Liabilities”); provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements 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. No Indemnitee shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by others of any information or other materials obtained through IntraLinks or other similar information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement, nor shall any Indemnitee have any liability for any indirect or consequential damages relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or arising out of its activities in connection herewith or therewith (whether before or after the Closing Date). All amounts due under this Section 10.05 shall be payable within ten Business Days after demand therefor. The agreements in this Section shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.
10.06 Payments Set Aside.
To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent or any Lender exercises its right of set-off, and such payment or the proceeds of such set-off 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 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 set-off had not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share 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.
10.07 Successors and Assigns.
(a) 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 each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an Eligible Assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the
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provisions of subsection (d) of this Section, (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (f) or (i) of this Section, or (iv) to an SPC in accordance with the provisions of subsection (h) 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 Indemnitees) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
(b) Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its 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 (i) except 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 or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund (as defined in subsection (g) of this Section) with respect to a Lender, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); (ii) 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 rights in respect of Swing Line Loans; (iii) any assignment of a Commitment must be approved by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender unless the Person that is the proposed assignee is itself a Lender (whether or not the proposed assignee would otherwise qualify as an Eligible Assignee); and (iv) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500. Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the Eligible Assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, 10.04 and 10.05 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) 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) 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 and the other Lenders 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 (A) 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 directly affects such Participant and (B) solely in the case of a Participant who (x) has purchased a participation interest in the minimum amount of $5,000,000 in such Lender’s Commitment on or after the Closing Date and (y) is, by written notice (“Voting Participant Notification”), designated by such Lender to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent as being entitled to be accorded the rights of a Voting Participant hereunder (each a “Voting Participant”), that such Participant shall be entitled to vote (and the voting rights of such Lender shall be correspondingly reduced), on a Dollar basis, as if such Participant were a Lender on any matter requiring or allowing a Lender to provide or withhold its consent or to otherwise vote on any proposed action. To be effective, each Voting Participant Notification shall, with respect to such Voting Participant, (1) state the full legal name of such Voting Participant, as well as all contact information required of a Lender as set forth in Section 10.02(a)(ii) and (2) state the Dollar amount of participation interest purchased. 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 10.09 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender.
(e) 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
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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 10.15 as though it were a Lender.
(f) 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 or a bank in the farm credit banking system; 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) As used herein, the following terms have the following meanings:
“Eligible Assignee” means (a) a Lender; (b) an Affiliate of a Lender; (c) an Approved Fund; and (d) any other Person (other than a natural person) approved by (i) the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender, and (ii) unless a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower (each such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, “Eligible Assignee” shall not include the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries.
“Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business.
“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.
(h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a “Granting Lender”) may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (an “SPC”) the option to provide all or any part of any Committed Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make pursuant to this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPC to fund any Committed Loan, and (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to make all or any part of such Committed Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Committed Loan pursuant to the terms hereof. Each party hereto hereby agrees that (i) neither the grant to any SPC nor the exercise by any SPC of such option shall increase the costs or expenses or otherwise increase or change the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement (including its obligations under Section 3.04), (ii) no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement for which a Lender would be liable, and (iii) the Granting Lender shall for all purposes, including the approval of any amendment, waiver or other modification of any provision of any Loan Document, remain the lender of record hereunder. The making of a Committed Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Committed Loan were made by such Granting Lender. In
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furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior debt of any SPC, it will not institute against, or join any other Person in instituting against, such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, or liquidation proceeding under the laws of the United States or any State thereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without prior consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and without paying any processing fee therefor, assign all or any portion of its right to receive payment with respect to any Committed Loan to the Granting Lender and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its funding of Committed Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety or Guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC.
(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender that is a Fund may create a security interest in all or any portion of the Loans owing to it and the Note, if any, held by it to the trustee for holders of obligations owed, or securities issued, by such Fund as security for such obligations or securities, provided that unless and until such trustee actually becomes a Lender in compliance with the other provisions of this Section 10.07, (i) no such pledge shall release the pledging Lender from any of its obligations under the Loan Documents and (ii) such trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any of the rights of a Lender under the Loan Documents even though such trustee may have acquired ownership rights with respect to the pledged interest through foreclosure or otherwise.
(j) 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 and obligations of the L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate 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 Base Rate Committed Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c).
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10.08 Confidentiality.
Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and each 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 (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.
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, provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.
10.09 Set-off.
In addition to any rights and remedies of the Lenders provided by law, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, each Lender is authorized at any time and from time to time, without prior notice to the Borrower or any other Loan Party, any such notice being waived by the Borrower (on its own behalf and on behalf of each Loan Party) to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held by, and other indebtedness at any time owing by, such Lender to or for the credit or the account of the respective Loan Parties, and each Loan Party hereby grants a security interest in all such deposits and indebtedness to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, against any and all Obligations owing to such Lender hereunder or under any other Loan Document, now or hereafter existing, irrespective of whether or not the Administrative Agent or such Lender shall have made demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such
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Obligations may be contingent or unmatured or denominated in a currency different from that of the applicable deposit or indebtedness. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent after any such set-off and application made by such Lender; provided, however, that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application.
10.10 Interest Rate Limitation.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “Maximum Rate”). If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.
10.11 Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
10.12 Integration.
This Agreement, together with the other Loan Documents, comprises the complete and integrated agreement of the parties on the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, on such subject matter. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and those of any other Loan Document, the provisions of this Agreement shall control; provided that the inclusion of supplemental rights or remedies in favor of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders in any other Loan Document shall not be deemed a conflict with this Agreement. Each Loan Document was drafted with the joint participation of the respective parties thereto and shall be construed neither against nor in favor of any party, but rather in accordance with the fair meaning thereof.
10.13 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.
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10.14 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.
10.15 Tax Forms.
(a) (i) Each Lender that is not a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code (a “Foreign Lender”) shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, prior to receipt of any payment subject to withholding under the Code (or upon accepting an assignment of an interest herein), two duly signed completed copies of either IRS Form W-8BEN or any successor thereto (relating to such Foreign Lender and entitling it to an exemption from, or reduction of, withholding tax on all payments to be made to such Foreign Lender by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement) or IRS Form W-8ECI or any successor thereto (relating to all payments to be made to such Foreign Lender by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement) or such other evidence satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that such Foreign Lender is entitled to an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. withholding tax, including any exemption pursuant to Section 881(c) of the Code. Thereafter and from time to time, each such Foreign Lender shall (A) promptly submit to the Administrative Agent such additional duly completed and signed copies of one of such forms (or such successor forms as shall be adopted from time to time by the relevant United States taxing authorities) as may then be available under then current United States laws and regulations to avoid, or such evidence as is satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of any available exemption from or reduction of, United States withholding taxes in respect of all payments to be made to such Foreign Lender by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement, (B) promptly notify the Administrative Agent of any change in circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption or reduction, and (C) take such steps as shall not be materially disadvantageous to it, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, and as may be reasonably necessary (including the re-designation of its Lending Office) to avoid any requirement of applicable Laws that the Borrower make any deduction or withholding for taxes from amounts payable to such Foreign Lender.
(ii) Each Foreign Lender, to the extent it does not act or ceases to act for its own account with respect to any portion of any sums paid or payable to such Lender under any of the Loan Documents (for example, in the case of a typical participation by such Lender), shall deliver to the Administrative Agent on the date when such Foreign Lender ceases to act for its own account with respect to any portion of any such sums paid or payable, and at such other times as may be necessary in the determination of the Administrative Agent (in the reasonable exercise of its discretion), (A) two duly signed
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completed copies of the forms or statements required to be provided by such Lender as set forth above, to establish the portion of any such sums paid or payable with respect to which such Lender acts for its own account that is not subject to U.S. withholding tax, and (B) two duly signed completed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY (or any successor thereto), together with any information such Lender chooses to transmit with such form, and any other certificate or statement of exemption required under the Code, to establish that such Lender is not acting for its own account with respect to a portion of any such sums payable to such Lender.
(iii) The Borrower shall not be required to pay any additional amount to any Foreign Lender under Section 3.01 (A) with respect to any Taxes required to be deducted or withheld on the basis of the information, certificates or statements of exemption such Lender transmits with an IRS Form W-8IMY pursuant to this Section 10.15(a) or (B) if such Lender shall have failed to satisfy the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.15(a); provided that if such Lender shall have satisfied the requirement of this Section 10.15(a) on the date such Lender became a Lender or ceased to act for its own account with respect to any payment under any of the Loan Documents, nothing in this Section 10.15(a) shall relieve the Borrower of its obligation to pay any amounts pursuant to Section 3.01 in the event that, as a result of any change in any applicable law, treaty or governmental rule, regulation or order, or any change in the interpretation, administration or application thereof, such Lender is no longer properly entitled to deliver forms, certificates or other evidence at a subsequent date establishing the fact that such Lender or other Person for the account of which such Lender receives any sums payable under any of the Loan Documents is not subject to withholding or is subject to withholding at a reduced rate and provided further that if the L/C Issuer shall issue, amend or extend any Letter of Credit from a branch or other office in any jurisdiction at the request of (or with the consent of ) the Borrower and the L/C Issuer shall not be lawfully able or entitled to satisfy the requirements of this Section 11.15(a) at the time of issuance, amendment or extension of any Letter of Credit by reason of the selection of such branch or office in such jurisdiction, nothing in this Section 11.15(a) shall relieve the Borrower of its obligation to pay any amounts pursuant to Section 3.01 owing to the L/C Issuer.
(iv) The Administrative Agent may, without reduction, withhold any Taxes required to be deducted and withheld from any payment under any of the Loan Documents with respect to which the Borrower is not required to pay additional amounts under this Section 10.15(a).
(b) Upon the request of the Administrative Agent, each Lender that is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code shall deliver to the Administrative Agent two duly signed completed copies of IRS Form W-9. If such Lender fails to deliver such forms, then the Administrative Agent may withhold from any interest payment to such Lender an amount equivalent to the applicable back-up withholding tax imposed by the Code, without reduction.
(c) If any Governmental Authority asserts that the Administrative Agent did not properly withhold or backup withhold, as the case may be, any tax or other amount from payments made to or for the account of any Lender, such Lender shall indemnify the
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Administrative Agent therefor, including all penalties and interest, any taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on the amounts payable to the Administrative Agent under this Section, and costs and expenses (including Attorney Costs) of the Administrative Agent. The obligation of the Lenders under this Section shall survive the termination of the Aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder and the resignation of the Administrative Agent.
10.16 Replacement of Lenders. Under any circumstances set forth herein providing that the Borrower shall have the right to replace a Lender as a party to this Agreement, the Borrower may, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, replace such Lender by causing such Lender to assign its Commitment (with the assignment fee to be paid by the Borrower in such instance) pursuant to Section 10.07(b) to one or more other Lenders or Eligible Assignees procured by the Borrower; provided, however, that if the Borrower elects to exercise such right with respect to any Lender pursuant to Section 3.06(b), it shall be obligated to replace all Lenders that have made similar requests for compensation pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04. The Borrower shall (x) pay in full all principal, interest, fees and other amounts owing to such Lender through the date of replacement (including any amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.05), (y) provide appropriate assurances and indemnities (which may include letters of credit) to the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender as each may reasonably require with respect to any continuing obligation to fund participation interests in any L/C Obligations or any Swing Line Loans then outstanding, and (z) release such Lender from its obligations under the Loan Documents. Any Lender being replaced shall execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption with respect to such Lender’s Commitment and outstanding Loans and participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans.
10.17 Governing Law.
(a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN SUCH STATE; PROVIDED THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER SHALL RETAIN ALL RIGHTS ARISING UNDER FEDERAL LAW.
(b) ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT MAY BE BROUGHT IN XXX XXXXXX XX XXX XXXXX XX XXX XXXX SITTING IN NEW YORK CITY OR OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF SUCH STATE, AND BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER CONSENTS, FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THOSE COURTS. THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION, INCLUDING ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OR BASED ON THE GROUNDS OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS, WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE BRINGING OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN SUCH JURISDICTION IN RESPECT OF ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR OTHER DOCUMENT RELATED THERETO. THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF ANY SUMMONS, COMPLAINT OR OTHER PROCESS, WHICH MAY BE MADE BY ANY OTHER MEANS PERMITTED BY THE LAW OF SUCH STATE.
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10.18 Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury.
EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER FOUNDED IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE; AND EACH PARTY HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY, AND THAT ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE SIGNATORIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.
10.19 USA Patriot Act Notice.
Each Lender 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.
10.20 Judgment Currency.
If, for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder or any other Loan Document in one currency into another currency, the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Administrative Agent could purchase the first currency with such other currency on the Business Day preceding that on which final judgment is given. The obligation of the Borrower in respect of any such sum due from it to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders hereunder or under the other Loan Documents shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other than that in which such sum is denominated in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement (the “Agreement Currency”), be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Administrative Agent may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent from the Borrower in the Agreement Currency, the Borrower agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Administrative Agent or the Person to whom such obligation was owing against such loss. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is greater than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent in such currency, the Administrative Agent agrees to return the amount of any excess to the Borrower (or to any other Person who may be entitled thereto under applicable law).
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ARTICLE XI.
GUARANTY
11.01 The Guaranty.
Each of the Guarantors hereby jointly and severally guarantees to each Lender, each Affiliate of a Lender that enters into a Swap Contract, and the Administrative Agent as hereinafter provided, as primary obligor and not as surety, the prompt payment of the Obligations in full when due (whether at stated maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration, as a mandatory cash collateralization or otherwise) strictly in accordance with the terms thereof. The Guarantors hereby further agree that if any of the Obligations are not paid in full when due (whether at stated maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration, as a mandatory cash collateralization or otherwise), the Guarantors will, jointly and severally, promptly pay the same, without any demand or notice whatsoever, and that in the case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any of the Obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due (whether at extended maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration, as a mandatory cash collateralization or otherwise) in accordance with the terms of such extension or renewal.
Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein or in any other of the Loan Documents or Swap Contracts, the obligations of each Guarantor under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be limited to an aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not render such obligations subject to avoidance under the Debtor Relief Laws or any comparable provisions of any applicable state law.
11.02 Obligations Unconditional.
The obligations of the Guarantors under Section 11.01 are joint and several, absolute and unconditional, irrespective of the value, genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents or Swap Contracts, or any other agreement or instrument referred to therein, or any substitution, release, impairment or exchange of any other guarantee of or security for any of the Obligations, and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, irrespective of any other circumstance whatsoever which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor, it being the intent of this Section 11.02 that the obligations of the Guarantors hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances. Each Guarantor agrees that such Guarantor shall have no right of subrogation, indemnity, reimbursement or contribution against the Borrower or any other Guarantor for amounts paid under this Article XI until such time as the Obligations have been Fully Satisfied. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is agreed that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the occurrence of any one or more of the following shall not alter or impair the liability of any Guarantor hereunder which shall remain absolute and unconditional as described above:
(a) at any time or from time to time, without notice to any Guarantor, the time for any performance of or compliance with any of the Obligations shall be extended, or such performance or compliance shall be waived;
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(b) any of the acts mentioned in any of the provisions of any of the Loan Documents, any Swap Contract between any Consolidated Party and any Lender, or any Affiliate of a Lender, or any other agreement or instrument referred to in the Loan Documents or such Swap Contracts shall be done or omitted;
(c) the maturity of any of the Obligations shall be accelerated, or any of the Obligations shall be modified, supplemented or amended in any respect, or any right under any of the Loan Documents, any Swap Contract between any Consolidated Party and any Lender, or any Affiliate of a Lender, or any other agreement or instrument referred to in the Loan Documents or such Swap Contracts shall be waived or any other guarantee of any of the Obligations or any security therefor shall be released, impaired or exchanged in whole or in part or otherwise dealt with;
(d) any Lien granted to, or in favor of, the Agent or any Lender or Lenders as security for any of the Obligations shall fail to attach or be perfected; or
(e) any of the Obligations shall be determined to be void or voidable (including, without limitation, for the benefit of any creditor of any Guarantor) or shall be subordinated to the claims of any Person (including, without limitation, any creditor of any Guarantor).
With respect to its obligations hereunder, each Guarantor hereby expressly waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, protest and all notices whatsoever, and any requirement that the Agent or any Lender exhaust any right, power or remedy or proceed against any Person under any of the Loan Documents, any Swap Contract between any Consolidated Party and any Lender, or any Affiliate of a Lender, or any other agreement or instrument referred to in the Loan Documents or such Swap Contracts, or against any other Person under any other guarantee of, or security for, any of the Obligations.
11.03 Reinstatement.
The obligations of the Guarantors under this Article XI shall be automatically reinstated if and to the extent that for any reason any payment by or on behalf of any Person in respect of the Obligations is rescinded or must be otherwise restored by any holder of any of the Obligations, whether as a result of any proceedings in bankruptcy or reorganization or otherwise, and each Guarantor agrees that it will indemnify the Agent and each Lender on demand for all reasonable costs and expenses (including, without limitation, fees and expenses of counsel) incurred by the Agent or such Lender in connection with such rescission or restoration, including any such costs and expenses incurred in defending against any claim alleging that such payment constituted a preference, fraudulent transfer or similar payment under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law.
11.04 Certain Additional Waivers.
Each Guarantor agrees that such Guarantor shall have no right of recourse to security for the Obligations, except through the exercise of rights of subrogation pursuant to Section 11.02 and through the exercise of rights of contribution pursuant to Section 11.06.
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11.05 Remedies.
The Guarantors agree that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Agent and the Lenders, on the other hand, the Obligations may be declared to be forthwith due and payable as provided in Section 8.02 (and shall be deemed to have become automatically due and payable in the circumstances provided in said Section 8.02) for purposes of Section 11.01 notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such declaration (or preventing the Obligations from becoming automatically due and payable) as against any other Person and that, in the event of such declaration (or the Obligations being deemed to have become automatically due and payable), the Obligations (whether or not due and payable by any other Person) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for purposes of Section 11.01. The Guarantors acknowledge and agree that to the extent their obligations hereunder become secured, the Lenders may exercise their remedies thereunder in accordance with the terms of the applicable security documents.
11.06 Rights of Contribution.
The Guarantors hereby agree as among themselves that, in connection with payments made hereunder, each Guarantor shall have a right of contribution from each other Guarantor in accordance with applicable Law. Such contribution rights shall be subordinate and subject in right of payment to the Obligations until such time as the Obligations have been Fully Satisfied, and none of the Guarantors shall exercise any such contribution rights until the Obligations have been Fully Satisfied.
11.07 Guarantee of Payment; Continuing Guarantee.
The guarantee in this Article XI is a guaranty of payment and not of collection, is a continuing guarantee, and shall apply to all Obligations whenever arising.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused a counterpart of this Credit Agreement to be duly executed and as of the date first above written.
BORROWER: | POTLATCH CORPORATION | |||
a Delaware corporation | ||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Treasurer |
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ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT | ||||
AND LENDERS: | BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., | |||
as Administrative Agent | ||||
By: | /s/ Anthea Del Xxxxxx | |||
Name: | Anthea Del Xxxxxx | |||
Title: | Vice President |
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LENDERS: | BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., | |||
individually in its capacity as Lender, Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer | ||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Managing Director |
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U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | ||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx | |
Name: Title: |
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx Vice President |
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WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | ||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx | |
Name: Title: |
Xxxxx Xxxxx Vice President |
000
XXX XXXX XX XXXX XXXXXX | ||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |
Name: Title: |
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx Director |
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COOPERATIEVE CENTRALE RAIFFEISEN- BOERENLEENBANK, B.A. “RABOBANK INTERNATIONAL” NEW YORK BRANCH, as Lender | ||
By: | /s/ R. Xxxx Xxxxxxx | |
Name: Title: |
R. Xxxx Xxxxxxx Executive Director | |
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |
Name: Title: |
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx Executive Director |
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XXXXX FARGO BANK, N.A. | ||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |
Name: Title: |
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx Senior Vice President |
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COBANK ACB | ||
By: | /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxx | |
Name: Title: |
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxx Vice President |
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STERLING SAVINGS BANK | ||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx XxXxxxxx | |
Name: Title: |
Xxxxx XxXxxxxx VP |
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THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI, LTD. SEATTLE BRANCH | ||
By: | /s/ Junji Ban | |
Name: Title: |
Junji Ban General Manager |
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