CREDIT AGREEMENT
BY
THIS
CREDIT AGREEMENT (together with any amendments or modifications, the
"Agreement"), entered into as of September 15, 2005 by and between KNIGHT
TRANSPORTATION, INC., an Arizona corporation (the "Borrower"), and XXXXX
FARGO
BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (the "Lender"), in consideration of the mutual
promises herein contained and for other valuable consideration, the parties
hereto do agree as follows:
RECITALS
A. The
Borrower has asked the Lender to provide a revolving credit facility (the
"RLC
Facility") in the maximum principal amount of $25,000,000.00 to the Borrower
for
working capital purposes, of which an amount up to the Letter of Credit
Commitment may be applied to the issuance of one or more Letters of
Credit.
B. The
Lender is willing to extend such credits to the Borrower on the terms and
subject to the conditions herein set forth.
C. Effective
as of the delivery of this Agreement, the Credit Agreement dated April 6,
2001 among the Borrower, Xxxxx Fargo Bank, National Association, as
administrative agent and the banks party thereto (the "Prior Agreement")
will be
terminated and replaced by this Agreement.
Accordingly,
the Borrower and the Lender agree as follows:
ARTICLE
1
DEFINITIONS
Section
1.1 Defined
Terms.
Although terms may be defined elsewhere in this Agreement, as used in this
Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings specified
below:
"Affiliate"
shall mean, when used with respect to a specified person, another person
that
directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is
Controlled by or is under common Control with the person specified.
"Agreement"
shall mean this Credit Agreement, as amended or modified from time to
time.
"Applicable
Interest Rate" with respect to a given Borrowing shall mean the interest
rate in
effect for that Borrowing as determined pursuant to Section 2.8
herein.
"Applicable
Margin" shall mean the following:
LIBOR
|
Base
Rate
|
Borrowing
|
Borrowing
|
62.5
basis points
|
0
basis points
|
"Average
Adjusted Daily Undrawn Balance" shall equal the average daily unused amount
of
the Commitment during the preceding calendar quarter. For this purpose, the
Letter of Credit Balance shall be deemed to be a use of the
Commitment.
"Base
Rate" shall mean the Prime Rate.
"Base
Rate Borrowing" shall mean a Borrowing bearing interest at a rate determined
by
reference to the Base Rate.
"Board"
shall mean the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United
States.
"Borrower"
shall mean KNIGHT TRANSPORTATION, INC., an Arizona corporation.
"Borrowing"
shall mean an outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Loan as to which
a
single Interest Period is in effect and with respect to which a single
Applicable Interest Rate applies.
"Borrowing
Notice" shall mean a notice given pursuant to Section 2.3, as therein
described.
"Business
Day" shall mean any day (other than a day which is a Saturday, Sunday or
legal
holiday in the State of Arizona or in the State of California) on which
commercial banks are open for business in Phoenix, Arizona; provided,
however,
that,
when used in connection with a LIBOR Borrowing, the term "Business Day" shall
exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in Dollar deposits
in
the London interbank market.
"Capital
Lease" shall mean any lease of any property (whether real, personal or mixed)
required by GAAP to be accounted for as a capital lease on the balance sheet
of
the lessee.
"Capital
Lease Obligations" of any Person shall mean the obligations of such Person
to
pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying
the
right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which
obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases
on
a balance sheet of such person under GAAP and, for the purposes of this
Agreement, the amount of such obligations at any time shall be the capitalized
amount thereof at such time determined in accordance with GAAP.
A
"Change
in Control" shall be deemed to have occurred if, after the date hereof, (a)
any
person or group (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3, as in effect on the date
hereof, promulgated by the SEC under the 1934 Act), shall acquire, directly
or
indirectly, beneficially or of record, shares representing more than 50%
of the
aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding
capital stock of the Borrower; (b) a majority of the seats (other than vacant
seats) on the board of directors become occupied by persons not members of
said
board on the date hereof that were neither (i) nominated by the board of
directors of the Borrower, nor (ii) appointed by directors so nominated;
or (c)
any person or group shall otherwise directly or indirectly Control the
Borrower.
"Closing
Date" shall mean the date of the first Credit Event hereunder.
"Code"
shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as the same may be amended
from
time to time.
"Commitment"
shall mean the commitment of the Lender as to the Facility hereunder, as
such
Commitment may be permanently terminated or reduced from time to time pursuant
to Section 2.10. The Commitment shall fully, automatically and permanently
terminate on the RLC Maturity Date.
"Commitment
Fee" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section
2.6(a).
"Control"
shall mean the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or
policies of a person, whether through rights of ownership under voting
securities, under contract or otherwise, and "Controlling" and "Controlled"
shall have meanings correlative thereto.
"Credit
Event" shall have the meaning given such term in Article IV.
"Default
Rate" shall mean a rate per annum (computed as provided in Section 2.8(b))
equal
to the Base Rate plus three percent (3%) and changing in conformity with
each
change in the Base Rate.
"Designated
Officer" shall mean any of the Chairman of the Board, President, any Vice
President, the Chief Financial Officer, and the Chief Accounting Officer
of the
Borrower.
"Dollars"
or "$" shall mean lawful money of the United States of America.
"ERISA"
shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as the same
may
be amended from time to time.
"ERISA
Affiliate" shall mean any trade or business (whether or not incorporated)
that
is a member of a group of which the Borrower is a member and which is treated
as
a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.
"ERISA
Liabilities" shall mean at any time the minimum liability with respect to
Plans
that would be required to be reflected at such time as a liability on the
consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower under GAAP.
"Event
of
Default" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Article VII.
"Existing
Letters of Credit" shall mean the letters of credit outstanding on the Closing
Date issued under the Prior Agreement, which letters of credit are listed
on
Schedule 2A.5 attached hereto.
"Facility"
shall mean the RLC Facility.
"Fees"
shall mean the Commitment Fee and all other fees and charges, if any, (other
than interest) payable hereunder or otherwise payable in connection with
the
Facility.
"Financial
Covenants": See Section 5.11.
"Financial
Officer" of any Person shall mean the chief financial officer, principal
accounting officer, treasurer or controller of such Person.
"GAAP"
shall mean generally-accepted accounting principles in the United
States.
"Governmental
Authority" shall mean any federal, state, tribal, local or foreign court
or
governmental agency, authority, instrumentality or regulatory body.
"Guarantee"
of or by any Person shall mean any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of
such
Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any
Indebtedness of any other Person (the "Primary Obligor") in any manner, whether
directly or indirectly, and including without limitation any obligation of
such
Person, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply
funds
for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or to purchase (or to advance
or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment of such
Indebtedness, (b) to purchase property, securities or services for the purpose
of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness of the payment of such Indebtedness,
or (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or other financial statement
condition or liquidity of the Primary Obligor so as to enable the Primary
Obligor to pay such Indebtedness; provided,
however,
that
the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit,
in
either case in the ordinary course of business.
"Guaranties",
each a Guaranty, shall have the meaning given such term in Section
2.19.
"Guarantors,"
each a "Guarantor," shall mean each Subsidiary of Borrower.
"Indebtedness"
of a Person shall mean each of the following (without duplication) that,
individually, is in excess of $100,000.00 in outstanding amount (in Dollars
or
the equivalent at market exchange rates) on the date such obligation is
incurred: (a) obligations of that Person to any other Person for payment
of
borrowed money, (b) Capital Lease Obligations, (c) notes and drafts drawn
or
accepted by that Person payable to any other Person, whether or not representing
obligations for borrowed money (but without duplication of indebtedness for
borrowed money), (d) any obligation for the purchase price of property the
payment of which is deferred for more than one year or evidenced by a note
or
equivalent instrument, (e) Guarantees of Indebtedness of third parties, and
(f)
a recourse or non-recourse payment obligation of any other Person that is
secured by a Lien on any property of the first Person, whether or not assumed
by
the first person, up to the fair market value (from time to time) of such
property (absent manifest evidence to the contrary, the fair market value
of
such property shall be the amount determined under GAAP for financial reporting
purposes).
"Information"
shall have the meaning defined in Section 8.17 hereof.
"Interest
Payment Date" shall mean (a) with respect to a Base Rate Borrowing, the first
day of each month in arrears, and (b) with respect to any LIBOR Borrowing,
the
last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto and, in the case of a
LIBOR
Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months' duration (if
at any
time made available under this Agreement), each day that would have been
an
Interest Payment Date for such Borrowing had successive Interest Periods
of
three months' duration been applicable to such Borrowing and, in addition,
(c)
each of (i) the date of any conversion of a Borrowing with or to a Borrowing
of
a different Type, (ii) the date of prepayment of a Borrowing, and (iii) the
RLC
Maturity Date.
"Interest
Period" shall mean (a) as to any LIBOR Borrowing, the period commencing on
the
date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day (or,
if
there is no numerically corresponding day, on the last day) in the calendar
month that is one, two, three or six months thereafter, as the Borrower may
elect, or, if earlier, on the RLC Maturity Date and (b) as to any Base Rate
Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending
on the
RLC Maturity Date, the date such Borrowing is converted to a Borrowing of
a
different Type in accordance with Section 2.11 or the date of repayment or
prepayment of such Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.5 or 2.12;
provided,
however,
that if
any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest
Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless, in the
case
of LIBOR Borrowings only, such next succeeding Business Day would fall in
the
next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the
next
preceding Business Day. Interest shall accrue from and including the first
day
of an Interest Period to but excluding the last day of such Interest
Period.
"Lender"
shall mean XXXXX FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION.
"Letter
of Credit Balance" shall mean, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate
undrawn amount of all Letters of Credit outstanding at such time plus
(b) the aggregate amount which has been drawn under Letters of Credit but
for which the Lender has not been reimbursed by the Borrower.
"Letter
of Credit Commitment" shall mean $25,000,000.00.
"Letter
of Credit Disbursement" shall mean any payment or disbursement made by the
Lender under or pursuant to a Letter of Credit.
"Letters
of Credit" shall mean letters of credit issued by the Lender for the account
of
the Borrower pursuant to Article IIA as well as the Existing Letters of
Credit.
"Leverage"
shall mean the sum of the Borrower's current liabilities and non-current
liabilities less its Subordinated Debt, divided by the sum of its total
stockholders' equity plus its Subordinated Debt, less its intangible assets,
all
as determined at fiscal quarter end.
"LIBOR
Borrowing" shall mean a Borrowing bearing interest at a rate determined by
reference to the LIBOR Rate.
"LIBOR
Rate" shall mean, with respect to any LIBOR Borrowing for any Interest Period,
the average of the interest rate per annum equal to the composite London
interbank offered rate for Dollar deposits approximately equal in principal
amount to such LIBOR Borrowing and for a maturity comparable to such Interest
Period for delivery on the first day of the Interest Period, adjusted for
reserve requirements.
"Lien"
shall mean any mortgage, pledge, security interest or similar lien.
"Loans"
shall mean the loan made available by the Lender to the Borrower, in the
form of
the Revolving Loan under the RLC Facility.
"Loan
Documents" shall mean this Agreement, the Note, the Guaranties and all other
documents, instruments and agreements of every kind and description at any
time
undertaken by any Person for the benefit of the Lenders in connection with
the
Loans.
"Margin
Stock" shall have the meaning given such term under
Regulation U.
"Maximum
RLC Commitment" shall mean $25,000,000.00.
"Multiemployer
Plan" shall mean a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of
ERISA
to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate (other than one considered an
ERISA
Affiliate only pursuant to subsection (m) or (o) of Section 414 of the Code)
is
making or accruing an obligation to make contributions, or has within any
of the
preceding five plan years made or accrued an obligation to make
contributions.
"1934
Act" shall mean the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
"Note"
shall mean a revolving credit note of the Borrower executed and delivered
as
provided in Section 2.7 as such Note might be amended, modified, extended
and
restated from time to time.
"PBGC"
shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined
in
ERISA.
"Permitted
Lien" shall mean a Lien permitted under Section 6.1.
"Person"
shall mean any natural person (whether or not acting in a representative
capacity), corporation, limited liability company, business trust, joint
venture, association, sole proprietorship, partnership or government, or
any
agency or political subdivision thereof.
"Plan"
shall mean any pension plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) that is (1)
a
qualified plan under Section 401(a) of the Code, (ii) subject to the provisions
of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code and (iii) maintained for
employees of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.
"Potential
Default" shall mean any act, event or condition which upon notice, lapse
of time
or both would constitute an Event of Default.
"Prime
Rate" shall mean at any time the rate of interest per annum most recently
announced within the Lender at its principal office in San Francisco as its
prime rate, with the understanding that the prime rate of the Lender is one
of
its base rates and serves as the basis upon which effective rates of interest
are calculated for those loans making reference thereto, and is evidenced
by the
recording thereof after its announcement in such internal publication or
publications as the Lender may designate; each change in the Prime Rate shall
be
effective on the date such change is announced within the Lender.
"Prior
Agreement": See Recital C.
"Quarterly
Certificate" shall mean that Quarterly Compliance Certificate in the form
of
Exhibit "E".
"Quick
Ratio" shall mean the sum of the Borrower's unrestricted cash, unrestricted
marketable securities, net accounts receivable and income tax receivable
convertible into cash, divided by the sum of total current liabilities, the
RLC
Balance and the Letter of Credit Balance, all as determined at the end of
each
fiscal quarter.
"Redeployment
Loss": See Section 2.15.
"Regulation D"
shall mean Regulation D of the Board as from time to time in effect and all
official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.
"Regulation
T" shall mean Regulation T of the Board as from time to time in effect and
all
official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.
"Regulation
U" shall mean Regulation U of the Board as from time to time in effect and
all
official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.
"Regulation
X" shall mean Regulation X of the Board as from time to time in effect and
all
official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.
"Reportable
Event" shall mean any reportable event as defined in Section 4043(b) of ERISA
or
the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than a Plan
maintained by an ERISA Affiliate which is considered an ERISA Affiliate only
pursuant to subsection (m) or (o) of Section 414 of the Code).
"Revolving
Loan" shall mean the revolving line of credit loans made available by the
Lender
to the Borrower pursuant to Article II. The Revolving Loan shall be composed
of
one or more LIBOR Borrowings and/or Base Rate Borrowings.
"RLC
Balance" means the outstanding aggregate principal amount of all
Borrowings.
"RLC
Commitment" shall mean the Maximum RLC Commitment.
"RLC
Facility": See Recital A, which Facility consists of the Revolving Loan and
the
Letters of Credit.
"RLC
Maturity Date" shall mean September 30, 2007.
"SEC"
shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Subsidiary"
of a Person shall mean any corporation, association or other business entity
of
which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled
to
vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the
time
owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person, by one or more
of
the other Subsidiaries of that Person, or by any combination
thereof.
"Subordinated
Debt" shall mean Indebtedness of the Borrower whose payment is subordinated
in
writing to the payment of the Loans and the other obligations of the Borrower
under this Agreement, to the satisfaction of the Lender.
"Termination"
shall mean the payment in full of the principal amount of all Loans, all
accrued
interest thereon and all fees with respect thereto, coupled with termination
of
the Facility and all other obligations (if any) of the Lender to advance
funds
or extend credit to or for the benefit of the Borrower pursuant to this
Agreement.
"Termination
Date" shall mean the date of the occurrence of the last event to occur required
for Termination to occur.
"Type,"
when used in respect of any Borrowing, shall refer to the rate by reference
to
which interest on such Borrowing is determined. For purposes hereof, "rate"
shall mean the LIBOR Rate or the Base Rate.
"Xxxxx
Fargo" shall mean Xxxxx Fargo Bank, National Association.
Section
1.2 Terms
Generally.
The
definitions in Section 1.1 shall apply equally to both the singular and plural
forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun
shall
include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. All references
herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be deemed references
to Articles and Sections of this Agreement, and Exhibits and Schedules to
this
Agreement, unless the context shall otherwise require. Except as otherwise
expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature
shall
be construed in accordance with GAAP as in effect in the United States of
America from time to time; provided,
however,
that,
for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant set forth in Article
VI, such terms shall be construed in accordance with GAAP as in effect on
the
date of this Agreement.
ARTICLE
2
THE
RLC FACILITY
Section
2.1 The
RLC Commitment.
(a) Subject
to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Lender agrees to make advances
of its Revolving Loan to the Borrower, at any time and from time to time
on and
after the date hereof and until the RLC Maturity Date, in an aggregate principal
amount at any time outstanding not to exceed the RLC Commitment, subject,
however, to the conditions that at no time shall the outstanding aggregate
principal amount of all Borrowings pursuant to the Revolving Loan, together
with
the Letter of Credit Balance, exceed the Maximum RLC Commitment. The RLC
Commitment may be terminated or reduced from time to time pursuant to Section
2.10. Within the foregoing limits, the Borrower may borrow, pay or prepay
and
reborrow hereunder, on and after the date hereof and prior to the RLC Maturity
Date, subject to the terms, conditions and limitations set forth
herein.
(b) Each
advance of the proceeds of the Revolving Loan shall constitute a single
Borrowing. Each LIBOR Borrowing shall be in a principal amount which is an
integral multiple of $100,000.00 and not less than $1,000,000.00 (or, if
less, a
principal amount equal to the remaining balance of the available RLC
Commitment).
Section
2.2 [Intentionally
left blank].
Section
2.3 Procedures
for Borrowings Under the RLC Facility.
(a) Each
advance under the Revolving Loan shall be a single LIBOR Borrowing or a single
Base Rate Borrowing, as the Borrower may request. Borrowings of more than
one
Type may be outstanding at the same time; provided,
however,
that
(i) the Borrower shall not be entitled to request any Borrowing which, if
made,
would result in an aggregate of more than five (5) separate LIBOR Borrowings
being outstanding under the Revolving Loan at any one time and (ii) each
LIBOR
Borrowing shall be in a principal amount which is an integral multiple of
$100,000.00 and not less than $1,000,000.00. For purposes of the foregoing,
Borrowings having different Interest Periods, regardless of whether they
commence on the same date, shall be considered separate Borrowings.
(b) In
order
to request a Borrowing, the Borrower shall give to the Lender written or
telecopy notice (or telephone notice confirmed in writing on the same Business
Day) in the form of Exhibit "B" (a "Borrowing Notice") not later than 9:00
a.m.,
California time, (a) in the case of a LIBOR Borrowing, three (3) Business
days
before a proposed Borrowing and (b) in the case of a Base Rate Borrowing,
on the
day of a proposed Borrowing. Each Borrowing Notice shall be irrevocable and
shall in each case specify (i) whether the Borrowing then being requested
is to be a LIBOR Borrowing or a Base Rate Borrowing; (ii) the date of such
Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day) and the amount thereof; (iii) if
such Borrowing is to be a LIBOR Borrowing, the Interest Period with respect
thereto; and (iv) if such Borrowing is to reborrow all or any part of any
outstanding Borrowing, the identity and amount of such Borrowing that the
Borrower requests to be refinanced. If no election as to the Type of Borrowing
is specified in any Borrowing Notice, then the requested Borrowing shall
be a
Base Rate Borrowing. If no Interest Period with respect to any LIBOR Borrowing
is specified in any Borrowing Notice, then the Borrower shall be deemed to
have
selected an Interest Period of one month's duration. Subject to Section 2.11,
if
the Borrower shall not have given notice in accordance with this Section
of its
election to reborrow a LIBOR Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period
in effect for such Borrowing, then the Borrower (unless such Borrowing is
repaid
at the end of such Interest Period) shall be deemed to have given notice
of an
election to reborrow such Borrowing with a Base Rate Borrowing.
Section
2.4 Revolving
Loan.
The
Revolving Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing made by the
Lender.
Section
2.5 Reborrowings.
Subject
to Section 2.11, the Borrower may reborrow all or any part of any Borrowing
with
a Borrowing of the same or a different Type made pursuant to Section 2.3,
subject to the conditions and limitations set forth herein and elsewhere
in this
Agreement. Any Borrowing or part thereof so reborrowed or combined shall
be
deemed to have been repaid in accordance with Section 2.7 with the proceeds
of a
new Borrowing hereunder, and the proceeds of the new Borrowing (except to
the
extent, if any, they exceed the principal amount of the Borrowing(s) being
reborrowed) shall not be disbursed to the Borrower.
Section
2.6 Fees.
(a) The
Borrower agrees to pay to the Lender (i) quarterly in arrears for each calendar
quarter ending each March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, on the
last
Business Day of each calendar quarter, commencing September 30, 2005 and
(ii) on the date on which the RLC Commitment shall be terminated as provided
herein, for the period from the end of the preceding calendar quarter to
the
date of such termination, a commitment fee (the "Commitment Fee") at a rate
per
annum equal to 6.25 basis points (.0625%) on the Average Adjusted Daily Undrawn
Balance during the preceding calendar quarter (or shorter period (1) commencing
with the date hereof or (2) ending with the RLC Maturity Date or any other
date
on which the Commitment shall be terminated). The Commitment Fee shall be
computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in a year of 360
days. The Commitment Fee shall commence to accrue on the date hereof and
shall
cease to accrue on the earlier of the RLC Maturity Date and the termination
of
the Commitment of Lender as provided herein.
(b) Once
paid, the Commitment Fee shall not be refundable under any
circumstances.
Section
2.7 Note;
Repayment of Revolving Loan.
The
Revolving Loan made by the Lender shall be evidenced by a Note duly completed
and executed on behalf of the Borrower, dated the date of this Agreement,
in the
form of Exhibit "A" hereto, and payable to the order of the Lender in a
principal amount equal to the Lender's Commitment. The Note shall bear interest
from the date thereof on the outstanding principal balance thereof as set
forth
in Section 2.8. The Lender may (and is hereby authorized by the Borrower,
at the
Lender's discretion, to) endorse on a schedule attached to the Note (or on
a
continuation of such schedule attached to such Note and made a part thereof),
or
otherwise to record in the Lender's internal records, an appropriate notation
evidencing the date and amount of each Borrowing under the Revolving Loan,
each
payment or prepayment of principal of any such Borrowing and the other
information provided for on such schedule; provided,
however,
that
the failure of the Lender to make such a notation or any error therein shall
not
in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay each Borrowing
under the Revolving Loan in accordance with the terms of the Note.
Section
2.8 Interest
on Revolving Loans.
(a) Subject
to the provisions of Sections 2.9 and 2.11, each LIBOR Borrowing shall bear
interest (computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over
a year
of 360 days) at a rate per annum equal to, the LIBOR Rate for the Interest
Period in effect for such LIBOR Borrowing plus the Applicable Margin. Interest
on each LIBOR Borrowing shall be payable on each applicable Interest Payment
Date. The LIBOR Rate for each Interest Period shall be determined by the
Lender,
and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Lender
shall promptly advise the Borrower of such determination.
(b) Subject
to the provisions of Sections 2.9 and 2.11, each Base Rate Borrowing shall
bear
interest (computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over
a year
of 360 days, as the case may be) at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate
plus
the Applicable Margin. Interest on each Base Rate Borrowing shall be payable
on
each applicable Interest Payment Date. The Base Rate shall be determined
by the
Lender and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
The
Lender shall promptly advise the Borrower of such determination.
Section
2.9 Default
Interest.
If the
Borrower shall default in the payment of the principal of or interest on
any
Revolving Loan or any other amount becoming due hereunder, whether by scheduled
maturity, notice of prepayment, acceleration or otherwise, the Borrower shall
on
demand from time to time pay interest, to the extent permitted by law, on
such
defaulted amount up to (but not including the date of actual payment (after
as
well as before judgment) at the Default Rate.
Section
2.10 Termination
and Reduction of Commitments.
(a) The
RLC
Commitment shall be automatically terminated on the RLC Maturity
Date.
(b) Upon
at
least three (3) Business Days' prior irrevocable written or telecopy notice
to
the Lender, the Borrower may at any time in whole permanently terminate,
or from
time to time in part permanently reduce, the RLC Commitment; provided,
however,
that
each partial reduction of the Maximum RLC Commitment shall be in an integral
multiple of $100,000.00 and in a minimum principal amount of $1,000,000.00;
and
provided further,
that
the Borrower shall not be permitted to terminate or reduce the Maximum RLC
Commitment if, as a result respectively, the aggregate principal amount of
the
outstanding Borrowings together with the Letter of Credit Balance outstanding
hereunder would exceed such reduced amount of the Maximum RLC
Commitment.
Section
2.11 Conversion
and Continuation of Borrowings.
The
Lender agrees to communicate the proposed LIBOR Rate verbally or otherwise
to
the Borrower on or about 8:00 a.m., California time, on any proposed conversion
or continuation date and thereupon the Borrower shall have the right at any
time
upon prior irrevocable notice to the Lender not later than 10:00 a.m.,
California time, (i) on the day of conversion, to convert any LIBOR Borrowing
into a Base Rate Borrowing, (ii) on the day of conversion or continuation,
to
convert any Base Rate Borrowing into a LIBOR Borrowing or to continue any
LIBOR
Borrowing as a LIBOR Borrowing for an additional Interest Period, and (iii)
on
the day of conversion, to convert the Interest Period with respect to any
LIBOR
Borrowing to another permissible Interest Period, subject in each case to
the
following:
(a) if
less
than all the outstanding principal amount of any Borrowing shall be converted
or
continued, the aggregate principal amount of such Borrowing converted or
continued shall be an integral multiple of $100,000.00 and not less than
$1,000,000.00;
(b) each
conversion shall be effected by the Lender by applying the proceeds of the
new
Borrowing resulting from such conversion to the Borrowing (or portion thereof)
being converted; accrued interest on a Borrowing (or portion thereof) being
converted shall be paid by the Borrower at the time of conversion;
(c) any
LIBOR
Borrowing may be converted only at the end of the Interest Period applicable
thereto;
(d) any
portion of a Borrowing maturing or required to be repaid in less than one
month
may not be converted into or continued as a LIBOR Borrowing; and
(e) any
portion of a LIBOR Borrowing which cannot be continued as a LIBOR Borrowing
by
reason of clauses (c) and (d) above shall be automatically converted at the
end
of the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing into a Base Rate
Borrowing.
Each
notice pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable and shall refer to this
Agreement and specify (i) the identity and amount of the Borrowing that the
Borrower requests be converted or continued, (ii) whether such Borrowing
is to
be converted to or continued as a LIBOR Borrowing or a Base Rate Borrowing,
(iii) if such notice requests a conversion, the date of such conversion (which
shall be a Business Day), and (iv) if such Borrowing is to be converted to
or
continued as a LIBOR Borrowing, the Interest Period with respect thereto.
If no
Interest Period is specified in any such notice with respect to any conversion
to or continuation as a LIBOR Borrowing, the Borrower shall be deemed to
have
selected an Interest Period of one month's duration. If the Borrower shall
not
have given notice in accordance with this Section to continue any LIBOR
Borrowing into a subsequent Interest Period (and shall not otherwise have
given
notice in accordance with this Section to convert such Borrowing), such
Borrowing shall, at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto (unless
repaid pursuant to the terms hereof), automatically be continued as a Base
Rate
Borrowing.
Section
2.12 Prepayment.
(a) The
Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay
any
Borrowing, in whole or in part, upon written or telecopy notice (or telephone
notice promptly confirmed by written or telecopy notice) to the Lender, such
notice to be three Business Days with respect to a LIBOR Borrowing and one
Business Day with respect to a Base Rate Borrowing; provided, however, that
each
partial prepayment shall be in an amount which is an integral multiple of
$100,000.00 and not less than $1,000,000.00.
(b) On
the
date of any termination or reduction of the Maximum RLC Commitment pursuant
to
Section 2.10, the Borrower shall pay or prepay an amount of the Revolving
Loan
such that the sum of the aggregate principal amount of such Loan outstanding
together with the Letter of Credit Balance will not exceed the Commitment
after
giving effect to such termination or reduction.
(c) Each
notice of prepayment shall specify the prepayment date and the principal
amount
of each Borrowing (or portion thereof) to be prepaid, shall be irrevocable
and
shall commit the Borrower to prepay such Borrowing (or portion thereof) by
the
amount stated therein on the date stated therein. All prepayments under this
Section shall be subject to Section 2.15 but otherwise without premium or
penalty. All prepayments under this Section shall be accompanied by a payment
of
accrued interest on the amount being prepaid to the date of
payment.
Section
2.13 Reserve
Requirements; Change in Circumstances.
(a) If
the
Lender shall have determined that the adoption after the date hereof of any
law,
rule, regulation or guideline regarding capital adequacy, special deposit,
insurance or any change after the date hereof in any of the foregoing or
in the
interpretation or administration of any of the foregoing by any Governmental
Authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation
or
administration thereof, or compliance by the Lender's holding company with
any
request or directive promulgated after the date hereof regarding capital
adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) of any such Governmental
Authority, central bank or comparable agency, has or would have the effect
of
reducing the rate of return on the Lender's or on the capital of the Lender's
holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Revolving
Loan made by the Lender to a level below that which the Lender's holding
company
could have achieved but for such adoption, change or compliance (taking into
consideration the Lender's policies and the policies of the Lender's holding
company with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount deemed by the Lender
in
good faith to be material, then from time to time the Borrower shall pay
to the
Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate the Lender's
holding
company for any such reduction suffered.
(b) Notwithstanding
any other provision herein, if after the date of this Agreement any change
in
applicable law or regulation (either by way of changes in existing laws or
regulations or the introductions of new laws or regulations) or in the
interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged
with the interpretation or administration thereof (whether or not having
the
force of law) shall change the basis of taxation of payments to the Lender
of
the principal of or interest on any LIBOR Borrowing made by the Lender, Fees
or
other amounts payable hereunder (other than changes in respect of taxes imposed
on the net income of the Lender), or shall impose, modify or deem applicable
any
reserve, special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits
with
or for the account of or credit extended by the Lender, including without
limitation any reserve requirement that may be applicable to "eurocurrency
liabilities" under and as defined in Regulation D, or shall impose on the
Lender or the London interbank market any other condition affecting this
Agreement or any LIBOR Borrowing made by the Lender, and the result of any
of
the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to the Lender of making or
maintaining any LIBOR Borrowing or to reduce the amount of any sum received
or
receivable by the Lender hereunder or under the Note (in respect of LIBOR
Borrowing only), whether of principal, interest or otherwise, by an amount
deemed by the Lender in good faith to be material, then, the Borrower will
pay
to the Lender upon demand such additional amount or amounts as will compensate
the Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction
suffered.
(c) A
certificate of the Lender setting forth such amount or amounts as shall be
necessary to compensate the Lender or its holding company as specified in
paragraph (a) or (b) above, as the case may be, and setting forth in reasonable
detail the manner in which such amount or amounts shall have been determined
shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest
error. The Borrower shall pay the Lender the amount shown as due on any such
certificate delivered by it within ten (10) days after its receipt of the
same.
(d) Failure
on the part of the Lender to demand compensation for any increased costs
or
reduction in amounts received or receivable with respect to any period shall
not
constitute a waiver of the Lender's right to demand compensation with respect
to
such period or any other period. The protection of this Section shall be
available to the Lender regardless of any possible contention of the invalidity
or inapplicability of the law, rule, regulation, guideline or other change
or
condition which shall have occurred or been imposed, provided that if the
Lender
is compensated for such increased costs or reduction by any Governmental
Authority or third party in the event such invalidity or inapplicability
is
finally determined, then the Lender shall return to the Borrower the respective
compensation paid by the Borrower, up to the lesser of such amount as is
received by the Lender or such amount as was paid by the Borrower.
(e) Without
prejudice to the survival of any other agreement contained herein, the
agreements and obligations contained in this Section shall survive Termination,
provided that the Borrower shall have no further obligation to the Lender
under
this Section unless a certificate setting forth the amount of such obligation
shall have been delivered by the Lender pursuant to paragraph (c) above within
ninety (90) calendar days after the Termination Date.
(f) The
Lender shall give notification to the Borrower of any event or prospective
event
which will give rise to the operation of paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Section,
such notification to be sent within thirty (30) days of the date of the public
promulgation of the effective date of any such law, rule, regulation, guidelines
or change therein.
Section
2.14 Change
in Legality.
(a) Notwithstanding
any other provision herein, if any change in any law or regulation or in
the
interpretation thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the
administration or interpretation thereof shall make it unlawful for the Lender
to make or maintain any LIBOR Borrowing or to give effect to its obligations
as
contemplated hereby with respect to any LIBOR Borrowing, then by written
notice
to the Borrower setting forth in reasonable detail the relevant circumstances
and the effect thereof, the Lender may:
(i) declare
that LIBOR Borrowings will not thereafter be made by the Lender hereunder,
whereupon any request by the Borrower for a LIBOR Borrowing shall be deemed
a
request for a Base Rate Borrowing unless such declaration shall be subsequently
withdrawn; and
(ii) require
that all outstanding LIBOR Borrowings made by it be converted to Base Rate
Borrowings, in which event all such LIBOR Borrowings shall be automatically
converted to Base Rate Borrowings as of the effective date of such notice
as
provided in paragraph (b) below.
In
the
event the Lender shall exercise its rights under (i) or (ii) above, all payments
and prepayments of principal which would otherwise have been applied to repay
the LIBOR Borrowings that would have been made by the Lender or the converted
LIBOR Borrowings of the Lender shall instead be applied to repay the Base
Rate
Borrowings made by the Lender in lieu of, or resulting from the conversion
of,
such LIBOR Borrowings.
(b) For
purposes of this Section, a notice to the Borrower by the Lender shall be
effective as to each LIBOR Borrowing, if lawful, on the last day of the Interest
Period currently applicable to such LIBOR Borrowing; in all other cases such
notice shall be effective on the date of receipt by the Borrower.
(c) The
Lender shall use its best efforts to give prompt notification to the Borrower
of
any event or prospective event which will give rise to the operation of
paragraph (a) of this Section.
Section
2.15 Redeployment
Loss.
The
Borrower shall pay to the Lender on demand against any Redeployment Loss
(defined below) arising as a consequence of any payment, prepayment (optional
or
mandatory) or conversion of a LIBOR Borrowing required by any other provision
of
this Agreement or otherwise made or deemed made on a date other than the
last
day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, or failure to borrow, convert
or
extend a LIBOR Borrowing after giving notice. "Redeployment Loss" shall mean,
in
each circumstance, a fee which is the sum of the discounted monthly differences
for each month from the month of prepayment through the month in such Interest
Period matures, calculated as follows for each such month:
(i) Determine
the
amount of interest which would have accrued each month on the amount prepaid
at
the interest rate applicable to such amount had it remained outstanding until
the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto.
(ii) Subtract
from the
amount determined in (i) above the amount of interest which would have accrued
for the same month on the amount prepaid for the remaining term of such Interest
Period at the LIBOR Rate in effect on the date of prepayment for new loans
made
for such term and in a principal amount equal to the amount
prepaid.
(iii) If
the
result obtained in (ii) for any month is greater than zero, discount that
difference by the LIBOR Rate used in (ii) above.
The
Borrower acknowledges that prepayment of such amount may result in the Lender
incurring additional costs, expenses and/or liabilities, and that it is
difficult to ascertain the full extent of such costs, expenses and/or
liabilities. The Borrower, therefore, agrees to pay the above-described
prepayment fee and agrees that said amount represents a reasonable estimate
of
the prepayment costs, expenses and/or liabilities of the Lender. If the Borrower
fails to pay any prepayment fee when due, the amount of such prepayment fee
shall thereafter bear interest until paid at the Default Rate.
A
certificate of the Lender setting forth in reasonable detail any amount or
amounts which the Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section
and
setting forth in reasonable detail the manner in which such amounts shall
have
been determined shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive
absent manifest error. Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement
contained herein, the agreements and obligations contained in this Section
shall
survive Termination provided that the Borrower shall have no further obligation
to the Lender under this Section unless a certificate setting forth the amount
of such obligation shall have been delivered by the Lender pursuant to the
preceding sentence within ninety (90) calendar days after the Termination
Date.
Section
2.16 Payments.
(a) The
Borrower shall make each payment (including without limitation principal
of or
interest on any Borrowing or any Fees or other amounts) hereunder and under
any
other Loan Document no later than 11:00 a.m., California time, on the date
when
due in Dollars to the Lender at its offices at 100 West Washington,
Phoenix, Arizona, or at such other location as it may direct the Borrower
in
writing to use, in immediately available funds.
(b) Whenever
any payment (including without limitation principal of or interest on any
Borrowing or any Fees or other amounts) hereunder or under any other Loan
Document shall become due, or otherwise would occur, on a day that is not
a
Business Day, such payment may be made on the next succeeding Business Day,
and
such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation
of
interest or Fees, if applicable.
(c) The
Borrower authorizes the Lender to collect all principal and interest due
under
each Loan by charging the Borrower's demand deposit account number 4159-518950
with the Lender, or any other demand deposit account maintained by the Borrower
with the Lender, for the full amount thereof. Should there be insufficient
funds
in any such demand deposit account to pay all such sums when due, the full
amount of such deficiency shall be immediately due and payable by the
Borrower.
Section
2.17 Taxes.
(a) All
payments by the Borrower under this Agreement shall be made without setoff
or
counterclaim and in such amounts as may be necessary in order that all such
payments after deduction or withholding for or on account of any present
or
future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, withholdings or other charges of
whatsoever nature and all liabilities with respect thereto, other than any
taxes
on or measured by the gross or net income of the Lender pursuant to the income
and/or franchise tax laws of the jurisdictions in which the Lender is
incorporated or organized or in which the principal office of the Lender
or the
branch that is a party to this Agreement of the Lender is located (all such
nonexcluded taxes, levies, imposts, duties, withholdings and liabilities
being
hereinafter referred to as "Taxes"), shall not be less than the amounts
otherwise specified to be paid by the Borrower to or for the account of the
Lender (or any transferee or assignee (each, a "Transferee")) under this
Agreement. With respect to each deduction or withholding for or on account
of
any Taxes of the Lender (or Transferee), the Borrower shall promptly (and
in any
event not later than forty-five (45) days thereafter) furnish to the Lender
(or
Transferee) a receipt evidencing payment thereof.
(b) In
addition, the Borrower agrees to pay any present or future stamp or documentary
taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies which
arise from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or
registration of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other
Loan
Document (hereinafter referred to as "Stamp Taxes").
(c) The
Borrower will indemnify the Lender (or Transferee) for the full amount of
Taxes
and Stamp Taxes (including without limitation any Taxes or Stamp Taxes imposed
by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section) paid by the Lender
(or Transferee) and any liability (including without limitation penalties,
interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether
or not
such Taxes or Stamp Taxes were correctly or legally asserted by the relevant
taxing authority or other Governmental Authority. Such indemnification shall
be
made within thirty (30) days after the date the Lender (or Transferee) makes
written demand therefor. If the Lender, as the result of any Tax with respect
to
which the Borrower is required to make a payment pursuant to this Section
shall
realize a tax credit or refund in its country or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization or in the jurisdiction in which its principal
office is then located, which tax credit or refund would not have been realized
but for the Borrower's payment of such Tax, the Lender shall pay to the Borrower
an amount equal to such tax credit or refund (to the extent of amounts that
have
been paid by the Borrower under this Section with respect to such credit
or
refund) net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Lender; provided
that the
Borrower, upon the request of the Lender, agrees to return such credit or
refund
(plus penalties, interest or other charges) to the Lender in the event the
Lender is required to repay such credit or refund to the relevant taxing
authority. Any amount required to be calculated pursuant to this Section
shall
be calculated in good faith by the Lender (or Transferee), and such calculation
shall be conclusive and binding upon the parties hereto.
(d) Without
prejudice to the survival of any other agreement contained herein, the
agreements and obligations contained in this Section shall survive Termination,
provided that the Borrower shall have no further obligation to the Lender
under
this Section unless a certificate setting forth the amount of such obligation
shall have been delivered by the Lender to the Borrower within ninety (90)
calendar days after the Termination Date.
(e) Nothing
contained in this Section shall require the Lender to make available any
of its
tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes) which it deems
to
be confidential.
(f) The
Lender shall give notification to the Borrower of any event or prospective
event
which will give rise to the operation of paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Section,
such notification to be sent within thirty (30) days of the date of the public
promulgation of the effective date of any such Taxes or Stamp
Taxes.
Section
2.18 Termination
or Assignment of Commitments Under Certain Circumstances.
(a) If
the
Lender claims any additional amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.13 or
Section
2.17 or exercises its rights under Section 2.14, it shall (consistent with
legal
and regulatory restrictions) (i) promptly notify the Borrower of the
circumstances giving rise to such additional amounts or the exercise of such
rights and (ii) file any certificate or document requested by the Borrower
or
take any other action if the making of such a filing or change or the taking
of
such action would avoid the need for or reduce the amount of any such additional
amounts which may thereafter accrue or avoid the circumstances giving rise
to
such exercise and would not, in the sole determination of the Lender (or
Transferee), be otherwise disadvantageous to the Lender (or
Transferee).
(b) The
Lender represents and warrants to the Borrower that as of the date hereof
it is
not aware of any claims available to it under Section 2.13, 2.14 or 2.17
or any
circumstances which it has determined will enable it to make any such
claims.
Section
2.19 Guaranties.
At all
times prior to Termination, the Borrower shall cause the Loans and the
Borrower's obligations under this Agreement to be guaranteed by a valid and
effective continuing guaranty (collectively, the "Guaranties") substantially
in
the form of Exhibit "C", duly executed and delivered by each Subsidiary of
the Borrower.
ARTICLE
2A
LETTERS
OF CREDIT
Section
2A.1 Letters
of Credit.
(a) Provided
that the Borrower has satisfied the conditions precedent contained in Section
2A.1(b) hereof, the Lender agrees, from time to time, to issue and/or renew
Letters of Credit on behalf of the Borrower so long as (i) upon such issuance
or
renewal, an issuance fee is paid by the Borrower to the Lender in an amount
equal to sixty-two and one-half basis points (0.625%) per annum (computed
on the
basis of the actual number of days elapsed in a year of 360 days) of the
amount
of each Letter of Credit, (ii) the Letter of Credit Balance, after giving
effect
to such Letter of Credit, will not exceed the Letter of Credit Commitment,
and
(iii) the outstanding aggregate principal amount of all Borrowings made by
the
Lender pursuant to the Revolving Loan, together with the Letter of Credit
Balance, after giving effect to such Letter of Credit, will not exceed the
Maximum RLC Commitment.
(b) The
obligation of the Lender to issue and/or renew any Letters of Credit on behalf
of the Borrower shall be subject to the following conditions precedent on
the
date of issuance or renewal of each such Letter of Credit:
(i) The
Borrower shall execute and deliver to the Lender an application for letter
of
credit, specifying the amount of the requested letter of credit, the requested
term thereof, which term may not exceed one year or the RLC Maturity Date,
and
the beneficiary thereof; and
(ii) No
Event
of Default shall exist and no event or condition shall exist that after notice
or lapse of time, or both would constitute an Event of Default.
Section
2A.2 Disbursement
and Reimbursement.
(a) Promptly
after it shall have ascertained that any draft and any accompanying documents
presented under a Letter of Credit appear to be in conformity with the terms
and
conditions of such Letter of Credit, the Lender shall give written or telecopy
notice to the Borrower of the receipt and amount of such draft and the date
on
which payment thereon will be made.
(b) If
the
Lender shall pay any draft presented under a Letter of Credit, the Borrower
shall pay to the Lender an amount equal to the amount of such draft before
10:00
a.m., Arizona time, on the Business Day immediately following the date of
payment of such draft, together with interest on such amount at a rate per
annum
equal to the interest rate in effect for Base Rate Borrowings from (and
including) the date of payment of such draft to (but excluding) the date
of such
payment by the Borrower. The obligation of the Borrower to pay the amounts
referred to above in this paragraph (b) shall be absolute, unconditional
and
irrevocable and shall be satisfied strictly in accordance with their terms
irrespective of:
(i) any
lack
of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit;
(ii) the
existence of any claim, setoff, defense or other right which the Borrower
or any
other Person may at any time have against the beneficiary under any Letter
of
Credit or the Lender (other than the defense of payment in accordance with
the
terms of this Agreement or a defense based on the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of the Lender) or any other Person in connection with this Agreement
or any other transaction;
(iii) any
draft
or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged,
fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue
or
inaccurate in any respect; provided
that
payment by the Lender under such Letter of Credit against presentation of
such
draft or document shall not have constituted gross negligence or willful
misconduct;
(iv) payment
by the Lender under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or
other
document which does not comply in any immaterial respect with the terms of
such
Letter of Credit; provided
that
such payment shall not have constituted gross negligence or willful misconduct;
or
(v) any
other
circumstance or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the
foregoing; provided
that
such other circumstance or event shall not have been the result of gross
negligence or willful misconduct of the Lender.
It
is
understood that in making any payment under a Letter of Credit (1) the Lender's
exclusive reliance on the documents presented to it under such Letter of
Credit
as to any and all matters set forth therein, including without limitation,
reliance on the amount of any draft presented under such Letter of Credit,
whether or not the amount due to the beneficiary equals the amount of such
draft
and whether or not any document presented pursuant to such Letter of Credit
proves to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect, if such document
on
its face appears to be in order, and whether or not any other statement or
any
other document presented pursuant to such Letter of Credit proves to be forged
or invalid or any statement therein proves to be inaccurate or untrue in
any
respect whatsoever, and (2) any noncompliance in any immaterial respect of
the
documents presented under a Letter of Credit with the terms thereof shall,
in
either case, not be deemed willful misconduct or gross negligence of the
Lender.
Section
2A.3 Existing
Letters of Credit.
On and
after the Closing Date, the Existing Letters of Credit shall be deemed for
all
purposes to be Letters of Credit outstanding under this Agreement and entitled
to the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and shall
be
governed by the applications and agreements pertaining thereto and by this
Agreement; provided,
however,
that,
notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no fees with respect
to
the issuance of the Existing Letters of Credit shall be due
hereunder.
ARTICLE
3
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
The
Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Lender as follows:
Section
3.1 Organization;
Corporate Powers; Etc.
(a) Each
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is a corporation or a limited liability
company ("LLC") duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
the
laws of the jurisdiction of its formation; (b) each of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries has the corporate or LLC power and authority to own its property
and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted and is qualified
to do
business in every jurisdiction where such qualification is required except
where
the failure to so qualify would not result in a material adverse effect on
the
business, assets, operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the
Borrower; (c) the Borrower has the corporate power to execute, deliver and
perform this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to borrow hereunder;
and
(d) each Subsidiary has the corporate or LLC power to execute, deliver and
perform its Guaranty.
Section
3.2 Authorization;
Etc.
The
execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement, the
Borrowings hereunder, and the issuance, execution and delivery of the Note:
(a)
have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action; (b) will not
violate (i) any provision of law, any order of any court, or any rule,
regulation or order of any other agency of government, (ii) the Articles
of
Incorporation or By-laws of the Borrower; or (iii) any provision of any material
indenture, agreement or other instrument to which the Borrower is a party,
or by
which the Borrower or any of its properties or assets are or may be bound;
(c)
will not be in conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute (alone,
with
notice, with lapse of time, or with any combination of these factors) a default
under any indenture, agreement or other instrument referred to in (b)(iii)
above; and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien
upon
any property or assets of the Borrower that is not a Permitted Lien. Except
for
filings which may be required under the 1934 Act, no registration with or
consent or approval of, or other action by, any Governmental Authority is
required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement, the execution and delivery of the Note or the Borrowings
hereunder.
Section
3.3 Enforceability.
This
Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document when duly executed and
delivered by the Borrower will constitute, the legal, valid and binding
obligation of the Borrower, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject,
as to the enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization,
insolvency, moratorium and other laws of general applicability relating to
or
affecting creditors' rights from time to time in effect and to general
principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforcement is considered
in a
proceeding at law or in equity).
Section
3.4 Financial
Condition and Information.
(a) The
Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lender copies of (i) the consolidated
balance sheets of the Borrower as of December 31, 2004, and the related
consolidated statements of income and shareholder's equity of the Borrower
for
the year ended December 31, 2004, including without limitation the related
notes, audited by and including the opinion the independent public accountants
of the Borrower, and (ii) the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2004 of the Borrower. Such financial statements fairly
state the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower as of the respective
dates thereof and the consolidated results of the operations and changes
in
financial position of the Borrower for the periods covered thereby. All such
financial statements, including related schedules and notes thereto, have
been
prepared in accordance with GAAP.
(b) The
Borrower (both before and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated
hereby) is solvent, has assets having a fair value in excess of the amount
required to pay its probable liabilities on its existing debts as they become
absolute and matured, and has, and will have, access to adequate capital
for the
conduct of its business and the ability to pay its debts from time to time
incurred in connection therewith as such debts mature.
Section
3.5 No
Material Adverse Change.
There
has been no material adverse change in the business, operations, assets or
condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower and its Significant
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (except as disclosed in the financial statements
referred to in Section 3.4).
Section
3.6 Litigation.
There
are no actions, suits or proceedings at law or in equity or by or before
any
governmental instrumentality or other agency now pending or, to the knowledge
of
the Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any property
or
rights of the Borrower (i) which would be reasonably likely in the aggregate
to
materially impair the ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations
under
this Agreement or the Note or materially impair the ability of the Borrower
to
carry on business substantially as now being conducted or (ii) for which
insurance coverage has been denied that would have an adverse material effect
on
the Borrower.
Section
3.7 Federal
Reserve Regulations.
(a) The
Borrower is not engaged principally, or as one of its important activities,
in
the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying
Margin Stock.
(b) No
part
of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly,
and
whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, (i) to purchase or carry
Margin
Stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying
Margin Stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose,
or
(ii) for any purpose which entails a violation of, or which is inconsistent
with, the provisions of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulation
U or
X.
Section
3.8 Investment
Borrower Act.
The
Borrower is not an "investment company" or a company "controlled" by an
"investment company" within the meaning of the Investment Borrower Act of
1940,
as amended.
Section
3.9 [Intentionally
left blank]
Section
3.10 Tax
Returns.
As of
the filing date of the Borrower's Form 10-K, Form 10-Q or Form 8-K most recently
filed with the SEC, the Borrower has duly filed or caused to be filed all
federal, state and local tax returns which are required to have been filed
and
has paid or caused to be paid all material taxes required to be paid by it,
except taxes the validity of which is being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings and with respect to which the Borrower has set aside
on
its books such reserves as are required by GAAP.
Section
3.11 ERISA.
As of
the filing date of the Borrower's Form 10-K, Form 10-Q or Form 8-K most recently
filed with the SEC, the Borrower had no material undisclosed ERISA Liabilities
under any Plans.
Section
3.12 Title
to Properties: Possession.
The
Borrower has good and indefeasible title to, or valid leasehold interests
in,
all its material properties and assets, subject only to encumbrances, adverse
claims and defects in title which do not involve any risk of loss that is
material to the Borrower and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole. All such
assets
and properties are free and clear of all Liens other than those permitted
by
Section 6.1. The Borrower has all licenses and rights necessary to enable
it to
use all material technology used by it in its operations.
Section
3.13 Use
of
Proceeds.
The
Borrower will use the proceeds of any borrowing hereunder solely for the
purposes set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement.
Section
3.14 Environmental
Matters.
Except
as disclosed by the Borrower to the Lender in writing prior to the date hereof,
the Borrower and each Subsidiary is in compliance in all material respects
with
all applicable federal or state environmental, hazardous waste, health and
safety statutes, and any rules or regulations adopted pursuant thereto, which
govern or affect any of the Borrower's operations and/or properties, including
without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation
and
Liability Act of 1980, the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of
1986,
the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, and the Federal
Toxic Substances Control Act, as any of the same may be amended, modified
or
supplemented from time to time. None of the operations of the Borrower or
any
Subsidiary is the subject of any federal or state investigation evaluating
whether any remedial action involving a material expenditure is needed to
respond to a release of any toxic or hazardous waste or substance into the
environment. Neither Borrower nor any Subsidiary has material contingent
liability in connection with any release of any toxic or hazardous waste
or
substance into the environment.
Section
3.15 Subsidiaries.
All
Subsidiaries are correctly identified on Schedule "3.15" hereto.
Section
3.16 No
Subordination.
There
is no agreement, indenture, contract or instrument to which the Borrower
is a
party or by which the Borrower may be bound that requires the subordination
in
right of payment of any of the Borrower's obligations subject to this Agreement
to any other obligation of the Borrower.
Section
3.17 Permits,
Franchises.
The
Borrower possesses, and will hereafter possess, all permits, consents,
approvals, franchises and licenses required and rights to all trademarks,
trade
names, patents, and fictitious names, if any, necessary to enable it to conduct
the business in which it is now engaged in compliance with applicable
law.
Section
3.18 Other
Obligations.
The
Borrower is not in default on any obligation for borrowed money, any purchase
money obligation or any other material lease, commitment, contract, instrument
or obligation.
ARTICLE
4
CONDITIONS
TO CREDIT EVENTS
The
obligations of the Lender to make the Loans, and to make each and every advance
of the proceeds thereof (each of the foregoing events being called a "Credit
Event") are subject to the prior or contemporaneous satisfaction of the
following conditions:
Section
4.1 Credit
Events.
On the
date of each Credit Event, including the date of each reborrowing of a Borrowing
as contemplated by Section 2.5:
(a) The
Lender shall have received in respect of such advance or reborrowing a Borrowing
Notice as required by Section 2.3.
(b) The
representations and warranties set forth in Article III hereof shall have
been
true and correct in all material respects both (i) on the date hereof and
(ii)
as of such date, except to the extent such representations and warranties
expressly relate and are limited to a different date.
(c) At
the
time of and immediately after such advance or reborrowing no Event of Default
or
Potential Default shall have occurred and be continuing or shall
exist.
Each
advance or refinancing hereunder shall be deemed to constitute a representation
and warranty by the Borrower on the date of such Credit Event as to the
satisfaction of the conditions specified in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this
Section 4.1.
Section
4.2 First
Credit Event.
On the
Closing Date:
(a) The
Lender shall have received duly executed copies of this Agreement, the
Guaranties and all other Loan Documents.
(b) The
Lender shall have received a duly executed Note complying with the provisions
of
Section 2.7.
(c) The
Lender shall have received as to the Borrower and each Guarantor (i) a copy
of its Certificate or Articles of Incorporation, including all amendments
thereto, certified as of a recent date by the Secretary of State of the state
of
its organization, and a certificate from such Secretary of State as of a
recent
date, as to its good standing; (ii) a certificate of its Secretary or
Assistant Secretary dated the Closing Date and certifying (A) that attached
thereto is a true and complete copy of its By-Laws as in effect on the Closing
Date and at all times since a date prior to the date of the resolutions
described in the next clause of this sentence, (B) that attached thereto
is a
true and complete copy of resolutions duly adopted by its Board of Directors,
authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents
and
the Credit Events hereunder, and that such resolutions have not been modified,
rescinded or amended and are in full force and effect, (C) that its Certificate
or Articles of Incorporation have not been amended since the date of the
last
amendment thereto shown on its certificate of good standing furnished pursuant
to clause (i) above, and (D) as to the incumbency and specimen signature
of each
officer executing any Loan Document or any other document delivered in
connection herewith on its behalf; and (iii) a certificate of another officer
as
to the incumbency and specimen signature of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary
executing the certificate pursuant to (ii) above.
(d) The
Lender shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed
on
behalf of the Borrower by a Financial Officer of the Borrower, confirming
compliance with the conditions precedent set forth in paragraphs (b) and
(c) of
Section 4.1.
(e) The
Lender shall have received a favorable written opinion of legal counsel to
the
Borrower, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Lender, to the effect
set
forth in Exhibit "D" hereto.
(f) The
Lender shall have received all amounts due and payable hereunder or under
the
other Loan Documents on or prior to the Closing Date.
(g) The
Lender shall have received payment of all expenses owed to the Lender pursuant
to Section 8.5(a).
(h) All
legal
matters incident to this Agreement and the first Credit Event hereunder shall
be
reasonably satisfactory to the Lender and to its legal counsel.
(i) The
Lender shall have received such additional documents as it may reasonably
require.
ARTICLE
5
AFFIRMATIVE
COVENANTS
The
Borrower covenants and agrees that, at all times prior to Termination, unless
the Lender shall otherwise consent in writing, it will:
Section
5.1 Existence.
Do or
cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full
force
and effect its corporate existence, material rights, licenses, permits and
franchises material to the conduct of its business and that of its Subsidiaries;
comply in all material respects with all applicable laws, rules, regulations,
and orders (except that force majeure events will excuse noncompliance so
long
as noncompliance would not materially impair the creditworthiness of the
Borrower) whether now in effect or hereafter enacted where the failure to
so
comply would be reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the
business, assets, operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the
Borrower or that of its Subsidiaries; and, at all times maintain and preserve
all material property required for the conduct of its business and that of
its
Subsidiaries as presently or hereafter conducted.
Section
5.2 Insurance.
Maintain adequate insurance by financially sound and reputable insurers of
all
properties of a character usually insured by companies engaged in the same
or a
similar business operating on a similar economic scale as the Borrower and
its
Subsidiaries against loss or damage resulting from fire, flood, property
damage,
workers compensation, or other risks insured against by extended coverage
and of
the kind customarily insured against by such companies, and maintain in full
force and effect public liability insurance against claims for personal injury,
death or property damage occurring upon, in, about or in connection with
the use
of any properties occupied or controlled by it and its Subsidiaries in such
amounts as shall be customary among companies engaged in the same or similar
businesses and similarly situated and maintain such other insurance as may
be
required by law with deductibles or self-insurance for cargo loss, physical
damage and auto liability (personal injury and property damage) not in excess
of
$2,000,000.00 per occurrence and not in excess of $500,000.00 per occurrence
for
worker’s compensation.
Section
5.3 Taxes
and Other Liabilities.
Pay and
discharge promptly any taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies
imposed upon the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or upon their income
or
profits or in respect of any material property (real or personal) of the
Borrower or as any of its Subsidiaries, before the same shall become delinquent;
provided,
however,
that
neither the Borrower nor any of the Subsidiaries shall be required to pay
and
discharge or to cause to be paid and discharged any such obligation, tax,
assessment, charge, levy or claim so long as the validity or amount thereof
shall be contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and the Borrower
or
such Subsidiary, as appropriate, shall set aside on its books such reserves
as
are required by GAAP with respect thereto.
Section
5.4 Financial
Statements; Reports, etc.
Cause to
be furnished to the Lender (as Information subject to the applicable
requirements of Section 8.17 herein, if any):
(a) within
one hundred twenty (120) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower,
a copy of Borrower's Form 10-K for such fiscal year as filed with the
SEC;
(b) within
sixty (60) days after the end of each fiscal quarter of each fiscal year
of the
Borrower, a copy of Borrower's Form 10-Q for such fiscal quarter as filed
with
the SEC;
(c) concurrently
with each delivery of the statements referred to in (a) and (b) above, the
Quarterly Certificate certifying that to the best of its, his or her knowledge
no Event of Default or Potential Default has occurred, or, if such an Event
of
Default or Potential Default has occurred, specifying the nature and extent
thereof and accompanied by a statement of a Financial Officer of the Borrower
specifying any corrective action taken or proposed to be taken with respect
thereto, and setting forth in reasonable detail in the form of Exhibit "E"
the
calculation of financial measures and ratios required to demonstrate compliance
with the covenants, conditions and agreements contained in Section 5.11 hereof,
all determined as of the end of the period covered by said
statements;
(d) [Intentionally
left blank;]
(e) promptly,
from time to time, such other information regarding the operations, business
affairs and financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as the
Lender may reasonably request.
Section
5.5 Litigation
and Other Notices.
Give
the Lender prompt (but in no event more than five (5) days after the occurrence
of each such event or matter) written or telecopy notice in reasonable detail
of
the following:
(a) the
occurrence of any Event of Default, or any condition, event or act which
with
the giving of notice or the passage of time or both would constitute an Event
of
Default;
(b) any
change in the name or the organizational structure of the Borrower;
(c) the
occurrence and nature of any Reportable Event or Prohibited Transaction,
each as
defined in ERISA, or any funding deficiency with respect to any
Plan;
(d) any
termination or cancellation of any insurance policy which the Borrower is
required to maintain unless it is renewed or replaced within 30 days so long
as
there is no lapse in coverage, or any uninsured or partially uninsured loss
through liability or property damage, or through fire, theft or any other
cause
affecting the Borrower's property; or
(e) the
filing or commencement of any action, suit or formal proceeding at law or
in
equity or by or before any court or hearing officer of any Governmental
Authority against the Borrower involving amounts in excess of $2,500,000.00,
or
any other event or condition, which has resulted in, or which is reasonably
likely to result in, a material adverse change in the business, operations
or
condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries taken
as
a whole and which has not been reported in the Borrower's most recent SEC
filings on Form 10-K, 10-Q or 8-K.
Section
5.6 Maintaining
Records: Access to Premises and Records.
Maintain all financial records in accordance with GAAP, and upon reasonable
notice permit representatives of the Lender to have access to such financial
records and the premises of the Borrower at reasonable times and to make
such
excerpts from such records as such representatives may deem necessary, provided
that each person obtaining information shall hold all confidential information
obtained in accordance with the restrictions set forth in Section
8.17.
Section
5.7 Use
of
Proceeds.
Use the
proceeds of the Loans solely for the purposes set forth in Recitals
hereto.
Section
5.8 Punctual
Payments.
Punctually pay all principal, interest, fees or other liabilities due under
any
of the Loan Documents at the times and place and in the manner specified
therein.
Section
5.9 Compliance.
Preserve and maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to preserve and
maintain, all licenses, permits, governmental approvals, rights, privileges
and
franchises necessary for the conduct of its business; and comply, and cause
each
of its Subsidiaries to comply, with the provisions of all documents pursuant
to
which it is organized and/or which govern its continued existence and with
the
requirements of all laws, rules, regulations and orders of any governmental
authority applicable to it and/or its business.
Section
5.10 Facilities.
Keep
all properties useful or necessary to the Borrower's and its Subsidiaries'
business in good repair and condition, and from time to time make necessary
repairs, renewals and replacements thereto so that such properties shall
be
fully and efficiently preserved and maintained.
Section
5.11 Financial
Covenants.
Maintain the Borrower's financial condition as follows using GAAP, calculated
on
a consolidated basis (except to the extent modified by the definitions herein)
(the "Financial Covenants"):
(a) Its
Quick
Ratio of not less than 1.10 to 1.0 at the end of each fiscal
quarter.
(b) Its
net
income after tax determined at the end of each fiscal year of not less than
$1.00 for such fiscal year and its pre-tax profit as of each fiscal quarter
at
the end of such fiscal quarter of not less than $1.00.
(c) Its
Leverage of not greater than 1.00 to 1.0 at the end of each fiscal
quarter.
Section
5.12 New
Subsidiaries; Guarantors.
The
Borrower shall promptly and diligently take all actions necessary to cause
any
existing Subsidiary not a Guarantor and that subsequently undertakes to conduct
any business or operations, and any new Subsidiary (each a "New Subsidiary")
to
become a Guarantor under a Guaranty. Within thirty (30) days of being acquired,
or in the case of an existing Subsidiary within thirty (30) days of undertaking
to conduct any business or operations (the "Grace Period"), such New Subsidiary
shall deliver to the Lender an executed Guaranty in the form attached hereto
as
Exhibit "C", and such other documents as the Lender may reasonably
request.
ARTICLE
6
NEGATIVE
COVENANTS
The
Borrower covenants and agrees that, at all times prior to Termination,
it will not,
and
will not permit any Subsidiary,
without
the consent of the Lender, to:
Section
6.1 Liens.
Incur,
create, assume or permit to exist any Liens on any of the Borrower's property
or
assets or that of any Subsidiary, including without limitation, "accounts"
and
"inventory" (each as defined in the Arizona Uniform Commercial Code) and
unencumbered fixed assets (including without limitation tractors, trailers
and
real estate) or such property or assets of any Subsidiary, whether such property
or assets are now owned or hereafter acquired by the Borrower, or by a
Subsidiary, or on any income or rights in respect of any thereof, to secure
any
Indebtedness; provided
that the
foregoing shall not apply to Liens on the property or assets of the Borrower
or
any Subsidiary:
(i) existing
on the date hereof and described in Schedule "6.1" and any refinancing
thereof;
(ii) in
favor
of the Lender; or
(iii) that
secures the Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.2.
Section
6.2 Indebtedness.
Become
or remain obligated either directly or as a guarantor or surety for any
Indebtedness for borrowings, loans or advances, whether secured or unsecured,
matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, joint or several, or for
any
Indebtedness incurred in connection with the acquisition of any property,
real
or personal, tangible or intangible including, but not limited to, lease
purchase agreements or sale leasebacks, except:
(a) Indebtedness
to the Lender hereunder;
(b) Unsecured
trade, utility or accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of its
business;
(c) The
Indebtedness disclosed on Schedule 6.2 attached hereto and any other
Indebtedness disclosed in the most recent financial statements of the Borrower
submitted to the Lender on or prior to the date of this Agreement;
and
(d) Purchase
money obligations provided that (i) such Indebtedness is incurred prior to
or
within ninety (90) days after the acquisition of the asset, (ii) the aggregate
principal amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed $5,000,000.00 at any
time
outstanding, and (iii) for the purposes of this subsection (d), Indebtedness
shall include all obligations with respect to rolling stock (i.e., trucks
and
trailers), whether subject to a Capital Lease or an operating
lease.
Section
6.3 Merger,
Consolidation, Transfer of Assets.
Merge
into or consolidate with any other entity without the written consent of
the
Lender; make any substantial change in the nature of the Borrower's business
as
conducted as of the date hereof; acquire all or substantially all of the
assets
of any other entity without the written consent of the Lender; nor sell,
lease,
transfer or otherwise dispose of all or a substantial or material portion
of the
Borrower's assets except in the ordinary course of its business, nor transfer
all or a substantial or material portion of its assets to its
Subsidiaries.
Section
6.4 Accounting
Change.
Change
the times of commencement or termination of its fiscal year or other accounting
periods; or change its methods of accounting other than to conform to GAAP
so as
to constitute sound accounting practice.
Section
6.5 Guarantee.
Except
with respect to Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof,
guarantee, directly or indirectly, or otherwise become contingently liable
or
obligated for, any indebtedness or obligations of any other person or entity
(except for the endorsement in the ordinary course of business of negotiable
instruments for deposit or collection) or pledge or hypothecate any assets
of
the Borrower or security for, any liabilities or obligations of any other
person
or entity.
Section
6.6 ERISA
Liabilities.
Create
or suffer to exist ERISA Liabilities in an aggregate amount for all Plans
in
excess of $25,000,000.00.
Section
6.7 Negative
Pledge Agreement.Covenant
with another creditor not to pledge any portion of its assets to
Lender.
Section
6.8 Loans,
Advances, Investments.
Make
any loans or advances to or investments in any person or entity, except any
of
the foregoing existing as of, and disclosed to the Lender prior to, the date
hereof.
Section
6.9 Dividend,
Distributions.
(i)
Declare or pay any dividend or distribution in excess of fifty percent (50%)
of
the Borrower's net income in any fiscal year either in cash, stock or any
other
property on the Borrower's stock now or hereafter outstanding; or (ii) redeem,
retire, repurchase stock in excess of $30,000,000.00 in any 12 month period
effective as of the date of this Agreement, or otherwise acquire any shares
of
any class of the Borrower's stock now or hereafter outstanding.
ARTICLE
7
EVENTS
OF DEFAULT
In
case
of the happening of any of the following events (herein called "Events of
Default"):
(a) default
shall be made in the payment of any principal or interest on any Loan or
any
Fee, indemnification amount or any other amount due from the Borrower under
the
Loan Documents whether at the due date thereof or by acceleration thereof
or
otherwise, when and as the same shall become due and payable;
(b) any
representation or warranty made or deemed made by the Borrower or a Guarantor
in
connection with the Loan Documents or in any report, certificate or other
instrument furnished by the Borrower pursuant to the Loan Documents or with
the
Borrowings hereunder shall prove to have been incorrect, false or misleading
in
any material respect when made or delivered or when deemed made in accordance
with the terms hereof;
(c) any
default in the performance of or compliance with any obligation, agreement
or
other provision contained herein or in any other Loan Document (other than
those
referred to in subsections (a) and (b) above), and except with respect to
any
such default as to a Financial Covenant or which by its nature can not be
cured;
such default shall continue for a period of twenty (20) days from its
occurrence;
(d) the
Borrower or any Subsidiary shall fail to make when due any payment (of whatever
amount) on Indebtedness (whether due by scheduled maturity, required prepayment,
acceleration, demand or otherwise), including without limitation any
Indebtedness owed to the Lender or Affiliate thereof and any obligations
incurred by the Borrower or any Subsidiary to the Lender or Affiliate thereof
pursuant to any agreement with respect to any interest rate swap or similar
transaction; and such failure shall continue after the applicable notice
and
grace period, if any, specified in the agreement or instrument relating to
such
Indebtedness; or any failure by the Borrower to perform any covenant or
agreement on its part to be performed under any agreement or instrument
evidencing or security relating to any Indebtedness shall result after the
applicable notice and grace period in the acceleration of the maturity of
a
portion of such Indebtedness;
(e) the
Borrower or any Guarantor shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or
file
any petition seeking relief under Title 11 of the United States Code or any
other Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law, (ii)
consent to the institution of, or fail to controvert in a timely and appropriate
manner, any such proceeding or the filing of any such petition, (iii) apply
for
or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator
or
similar official for such corporation or for a substantial part of its property,
(iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed
against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the
benefit
of creditors, (vi) become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail
generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (vii) take corporate action
for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;
(f) an
involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall
be
filed in a court of competent jurisdiction seeking (i) relief in respect
of the
Borrower or a Guarantor or of a substantial part of the property under Title
11
of the United States Code or any other Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy,
insolvency or similar law, (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee,
custodian, sequestrator or similar official for the Borrower or a Guarantor
or
for a substantial part of its property, or (iii) the winding-up or liquidation
of the Borrower or a Guarantor, and such proceeding or petition shall continue
undismissed for sixty (60) days or an order or decree approving or ordering
any
of the foregoing shall be entered;
(g) either
of
(A) the occurrence of any one or more Reportable Events or (B) a failure
to make
a "required payment" under the provisions of Section 412(n)(1) of the Code
shall
have occurred with respect to any Plan or Plans and the occurrence of either
(A)
or (B) above shall have resulted in any of (1) liability of the Borrower
to the
PBGC or to one or more Plans in an aggregate amount exceeding $1,000,000.00,
(2)
the termination of the respective Plan or Plans by the PBGC, (3) the appointment
by the appropriate United States District Court of a trustee to administer
such
Plan or Plans, or (4) for the imposition of a Lien in favor of such Plan
or
Plans;
(h) any
material provision of the Loan Documents ceases to be valid and binding
on or
enforceable against the Borrower or a Guarantor;
(i) there
shall have occurred a Change in Control;
(j) the
liquidation, termination or dissolution of the Borrower or any of its directors,
stockholders or members shall take action seeking to effect the dissolution
or
liquidation of the Borrower;
(k) the
occurrence of any adverse change in the financial condition of Borrower
or any
Guarantor, that the Lender, in its reasonable discretion, deems material,
or if
the Lender in good faith shall believe that the prospect of payment or
performance of the Loans is impaired or is likely to be substantially impaired;
or
then,
and
in any such event, and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such
event, the Lender, shall, by written or telecopy notice to the Borrower,
take
either or both of the following actions at the same or different
times:
(i) terminate
forthwith the Lender's Commitment, including without limitation terminate
any
obligation to make any further advances under the RLC Facility.
(ii) declare
any or all of the Loans to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon the principal
of such Loans, together with accrued interest thereon and any unpaid accrued
Fees and all other liabilities of the Borrower accrued hereunder and under
the
Note, shall become forthwith due and payable together with interest thereon
as
provided in Section 2.9, without presentment, demand, protest or any other
notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower,
anything contained herein or in the Note to the contrary
notwithstanding;
(iii) exercise
any or all of its rights under the Guaranties and/or available to it pursuant
to
applicable law; and
(iv) require
that the Borrower deposit cash with the Lender in an amount equal to the
Letter
of Credit Balance as collateral (under its sole dominion and contract) for
the
repayment of drawings under outstanding Letters of Credit;
provided,
however,
that in
the case of an Event of Default specified in paragraph (e) or (f) above
involving the Borrower, without notice to the Borrower or any other act by
the
Lender, the Commitment shall automatically terminate and all Loans together
with
all such interest, Fees and other amounts, shall become immediately due and
payable, all without presentment, demand, protest or any other notice of
any
kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower, anything
contained herein or in the Note to the contrary notwithstanding.
ARTICLE
8
MISCELLANEOUS
Section
8.1 Notices.
Notices
and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall
be
delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed or sent by telecopy,
graphic scanning or other telegraphic communications equipment of the sending
party, as follows:
(a) if
to the
Borrower, to it at 0000 Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000,
Attention: Chief Financial Officer; and
(b) if
to the
Lender, to it at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000, Attention:
Arizona RCBO.
All
notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance
with
the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the
date
of receipt if delivered by hand or overnight courier service or sent by telecopy
or other telegraphic communications equipment of the sender, or on the date
five
(5) Business Days after dispatch by certified or registered mail if mailed,
in
each case delivered, sent or mailed (properly addressed) to such party as
provided in this Section or in accordance with the latest unrevoked direction
from such party given in accordance with this Section.
Section
8.2 Survival
of Agreement.
All
covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrower
herein and in the certificates or other instruments prepared or delivered
in
connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document
shall
be considered to have been relied upon by the Lender and shall survive the
making by the Lender of the Loans, and the execution and delivery to the
Lender
of the Note evidencing such Loans, regardless of any investigation made by
the
Lender or on its behalf, and shall continue in full force and effect until
Termination has occurred.
Section
8.3 Binding
Effect; Beneficiaries.
(a) This
Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the
Borrower and the Lender, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to
the
benefit of the Borrower and the Lender and their respective successors and
assigns.
(b) This
Agreement is made and entered into for the sole protection and benefit of
the
parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and
no
other person or entity shall be a third party beneficiary of, or have any
direct
or indirect cause of action or claim in connection with, this Agreement or
any
other of the Loan Documents to which it is not a party.
(c) Time
is
of the essence of each and every provision of this Agreement and each other
of
the Loan Documents.
Section
8.4 Successors
and Assigns.
(a) Whenever
in this Agreement any of the parties hereto is referred to, such reference
shall
be deemed to include the successors and assigns of such party; and all
covenants, promises and agreements by or on behalf of the Borrower or the
Lender
that are contained in this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit
of
their respective successors and assigns.
(b) The
Lender at its own expense may assign to one or more assignees all or a portion
of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement (including
all or
a portion of its Commitment, and the Loans at the time owing to it and the
Note
held by it); provided,
however,
that
(i) except in the case of an assignment to an Affiliate of the Lender, so
long
as there is no Event of Default outstanding, the Borrower must give its prior
written consent to such assignment (which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld), (ii) each such assignment shall be of a constant, and not a varying,
percentage of all the Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement,
(iii) except in the case of an assignment to an Affiliate of the Lender,
the
amount of the Commitment subject to each such assignment shall not be less
than
$5,000,000.00 or such lesser amount if such amount is the entire Commitment
of
the Lender, and (iv) any increased costs by reason of any such assignment
will
not be borne by the Borrower.
(c) The
Lender may without the consent of the Borrower sell participations to one
or
more banks or other entities in all or a portion of its rights and obligations
under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the
Loans
owing to it and the Note held by it); provided,
however,
that
(i) the Lender's obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged,
(ii)
the Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for
the
performance of such obligations, (iii) the participating banks or other entities
shall be entitled to the benefit of the cost protection provisions contained
in
Sections 2.13, 2.15 and 2.17 to the same extent as if it were the Lender
(however no participating bank or entity shall be entitled to claim a greater
amount than could have been claimed by the Lender from whom the participation
was acquired), and (iv) the Borrower shall continue to deal solely and directly
with the Lender in connection with the Lender's rights and obligations under
this Agreement, and the Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce the
obligations of the Borrower relating to the Loans and to approve any amendment,
modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement. No entity acquiring
a
participation pursuant to this paragraph (c) shall by virtue of such
participation have any direct voting rights under this Agreement.
(d) The
Lender or participant may, in connection with any assignment or participation
or
proposed assignment or participation pursuant to this Section 8.4, disclose
to
the assignee or participant or proposed assignee or participant any information
relating to the Borrower furnished to the Lender by or on behalf of the
Borrower; provided
that,
prior to any such disclosure of such information, each such assignee or
participant or proposed assignee or participant shall execute an agreement
whereby such assignee or participant shall agree to preserve the confidentiality
of such information on terms no less restrictive than those applicable to
the
Lender pursuant to Section 8.17.
(e) The
Lender may at any time assign all or any portion of its rights under this
Agreement and the Note issued to it to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided
that no
such assignment shall release the Lender from any of its obligations
hereunder.
(f) The
Borrower shall not assign or delegate any of its rights or duties hereunder
without the prior written consent of the Lender.
Section
8.5 Expenses;
Indemnity.
(a) The
Borrower agrees to pay all out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by
the
Lender in connection with the preparation of this Agreement and the other
Loan
Documents or in connection with any amendments, modifications or waivers
of the
provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions hereby
contemplated shall be consummated) or reasonably incurred by the Lender in
connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection
with
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or in connection with the Loans
made
or the Note issued hereunder, including without limitation the reasonable
fees,
charges and disbursements of the counsel for the Lender, and, in connection
with
any such enforcement or protection, the reasonable fees, charges and
disbursements of counsel for the Lender. The Borrower further agrees that
it
shall indemnify the Lender from and hold it harmless against any documentary
taxes, assessments or charges made by any Governmental Authority by reason
of
the execution and delivery of this Agreement or any of the other Loan
Documents.
(b) The
Borrower agrees to indemnify the Lender, and each of its Affiliates, directors,
officers, employees and agents (each such Person being called an "Indemnitee")
against, and to hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities and related expenses, including without limitation
reasonable counsel fees, charges and disbursements, incurred by or asserted
against any Indemnitee arising out of, in any way connected with, or as a
result
of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement or any other Loan Document
or
any agreement or instrument contemplated thereby, the performance by the
parties
thereto of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of
the
transactions contemplated thereby, (ii) the use of the proceeds of the Loans
pursuant to the request of the Borrower, or (iii) any claim, litigation,
investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether or
not any
Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided
that
such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent
that
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are determined
by
a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to
have
resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such
Indemnitee.
(c) The
provisions of this Section shall remain operative and in full force and effect
regardless of the expiration of the term of this Agreement, the consummation
of
the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of any of the Loans,
the
invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision of this Agreement
or any
other Loan Document, or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Lender.
All amounts due under this Section shall be payable on written demand
therefor.
Section
8.6 Right
of Setoff.
If an
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Loans shall
have
been declared immediately due and payable pursuant to Article VII, the Lender
is
hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special,
time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other indebtedness
at
any time owing by the Lender to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower
against any of and all the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing
under this Agreement and any other Loan Documents held by the Lender,
irrespective of whether or not the Lender shall have made any demand under
this
Agreement or such other Loan Document and although such obligations may be
unmatured; provided
that
such right of setoff shall not apply to amounts which may be held in (i)
trust
accounts or (ii) asset management accounts, including without limitation
brokerage accounts, cash management accounts or other money management or
investment accounts of a non-depository nature with the Lender. The rights
of
the Lender under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies
(including other rights of setoff) which the Lender may have.
Section
8.7 Applicable
Law.
THIS
AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
AND
GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS MADE
AND TO
BE ENFORCED ENTIRELY WITHIN THAT STATE.
Section
8.8 Waivers;
Amendment.
(a) No
failure or delay of a party hereto in exercising any power or right hereunder
shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise
of
any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to
enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof
or
the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the
parties
hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not
exclusive of any rights or remedies which they would otherwise have. No waiver
of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or consent
to any
departure by a party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the
same
shall be permitted by Paragraph (b) of this Section and then such waiver
or
consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose
for
which given. No notice or demand on a party in any case shall entitle that
party
to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other
circumstances.
(b) Neither
this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified
except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by
the
Borrower and the Lender.
Section
8.9 Interest
Rate Limitation.
Notwithstanding anything herein or in the Note to the contrary, if at any
time
the applicable interest rate, together with all fees and charges which are
treated as interest under applicable law (collectively, the "Charges"), as
provided for herein or in any other document executed in connection herewith,
or
otherwise contracted for, charged, received, taken or reserved by the Lender,
shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the "Maximum Rate") which may be
contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender in accordance
with applicable law, the rate of interest payable under the Note held by
the
Lender, together with all Charges payable to the Lender, shall be limited
to the
Maximum Rate. Borrower hereby agrees to the payment of interest with respect
to
the Loans and Borrowings under the Loans at the respective applicable rates
determined pursuant to this Agreement, in each case as increased by any rate
of
interest resulting from any charges in the nature of interest paid or payable
in
connection with the Loans, the Note and/or this Agreement.
Section
8.10 Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire contract between
the parties relating to the subject matter hereof. Any previous agreement
among
any of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof is superseded
by
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Nothing in this Agreement or
in the
other Loan Documents, expressed or implied, is intended to confer upon any
party
other than the parties hereto and thereto any rights, remedies, obligations
or
liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement or the other Loan
Documents.
Section
8.11 Severability.
In the
event any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement or in
any
other Loan Document should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any
respect, the validity, legality and enforce-ability of the remaining provisions
contained herein and therein shall not in any way be affected or impaired
thereby. The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace
the
invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic
effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal
or
unenforceable provisions.
Section
8.12 Counterparts
and Signature Pages.
This
Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall
constitute an original but all of which when taken together shall constitute
but
one contract. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to
this
Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually
executed counterpart of this Agreement. All parties hereto authorize the
Lender
to gather and attach manually executed counterpart signature pages to
counterpart copies of this Agreement in order to constitute one or more
counterparts bearing evidence of manual execution by all parties.
Section
8.13 Headings.
Article
and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience
of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and are not to affect the
construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting, this
Agreement.
Section
8.14 Arbitration.
(a) Arbitration.
The
parties hereto agree, upon demand by any party, to submit to binding arbitration
all claims, disputes and controversies between or among them (and their
respective employees, officers, directors, attorneys, and other agents),
whether
in tort, contract or otherwise arising out of or relating to in any way (i)
the
loan and related Loan Documents which are the subject of this Agreement and
its
negotiation, execution, collateralization, administration, repayment,
modification, extension, substitution, formation, inducement, enforcement,
default or termination; or (ii) requests for additional credit.
(b) Governing
Rules.
Any
arbitration proceeding will (i) proceed in a location in Phoenix, Arizona
selected by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA"); (ii) be governed
by
the Federal Arbitration Act (Title 9 of the United States Code), notwithstanding
any conflicting choice of law provision in any of the documents between the
parties; and (iii) be conducted by the AAA, or such other administrator as
the
parties shall mutually agree upon, in accordance with the AAA's commercial
dispute resolution procedures, unless the claim or counterclaim is at least
$1,000,000.00 exclusive of claimed interest, arbitration fees and costs in
which
case the arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the AAA's optional
procedures for large, complex commercial disputes (the commercial dispute
resolution procedures or the optional procedures for large, complex commercial
disputes to be referred to, as applicable, as the "Rules"). If there is any
inconsistency between the terms hereof and the Rules, the terms and procedures
set forth herein shall control. Any party who fails or refuses to submit
to
arbitration following a demand by any other party shall bear all costs and
expenses incurred by such other party in compelling arbitration of any dispute.
Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to be a waiver by any party that
is a
bank of the protections afforded to it under 12 U.S.C. §91 or any similar
applicable state law.
(c) No
Waiver of Provisional Remedies, Self-Help and Foreclosure.
The
arbitration requirement does not limit the right of any party to (i) foreclose
against personal property collateral; (ii) exercise self-help remedies relating
to collateral or proceeds of collateral such as setoff or repossession; or
(iii)
obtain provisional or ancillary remedies such as replevin, injunctive relief,
attachment or the appointment of a receiver, before during or after the pendency
of any arbitration proceeding. This exclusion does not constitute a waiver
of
the right or obligation of any party to submit any dispute to arbitration
or
reference hereunder, including those arising from the exercise of the actions
detailed in sections (i), (ii) and (iii) of this paragraph.
(d) Arbitrator
Qualifications and Powers.
Any
arbitration proceeding in which the amount in controversy is $5,000,000.00
or
less will be decided by a single arbitrator selected according to the Rules,
and
who shall not render an award of greater than $5,000,000.00. Any dispute
in
which the amount in controversy exceeds $5,000,000.00 shall be decided by
majority vote of a panel of three arbitrators selected according to the Rules;
provided,
however,
that
all three arbitrators must actively participate in all hearings and
deliberations. Each arbitrator will be a neutral attorney licensed in the
State
of Arizona or a neutral retired judge of the state or federal judiciary of
Arizona, in either case with a minimum of ten years experience in the
substantive law applicable to the subject matter of the dispute to be
arbitrated. The arbitrator will determine whether or not an issue is
arbitratable and will give effect to the statutes of limitation in determining
any claim. In any arbitration proceeding the arbitrator will decide (by
documents only or with a hearing at the arbitrator's discretion) any pre-hearing
motions which are similar to motions to dismiss for failure to state a claim
or
motions for summary adjudication. The arbitrator shall resolve all disputes
in
accordance with the substantive law of Arizona and may grant any remedy or
relief that a court of such state could order or grant within the scope hereof
and such ancillary relief as is necessary to make effective any award. The
arbitrator shall also have the power to award recovery of all costs and fees,
to
impose sanctions and to take such other action as the arbitrator deems necessary
to the same extent a judge could pursuant to the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure, the Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure or other applicable law.
Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any
court
having jurisdiction. The institution and maintenance of an action for judicial
relief or pursuit of a provisional or ancillary remedy shall not constitute
a
waiver of the right of any party, including the plaintiff, to submit the
controversy or claim to arbitration if any other party contests such action
for
judicial relief.
(e) Discovery.
In any
arbitration proceeding discovery will be permitted in accordance with the
Rules.
All discovery shall be expressly limited to matters directly relevant to
the
dispute being arbitrated and must be completed no later than twenty (20)
days
before the hearing date and within one hundred eighty (180) days of the filing
of the dispute with the AAA. Any requests for an extension of the discovery
periods, or any discovery disputes, will be subject to final determination
by
the arbitrator upon a showing that the request for discovery is essential
for
the party's presentation and that no alternative means for obtaining information
is available.
(f) Class
Proceedings and Consolidations.
The
resolution of any dispute arising pursuant to the terms of this Agreement
shall
be determined by a separate arbitration proceeding and such dispute shall
not be
consolidated with other disputes or included in any class
proceeding.
(g) Payment
Of Arbitration Costs And Fees.
The
arbitrator shall award all costs and expenses of the arbitration
proceeding.
(h) Miscellaneous.
To the
maximum extent practicable, the AAA, the arbitrators and the parties shall
take
all action required to conclude any arbitration proceeding within one hundred
eighty (180) days of the filing of the dispute with the AAA. No arbitrator
or
other party to an arbitration proceeding may disclose the existence, content
or
results thereof, except for disclosures of information by a party required
in
the ordinary course of its business or by applicable law or regulation. If
more
than one agreement for arbitration by or between the parties potentially
applies
to a dispute, the arbitration provision most directly related to the Loan
Documents or the subject matter of the dispute shall control. This arbitration
provision shall survive termination, amendment or expiration of any of the
Loan
Documents or any relationship between the parties.
Section
8.15 Jurisdiction;
Consent to Service of Process.
(a) Each
of
the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself
and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of Arizona State court
or
Federal court of the United States of America sitting in Phoenix, Arizona,
and
any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising
out of
or relating to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, or for recognition
or
enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably
and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action
or
proceeding may be heard and determined in such Arizona State or, to the extent
permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees
that
a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and
may be
enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner
provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that the
Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this
Agreement or the other Loan Documents against the Borrower or its properties
in
the courts of any jurisdiction.
(b) Each
of
the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the
fullest
extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now
or
hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising
out of or relating to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents in any Arizona
State or Federal court sitting in Phoenix, Arizona. Each of the parties hereto
hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense
of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding
in any
such court.
(c) Each
party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the
manner
provided for notices in Section 8.1. Nothing in this Agreement will affect
the
right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner
permitted by law.
Section
8.16 WAIVER
OF JURY TRIAL.
EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE
LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION
DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS
AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES
THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED,
EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF
LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT
IT
AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT
AND
THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, AS APPLICABLE, BY (AMONG OTHER THINGS) THE MUTUAL
WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
Section
8.17 Confidentiality.
The
Lender agrees to keep confidential (and to cause its officers, directors,
employees, agents and representatives to keep confidential) the Information
(as
defined below), except that the Lender shall be permitted to disclose
Information (i) to such of its officers, directors, employees, agents and
representatives (including outside counsel) as need to know such Information;
(ii) to the extent required by applicable laws and regulations or by any
subpoena or similar legal process, or requested by any bank regulatory authority
(provided that the Lender shall, except for Information requested by any
such
bank regulatory authority, promptly notify the Borrower (to the extent
practicable and lawful, notice shall be given to the Borrower before such
disclosure is made so as to permit the Borrower to seek a protective order)
of
the circumstances and content of each such disclosure and shall request
confidential treatment of any Information so disclosed); (iii) to the extent
such Information (A) becomes publicly available other than as a result of
a
breach of this Agreement, (B) becomes available to the Lender on a
non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrower or its Affiliates,
or (C) was available to the Lender on a non-confidential basis prior to its
disclosure to the Lender by the Borrower or its Affiliates; or (iv) to the
extent the Borrower shall have consented to such disclosure in writing. As
used
in this Section 8.17, as to the Lender, "Information" shall mean any financial
statements, materials, documents and other information that the Borrower
or any
of its Affiliates may have furnished or may hereafter furnish to the Lender
in
connection with this Agreement or any other materials prepared by any such
person from any of the foregoing.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower and the Lender have caused this Agreement to
be
duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year
first above written.
KNIGHT
TRANSPORTATION, INC., an Arizona
corporation
|
By:
/s/
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx
|
Name:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
|
Its:
Chief Financial Officer
|
"Borrower"
|
XXXXX
FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
|
By:
/s/
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx
|
Name:
Xxxx Xxxxxxx
|
Its:
Vice President
|
"Lender"
|
Exhibits
available upon request