EXHIBIT 10.2
Execution Copy
CREDIT AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF AUGUST 6, 2004
AMONG
BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.,
AS BORROWER,
SUNTRUST BANK,
AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT,
AND
THE LENDERS SIGNATORY HERETO
AND
FLEET NATIONAL BANK
AND
CITIBANK, N.A.,
AS CO-SYNDICATION AGENTS,
AND
BNP PARIBAS
AND
XX XXXXXX XXXXX BANK,
AS CO-DOCUMENTATION AGENTS
SUNTRUST CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.,
AS SOLE LEAD ARRANGER
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING MATTERS..................................................................... 1
SECTION 1.01. Certain Defined Terms..................................................................... 1
SECTION 1.02. Accounting Terms and Determinations....................................................... 20
ARTICLE II COMMITMENTS........................................................................................... 20
SECTION 2.01. Loans and Letters of Credit............................................................... 20
SECTION 2.02. Borrowings, Continuations and Conversions of Revolving Credit Loans; Letters
of Credit......................................................................... 22
SECTION 2.03. Changes of Commitments; Additional Commitment Amount...................................... 23
SECTION 2.04. Fees...................................................................................... 25
SECTION 2.05. Several Obligations....................................................................... 26
SECTION 2.06. Noteless Agreement; Evidence of Indebtedness.............................................. 26
SECTION 2.07. Prepayments............................................................................... 27
SECTION 2.08. Assumption of Risks....................................................................... 28
SECTION 2.09. Obligation to Reimburse and to Prepay..................................................... 28
SECTION 2.10. Lending Offices........................................................................... 30
ARTICLE III PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST................................................................... 30
SECTION 3.01. Repayment of Loans........................................................................ 30
SECTION 3.02. Interest.................................................................................. 31
ARTICLE IV PAYMENTS; PRO RATA TREATMENT; COMPUTATIONS; ETC....................................................... 31
SECTION 4.01. Payments.................................................................................. 31
SECTION 4.02. Pro Rata Treatment........................................................................ 32
SECTION 4.03. Computations.............................................................................. 32
SECTION 4.04. Non-receipt of Funds by the Agent......................................................... 33
SECTION 4.05. Set-off, Sharing of Payments, Etc......................................................... 33
SECTION 4.06. Taxes..................................................................................... 34
ARTICLE V YIELD PROTECTION....................................................................................... 36
SECTION 5.01. Additional Costs.......................................................................... 36
SECTION 5.02. Basis Unavailable or Inadequate for LIBOR Rate............................................ 37
SECTION 5.03. Illegality................................................................................ 37
SECTION 5.04. Base Rate Loans........................................................................... 37
SECTION 5.05. Compensation.............................................................................. 38
SECTION 5.06. Replacement Lenders....................................................................... 38
ARTICLE VI CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.................................................................................. 39
SECTION 6.01. Initial Funding........................................................................... 39
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SECTION 6.02. Initial and Subsequent Loans and Letters of Credit........................................ 40
SECTION 6.03. Conditions Precedent for the Benefit of Lenders........................................... 41
SECTION 6.04. No Waiver................................................................................. 41
ARTICLE VII REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES....................................................................... 41
SECTION 7.01. Existence................................................................................. 41
SECTION 7.02. Financial Condition....................................................................... 42
SECTION 7.03. Litigation................................................................................ 42
SECTION 7.04. No Breach................................................................................. 43
SECTION 7.05. Authority................................................................................. 43
SECTION 7.06. Approvals................................................................................. 43
SECTION 7.07. Use of Loans.............................................................................. 43
SECTION 7.08. ERISA..................................................................................... 44
SECTION 7.09. Taxes..................................................................................... 45
SECTION 7.10. Titles, etc............................................................................... 45
SECTION 7.11. No Material Misstatements................................................................. 46
SECTION 7.12. Investment Company Act.................................................................... 46
SECTION 7.13. Public Utility Holding Company Act........................................................ 46
SECTION 7.14. Subsidiaries.............................................................................. 46
SECTION 7.15. Location of Business and Offices.......................................................... 46
SECTION 7.16. Defaults.................................................................................. 46
SECTION 7.17. Environmental Matters..................................................................... 47
SECTION 7.18. Compliance with the Law................................................................... 48
SECTION 7.19. Insurance................................................................................. 48
SECTION 7.20. Material Agreements....................................................................... 48
SECTION 7.21. Partnership Agreement..................................................................... 48
SECTION 7.22. Ownership of Parties...................................................................... 49
SECTION 7.23. Patriot Act............................................................................... 49
ARTICLE VIII AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS............................................................................... 49
SECTION 8.01. Reporting Requirements.................................................................... 49
SECTION 8.02. Litigation................................................................................ 51
SECTION 8.03. Maintenance, Etc.......................................................................... 51
SECTION 8.04. Reserved.................................................................................. 52
SECTION 8.05. Environmental Matters..................................................................... 52
SECTION 8.06. Further Assurances........................................................................ 53
SECTION 8.07. Performance of Obligations................................................................ 53
SECTION 8.08. ERISA Information and Compliance.......................................................... 53
SECTION 8.09. Compliance with and Modification of Organizational Documents.............................. 53
ARTICLE IX NEGATIVE COVENANTS.................................................................................... 54
SECTION 9.01. Debt...................................................................................... 54
SECTION 9.02. Liens..................................................................................... 55
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SECTION 9.03. Investments, Loans and Advances........................................................... 55
SECTION 9.04. Distributions and Redemptions............................................................. 56
SECTION 9.05. Sales and Leasebacks...................................................................... 56
SECTION 9.06. Nature of Business........................................................................ 57
SECTION 9.07. Restrictive Agreements.................................................................... 57
SECTION 9.08. Mergers, Etc.............................................................................. 57
SECTION 9.09. Proceeds of the Loans; Letters of Credit.................................................. 58
SECTION 9.10. ERISA Compliance.......................................................................... 58
SECTION 9.11. Sale or Discount of Receivables........................................................... 59
SECTION 9.12. Funded Debt Ratio......................................................................... 59
SECTION 9.13. Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio............................................................... 60
SECTION 9.14. Sale of Properties........................................................................ 60
SECTION 9.15. Environmental Matters..................................................................... 60
SECTION 9.16. Transactions with Affiliates.............................................................. 60
SECTION 9.17. Partnership Agreements.................................................................... 60
SECTION 9.18. Senior Notes.............................................................................. 60
ARTICLE X EVENTS OF DEFAULT; REMEDIES............................................................................ 61
SECTION 10.01. Events of Default........................................................................ 61
SECTION 10.02. Remedies................................................................................. 63
ARTICLE XI THE AGENT............................................................................................. 63
SECTION 11.01. The Agent................................................................................ 63
SECTION 11.02. Expenses................................................................................. 65
SECTION 11.03. Proportionate Absorption of Losses....................................................... 65
SECTION 11.04. Delegation of Duties; Reliance........................................................... 66
SECTION 11.05. Limitation of the Agent's Liability...................................................... 66
SECTION 11.06. Event of Default......................................................................... 67
SECTION 11.07. Limitation of Liability.................................................................. 67
SECTION 11.08. Other Agents............................................................................. 68
SECTION 11.09. Relationship of Lenders.................................................................. 68
SECTION 11.10. Benefits of Agreement.................................................................... 68
ARTICLE XII MISCELLANEOUS........................................................................................ 68
SECTION 12.01. Waiver................................................................................... 68
SECTION 12.02. Notices.................................................................................. 68
SECTION 12.03. Payment of Expenses, Indemnities, etc.................................................... 69
SECTION 12.04. Amendments, Etc.......................................................................... 71
SECTION 12.05. Successors and Assigns................................................................... 72
SECTION 12.06. Assignments and Participations........................................................... 72
SECTION 12.07. Invalidity............................................................................... 74
SECTION 12.08. Counterparts............................................................................. 74
SECTION 12.09. References............................................................................... 75
SECTION 12.10. Survival................................................................................. 75
iii
SECTION 12.11. Captions................................................................................. 75
SECTION 12.12. NO ORAL AGREEMENTS....................................................................... 75
SECTION 12.13. GOVERNING LAW; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION................................................ 75
SECTION 12.14. Interest................................................................................. 77
SECTION 12.15. Confidentiality.......................................................................... 78
SECTION 12.16. EXCULPATION PROVISIONS................................................................... 78
SECTION 12.17. Separateness............................................................................. 79
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ANNEXES, EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES
Annex I - List of Percentage Shares and Revolving Credit Commitments
Exhibit A - Form of Borrowing, Continuation and Conversion Request
Exhibit B - Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit C - Form of Assignment Agreement
Exhibit D-1 - Restricted Subsidiaries as of the Date Hereof
Exhibit D-2 - Unrestricted Subsidiaries as of the Date Hereof
Exhibit E - Form of Guaranty
Schedule 2.02 - Existing Letters of Credit
Schedule 7.02 - Liabilities
Schedule 7.03 - Litigation
Schedule 7.10 - Titles, etc.
Schedule 7.14 - Subsidiaries and Partnerships
Schedule 7.17 - Environmental Matters
Schedule 7.22 - Structure and Ownership of Subsidiaries
Schedule 9.01 - Debt
Schedule 9.02 - Liens
Schedule 9.03 - Investments, Loans and Advances
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THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT (as amended , supplemented and modified from time to
time, this "AGREEMENT") is entered into as of August 6, 2004, among BUCKEYE
PARTNERS, L.P., a limited partnership formed under the laws of the State of
Delaware (the "BORROWER"); each of the lenders that is a signatory hereto or
that becomes a signatory hereto as provided in Section 12.06 (together with
their successors and assigns, the "LENDERS") and SUNTRUST BANK ("SUNTRUST"), as
administrative agent for the Lenders (in such, capacity, together with its
successors in such capacity, the "AGENT") and as Issuing Bank (as defined
below).
RECITALS
A. The Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide certain loans to
and extensions of credit on behalf of the Borrower.
B. The Lenders have agreed to make such loans and extensions of credit
subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
C. In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein
contained and of the loans, extensions of credit and commitments hereinafter
referred to, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING MATTERS
SECTION 1.01. CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS.
As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings (all
terms defined in this Article I or in other provisions of this Agreement in the
singular to have equivalent meanings when used in the plural and vice versa):
"ACCOUNT PARTY" shall mean the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary
of the Borrower for whose account a Letter of Credit has been issued.
"ADDITIONAL COMMITMENT AMOUNT" shall have the meaning assigned such
term in Section 2.03(c).
"ADDITIONAL COMMITMENT AMOUNT APPROVALS" means any Governmental
Requirement, resolution of the Board of Directors of the Borrower or
resolution of the Board of Directors of any Restricted Subsidiary not
obtained by or on behalf of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as
applicable, and in full force and effect on the date hereof, which
Governmental Requirement or resolution is required to be obtained in order
to authorize the Additional Commitment Amount and the performance by the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries of their respective obligations
under the Loan Documents after giving effect to the Additional Commitment
Amount.
"ADDITIONAL COSTS" shall have the meaning assigned such term in
Section 5.01(a).
"ADDITIONAL LENDER" shall have the meaning assigned such term in
Section 2.03(c).
"AFFECTED LOANS" shall have the meaning assigned such term in
Section 5.04.
"AFFILIATE" of any Person shall mean (i) any Person directly or
indirectly controlled by, controlling or under common control with such
first Person, (ii) any director or officer of such first Person or of any
Person referred to in clause (i) above and (iii) if any Person in clause
(i) above is an individual, any member of the immediate family (including
parents, spouse and children) of such individual and any trust whose
principal beneficiary is such individual or one or more members of such
immediate family and any Person who is controlled by any such member or
trust. For purposes of this definition, any Person which owns directly or
indirectly 10% or more of the securities having ordinary voting power for
the election of directors or other governing body of a corporation or 10%
or more of the partnership or other ownership interests of any other
Person (other than as a limited partner of such other Person) will be
deemed to "control" (including, with its correlative meanings, "controlled
by" and "under common control with") such corporation or other Person.
"AGENT" shall have the meaning assigned such term in the preamble to
this Agreement.
"AGREEMENT" shall have the meaning assigned such term in the
preamble to this Agreement.
"AGGREGATE REVOLVING CREDIT COMMITMENTS" at any time shall equal the
sum of the Revolving Credit Commitments of the Lenders, as the same may be
reduced pursuant to Section 2.03(a) or increased pursuant to Section
2.03(c).
"APPLICABLE LENDING OFFICE" shall mean, for each Lender and for each
Type of Loan, the lending office of such Lender (or an Affiliate of such
Lender) designated for such Type of Loan on the signature pages hereof or
such other offices of such Lender (or of an Affiliate of such Lender) as
such Lender may from time to time specify to the Agent and the Borrower as
the office by which its Loans of such Type are to be made and maintained.
"APPLICABLE MARGIN" shall mean, for any LIBOR Loan or any Base Rate
Loan, the LIBOR Margin or Base Rate Margin interest rate per annum set
forth below in the columns identified as Xxxxx 0, Xxxxx 0, Xxxxx 0, Xxxxx
4 and Level 5 determined by reference to the Reference Rating.
2
XXXXX 0 XXXXX 0 XXXXX 0 XXXXX 0 XXXXX 5
---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------
Reference Rating Reference Rating Reference Rating
S&P Less than Level 1 Less than Level Less than Level 3
Reference Rating but at least 2 but at least but at least Reference Rating
Xxxxx'x at least A-/A3 BBB+/Baa1 BBB/Baa2 BBB-/Baa3 below Level 4*
------- -------------- --------- -------- --------- --------------
Interest Rate Per Annum
LIBOR Margin 0.400% 0.500% 0.600% 0.800% 1.400%
Base Rate Margin 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% 0.000%
*or unrated
Any change in the Applicable Margin will be effective as of the date
on which S&P or Xxxxx'x, as the case may be, announces any change in the
ratings used to determine the Reference Rating. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary contained herein, if the Funded Debt Ratio is at any time
greater than 5.25 to 1.00, then the Applicable Margins shall automatically
increase by 0.25% for all pricing Levels listed above and such 0.25%
incremental Applicable Margin increase shall remain in effect until the
Borrower delivers a Compliance Certificate in accordance herewith
demonstrating that the Funded Debt Ratio is not greater than 5.25 to 1.00.
"ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT" shall have the meaning assigned such term in
Section 12.06(b).
"BASE RATE" shall mean, with respect to any Base Rate Loan, for any
day, the higher of (i) the Federal Funds Rate for any such day plus 1/2 of
1% and (ii) the Prime Rate for such day. Each change in any interest rate
provided for herein based upon the Base Rate resulting from a change in
the Base Rate shall take effect at the time of such change in the Base
Rate.
"BASE RATE LOANS" shall mean Loans that bear interest at rates based
upon the Base Rate.
"BMC" shall mean Buckeye Management Company LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company.
"BOARD OF DIRECTORS" means, with respect to any Person, such
Person's board of directors, managers or members, as applicable.
"BPLC" shall mean Buckeye Pipe Line Company LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company, formerly a Delaware corporation.
"BORROWER" shall have the meaning assigned such term in the preamble
to this Agreement.
"BORROWER PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT" shall mean the Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Borrower, dated as of December 31,
1998, as amended from time to time.
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"BRIDGE LOAN AGREEMENT" shall mean a bridge loan agreement and other
documentation related to a bridge loan in the aggregate principal amount
not to exceed $300,000,000, entered into on or before December 31, 2004,
by and among the Borrower, SunTrust Bank, as administrative agent and the
lenders signatory thereto, the proceeds of which shall be used solely to
fund the Shell Acquisition and shall contain terms and conditions
acceptable to the Agent.
"BUCKEYE PIPE LINE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT" shall mean the Amended and
Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Buckeye Pipe Line Company,
L.P., dated as of December 23, 1986, as amended on August 12, 1997, as
amended and restated on March 25, 1998, and as it may be amended from time
to time.
"BUSINESS DAY" shall mean any day other than a day on which
commercial banks are authorized or required to close in Georgia or New
York and, if such day relates to a borrowing or continuation of, a payment
or prepayment of principal of or interest on, or a conversion of or into,
or the Interest Period for, a LIBOR Loan or a notice by the Borrower with
respect to any such borrowing or continuation, payment, prepayment,
conversion or Interest Period, any day that is also a day on which
dealings in Dollar deposits are carried out in the London interbank
market.
"CERCLA" shall mean the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, 42 U.S.C. Section 9601 et seq.
"CHANGE OF CONTROL" shall mean either (i) a change resulting when
any Unrelated Person or any Unrelated Persons acting together that would
constitute a Group together with any Affiliates thereof (in each case also
constituting Unrelated Persons) shall at any time Beneficially Own more
than 50% of the aggregate voting power of all classes of Voting Stock of
BMC, (ii) BMC or Glenmoor, LLC shall cease to own 100% of the outstanding
equity interests of BPLC on a fully diluted basis or (iii) BPLC shall
cease to own 100% of the general partnership interest of the Borrower. As
used herein (A) "Beneficially Own" means "beneficially own" as defined in
Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any
successor provision thereto; provided, however, that, for purposes of this
definition, a Person shall not be deemed to Beneficially Own securities
tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by or on behalf of
such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates until such tendered
securities are accepted for purchase or exchange; (B) "Group" means a
"group" for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended; (C) "Unrelated Person" means at any time any Person
other than (1) Glenmoor, LLC and the stockholders thereof as of the date
hereof, (2) their respective spouses, lineal descendants, and spouses of
their lineal descendants, (3) the estates of the Persons described in
clauses (1) and (2), and (4) trusts established solely for the benefit of
any Person or Persons described in clauses (1) and (2); and (D) "Voting
Stock" of any Person shall mean capital stock of such Person that
ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors (or persons
performing similar functions) of such Person, whether at all times or only
so long as no senior class of securities has such voting power by reason
of any contingency.
4
"CLOSING DATE" shall mean the date on which the conditions precedent
described in Section 6.01 to the Initial Funding shall be satisfied or
waived.
"CODE" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from
time to time and any successor statute.
"COMMITMENT" shall mean, for any Lender, its obligation to make
Revolving Credit Loans and to participate in Swing Line Loans as provided
in Section 2.01(b) and Letters of Credit as provided in Section 2.01(c),
up to such Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment in each case as such
amount may be (i) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.03(a),
or (ii) increased pursuant to Section 2.03(c).
"COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE" shall mean a certificate from the Borrower
substantially in the form of Exhibit B.
"CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME" shall mean, with respect to any Person for
any period, the aggregate of the net income (or loss) of such Person and
its Consolidated Subsidiaries after allowances for taxes for such period,
determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that
there shall be excluded from such net income (to the extent otherwise
included therein) the following: (i) the net income of any other Person in
which such Person or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has an interest
(which interest does not cause the net income of such other Person to be
consolidated with the net income of such Person and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP), except to the extent of the amount
of dividends or distributions actually paid in such period by such other
Person to such Person or to a Consolidated Subsidiary of such Person, as
the case may be; (ii) the net income (but not loss) of any Consolidated
Subsidiary of such Person to the extent that the declaration or payment of
dividends or similar distributions or transfers or loans by that
Consolidated Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by operation of the
terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument or Governmental
Requirement applicable to such Consolidated Subsidiary, or is otherwise
restricted or prohibited in each case determined in accordance with GAAP;
(iii) the net income (or loss) of any other Person acquired in a
pooling-of-interests transaction for any period prior to the date of such
transaction; (iv) any extraordinary gains or losses, including gains or
losses attributable to Property sales not in the ordinary course of
business; and (v) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting
principles resulting in any gains or losses attributable to write-ups or
write-downs of assets or liabilities.
"CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES" shall mean each Subsidiary of any Person
(whether now existing or hereafter created or acquired) the financial
statements of which shall be (or should have been) consolidated with the
financial statements of such Person in accordance with GAAP.
"DEBT" shall mean, for any Person the sum of the following (without
duplication): (i) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or
evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments
(including principal, interest, fees and charges); (ii) all obligations of
such Person (whether contingent or otherwise) in respect of bankers'
acceptances, letters of credit, surety or other bonds and similar
instruments; (iii) all
5
obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of Property
or services (other than for borrowed money); (iv) all obligations under
leases which shall have been, or should have been, in accordance with
GAAP, recorded as capital leases in respect of which such Person is liable
(whether contingent or otherwise); (v) all obligations under operating
leases which require such Person or its Affiliate to make rental payments
over the term of such lease, based on the purchase price or appraised
value of the Property subject to such lease plus a marginal interest rate,
and used primarily as a financing vehicle for, or to monetize, such
Property; (vi) all Debt (as described in the other clauses of this
definition) of others secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person,
whether or not such Debt is assumed by such Person; (vii) all Debt (as
described in the other clauses of this definition) of others guaranteed by
such Person or in which such Person otherwise assures a creditor against
loss of the debtor, provided that such obligations would be recorded by
such original obligor as a liability under GAAP; (viii) all obligations or
undertakings of such Person to maintain or cause to be maintained the
financial position or financial covenants of others or to purchase the
Debt of others; (ix) obligations to deliver goods or services not in the
ordinary course of business in consideration of advance payments; (x)
obligations to pay for goods or services not in the ordinary course of
business whether or not such goods or services are actually received or
utilized by such Person; (xi) any capital stock of such Person in which
such Person has a mandatory obligation to redeem such stock; (xii) any
Debt of a Special Entity for which such Person is liable either by
agreement or because of a Governmental Requirement; and (xiii) all
obligations of such Person under Hedging Agreements.
"DEFAULT" shall mean an Event of Default or an event that with
notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default.
"DOLLARS" and "$" shall mean lawful money of the United States of
America.
"EBITDA" shall mean for any Person for any period, the sum of
Consolidated Net Income for such period plus the following expenses or
charges to the extent deducted from Consolidated Net Income for such
period: interest, taxes, depreciation, depletion, amortization and GP
Incentive Compensation Payments; provided, however, with respect to the
Borrower, if during any period the Borrower acquires any Person and such
Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or the Borrower acquires all or
substantially all of the assets of any Person, the EBITDA attributable to
such Person or assets for such period determined on a pro forma basis
(which determination, in each case, shall be subject to the approval of
the Required Lenders, not to be unreasonably withheld) may be included in
EBITDA for the calculation of the Funded Debt Ratio.
"ENVIRONMENTAL LAW" shall mean any and all Governmental Requirements
pertaining to health or the environment in effect in any and all
jurisdictions in which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is conducting or at
any time has conducted business, or where any Property of the Borrower or
any Subsidiary is located, including without limitation, the Oil Pollution
Act of 1990 ("OPA"), the Clean Air Act, as amended, the Comprehensive
Environmental, Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980
("CERCLA"), as amended, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as
amended, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as amended, the
Resource Conservation and
6
Recovery Act of 1976 ("RCRA"), as amended, the Safe Drinking Water Act, as
amended, The Toxic Substances Control Act, as amended, the Superfund
Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, as amended, the Hazardous
Materials Transportation Act, as amended, the Federal Insecticide,
Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, the Emergency Planning and Community
Right-to-Know Act, the Rivers and Harbors Act, analogous state and local
Governmental Requirements, and any analogous future enacted or adopted
Governmental Requirement. The term "oil" shall have the meaning specified
in OPA, the terms "hazardous substance" and "release" (or "threatened
release") have the meanings specified in CERCLA, and the terms "solid
waste," "hazardous waste" and "disposal" (or "disposed") have the meanings
specified in RCRA; provided, however, that (i) in the event either OPA,
CERCLA or RCRA is amended so as to broaden the meaning of any term defined
thereby, such broader meaning shall apply subsequent to the effective date
of such amendment and (ii) to the extent the laws of the state in which
any Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary is located establish a
meaning for "oil," "hazardous substance," "release," "solid waste,"
"hazardous waste," or "disposal" which is broader than that specified in
either OPA, CERCLA or RCRA, such broader meaning shall apply.
"ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended from time to time and any successor statute.
"ERISA AFFILIATE" shall mean each trade or business (whether or not
incorporated) which together with the Borrower or any Subsidiary would be
deemed to be a "single employer" within the meaning of section 4001(b)(1)
of ERISA or subsection (b), (c), (m) or (o) of section 414 of the Code.
"ERISA EVENT" shall mean (i) a "Reportable Event" described in
Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations issued thereunder, (ii) the
withdrawal of the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate from a
Plan during a plan year in which it was a "substantial employer" as
defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA or the withdrawal of the Borrower,
any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan, (iii) the
filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Plan or the treatment of a
Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 of ERISA, (iv) the
institution of proceedings to terminate a Plan by the PBGC, (v) any other
event or condition that might constitute grounds under Section 4042 of
ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to
administer, any Plan, (vi) the cessation of operations at a facility in
the circumstances described in Section 4062(e) of ERISA, (vii) the failure
by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate to make a payment
to a Plan required under Section 302(f)(1) of ERISA, which failure results
in the imposition of a lien for failure to make required payments, and
(viii) the adoption of an amendment to a Plan requiring the provision of
security to such Plan pursuant to Section 307 of ERISA.
"EVENT OF DEFAULT" shall have the meaning assigned such term in
Section 10.01.
"EXCEPTED LIENS" shall mean:
(i) Prior Liens;
7
(ii) statutory Liens incidental to the conduct of business or
the ownership of Properties of the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries (including Liens in connection with worker's
compensation, unemployment insurance and other like laws (other than
ERISA Liens), warehousemen's and mechanics' and materialmen's liens
and statutory landlord's liens) that in each case are incurred in
the ordinary course of business and not in connection with the
borrowing of money, the obtaining of advances or credit or the
payment of the deferred purchase price of Property and that do not
in any event materially impair the value or use of the Property
encumbered thereby in the operation of the businesses of the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries; provided in each case,
that the obligation secured is not overdue or, if overdue, (A) is
being contested by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary on a
timely basis in good faith and in appropriate proceedings, and the
Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary has established adequate
reserves therefor in accordance with GAAP on the books of the
Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary or (B) such Liens in the
aggregate do not secure obligations in the aggregate in excess of
$1,000,000;
(iii) the right reserved to, or vested in, any municipality or
public authority or in any other Person by the terms of any right,
power, franchise, privilege, grant, license, permit, easement or
lease or by any provision of law, to terminate such right, power,
franchise, privilege, grant, license, permit, easement or lease or
to purchase or recapture, or to designate a purchaser of, any of the
Properties or assets of the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries;
(iv) the Lien of any tax or assessment that is not at the time
delinquent;
(v) the Lien of any tax or assessment that is delinquent, but
the validity of which is being diligently contested at the time by
the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in good faith, provided
that the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary shall have
established such reserves in such amounts as may be required under
GAAP;
(vi) any Lien or privilege vested in any grantor, lessor or
licenser or permittor for rent or other charges due or for any other
obligations or acts to be performed, the payment of which rent or
other charges or performance of which other obligations or acts is
required under leases, easements, rights-of-way, leases, licenses,
franchises, privileges, grants or permits, so long as payment of
such rent or the performance of such other obligations or acts is
not delinquent or the requirement for such payment or performance is
being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;
(vii) defects and irregularities in the title to the Property
of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that do not in the
aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect;
(viii) easements, exceptions or reservations in any Property
of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary granted or reserved for
the purpose of
8
pipelines, roads, the removal of oil, gas, coal or other minerals,
and other like purposes or for the joint or common use of real
Property, facilities and equipment, that do not in the aggregate
have a Material Adverse Effect;
(ix) rights reserved to, or vested in any grantor, lessor,
licenser, municipality or public authority to control or regulate
any Property of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or to use
any such Property, provided, that the Borrower or such Restricted
Subsidiary shall not be in default in respect of any material
obligation (except that the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary
may be contesting any such obligation in good faith) to such
grantor, lessor, licenser, municipality or public authority; and
provided, further, that all such controls, Regulations and uses will
not have a Material Adverse Effect;
(x) any obligation or duty to any municipality or public
authority with respect to any lease, easement, right-of-way,
license, franchise, privilege, permit or grant;
(xi) the Liens of any judgments in an aggregate amount not in
excess of $500,000, or the Lien of any judgment the execution of
which has been stayed, or which has been appealed and secured, if
necessary, by the filing of an appeal bond;
(xii) Liens or burdens imposed by any law or governmental
regulation, including, without limitation, those imposed by
environmental and zoning laws, ordinances, and regulations;
provided, in each case, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary is
not in default in any material obligation (except that the Borrower
or such Restricted Subsidiary may be contesting any such obligation
in good faith) in respect of such Property; provided, further, that
the existence of all such Liens and burdens does not have a Material
Adverse Effect;
(xiii) any pledge or deposit by the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary to secure payment of workers' compensation or insurance
premiums, or in connection with tenders, bids, contracts or leases;
or any deposits to secure public or statutory obligations; any
pledge or deposit in connection with contracts with or made at the
request of the United States of America or any state or agency or
political subdivision thereof or for any purposes similar to any of
those referred to in this clause (xiii); provided, in each case, the
Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary is not in default in any
material obligation (except that the Borrower or such Restricted
Subsidiary may be contesting any such obligation in good faith) in
respect thereof;
(xiv) the making of a deposit with or the giving of any form
of security to any governmental agency or any body created or
approved by law or Governmental Requirement in order to entitle the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to maintain self-insurance;
9
(xv) Liens securing Debt of the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary incurred or assumed in connection with the construction
or acquisition of capital Improvements; provided that such Debt
would be permitted under Section 9.01(e) hereof, and provided,
further, that any such Lien shall not extend to any Property other
than Property the construction or acquisition of which is financed
by such Debt;
(xvi) Liens securing all or any part of the purchase price, or
securing Debt of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary incurred
or assumed to pay all or any part of the purchase price of Property
acquired by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or Liens
existing on such Property immediately prior to its acquisition,
including, without limitation, the Liens described in clause (xv) of
this definition, provided, that (i) that any such Lien shall extend
solely to the Property so acquired, (ii) the principal amount of
Debt secured by any such Lien shall not exceed 100% of the fair
market value of such Property (as reasonably determined by the Board
of Directors of the General Partner) at the time of acquisition,
(iii) any such Lien not existing on such Property immediately prior
to its acquisition shall be created at the time of acquisition of
such Property or within 60 days thereafter and (iv) the aggregate
amount of all outstanding Debt secured by such Liens shall be
permitted under Section 9.01(e);
(xvii) Liens arising in connection with Sale-Leaseback
Transactions permitted under Section 9.05; provided that any such
Lien shall not extend to any Property other than Property being
leased; and
(xviii) any Lien of the Trustee encumbering the Defeasance
Trust (as defined in that certain Defeasance Trust Agreement, dated
as of December 16, 1997 (the "DEFEASANCE TRUST AGREEMENT"), among
Buckeye Pipe Line Company, L.P., PNC Bank, National Association, and
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx) and all funds and securities therein for the
benefit of the holders of the Defeased Notes (as such term is
defined in the Defeasance Trust Agreement).
"EXISTING CREDIT AGREEMENTS" shall mean (i) that certain 5-Year
Credit Agreement, dated as of September 5, 2001, as amended from time to
time, among Buckeye Pipe Line Company, L.P., as borrower, Buckeye
Partners, L.P., as guarantor, SunTrust Bank, as administrative agent,
National Australia Bank Limited and Mizuho Financial Group, as
co-documentation agents and the lenders signatory thereto, and (ii) that
certain 364-Day Credit Agreement, dated as of September 3, 2003, by and
among Buckeye Pipe Line Company, L.P., as borrower, SunTrust, as
administrative agent and the lenders signatory thereto.
"EXISTING LETTERS OF CREDIT" means the letters of credit issued and
outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreements as set forth on Schedule
2.02.
"FEDERAL FUNDS RATE" shall mean, for any day, the rate per annum
(rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest l/100 of 1%) equal to the
weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with
a member of the Federal Reserve
10
System arranged by federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such
day, provided that (i) if the date for which such rate is to be determined
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 (ii) if such rate is
not so published for any day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be
the average rate charged to the Agent on such day on such transactions as
determined by the Agent.
"FEE LETTER" shall mean that certain letter agreement from SunTrust
Capital Markets, Inc. and SunTrust to the Borrower, dated June 30, 2004,
as the same may be amended or replaced from time to time, concerning
certain fees in connection with this Agreement and any agreements or
instruments executed in connection herewith.
"FINANCIAL STATEMENTS" shall mean the financial statement or
statements of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries described or
referred to in Section 7.02.
"FIXED CHARGE COVERAGE RATIO" shall mean the ratio (calculated
quarterly as of the last day of each fiscal quarter) of (i) consolidated
EBITDA of the Borrower (excluding EBITDA attributable to Unrestricted
Subsidiaries) for the four fiscal quarters ending on such date (the "BASE
PERIOD") to (ii) the sum of (A) all payments of principal (including the
principal component of all payments in respect of lease obligations
described in clause (v) of the definition of "Debt", but excluding
payments of principal to be made with the proceeds of other Debt (i.e.,
refinancings)) payable by the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries
(other than the Unrestricted Subsidiaries) during the four fiscal quarter
period immediately succeeding the Base Period (the "REFERENCE PERIOD"),
plus (B) interest expense payable by the Borrower and its consolidated
Subsidiaries (other than the Unrestricted Subsidiaries) during the
Reference Period, plus (C) capital expenditures reasonably necessary to
maintain the Property of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries
(other than the Unrestricted Subsidiaries) in good working order during
the Reference Period.
"FUNDED DEBT" shall mean for any Person, Debt of such Person (other
than the type described in subsection (xiii) of the definition of Debt),
less all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of
Property or services obtained in the ordinary course of business.
"FUNDED DEBT RATIO" shall mean the ratio (calculated quarterly at
the end of each fiscal quarter) of (i) the consolidated Funded Debt of the
Borrower (excluding Funded Debt of Unrestricted Subsidiaries) for the four
fiscal quarters ending on such date to (ii) the consolidated EBITDA of the
Borrower (excluding EBITDA attributable to Unrestricted Subsidiaries) for
such four fiscal quarters.
"GAAP" shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States of America in effect from time to time.
"GENERAL PARTNER" shall mean BPLC.
11
"GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY" shall mean the country, the state, county,
city and political subdivisions in which any Person or such Person's
Property is located or that exercises valid jurisdiction over any such
Person or such Person's Property, and any court, agency, department,
commission, board, bureau or instrumentality of any of them including
monetary authorities that exercises valid jurisdiction over any such
Person or such Person's Property. Unless otherwise specified, all
references to Governmental Authority herein shall mean a Governmental
Authority having jurisdiction over, where applicable, the Borrower, its
Subsidiaries or any of their Property or the Agent, any Lender or any
Applicable Lending Office.
"GOVERNMENTAL REQUIREMENT" shall mean any law, statute, code,
ordinance, order, determination, rule, regulation, judgment, decree,
injunction, franchise, permit, certificate, license, authorization or
other directive or requirement (whether or not having the force of law),
including, without limitation, Environmental Laws, energy regulations and
occupational, safety and health standards or controls, of any Governmental
Authority.
"GP INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PAYMENTS" shall mean the quarterly
incentive compensation payments paid to the General Partner by the
Borrower pursuant to that certain Second Amended and Restated Incentive
Compensation Agreement, dated as of April 23, 2001, as it may be amended
from time to time.
"GRANTING LENDER" shall have the meaning assigned such term in
Section 12.06(e).
"GUARANTOR" shall mean each Restricted Subsidiary that has executed
a Guaranty.
"GUARANTY" shall mean an agreement executed by each Guarantor
substantially in the form of Exhibit E.
"HEDGING AGREEMENTS" shall mean any commodity, interest rate or
currency swap, cap, floor, collar, forward agreement or other exchange or
protection agreements or any option with respect to any such transaction.
"HIGHEST LAWFUL RATE" shall mean, with respect to any Lender, the
maximum nonusurious interest rate, if any, that at any time or from time
to time may be contracted for, taken, reserved, charged or received on the
Debt hereunder under laws applicable to such Lender that are presently in
effect or, to the extent allowed by law, under such applicable laws that
may hereafter be in effect and that allow a higher maximum nonusurious
interest rate than applicable laws now allow.
"INDEMNIFIED PARTIES" shall have the meaning assigned such term in
Section 12.03(a)(ii).
"INDEMNITY MATTERS" shall mean any and all actions, suits,
proceedings (including any investigations, litigation or inquiries),
claims, demands and causes of action made or threatened against a Person
and, in connection therewith, all losses, liabilities, damages (excluding,
however, indirect and consequential damages and lost profits) or
reasonable
12
costs and expenses of any kind or nature whatsoever incurred by such
Person whether caused by the sole or concurrent negligence of such Person
seeking indemnification.
"INDENTURE" shall mean that certain Indenture, dated as of July 10,
2003, between the Borrower and SunTrust Bank, as Trustee, as amended and
supplemented from time to time.
"INITIAL FUNDING" shall mean the funding of the initial Loans or
issuance of the initial Letters of Credit upon satisfaction of the
conditions set forth in Sections 6.01 and 6.02.
"INTEREST PERIOD" shall mean, with respect to any LIBOR Loan, the
period commencing on the date such LIBOR Loan is made and ending on the
numerically corresponding day in the first, second, third or sixth
calendar month thereafter, as the Borrower may select as provided in
Section 2.02 (or such longer period as may be requested by the Borrower
and agreed to by the Lenders), except that each Interest Period that
commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on any day for
which there is no numerically corresponding day in the appropriate
subsequent calendar month) shall end on the last Business Day of the
appropriate subsequent calendar month.
Notwithstanding the foregoing: (i) no Interest Period may end after
the Termination Date; (ii) each Interest Period that would otherwise end
on a day that is not a Business Day shall end on the next succeeding
Business Day (or, if such next succeeding Business Day falls in the next
succeeding calendar month, on the next preceding Business Day); and (iii)
no Interest Period shall have a duration of less than one month and, if
the Interest Period for any LIBOR Loans would otherwise be for a shorter
period, such Loans shall not be available hereunder.
"ISSUING BANK" shall mean SunTrust or any other Lender agreed to
among the Borrower, the Agent and such Lender to issue Letters of Credit.
"LC COMMITMENT" shall mean $50,000,000.
"LC EXPOSURE" at any time shall mean the aggregate face amount of
all undrawn and uncancelled Letters of Credit and the aggregate of all
amounts drawn under all Letters of Credit and not yet reimbursed.
"LC PAYMENT NOTICE" shall have the meaning assigned such term in
Section 2.09(c).
"LENDERS" shall have the meaning assigned such term in the preamble
to this Agreement.
"LETTER OF CREDIT AGREEMENTS" shall mean the written agreements with
the Issuing Bank, as issuing lender for any Letter of Credit, executed in
connection with the issuance by the Issuing Bank of the Letters of Credit,
such agreements to be on the Issuing Bank's customary form for letters of
credit of comparable amount and purpose as from time to time in effect or
as otherwise agreed to by the Borrower and the Issuing Bank.
13
"LETTERS OF CREDIT" shall mean (i) the letters of credit issued
pursuant to Section 2.01(c) and all reimbursement obligations pertaining
to any such letters of credit and (ii) the Existing Letters of Credit.
"LIBOR" shall mean, for any Interest Period for any LIBOR Loan, the
rate per annum for deposits in Dollars for a period equal to such Interest
Period appearing on Dow Xxxxx Market Service Page 3750 (or such other page
as may replace Dow Xxxxx Market Service Page 3750 or that service or
another service as may be nominated by the British Bankers' Association as
the information vendor for the purpose of displaying British Bankers'
Association Interest Settlement Rates for Dollars) as of 11:00 a.m.
(London, England time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such
Interest Period. In the event that such rate does not appear on Dow Xxxxx
Market Service Page 3750, or such other page as referenced above, LIBOR
shall be determined by the Agent to be the rate per annum at which
deposits in Dollars are offered by leading reference banks in the London
interbank market to SunTrust at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two
Business Days prior to the first day of the applicable Interest Period for
a period equal to such Interest Period and in an amount substantially
equal to the amount of the applicable Loan to be made by the Agent (or any
Affiliate of the Agent).
"LIBOR LOANS" shall mean Loans that bear interest at rates based
upon the LIBOR Rate.
"LIBOR RATE" shall mean, with respect to any LIBOR Loan, a rate per
annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%)
determined by the Agent to be equal to the quotient of (i) LIBOR for the
Interest Period for such Loan divided by (ii) 1 minus the Reserve
Requirement for such Loan for such Interest Period.
"LIEN" shall mean any interest in Property securing an obligation
owed to, or a claim by, a Person other than the owner of the Property,
whether such interest is based on the common law, statute or contract, and
whether such obligation or claim is fixed or contingent, and including but
not limited to the lien or security interest arising from a mortgage,
encumbrance, pledge, security agreement, conditional sale or trust receipt
or a lease, consignment or bailment for security purposes. The term "Lien"
shall include reservations, exceptions, encroachments, easements, rights
of way, covenants, conditions, restrictions, leases and other title
exceptions and encumbrances affecting Property. Any Person shall be deemed
to be the owner of any Property that it has acquired or holds subject to a
conditional sale agreement, or leases under a financing lease or other
arrangement, pursuant to which title to the Property has been retained by
or vested in some other Person in a transaction intended to create a
financing.
"LOAN DOCUMENTS" shall mean this Agreement, the Letters of Credit,
the Guaranties, the Letter of Credit Agreements, the Fee Letter, and any
and all other agreements or instruments now or hereafter executed and
delivered by the Borrower or any other Person (other than participation or
similar agreements between any Lender and any other lender or creditor
with respect to any Debt hereunder) in connection with, or as security for
or guaranty of the payment or performance of this Agreement, or
14
reimbursement obligations under the Letters of Credit, as such agreements
may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
"LOANS" shall mean the loans as provided for by Sections 2.01(a) and
(b). "Loans" shall include the Revolving Credit Loans and the Swing Line
Loans.
"MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" shall mean any material and adverse effect
on (i) the financial condition or results of operations of the Borrower
and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, different from those
reflected in the Financial Statements or from the facts represented or
warranted in any Loan Document, or (ii) the ability of the Borrower and
the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to carry out their business
as of the date hereof or as proposed as of the date hereof to be conducted
or to meet their obligations under the Loan Documents on a timely basis.
"MOODY'S" shall mean Xxxxx'x Investors Service, Inc., or any
successor thereto.
"MULTIEMPLOYER PLAN" shall mean a Plan defined as such in Section
3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
"NOTE AGREEMENTS" shall mean each of (i) the Underwriting Agreement,
dated July 7, 2003, among the Borrower, BPLC and X.X. Xxxxxx Securities
Inc. and (ii) the Purchase Agreement, dated August 14, 2003, among the
Borrower, BPLC and the initial purchasers named therein.
"OTHER TAXES" shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section
4.06(b).
"PBGC" shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any
entity succeeding to any or all of its functions.
"PERCENTAGE SHARE" shall mean, for each Lender, the percentage
obtained by dividing such Lender's Commitment by the Aggregate Revolving
Credit Commitments.
"PERSON" shall mean any individual, corporation, company, voluntary
association, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated
organization or government or any agency, instrumentality or political
subdivision thereof, or any other form of entity.
"PLAN" shall mean any employee pension benefit plan, as defined in
Section 3(2) of ERISA, that (i) is currently or hereafter sponsored,
maintained or contributed to by the Borrower, any Subsidiary of the
Borrower or an ERISA Affiliate or (ii) was at any time during the
preceding six calendar years sponsored, maintained or contributed to, by
the Borrower, any Subsidiary of the Borrower or an ERISA Affiliate.
"POST-DEFAULT RATE" shall mean, in respect of any principal of any
Loan or any other amount payable by the Borrower under this Agreement or
any other Loan Document, a rate per annum equal to 2% per annum above the
rate of interest applicable from time to time to Base Rate Loans as
provided in Section 3.02(a)(i), but in no event to exceed the Highest
Lawful Rate; provided however, for any LIBOR Loan, the Post-
15
Default Rate shall be 2% per annum above the interest rate for such Loan
as provided in Section 3.02(a)(ii), but in no event to exceed the Highest
Lawful Rate.
"PRIME RATE" shall mean the rate of interest from time to time
announced publicly by the Agent at the Principal Office as its prime
commercial lending rate. Such rate is set by the Agent as a general
reference rate of interest, taking into account such factors as the Agent
may deem appropriate, it being understood that many of the Agent's
commercial or other loans are priced in relation to such rate, that it is
not necessarily the lowest or best rate actually charged to any customer
and that the Agent may make various commercial or other loans at rates of
interest having no relationship to such rate.
"PRINCIPAL OFFICE" shall mean the principal office of the Agent,
presently located at 000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000.
"PRIOR LIEN" shall mean any Lien not created by the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary, which at any time is a lien upon the lands over
which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary holds easements or
rights-of-way for pipeline purposes, or upon Properties with respect to
which the Borrower's or such Restricted Subsidiary's interest is
subordinate to such Lien, and that does not secure bonds, notes, other
indebtedness, taxes, assessments or other charges that have been assumed
or guaranteed by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or for which
the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary has otherwise become liable or
on which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary customarily pays
interest charges.
"PROPERTY" shall mean any interest in any kind of property or asset,
whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible.
"QUARTERLY DATES" shall mean the last day of each March, June,
September and December, in each year, the first of which shall be
September 30, 2004.
"RATINGS AFFIRMATION" means, with respect to any particular action
or proposed action, the affirmation by each of Standard & Poor's Rating
Services and Xxxxx'x Investors Service, Inc. or, if either or both of such
ratings agencies do not then rate the Notes, by such other nationally
recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in the rules and
regulations of the SEC) then having issued long-term debt ratings for the
Notes, that such long-term debt ratings will not be lowered as a result of
the taking of such action or proposed action.
"REFERENCE RATING" shall mean the ratings assigned by S&P and
Moody's to the senior unsecured non-credit enhanced long-term debt of the
Borrower. If such ratings assigned by S&P and Moody's are not comparable
(i.e., a "split rating"), and (i) the ratings differential is less than
two levels, then the higher of such two ratings shall control or (ii) the
ratings differential is two levels or more, then the ratings one below the
higher of such two ratings shall control, unless either rating is below
BBB- (in the case of S&P) or Baa3 (in the case of Moody's), in which case
the lower of the two ratings shall control.
16
"REGULATION D" shall mean Regulation D of the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System (or any successor), as the same may be amended
or supplemented from time to time.
"REGULATORY CHANGE" shall mean, with respect to any Lender, any
change after the date hereof in any Governmental Requirement (including
Regulation D) or the adoption or making after such date of any
interpretations, directives or requests applying to a class of lenders
(including such Lender or its Applicable Lending Office) of or under any
Governmental Requirement (whether or not having the force of law) by any
Governmental Authority charged with the interpretation or administration
thereof.
"REQUIRED LENDERS" shall mean, at any time while no Loans are
outstanding, Lenders having more than 50% of the Aggregate Revolving
Credit Commitments and, at any time Loans are outstanding, Lenders holding
more than 50% of the outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Loans
and LC Exposure (without regard to any sale by a Lender of a participation
in any Loan under Section 12.06(c)).
"REQUIRED PAYMENT" shall have the meaning assigned such term in
Section 4.04.
"RESERVE REQUIREMENT" shall mean, for any Interest Period for any
LIBOR Loan, the average maximum rate at which reserves (including any
marginal, supplemental or emergency reserves) are required to be
maintained during such Interest Period under regulations issued from time
to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any
successor) for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including any
emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) for the
Lenders with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including
"eurocurrency liabilities" (as defined in Regulation D of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as in effect from time to time)
having a term equal to such Interest Period.
Without limiting the effect of the foregoing, the Reserve
Requirement shall reflect any other reserves required to be maintained by
such member banks by reason of any Regulatory Change against (i) any
category of liabilities that includes deposits by reference to which LIBOR
is to be determined as provided in the definition of "LIBOR" or (ii) any
category of extensions of credit or other assets which include a LIBOR
Loan.
"RESPONSIBLE OFFICER" shall mean, as to any Person, the Chief
Executive Officer, the President or any Vice President of such Person and,
with respect to financial matters, the term "Responsible Officer" shall
include the Chief Financial Officer of such Person. Unless otherwise
specified, all references to a Responsible Officer herein shall mean a
Responsible Officer of the Borrower.
"RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARY" shall mean those Persons listed on Exhibit
D-1 and any Subsidiary of the Borrower or of any Restricted Subsidiary
that has not been designated by the Board of Directors of the General
Partner, at its creation or acquisition, as an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
The Borrower may thereafter redesignate an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a
Restricted Subsidiary, and it will thereafter be a Restricted Subsidiary;
provided, that such Restricted Subsidiary may not thereafter be
redesignated as an
17
Unrestricted Subsidiary, and provided, further, that no Subsidiary may be
designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary at any time other than at its
creation or acquisition. To qualify as a Restricted Subsidiary, such
Subsidiary shall be in a line of business as is permitted for the Borrower
under the Borrower Partnership Agreement and shall have executed a
Guaranty, and at the time such Subsidiary is designated as a Restricted
Subsidiary no Default shall exist or result from such designation.
"REVOLVING CREDIT COMMITMENT" shall mean, as to each Lender, the
amount set forth opposite such Lender's name on Annex I under the caption
"Revolving Credit Commitment" (as the same may be reduced pursuant to
Section 2.03(a) pro rata to each Lender based on its Percentage Share), as
modified from time to time to reflect any assignments permitted by Section
12.06(b).
"REVOLVING CREDIT LOANS" shall mean Loans made pursuant to Section
2.01(a).
"S&P" shall mean Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, a division of
the XxXxxx-Xxxx Companies, Inc., or any successor thereto.
"SALE-LEASEBACK ATTRIBUTABLE DEBT" shall mean, as to any particular
lease relating to a Sale-Leaseback Transaction, the amount of the net sale
proceeds derived from the sale or transfer to the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary of the Property involved.
"SALE-LEASEBACK TRANSACTION" shall mean a transaction or series of
transactions pursuant to which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary
shall sell or transfer to any Person any Property, whether now owned or
hereafter acquired, and as part of the same transaction or series of
transactions, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall rent or
lease as lessee, or similarly acquire the right to possession or use of,
such property or one or more Properties which it intends to use for the
same purpose or purposes as such Property.
"SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any
successor Governmental Authority.
"SENIOR NOTES" shall mean (i) the 4 5/8% Notes, in the aggregate
principal amount of $300,000,000, due 2013 and (ii) the 6 3/4% Notes, in
the aggregate principal amount of $150,000,000, due 2033; each issued
pursuant to the Indenture.
"SHELL ACQUISITION" shall mean the acquisition by the Borrower or
one or more Restricted Subsidiaries of approximately five petroleum
products pipelines and approximately 25 petroleum products terminals in
the Midwestern United States from affiliates of Shell Oil Products U.S.
"SHELL ACQUISITION DATE" shall mean the date the Shell Acquisition
is consummated by the Borrower and Shell Oil Products U.S.
"SPC" shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 12.06(e).
18
"SPECIAL ENTITY" of any Person shall mean any joint venture, limited
liability company or partnership, general or limited partnership or any
other type of partnership or company other than a corporation in which
such Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries is a member, owner, partner
or joint venturer and either (a) owns, directly or indirectly, at least a
majority of the equity or interests of such entity, or (b) controls such
entity, but excluding any tax partnerships that are not classified as
partnerships under state law. For purposes of this definition, any Person
that owns directly or indirectly an equity investment in another Person
that allows the first Person to manage or elect managers who manage the
normal activities of such second Person will be deemed to "control" such
second Person (e.g., a sole general partner controls a limited
partnership).
"SUBSIDIARY" shall mean (i) any corporation of which at least a
majority of the outstanding shares of stock having by the terms thereof
ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors of
such corporation (irrespective of whether or not at the time stock of any
other class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting
power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time
directly or indirectly owned or controlled by the Borrower or one or more
of its Subsidiaries or by the Borrower and one or more of its Subsidiaries
and (ii) any Special Entity.
"SWING LINE COMMITMENT" shall mean, for the Swing Line Lender, its
obligation to make Swing Line Loans up to $10,000,000.
"SWING LINE FACILITY" shall mean the facility pursuant to Section
2.01(b).
"SWING LINE LENDER" shall mean SunTrust or such other Lender as
Agent, Borrower and such Lender shall agree.
"SWING LINE LOANS" shall mean the Loans made pursuant to Section
2.01(b).
"SUNTRUST" shall have the meaning assigned such term in the preamble
to this Agreement.
"TAXES" shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section
4.06(a).
"TERMINATION DATE" shall mean the earlier to occur of (i) the fifth
anniversary of the date hereof and (ii) the date that the Commitments are
terminated pursuant to Section 2.03(a) or 10.02.
"TYPE" shall mean, with respect to any Loan, a Base Rate Loan or a
LIBOR Loan.
"UNRESTRICTED SUBSIDIARY" shall mean those Persons listed on Exhibit
D-2 and any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that
has been designated by the Board of Directors of the General Partner as an
"Unrestricted Subsidiary" at the time of its creation or acquisition;
provided that no Debt or other obligation of such Unrestricted Subsidiary
may be assumed or guaranteed by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary
except to the extent otherwise permitted under Section 9.01(e), nor may
any asset of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, directly or
indirectly, contingently or otherwise,
19
become encumbered or otherwise subject to the satisfaction thereof except
to the extent otherwise permitted under Section 9.02(d).
SECTION 1.02. ACCOUNTING TERMS AND DETERMINATIONS.
Unless otherwise specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall
be interpreted, all determinations with respect to accounting matters hereunder
shall be made, and all financial statements and certificates and reports as to
financial matters required to be furnished to the Agent or the Lenders hereunder
shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP, applied on a basis consistent with
the audited financial statements of the Borrower referred to in Section 7.02
(except for changes concurred with by the Borrower's independent public
accountants).
ARTICLE II
COMMITMENTS
SECTION 2.01. LOANS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT.
(a) REVOLVING CREDIT LOANS. Each Lender severally agrees, on the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, to make loans to the Borrower during the period
from and including (i) the date hereof or (ii) such later date that such Lender
becomes a party to this Agreement as provided in Section 12.06(b), to and up to,
but excluding, the Termination Date in an aggregate principal amount at any one
time outstanding up to, but not exceeding, the amount of such Lender's Revolving
Credit Commitment as then in effect; provided, however, that the aggregate
principal amount of all such Revolving Credit Loans by all Lenders hereunder at
any one time outstanding, plus the LC Exposure, plus the amount outstanding
under the Swing Line Facility shall not exceed the Aggregate Revolving Credit
Commitments. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, during the period from the
date hereof to and up to, but excluding, the Termination Date, the Borrower may
borrow, repay and reborrow the amount described in this Section 2.01(a).
(b) SWING LINE LOANS.
(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the
contrary, in order to administer the revolving facility under Section
2.01(a) above in an efficient manner and to minimize the transfer of funds
between the Agent and the Lenders, the Swing Line Lender shall make
available Swing Line Loans to the Borrower at the election of Borrower
prior to the Termination Date. The Swing Line Lender shall not make any
Swing Line Loan pursuant hereto (i) if the Borrower is not in compliance
with all the conditions to the making of Loans set forth in this
Agreement, (ii) if after giving effect to such Swing Line Loan, the
outstanding Swing Line Loans exceed the Swing Line Commitment, or (iii) if
after giving effect to such Swing Line Loan, the sum of all Revolving
Credit Loans and Swing Line Loans then outstanding, plus LC Exposure
exceeds the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments. Loans made pursuant to
this Section 2.01(b) shall be limited to Loans bearing interest at the
Base Rate or such other rate of interest as agreed upon by the Borrower
and the Swing Line Lender.
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(ii) Subject to the terms of this Agreement, during the period from
the Closing Date to but excluding, the Termination Date, the Borrower may
borrow, repay and reborrow Swing Line Loans under this Section 2.01(b).
Each repayment of a Swing Line Loan shall be in integral multiples of
$100,000 or the unpaid amount of the Swing Line Loans outstanding. The
minimum outstanding amount of Swing Line Loans shall be $100,000.
(iii) If the Borrower instructs the Swing Line Lender to debit its
demand deposit account in an amount of any payment with respect to a Swing
Line Loan, or the Swing Line Lender otherwise receives repayment after
12:00 noon Atlanta time, on a Business Day, such payment shall be deemed
received on the next Business Day.
(iv) The Borrower and each Lender which is or may become a party
hereto acknowledge that all Swing Line Loans are to be made solely by the
Swing Line Lender to the Borrower, but that each Lender shall share the
risk of loss with respect to such Loans in an amount equal to such
Lender's Percentage Share of such Swing Line Loan. Upon demand made by the
Swing Line Lender, each Lender (including the Swing Line Lender) shall,
according to its Percentage Share of such Swing Line Loan, promptly
provide to the Swing Line Lender its purchase price therefor in an amount
equal to its Percentage Share therein, in which case such Swing Line Loan
shall be deemed from and after such date a Loan made under Section
2.01(a). The obligation of each Lender to so provide its purchase price to
the Swing Line Lender shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be
affected by the occurrence of an Event of Default or any other occurrence
or event.
(c) LETTERS OF CREDIT. During the period from and including the date
hereof to, but excluding, the Termination Date, the Issuing Bank, as issuing
bank for the Lenders, agrees, on the terms and conditions of this Agreement, to
extend credit for the account of any Account Party at any time and from time to
time by issuing, renewing, extending or reissuing Letters of Credit. The Issuing
Bank shall not issue, renew, extend or reissue Letters of Credit pursuant hereto
(i) if the LC Exposure at the time of such extension of credit exceeds the
lesser of (A) the LC Commitment and (B) the Aggregate Revolving Credit
Commitments, as then in effect, minus the aggregate principal amount of all
Loans then outstanding of (ii) if the Borrower is not in compliance with all the
conditions to the making of such extension of credit as set forth in this
Agreement. The Lenders shall participate in such Letters of Credit according to
their respective Percentage Shares. Each Letter of Credit shall (i) be issued by
the Issuing Bank, (ii) contain such terms and provisions as are reasonably
required by the Issuing Bank, (iii) be for the account of the Account Party
named therein and (iv) expire not later than the earlier of (A) two years from
the date of issuance and (B) five days before the Termination Date.
(d) LIMITATION ON TYPES OF LOANS. Subject to the other terms and
provisions of this Agreement, at the option of the Borrower, the Loans (other
than Swing Line Loans) may be Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Loans; provided that,
without the prior written consent of the Required Lenders, no more than eight
LIBOR Loans may be outstanding at any time.
21
SECTION 2.02. BORROWINGS, CONTINUATIONS AND CONVERSIONS OF REVOLVING
CREDIT LOANS; LETTERS OF CREDIT.
(a) BORROWINGS. The Borrower shall give the Agent (which shall promptly
notify the Lenders) advance notice as hereinafter provided of each borrowing
under Section 2.01(a), which shall specify (i) the aggregate amount of such
borrowing, (ii) the Type and (iii) the date (which shall be a Business Day) of
the Loans to be borrowed, and (iv) in the case of LIBOR Loans, the duration of
the Interest Period therefor.
(b) MINIMUM AMOUNTS. All Base Rate Loan borrowings shall be in amounts of
at least $1,000,000 or the remaining balance of the Aggregate Revolving Credit
Commitments, if less, or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, and
all LIBOR Loans shall be in amounts of at least $3,000,000 or any whole multiple
of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. All Swing Line Loans shall be in amounts of at
least $1,000,000 or any whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof.
(c) NOTICES. All borrowings, continuations and conversions shall require
advance written notice to the Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders) in
the form of Exhibit A (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed by such a written
notice), which in each case shall be irrevocable, from the Borrower to be
received by the Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. Atlanta time on the date of each
Base Rate Loan borrowing and not later than 11:00 a.m. Atlanta time at least
three Business Days prior to the date of each LIBOR Loan borrowing, continuation
or conversion. Without in any way limiting the Borrower's obligation to confirm
in writing any telephonic notice, the Agent may act without liability upon the
basis of telephonic notice believed by the Agent in good faith to be from the
Borrower prior to receipt of written confirmation. In each such case, the
Borrower hereby waives the right to dispute the Agent's record of the terms of
such telephonic notice except in the case of gross negligence or willful
misconduct by the Agent.
(d) CONTINUATION OPTIONS. Subject to the provisions made in this Section
2.02(d), the Borrower may elect to continue all or any part of any LIBOR Loan
beyond the expiration of the then current Interest Period relating thereto by
giving advance notice as provided in Section 2.02(c) to the Agent (which shall
promptly notify the Lenders) of such election, specifying the amount of such
Loan to be continued and the Interest Period therefor. In the absence of such a
timely and proper election, the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected to
convert such LIBOR Loan to a Base Rate Loan pursuant to Section 2.02(e). All or
any part of any LIBOR Loan may be continued as provided herein, provided that
(i) any continuation of any such Loan shall be (as to each Loan as continued for
an applicable Interest Period) in amounts of at least $5,000,000 or any whole
multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (ii) no Default shall have occurred
and be continuing. If a Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each
LIBOR Loan shall be converted to a Base Rate Loan on the last day of the
Interest Period applicable thereto.
(e) CONVERSION OPTIONS. The Borrower may elect to convert all or any part
of any LIBOR Loan on the last day of the then current Interest Period relating
thereto to a Base Rate Loan by giving advance notice to the Agent (which shall
promptly notify the Lenders) of such election. Subject to the provisions made in
this Section 2.02(e), the Borrower may elect to
22
convert all or any part of any Base Rate Loan (other than a Swing Line Loan) at
any time and from time to time to a LIBOR Loan by giving advance notice as
provided in Section 2.02(c) to the Agent (which shall promptly notify the
Lenders) of such election. All or any part of any outstanding Loan may be
converted as provided herein, provided that (i) any conversion of any Base Rate
Loan into a LIBOR Loan shall be (as to each such Loan into which there is a
conversion for an applicable Interest Period) in amounts of at least $5,000,000
or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (ii) no Default shall
have occurred and be continuing. If a Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, no Base Rate Loan may be converted into a LIBOR Loan.
(f) ADVANCES. Not later than 11:00 a.m. Atlanta time for LIBOR Loans and
1:00 p.m. Atlanta time for Base Rate Loans on the date specified for each
borrowing hereunder, each Lender shall make available the amount of the Loan to
be made by it on such date to the Agent, to an account which the Agent shall
specify, in immediately available funds, for the account of the Borrower. The
amounts so received by the Agent shall, subject to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, be made available to the Borrower by depositing the same, in
immediately available funds, in an account of the Borrower, designated by the
Borrower and maintained at the Principal Office.
(g) LETTERS OF CREDIT. The Borrower shall give the Issuing Bank (with a
copy to the Agent) advance notice to be received by the Issuing Bank not later
than 11:00 a.m. Atlanta time not less than three Business Days prior thereto of
each request for the issuance, and at least three Business Days prior to the
date of the renewal or extension, of a Letter of Credit hereunder which request
shall specify (i) the amount of such Letter of Credit, (ii) the date (which
shall be a Business Day) such Letter of Credit is to be issued, renewed or
extended, (iii) the duration thereof, (iv) the name and address of the
beneficiary thereof, (v) the name of the Account Party on whose behalf the
Letter of Credit shall be issued, (vi) the form of the Letter of Credit and
(vii) such other information as the Issuing Bank may reasonably request, all of
which shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Issuing Bank. Subject to the terms
and conditions of this Agreement, on the date specified for the issuance,
renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank shall issue, renew
or extend such Letter of Credit to the beneficiary thereof.
In conjunction with the issuance of each Letter of Credit, the Borrower
shall execute a Letter of Credit Agreement. In the event of any conflict between
any provision of a Letter of Credit Agreement and this Agreement, the Borrower,
the Issuing Bank, the Agent and the Lenders hereby agree that the provisions of
this Agreement shall govern.
The Issuing Bank will send to the Borrower and each Lender, immediately
upon issuance of any Letter of Credit, or an amendment thereto, a true and
complete copy of such Letter of Credit or such amendment.
SECTION 2.03. CHANGES OF COMMITMENTS; ADDITIONAL COMMITMENT AMOUNT.
(a) The Borrower shall have the right to terminate or to reduce the amount
of the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments at any time, or from time to time,
upon not less than three Business Days' prior notice to the Agent (which shall
promptly notify the Lenders) of each such termination or reduction, which notice
shall specify the effective date thereof and the amount of
23
any such reduction (which shall not be less than $2,000,000 or any whole
multiple of $2,000,000 in excess thereof) and shall be irrevocable and effective
only upon receipt by the Agent.
(b) The Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments once terminated or reduced
may not be reinstated.
(c) (i) So long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing both
on the date of such request and the effective date of such increase, from time
to time after the Closing Date, Borrower may, upon at least 30 days' written
notice to the Agent, who shall promptly notify the Lenders, propose to increase
the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment up to an amount not to exceed
$150,000,000 (the amount of any such increase, the "Additional Commitment
Amount"). Each Lender shall have the right for a period of 15 days following
receipt of such notice, to elect by written notice to the Borrower and the Agent
to increase its Revolving Credit Commitment by a principal amount equal to its
Percentage Share of the Additional Commitment Amount. No Lender (or any
successor thereto) shall have any obligation to increase its Revolving Credit
Commitment or its other obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents, and any decision by a Lender to increase its Revolving Credit
Commitment shall be made in its sole discretion independently from any other
Lender.
(ii) If any Lender shall not elect to increase its Revolving Credit
Commitment pursuant to subsection (i) above, the Borrower may designate another
bank or other financial institution (which may be, but need not be, one or more
of the existing Lenders) which at the time agrees to, in the case of any such
Person that is an existing Lender, increase its Revolving Credit Commitment and
in the case of any other such Person (an "Additional Lender"), become a party to
this Agreement; provided, however, that any new bank or financial institution
must be acceptable to the Agent, which acceptance will not be unreasonably
withheld or delayed. The sum of the increases in the Revolving Credit
Commitments of the existing Lenders pursuant to this subsection (ii) plus the
Revolving Credit Commitments of the Additional Lenders shall not in the
aggregate exceed the unsubscribed amount of the Additional Commitment Amount.
(iii) An increase in the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit
Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) shall become effective upon the
receipt by the Agent of an agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the
Agent signed by the Borrower, by each Additional Lender and by each other Lender
whose Revolving Credit Commitment is to be increased, setting forth the new
Revolving Credit Commitments of such Lenders and setting forth the agreement of
each Additional Lender to become a party to this Agreement and to be bound by
all the terms and provisions hereof, together with such evidence of appropriate
corporate authorization on the part of the Borrower with respect to the increase
in the Revolving Credit Commitments and such opinions of counsel for the
Borrower with respect to the increase in the Revolving Credit Commitments as the
Agent may reasonably request.
(iv) Upon the acceptance of any such agreement by the Agent, the
Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment shall automatically be increased by the
amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments added through such agreement and
Annex I shall automatically be deemed amended to reflect the Revolving Credit
Commitments of all Lenders after giving effect to the addition of such Revolving
Credit Commitments.
24
(v) Upon any increase in the aggregate amount of the Revolving
Credit Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) that is not pro rata among
all Lenders, (x) within five Business Days, in the case of any Base Rate Loans
then outstanding, and at the end of the then current Interest Period with
respect thereto, in the case of any LIBOR Loans then outstanding, the Borrower
shall prepay such Loans in their entirety and, to the extent the Borrower elects
to do so and subject to the conditions specified in Article VI, the Borrower
shall reborrow Loans from the Lenders in proportion to their respective
Revolving Credit Commitments after giving effect to such increase, until such
time as all outstanding Loans are held by the Lenders in such proportion and (y)
effective upon such increase, the amount of the participations held by each
Lender in each Letter of Credit then outstanding shall be adjusted such that,
after giving effect to such adjustments, the Lenders shall hold participations
in each such Letter of Credit in the proportion its respective Revolving Credit
Commitment bears to the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments after giving
effect to such increase.
SECTION 2.04. FEES.
(a) FACILITY FEE. The Borrower shall pay to the Agent for the account of
each Lender a facility fee equal to the product of (i) the daily average amount
of such Lender's Commitment (regardless of usage) and (ii) the rate per annum
set forth below in the columns identified as Xxxxx 0, Xxxxx 0, Xxxxx 0, Xxxxx 4,
and Level 5, determined by reference to the Reference Rating from the date
hereof in the case of each Lender, and from the effective date specified in the
Assignment Agreement pursuant to which it became a Lender, in the case of each
other Lender, until the earlier to occur of the Termination Date and, in the
case of the termination in whole of a Lender's Commitment pursuant to Section
2.03, the date of such termination, payable on each Quarterly Date during such
period, and on the Termination Date.
XXXXX 0 XXXXX 0 XXXXX 0 XXXXX 0 XXXXX 5
Reference Rating Reference Rating Reference Rating
Less than Xxxxx 0 Xxxx xxxx Xxxxx 0 Xxxx xxxx Xxxxx 0
S&P Reference Rating but at least but at least but at least BBB- Reference Rating
Xxxxx'x at least A-/A3 BBB+/Baa1 BBB/Baa2 /Baa3 below Level 4*
============== ================ ================= ================= ================= ================
Rate Per Annum
Facility Fee 0.100% 0.125% 0.150% 0.200% 0.350%
*or unrated
Any change in the facility fee will be effective as of the date on which S&P or
Xxxxx'x, as the case may be, announces any change in the ratings used to
determine the Reference Rating.
(b) LETTER OF CREDIT FEES.
(i) The Borrower agrees to pay the Agent, for the account of each
Lender, commissions for issuing the Letters of Credit on such Lender's
Percentage Share of the daily average amount of the maximum liability of
the Issuing Bank existing from time to time under such Letter of Credit
(calculated separately for each Letter of Credit) at a rate per annum
equal to the Applicable Margin then in effect for LIBOR Loans. Each Letter
25
of Credit shall be deemed to be outstanding up to the full face amount of
the Letter of Credit until the Issuing Bank has received the canceled
Letter of Credit or a written cancellation of the Letter of Credit from
the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit in form and substance acceptable
to the Issuing Bank, or for any reductions in the amount of the Letter of
Credit (other than from a drawing), written notification from the
beneficiary of such Letter of Credit. Such commissions are payable
quarterly in arrears on each Quarterly Date and upon cancellation or
expiration of each such Letter of Credit.
(ii) The Borrower agrees to pay the Issuing Bank, for its own
account, an issuing fee for issuing Letters of Credit on the daily average
amount of the maximum liability of the Issuing Bank existing from time to
time under such Letter of Credit (calculated separately for each Letter of
Credit) at the rate of 0.125% per annum, payable quarterly in arrears on
each Quarterly Date and upon cancellation or expiration of each such
Letter of Credit.
(iii) In addition to the fees in subsections (i) and (ii) of Section
2.04(b), the Borrower agrees to pay the Issuing Bank on demand the Issuing
Bank's customary letter of credit fees, including, without limitation,
amendment fees, negotiation and drawing fees, and other fees customarily
payable with respect to each Letter of Credit.
(c) FEE LETTER. The Borrower shall pay to SunTrust and SunTrust Capital
Markets, Inc. for their respective accounts such other fees as are set forth in
the Fee Letter on the dates specified therein.
SECTION 2.05. SEVERAL OBLIGATIONS.
The failure of any Lender to make any Loan to be made by it or to provide
funds for disbursements or reimbursements under Letters of Credit on the date
specified therefor shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation to make
its Loan or provide funds on such date, but no Lender shall be responsible for
the failure of any other Lender to make a Loan to be made by such other Lender
or to provide funds to be provided by such other Lender.
SECTION 2.06. NOTELESS AGREEMENT; EVIDENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS.
(a) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an
account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender
resulting from each Loan made by such Lender from time to time, including the
amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to
time hereunder.
(b) The Agent shall also maintain accounts in which it will record (i) the
amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Type thereof and the Interest Period (if
any) with respect thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and
payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder,
and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Agent hereunder from the
Borrower and each Lender's share thereof.
(c) The entries maintained in the accounts maintained pursuant to
subsections (a) and (b) above shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and
amounts of the obligations therein recorded; provided, however, that the failure
of the Agent or any Lender to maintain such
26
accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of
the Borrower to repay such obligations in accordance with their terms.
(d) Any Lender may request that its Loans be evidenced by one or more
promissory notes. In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver
to such Lender one or more promissory notes payable to the order of such Lender
and in a form acceptable to the Borrower and the Agent. Thereafter, the Loans
evidenced by such note(s) and interest thereon shall at all times (including
after any assignment pursuant to Section 12.06(b)) be represented by notes from
the Borrower, payable to the order of the payee named therein or any assignee
pursuant to Section 12.06(b), except to the extent that any such Lender or
assignee subsequently returns any such note for cancellation and requests that
the related Loans once again be evidenced as in subsections (a) and (b) above.
SECTION 2.07. PREPAYMENTS.
(a) VOLUNTARY PREPAYMENTS. The Borrower may prepay the Base Rate Loans
upon not less than one (1) Business Day's prior notice to the Agent (which shall
promptly notify the Lenders), which notice shall specify the prepayment date
(which shall be a Business Day) and the amount of the prepayment (which shall be
at least $1,000,000 or whole multiples of $500,000 in excess thereof for
Revolving Credit Loans that are Base Rate Loans and at least $500,000 or whole
multiples of $100,000 in excess thereof for Swing Line Loans, or the remaining
aggregate principal balance outstanding) and shall be irrevocable and effective
only upon receipt by the Agent, provided that interest on the principal prepaid,
accrued to the prepayment date, shall be paid on the prepayment date. The
Borrower may prepay LIBOR Loans on the same conditions as for Base Rate Loans
(except that prior notice to the Agent shall be not less than three Business
Days for LIBOR Loans and such payment shall be at least $5,000,000 or whole
multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof) and in addition such prepayments of
LIBOR Loans shall be subject to the terms of Section 5.05 and shall be in an
amount equal to all of the LIBOR Loans for the Interest Period prepaid.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.07(a),
Borrower may only prepay the Revolving Credit Loans in an amount up to
$25,000,000 in the aggregate prior to the repayment in full of all outstanding
obligations under the Bridge Loan Agreement and termination of all commitments
to make loans or other financial accommodations to the Borrower thereunder.
(b) MANDATORY PREPAYMENTS. If, after giving effect to any termination or
reduction of the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments pursuant to Section
2.03(a), the outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Loans plus the LC
Exposure exceeds the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments, the Borrower shall
(i) prepay the Revolving Credit Loans on the date of such termination or
reduction in an aggregate principal amount equal to the excess, together with
interest on the principal amount paid accrued to the date of such prepayment,
(ii) if any excess remains after prepaying all Revolving Credit Loans prepay the
Swing Line Loans on the date of such termination or reduction in an aggregate
principal amount equal to such remaining excess, together with interest on the
principal amount paid accrued to the date of such prepayment, and (iii) if any
excess remains after prepaying all of the Loans because of LC Exposure, pay to
the Agent on behalf of the Lenders an amount equal to the excess to be held as
cash collateral as provided in Section 2.09(b) hereof.
27
(c) GENERALLY. Prepayments permitted or required under this Section 2.07
shall be without premium or penalty, except as required under Section 5.05 for
prepayment of LIBOR Loans. Any prepayments on the Loans may be reborrowed
subject to the then effective Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments.
SECTION 2.08. ASSUMPTION OF RISKS.
The Borrower assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary
of any Letter of Credit or any transferee thereof with respect to its use of
such Letter of Credit. Neither the Issuing Bank (except in the case of gross
negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Issuing Bank or any of its
agents or employees), its correspondents nor any Lender shall be responsible for
the validity, sufficiency or genuineness of certificates or other documents or
any endorsements thereon, even if such certificates or other documents should in
fact prove to be invalid, insufficient, fraudulent or forged; for errors,
omissions, interruptions or delays in transmissions or delivery of any messages
by mail, telex, or otherwise, whether or not they be in code; for errors in
translation or for errors in interpretation of technical terms; the validity or
sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to
transfer or assign any 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; the failure of any beneficiary or any transferee of
any Letter of Credit to comply fully with conditions required in order to draw
upon any Letter of Credit; or for any other consequences arising from causes
beyond the Issuing Bank's control or the control of the Issuing Bank's
correspondents. In addition, neither the Issuing Bank, the Agent nor any Lender
shall be responsible for any error, neglect, or default of any of the Issuing
Bank's correspondents; and none of the above shall affect, impair or prevent the
vesting of any of the Issuing Bank's, the Agent's or any Lender's rights or
powers hereunder or under the Letter of Credit Agreements, all of which rights
shall be cumulative. The Issuing Bank and its correspondents may accept
certificates or other documents that appear on their face to be in order,
without responsibility for further investigation of any matter contained therein
regardless of any notice or information to the contrary. In furtherance and not
in limitation of the foregoing provisions, the Borrower agrees that any action,
inaction or omission taken or not taken by the Issuing Bank or by any
correspondent for the Issuing Bank in good faith in connection with any Letter
of Credit, or any related drafts, certificates, documents or instruments, shall
be binding on the Borrower and shall not put the Issuing Bank or its
correspondents under any resulting liability to the Borrower.
SECTION 2.09. OBLIGATION TO REIMBURSE AND TO PREPAY.
(a) If a disbursement by the Issuing Bank is made under any Letter of
Credit, the Borrower and the applicable Account Party hereby jointly and
severally agree pay to the Agent within two Business Days after notice of any
such disbursement is received by the Borrower and such Account Party, the amount
of such disbursement (if such payment is not sooner effected as may be required
under this Section 2.09 or under other provisions of the Letter of Credit),
together with interest on the amount disbursed from and including the date of
disbursement until payment in full of such disbursed amount at a varying rate
per annum equal to (i) the then applicable interest rate for Base Rate Loans
through the second Business Day after notice of such disbursement is received by
the Borrower and (ii) thereafter, the Post-Default Rate for Base Rate Loans (but
in no event to exceed the Highest Lawful Rate) for the period from and including
the
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third Business Day following the date of such disbursement to and excluding the
date of repayment in full of such disbursed amount. The obligations of the
Borrower and each Account Party under this Agreement with respect to each Letter
of Credit shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable and shall be paid or
performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all
circumstances whatsoever, including, without limitation, but only to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law, the following circumstances: (i) any lack of
validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any Letter of Credit or any of the
other Loan Documents; (ii) any amendment or waiver of (including any default),
or any consent to departure from this Agreement (except to the extent permitted
by any amendment or waiver), any Letter of Credit or any of the other Loan
Documents; (iii) the existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other rights
which the Borrower or any other Account Party may have at any time against the
beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any transferee of any Letter of Credit
(or any Persons for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be
acting), the Issuing Bank, the Agent, any Lender or any other Person, whether in
connection with this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, the other Loan Documents,
the transactions contemplated hereby or any unrelated transaction; (iv) any
statement, certificate, draft, notice or any other document presented under any
Letter of Credit proves to have been forged, fraudulent, insufficient or invalid
in any respect or any statement therein proves to have been untrue or inaccurate
in any respect whatsoever; (v) payment by the Issuing Bank under any Letter of
Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate which appears on its face
to comply, but does not comply, with the terms of such Letter of Credit; and
(vi) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to
any of the foregoing.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to contrary, in the
event that a Letter of Credit is issued on account of an Account Party other
than the Borrower, the Borrower agrees that it shall be the primary obligor with
respect to any reimbursement obligations arising under such Letter of Credit,
and that any payments made by the Borrower to the Agent in respect of such
reimbursement obligations shall be deemed to be a contribution of the amount of
such payment to the capital of the applicable Account Party by the Borrower of a
like amount, followed by a payment of such reimbursement obligations in a like
amount, and will be paid by the Borrower directly to the Agent solely to avoid
the inefficiency of multiple transfers of funds.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the
Borrower nor any Account Party will be liable for payment or performance that
results from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Issuing Bank,
except (i) where the Borrower, any Account Party or any Subsidiary of the
Borrower actually recovers the proceeds for itself or the Issuing Bank of any
payment made by the Issuing Bank in connection with such gross negligence or
willful misconduct or (ii) in cases where the Agent makes payment to the named
beneficiary of a Letter of Credit.
(b) In the event of the occurrence of any Event of Default, a payment or
prepayment pursuant to Section 2.07(b) or upon the Termination Date, whether by
acceleration or otherwise, an amount equal to the LC Exposure (or the excess in
the case of Section 2.07(b)) shall be deemed to be forthwith due and owing by
the Borrower to the Issuing Bank, the Agent and the Lenders as of the date of
any such occurrence; and the Borrower's obligation to pay such amount shall be
absolute and unconditional, without regard to whether any beneficiary of any
such Letter of Credit has attempted to draw down all or a portion of such amount
under the terms of a Letter
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of Credit, and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall not be
subject to any defense or be affected by a right of set-off, counterclaim or
recoupment which the Borrower or any other Account Party may now or hereafter
have against any such beneficiary, the Issuing Bank, the Agent, the Lenders or
any other Person for any reason whatsoever. Such payments shall be held by the
Agent on behalf of the Lenders as cash collateral securing the LC Exposure in an
account or accounts at the Principal Office; and the Borrower hereby grants to
and by its deposit with the Agent grants to the Agent a security interest in
such cash collateral. In the event of any such payment by the Borrower of
amounts contingently owing under outstanding Letters of Credit and in the event
that thereafter drafts or other demands for payment complying with the terms of
such Letters of Credit are not made prior to the respective expiration dates
thereof, the Agent agrees, if no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing
or if no other amounts are outstanding under this Agreement, or the other Loan
Documents, to remit to the Borrower amounts for which the contingent obligations
evidenced by the Letters of Credit have ceased.
(c) If the Issuing Bank shall not have been reimbursed in full for any
payment made by the Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit issued by the Issuing
Bank on the date of such payment, the Issuing Bank shall give the Agent and each
Lender prompt notice thereof (an "LC PAYMENT NOTICE") no later than 12:00 noon
on the Business Day immediately succeeding the date of such payment by the
Issuing Bank. Each Lender severally agrees to purchase a participation in the
reimbursement obligation of the Borrower to the Issuing Bank by paying to the
Agent for the account of the Issuing Bank an amount equal to such Lender's
Percentage Share of such unreimbursed amount paid by the Issuing Bank, plus
interest on such amount at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from
the date of the payment by the Issuing Bank to the date of payment to the
Issuing Bank by such Lender. Each such payment by a Lender shall be made not
later than 3:00 P.M. on the later to occur of (i) the Business Day immediately
following the date of such payment by the Issuing Bank and (ii) the Business Day
on which Lender shall have received an LC Payment Notice from the Issuing Bank.
Each Lender's obligation to make each such payment to the Agent for the account
of the Issuing Bank shall be several and shall not be affected by the occurrence
or continuance of a Default or the failure of any other Lender to make any
payment under this Section 2.09(c). Each Lender further agrees that each such
payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction
whatsoever.
SECTION 2.10. LENDING OFFICES.
The Loans of each Type made by each Lender shall be made and maintained at
such Lender's Applicable Lending Office for Loans of such Type.
ARTICLE III
PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST
SECTION 3.01. REPAYMENT OF LOANS.
(a) REVOLVING CREDIT LOANS. On the Termination Date the Borrower shall
repay the outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Loans and all accrued
and unpaid interest thereon.
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(b) GENERALLY. The Borrower will pay to the Agent, for the account of each
Lender, the principal payments required by this Section 3.01.
SECTION 3.02. INTEREST.
(a) INTEREST RATES. The Borrower will pay to the Agent, for the account of
each Lender or the Swing Line Lender, as appropriate, interest on the unpaid
principal amount of each Loan made by such Lender for the period commencing on
the date such Loan is made to, but excluding, the date such Loan shall be paid
in full, at the following rates per annum:
(i) if such a Loan is a Base Rate Loan, the Base Rate (as in effect
from time to time) plus the Applicable Margin, but in no event to exceed
the Highest Lawful Rate; and
(ii) if such a Loan is a LIBOR Loan, for each Interest Period
relating thereto, the LIBOR Rate for such Loan plus the Applicable Margin
(as in effect from time to time), but in no event to exceed the Highest
Lawful Rate.
(b) POST-DEFAULT RATE. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower will
pay to the Agent, for the account of each Lender interest at the applicable
Post-Default Rate on any principal of any Loan made by such Lender, and (to the
fullest extent permitted by law) on any other amount payable by the Borrower
hereunder or under any Loan Document for the period commencing on the date of an
Event of Default until the same is paid in full or all Events of Default are
cured or waived.
(c) DUE DATES. Accrued interest on Base Rate Loans shall be payable on
each Quarterly Date, and accrued interest on each LIBOR Loan shall be payable on
the last day of the Interest Period therefor and, if such Interest Period is
longer than three months, at three-month intervals following the first day of
such Interest Period, except that interest payable at the Post-Default Rate
shall be payable from time to time on demand and interest on any LIBOR Loan that
is converted into a Base Rate Loan pursuant to Section 5.04 shall be payable on
the date of conversion (but only to the extent so converted). All accrued and
unpaid interest on the Loans shall be paid on the Termination Date.
(d) DETERMINATION OF RATES. Promptly after the determination of any
interest rate provided for herein or any change therein, the Agent shall notify
the Lenders and the Borrower thereof. Each determination by the Agent of an
interest rate or fee hereunder shall, except in cases of manifest error, be
final, conclusive and binding on the parties.
ARTICLE IV
PAYMENTS; PRO RATA TREATMENT; COMPUTATIONS; ETC.
SECTION 4.01. PAYMENTS.
Except to the extent otherwise provided herein, all payments of principal,
interest and other amounts to be made by the Borrower under this Agreement and
the Letter of Credit Agreements shall be made in Dollars, in immediately
available funds, to the Agent at such
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account as the Agent shall specify by notice to the Borrower from time to time,
not later than 11:00 a.m. Atlanta time on the date on which such payments shall
become due (each such payment made after such time on such due date to be deemed
to have been made on the next succeeding Business Day). Such payments shall be
made without (to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law) defense,
set-off or counterclaim. Each payment received by the Agent under this Agreement
for account of a Lender shall be paid promptly to such Lender in immediately
available funds. Except as otherwise provided in the definition of "Interest
Period", if the due date of any payment under this Agreement would otherwise
fall on a day which is not a Business Day such date shall be extended to the
next succeeding Business Day and interest shall be payable for any principal so
extended for the period of such extension. At the time of each payment to the
Agent of any principal of or interest on any borrowing, the Borrower shall
notify the Agent of the Loans to which such payment shall apply. In the absence
of such notice the Agent may specify the Loans to which such payment shall
apply, but to the extent possible such payment or prepayment will be applied
first to Base Rate Loans.
SECTION 4.02. PRO RATA TREATMENT.
Except for Swing Line Loans and to the extent otherwise provided herein,
each Lender agrees that: (i) each borrowing from the Lenders under Section 2.01
and each continuation and conversion under Section 2.02 shall be made from the
Lenders pro rata in accordance with their Percentage Share, each payment of fees
under Section 2.04(a) and Section 2.04(b)(i) shall be made for account of the
Lenders pro rata in accordance with their Percentage Share, and each termination
or reduction of the amount of the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments under
Section 2.03(a) shall be applied to the Commitments of all Lenders, pro rata
according to the amounts of their respective Commitments; (ii) each payment of
principal of Loans by the Borrower shall be made for account of the Lenders pro
rata in accordance with the respective unpaid principal amount of the Loans held
by the Lenders; (iii) each payment of interest on Loans by the Borrower shall be
made for account of the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the amounts of
interest due and payable to the respective Lenders; and (iv) each reimbursement
by the Borrower of disbursements under each Letter of Credit shall be made for
account of the Issuing Bank or, if funded by the Lenders, pro rata for the
account of the Lenders, in accordance with the amounts of reimbursement
obligations due and payable to the respective Lenders.
SECTION 4.03. COMPUTATIONS.
Interest on LIBOR Loans, interest determined by reference to the Federal
Funds Rate and fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and
actual days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day)
occurring in the period for which such interest is payable, unless such
calculation would exceed the Highest Lawful Rate, in which case interest shall
be calculated on the per annum basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case
may be. Interest on Base Rate Loans determined by reference to the Prime Rate
shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be,
and actual days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day)
occurring in the period for which such interest is payable.
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SECTION 4.04. NON-RECEIPT OF FUNDS BY THE AGENT.
Unless the Agent shall have been notified by a Lender or the Borrower
prior to the time on which such notifying party is scheduled to make payment to
the Agent (in the case of a Lender) of the proceeds of a Loan or a payment under
a Letter of Credit to be made by it hereunder or (in the case of the Borrower) a
payment to the Agent for account of one or more of the Lenders hereunder (such
payment being herein called the "REQUIRED PAYMENT"), which notice shall be
effective upon receipt, that it does not intend to make the Required Payment to
the Agent, the Agent may assume that the Required Payment has been made and may,
in reliance upon such assumption (but shall not be required to), make the amount
thereof available to the intended recipient(s) on such date and, if such Lender
or the Borrower (as the case may be) has not in fact made the Required Payment
to the Agent, the recipient(s) of such payment shall, on demand, repay to the
Agent the amount so made available together with interest thereon in respect of
each day during the period commencing on the date such amount was so made
available by the Agent until, but excluding, the date the Agent recovers such
amount at a rate per annum which, for any Lender as recipient, will be equal to
the Federal Funds Rate, and for the Borrower as recipient, will be equal to the
Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin.
SECTION 4.05. SET-OFF, SHARING OF PAYMENTS, ETC.
(a) The Borrower agrees that, in addition to (and without limitation of)
any right of set-off, bankers' lien or counterclaim a Lender may otherwise have,
each Lender shall have the right and be entitled (after consultation with the
Agent), at its option, to offset balances held by it or by any of its Affiliates
for account of the Borrower, any Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary at any
of its offices, in Dollars or in any other currency, against any principal of or
interest on any of such Lender's Loans, or any other amount payable to such
Lender hereunder, which is not paid when due (regardless of whether such
balances are then due to the Borrower), in which case it shall promptly notify
the Borrower and the Agent thereof, provided that such Lender's failure to give
such notice shall not affect the validity thereof.
(b) If any Lender shall obtain payment of any principal of or interest on
any Loan made by it to the Borrower under this Agreement (or reimbursement as to
any Letter of Credit) through the exercise of any right of set-off, banker's
lien or counterclaim or similar right or otherwise, and, as a result of such
payment, such Lender shall have received a greater percentage of the principal
or interest (or reimbursement) then due hereunder by the Borrower to such Lender
than the percentage received by any other Lenders, it shall promptly (i) notify
the Agent and each other Lender thereof and (ii) purchase from such other
Lenders participations in (or, if and to the extent specified by such Lender,
direct interests in) the Loans (or participations in Letters of Credit) made by
such other Lenders (or in interest due thereon, as the case may be) in such
amounts, and make such other adjustments from time to time as shall be
equitable, to the end that all the Lenders shall share the benefit of such
excess payment (net of any expenses which may be incurred by such Lender in
obtaining or preserving such excess payment) pro rata in accordance with the
unpaid principal and/or interest on the Loans held by each of the Lenders (or
reimbursements of Letters of Credit). To such end all the Lenders shall make
appropriate adjustments among themselves (by the resale of participations sold
or otherwise) if such payment is rescinded or must otherwise be restored. The
Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation (or direct
interest) in the Loans made by other Lenders (or in interest due thereon,
33
as the case may be) may exercise all rights of set-off, banker's lien,
counterclaim or similar rights with respect to such participation as fully as if
such Lender were a direct holder of Loans (or Letters of Credit) in the amount
of such participation. Nothing contained herein shall require any Lender to
exercise any such right or shall affect the right of any Lender to exercise, and
retain the benefits of exercising, any such right with respect to any other
indebtedness or obligation of the Borrower. If under any applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency or other similar law, any Lender receives a secured claim in lieu of
a set-off to which this Section 4.05 applies, such Lender shall, to the extent
practicable, exercise its rights in respect of such secured claim in a manner
consistent with the rights of the Lenders entitled under this Section 4.05 to
share the benefits of any recovery on such secured claim.
SECTION 4.06. TAXES.
(a) PAYMENTS FREE AND CLEAR. Any and all payments by the Borrower
hereunder shall be made, in accordance with Section 4.01, free and clear of and
without deduction for any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts,
deductions, charges or withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto,
excluding, in the case of each Lender, the Issuing Bank and the Agent, taxes
imposed on its income, and franchise or similar taxes imposed on it, by (i) any
jurisdiction (or political subdivision thereof) of which the Agent, the Issuing
Bank or such Lender, as the case may be, is a citizen or resident or in which
such Lender has an Applicable Lending Office, (ii) the jurisdiction (or any
political subdivision thereof) in which the Agent, the Issuing Bank or such
Lender is organized, or (iii) any jurisdiction (or political subdivision
thereof) in which such Lender, the Issuing Bank or the Agent is presently doing
business which taxes are imposed solely as a result of doing business in such
jurisdiction (all such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges,
withholdings and liabilities being hereinafter referred to as "TAXES"). If the
Borrower shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any
sum payable hereunder to the Lenders, the Issuing Bank or the Agent (i) the sum
payable shall be increased by the amount necessary so that after making all
required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable
under this Section 4.06) such Lender, the Issuing Bank or the Agent (as the case
may be) shall receive an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no
such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and
(iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxing
authority or other Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.
(b) OTHER TAXES. In addition, to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law, the Borrower agrees to pay any present or future stamp or
documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar
levies that arise from any payment made hereunder or from the execution,
delivery or registration of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement, any
Assignment Agreement or any other Loan Document (hereinafter referred to as
"OTHER TAXES").
(c) INDEMNIFICATION. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW,
THE BORROWER WILL INDEMNIFY EACH LENDER AND THE ISSUING BANK AND THE AGENT FOR
THE FULL AMOUNT OF TAXES (AS DEFINED ABOVE) AND OTHER TAXES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
LIMITED TO, ANY TAXES OR OTHER TAXES IMPOSED BY ANY GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY ON
AMOUNTS PAYABLE UNDER THIS SECTION 4.06) PAID BY SUCH LENDER, THE ISSUING BANK
OR THE AGENT (ON THEIR BEHALF OR ON BEHALF OF ANY LENDER), AS THE
34
CASE MAY BE, AND ANY LIABILITY (INCLUDING PENALTIES, INTEREST AND
EXPENSES) ARISING THEREFROM OR WITH RESPECT THERETO, WHETHER OR NOT SUCH TAXES
OR OTHER TAXES WERE CORRECTLY OR LEGALLY ASSERTED UNLESS THE PAYMENT OF SUCH
TAXES WAS NOT CORRECTLY OR LEGALLY ASSERTED AND SUCH LENDER'S PAYMENT OF SUCH
TAXES OR OTHER TAXES WAS THE RESULT OF ITS GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL
MISCONDUCT. ANY PAYMENT PURSUANT TO SUCH INDEMNIFICATION SHALL BE MADE WITHIN
THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE ANY LENDER, THE ISSUING BANK OR THE AGENT, AS
THE CASE MAY BE, MAKES WRITTEN DEMAND THEREFOR. IF ANY LENDER OR THE AGENT
RECEIVES A REFUND OR CREDIT IN RESPECT OF ANY TAXES OR OTHER TAXES FOR WHICH
SUCH LENDER, ISSUING BANK OR THE AGENT HAS RECEIVED PAYMENT FROM THE BORROWER IT
SHALL PROMPTLY NOTIFY THE BORROWER OF SUCH REFUND OR CREDIT AND SHALL, IF NO
EVENT OF DEFAULT HAS OCCURRED AND IS CONTINUING, WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER
RECEIPT OF A REQUEST BY THE BORROWER (OR PROMPTLY UPON RECEIPT, IF THE BORROWER
HAS REQUESTED APPLICATION FOR SUCH REFUND OR CREDIT PURSUANT HERETO), PAY AN
AMOUNT EQUAL TO SUCH REFUND OR CREDIT TO THE BORROWER WITHOUT INTEREST (BUT WITH
ANY INTEREST SO REFUNDED OR CREDITED), PROVIDED THAT THE BORROWER, UPON THE
REQUEST OF SUCH LENDER, THE ISSUING BANK OR THE AGENT, AGREES TO RETURN SUCH
REFUND OR CREDIT (PLUS PENALTIES, INTEREST OR OTHER CHARGES) TO SUCH LENDER OR
THE AGENT IN THE EVENT SUCH LENDER OR THE AGENT IS REQUIRED TO REPAY SUCH REFUND
OR CREDIT.
(d) FOREIGN LENDERS, PARTICIPANTS AND ASSIGNEES.
Each Lender, participant (by accepting a participation interest under this
Agreement) and assignee (by executing an Assignment Agreement) that is not
organized under the laws of the United States of America or one of its states
(1) represents to the Agent and the Borrower that (A) no taxes are required to
be withheld by the Agent or the Borrower with respect to any payments to be made
to it hereunder and (B) it has furnished to the Agent and the Borrower two duly
completed copies of either U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI
or any other form acceptable to the Agent and the Borrower that entitles it to a
complete exemption from U.S. federal withholding tax on all interest or fee
payments under the Loan Documents, and (2) covenants to (A) provide the Agent
and the Borrower a new Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI or other form acceptable to the
Agent and the Borrower upon the expiration or obsolescence according to
Governmental Requirement of any previously delivered form, duly executed and
completed by it, entitling it to a complete exemption from U.S. federal
withholding tax on all interest and fee payments under the Loan Documents, and
(B) comply from time to time with all Governmental Requirements with regard to
the withholding tax exemption. If any of the foregoing is not true at any time
or the applicable forms are not provided, then the Borrower and the Agent
(without duplication), notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.06,
may deduct and withhold from interest and fee payments under the Loan Documents
any tax at the maximum rate under the Code or other applicable Governmental
Requirement, and amounts so deducted and withheld shall be treated as paid to
that Lender, participant or assignee, as the case may be, for all purposes under
the Loan Documents.
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ARTICLE V
YIELD PROTECTION
SECTION 5.01. ADDITIONAL COSTS.
(a) LIBOR REGULATIONS, ETC. The Borrower shall pay directly to each Lender
from time to time such amounts as such Lender may reasonably determine to be
necessary to compensate such Lender for any costs that it determines are
attributable to its making or maintaining of any LIBOR Loans or issuing or
participating in Letters of Credit hereunder or its obligation to make any LIBOR
Loans or issue or participate in any Letters of Credit hereunder, or any
reduction in any amount receivable by such Lender hereunder in respect of any of
such LIBOR Loans, Letters of Credit or such obligation (such increases in costs
and reductions in amounts receivable being herein called "ADDITIONAL COSTS"),
resulting from any Regulatory Change that: (i) changes the basis of taxation of
any amounts payable to such Lender under this Agreement in respect of any of
such LIBOR Loans or Letters of Credit (other than taxes imposed on the overall
net income of such Lender or of its Applicable Lending Office for any of such
LIBOR Loans by the jurisdiction in which such Lender has its principal office or
Applicable Lending Office); or (ii) imposes or modifies any reserve, special
deposit, minimum capital, capital ratio or similar requirements relating to any
extensions of credit or other assets of, or any deposits with or other
liabilities of such Lender, or the Commitment or Loans of such Lender or the
London interbank market; or (iii) imposes any other condition affecting this
Agreement (or any of such extensions of credit or liabilities) or such Lender's
Commitment or Loans. Each Lender will notify the Agent and the Borrower of any
event occurring after the date hereof that will entitle such Lender to
compensation pursuant to this Section 5.01(a) as promptly as practicable after
it obtains knowledge thereof and determines to request such compensation, and
will designate a different Applicable Lending Office for the Loans of such
Lender affected by such event if such designation will avoid the need for, or
reduce the amount of, such compensation and will not, in the sole opinion of
such Lender, be disadvantageous to such Lender, provided that such Lender shall
have no obligation to so designate an Applicable Lending Office located in the
United States. If any Lender requests compensation from the Borrower under this
Section 5.01(a), the Borrower may, by notice to such Lender, suspend the
obligation of such Lender to make additional Loans of the Type with respect to
which such compensation is requested until the Regulatory Change giving rise to
such request ceases to be in effect (in which case the provisions of Section
5.04 shall be applicable).
(b) CAPITAL ADEQUACY. Without limiting the effect of the foregoing
provisions of this Section 5.01 (but without duplication), the Borrower shall
pay directly to any Lender from time to time on request such amounts as such
Lender may reasonably determine to be necessary to compensate such Lender or its
parent or holding company for any costs which it determines are attributable to
the maintenance by such Lender or its parent or holding company (or any
Applicable Lending Office), pursuant to any Governmental Requirement following
any Regulatory Change, of capital in respect of its Commitment, its Loans, or
any interest held by it in any Letter of Credit, such compensation to include,
without limitation, an amount equal to any reduction of the rate of return on
assets or equity of such Lender or its parent or holding company (or any
Applicable Lending Office) to a level below that which such Lender or its parent
or holding company (or any Applicable Lending Office) could have achieved but
for such Governmental Requirement. Such Lender will notify the Borrower that it
is entitled to
36
compensation pursuant to this Section 5.01(b) as promptly as practicable after
it determines to request such compensation.
(c) COMPENSATION PROCEDURE. Any Lender notifying the Borrower of the
incurrence of additional costs under this Section 5.01 shall in such notice to
the Borrower and the Agent set forth in reasonable detail the basis and amount
of its request for compensation. Determinations and allocations by each Lender
for purposes of this Section 5.01 of the effect of any Regulatory Change
pursuant to Section 5.01(a), or of the effect of capital maintained pursuant to
Section 5.01(b), on its costs or rate of return of maintaining Loans or its
obligation to make Loans or issue Letters of Credit, or on amounts receivable by
it in respect of Loans or Letters of Credit, and of the amounts required to
compensate such Lender under this Section 5.01, shall be conclusive and binding
for all purposes, provided that such determinations and allocations are made on
a reasonable basis. Any request for additional compensation under this Section
5.01 shall be paid by the Borrower within 30 days of the receipt by the Borrower
of the notice described in this Section 5.01(c).
(d) The Lenders shall determine the applicability of, and the amount due
under, this Section 5.01 consistent with the manner in which they apply similar
provisions and calculate similar amounts payable to them by other borrowers
having in their credit agreements provisions comparable to this Section.
SECTION 5.02. BASIS UNAVAILABLE OR INADEQUATE FOR LIBOR RATE.
If, on or before any date when a LIBOR Rate is to be determined, the Agent
reasonably determines that the basis for determining the applicable rate is not
available or any Lender reasonably determines that the resulting rate does not
accurately reflect the cost to that Lender of making or converting Loans at that
rate for the applicable Interest Period, then the Agent shall promptly notify
the Borrower and the Lenders of that determination (which is conclusive and
binding on the Borrower absent manifest error) and the applicable Loans shall
bear interest at the sum of the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin. Until the
Agent notifies the Borrower that those circumstances no longer exist, the
Lenders' commitments under this Agreement to make, or to convert to, LIBOR Rate
Loans, as the case may be, are suspended.
SECTION 5.03. ILLEGALITY.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event that
it becomes unlawful for any Lender or its Applicable Lending Office to honor its
obligation to make or maintain LIBOR Loans hereunder, then such Lender shall
promptly notify the Borrower thereof and such Lender's obligation to make LIBOR
Loans shall be suspended until such time as such Lender may again make and
maintain LIBOR Loans (in which case the provisions of Section 5.04 shall be
applicable).
SECTION 5.04. BASE RATE LOANS
If the obligation of any Lender to make LIBOR Loans shall be suspended
pursuant to Sections 5.01, 5.02 or 5.03 ("AFFECTED LOANS"), all Affected Loans
that would otherwise be made by such Lender shall be made instead as Base Rate
Loans (and, if an event referred to in Section 5.01(b) or Section 5.03 has
occurred and such Lender so requests by notice to the
37
Borrower, all Affected Loans of such Lender then outstanding shall be
automatically converted into Base Rate Loans on the date specified by such
Lender in such notice) and, to the extent that Affected Loans are so made as (or
converted into) Base Rate Loans, all payments of principal that would otherwise
be applied to such Lender's Affected Loans shall be applied instead to its Base
Rate Loans.
SECTION 5.05. COMPENSATION.
The Borrower shall pay to each Lender within 30 days of receipt of written
request of such Lender (which request shall set forth, in reasonable detail, the
basis for requesting such amounts and which shall be conclusive and binding for
all purposes provided that such determinations are made on a reasonable basis),
such amounts as shall compensate it for any loss, cost, expense or liability
which such Lender reasonably determines are attributable to:
(i) any payment, prepayment or conversion of a LIBOR Loan properly
made by such Lender or the Borrower for any reason (including, without
limitation, the acceleration of the Loans pursuant to Section 10.01) on a
date other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan; or
(ii) any failure by the Borrower for any reason (including but not
limited to, the failure of any of the conditions precedent specified in
Article VI to be satisfied) to borrow, continue or convert a LIBOR Loan
from such Lender on the date for such borrowing, continuation or
conversion specified in the relevant notice given pursuant to Section
2.02(c).
Without limiting the effect of the preceding sentence, such compensation shall
include an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the amount of interest
which would have accrued on the principal amount so paid, prepaid or converted
or not borrowed for the period from the date of such payment, prepayment or
conversion or failure to borrow to the last day of the Interest Period for such
Loan (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, the Interest Period for such Loan
which would have commenced on the date specified for such borrowing) at the
applicable rate of interest for such Loan provided for herein over (B) the
interest component of the amount such Lender would have bid in the London
interbank market for Dollar deposits of leading banks in amounts comparable to
such principal amount and with maturities comparable to such period (as
reasonably determined by such Lender).
SECTION 5.06. REPLACEMENT LENDERS.
(a) If any Lender has notified the Borrower and the Agent of its incurring
additional costs under Section 5.01 or has required the Borrower to make
payments for Taxes under Section 4.06, then the Borrower may, unless such Lender
has notified the Borrower and the Agent that the circumstances giving rise to
such notice no longer apply, terminate, in whole but not in part, the Commitment
of any Lender (other than the Agent) (the "TERMINATED LENDER") at any time upon
five Business Days' prior written notice to the Terminated Lender and the Agent
(such notice referred to herein as a "NOTICE OF TERMINATION").
(b) In order to effect the termination of the Commitment of the Terminated
Lender, the Borrower shall: (i) obtain an agreement with one or more Lenders to
increase their
38
Commitment or Commitments and/or (ii) request any one or more other banking
institutions to become parties to this Agreement in place and instead of such
Terminated Lender and agree to accept a Commitment or Commitments; provided,
however, that such one or more other banking institutions are reasonably
acceptable to the Agent and each Issuing Bank and become parties by executing an
Assignment Agreement (the Lenders or other banking institutions that agree to
accept in whole or in part the Commitment of the Terminated Lender being
referred to herein as the "REPLACEMENT LENDERS"), such that the aggregate
increased and/or accepted Commitments of the Replacement Lenders under clauses
(i) and (ii) above equal the Commitment of the Terminated Lender.
(c) The Notice of Termination shall include the name of the Terminated
Lender, the date the termination will occur (the "LENDER TERMINATION DATE"), and
the Replacement Lender or Replacement Lenders to which the Terminated Lender
will assign its Commitment and, if there will be more than one Replacement
Lender, the portion of the Terminated Lender's Commitment to be assigned to each
Replacement Lender.
(d) On the Lender Termination Date, (i) the Terminated Lender shall by
execution and delivery of an Assignment Agreement assign at full face value its
Commitment to the Replacement Lender or Replacement Lenders (pro rata, if there
is more than one Replacement Lender, in proportion to the portion of the
Terminated Lender's Commitment to be assigned to each Replacement Lender)
indicated in the Notice of Termination and shall assign to the Replacement
Lender or Replacement Lenders each of its Loans (if any) then outstanding and
participation interests in Letters of Credit (if any) then outstanding pro rata
as aforesaid) and (ii) the Replacement Lender or Replacement Lenders will
thereupon (pro rata as aforesaid) succeed to and be substituted in all respects
for the Terminated Lender with like effect as if becoming a Lender pursuant to
the terms of Section 12.06(b), and the Terminated Lender will have the rights
and benefits of an assignor under Section 12.06(b). To the extent not in
conflict, the terms of Section 12.06(b) shall supplement the provisions of this
Section 5.06(d). For each assignment made under this Section 5.06, the
Replacement Lender shall pay to the Agent the processing fee provided for in
Section 12.06(b). The Borrower will be responsible for the payment to the
Terminated Lender, all amounts payable under Section 4.06 and Section 5.01,
together with any breakage costs associated with termination and Replacement
Lenders, as set forth in Section 5.05.
ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
SECTION 6.01. INITIAL FUNDING.
The obligation of the Lenders to make the Initial Funding is subject to,
on or before the date of the Initial Funding, the receipt by the Lenders and
Agent of (i) all fees and expenses that are due and payable as of such date and
(ii) the following documents, each of which shall be satisfactory to the Agent
in form and substance:
(a) A certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
General Partner and each Guarantor setting forth (i) resolutions of its board of
directors with respect to the authorization of the Borrower and each Guarantor
to execute and deliver the Loan Documents to
39
which such Person is a party and to enter into the transactions contemplated in
those documents, (ii) the officers of the General Partner and each Guarantor (y)
who are authorized to sign the Loan Documents to which such Person is a party
and (z) who will, until replaced by another officer or officers duly authorized
for that purpose, act as its representatives for the purposes of signing
documents and giving notices and other communications in connection with this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, (iii) specimen signatures of
the authorized officers of the Borrower and each Guarantor, (iv) the articles or
certificate of incorporation and bylaws or the partnership agreement, as
applicable, of the General Partner and each Guarantor and the Borrower
Partnership Agreement, each certified as being true and complete. The Agent and
the Lenders may conclusively rely on such certificates until the Agent receives
notice in writing from the Borrower or such Guarantor, as the case may be, to
the contrary, and (v) copies of all governmental approvals required in
connection with the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents by
each party thereto, other than the Agent, the Lenders and any Issuing Bank.
(b) Certificates of the appropriate state agencies with respect to the
existence, qualification and good standing, as appropriate, of the Borrower,
each Guarantor and the General Partner.
(c) A Compliance Certificate for the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2004,
duly and properly executed by a Responsible Officer and dated as of the date of
the Initial Funding.
(d) A promissory note payable to the order of each Lender that requests
one pursuant to Section 2.06.
(e) The Loan Documents, duly completed and executed in sufficient number
of counterparts as reasonably requested by the Agent.
(f) Opinions of Xxxxxx, Xxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP, counsel to the Borrower and
the Guarantors and certain local counsel to the Borrower and the Guarantors,
each in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, as to such matters
incident to the transactions herein contemplated as the Agent may reasonably
request.
(g) A certificate of insurance coverage of the Borrower evidencing that
the Borrower is carrying insurance in accordance with Section 7.19.
(h) Evidence that, upon the application of the proceeds of the Initial
Funding, the commitments of the lenders under the Existing Credit Agreements
shall be terminated and the obligations of the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries under the Existing Credit Agreements shall be paid in full.
(i) Such other documents as the Agent or any Lender or special counsel to
the Agent may reasonably request.
SECTION 6.02. INITIAL AND SUBSEQUENT LOANS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT.
The obligation of the Lenders to make Loans to the Borrower upon the
occasion of each borrowing hereunder and to issue, renew, extend or reissue
Letters of Credit for the account of
40
the Borrower (including the Initial Funding) is subject to the further
conditions precedent that, as of the date of such Loans and after giving effect
thereto:
(a) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and
(b) the representations and warranties made by the Borrower in Article VII
and by the Borrower and each Guarantor in any other Loan Document shall be true
on and as of the date of the making of such Loans or issuance, renewal,
extension or reissuance of a Letter of Credit with the same force and effect as
if made on and as of such date and following such new borrowing, except to the
extent such representations and warranties are expressly limited to an earlier
date or the Required Lenders may expressly consent in writing to the contrary.
Each request for a borrowing or issuance, renewal, extension or reissuance
of a Letter of Credit by the Borrower hereunder shall constitute a certification
by the Borrower to the effect set forth in Section 6.02(b) (both as of the date
of such notice and immediately following such borrowing or issuance, renewal,
extension or reissuance of a Letter of Credit).
SECTION 6.03. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF LENDERS.
All conditions precedent to the obligations of the Lenders to make any
Loan and of the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit are imposed hereby
solely for the benefit of the Lenders and the Issuing Bank, and no other Person
may require satisfaction of any such condition precedent or be entitled to
assume that the Lenders will refuse to make any Loan or that the Issuing Bank
will refuse to issue a Letter of Credit in the absence of strict compliance with
such conditions precedent.
SECTION 6.04. NO WAIVER.
No waiver of any condition precedent shall preclude the Agent or the
Lenders from requiring such condition to be met prior to making any subsequent
Loan or preclude the Lenders from thereafter declaring that the failure of the
Borrower to satisfy such condition precedent constitutes a Default.
ARTICLE VII
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
The Borrower represents and warrants to the Agent and the Lenders that
(each representation and warranty herein is given as of the date hereof and
shall be deemed repeated and reaffirmed on the dates of each borrowing and
issuance, renewal, extension or reissuance of a Letter of Credit as provided in
Section 6.02):
SECTION 7.01. EXISTENCE.
Each of the Borrower, the General Partner, each Guarantor, and each
Restricted Subsidiary: (i) is duly organized, legally existing and in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation; (ii) has all
requisite power, and has all material governmental licenses, authorizations,
consents and approvals necessary to own its assets and carry on its
41
business as now being or as proposed to be conducted and, with respect to
Restricted Subsidiaries, where a failure to have such items would have a
Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) is qualified to do business in all
jurisdictions in which the nature of the business conducted by it makes such
qualification necessary and where failure so to qualify would have a Material
Adverse Effect.
SECTION 7.02. FINANCIAL CONDITION.
The audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries as at December 31, 2003 and the related consolidated
statement of income, equity and cash flow of the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended on said date, with the opinion thereon of
Deloitte & Touche LLP heretofore furnished to each of the Lenders and the
unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries as at March 31, 2004 and the related consolidated statements of
income, equity and cash flow of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries
for the six month period ended on such date heretofore furnished to the Agent,
are complete and correct and fairly present in all material respects the
consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries as at said dates and the results of its operations for the fiscal
year and the six month period ending on said dates, all in accordance with GAAP,
as applied on a consistent basis (subject, in the case of the interim financial
statements, to normal year-end adjustments and, the lack of footnotes). Neither
the Borrower nor any Subsidiary of the Borrower has on the date hereof any
material Debt, contingent liabilities, liabilities for taxes, unusual forward or
long-term commitments or unrealized or anticipated losses from any unfavorable
commitments, except as referred to or reflected or provided for in the Financial
Statements or in Schedule 7.02. Since December 31, 2003, there has been no
change or event having a Material Adverse Effect that is continuing. Since the
date of the Financial Statements, neither the business nor the Properties (taken
as a whole) of the Borrower, any Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary have
been materially and adversely affected as a result of any fire, explosion,
earthquake, flood, drought, windstorm, accident, strike or other labor
disturbance, embargo, requisition or taking of Property or cancellation of
contracts, permits or concessions by any Governmental Authority, riot,
activities of armed forces or acts of God or of any public enemy which is
continuing.
SECTION 7.03. LITIGATION.
Except as disclosed to the Lenders in Schedule 7.03 hereto or as disclosed
in the Borrower's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 filed with the
SEC (a true and complete copy of which has been delivered to the Agent), as of
the date hereof there is no litigation, legal, administrative or arbitral
proceeding, investigation or other action of any nature pending or, to the
knowledge of the Borrower threatened against or affecting the Borrower, the
General Partner or any Restricted Subsidiary that involves the possibility of
any judgment or liability against the Borrower, the Guarantor, the General
Partner or any Restricted Subsidiary not fully covered by insurance (except for
normal deductibles), and which, if determined adversely, would have a Material
Adverse Effect.
42
SECTION 7.04. NO BREACH.
Neither the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents, nor compliance
with the terms and provisions hereof will conflict with or result in a breach
of, or require any consent which has not been obtained as of the date hereof
under, the respective partnership agreements or other organizational documents
of the Borrower, the General Partner or any Restricted Subsidiary, or any
Governmental Requirement or any agreement or instrument to which the Borrower,
the Guarantor, the General Partner or any Restricted Subsidiary is a party or by
which it is bound or to which it or its Properties are subject, or constitute a
default under any such agreement or instrument, or result in the creation or
imposition of any Lien upon any of the revenues or assets of the Borrower, the
Guarantor, the General Partner or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to the
terms of any such agreement or instrument, other than the Liens created by the
Loan Documents.
SECTION 7.05. AUTHORITY.
Each of the Borrower, each Guarantor, the General Partner and each
Restricted Subsidiary has all necessary power and authority to execute, deliver
and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party; and
the execution, delivery and performance by each of the Borrower, each Guarantor,
the General Partner and each Restricted Subsidiary of the Loan Documents to
which it is a party, have been duly authorized by all necessary action on its
part; and each Loan Document to which the Borrower, any Guarantor, the General
Partner or any Restricted Subsidiary is a party, constitutes the legal, valid
and binding obligation of the Borrower, such Guarantor, the General Partner or
such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, and is enforceable in accordance
with its terms, except as limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws of general application
relating to or affecting creditors' rights and general principles of equity.
SECTION 7.06. APPROVALS.
No authorizations, approvals or consents of, and no filings or
registrations with, any Governmental Authority are necessary for the execution,
delivery or performance by the Borrower, the Guarantors, the General Partner or
the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Loan Documents or for the validity or
enforceability thereof, except for (i) the order of the Pennsylvania Public
Utility Commission, in Docket No. S-00041005, registering an Abbreviated
Securities Certificate authorizing Buckeye Pipe Line Company, L.P. to execute
and deliver the Guaranty and (iii) the order of the Pennsylvania Public Utility
Commission, in Docket No. S-00041006, registering a Securities Certificate
authorizing Laurel Pipe Line Company, L.P. to execute and deliver the Guaranty,
each of which has been duly filed or obtained, and is final and in full force
and effect.
SECTION 7.07. USE OF LOANS.
The proceeds of the Loans and Letters of Credit shall be used to pay-off
certain outstanding Debt and for working capital, capital expenditures,
acquisitions and general partnership purposes. The Borrower is not engaged
principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending
credit for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or
43
ultimate, of buying or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation
T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) and no part
of the proceeds of any Loan hereunder will be used to buy or carry any margin
stock.
SECTION 7.08. ERISA.
(a) The Borrower, each Subsidiary of the Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate
have complied in all material respects with ERISA and, where applicable, the
Code regarding each Plan.
(b) Each Plan is, and has been, maintained in substantial compliance with
ERISA and, where applicable, the Code.
(c) To the knowledge of the Borrower, no act, omission or transaction has
occurred that could result in imposition on the Borrower, any Subsidiary of the
Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate (whether directly or indirectly) of (i) either a
civil penalty assessed pursuant to Section 502(c), (i) or (l) of ERISA or a tax
imposed pursuant to Chapter 43 of Subtitle D of the Code or (ii) breach of
fiduciary duty liability damages under section 409 of ERISA.
(d) No Plan (other than a defined contribution plan) or any trust created
under any such Plan has been terminated since December 31, 1985, other than the
Pension Plan for Buckeye Pipe Line Company, which was terminated on December 31,
1985. Upon the termination of the Pension Plan for Buckeye Pipe Line Company,
distributions were made or annuities purchased for each participant under such
plan and Borrower received a favorable determination letter from the Internal
Revenue Service with respect to the termination. No material liability to the
PBGC (other than for the payment of current premiums which are not past due) by
the Borrower, any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate has been or
is expected by the Borrower, any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate to be incurred with respect to any Plan. No ERISA Event with respect
to any Plan has occurred or is reasonably expected to be incurred.
(e) Full payment when due has been made of all amounts which the Borrower,
any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is required under the
terms of each Plan or applicable law to have paid as contributions to such Plan,
and no accumulated funding deficiency (as defined in section 302 of ERISA and
section 412 of the Code), whether or not waived, exists with respect to any
Plan.
(f) The actuarial present value of the benefit liabilities under all Plans
that are subject to Title IV of ERISA do not, as of the end of the Borrower's
most recently ended fiscal year, exceed the current value of the assets
(computed on a plan termination basis in accordance with Title IV of ERISA) of
such Plans allocable to such benefit liabilities by more than $2,000,000 in the
aggregate. The term "actuarial present value of the benefit liabilities" shall
have the meaning specified in section 4041 of ERISA.
(g) None of the Borrower, any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate sponsors, maintains, or contributes to an employee welfare benefit
plan, as defined in section 3(l) of ERISA, including, without limitation, any
such plan maintained to provide benefits to former
44
employees of such entities, that may not be terminated by the Borrower, such
Subsidiary or such ERISA Affiliate in its sole discretion at any time without
any material liability.
(h) None of the Borrower, any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate sponsors, maintains or contributes to, or has at any time in the
preceding six calendar years, sponsored, maintained or contributed to, any
Multiemployer Plan.
(i) Neither the Borrower, any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate is required to provide security under section 401(a)(29) of the Code
due to a Plan amendment that results in an increase in current liability for the
Plan.
SECTION 7.09. TAXES.
Each of the Borrower, the Guarantors, the General Partner and the
Restricted Subsidiaries has filed all United States Federal income tax returns
and all other tax returns which are required to be filed by them and have paid
all material taxes due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment
received by the Borrower, any Guarantor, the General Partner or any Restricted
Subsidiary. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Borrower, the
Guarantors, the General Partner and the Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of
taxes and other governmental charges are, in the opinion of the Borrower,
adequate. No tax lien has been filed and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, no
claim is being asserted with respect to any such tax, fee or other charge.
SECTION 7.10. TITLES, ETC.
(a) Except as set out in Schedule 7.10, each of the Borrower, the
Guarantors and the Restricted Subsidiaries has good and defensible title to its
material (individually or in the aggregate) Properties, free and clear of all
Liens, except Liens permitted by Section 9.02.
(b) All leases and agreements necessary for the conduct of the business of
the Borrower, the Guarantors and the Restricted Subsidiaries are valid and
subsisting, in full force and effect, except as could not reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect, and there exists no default or event or
circumstance which with the giving of notice or the passage of time or both
would give rise to a default under any such lease or leases, which would affect
in any material respect the conduct of the business of the Borrower, the
Guarantors or the Restricted Subsidiaries.
(c) The rights, Properties and other assets presently owned, leased or
licensed by the Borrower, the Guarantors and the Restricted Subsidiaries
including, without limitation, all easements and rights of way, include all
rights, Properties and other assets necessary to permit the Borrower, each
Guarantor and each Restricted Subsidiary to conduct its business in all material
respects in the same manner as its business has been conducted prior to the date
hereof.
(d) All of the assets and Properties of the Borrower, the Guarantors and
the Restricted Subsidiaries that are reasonably necessary for the operation of
their business are in all material respects in good working condition and are
maintained in accordance with prudent business standards.
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SECTION 7.11. NO MATERIAL MISSTATEMENTS.
No written information, statement, exhibit, certificate, document or
report furnished to the Agent and the Lenders (or any of them) by the Borrower,
any Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the negotiation of
this Agreement contained any material misstatement of fact or omitted to state a
material fact or any fact necessary to make the statement contained therein not
materially misleading in the light of the circumstances in which made. There is
no fact peculiar to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that has a
Material Adverse Effect or in the future is reasonably likely to have (so far as
the Borrower can now foresee) a Material Adverse Effect and that has not been
set forth in this Agreement or the other documents, certificates and statements
furnished to the Agent by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary prior to, as of, the date hereof in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby.
SECTION 7.12. INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT.
None of the Borrower, any Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary is an
"investment company" or a company "controlled" by an "investment company,"
within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
SECTION 7.13. PUBLIC UTILITY HOLDING COMPANY ACT.
None of the Borrower, any Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary is a
"holding company," or a "subsidiary company" of a "holding company," or an
"affiliate" of a "holding company" or of a "subsidiary company" of a "holding
company," or a "public utility" within the meaning of the Public Utility Holding
Company Act of 1935, as amended.
SECTION 7.14. SUBSIDIARIES.
Except as set forth on Schedule 7.14 or otherwise as disclosed to the
Agent in writing, the Borrower does not have any Subsidiaries.
SECTION 7.15. LOCATION OF BUSINESS AND OFFICES.
The Borrower's principal place of business and chief executive office is
located at the address stated on the signature page of this Agreement or as
otherwise disclosed in writing to the Agent. The principal place of business and
chief executive office of each Restricted Subsidiary are located at the
addresses stated on Schedule 7.14 or as otherwise disclosed in writing to the
Agent.
SECTION 7.16. DEFAULTS.
None of the Borrower, any Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary is in
default nor has any event or circumstance occurred which, but for the expiration
of any applicable grace period or the giving of notice, or both, would
constitute a default under any material agreement or instrument to which it is a
party or by which it is bound which default would have a Material Adverse
Effect. No Default hereunder has occurred and is continuing.
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SECTION 7.17. ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.
Except (i) as provided in Schedule 7.17, (ii) as disclosed in the Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 filed by the Borrower with the SEC, or
(iii) as would not have a Material Adverse Effect (or with respect to (c), (d)
and (e) below, where the failure to take such actions would not have a Material
Adverse Effect):
(a) Neither any Property of the Borrower, any Guarantor or any Restricted
Subsidiary nor the operations conducted thereon violate any order or requirement
of any court or Governmental Authority or any Environmental Laws;
(b) Without limitation of clause (a) above, no Property of the Borrower,
any Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary nor the operations currently
conducted thereon or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, by any prior owner
or operator of such Property or operation, are in violation of or subject to any
existing, pending or threatened action, suit, investigation, inquiry or
proceeding by or before any court or Governmental Authority or to any remedial
obligations under Environmental Laws;
(c) All notices, permits, licenses or similar authorizations, if any,
required to be obtained or filed in connection with the operation or use of any
and all Property of the Borrower, each Guarantor and each Restricted Subsidiary,
including without limitation past or present treatment, storage, disposal or
release of a hazardous substance, hazardous waste or solid waste into the
environment, have been duly obtained or filed, and each of the Borrower, the
Guarantors and the Restricted Subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and
conditions of all such notices, permits, licenses and similar authorizations;
(d) All hazardous substances, hazardous waste, solid waste, and oil and
gas exploration and production wastes, if any, generated at any and all Property
of the Borrower, any Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary have in the past
been transported, treated and disposed of in accordance with Environmental Laws
and so as not to pose an endangerment to public health or welfare or the
environment, and, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, all such transport
carriers and treatment and disposal facilities have been and are operating in
compliance with Environmental Laws and so as not to pose an imminent and
substantial endangerment to public health or welfare or the environment, and are
not the subject of any existing, pending or threatened action, investigation or
inquiry by any Governmental Authority in connection with any Environmental Laws;
(e) The Borrower, the Guarantors and the Restricted Subsidiaries have
taken all steps reasonably necessary to determine and have determined that no
hazardous substances, hazardous waste, solid waste, or oil and gas exploration
and production wastes, have been disposed of or otherwise released and there has
been no threatened release of any hazardous substances on or to any Property of
the Borrower, any Guarantor, or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(f) To the extent applicable, all Property of the Borrower, each Guarantor
and each Restricted Subsidiary currently satisfies all design, operation, and
equipment requirements imposed by the Environmental Laws or scheduled as of the
date hereof to be imposed by the Environmental Laws during the term of this
Agreement, and the Borrower does not have any
47
reason to believe that such Property, to the extent subject to the Environmental
Laws, will not be able to maintain compliance with the Environmental Laws
requirements during the term of this Agreement; and
(g) None of the Borrower, any Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary has
any known contingent liability in connection with any release or threatened
release of any oil, hazardous substance, hazardous waste or solid waste into the
environment.
SECTION 7.18. COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW.
None of the Borrower, any Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary has
violated any Governmental Requirement or failed to obtain any license, permit,
franchise or other governmental authorization necessary for the ownership of any
of its Properties or the conduct of its business, which violation or failure
would have (in the event such violation or failure were asserted by any Person
through appropriate action) a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 7.19. INSURANCE.
The Borrower and each of the Restricted Subsidiaries maintains, with
financially sound and reputable insurers, insurance with respect to their
respective Properties and businesses against such casualties and contingencies,
of such types, on such terms and in such amounts (including deductibles,
co-insurance and self-insurance, if adequate reserves are maintained with
respect thereto) as is customary in the case of entities of established
reputations engaged in the same or a similar business and similarly situated.
All such policies are in full force and effect, all premiums with respect
thereto covering all periods up to and including the date of the closing have
been paid, and no notice of cancellation or termination has been received with
respect to any such policy. Such policies are sufficient for compliance with all
requirements of law and of all agreements to which the Borrower, any Guarantor,
or any Restricted Subsidiary is a party; are valid, outstanding and enforceable
policies; provide adequate insurance coverage in at least such amounts and
against at least such risks (but including in any event public liability) as are
usually insured against in the same general area by companies engaged in the
same or a similar business for the assets and operations of the Borrower, each
Guarantor and each Restricted Subsidiary.
SECTION 7.20. MATERIAL AGREEMENTS.
The Borrower has heretofore delivered to the Agent a complete and correct
copy of the Indenture and the Note Agreements relating to the Senior Notes, each
as amended and in effect on the date hereof.
SECTION 7.21. PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT.
The Borrower Partnership Agreement has not been terminated, and is in full
force and effect as of the date hereof and no default has occurred and is
continuing thereunder which would have a Material Adverse Effect.
48
SECTION 7.22. OWNERSHIP OF PARTIES.
(a) The Borrower is a limited partnership formed under the laws of the
State of Delaware and owned 1% (general partnership interest) by the General
Partner and 99% (limited partnership interests) by public holders of limited
partnership units.
(b) The form of organization and equity ownership of each Restricted
Subsidiary and each Unrestricted Subsidiary as of the date hereof is set forth
on Schedule 7.22.
(c) BMC owns 100% of the equity interests of the General Partner as of the
date hereof.
SECTION 7.23. PATRIOT ACT.
Each of the Borrower, the Guarantors, the General Partner and the Restricted
Subsidiaries is in compliance, in all material respects, with the (i) the
Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, and each of the foreign assets control
regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B,
Chapter V, as amended) and any other enabling legislation or executive order
relating thereto, and (ii) the Uniting And Strengthening America By Providing
Appropriate Tools Required To Intercept And Obstruct Terrorism (USA Patriot Act
of 2001). No part of the proceeds of the Loans will be used, directly or
indirectly, for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political
party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone
else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct
business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United States
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
ARTICLE VIII
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
The Borrower covenants and agrees that, so long as any of the Commitments
are in effect or any Letter of Credit remains outstanding and until payment in
full of all Loans hereunder, all interest thereon and all other amounts payable
by the Borrower hereunder and the Guarantors under the Guaranty:
SECTION 8.01. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
The Borrower shall deliver, or shall cause to be delivered, to the Agent
with sufficient copies of each for the Lenders:
(a) ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. As soon as available and in any event
within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, the audited
consolidated and, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the
Borrower, unaudited consolidating statements of income, equity, changes in
financial position and cash flow of the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries for such fiscal year, and the related consolidated and
consolidating balance sheets of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries
as at the end of such fiscal year, and setting forth in each case in comparative
form the corresponding figures for the preceding fiscal year, and, in the case
of the audited statements, accompanied by the related opinion of independent
public accountants of recognized national standing acceptable to the Agent which
opinion shall state
49
that said financial statements fairly present in all material respects the
consolidated and consolidating financial condition and results of operations of
the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of, and for, such
fiscal year and that such financial statements have been prepared in accordance
with GAAP, except for such changes in such principles with which the independent
public accountants shall have concurred and such opinion shall not contain a
"going concern" or like qualification or exception, and a certificate of such
accountants stating that, in making the examination necessary for their opinion,
they obtained no knowledge, except as specifically stated, of any Default.
(b) QUARTERLY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. As soon as available and in any event
within 60 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarterly periods
of each fiscal year of the Borrower, consolidated and consolidating statements
of income, equity, changes in financial position and cash flow of the Borrower
and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period and for the period from the
beginning of the respective fiscal year to the end of such period, and the
related consolidated and consolidating balance sheets as at the end of such
period, and setting forth in each case in comparative form the corresponding
figures for the corresponding period in the preceding fiscal year, accompanied
by the certificate of a Responsible Officer of BMC, which certificate shall
state that said financial statements fairly present in all material respects the
consolidated and consolidating financial condition and results of operations of
the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, as at
the end of, and for, such period (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments
and the lack of footnotes).
(c) CHANGE IN REFERENCE RATING. Promptly and in any event within seven
Business Days after Xxxxx'x or S&P has changed any relevant Reference Rating,
notice of such change.
(d) NOTICE OF DEFAULT, ETC. Promptly after a Responsible officer of the
Borrower knows that any Default or any Material Adverse Effect has occurred, a
notice of such Default or Material Adverse Effect, describing the same in
reasonable detail and the action the Borrower proposes to take with respect
thereto.
(e) OTHER ACCOUNTING REPORTS. Promptly upon receipt thereof, a copy of
each other report or letter submitted to the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the
Borrower by independent accountants in connection with any annual, interim or
special audit made by them of the books of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries,
and a copy of any response by any Guarantor or any Subsidiary of the Borrower,
to such letter or report.
(f) GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITIES. Promptly upon receipt thereof, a copy of any
notice from any Governmental Authority (except where involving a routine or
ordinary course matter, which in any case is immaterial), and promptly upon a
Responsible Officer of the Borrower's knowledge thereof, notice of any material
dispute with any Governmental Authority involving the Borrower, any Guarantor or
any Restricted Subsidiary.
(g) NOTICES UNDER OTHER LOAN AGREEMENTS. Promptly after the furnishing
thereof, copies of any statement, report or notice furnished by the Borrower to
any Person pursuant to the terms of any indenture, loan or credit or other
similar agreement, other than this Agreement and not otherwise required to be
furnished to the Lenders pursuant to any other provision of this Section 8.01.
50
(h) OTHER MATTERS. From time to time such other information regarding the
business, affairs or financial condition of the Borrower, any Guarantor, any
Restricted Subsidiary or any Subsidiary of the Borrower (including, without
limitation, any Plan or Multiemployer Plan and any reports or other information
required to be filed under ERISA) as the Agent may reasonably request.
The Borrower will each furnish to the Agent, at the time each set of financial
statements is furnished to the Agent pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) above, a
Compliance Certificate executed by a Responsible Officer of the General Partner
and BMC, respectively, (i) certifying as to the matters set forth therein and
stating that no Default has occurred and is continuing (or, if any Default has
occurred and is continuing, describing the same in reasonable detail), and (ii)
setting forth in reasonable detail the computations necessary to determine
whether the Borrower is in compliance with Sections 9.12 and 9.13 as of the end
of the respective fiscal quarter or fiscal year.
SECTION 8.02. LITIGATION.
The Borrower shall promptly give, and shall cause any Restricted
Subsidiary to give to the Agent notice of: (i) all legal or arbitral
proceedings, and of all proceedings before any Governmental Authority affecting
the Borrower, the Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary, except proceedings
which, if adversely determined, would not have a Material Adverse Effect, and
(ii) any litigation or proceeding against or adversely affecting the Borrower,
the Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary in which the amount involved exceeds
$5,000,000 and is not covered in full by insurance (subject to normal and
customary deductibles and for which the insurer has not assumed the defense), or
in which injunctive or similar relief is sought.
The Borrower will promptly notify the Agent and each of the Lenders of any
claim, judgment, Lien or other encumbrance affecting any Property of the
Borrower, the Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary if the value of the claim,
judgment, Lien, or other encumbrance affecting such Property shall exceed
$5,000,000.
SECTION 8.03. MAINTENANCE, ETC.
(a) GENERALLY. The Borrower shall: preserve and maintain its partnership
or corporate existence and all of its material rights, privileges and franchises
and shall cause the Restricted Subsidiaries to do so; keep books of record and
account in which full, true and correct entries will be made of all dealings or
transactions in relation to its business and activities; comply with all
Governmental Requirements if failure to comply with such requirements will have
a Material Adverse Effect; pay and discharge all taxes, assessments and
governmental charges or levies imposed on it or on its income or profits or on
any of its Property prior to the date on which penalties attach thereto, except
for any such tax, assessment, charge or levy the payment of which is being
contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and against which adequate
reserves are being maintained; upon reasonable notice, permit representatives of
the Agent or any Lender, during normal business hours, to examine, copy and make
extracts from its books and records, to inspect its Properties, and to discuss
its business and affairs with its officers, all to-the extent reasonably
requested by such Lender or the Agent (as the case may be); and keep, or cause
to be kept, insured by financially sound and reputable insurers all Property of
a
51
character usually insured by Persons engaged in the same or similar business
similarly situated against loss or damage of the kinds and in the amounts
customarily insured against by such Persons and carry such other insurance as is
usually carried by such Persons including, without limitation, environmental
risk insurance to the extent reasonably available.
(b) PROOF OF INSURANCE. Contemporaneously with the delivery of the
financial statements required by Section 8.01(a) to be delivered for each year,
the Borrower will furnish or cause to be furnished, and will cause to be
furnished for the Restricted Subsidiaries, to the Agent certificates of
insurance coverage from an insurer in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Agent and, if requested, will furnish the Agent copies of the applicable
policies.
(c) OPERATION OF PROPERTIES. The Borrower will and will cause each
Restricted Subsidiary to, operate its Properties or cause such Properties to be
operated in a careful and efficient manner in accordance with the practices of
the industry and in compliance with all applicable contracts and agreements and
in compliance in all material respects with all Governmental Requirements.
SECTION 8.04. RESERVED.
SECTION 8.05. ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROCEDURES. The Borrower will and will cause each
Restricted Subsidiary to, establish and implement such procedures as may be
reasonably necessary to determine and assure that any failure of the following
does not have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) all Property of the Borrower, the
Guarantors and the Restricted Subsidiaries, and the operations conducted thereon
and other activities of the Borrower, the Guarantors and the Restricted
Subsidiaries, are in compliance with and do not violate the requirements of any
Environmental Laws, (ii) no oil, hazardous substances or solid wastes are
disposed of or otherwise released on or to any Property owned by the Borrower,
any Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary except in compliance with
Environmental Laws, (iii) no hazardous substance will be released on or to any
such Property in a quantity equal to or exceeding that quantity which requires
reporting pursuant to Section 103 of CERCLA, and (iv) no oil, oil and gas
exploration and production wastes or hazardous substance is released on or to
any such Property so as to pose an imminent and substantial endangerment to
public health or welfare or the environment.
(b) NOTICE OF ACTION. The Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted
Subsidiary to, promptly notify the Agent and the Lenders in writing of any
threatened action or investigation by any Governmental Authority of which a
Responsible Officer of the Borrower, any Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary
has knowledge in connection with any Environmental Laws, excluding routine
testing and corrective action.
(c) FUTURE ACQUISITIONS. The Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted
Subsidiary to, provide environmental audits and tests in accordance with
American Society for Testing and Materials standards as reasonably requested by
the Agent or any Lender through the Agent (or as otherwise required to be
obtained by the Agent or the Lenders by any Governmental
52
Authority) in connection with any future acquisitions of any material Properties
by the Borrower, any Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary.
SECTION 8.06. FURTHER ASSURANCES.
The Borrower will promptly cure any defects in the execution and delivery
of the other Loan Documents. The Borrower, at its expense, will promptly execute
and deliver (or cause to be promptly executed and delivered) to the Agent upon
reasonable request all such other documents, agreements and instruments to
comply with or accomplish the covenants and agreements of the Borrower in the
Loan Documents, or to, correct any omissions in the Loan Documents, or to state
more fully the obligations set out herein or in any of the other Loan Documents,
or to make any recordings, to file any notices or obtain any consents, all as
may be necessary or appropriate in connection therewith.
SECTION 8.07. PERFORMANCE OF OBLIGATIONS.
The Borrower will do and perform every act and discharge all of the
obligations to be performed and discharged by it under this Agreement, at the
time or times and in the manner specified.
SECTION 8.08. ERISA INFORMATION AND COMPLIANCE.
The Borrower will promptly furnish and will cause any ERISA Affiliate to
promptly furnish to the Agent with sufficient copies to the Lenders (i) promptly
after the filing thereof with the United States Secretary of Labor, the Internal
Revenue Service or the PBGC, copies of each annual and other material report
with respect to each Plan or any trust created thereunder, (ii) as soon as
possible and in any event within 30 days after the occurrence of any ERISA Event
in clause (i) of the definition of ERISA Event or any "prohibited transaction,"
as described in section 406 of ERISA or in section 4975 of the Code, and in any
event within 10 days after any other ERISA Event, in connection with any Plan or
any trust created thereunder, a written notice signed by a Responsible Officer
specifying the nature thereof, what action the Borrower or the ERISA Affiliate
is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto, and, when known, any action
taken or proposed by the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Labor or
the PBGC with respect thereto, and (iii) immediately upon receipt thereof,
copies of any notice of the PBGC's intention to terminate, or to have a trustee
appointed to administer, any Plan. With respect to each Plan (other than a
Multiemployer Plan), the Borrower will, and will cause each ERISA Affiliate to,
(i) satisfy in full and in a timely manner, without incurring any late payment
or underpayment charge or penalty and without giving rise to any lien, all of
the contribution and funding requirements of section 412 of the Code (determined
without regard to subsections (d), (e), (f) and (k) thereof) and of section 302
of ERISA (determined without regard to sections 303, 304 and 306 of ERISA), and
(ii) pay, or cause to be paid, to the PBGC in a timely manner, without incurring
any late payment or underpayment charge or penalty, all premiums required
pursuant to sections 4006 and 4007 of ERISA.
SECTION 8.09. COMPLIANCE WITH AND MODIFICATION OF ORGANIZATIONAL
DOCUMENTS.
The Borrower shall comply in all material respects with any terms and
provisions of the Borrower Partnership Agreement regarding maintaining the
separateness of the records, assets
53
and formalities of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries from any other
Person, and without the prior written consent of Required Lenders, which shall
not be unreasonably withheld, shall not amend, supplement or otherwise modify
(pursuant to a waiver or otherwise) any of such separateness provisions in a
manner materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders unless both (i) BPL
Acquisition L.P. or its successors no longer owns an interest in the General
Partner, and (ii) Borrower obtains a Ratings Affirmation in connection with any
such amendment, supplement, modification or failure to comply.
ARTICLE IX
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
The Borrower covenants and agrees that, so long as any of the Commitments
are in effect or any Letter of Credit remains outstanding and until payment in
full of Loans hereunder, all interest thereon and all other amounts payable by
the Borrower hereunder and the Guarantors under the Guaranties, without the
prior written consent of the Required Lenders:
SECTION 9.01. DEBT.
The Borrower will not and will not cause or permit any Guarantor or any
Restricted Subsidiary to incur, create, assume or permit to exist any Debt,
except:
(a) the Debt hereunder or any guaranty of or suretyship arrangement for
the Debt hereunder;
(b) Debt of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries existing on the
date hereof that is reflected in the Financial Statements or is disclosed in
Schedule 9.01, and any renewals or extensions (but not increases) thereof;
(c) accounts payable (for the deferred purchase price of Property or
services) from time to time incurred in the ordinary course of business which,
if material and greater than 90 days past the invoice or billing date, are being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings if reserves adequate under
GAAP shall have been established therefor;
(d) Debt of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries requiring no
scheduled principal payments (whether at stated maturity or by virtue of
scheduled amortization, required prepayment or redemption) due until at least
one year after the Termination Date and issued under the Indenture or otherwise
under agreements containing covenants no more restrictive to the Borrower or the
Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, than the covenants contained in
this Agreement;
(e) Debt that is secured by Liens permitted under Section 9.02(d) and
under clause (xv) of the definition of Excepted Liens which in the aggregate
shall not to exceed $25,000,000 outstanding at any one time;
54
(f) Debt of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries under Hedging
Agreements entered into as a part of its normal business operations as a risk
management strategy and/or hedge against changes resulting from market
conditions related to the Borrower's operations;
(g) Debt as a result of (and to the extent permitted by) Sections 9.03(g);
(h) Debt under the Bridge Loan Agreement in an aggregate amount not to
exceed $300,000,000;
(i) Other unsecured Debt of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries
so long as at the time such Debt is incurred, and after giving pro forma effect
to the incurrence and applications of the proceeds thereof, the Borrower shall
be in pro forma compliance with the financial covenants contained in Section
9.12 and Section 9.13 and no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and
be continuing.
SECTION 9.02. LIENS.
The Borrower will not and will not cause or permit any Guarantor or any
Restricted Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on
any of its Properties (now owned or hereafter acquired), except:
(a) Liens securing the payment of any Debt hereunder;
(b) Excepted Liens;
(c) Liens disclosed on Schedule 9.02; and
(d) Liens originally created to secure purchase money Debt permitted under
Section 9.01(e), which in each case shall not exceed 100% of the lesser of the
total purchase price and the fair market value of the Property acquired as
determined at the time of acquisition; provided, that, (i) the Property to be
purchased with the proceeds of such Debt shall be purchased not more than 60
days prior to the date of the creation of such Lien and (ii) such Lien encumbers
only the Property so acquired.
SECTION 9.03. INVESTMENTS, LOANS AND ADVANCES.
The Borrower will not and will not cause or permit any Guarantor or
any Restricted Subsidiary to make or permit to remain outstanding any
loans or advances to or investments in any Person, except that the
foregoing restriction shall not apply to:
(a) investments, loans or advances reflected in the Financial
Statements or which are disclosed to the Lenders in Schedule 9.03;
(b) accounts receivable arising in the ordinary course of business;
55
(c) direct obligations of the United States or any agency thereof,
or obligations guaranteed by the United States or any agency thereof, in
each case maturing within one year from the date of creation thereof;
(d) commercial paper maturing within one year from the date of
creation thereof rated in the highest grade by S&P or Xxxxx'x;
(e) deposits maturing within one year from the date of creation
thereof with, including certificates of deposit issued by, any Lender or
any office located in the United States of any other bank or trust company
which is organized under the laws of the United States or any state
thereof, has capital, surplus and undivided profits aggregating at least
$100,000,000.00 (as of the date of such Lender's or bank or trust
company's most recent financial reports) and has a short term deposit
rating of no lower than A2 or P2, as such rating is set forth from time to
time, by S&P or Xxxxx'x, respectively;
(f) deposits in money market funds investing exclusively in
investments described in Section 9.03(c), 9.03(d) or 9.03(e);
(g) investments, loans or advances made in or to the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary that has executed a Guaranty;
(h) investments, loans or advances in or to any Person (other than
the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that has executed a Guaranty)
not to exceed $100,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding;
(i) other investments, loans and advances in or to any Person made
with equity of the Borrower or with other consideration, including cash,
not to exceed the amount of net proceeds received by the Borrower from an
equity offering occurring substantially concurrent therewith; and
(j) the Shell Acquisition to the extent that the purchase price does
not exceed $530,000,000 in the aggregate.
SECTION 9.04. DISTRIBUTIONS AND REDEMPTIONS.
If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result
therefrom, the Borrower will not purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for value
any of its equity interests now or hereafter outstanding, return any capital or
make any distribution of its assets to its equity owners.
SECTION 9.05. SALES AND LEASEBACKS.
The Borrower will not, and will not cause or permit any Restricted
Subsidiary to, enter into any Sale-Leaseback Transaction, unless:
56
(a) such Sale-Leaseback Transaction occurs within one year after the later
of (i) completion of the acquisition of the applicable Property by the Borrower
or such Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) commencement of full operation with
respect to such Property; or
(b) such Sale-Leaseback Transaction involves a lease for a term of not
more than three years; or
(c) the net sale proceeds derived from the sale or transfer by the
Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Property involved are used solely
(i) to prepay or retire Funded Debt of the Borrower ranking pari passu with the
Debt hereunder or (ii) for capital improvements with respect to the pipeline
systems of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary made in the ordinary course
of business of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary; or
(d) the Sale-Leaseback Attributable Debt attributable to such Sale-
Leaseback Transaction would be permitted under Section 9.01(e).
SECTION 9.06. NATURE OF BUSINESS.
The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to,
make any material change in the nature of its business as it exists on the date
hereof or, in the case of a Restricted Subsidiary, acquired or established after
the date hereof, as the nature of the business existed on the date of such
acquisition or establishment.
SECTION 9.07. RESTRICTIVE AGREEMENTS.
The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to,
directly or indirectly, enter into, incur or permit to exist any agreement that
prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon the ability of any such
Restricted Subsidiary to declare or pay dividends or distributions to its equity
holders, to make or repay loans or advances to the Borrower or any other
Restricted Subsidiary, to guarantee Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other
such Restricted Subsidiary or to transfer any of its property or assets to the
Borrower or any such Restricted Subsidiary; provided, that (A) the foregoing
shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by law, this Agreement or
any other Loan Document, the Bridge Loan Agreement, the Note Agreements or the
Indenture (in the case of the Note Agreements and the Indenture, as in effect on
the date hereof), and (B) the foregoing shall not apply to customary
restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of any
Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower pending such sale, provided such
restrictions and conditions apply only to the Restricted Subsidiary that is sold
and such sale is permitted hereunder.
SECTION 9.08. MERGERS, ETC.
None of the Borrower, any Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary will
merge into or with or consolidate with any other Person unless such former
entity is the survivor, or sell, lease or otherwise dispose of (whether in one
transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its
Property or assets to any other Person; provided, however, that any Restricted
Subsidiary may merge with or into the Borrower, any Guarantor or any other
Restricted Subsidiary, even if it is not the surviving entity of such merger.
57
SECTION 9.09. PROCEEDS OF THE LOANS; LETTERS OF CREDIT.
The Borrower will not permit the proceeds of the Loans or the proceeds of
the Letters of Credit to be used for any purpose other than those permitted by
Section 7.07. Neither the Borrower nor any Person acting on behalf of the
Borrower has taken or will take any action which might cause any of the Loan
Documents to violate Regulation T, U or X or any other Regulation of the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or to violate Section 7 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any rule or regulation thereunder, in each
case as now in effect or as the same may hereinafter be in effect.
SECTION 9.10. ERISA COMPLIANCE.
The Borrower will not at any time take any of the following actions that
could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a
Material Adverse Effect:
(a) Engage in, or permit any Subsidiary of the Borrower or ERISA Affiliate
to engage in, any transaction in connection with which the Borrower, any
Subsidiary of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate could be subjected to either a
civil penalty assessed pursuant to section 502(c), (i) or (l) of ERISA or a tax
imposed by Chapter 43 of Subtitle D of the Code;
(b) Terminate, or permit any Subsidiary of the Borrower or ERISA Affiliate
to terminate, any Plan in a manner, or take any other action with respect to any
Plan, that could result in any liability to the Borrower, any Subsidiary of the
Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate to the PBGC;
(c) Fail to make, or permit any Subsidiary of the Borrower or ERISA
Affiliate to fail to make, full payment when due of all amounts that, under the
provisions of any Plan, agreement relating thereto or applicable law, the
Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate is required to pay as
contributions thereto;
(d) Permit to exist, or allow any Subsidiary of the Borrower or ERISA
Affiliate to permit to exist, any accumulated funding deficiency within the
meaning of section 302 of ERISA or section 412 of the Code, whether or not
waived, with respect to any Plan;
(e) Permit, or allow any Subsidiary of the Borrower or ERISA Affiliate to
permit, the actuarial present value of the benefit liabilities under any Plan
that is regulated under Title IV of ERISA to exceed the current value of the
assets (computed on a plan termination basis in accordance with Title IV of
ERISA) of such Plan allocable to such benefit liabilities. The term "actuarial
present value of the benefit liabilities" shall have the meaning specified in
section 4041 of ERISA;
(f) Contribute to or assume an obligation to contribute to, or permit any
Subsidiary of the Borrower or ERISA Affiliate to contribute to or assume an
obligation to contribute to, any Multiemployer Plan;
(g) Acquire, or permit any Subsidiary of the Borrower or ERISA Affiliate
to acquire, an interest in any Person that causes such Person to become an ERISA
Affiliate with respect to the Borrower, any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any
ERISA Affiliate if such Person sponsors,
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maintains or contributes to, or at any time in the six-year period preceding
such acquisition has sponsored, maintained, or contributed to, (1) any
Multiemployer Plan, or (2) any other Plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA
under which the actuarial present value of the benefit liabilities under such
Plan exceeds the current value of the assets (computed on a plan termination
basis in accordance with Title IV of ERISA) of such Plan allocable to such
benefit liabilities;
(h) Incur, or permit any Subsidiary of the Borrower or ERISA Affiliate to
incur, a liability to or on account of a Plan under sections 515, 4062, 4063,
4064, 4201 or 4204 of ERISA;
(i) Contribute to or assume an obligation to contribute to, or permit any
Subsidiary of the Borrower or ERISA Affiliate to contribute to or assume an
obligation to contribute to, any employee welfare benefit plan, as defined in
section 3(1) of ERISA, including, without limitation, any such plan maintained
to provide benefits to former employees of such entities, that may not be
terminated by such entities in their sole discretion at any time without any
material liability;
(j) Amend or permit any Subsidiary of the Borrower or ERISA Affiliate to
amend, a Plan resulting in an increase in current liability such that the
Borrower, any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is required to
provide security to such Plan under section 401(a)(29) of the Code; or
(k) Permit to exist any occurrence of a "Reportable Event" described in
Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations thereunder.
SECTION 9.11. SALE OR DISCOUNT OF RECEIVABLES.
None of the Borrower, any Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary will
discount or sell (with or without recourse) any of its notes receivable or
accounts receivable.
SECTION 9.12. FUNDED DEBT RATIO.
The Borrower will not permit the Funded Debt Ratio as of the end of any
fiscal quarter to be greater than 4.75 to 1.00, provided, however, that for a
period of up to three consecutive quarters within any twelve-month period
commencing on (i) the first day of the sixth quarter immediately following the
Shell Acquisition Date or (ii) the first day following two consecutive quarters
after the Closing Date in which the Funded Debt Ratio is no greater than 4.75 to
1.00 (the "Required Threshold"), the Funded Debt Ratio may exceed the Required
Threshold for acquisitions with an aggregate purchase price in excess of
$5,000,000, but shall in no event exceed 5.25 to 1.00 ("Increased Funded Debt
Period") except as provided in subparagraph (A) below; provided, further, that
no Increased Funded Debt Period shall occur sooner than two consecutive quarters
following any other Increased Funded Debt Period; provided, further, if the
Borrower shall consummate the Shell Acquisition, the Funded Debt Ratio shall not
exceed (A) 5.75 to 1.00 for the period commencing on the Shell Acquisition Date
and continuing for the two quarters immediately following such date, (B) 5.25 to
1.00 for the third quarter immediately following the Shell Acquisition Date and
(C) thereafter 4.75 to 1.00 except as respect to any Increased Funded Debt
Period as provided above.
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SECTION 9.13. FIXED CHARGE COVERAGE RATIO.
The Borrower will not permit the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio as of the end
of any fiscal quarter (calculated quarterly at the end of each fiscal quarter)
to be less than 1.25 to 1.00.
SECTION 9.14. SALE OF PROPERTIES.
The Borrower will not, and will not cause or permit any Guarantor or any
Restricted Subsidiary to sell, assign, convey or otherwise transfer any Property
or any interest in any Property, unless such Property is not material to the
ability of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to generate EBITDA.
SECTION 9.15. ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.
The Borrower shall not, and shall not cause or permit any Guarantor or any
Restricted Subsidiary to cause or permit any of its Property to be in violation
of, or do anything or permit anything to be done which will subject any such
Property to any remedial obligations under any Environmental Laws. If necessary,
the Borrower shall timely disclose to the applicable Governmental Authority all
relevant facts, conditions and circumstances, if any, pertaining to such
Property where such violations or remedial obligations exist.
SECTION 9.16. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES.
The Borrower will not, and will not cause or permit any Guarantor or any
Restricted Subsidiary to enter into any transaction, including, without
limitation, any purchase, sale, lease or exchange of Property or the rendering
of any service, with any Affiliate unless such transactions are otherwise
permitted under this Agreement, are in the ordinary course of its business and
are upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to it than it would obtain
in a comparable arm's length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate;
provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit or prevent the
Borrower, any Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary from performing under any
agreement in effect on the date hereof.
SECTION 9.17. PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS.
Without the prior consent of the Required Lenders, which shall not be
unreasonably withheld, the Borrower will not amend or permit to be amended in
any material respect the Borrower Partnership Agreement or the Buckeye Pipe Line
Partnership Agreement.
SECTION 9.18. SENIOR NOTES.
Without the prior consent of the Required Lenders, which shall not be
unreasonably withheld, the Borrower will not amend or permit to be amended in
any material respect the Senior Notes or the Indenture, except that the Borrower
may issue additional indebtedness under supplemental indentures issued under the
Indenture if otherwise permitted hereunder and thereunder.
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ARTICLE X
EVENTS OF DEFAULT; REMEDIES
SECTION 10.01. EVENTS OF DEFAULT.
One or more of the following events shall constitute an "EVENT OF
DEFAULT":
(a) the Borrower shall default in the payment or prepayment when due of
any principal of or interest on any Loan, or any reimbursement obligation for a
disbursement made under any Letter of Credit, or any fees or other amount
payable by it hereunder or under any other Loan Document and such default, other
than a default of a payment or prepayment of principal (which shall have no cure
period) shall continue unremedied for a period of three Business Days; or
(b) the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall default in the payment
when due of any principal of or interest on any of its other Debt aggregating
$15,000,000 or more, or any event specified in any note, agreement, indenture or
other document evidencing or relating to any such Debt shall occur if the effect
of such event (after the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, if
applicable) is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Debt (or a
trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders) to cause, such Debt to
become due prior to its stated maturity; or
(c) any representation, warranty or certification made or deemed made
herein or in any other Loan Document by the Borrower, any Guarantor or any
Person on behalf of any Restricted Subsidiary, or any certificate furnished to
any Lender or the Agent pursuant to the provisions hereof or any other Loan
Document, shall prove to have been false or misleading as of the time made or
furnished in any material respect; or
(d) the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (despite the fact that such
Restricted Subsidiary is not a party to this Agreement) shall default in the
performance of any of its obligations under Article IX; or the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary (despite the fact that such Restricted Subsidiary is not a
party to this Agreement) shall default in the performance of any of its
obligations under Article VIII, any other Article of this Agreement (other than
under Article IX) or any other Loan Document (other than the payment of amounts
due which shall be governed by Section 10.01(a)) and such default shall continue
unremedied for a period of 30 days after the earlier to occur of (i) notice
thereof to the Borrower by the Agent or any Lender (through the Agent), or (ii)
a Responsible Officer of the Borrower otherwise obtaining actual knowledge of
such default; or
(e) INTENTIONALLY OMITTED; or
(f) the Borrower shall admit in writing its inability to, or be generally
unable to, pay its debts as such debts become due; or
(g) the Borrower shall (i) apply for or consent to the appointment of, or
the taking of possession by, a receiver, custodian, trustee or liquidator of
itself or of all or a substantial part of its property, (ii) make a general
assignment of all or substantially all of its assets for the benefit of its
creditors, (iii) commence a voluntary case under the Federal Bankruptcy Code (as
now or
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hereafter in effect), (iv) file a petition seeking to take advantage of any
other law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, winding-up,
liquidation or composition or readjustment of debts, (v) fail to controvert in a
timely and appropriate manner, or acquiesce in writing to, any petition filed
against it in an involuntary case under the Federal Bankruptcy Code, or (vi)
take any corporate action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing; or
(h) a proceeding or case shall be commenced, without the application or
consent of the Borrower, in any court of competent jurisdiction, seeking (i) its
liquidation, reorganization, dissolution or winding-up, or the composition or
readjustment of its debts, (ii) the appointment of a trustee, receiver,
custodian, liquidator or the like of the Borrower of all or any substantial part
of its assets, or (iii) similar relief in respect of the Borrower under any law
relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, winding-up, or composition
or adjustment of debts, and such proceeding or case shall continue undismissed,
or an order, judgment or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall
be entered and continue unstayed and in effect, for a period of 60 days; or (iv)
an order for relief against the Borrower shall be entered in an involuntary case
under the Federal Bankruptcy Code; or
(i) a judgment or judgments for the payment of money in excess of
$5,000,000 in the aggregate shall be rendered by a court against the Borrower or
any Subsidiary of the Borrower and the same shall not be discharged (or
provision shall not be made for such discharge), or a stay of execution thereof
shall not be procured, within 30 days from the date of entry thereof and the
Borrower or such Subsidiary shall not, within said period of 30 days, or such
longer period during which execution of the same shall have been stayed, appeal
therefrom and cause the execution thereof to be stayed during such appeal; or
(j) any Guaranty after delivery thereof shall for any reason, except to
the extent permitted by the terms thereof, cease to be in full force and effect
and valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms, or the Borrower
or any Guarantor shall so state in writing; or
(k) a Change of Control shall occur; or
(l) any Guarantor shall take, suffer or permit to exist any of the events
or conditions referred to in subsection (f), (g), (h) or (i) or any provision of
any Guaranty shall for any reason cease to be valid and binding on the relevant
Guarantor or if such Guarantor shall so state in writing;
(m) any Restricted Subsidiary shall take, suffer or permit to exist any of
the events or conditions referred to in subsection (f), (g), (h) or (i);
(n) the failure of the General Partner to comply in all material respects
with any terms and provisions of its limited liability company agreement
regarding maintaining the separateness of the records, assets and formalities of
the General Partner from any other Person, or the amending, supplementing or
otherwise modifying (pursuant to a waiver or otherwise) any of such separateness
provisions in a manner materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders unless
both (i) BPL Acquisition L.P. or its successors no longer owns an interest in
the General Partner,
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and (ii) Borrower has obtained a Ratings Affirmation in connection with any such
amendment, supplement, modification or failure to comply; or
(o) any ERISA Event shall have occurred that could reasonably be expected
to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and 30 days after notice shall have been
given to the Borrower, such ERISA Event shall still exist.
SECTION 10.02. REMEDIES.
(a) In the case of an Event of Default other than one referred to in
subsection (f), (g) or (h) of Section 10.01 or in either of subsection (l) or
(m) to the extent it relates to subsection (f), (g) or (h), the Agent, upon
request of the Required Lenders, shall, by notice to the Borrower, cancel the
Commitments and/or declare the principal amount then outstanding of, and the
accrued interest on, the Loans and all other amounts payable by the Borrower
hereunder (including without limitation the payment of cash collateral to secure
the LC Exposure as provided in Section 2.09(b)) to be forthwith due and payable,
whereupon such amounts shall be immediately due and payable without presentment,
demand, protest, notice of intent to accelerate, notice of acceleration or other
formalities of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the
Borrower.
(b) In the case of the occurrence of an Event of Default referred to in
subsection (f), (g) or (h) of Section 10.01 or in either of subsection (l) and
(m) to the extent it relates to subsection (f), (g) or (h), the Commitments
shall be automatically canceled and the principal amount then outstanding of,
and the accrued interest on, the Loans and all other amounts payable by the
Borrower hereunder (including without limitation the payment of cash collateral
to secure the LC Exposure as provided in Section 2.09(b)) shall become
automatically immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest,
notice of intent to accelerate, notice of acceleration or other formalities of
any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower.
(c) All proceeds received after the Termination Date, whether by
acceleration or otherwise shall be applied first to reimbursement of expenses
and indemnities provided for in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;
second to accrued interest hereunder; third to fees; fourth pro rata to
principal outstanding hereunder, other Debt hereunder and obligations under any
Hedging Agreements between the Borrower and any other Person that was a Lender
or an Affiliate of a Lender at the time such Hedging Agreement was executed;
fifth to serve as cash collateral to be held by the Agent to secure the LC
Exposure; and any excess shall be paid to the Borrower or as otherwise required
by any Governmental Requirement.
ARTICLE XI
THE AGENT
SECTION 11.01. THE AGENT.
(a) APPOINTMENT. Each of the LC Issuing Bank and each Lender appoints the
Agent (including, without limitation, each successor Agent in accordance with
this Section 11.01) as its nominee and agent to act in its name and on its
behalf (and the Agent and each such successor
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accepts that appointment): (i) to act as its nominee and on its behalf in and
under all Loan Documents; (ii) to arrange the means whereby its funds are to be
made available to the Borrower under the Loan Documents; (iii) to take any
action that it properly requests under the Loan Documents (subject to the
concurrence of other Lenders as may be required under the Loan Documents); (iv)
to receive all documents and items to be furnished to it under the Loan
Documents; (v) to be the secured party, mortgagee, beneficiary, recipient and
similar party in respect of the cash collateral under Section 2.09(b) and any
other collateral for the benefit of the Lenders and the LC Issuing Bank (at any
time an Event of Default or Default has occurred and is continuing); (vi) to
promptly distribute to it all material information, requests, documents and
items received from the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any Restricted
Subsidiary under the Loan Documents; (vii) to promptly distribute to it its
ratable part of each payment or prepayment (whether voluntary, as proceeds of
collateral upon or after foreclosure, as proceeds of insurance thereon or
otherwise) in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents; and (viii) to
deliver to the appropriate Persons requests, demands, approvals and consents
received from it. The Agent, however, may not be required to take any action
that exposes it to personal liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document
or applicable Governmental Requirement. The Agent may execute any of its duties
hereunder or under the other Loan Documents by or through agents or
attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel (including
Borrower's counsel) concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The Agent
shall not be responsible to the Lenders for the negligence or misconduct of any
agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it with reasonable care.
(b) SUCCESSOR. The Agent may, subject (at any time no Event of Default or
Default has occurred and is continuing) to the Borrower's prior written consent
that may not be unreasonably withheld, assign all of its rights and obligations
as the Agent under the Loan Documents to any of its Affiliates, which Affiliate
shall then be the successor Agent under the Loan Documents. The Agent may also,
upon 30 days' prior notice to the Borrower, voluntarily resign. If the initial
or any successor Agent ever ceases to be a party to this Agreement or if the
initial or any successor Agent ever resigns, then the Required Lenders shall
(which, if no Event of Default or Default has occurred and is continuing, is
subject to the Borrower's approval that may not be unreasonably withheld)
appoint the successor Agent from among the Lenders (other than the resigning
Agent). If the Required Lenders fail to appoint a successor Agent within 30 days
after the resigning Agent has given notice of resignation, then the resigning
Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, upon thirty (30) days prior notice to the
Borrower, appoint a successor Agent, subject (at any time no Event of Default or
Default has occurred and is continuing) to the Borrower's prior written consent
that may not be unreasonably withheld, which must be a commercial bank having a
combined capital and surplus of at least $1,000,000,000 (as shown on its most
recently published statement of condition). Upon its acceptance of appointment
as successor Agent, the successor Agent shall succeed to and become vested with
all of the rights of the prior Agent, and the prior Agent shall be discharged
from its duties and obligations as Agent under the Loan Documents, and each
Lender shall execute the documents that any Lender, the resigning Agent or the
successor Agent reasonably requests to reflect the change. After any Agent's
resignation as the Agent under the Loan Documents, the provisions of this
section inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or not taken by it while it
was the Agent under the Loan Documents.
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(c) RIGHTS AS LENDER. The Agent, in its capacity as a Lender, has the same
rights under the Loan Documents as any other Lender and may exercise those
rights as if it were not acting as the Agent. The Agent's resignation or removal
does not impair or otherwise affect any rights that it has or may have in its
capacity as an individual Lender. Each Lender, the LC Issuing Bank and the
Borrower agree that the Agent is not a fiduciary for the Lenders, the LC Issuing
Bank or the Borrower but is simply acting in the capacity described in this
Agreement to alleviate administrative burdens for the Borrower, the LC Issuing
Bank and the Lenders, that the Agent has no duties or responsibilities to the
Lenders, the LC Issuing Bank or the Borrower except those expressly set forth in
the Loan Documents, and that the Agent in its capacity as a Lender has the same
rights as any other Lender.
(d) OTHER ACTIVITIES. The Agent or any Lender may now or in the future be
engaged in one or more loan, letter of Loan, leasing or other financing
transactions with the Borrower, act as trustee or depositary for the Borrower or
otherwise be engaged in other transactions with the Borrower (collectively, the
"other activities") not the subject of the Loan Documents. Without limiting the
rights of the Lenders or the LC Issuing Bank specifically set forth in the Loan
Documents, neither the Agent, the LC Issuing Bank nor any Lender is responsible
to account to the other Lenders or the LC Issuing Bank for those other
activities, and neither any Lender nor the LC Issuing Bank shall have any
interest in any other Lender's or the LC Issuing Bank's activities, any present
or future guaranties by or for the account of the Borrower that are not
contemplated by or included in the Loan Documents, any present or future offset
exercised by the Agent, the LC Issuing Bank or any Lender in respect of those
other activities, any present or future property taken as security for any of
those other activities or any property now or hereafter in the Agent's or any
other Lender's possession or control that may be or become security for the
obligations of the Borrower arising under the Loan Documents by reason of the
general description of indebtedness secured or of property contained in any
other agreements, documents or instruments related to any of those other
activities (but, if any payments in respect of those guaranties or that property
or the proceeds thereof is applied by the Agent, the LC Issuing Bank or any
Lender to reduce the obligations hereunder, then each of the LC Issuing Bank and
each Lender is entitled to share in the application as provided in the Loan
Documents).
SECTION 11.02. EXPENSES.
Each Lender shall pay its Percentage Share of any expenses (including
court costs, reasonable attorneys' fees and other costs of collection) incurred
by the Agent or in connection with any of the Loan Documents if the Agent is not
reimbursed from other sources within 30 days after incurrence. Each Lender is
entitled to receive its Percentage Share of any reimbursement that it makes to
the Agent if the Agent is subsequently reimbursed from other sources.
SECTION 11.03. PROPORTIONATE ABSORPTION OF LOSSES.
Except as otherwise provided in the Loan Documents, nothing in the Loan
Documents gives any Lender any advantage over any other Lender insofar as the
obligations hereunder are concerned or relieves any Lender from ratably
absorbing any losses sustained with respect to the obligations hereunder (except
to the extent unilateral actions or inactions by any Lender result in the
Borrower or any other obligor on the obligations hereunder having any credit,
allowance,
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setoff, defense or counterclaim solely with respect to all or any part of that
Lender's part of the obligations hereunder).
SECTION 11.04. DELEGATION OF DUTIES; RELIANCE.
The Lenders may perform any of their duties or exercise any of their
rights under the Loan Documents by or through the Agent, and the Lenders, the LC
Issuing Bank and the Agent may perform any of their duties or exercise any of
their rights under the Loan Documents by or through their respective
representatives. The Agent, the LC Issuing Bank, the Lenders and their
respective representatives (a) are entitled to rely upon (and shall be protected
in relying upon) any written or oral statement believed by it or them to be
genuine and correct and to have been signed or made by the proper Person and,
with respect to legal matters, upon opinion of counsel selected by the Agent,
the LC Issuing Bank or that Lender (but nothing in this clause (a) permits the
Agent to rely on (i) oral statements if a writing is required by this Agreement
or (ii) any other writing if a specific writing is required by this Agreement),
(b) are entitled to deem and treat each Lender as the owner and holder of its
portion of the Obligations hereunder for all purposes until written notice of
the assignment or transfer is given to and received by the Agent (and any
request, authorization, consent or approval of any Lender is conclusive and
binding on each subsequent holder, assignee or transferee of or Participant in
that Lender's portion of the obligations hereunder until that notice is given
and received), (c) are not deemed to have notice of the occurrence of an Default
unless a responsible officer of the Agent, who handles matters associated with
the Loan Documents and transactions thereunder, has actual knowledge or the
Agent has been notified by a Lender, the LC Issuing Bank or the Borrower, and
(d) are entitled to consult with legal counsel (including counsel for the
Borrower), independent accountants, and other experts selected by the Agent and
are not liable for any action taken or not taken in good faith by it in
accordance with the advice of counsel, accountants or experts.
SECTION 11.05. LIMITATION OF THE AGENT'S LIABILITY.
(a) EXCULPATION. Neither the Agent nor any of its Affiliates or
representatives will be liable to the LC Issuing Bank or any Lender for any
action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them under the Loan Documents in
good faith and believed by it to be within the discretion or power conferred
upon it or them by the Loan Documents or be responsible for the consequences of
any error of judgment (except for gross negligence or willful misconduct), and
neither the Agent nor any of its Affiliates or representatives has a fiduciary
relationship with any Lender or the LC Issuing Bank by virtue of the Loan
Documents (but nothing in this Agreement negates the obligation of the Agent to
account for funds received by it for the account of any Lender).
(b) INDEMNITY. Unless indemnified to its satisfaction against loss, cost,
liability and expense, the Agent may not be compelled to do any act under the
Loan Documents or to take any action toward the execution or enforcement of the
powers thereby created or to prosecute or defend any suit in respect of the Loan
Documents. If the Agent requests instructions from the Lenders, the LC Issuing
Bank or the Required Lenders, as the case may be, with respect to any act or
action in connection with any Loan Document, the Agent is entitled to refrain
(without incurring any liability to any Person by so refraining) from that act
or action unless and until it has received instructions. In no event, however,
may the Agent or any of its representatives be required to take any action that
it or they determine could incur for it or them criminal or onerous
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civil liability. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the
LC Issuing Bank nor any Lender has any right of action against the Agent as a
result of the Agent's acting or refraining from acting under this Agreement in
accordance with instructions of the Required Lenders.
(c) RELIANCE. The Agent is not responsible to the LC Issuing Bank or any
Lender, and each of the LC Issuing Bank and each Lender represents and warrants
that it has not relied upon the Agent in respect of, (i) the creditworthiness of
the Borrower or any Guarantor and the risks involved to the LC Issuing Bank or
such Lender, as the case may be, (ii) the effectiveness, enforceability,
genuineness, validity or the due execution of any Loan Document, (iii) any
representation, warranty, document, certificate, report or statement made
therein or furnished thereunder or in connection therewith, (iv) the adequacy of
any collateral now or hereafter securing the obligations hereunder or the
existence, priority or perfection of any Lien now or hereafter granted or
purported to be granted on the collateral under any Loan Document, or (v)
observation of or compliance with any of the terms, covenants or conditions of
any Loan Document on the part of the General Partner, the Borrower or any
Guarantor . EACH LENDER AGREES TO INDEMNIFY THE AGENT AND ITS REPRESENTATIVES
AND HOLD THEM HARMLESS FROM AND AGAINST (BUT LIMITED TO SUCH LENDER'S PERCENTAGE
SHARE OF) ANY AND ALL LIABILITIES, OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER, LOSSES, DAMAGES,
PENALTIES, ACTIONS, JUDGMENTS, SUITS, COSTS, REASONABLE EXPENSES AND REASONABLE
DISBURSEMENTS OF ANY KIND OR NATURE WHATSOEVER THAT MAY BE IMPOSED ON, ASSERTED
AGAINST OR INCURRED BY THEM IN ANY WAY RELATING TO OR ARISING OUT OF THE LOAN
DOCUMENTS OR ANY ACTION TAKEN OR OMITTED BY THEM UNDER THE LOAN DOCUMENTS IF THE
AGENT AND ITS REPRESENTATIVES ARE NOT REIMBURSED FOR SUCH AMOUNTS BY THE
BORROWER OR ANY GUARANTOR. ALTHOUGH THE AGENT AND ITS REPRESENTATIVES HAVE THE
RIGHT TO BE INDEMNIFIED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT BY THE LENDERS FOR ITS OR THEIR OWN
ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE, THE AGENT AND ITS REPRESENTATIVES DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO
BE INDEMNIFIED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT FOR ITS OR THEIR OWN GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR
WILLFUL MISCONDUCT.
SECTION 11.06. EVENT OF DEFAULT.
If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Lenders agree
to promptly confer in order that the Required Lenders or the Lenders, as the
case may be, may agree upon a course of action for the enforcement of the rights
of the Lenders hereunder. The Agent is entitled to act or refrain from taking
any action (without incurring any liability to any Person for so acting or
refraining) unless and until it has received instructions from the Required
Lenders. In actions with respect to any Company's property, the Agent is acting
for the ratable benefit of each Lender.
SECTION 11.07. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.
No Lender will incur any liability to any other Lender except for acts or
omissions in bad faith, and neither the Agent nor any Lender or Participant will
incur any liability to any other Person for any act or omission of any other
Lender.
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SECTION 11.08. OTHER AGENTS.
On the cover page SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc., is named as "Sole Lead
Arranger," Fleet National Bank and Citibank, N.A. are named as "Co-Syndication
Agents" and XX Xxxxxx Xxxxx Bank and BNP Paribas are named as "Co-Documentation
Agents" but do not, in such capacities, assume any responsibility or obligation
under this Agreement for syndication, documentation, servicing, enforcement or
collection of any part of the obligations hereunder, nor any other duties, as
agent for the LC Issuing Bank or the Lenders.
SECTION 11.09. RELATIONSHIP OF LENDERS.
The Loan Documents do not create a partnership or joint venture among the
Agent, the LC Issuing Bank and the Lenders or among the Lenders.
SECTION 11.10. BENEFITS OF AGREEMENT.
None of the provisions of this Article XI inures to the benefit of the
Borrower or any Guarantor or any other Person except the Agent, the LC Issuing
Bank and the Lenders. Therefore, neither the Borrower nor any Guarantor nor any
other Person is responsible or liable for, entitled to rely upon or entitled to
raise as a defense, in any manner whatsoever, the failure of the Agent, the LC
Issuing Bank or any Lender to comply with these provisions.
ARTICLE XII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 12.01. WAIVER.
No failure on the part of the Agent or any Lender to exercise and no delay
in exercising and no course of dealing with respect to, any right, power or
privilege under any of the Loan Documents shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor
shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege under any
of the Loan Documents preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the
exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The remedies provided herein
are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
SECTION 12.02. NOTICES.
All notices and other communications provided for herein and in the other
Loan Documents (including, without limitation, any modifications of, or waivers
or consents under, this Agreement or the other Loan Documents) shall be given or
made by telex, telecopy, courier or U.S. Mail or in writing and telexed,
telecopied, mailed or delivered to the intended recipient at the "Address for
Notices" specified below its name on the signature pages hereof or in the Loan
Documents, except that for notices and other communications to the Agent other
than payment of money, the Borrower need only send such notices and
communications to the Agent care of the Atlanta address of SunTrust; or, as to
any party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a
notice to each other party. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or in
the other Loan Documents, all such communications shall be deemed to have been
duly given when transmitted, if transmitted before 1:00 p.m. local time on a
Business Day (otherwise on the
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next succeeding Business Day) by telex or telecopier and evidence or
confirmation of receipt is obtained, or personally delivered or, in the case of
a mailed notice, four Business Days after the date deposited in the mails,
postage prepaid, in each case given or addressed as aforesaid.
SECTION 12.03. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES, INDEMNITIES, ETC.
(a) The Borrower agrees:
(i) whether or not the transactions hereby contemplated are
consummated, to pay to the extent set forth in the Fee Letter all
reasonable expenses of the Agent in the administration (both before and
after the execution hereof and including advice of counsel as to the
rights and duties of the Agent and the Lenders with respect thereto) of,
and in connection with the negotiation, syndication, investigation,
preparation, execution and delivery of, recording or filing of,
preservation of rights under, enforcement of, and refinancing,
renegotiation or restructuring of, the Loan Documents and any amendment,
waiver or consent relating thereto (including, without limitation, travel,
photocopy, mailing, courier, telephone and other similar expenses of the
Agent, the cost of environmental audits, surveys and appraisals at
reasonable intervals, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel and
other outside consultants for the Agent and, in the case of enforcement,
the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Agent and any of
the Lenders); and promptly reimburse the Agent for all amounts expended,
advanced or incurred by the Agent or the Lenders to satisfy any obligation
of the Borrower or the Guarantors under this Agreement or any other Loan
Document, including without limitation, all costs and expenses of
foreclosure;
(ii) TO INDEMNIFY THE AGENT AND EACH LENDER AND EACH OF THEIR
AFFILIATES AND EACH OF THEIR OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES,
REPRESENTATIVES, AGENTS, ATTORNEYS, ACCOUNTANTS AND EXPERTS ("INDEMNIFIED
PARTIES") FROM, HOLD EACH OF THEM HARMLESS AGAINST AND PROMPTLY UPON
DEMAND PAY OR REIMBURSE EACH OF THEM FOR, THE INDEMNITY MATTERS WHICH MAY
BE INCURRED BY OR ASSERTED AGAINST OR INVOLVE ANY OF THEM (WHETHER OR NOT
ANY OF THEM IS DESIGNATED A PARTY THERETO) ASSERTED BY ANY THIRD PARTY OR
BY THE BORROWER OR ANY OTHER CREDIT PARTY AS A RESULT OF, ARISING OUT OF
OR IN ANY WAY RELATED TO (I) ANY ACTUAL OR PROPOSED USE BY THE BORROWER OF
THE PROCEEDS OF ANY OF THE LOANS OR LETTERS OF CREDIT, (II) THE EXECUTION,
DELIVERY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE LOAN DOCUMENTS BY THE BORROWER, (III) THE
OPERATIONS OF THE BUSINESS OF THE BORROWER, ANY GUARANTOR AND THE
RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARIES, (IV) THE FAILURE OF THE BORROWER, ANY GUARANTOR
OR ANY RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARY TO COMPLY WITH THE TERMS OF ANY LOAN
DOCUMENT, OR WITH ANY GOVERNMENTAL REQUIREMENT, (V) ANY INACCURACY OF ANY
REPRESENTATION OR ANY BREACH OF ANY WARRANTY OF THE BORROWER OR THE
GUARANTOR SET FORTH IN ANY OF THE LOAN DOCUMENTS, (VI) THE ISSUANCE,
EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OR TRANSFER OF OR PAYMENT OR FAILURE TO PAY UNDER
ANY LETTER OF
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CREDIT, OR (VII) THE PAYMENT OF A DRAWING UNDER ANY LETTER OF CREDIT
NOTWITHSTANDING THE NON-COMPLIANCE, NON-DELIVERY OR OTHER IMPROPER
PRESENTATION OF THE MANUALLY EXECUTED DRAFT(S) AND CERTIFICATION(S),
(VIII) ANY ASSERTION THAT THE LENDERS WERE NOT ENTITLED TO RECEIVE THE
PROCEEDS RECEIVED PURSUANT TO THE LOAN DOCUMENTS OR (IX) ANY OTHER ASPECT
OF THE LOAN DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE REASONABLE FEES
AND DISBURSEMENTS OF COUNSEL AND ALL OTHER EXPENSES INCURRED IN CONNECTION
WITH INVESTIGATING, DEFENDING OR PREPARING TO DEFEND ANY SUCH ACTION,
SUIT, PROCEEDING (INCLUDING ANY INVESTIGATIONS, LITIGATION OR INQUIRIES)
OR CLAIM, WHETHER BROUGHT BY A THIRD PARTY OR BY THE BORROWER OR ANY OTHER
CREDIT PARTY, AND REGARDLESS OF WHETHER ANY INDEMNIFIED PARTY IS A PARTY
THERETO, AND INCLUDING ALL INDEMNITY MATTERS ARISING BY REASON OF THE
ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE OF ANY INDEMNIFIED PARTY, BUT EXCLUDING ALL INDEMNITY
MATTERS ARISING SOLELY BY REASON OF (1) CLAIMS BETWEEN THE LENDERS OR ANY
LENDER AND THE AGENT OR A LENDER'S SHAREHOLDERS AGAINST THE AGENT OR
LENDER, (2) THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT ON THE PART OF THE
INDEMNIFIED PARTY OR (3) RESULT FROM A CLAIM BROUGHT BY THE BORROWER
AGAINST AN INDEMNIFIED PARTY FOR BREACH OF SUCH INDEMNIFIED PARTY'S
OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER OR UNDER ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, IF THE BORROWER OR
APPLICABLE LOAN PARTY HAS OBTAINED A FINAL AND NONAPPEALABLE JUDGMENT IN
ITS FAVOR ON SUCH CLAIM AS DETERMINED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT
JURISDICTION; AND
(iii) TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS FROM TIME TO TIME THE
INDEMNIFIED PARTIES FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL LOSSES, CLAIMS, COST
RECOVERY ACTIONS, ADMINISTRATIVE ORDERS OR PROCEEDINGS, DAMAGES AND
LIABILITIES TO WHICH ANY SUCH PERSON MAY BECOME SUBJECT (I) UNDER ANY
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW APPLICABLE TO THE BORROWER, ANY GUARANTOR OR ANY
RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARY OR ANY OF THEIR PROPERTIES, INCLUDING WITHOUT
LIMITATION, THE TREATMENT OR DISPOSAL OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES OR HAZARDOUS
WASTES ON ANY OF SUCH PROPERTIES, (II) AS A RESULT OF THE BREACH OR
NON-COMPLIANCE BY THE BORROWER OR ANY RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARY WITH ANY
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW APPLICABLE TO THE BORROWER, ANY GUARANTOR OR ANY
RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARY, (III) DUE TO PAST OWNERSHIP BY THE BORROWER, ANY
GUARANTOR OR ANY RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARY OF ANY OF THEIR PROPERTIES OR PAST
ACTIVITY ON ANY OF THEIR PROPERTIES WHICH, THOUGH LAWFUL AND FULLY
PERMISSIBLE AT THE TIME, COULD RESULT IN PRESENT LIABILITY, (IV) THE
PRESENCE, USE, RELEASE, STORAGE, TREATMENT OR DISPOSAL OF HAZARDOUS
SUBSTANCES OR HAZARDOUS WASTES ON OR AT ANY OF THE PROPERTIES OWNED OR
OPERATED BY THE BORROWER, ANY GUARANTOR OR ANY RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARY, OR
(V) ANY OTHER
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ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH OR SAFETY CONDITION IN CONNECTION WITH THE LOAN
DOCUMENTS.
(b) No Indemnified Party may settle any claim to be indemnified without
the consent of the indemnitor, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld;
provided, that the indemnitor may not reasonably withhold consent to any
settlement that an Indemnified Party proposes, if the indemnitor does not have
the financial ability to pay all its obligations outstanding and asserted
against the indemnitor at that time, including the maximum potential claims
against the Indemnified Party to be indemnified pursuant to this Section 12.03.
(c) In the case of any indemnification hereunder, the Agent or Lender, as
appropriate shall give notice to the Borrower of any such claim or demand being
made against the Indemnified Party and the Borrower shall have the non-exclusive
right to join in the defense against any such claim or demand provided that if
the Borrower provides a defense, the Indemnified Party shall bear its own cost
of defense unless there is a conflict between the Borrower and such Indemnified
Party.
(d) THE FOREGOING INDEMNITIES SHALL EXTEND TO THE INDEMNIFIED PARTIES
NOTWITHSTANDING THE SOLE OR CONCURRENT NEGLIGENCE OF EVERY KIND OR CHARACTER
WHATSOEVER, WHETHER ACTIVE OR PASSIVE, WHETHER AN AFFIRMATIVE ACT OR AN
OMISSION, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ALL TYPES OF NEGLIGENT CONDUCT
IDENTIFIED IN THE RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF TORTS OF ONE OR MORE OF THE
INDEMNIFIED PARTIES OR BY REASON OF STRICT LIABILITY IMPOSED WITHOUT FAULT ON
ANY ONE OR MORE OF THE INDEMNIFIED PARTIES. TO THE EXTENT THAT AN INDEMNIFIED
PARTY IS FOUND TO HAVE COMMITTED AN ACT OF GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL
MISCONDUCT, THIS CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION OF INDEMNIFICATION SHALL CONTINUE BUT
SHALL ONLY EXTEND TO THE PORTION OF THE CLAIM THAT IS DEEMED TO HAVE OCCURRED BY
REASON OF EVENTS OTHER THAN THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF THE
INDEMNIFIED PARTY.
(e) The Borrower's obligations under this Section 12.03 shall survive any
termination of this Agreement and the payment of all amounts outstanding
hereunder and shall continue thereafter in full force and effect.
(f) The Borrower shall pay any amounts due under this Section 12.03 within
30 days of the receipt by the Borrower of notice of the amount due.
SECTION 12.04. AMENDMENTS, ETC.
Any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document may be amended,
modified or waived with the Borrower's and the Required Lenders' prior written
consent; provided that (i) no amendment, modification or waiver that extends the
final maturity of the Loans, postpones any date fixed for any payment of
principal of, or interest on, the Loans or any fees or other amounts payable
hereunder, increases the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments (other than
pursuant to Section 2.03(c)), forgives the principal amount of any Debt
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outstanding under this Agreement, releases any Guarantor of its obligations
under the Guaranty, reduces the interest rate applicable to the Loans or the
fees payable to the Lenders generally, affects this Section 12.04 or Section
12.06(a) or modifies the definition of "Required Lenders" shall be effective
without consent of all Lenders; (ii) no amendment, modification or waiver which
increases the Revolving Credit Commitment of any Lender shall be effective
without the consent of such Lender; and (iii) no amendment, modification or
waiver which modifies the rights, duties or obligations of the Agent shall be
effective without the consent of the Agent; provided, further, that this
Agreement may be amended and restated without the consent of any Lender or the
Agent if, upon giving effect to such amendment and restatement, such Lender or
the Agent, as the case may be, shall no longer be a party to this Agreement (as
so amended and restated) or have any Commitment or other obligation hereunder
and shall have been paid in full all amounts payable hereunder to such Lender or
the Agent, as the case may be.
SECTION 12.05. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.
This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
SECTION 12.06. ASSIGNMENTS AND PARTICIPATIONS.
(a) The Borrower may not assign its rights or obligations hereunder or
under any Letters of Credit without the prior consent of all of the Lenders and
the Agent.
(b) Any Lender may upon the written consent of the Agent (which consent
will not be unreasonably withheld) and, if no Event of Default has occurred and
is continuing, the Borrower (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld),
assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations
under this Agreement pursuant to an Assignment Agreement substantially in the
form of Exhibit C (an "ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT"); provided, however, that (i) any
such assignment shall be in the amount of at least $5,000,000 (or if less, the
total amount of such Lender's Commitment) or such lesser amount to which the
Borrower has consented, (ii) the assignee or assignor shall pay to the Agent a
processing and recordation fee of $1,500 for each assignment and (iii) any
assignment to an Affiliate of such Lender will not require the consent of the
Agent or the Borrower. Any such assignment will become effective upon the
execution and delivery to the Agent of the Assignment Agreement and the consent
of the Agent, if required. Promptly after receipt of an executed Assignment
Agreement, the Agent shall send to the Borrower a copy of such executed
Assignment Agreement. Upon the effectiveness of any assignment pursuant to this
Section 12.06(b), the assignee will become a "Lender," if not already a
"Lender," for all purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. The
assignor shall be relieved of its obligations hereunder to the extent of such
assignment (and if the assigning Lender no longer holds any rights or
obligations under this Agreement, such assigning Lender shall cease to be a
"Lender" hereunder except that its rights under Sections 4.06, 5.01, 5.05 and
12.03 shall not be affected). The Agent will prepare on the last Business Day of
each month during which an assignment has become effective pursuant to this
Section 12.06(b), a new Annex I giving effect to all such assignments effected
during such month, and will promptly provide the same to the Borrower and each
of the Lenders.
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(c) Each Lender may transfer, grant or assign participations in all or any
part of such Lender's interests hereunder pursuant to this Section 12.06(c) to
any Person, provided that: (i) such Lender shall remain a "Lender" for all
purposes of this Agreement and the transferee of such participation shall not
constitute a "Lender" hereunder; and (ii) no participant under any such
participation shall have rights to approve any amendment to or waiver of any of
the Loan Documents except to the extent such amendment or waiver would (x)
forgive any principal owing on any Debt hereunder or extend the final maturity
of the Loans, (y) reduce the interest rate (other than as a result of waiving
the applicability of any post-default increases in interest rates) or fees
applicable to any of the Commitments or Loans or Letters of Credit in which such
participant is participating, or postpone the payment of any thereof, or (z)
release any guarantor of its obligations under its Guaranty or release all or
substantially all of the collateral (except as provided in the Loan Documents)
supporting any of the Commitments or Loans or Letters of Credit in which such
participant is participating. In the case of any such participation, the
participant shall not have any rights under this Agreement or any of the other
Loan Documents (the participant's rights against the granting Lender in respect
of such participation to be those set forth in the agreement with such Lender
creating such participation), and all amounts payable by the Borrower hereunder
shall be determined as if such Lender had not sold such participation, provided
that such participant shall be entitled to receive additional amounts under
Article V on the same basis as if it were a Lender and be indemnified under
Section 12.03 as if it were a Lender. In addition, each agreement creating any
participation must include an agreement by the participant to be bound by the
provisions of Section 12.15.
(d) The Lenders may furnish any information concerning the Borrower, the
Guarantors and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the possession of the Lenders from
time to time to assignees and participants (including prospective assignees and
participants); provided that, such Persons agree to be bound by the provisions
of Section 12.15.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender
(a "GRANTING LENDER") may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle (an "SPC")
of such Granting Lender identified as such in writing from time to time by the
Granting Lender to the Agent and the Borrower, the option to provide to the
Borrower all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise
be obligated to make to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement; provided that
(i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any such SPC to make any
Loan, (ii) if such SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to
provide all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to
make such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof and (iii) no SPC or Granting Lender
shall be entitled to receive any greater amount pursuant to Article V than the
Granting Lender would have been entitled to receive had the Granting Lender not
otherwise granted such SPC the option to provide any Loan to the Borrower. The
making of a Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the
Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were made by such
Granting Lender. Each party hereto hereby agrees that no SPC shall be liable for
any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement for which a
Lender would otherwise be liable so long as, and to the extent that, the related
Granting Lender provides such indemnity or makes such payment. In 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 indebtedness of any SPC, it will not institute against or join any other
person in instituting against such SPC any bankruptcy,
73
reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings under the
laws of the United States or any State thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Granting Lender unconditionally agrees to indemnify the Borrower, the Agent
and each Lender against all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages,
penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any
kind or nature whatsoever which may be incurred by or asserted against the
Borrower, the Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, in any way relating to
or arising as a consequence of any such forbearance or delay in the initiation
of any such proceeding against its SPC. Each party hereto hereby acknowledges
and agrees that no SPC shall have the rights of a Lender hereunder, such rights
being retained by the applicable Granting Lender. Accordingly, and without
limiting the foregoing, each party hereby further acknowledges and agrees that
no SPC shall have any voting rights hereunder and that the voting rights
attributable to any Loan made by an SPC shall be exercised only by the relevant
Granting Lender and that each Granting Lender shall serve as the administrative
agent and attorney-in-fact for its SPC and shall on behalf of its SPC receive
any and all payments made for the benefit of such SPC and take all actions
hereunder to the extent, if any, such SPC shall have any rights hereunder. In
addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement
any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without the prior written consent of any
other party hereto, assign all or a portion of its interest in any Loans to the
Granting Lender and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any information
relating to its Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider
of any surety, guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC. This
Section may not be amended without the prior written consent of each Granting
Lender, all or any part of whose Loan is being funded by an SPC at the time of
such amendment.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 12.06 to the contrary, any
Lender may assign and pledge its note issued pursuant to Section 2.06 to any
Federal Reserve Bank. No such assignment and/or pledge shall release the
assigning and/or pledging Lender from its obligations hereunder.
(g) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 12.06, no
transfer or assignment of the interests or obligations of any Lender or any
grant of participations therein shall be permitted if such transfer, assignment
or grant would require the Borrower to file a registration statement with the
SEC or to qualify the Loans under the "Blue Sky" laws of any state.
SECTION 12.07. INVALIDITY.
In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained in any of
the Loan Documents or the Letters of Credit, the Letter of Credit Agreements
shall, for any reason, be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect,
such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other
provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
SECTION 12.08. COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which
taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument and any of the
parties hereto may execute this Agreement by signing any such counterpart.
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SECTION 12.09. REFERENCES.
The words "herein", "hereof", "hereunder" and other words of similar
import when used in this Agreement refer to this Agreement as a whole, and not
to any particular Article, Section or Subsection. Any reference herein to a
Section shall be deemed to refer to the applicable Section of this Agreement
unless otherwise stated herein. Any reference herein to an Exhibit or Schedule
shall be deemed to refer to the applicable Exhibit or Schedule attached hereto
unless otherwise stated herein.
SECTION 12.10. SURVIVAL.
The obligations of the parties under Section 4.06, Article V, and Sections
11.05 and 12.03 shall survive the repayment of the Loans and the termination of
the Commitments. To the extent that any payments on the Debt hereunder or
proceeds of any collateral are subsequently invalidated, declared to be
fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required to be repaid to a trustee,
debtor in possession, receiver or other Person under any bankruptcy law, common
law or equitable cause, then to such extent, the Debt so satisfied shall be
revived and continue as if such payment or proceeds had not been received and
the Agent's and the Lenders' rights, powers and remedies under this Agreement
and each other Loan Document shall continue in full force and effect. In such
event, each Loan Document shall be automatically reinstated and the Borrower
shall take such action as may be reasonably requested by the Agent and the
Lenders to effect such reinstatement.
SECTION 12.11. CAPTIONS.
Captions and Section headings appearing herein are included solely for
convenience of reference and are not intended to affect the interpretation of
any provision of this Agreement.
SECTION 12.12. NO ORAL AGREEMENTS.
THE LOAN DOCUMENTS EMBODY THE ENTIRE AGREEMENT AND UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN
THE PARTIES AND SUPERSEDE ALL OTHER AGREEMENTS AND UNDERSTANDINGS BETWEEN SUCH
PARTIES RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF AND THEREOF. THE LOAN DOCUMENTS
REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY
EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES.
THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.
SECTION 12.13. GOVERNING LAW; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION.
(a) THIS AGREEMENT (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE VALIDITY AND
ENFORCEABILITY HEREOF AND THEREOF) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, OTHER THAN THE CONFLICT OF
LAWS RULES THEREOF.
(b) ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THE LOAN DOCUMENTS
SHALL BE BROUGHT IN XXX XXXXXX XX XXX XXXXX XX XXX XXXX
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OR OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND,
BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, EACH OF THE BORROWER, THE AGENT,
THE GENERAL PARTNER AND EACH LENDER HEREBY ACCEPTS FOR ITSELF AND (TO THE EXTENT
PERMITTED BY LAW) IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, THE
JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS. EACH OF THE BORROWER, THE AGENT, THE
GENERAL PARTNER AND EACH LENDER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION,
INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, 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 SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN SUCH RESPECTIVE JURISDICTIONS. THIS
SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION IS NON-EXCLUSIVE AND DOES NOT PRECLUDE THE PARTIES
FROM OBTAINING JURISDICTION OVER OTHER PARTIES IN ANY COURT OTHERWISE HAVING
JURISDICTION.
(c) THE BORROWER AND THE GENERAL PARTNER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY DESIGNATE CT
CORPORATION LOCATED AT 0000 XXXXXXXX, XXX XXXX, XXX XXXX 00000, AS THE DESIGNEE,
APPOINTEE AND AGENT OF ITSELF TO RECEIVE, FOR AND ON BEHALF OF ITSELF, SERVICE
OF PROCESS IN SUCH RESPECTIVE JURISDICTIONS IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING
WITH RESPECT TO THE LOAN DOCUMENTS. IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT A COPY OF SUCH PROCESS
SERVED ON SUCH AGENT WILL BE PROMPTLY FORWARDED BY OVERNIGHT COURIER TO THE
BORROWER AT ITS ADDRESS SET FORTH UNDER ITS SIGNATURE BELOW, BUT THE FAILURE OF
ANY OF THE BORROWER OR THE GENERAL PARTNER TO RECEIVE SUCH COPY SHALL NOT AFFECT
IN ANY WAY THE SERVICE OF SUCH PROCESS. THE BORROWER AND THE GENERAL PARTNER
FURTHER IRREVOCABLY CONSENT TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS OF ANY OF THE
AFOREMENTIONED COURTS IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY THE MAILING OF COPIES
THEREOF BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, POSTAGE PREPAID, TO IT AT ITS SAID
ADDRESS, SUCH SERVICE TO BECOME EFFECTIVE THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER SUCH MAILING.
(d) NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF THE AGENT OR ANY LENDER TO
SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO COMMENCE LEGAL
PROCEEDINGS OR OTHERWISE PROCEED AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ANY GUARANTOR IN ANY
OTHER JURISDICTION.
(e) THE BORROWER, THE GENERAL PARTNER AND EACH LENDER HEREBY (i)
IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW,
TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR
ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN; (ii) IRREVOCABLY
WAIVE, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO
CLAIM OR RECOVER IN ANY SUCH LITIGATION ANY SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OR DAMAGES OTHER THAN, OR IN ADDITION TO, ACTUAL DAMAGES;
(iii) CERTIFY THAT NO PARTY HERETO NOR ANY REPRESENTATIVE OR AGENT OF COUNSEL
FOR ANY PARTY HERETO HAS
76
REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, OR IMPLIED THAT SUCH PARTY WOULD NOT, IN
THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVERS, AND (iv)
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT, THE OTHER
LOAN DOCUMENTS AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY BY, AMONG
OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS CONTAINED IN THIS SECTION
12.13.
SECTION 12.14. INTEREST.
It is the intention of the parties hereto that each Lender shall conform
strictly to usury laws applicable to it. Accordingly, if the transactions
contemplated hereby would be usurious as to any Lender under laws applicable to
it (including the laws of the United States of America and the State of New York
or any other jurisdiction whose laws may be mandatorily applicable to such
Lender notwithstanding the other provisions of this Agreement), then, in that
event, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any of the Loan Documents or
any agreement entered into in connection with or as security for the Loans, it
is agreed as follows: (i) the aggregate of all consideration which constitutes
interest under law applicable to any Lender that is contracted for, taken,
reserved, charged or received by such Lender under any of the Loan Documents or
agreements or otherwise in connection with the Loans shall under no
circumstances exceed the maximum amount allowed by such applicable law, and any
excess shall be canceled automatically and if theretofore paid shall be credited
by such Lender on the principal amount of the Debt (or, to the extent that the
principal amount of the Debt shall have been or would thereby be paid in full,
refunded by such Lender to the Borrower); and (ii) in the event that the
maturity of the Loans is accelerated by reason of an election of the holder
thereof resulting from any Event of Default under this Agreement or otherwise,
or in the event of any required or permitted prepayment, then such consideration
that constitutes interest under law applicable to any Lender may never include
more than the maximum amount allowed by such applicable law, and excess
interest, if any, provided for in this Agreement or otherwise shall be canceled
automatically by such Lender as of the date of such acceleration or prepayment
and, if theretofore paid, shall be credited by such Lender on the principal
amount of the Debt (or, to the extent that the principal amount of the Debt
shall have been or would thereby be paid in full, refunded by such Lender to the
Borrower). All sums paid or agreed to be paid to any Lender for the use,
forbearance or detention of sums due hereunder shall, to the extent permitted by
law applicable to such Lender, be amortized, prorated, allocated and spread
throughout the full term of the Loans until payment in full so that the rate or
amount of interest on account of any Loans hereunder does not exceed the maximum
amount allowed by such applicable law. If at any time and from time to time (i)
the amount of interest payable to any Lender on any date shall be computed at
the Highest Lawful Rate applicable to such Lender pursuant to this Section 12.14
and (ii) in respect of any subsequent interest computation period the amount of
interest otherwise payable to such Lender would be less than the amount of
interest payable to such Lender computed at the Highest Lawful Rate applicable
to such Lender, then the amount of interest payable to such Lender in respect of
such subsequent interest computation period shall continue to be computed at the
Highest Lawful Rate applicable to such Lender until the total amount of interest
payable to such Lender shall equal the total amount of interest which would have
been payable to such Lender if the total amount of interest had been computed
without giving effect to this Section 12.14.
77
SECTION 12.15. CONFIDENTIALITY.
In the event that the Borrower or any Guarantor provides to the Agent or
the Lenders written confidential information belonging to the Borrower or such
Guarantor, if the Borrower or such Guarantor shall denominate such information
in writing as "confidential", the Agent and the Lenders shall thereafter
maintain such information in confidence in accordance with the standards of care
and diligence that each utilizes in maintaining its own confidential
information. This obligation of confidence shall not apply to such portions of
the information which (i) are in the public domain, (ii) hereafter become part
of the public domain without the Agent or the Lenders breaching their obligation
of confidence to the Borrower and such Guarantor, (iii) are previously known by
the Agent or the Lenders from some source other than the Borrower or such
Guarantor, (iv) are hereafter developed by the Agent or the Lenders without
using the Borrower's or such Guarantor's information, (v) are hereafter obtained
by or available to the Agent or the Lenders from a third party who owes no
obligation of confidence to the Borrower or such Guarantor with respect to such
information or through any other means other than through disclosure by the
Borrower or such Guarantor, (vi) are disclosed with the Borrower's or the
Guarantor's consent, (vii) must be disclosed either pursuant to any Governmental
Requirement or to Persons regulating the activities of the Agent, the Lenders or
their Affiliates, (viii) as may be required by law or regulation or order of any
Governmental Authority in any judicial, arbitration or governmental proceeding
or to any Affiliate of the Agent or any Lender on a confidential and need to
know basis and (ix) as disclosed in connection with any litigation related to
this Agreement to which the Agent or any Lender is a party. Further, except
where prohibited by applicable law, the Agent or a Lender may disclose any such
information to any other Lender, any independent petroleum engineers or
consultants, any independent certified public accountants, any legal counsel
employed by such Person in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan
Document, including without limitation, the enforcement or exercise of all
rights and remedies thereunder, or any assignee or participant (including
prospective assignees and participants) in the Loans, or any actual or proposed
contractual counterparty (or its advisors) to any securitization, hedging or
other derivative transaction relating to the parties' obligations hereunder;
provided, however, that the Agent or the Lenders shall receive a confidentiality
agreement from the Person to whom such information is disclosed such that said
Person shall have the same obligation to maintain the confidentiality of such
information as is imposed upon the Agent or the Lenders hereunder.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided herein, this obligation of
confidence shall cease three years from the date the information was furnished,
unless the Borrower and the Guarantors request in writing at least 30 days prior
to the expiration of such three year period, to maintain the confidentiality of
such information for an additional three year period. Each of the Borrower and
the Guarantors waives any and all other rights it may have to confidentiality as
against the Agent and the Lenders arising by contract, agreement, statute or law
except as expressly stated in this Section 12.15.
SECTION 12.16. EXCULPATION PROVISIONS.
EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO SPECIFICALLY AGREES THAT IT HAS A DUTY TO READ
THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS AND AGREES THAT IT IS CHARGED WITH
NOTICE AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN
DOCUMENTS; THAT IT HAS IN FACT
78
READ THIS AGREEMENT AND IS FULLY INFORMED AND HAS FULL NOTICE AND KNOWLEDGE OF
THE TERMS, CONDITIONS AND EFFECTS OF THIS AGREEMENT; THAT IT HAS BEEN
REPRESENTED BY INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL OF ITS CHOICE THROUGHOUT THE
NEGOTIATIONS PRECEDING ITS EXECUTION OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN
DOCUMENTS; AND HAS RECEIVED THE ADVICE OF ITS ATTORNEY IN ENTERING INTO THIS
AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS; AND THAT IT RECOGNIZES THAT CERTAIN OF
THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS RESULT IN ONE PARTY
ASSUMING THE LIABILITY INHERENT IN SOME ASPECTS OF THE TRANSACTION AND RELIEVING
THE OTHER PARTY OF ITS RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUCH LIABILITY. EACH PARTY HERETO
AGREES AND COVENANTS THAT IT WILL NOT CONTEST THE VALIDITY OR ENFORCEABILITY OF
ANY EXCULPATORY PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS ON THE
BASIS THAT THE PARTY HAD NO NOTICE OR KNOWLEDGE OF SUCH PROVISION.
SECTION 12.17. SEPARATENESS.
The Lenders acknowledge that (i) the Lenders have advanced funds to the
Borrower in reliance upon the separateness of the Borrower and the General
Partner from each other and of the Borrower and the General Partner from any
other Persons, including BPL Acquisition L.P., and (ii) the Borrower has assets
and liabilities that are separate from those of other Persons, including BPL
Acquisition L.P. and the General Partner.
[Signatures Begin on Next Page]
79
The parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of
the day and year first above written.
BORROWER: BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.
By Buckeye Pipe Line Company LLC, its general partner
By /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
_______________________________
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Senior VP Finance & CFO
Address for Notices:
5 Radnor Corporate Center
Xxxxx 000
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: 610/971-9296
Telephone No.: 610/000-0000
Attention: Senior Vice President, Finance
S-1
LENDER ISSUING BANK :
AND AGENT: SUNTRUST BANK
By /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
_______________________________
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Director
LENDING OFFICE FOR BASE RATE LOANS AND
LIBOR LOANS:
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X.
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Telecopier No.: 404/724-3879
Telephone No.: 404/000-0000
Attention: Agency Services
With copies to:
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X.
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Telecopier No.: 404/827-6270
Telephone No.: 404/000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxx
ADDRESS FOR NOTICES:
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X.
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Telecopier No.: 404/827-6270
Telephone No.: 404/000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxx
With copies to:
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X.
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Telecopier No.: 404/724-3879
Telephone No.: 404/000-0000
Attention: Agency Services
S-2
FLEET NATIONAL BANK
By /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
_______________________________
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Title: Director
LENDING OFFICE FOR BASE RATE LOANS AND
LIBOR LOANS:
Fleet National Bank
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: 000-000-0000
Telephone No.: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx XxXxxxxxx
ADDRESS FOR NOTICES:
Fleet National Bank
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: 000-000-0000
Telephone No.: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx XxXxxxxxx
S-3
CITIBANK, N.A.
By /s/ K. Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
_______________________________
Name: K. Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: Attorney-in-fact
LENDING OFFICE FOR BASE RATE LOANS AND
LIBOR LOANS:
Citibank, N.A.
Xxx Xxxx'x Xxx
Xxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: 000-000-0000
Telephone No.: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
ADDRESS FOR NOTICES:
Citibank, N.A.
Xxx Xxxx'x Xxx
Xxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: 000-000-0000
Telephone No.: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
S-4
BNP PARIBAS
By /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
_______________________________
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: Director
By /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
_______________________________
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: Vice President
LENDING OFFICE FOR BASE RATE LOANS AND
LIBOR LOANS:
BNP Paribas
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: 000-000-0000
Telephone No.: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxx
ADDRESS FOR NOTICES:
BNP Paribas
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: 000-000-0000
Telephone No.: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxx
S-5
XX XXXXXX XXXXX BANK
By /s/ Xxx X. Xxxxxxx
_______________________________
Name: Xxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Vice President
LENDING OFFICE FOR BASE RATE LOANS AND
LIBOR LOANS:
XX Xxxxxx Chase Bank
000 Xxxxx 00 Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: 000-000-0000
Telephone No.: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx XxXxxx
ADDRESS FOR NOTICES:
XX Xxxxxx Chase Bank
000 Xxxxx 00 Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: 000-000-0000
Telephone No.: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx XxXxxx
S-6
WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
__________________________________
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: Director
LENDING OFFICE FOR BASE RATE LOANS AND
LIBOR LOANS:
Wachovia Bank, National Association
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: 000-000-0000
Telephone No.: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
ADDRESS FOR NOTICES:
Wachovia Bank, National Association
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxx
XX 5414
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: 000-000-0000
Telephone No.: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
S-7
NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LTD.
By /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
_____________________________________
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: SVP
LENDING OFFICE FOR BASE RATE LOANS AND
LIBOR LOANS:
National Australia Bank Ltd.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: 000-000-0000
Telephone No.: 000-000-0000/628/549
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx/Xxxx Xxxxxx/Xxxxxxx
Sees
ADDRESS FOR NOTICES:
National Australia Bank Ltd.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: 000-000-0000
Telephone No.: 000-000-0000/628/549
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx/Xxxx Xxxxxx/Xxxxxxx
Sees
S-8
THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND plc
By /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Main
__________________________________
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Main
Title: Senior Vice President
LENDING OFFICE FOR BASE RATE LOANS AND
LIBOR LOANS:
The Royal Bank of Scotland
New York Branch
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: 000-000-0000
Telephone No.: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxx
ADDRESS FOR NOTICES:
The Royal Bank of Scotland
New York Branch
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: 000-000-0000
Telephone No.: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxx
S-9
ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
By /s/ Xxxxx Xxxx
__________________________________
Name: Xxxxx Xxxx
Title: Attorney-in-fact
LENDING OFFICE FOR BASE RATE LOANS AND
LIBOR LOANS:
Royal Bank of Canada
New York Branch
Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Singh
With copies to:
Royal Bank of Canada
5700 Xxxxxxxx Tower
0000 Xxxx Xxx Xxxx.
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxx
ADDRESS FOR NOTICES:
Royal Bank of Canada
New York Branch
Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
With copies to:
Royal Bank of Canada
5700 Xxxxxxxx Tower
0000 Xxxx Xxx Xxxx.
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxx
S-10
KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
__________________________________
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: Vice President
LENDING OFFICE FOR BASE RATE LOANS AND
LIBOR LOANS:
KeyBank National Association
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: 000-000-0000
Telephone No.: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx-Xxxxx
ADDRESS FOR NOTICES:
KeyBank National Association
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: 000-000-0000
Telephone No.: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx-Xxxxx
S-11
UFJ BANK LIMITED
By /s/ Xxxxx Xxxx
__________________________________
Name: Xxxxx Xxxx
Title: Assistant Vice President
LENDING OFFICE FOR BASE RATE LOANS AND
LIBOR LOANS:
00 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: 212-754-2368
Telephone No.: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxx
ADDRESS FOR NOTICES:
00 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: 212-754-2368
Telephone No.: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxx
S-12
MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD.
By /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx
__________________________________
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: SVP & Team Leader
LENDING OFFICE FOR BASE RATE LOANS AND
LIBOR LOANS:
0000 Xxxxx Xxx
Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000
Telecopier No.: 000-000-0000
Telephone No.: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxx
ADDRESS FOR NOTICES:
0000 Xxxxx Xxx
Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000
Telecopier No.: 000-000-0000
Telephone No.: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxx
S-13
XXXXX FARGO BANK, N.A.
By /s/ Art Xxxxxx
__________________________________
Name: Art Xxxxxx
Title: Relationship Manager
LENDING OFFICE FOR BASE RATE LOANS AND
LIBOR LOANS:
Xxxxx Fargo Bank, N.A.
0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: 000-000-0000
Telephone No.: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxx
ADDRESS FOR NOTICES:
Xxxxx Fargo Bank, N.A.
0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: 000-000-0000
Telephone No.: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxx
S-14
UBS LOAN FINANCE LLC
By /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
__________________________________
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Title: Associate Director
Banking Products
Services, US
By /s/ Salloz Xxxxx
__________________________________
Name: Salloz Xxxxx
Title: Associate Director
Banking Products
Services, US
LENDING OFFICE FOR BASE RATE LOANS AND
LIBOR LOANS:
UBS Loan Finance LLC
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: 000-000-0000
Telephone No.: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxx
ADDRESS FOR NOTICES:
UBS Loan Finance LLC
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: 000-000-0000
Telephone No.: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxx
S-15
XXXXXXX XXXXX BANK USA
By /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx
__________________________________
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President
LENDING OFFICE FOR BASE RATE LOANS AND
LIBOR LOANS:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Bank USA
00 X. Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: 000-000-0000
Telephone No.: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxx
ADDRESS FOR NOTICES:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Bank USA
00 X. Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: 000-000-0000
Telephone No.: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxx
With copy to:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Bank USA
00 X. Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: 000-000-0000
Telephone No.: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxx
X-00
XXXXXXX XXXXXX CREDIT CORPORATION
By /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx
__________________________________
Name: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx
Title: Chief Financial Officer
LENDING OFFICE FOR BASE RATE LOANS AND
LIBOR LOANS:
Xxxxxxx Street Credit Corporation
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx - 0xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: 000-000-0000
Telephone No.: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
ADDRESS FOR NOTICES:
Xxxxxxx Street Credit Corporation
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx - 0xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: 000-000-0000
Telephone No.: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
S-17
XXXXXX BROTHERS BANK, FSB
By /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
__________________________________
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Authorized Signatory
LENDING OFFICE FOR BASE RATE LOANS AND
LIBOR LOANS:
Xxxxxx Brothers Bank, FSB
000 0xx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: 000-000-0000
Telephone No.: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
ADDRESS FOR NOTICES:
Xxxxxx Brothers Bank, FSB
000 0xx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No.: 000-000-0000
Telephone No.: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
S-18
ANNEX I
5-YEAR CREDIT AGREEMENT
LIST OF PERCENTAGE SHARES AND REVOLVING CREDIT COMMITMENTS
Revolving Credit
Name of Lender Percentage Share Commitments
-------------- ---------------- ----------------
Sun Trust 8.7500000% 35,000,000
Fleet National Bank 7.5000000% 30,000,000
Citibank, N.A. 7.5000000% 30,000,000
BNP Paribas 7.5000000% 30,000,000
XX Xxxxxx Xxxxx Bank 7.5000000% 30,000,000
Wachovia Bank, National Association 7.5000000% 30,000,000
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc 7.5000000% 30,000,000
National Australia Bank Ltd. 6.2500000% 25,000,000
Royal Bank of Canada 6.0000000% 25,000,000
KeyBank National Association 6.2500000% 25,000,000
UFJ Bank Limited 6.2500000% 25,000,000
Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. 6.2500000% 25,000,000
Xxxxx Fargo Bank, N.A. 3.0000000% 12,000,000
UBS Loan Finance LLC 3.0000000% 12,000,000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Bank USA 3.0000000% 12,000,000
Xxxxxxx Street Credit Corporation 3.0000000% 12,000,000
Xxxxxx Brothers Bank, FSB 3.0000000% 12,000,000
TOTAL 100.0000000% $ 400,000,000
I-1
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF BORROWING, CONTINUATION AND CONVERSION REQUEST
_____________, 200_
BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the "BORROWER"),
pursuant to the Credit Agreement dated as of August 6, 2004, among the Borrower,
SunTrust Bank, as agent for the lenders (the "LENDERS") which are or become
parties thereto, and such Lenders (together with all amendments or supplements
thereto, the "CREDIT AGREEMENT"), hereby makes the requests indicated below
(unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms are defined in the Credit
Agreement):
[ ] 1. Loans:
(a) Aggregate amount of new Loans to be
$__________________;
(b) Requested funding date is _____________, 200__;
(c) $____________________ of such borrowings are to be LIBOR Loans;
$____________________ of such borrowings are to be Base Rate Loans;
and
(d) Length of Interest Period for LIBOR Loans is:
____________________.
[ ] 2. LIBOR Loan Continuation for LIBOR Loans maturing on
____________________.
(a) Aggregate amount to be continued as LIBOR Loans is $_______________;
(b) Aggregate amount to be converted to Base Rate Loans is $___________;
(c) Length of Interest Period for continued LIBOR Loans is
____________________.
[ ] 3. Conversion of Outstanding Base Rate Loans to LIBOR Loans:
Convert $____________ of the outstanding Base Rate Loans to LIBOR
Loans on ____________ with an Interest Period of ____________.
[ ] 4. Conversion of outstanding LIBOR Loans to Base Rate Loans:
Convert $_______________ of the outstanding LIBOR Loans with
Interest Period maturing on _____________, 200__, to Base Rate
Loans.
A-1
The undersigned certifies that he is the __________ of the general partner
of Borrower, and that as such he is authorized to execute this certificate on
behalf of the Borrower. The undersigned further certifies, represents and
warrants on behalf of the Borrower that the Borrower is entitled to receive the
requested borrowing, continuation or conversion under the terms and conditions
of the Credit Agreement.
BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.
By Buckeye Pipe Line Company, its
general partner
By _________________________________
Name:
Title:
A-2
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies that it is the general partner of BUCKEYE
PARTNERS, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the "BORROWER") and that, as
such, it is authorized to execute this certificate on behalf of the Borrower.
With reference to the Credit Agreement, dated as of August 6, 2004, among the
Borrower, SunTrust Bank, as agent for the lenders (the "LENDERS") which are or
become a party thereto, and such Lenders (together with all amendments or
supplements thereto being the "CREDIT AGREEMENT"), the undersigned, on behalf of
the Borrower, represents and warrants as follows (each capitalized term used
herein having the same meaning given to it in the Credit Agreement unless
otherwise specified):
(a) The representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in
Article VII of the Credit Agreement and in the other Loan Documents and
otherwise made in writing by or on behalf of the Borrower pursuant to the
Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents were true and correct when
made, and are repeated at and as of the time of delivery hereof and are
true and correct at and as of the time of delivery hereof, except as such
representations and warranties are modified to give effect to the
transactions expressly permitted by the Credit Agreement.
(b) The Borrower has performed and complied with all agreements and
conditions contained in the Credit Agreement and in the other Loan
Documents required to be performed or complied with by it prior to or at
the time of delivery hereof.
(c) None of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of the
Borrower has incurred any material liabilities, direct or contingent,
since [DATE OF LAST AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DELIVERED] except those
set forth in Schedule 9.01 to the Credit Agreement and except those not
prohibited by the terms of the Credit Agreement or consented to by the
Lenders in writing.
(d) Since [DATE OF LAST AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DELIVERED], no
change has occurred, either in any case or in the aggregate, in the
condition, financial or otherwise, of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of
the Borrower which would have a Material Adverse Effect.
(e) There exists, and, after giving effect to the Loan or Loans with
respect to which this certificate is being delivered, will exist, no
Default under the Credit Agreement.
(f) The financial statements furnished to the Agent with this
certificate fairly present, in all material respects, the consolidated
financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of, and for, the [FISCAL
QUARTER][FISCAL YEAR] ending and such financial statement have been
prepared in accordance with the accounting requirements specified in the
Credit Agreement.
B-1
(g) Attached hereto are the detailed computations necessary to
determine whether the Borrower is in compliance with Sections 9.12 and
9.13 of the Credit Agreement as of the end of the [FISCAL QUARTER] [FISCAL
YEAR] ending ________________.
The officer signing this Certificate on behalf of the General Partner
hereby certifies that he/she holds the office set forth under his/her signature
and is authorized to execute this Certificate on behalf of the General Partner.
EXECUTED AND DELIVERED this ____ day of ________________.
BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.
By: Buckeye Pipe Line Company, its
general partner
By _________________________________
Name:
Title:
B-2
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT
ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT ("AGREEMENT") dated as of _____________, 200__
between: _________________________ (the "ASSIGNOR") and _____________________
(the "ASSIGNEE").
RECITALS
A. The Assignor is a party to the Credit Agreement dated as of August 6,
2004 (as amended and supplemented and in effect from time to time, the "CREDIT
AGREEMENT") among Buckeye Partners, L.P., a limited partnership (the
"BORROWER"), each of the lenders that is or becomes a party thereto as provided
in Section 12.06 of the Credit Agreement (individually, together with its
successors and assigns, a "LENDER", and collectively, together with their
successors and assigns, the "LENDERS"), and SunTrust Bank, in its individual
capacity, ("SUNTRUST") and as agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together
with its successors in such capacity, the "AGENT").
B. The Assignor proposes to sell, assign and transfer to the Assignee, and
the Assignee proposes to purchase and assume from the Assignor, [ALL][A PORTION]
of the Assignor's Commitment, outstanding Loans and its Percentage Share of the
outstanding LC Exposure, all on the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
C. In consideration of the foregoing and the mutual agreements contained
herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01. DEFINITIONS.
All capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the respective
meanings given to such terms in the Credit Agreement.
SECTION 1.02. OTHER DEFINITIONS.
As used herein, the following terms have the following respective
meanings:
"ASSIGNED INTEREST" shall mean all of Assignor's rights and
obligations (i) under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents in
respect of the Commitment of the Assignor in the principal amount equal to
$______________ including, without limitation, any obligation to
participate pro rata in any LC Exposure, and (ii) to make Loans under the
Commitment and any right to receive payments for the Loans outstanding
under the Commitment assigned hereby of $_______________ (the "LOAN
BALANCE"), plus the interest and fees which will accrue from and after the
Assignment Date.
C-1
"ASSIGNMENT DATE" shall mean _____________, 200__.
ARTICLE II
SALE AND ASSIGNMENT
SECTION 2.01. SALE AND ASSIGNMENT.
On the terms and conditions set forth herein, effective on and as of the
Assignment Date, the Assignor hereby sells, assigns and transfers to the
Assignee, and the Assignee hereby purchases and assumes from the Assignor, all
of the right, title and interest of the Assignor in and to, and all of the
obligations of the Assignor in respect of, the Assigned Interest. Such sale,
assignment and transfer is without recourse and, except as expressly provided in
this Agreement, without representation or warranty.
SECTION 2.02. ASSUMPTION OF OBLIGATIONS.
The Assignee agrees with the Assignor (for the express benefit of the
Assignor and the Borrower) that the Assignee will, from and after the Assignment
Date, perform all of the obligations of the Assignor in respect of the Assigned
Interest. From and after the Assignment Date: (a) the Assignor shall be released
from the Assignor's obligations in respect of the Assigned Interest, and (b) the
Assignee shall be entitled to all of the Assignor's rights, powers and
privileges under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents in respect of
the Assigned Interest.
SECTION 2.03. CONSENT BY AGENT.
By executing this Agreement as provided below, in accordance with Section
12.06(b)of the Credit Agreement, the Agent hereby acknowledges notice of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and consents to such transactions.
ARTICLE III
PAYMENTS
SECTION 3.01. PAYMENTS.
As consideration for the sale, assignment and transfer contemplated by
Section 2.01 hereof, the Assignee shall, on the Assignment Date, assume
Assignor's obligations in respect of the Assigned Interest and pay to the
Assignor an amount equal to the [LOAN BALANCE], if any. An amount equal to all
accrued and unpaid interest and fees shall be paid to the Assignor as provided
in Section 3.02(iii) below. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all
payments hereunder shall be made in Dollars and in immediately available funds,
without setoff, deduction or counterclaim.
SECTION 3.02. ALLOCATION OF PAYMENTS.
The Assignor and the Assignee agree that (i) the Assignor shall be
entitled to any payments of principal with respect to the Assigned Interest made
prior to the Assignment Date,
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together with any interest and fees with respect to the Assigned Interest
accrued prior to the Assignment Date, (ii) the Assignee shall be entitled to any
payments of principal with respect to the Assigned Interest made from and after
the Assignment Date, together with any and all interest and fees with respect to
the Assigned Interest accruing from and after the Assignment Date, and (iii) the
Agent is authorized and instructed to allocate payments received by it for
account of the Assignor and the Assignee as provided in the foregoing clauses.
Each party hereto agrees that it will hold any interest, fees or other amounts
that it may receive to which the other party hereto shall be entitled pursuant
to the preceding sentence for account of such other party and pay, in like money
and funds, any such amounts that it may receive to such other party promptly
upon receipt.
SECTION 3.03. FURTHER ASSURANCES.
The Assignor and the Assignee hereby agree to execute and deliver such
other instruments, and take such other actions, as either party may reasonably
request in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
ARTICLE IV
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
SECTION 4.01. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.
The effectiveness of the sale, assignment and transfer contemplated hereby
is subject to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions precedent:
(a) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Assignor and
the Assignee;
(b) the receipt by the Assignor of the payment required to be made
by the Assignee under Section 3.01 hereof; and
(c) the acknowledgment and consent by the Agent contemplated by
Section 2.03 hereof.
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
SECTION 5.01. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE ASSIGNOR.
The Assignor represents and warrants to the Assignee as follows:
(a) it has all requisite power and authority, and has taken all
action necessary to execute and deliver this Agreement and to fulfill its
obligations under, and consummate the transactions contemplated by, this
Agreement;
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(b) the execution, delivery and compliance with the terms hereof by
Assignor and the delivery of all instruments required to be delivered by
it hereunder do not and will not violate any Governmental Requirement
applicable to it;
(c) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by it and
constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Assignor,
enforceable against it in accordance with its terms;
(d) all approvals and authorizations of, all filings with and all
actions by any Governmental Authority necessary for the validity or
enforceability of its obligations under this Agreement have been obtained;
(e) the Assignor has good title to, and is the sole legal and
beneficial owner of, the Assigned Interest, free and clear of all Liens,
claims, participations or other charges of any nature whatsoever; and
(f) the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are commercial
banking transactions entered into in the ordinary course of the banking
business of the Assignor.
SECTION 5.02. DISCLAIMER.
Except as expressly provided in Section 5.01 hereof, the Assignor does not
make any representation or warranty, nor shall it have any responsibility to the
Assignee, with respect to the accuracy of any recitals, statements,
representations or warranties contained in the Credit Agreement or in any
certificate or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by any
Lender under, the Credit Agreement, or for the value, validity, effectiveness,
genuineness, execution, effectiveness, legality, enforceability or sufficiency
of the Credit Agreement or any other document referred to or provided for
therein or for any failure by the Borrower or any other Person (other than
Assignor) to perform any of its obligations thereunder prior or for the
existence, value, perfection or priority of any collateral security or the
financial or other condition of the Borrower or the Subsidiaries [OR ANY OTHER
OBLIGOR OR GUARANTOR], or any other matter relating to the Credit Agreement or
any other Loan Document or any extension of credit thereunder.
SECTION 5.03. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE ASSIGNEE.
The Assignee represents and warrants to the Assignor as follows:
(a) it has all requisite power and authority, and has taken all
action necessary to execute and deliver this Agreement and to fulfill its
obligations under, and consummate the transactions contemplated by, this
Agreement;
(b) the execution, delivery and compliance with the terms hereof by
Assignee and the delivery of all instruments required to be delivered by
it hereunder do not and will not violate any Governmental Requirement
applicable to it;
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(c) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by it and
constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Assignee,
enforceable against it in accordance with its terms;
(d) all approvals and authorizations of, all filings with and all
actions by any Governmental Authority necessary for the validity or
enforceability of its obligations under this Agreement have been obtained;
(e) the Assignee has fully reviewed the terms of the Credit
Agreement and the other Loan Documents and has independently and without
reliance upon the Assignor, and based on such information as the Assignee
has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter
into this Agreement;
(f) the Assignee hereby affirms that the representations contained
in Section 4.06(d) of the Credit Agreement, if applicable, are true and
accurate as to it and the Assignee has contemporaneously herewith
delivered to the Agent and the Borrower such certifications as are
required thereby to avoid the withholding taxes referred to in Section
4.06(d); and
(g) the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are commercial
banking transactions entered into in the ordinary course of the banking
business of the Assignee.
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 6.01. NOTICES.
All notices and other communications provided for herein (including,
without limitation, any modifications of, or waivers, requests or consents
under, this Agreement) shall be given or made in writing (including, without
limitation, by telex or telecopy) to the intended recipient at its "ADDRESS FOR
NOTICES" specified below its name on the signature pages hereof or, as to either
party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a notice to
the other party.
SECTION 6.02. AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION OR WAIVER.
No provision of this Agreement may be amended, modified or waived except
by an instrument in writing signed by the Assignor and the Assignee, and
consented to by the Agent.
SECTION 6.03. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.
This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. The
representations and warranties made herein by the Assignee are also made for the
benefit of the Agent and the Borrower, and the Assignee agrees that the Agent
and the Borrower are entitled to rely upon such representations and warranties.
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SECTION 6.04. ASSIGNMENTS.
Neither party hereto may assign any of its rights or obligations hereunder
except in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement.
SECTION 6.05. CAPTIONS.
The captions and section headings appearing herein are included solely for
convenience of reference and are not intended to affect the interpretation of
any provision of this Agreement.
SECTION 6.06. COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which shall be identical and all of which, taken together, shall constitute one
and the same instrument, and each of the parties hereto may execute this
Agreement by signing any such counterpart.
SECTION 6.07. GOVERNING LAW.
This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the
law of the State of New York.
SECTION 6.08. EXPENSES.
To the extent not paid by the Borrower pursuant to the terms of the Credit
Agreement, each party hereto shall bear its own expenses in connection with the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.
SECTION 6.09. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.
EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST
EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL
PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Assignment
Agreement to be executed and delivered as of the date first above written.
ASSIGNOR:
________________________________________
By _____________________________________
Name:
Title:
Address for Notices:
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
Telecopier No.: ________________________
Telephone No.: _________________________
Attention: _____________________________
ASSIGNEE:
________________________________________
By _____________________________________
Name:
Title:
Address for Notices:
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
Telecopier No.: ________________________
Telephone No.: _________________________
Attention: _____________________________
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ACKNOWLEDGED AND CONSENTED TO:
________________________________,
as Agent
By _____________________________
Name:
Title:
X-0
XXXXXXX X-0
RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARIES
AS OF THE DATE HEREOF
Buckeye Pipe Line Company, L.P.
Buckeye Pipe Line Holdings Company, L.P.
Buckeye Gulf Coast Holdings I, LLC
Buckeye Gulf Coast Holdings II, LLC
Buckeye Gulf Coast Pipe Lines, L.P.
Buckeye Terminals, LLC
Norco Pipe Line Company, LLC
Everglades Pipe Line Company, L.P.
Buckeye Pipe Line Company of Michigan
Laurel Pipe Line Company, L.P.
D-1
EXHIBIT D-2
UNRESTRICTED SUBSIDIARIES
AS OF THE DATE HEREOF
WesPac Pipelines - Austin LLC
WesPac Pipelines - Memphis LLC
WesPac Pipelines - Reno LLC
WesPac Pipelines - San Diego LLC
WesPac Pipelines - San Xxxx LLC
Buckeye Telecom, L.P.
Buckeye Products Pipe Line, L.P.
Gulf Coast Pipe Line, L.P.
Gulf Coast / Products GP Holding, LLC
Gulf Coast / Products Holding, LP
West Texas LPG Pipeline Limited Partnership
D-2
EXHIBIT E
FORM OF GUARANTY
THIS GUARANTY, dated as of ____________ __, 200__, by [NAME OF GUARANTOR]
(the "GUARANTOR"), is in favor of SUNTRUST BANK, as agent (the "AGENT") for the
lenders (the "LENDERS") that are or become parties to the Credit Agreement
defined below.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, on even date herewith, BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership (the "BORROWER"), the Agent and the Lenders have entered into that
certain 5-Year Credit Agreement (as the same may be amended, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time, the "CREDIT AGREEMENT"); and
WHEREAS, one of the terms and conditions stated in the Credit Agreement
for the making of the loans described therein is the execution and delivery to
the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders of this Guaranty;
NOW, THEREFORE, (i) in order to comply with the terms and conditions of
the Credit Agreement, (ii) to induce the Lenders, at any time or from time to
time, to loan monies, with or without security to or for the account of Borrower
in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement, (iii) at the special
insistence and request of the Lenders, and (iv) for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged,
Guarantor hereby agrees as follows:
ARTICLE I
GENERAL TERMS
SECTION 1.01. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Guaranty, the following terms shall have the following
meanings, unless the context otherwise requires:
"AGENT" shall have the meaning assigned such term in the preamble to
this Guaranty.
"BORROWER" shall have the meaning assigned such term in the preamble
to this Guaranty.
"CONTRIBUTION OBLIGATION" shall mean an amount equal, at any time
and from time to time and for each respective Subsidiary Guarantor, to the
product of (i) its Contribution Percentage times (ii) the sum of all
payments made previous to or at the time of calculation by all Subsidiary
Guarantors in respect of the Liabilities, as a Subsidiary Guarantor (less
the amount of any such payments previously returned to any Subsidiary
Guarantor by operation of law or otherwise, but not including payments
received by any Subsidiary Guarantor by way of its rights of subrogation
and contribution under Section 2.09 of the other Guaranty), provided,
however, such
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Contribution Obligation for any Subsidiary Guarantor shall in no event
exceed such Subsidiary Guarantor's Maximum Guaranteed Amount, as defined
in the respective Guaranty of such Subsidiary Guarantor.
"CONTRIBUTION PERCENTAGE" shall mean for any Subsidiary Guarantor
for any applicable date as of which such percentage is being determined,
an amount equal to the quotient of (i) the Net Worth of such Subsidiary
Guarantor as of such date, divided by (ii) the sum of the Net Worth of all
the Subsidiary Guarantors as of such date.
"CREDIT AGREEMENT" shall have the meaning assigned such term in the
preamble to this Guaranty.
"GUARANTOR" shall have the meaning assigned such term in the
preamble to this Guaranty.
"GUARANTOR CLAIMS" shall have the meaning indicated in Section 4.01
hereof.
"GUARANTY" shall mean this Guaranty, and where the context
indicates, the Guaranty of any other Subsidiary Guarantor, as the same may
from time to time be amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified.
"LENDERS" shall have the meaning assigned such term in the preamble
to this Guaranty.
"LIABILITIES" shall mean (a) any and all indebtedness, obligations
and liabilities of the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement,
including without limitation, (i) the unpaid principal of and interest
under the Credit Agreement, including without limitation, interest
accruing subsequent to the filing of a petition or other action concerning
bankruptcy or other similar proceeding, (ii) payment of and performance of
any and all Hedging Agreements between the Borrower and any Person which
was a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender at the time such Hedging
Agreement was executed, (iii) payment of and performance of any and all
Letters of Credit, and (iv) any additional Loans made by the Lenders to
the Borrower; (b) any and all other indebtedness, obligations and
liabilities of any kind of the Borrower to the Lenders, now or hereafter
existing, arising directly between the Borrower and the Lenders or
acquired outright, as a participation, conditionally or as collateral
security from another by the Lenders, absolute or contingent, joint and/or
several, secured or unsecured, due or not due, arising by operation of law
or otherwise, or direct or indirect, including indebtedness, obligations
and liabilities to the Lenders of the Borrower as a member of any
partnership, syndicate, association or other group, and whether incurred
by the Borrower as principal, surety, endorser, guarantor, accommodation
party or otherwise and (c) all renewals, rearrangements, substitutions,
increases, extensions for any period, amendments or supplements in whole
or in part of the Credit Agreement or any documents evidencing the above.
"MAXIMUM GUARANTEED AMOUNT" shall mean, for the Guarantor, the
greater of (i) the "reasonably equivalent value" or "fair consideration"
(or equivalent concept) received by the Guarantor in exchange for the
obligation incurred hereunder, within the
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meaning of any applicable state or federal fraudulent conveyance or
transfer laws; or (ii) the lesser of (a) the maximum amount that will not
render the Guarantor insolvent, or (b) the maximum amount that will not
leave the Guarantor with any property deemed an unreasonably small
capital. Clauses (a) and (b) are and shall be determined pursuant to and
as of the appropriate date mandated by such applicable state or federal
fraudulent conveyance or transfer laws and to the extent allowed by law
take into account the rights to contribution and subrogation under Section
2.08 in each Guaranty so as to provide for the largest Maximum Guaranteed
Amount possible.
"NET PAYMENTS" shall mean an amount equal, at any time and from time
to time and for each respective Subsidiary Guarantor, to the difference of
(i) the sum of all payments made previous to or at the time of calculation
by such Subsidiary Guarantor in respect to the Liabilities, as a
Subsidiary Guarantor, and in respect of its obligations contained in this
Guaranty, less (ii) the sum of all such payments previously returned to
such Subsidiary Guarantor by operation of law or otherwise and including
payments received by such Subsidiary Guarantor by way of its rights of
subrogation and contribution under Section 2.08 of the other Guaranty.
"NET WORTH" shall mean for any Subsidiary Guarantor, calculated on
and as of any applicable date on which such amount is being determined,
the difference between (i) the sum of all such Subsidiary Guarantor's
property, at a fair valuation and as of such date, minus (ii) the sum of
all such Subsidiary Guarantor's debts, at a fair valuation and as of such
date, excluding the Liabilities.
"SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS" shall mean the Guarantor and any other
Affiliate of the Borrower which executes a guaranty securing the
Liabilities.
SECTION 1.02. CREDIT AGREEMENT DEFINITIONS.
Unless otherwise defined herein, all terms beginning with a capital letter
which are defined in the Credit Agreement shall have the same meanings herein as
therein.
ARTICLE II
THE GUARANTY
SECTION 2.01. LIABILITIES GUARANTEED.
Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees in favor of
the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders the prompt payment of the Liabilities
when due, whether at maturity or otherwise, provided, however, that,
notwithstanding anything herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary,
the maximum liability of Guarantor hereunder shall in no event exceed the
Maximum Guaranteed Amount.
SECTION 2.02. NATURE OF GUARANTY.
This Guaranty is an absolute, irrevocable, completed and continuing
guaranty of payment and not a guaranty of collection, and no notice of the
Liabilities or any extension of credit already or hereafter contracted by or
extended to Borrower need be given to Guarantor. This
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Guaranty may not be revoked by Guarantor and shall continue to be effective with
respect to debt under the Liabilities arising or created after any attempted
revocation by Guarantor and shall remain in full force and effect until the
Liabilities are paid in full and the Commitments are terminated, notwithstanding
that from time to time prior thereto no Liabilities may be outstanding. The
Borrower and the Lenders may modify, alter, rearrange, extend for any period
and/or renew from time to time, the Liabilities, and the Lenders may waive any
Default or Event of Default without notice to the Guarantor and in such event
Guarantor will remain fully bound hereunder on the Liabilities. This Guaranty
shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any
time any payment of the Liabilities is rescinded or must otherwise be returned
by any of the Lenders upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of
Borrower or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made. This
Guaranty may be enforced by the Agent and any subsequent holder of any of the
Liabilities and shall not be discharged by the assignment or negotiation of all
or part of the Liabilities. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein,
Guarantor hereby expressly waives presentment, demand, notice of non-payment,
protest and notice of protest and dishonor, notice of Default or Event of
Default, notice of intent to accelerate the maturity and notice of acceleration
of the maturity and any other notice in connection with the Liabilities, and
also notice of acceptance of this Guaranty, acceptance on the part of the
Lenders being conclusively presumed by the Lenders' request for this Guaranty
and delivery of the same to the Agent.
SECTION 2.03. GUARANTOR'S WAIVERS.
Guarantor waives any right to require any of the Lenders to (i) proceed
against Borrower or any other person liable on the Liabilities, (ii) enforce any
of their rights against any other guarantor of the Liabilities, (iii) proceed or
enforce any of their rights against or exhaust any security given to secure the
Liabilities, (iv) have Borrower joined with Guarantor in any suit arising out of
this Guaranty and/or the Liabilities, or (v) pursue any other remedy in the
Lenders' powers whatsoever. The Lenders shall not be required to mitigate
damages or take any action to reduce, collect or enforce the Liabilities.
Guarantor waives any defense arising by reason of any disability, lack of
corporate authority or power, or other defense of Borrower or any other
guarantor of the Liabilities, and shall remain liable hereon regardless of
whether Borrower or any other guarantor be found not liable thereon for any
reason. Whether and when to exercise any of the remedies of the Lenders under
any of the Loan Documents shall be in the sole and absolute discretion of the
Agent, and no delay by the Agent in enforcing any remedy, including delay in
conducting a foreclosure sale, shall be a defense to the Guarantor's liability
under this Guaranty.
SECTION 2.04. MATURITY OF LIABILITIES; PAYMENT.
Guarantor agrees that if the maturity of any of the Liabilities is
accelerated by bankruptcy or otherwise, such maturity shall also be deemed
accelerated for the purpose of this Guaranty without demand or notice to
Guarantor. Guarantor will, forthwith upon notice from the Agent, pay to the
Agent the amount due and unpaid by Borrower and guaranteed hereby. The failure
of the Agent to give this notice shall not in any way release Guarantor
hereunder.
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SECTION 2.05. AGENT'S EXPENSES.
If Guarantor fails to pay the Liabilities after notice from the Agent of
Borrower's failure to pay any Liabilities at maturity, and if the Agent obtains
the services of an attorney for collection of amounts owing by Guarantor
hereunder, or obtaining advice of counsel in respect of any of their rights
under this Guaranty, or if suit is filed to enforce this Guaranty, or if
proceedings are had in any bankruptcy, probate, receivership or other judicial
proceedings for the establishment or collection of any amount owing by Guarantor
hereunder, or if any amount owing by Guarantor hereunder is collected through
such proceedings, Guarantor agrees to pay to the Agent the Agent's reasonable
attorneys' fees.
SECTION 2.06. LIABILITY.
It is expressly agreed that the liability of the Guarantor for the payment
of the Liabilities guaranteed hereby shall be primary and not secondary.
SECTION 2.07. EVENTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES NOT REDUCING OR DISCHARGING
GUARANTOR'S OBLIGATIONS.
Guarantor hereby consents and agrees to each of the following to the
fullest extent permitted by law, and agrees that Guarantor's obligations under
this Guaranty shall not be released, diminished, impaired, reduced or adversely
affected by any of the following, and waives any rights (including without
limitation rights to notice) which Guarantor might otherwise have as a result of
or in connection with any of the following:
(a) Modifications, etc. Any renewal, extension, modification,
increase, decrease, alteration or rearrangement of all or any part of the
Liabilities or the Credit Agreement or any instrument executed in
connection therewith, or any contract or understanding between Borrower
and any of the Lenders, or any other Person, pertaining to the
Liabilities;
(b) Adjustment, etc. Any adjustment, indulgence, forbearance or
compromise that might be granted or given by any of the Lenders to
Borrower or Guarantor or any Person liable on the Liabilities;
(c) Condition of Borrower or Guarantor. The insolvency, bankruptcy
arrangement, adjustment, composition, liquidation, disability,
dissolution, death or lack of power of Borrower or Guarantor or any other
Person at any time liable for the payment of all or part of the
Liabilities; or any dissolution of Borrower or Guarantor, or any sale,
lease or transfer of any or all of the assets of Borrower or Guarantor, or
any changes in the shareholders, partners, or members of Borrower or
Guarantor; or any reorganization of Borrower or Guarantor;
(d) Invalidity of Liabilities. The invalidity, illegality or
unenforceability of all or any part of the Liabilities, or any document or
agreement executed in connection with the Liabilities, for any reason
whatsoever, including without limitation the fact that the Liabilities, or
any part thereof, exceed the amount permitted by law, the act of creating
the Liabilities or any part thereof is ultra xxxxx, the officers or
representatives executing the documents or otherwise creating the
Liabilities acted in excess of their authority, the Liabilities violate
applicable usury laws, the Borrower has valid defenses, claims or
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offsets (whether at law, in equity or by agreement) which render the
Liabilities wholly or partially uncollectible from Borrower, the creation,
performance or repayment of the Liabilities (or the execution, delivery
and performance of any document or instrument representing part of the
Liabilities or executed in connection with the Liabilities, or given to
secure the repayment of the Liabilities) is illegal, uncollectible,
legally impossible or unenforceable, or the Credit Agreement or other
documents or instruments pertaining to the Liabilities have been forged or
otherwise are irregular or not genuine or authentic;
(e) Release of Obligors. Any full or partial release of the
liability of Borrower on the Liabilities or any part thereof, of any
co-guarantors, or any other Person now or hereafter liable, whether
directly or indirectly, jointly, severally, or jointly and severally, to
pay, perform, guarantee or assure the payment of the Liabilities or any
part thereof, it being recognized, acknowledged and agreed by Guarantor
that Guarantor may be required to pay the Liabilities in full without
assistance or support of any other Person, and Guarantor has not been
induced to enter into this Guaranty on the basis of a contemplation,
belief, understanding or agreement that other parties other than the
Borrower will be liable to perform the Liabilities, or the Lenders will
look to other parties to perform the Liabilities.
(f) Other Security. The taking or accepting of any other security,
collateral or guaranty, or other assurance of payment, for all or any part
of the Liabilities;
(g) Release of Collateral, etc. Any release, surrender, exchange,
subordination, deterioration, waste, loss or impairment (including without
limitation negligent, willful, unreasonable or unjustifiable impairment)
of any collateral, property or security, at any time existing in
connection with, or assuring or securing payment of, all or any part of
the Liabilities;
(h) Care and Diligence. The failure of the Lenders or any other
Person to exercise diligence or reasonable care in the preservation,
protection, enforcement, sale or other handling or treatment of all or any
part of such collateral, property or security;
(i) Status of Liens. The fact that any collateral, security,
security interest or lien contemplated or intended to be given, created or
granted as security for the repayment of the Liabilities shall not be
properly perfected or created, or shall prove to be unenforceable or
subordinate to any other security interest or lien, it being recognized
and agreed by Guarantor that Guarantor is not entering into this Guaranty
in reliance on, or in contemplation of the benefits of, the validity,
enforceability, collectibility or value of any of the collateral for the
Liabilities;
(j) Payments Rescinded. Any payment by Borrower to the Lenders is
held to constitute a preference under the bankruptcy laws, or for any
reason the Lenders are required to refund such payment or pay such amount
to Borrower or someone else; or
(k) Other Actions Taken or Omitted. Any other action taken or
omitted to be taken with respect to the Credit Agreement, the Liabilities,
or the security and collateral therefor, whether or not such action or
omission prejudices Guarantor or increases the
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likelihood that Guarantor will be required to pay the Liabilities pursuant
to the terms hereof; it being the unambiguous and unequivocal intention of
Guarantor that Guarantor shall be obligated to pay the Liabilities when
due, notwithstanding any occurrence, circumstance, event, action, or
omission whatsoever, whether contemplated or uncontemplated, and whether
or not otherwise or particularly described herein, except for the full and
final payment and satisfaction of the Liabilities.
SECTION 2.08. RIGHT OF SUBROGATION AND CONTRIBUTION.
If Guarantor makes a payment in respect of the Liabilities, it shall be
subrogated to the rights of the Lenders against the Borrower with respect to
such payment and shall have the rights of contribution against the other
Subsidiary Guarantors set forth in Section 2.08 of the Subsidiary Guarantors'
Guaranty; provided that Guarantor shall not enforce its rights to any payment by
way of subrogation or by exercising its rights of contribution or reimbursement
or the right to participate in any security now or hereafter held by or for the
benefit of the Lenders until the Liabilities have been paid in full. The
Guarantor agrees that after all the Liabilities have been paid in full that if
its then current Net Payments are less than the amount of its then current
Contribution Obligation, Guarantor shall pay to the other Subsidiary Guarantors
an amount (together with any payments required of the other Subsidiary
Guarantors by Section 2.08 of each other Guaranty) such that the Net Payments
made by all Subsidiary Guarantors in respect of the Liabilities shall be shared
among all of the Subsidiary Guarantors in proportion to their respective
Contribution Percentage.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
SECTION 3.01. BY GUARANTOR.
In order to induce the Lenders to accept this Guaranty, Guarantor
represents and warrants to the Lenders (which representations and warranties
will survive the creation of the Liabilities and any extension of credit
thereunder) that:
(a) Benefit to Guarantor. Guarantor's guaranty pursuant to this
Guaranty reasonably may be expected to benefit, directly or indirectly,
Guarantor.
(b) Existence. Guarantor is a [LIMITED PARTNERSHIP] duly organized,
legally existing and in good standing under the laws of [THE STATE OF
DELAWARE] and is duly qualified in all jurisdictions wherein the property
owned or the business transacted by it makes such qualification necessary,
except where the failure to be so qualified would not have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(c) Partnership Power and Authorization. Guarantor is duly
authorized and empowered to execute, deliver and perform this Guaranty and
all action on Guarantor's part requisite for the due execution, delivery
and performance of this Guaranty has been duly and effectively taken.
(d) Binding Obligations. This Guaranty constitutes valid and binding
obligations of Guarantor, enforceable in accordance with its terms (except
that
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enforcement may be subject to any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent conveyance, moratorium, or similar laws generally affecting the
enforcement of creditors' rights).
(e) No Legal Bar or Resultant Lien. This Guaranty will not violate
any provisions of Guarantor's [AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP], or any
contract, agreement, law, regulation, order, injunction, judgment, decree
or writ to which Guarantor is subject, or result in the creation or
imposition of any Lien upon any Properties of Guarantor.
(f) No Consent. Guarantor's execution, delivery and performance of
this Guaranty does not require the consent or approval of any other
Person, including without limitation any regulatory authority or
governmental body of the United States or any state thereof or any
political subdivision of the United States or any state thereof.
(g) Solvency. The Guarantor hereby represents that (i) it is not
insolvent as of the date hereof and will not be rendered insolvent as a
result of this Guaranty, (ii) it is not engaged in business or a
transaction, or about to engage in a business or a transaction, for which
any property or assets remaining with such Guarantor is unreasonably small
capital, and (iii) it does not intend to incur, or believe it will incur,
debts that will be beyond its ability to pay as such debts mature.
SECTION 3.02. NO REPRESENTATION BY LENDERS.
Neither the Lenders nor any other Person has made any representation,
warranty or statement to the Guarantor in order to induce the Guarantor to
execute this Guaranty.
ARTICLE IV
SUBORDINATION OF INDEBTEDNESS
SECTION 4.01. SUBORDINATION OF ALL GUARANTOR CLAIMS.
As used herein, the term "Guarantor Claims" shall mean all debts and
liabilities of Borrower to Guarantor, whether such debts and liabilities now
exist or are hereafter incurred or arise, or whether the obligation of Borrower
thereon be direct, contingent, primary, secondary, several, joint and several,
or otherwise, and irrespective of whether such debts or liabilities be evidenced
by note, contract, open account, or otherwise, and irrespective of the person or
persons in whose favor such debts or liabilities may, at their inception, have
been, or may hereafter be created, or the manner in which they have been or may
hereafter be acquired by Guarantor. The Guarantor Claims shall include without
limitation all rights and claims of Guarantor against Borrower arising as a
result of subrogation or otherwise as a result of Guarantor's payment of all or
a portion of the Liabilities. Until the Liabilities shall be paid and satisfied
in full and Guarantor shall have performed all of its obligations hereunder,
except as otherwise not prohibited by the Credit Agreement, Guarantor shall not
receive or collect, directly or indirectly, from Borrower or any other party any
amount upon the Guarantor Claims.
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SECTION 4.02. CLAIMS IN BANKRUPTCY.
In the event of receivership, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement,
debtor's relief, or other insolvency proceedings involving Borrower as debtor,
the Lenders shall have the right to prove their claim in any proceeding, so as
to establish its rights hereunder and receive directly from the receiver,
trustee or other court custodian, dividends and payments which would otherwise
be payable upon Guarantor Claims. Guarantor hereby assigns such dividends and
payments to the Lenders. Should the Agent or any Lender receive, for application
upon the Liabilities, any such dividend or payment which is otherwise payable to
Guarantor, and which, as between Borrower and Guarantor, shall constitute a
credit upon the Guarantor Claims, then upon payment in full of the Liabilities,
Guarantor shall become subrogated to the rights of the Lenders to the extent
that such payments to the Lenders on the Guarantor Claims have contributed
toward the liquidation of the Liabilities, and such subrogation shall be with
respect to that proportion of the Liabilities which would have been unpaid if
the Agent or a Lender had not received dividends or payments upon the Guarantor
Claims.
SECTION 4.03. PAYMENTS HELD IN TRUST.
In the event that notwithstanding Sections 4.01 and 4.02 above, Guarantor
should receive any funds, payments, claims or distributions which is prohibited
by such Sections, Guarantor agrees to hold in trust for the Lenders an amount
equal to the amount of all funds, payments, claims or distributions so received,
and agrees that it shall have absolutely no dominion over the amount of such
funds, payments, claims or distributions except to pay them promptly to the
Agent, and Guarantor covenants promptly to pay the same to the Agent.
SECTION 4.04. LIENS SUBORDINATE.
Guarantor agrees that any liens, security interests, judgment liens,
charges or other encumbrances upon Borrower's assets securing payment of the
Guarantor Claims shall be and remain inferior and subordinate to any liens,
security interests, judgment liens, charges or other encumbrances upon
Borrower's assets securing payment of the Liabilities, regardless of whether
such encumbrances in favor of Guarantor, the Agent or the Lenders presently
exist or are hereafter created or attach. Without the prior written consent of
the Lenders, Guarantor shall not (a) exercise or enforce any creditor's right it
may have against the Borrower, or (b) foreclose, repossess, sequester or
otherwise take steps or institute any action or proceeding (judicial or
otherwise, including without limitation the commencement of or joinder in any
liquidation, bankruptcy, rearrangement, debtor's relief or insolvency
proceeding) to enforce any lien, mortgages, deeds of trust, security interest,
collateral rights, judgments or other encumbrances on assets of Borrower held by
Guarantor.
SECTION 4.05. NOTATION OF RECORDS.
All promissory notes, accounts receivable ledgers or other evidence of the
Guarantor Claims accepted by or held by Guarantor shall contain a specific
written notice thereon that the indebtedness evidenced thereby is subordinated
under the terms of this Guaranty.
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ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 5.01. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.
This Guaranty is and shall be in every particular available to the
successors and assigns of the Lenders and is and shall always be fully binding
upon the legal representatives, heirs, successors and assigns of Guarantor,
notwithstanding that some or all of the monies, the repayment of which this
Guaranty applies, may be actually advanced after any bankruptcy, receivership,
reorganization, death, disability or other event affecting Guarantor.
SECTION 5.02. NOTICES.
Any notice or demand to Guarantor under or in connection with this
Guaranty may be given and shall conclusively be deemed and considered to have
been given and received in accordance with Section 12.02 of the Credit
Agreement, addressed to Guarantor at the address on the signature page hereof or
at such other address provided to the Agent in writing.
SECTION 5.03. BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION.
The Guarantor will promptly furnish to the Agent and the Lenders from time
to time upon request such information regarding the business and affairs and
financial condition of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries as the Agent and the
Lenders may reasonably request.
SECTION 5.04. CONSTRUCTION.
This Guaranty is a contract made under and shall be construed in
accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.
SECTION 5.05. INVALIDITY.
In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained in this
Guaranty shall, for any reason, be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any
respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any
other provision of this Guaranty.
SECTION 5.06. ENTIRE AGREEMENT.
THIS WRITTEN GUARANTY EMBODIES THE ENTIRE AGREEMENT AND UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN THE LENDERS AND THE GUARANTOR AND SUPERSEDES ALL OTHER AGREEMENTS AND
UNDERSTANDINGS BETWEEN SUCH PARTIES RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF AND
THEREOF. THIS WRITTEN GUARANTY REPRESENTS THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE
PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR
SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL
AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.
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WITNESS THE EXECUTION HEREOF, as of the date first above written.
[NAME OF GUARANTOR]
By _______________________________,
its General Partner
By __________________________________
Name:
Title:
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[NOTARY IF REQUIRED]
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